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  • Title: Two Noble Kinsmen (Quarto, 1634)

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    Author: William Shakespeare
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    Two Noble Kinsmen (Quarto, 1634)

    The Two Noble Kinsmen.
    3110Cornets. a great showt and cry, Arcite, victory.
    Set both thine eares to'th busines.
    Ser. The cry is
    Arcite, and victory, harke Arcite, victory,
    The Combats consummation is proclaim'd
    3115By the wind Instruments.
    Emil. Halfe sights saw
    That Arcite was no babe: god's lyd, his richnes
    And costlines of spirit look't through him, it could
    No more be hid in him, then fire in flax,
    3120Then humble banckes can goe to law with waters,
    That drift windes, force to raging: I did thinke
    Good Palamon would miscarry, yet I knew not
    Why I did thinke so; Our reasons are not prophets
    When oft our fancies are: They are comming off:
    3125Alas poore Palamon. Cornets.
    Enter Theseus, Hipolita, Pirithous, Arcite as victor, and
    attendants, &c.
    Thes. Lo, where our Sister is in expectation,
    Yet quaking, and unsetled: Fairest Emily,
    3130The gods by their divine arbitrament
    Have given you this Knight, he is a good one
    As ever strooke at head: Give me your hands;
    Receive you her, you him, be plighted with
    A love that growes, as you decay;
    3135Arcite. Emily,
    To buy you, I have lost what's deerest to me,
    Save what is bought, and yet I purchase cheapely,
    As I doe rate your value.
    Thes. O loved Sister,
    3140He speakes now of as brave a Knight as ere
    Did spur a noble Steed: Surely the gods
    Would have him die a Batchelour, least his race
    Should shew i'th world too godlike: His behaviour
    So charmd me, that me thought Alcides was
    3145To him a sow of lead: if I could praise
    Each part of him to'th all; I have spoke, your Arcite
    Did not loose by't; For he that was thus good
    M2 Encountred