Internet Shakespeare Editions

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Not Peer Reviewed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
Abuse