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  • Title: Two Noble Kinsmen (Quarto, 1634)

    • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Two Noble Kinsmen (Quarto, 1634)

    The Two Noble Kinsmen.
    The stony girthes of Citties: me thy puple,
    Yongest follower of thy Drom, instruct this day
    With military skill, that to thy lawde
    2695I may advance my Streamer, and by thee,
    Be stil'd the Lord o'th day, give me great Mars
    Some token of thy pleasure.
    Here they fall on their faces as formerly, and there is heard
    clanging of Armor, with a short Thunder as the burst of
    2700 a Battaile, whereupon they all rise and bow to the Altar.
    O Great Corrector of enormous times,
    Shaker of ore-rank States, thou grand decider
    Of dustie, and old tytles, that healst with blood
    The earth when it is sicke, and curst the world
    2705O'th pluresie of people; I doe take
    Thy signes auspiciously, and in thy name
    To my designe; march boldly, let us goe. Exeunt.
    Enter Palamon and his Knights, with the former obser-
    vance.
    2710Pal. Our stars must glister with new fire, or be
    To daie extinct; our argument is love,
    Which if the goddesse of it grant, she gives
    Victory too, then blend your spirits with mine,
    You, whose free noblenesse doe make my cause
    2715Your personall hazard; to the goddesse Venus
    Commend we our proceeding, and implore
    Her power unto our partie. Here they kneele as formerly.
    Haile Soveraigne Queene of secrets, who hast power
    To call the feircest Tyrant from his rage;
    2720And weepe unto a Girle; that ha'st the might
    Even with an ey-glance, to choke Marsis Drom
    And turne th'allarme to whispers, that canst make
    A Criple florish with his Crutch, and cure him
    Before Apollo; that may'st force the King
    2725To be his subjects vassaile, and induce
    Stale gravitie to daunce, the pould Bachelour
    Whose youth like wanton Boyes through Bonfyres
    Have skipt thy flame, at seaventy, thou canst catch
    And make him to the scorne of his hoarse throate
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