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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Actus Tertius.
    Cornets in
    sundry places,
    Noise and
    hallowing as
    people a May-
    ing.
    Scaena 1. Enter Arcite alone.
    1310Arcite. The Duke has lost Hypolita; each tooke
    A severall land. This is a solemne Right
    They owe bloomd May, and the Athenians pay it
    To'th heart of Ceremony: O Queene Emilia
    Fresher then May, sweeter
    1315Then hir gold Buttons on the bowes, or all
    Th'enamelld knackes o'th Meade, or garden, yea
    (We challenge too) the bancke of any Nymph
    That makes the streame seeme flowers; thou o Iewell
    O'th wood, o'th world, hast likewise blest a pace
    1320With thy sole presence, in thy rumination
    That I poore man might eftsoones come betweene
    And chop on some cold thought, thrice blessed chance
    To drop on such a Mistris, expectation
    most giltlesse on't: tell me O Lady Fortune
    1325(Next after Emely my Soveraigne) how far
    F2 I
    The Two Noble Kinsmen.
    I may be prowd. She takes strong note of me,
    Hath made me neere her; and this beuteous Morne
    (The prim'st of all the yeare) presents me with
    A brace of horses, two such Steeds might well
    1330Be by a paire of Kings backt, in a Field
    That their crownes titles tride: Alas, alas
    Poore Cosen Palamon, poore prisoner, thou
    So little dream'st upon my fortune, that
    Thou thinkst thy selfe, the happier thing, to be
    1335So neare Emilia, me thou deem'st at Thebs,
    And therein wretched, although free; But if
    Thou knew'st my Mistris breathd on me, and that
    I ear'd her language, livde in her eye; O Coz
    What passion would enclose thee.
    1340Enter Palamon as out of a Bush, with his Shackles: bends
    his fist at Arcite.
    Palamon. Traytor kinseman,
    Thou shouldst perceive my passion, if these signes
    Of prisonment were off me, and this hand
    1345But owner of a Sword: By all othes in one
    I, and the iustice of my love would make thee
    A confest Traytor, o thou most persidious
    That ever gently lookd the voydes of honour.
    That eu'r bore gentle Token; falsest Cosen
    1350That ever blood made kin, call'st thou hir thine?
    Ile prove it in my Shackles, with these hands,
    Void of appointment, that thou ly'st, and art
    A very theefe in love, a Chaffy Lord
    Nor worth the name of villaine: had I a Sword
    1355And these house clogges away.
    Arc. Deere Cosin Palamon,
    Pal. Cosoner Arcite, give me language, such
    As thou hast shewd me feate.
    Arc. Not finding in
    1360The circuit of my breast, any grosse stuffe
    To forme me like your blazon, holds me to
    This gentlenesse of answer; tis your passion
    That thus mistakes, the which to you being enemy,
    Cannot to me be kind: honor, and honestie
    I
    The Two Noble Kinsmen.
    1365I cherish, and depend on, howsoev'r
    You skip them in me, and with them faire Coz
    Ile maintaine my proceedings; pray be pleas'd
    To shew in generous termes, your griefes, since that
    Your question's with your equall, who professes
    1370To cleare his owne way, with the minde and Sword
    Of a true Gentleman.
    Pal. That thou durst Arcite.
    Arc. My Coz, my Coz, you have beene well advertis'd
    How much I dare, y'ave seene me use my Sword
    1375Against th' advice of feare: sure of another
    You would not heare me doubted, but your silence
    Should breake out, though i'th Sanctuary.
    Pal. Sir,
    I have seene you move in such a place, which well
    1380Might justifie your manhood, you were calld
    A good knight and a bold; But the whole weeke's not(faire
    If any day it rayne: Their valiant temper
    Men loose when they encline to trecherie,
    And then they fight like compelld Beares, would fly
    1385Were they not tyde.
    Arc. Kinsman; you might as well
    Speake this, and act it in your Glasse, as to
    His eare, which now disdaines you.
    Pal. Come up to me,
    1390Quit me of these cold Gyves, give me a Sword
    Though it be rustie, and the charity
    Of one meale lend me; Come before me then
    A good Sword in thy hand, and doe but say
    That Emily is thine, I will forgive
    1395The trespasse thou hast done me, yea my life
    If then thou carry't, and brave soules in shades
    That have dyde manly, which will seeke of me
    Some newes from earth, they shall get none but this
    That thou art brave, and noble.
    1400Arc. Be content,
    Againe betake you to your hawthorne house,
    With counsaile of the night, I will be here
    With wholesome viands; these impediments
    Will
    The Two Noble Kinsmen.
    Will I file off, you shall have garments, and
    1405Perfumes to kill the smell o'th prison, after
    When you shall stretch your selfe, and say but Arcite
    I am in plight, there shall be at your choyce
    Both Sword, and Armour.
    Pal. Oh you heavens, dares any
    1410So noble beare a guilty busines! none
    But onely Arcite, therefore none but Arcite
    In this kinde is so bold.
    Arc. Sweete Palamon.
    Pal. I doe embrace you, and your offer, for
    1415Your offer doo't I onely, Sir your person
    Without hipocrisy I may not wish
    Winde hornes of Cornets.
    More then my Swords edge ont.
    Arc. You heare the Hornes;
    1420Enter your Musicke least this match between's
    Be crost, er met, give me your hand, farewell.
    Ile bring you every needfull thing: I pray you
    Take comfort and be strong.
    Pal. Pray hold your promise;
    1425And doe the deede with a bent brow, most crtaine
    You love me not, be rough with me, and powre
    This oile out of your language; by this ayre
    I could for each word, give a Cuffe: my stomach
    not reconcild by reason,
    1430Arc. Plainely spoken,
    Yet pardon me hard language, when I spur
    Winde hornes.
    My horse, I chide him not; content, and anger
    In me have but one face. Harke Sir, they call
    1435The scatterd to the Banket; you must guesse
    I have an office there.
    Pal. Sir your attendance
    Cannot please heaven, and I know your office
    Vnjustly is atcheev'd.
    1440Arc. If a good title,
    I am perswaded this question sicke between's,
    By
    The Two Noble Kinsmen.
    By bleeding must be cur'd. I am a Suitour,
    That to your Sword you will bequeath this plea,
    And talke of it no more.
    1445Pal. But this one word:
    You are going now to gaze upon my Mistris,
    For note you, mine she is.
    Arc, Nay then.
    Pal. Nay pray you,
    1450You talke of feeding me to breed me strength
    You are going now to looke upon a Sun
    That strengthens what it lookes on, there
    You have a vantage ore me, but enjoy't till
    I may enforce my remedy. Farewell. Exeunt.
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