1769Pal. About this houre my Cosen gave his faith

1770To visit me againe, and with him bring

1771Two Swords, and two good Armors; if he faile

1772He's neither man, nor Souldier; when he left me

1773I did not thinke a weeke could have restord

1774My lost strength to me, I was growne so low,

1775And Crest-falne with my wants; I thanke thee Arcite,

1776Thou art yet a faire Foe; and I feele my selfe

1777With this refreshing, able once againe

1778To out dure danger: To delay it longer

1779Would make the world think when it comes to hearing,

1780That I lay fatting like a Swine, to fight

1781And not a Souldier: Therefore this blest morning

1782Shall be the last; and that Sword he refutes,

1783If it but hold, I kill him with; tis Iustice:

1784So love, and Fortune for me: O good morrow.

1786Arc. Good morrow noble kinesman,

1787Pal. I have put you

1788To too much paines Sir.

1789Arc. That too much faire Cosen,

1790Is but a debt to honour, and my duty.

1791Pal. Would you were so in all Sir; I could wish ye

1792As kinde a kinsman, as you force me finde

1793A beneficiall foe, that my embraces

1794Might thanke ye, not my blowes.

1795Arc. I shall thinke either

1796Well done, a noble recompence.

1797Pal. Then I shall quit you.

1798Arc. Defy me in these faire termes, and you show

1799More then a Mistris to me, no more anger

1800As you love any thing that's honourable;

1801We were not bred to talke man, when we are arm'd

1802And both upon our guards, then let our fury

1803Like meeting of two tides, fly strongly from us,

1804And then to whom the birthright of this Beauty

1805Truely pertaines (without obbraidings, scornes,

1806Dispisings of our persons, and such powtings

1807Fitter for Girles and Schooleboyes) will be seene

1808And quickly, yours, or mine: wilt please you arme Sir,

1809Or if you feele your selfe not fitting yet

1810And furnishd with your old strength, ile stay Cosen

1811And ev'ry day discourse you into health,

1812As I am spard, your person I am friends with,

1813And I could wish I had not saide I lov'd her

1814Though I had dide; But loving such a Lady

1815And justifying my Love, I must not fly from't.

1816Pal. Arcite, thou art so brave an enemy

1817That no man but thy Cosen's fit to kill thee,

1818I am well, and lusty, choose your Armes.

1819Arc. Choose you Sir.

1820Pal. Wilt thou exceede in all, or do'st thou doe it

1821To make me spare thee?

1822Arc. If you thinke so Cosen,

1823You are deceived, for as I am a Soldier.

1824I will not spare you.

1825Pal. That's well said.

1826Arc. You'l finde it.

1827Pal. Then as I am an honest man and love,

1828With all the justice of affection

1829Ile pay thee soundly: This ile take.

1830Arc. That's mine then,

1831Ile arme you first.

1832Pal. Do: pray thee tell me Cosen,

1833Where gotst thou this good Armour.

1834Arc. Tis the Dukes,

1835And to say true, I stole it; doe I pinch you?

1836Pal. Noe.

1837Arc. Is't not too heavie?

1838Pal. I have worne a lighter,

1839But I shall make it serve.

1840Arc. Ile buckl't close.

1841Pal. By any meanes.

1842Arc. You care not for a Grand guard?

1843Pal. No, no, wee'l use no horses, I perceave

1844You would faine be at that Fight.

1845Arc. I am indifferent.

1846Pal. Faith so am I: good Cosen, thrust the buckle

1847Through far enough.

1848Arc. I warrant you.

1849Pal. My Caske now.

1850Arc. Will you fight bare-armd?

1851Pal. We shall be the nimbler.

1852Arc. But use your Gauntlets though; those are o'th least,

1853Prethee take mine good Cosen.

1854Pal. Thanke you Arcite.

1855How doe I looke, am I falne much away?

1856Arc. Faith very little; love has usd you kindly.

1857Pal. Ile warrant thee, Ile strike home.

1858Arc. Doe, and spare not;

1859Ile give you cause sweet Cosen.

1860Pal. Now to you Sir,

1861Me thinkes this Armo'rs very like that, Arcite,

H Thou

1862Thou wor'st that day the 3. Kings fell, but lighter.

1863Arc. That was a very good one, and that day

1864I well remember, you outdid me Cosen,

1865I never saw such valour: when you chargd

1866Vpon the left wing of the Enemie,

1867I spurd hard to come up, and under me

1868I had a right good horse.

1869Pal. You had indeede

1870A bright Bay I remember.

1871Arc. Yes but all

1872Was vainely labour'd in me, you outwent me,

1873Nor could my wishes reach you; yet a little

1874I did by imitation.

1875Pal. More by vertue,

1876You are modest Cosen.

1877Arc. When I saw you charge first,

1878Me thought I heard a dreadfull clap of Thunder

1879Breake from the Troope.

1880Pal. But still before that flew

1881The lightning of your valour: Stay a little,

1882Is not this peece too streight?

1883Arc. No, no, tis well.

1884Pal. I would have nothing hurt thee but my Sword,

1885A bruise would be dishonour.

1886Arc. Now I am perfect.

1887Pal. Stand off then.

1888Arc. Take my Sword, I hold it better.

1889Pal. I thanke ye: No, keepe it, your life lyes on it,

1890Here's one, if it but hold, I aske no more,

1891For all my hopes: My Cause and honour guard me.

1892Arc. And me my love:* Is there ought else to say?

1893Pal. This onely, and no more: Thou art mine Aunts Son.

1894And that blood we desire to shed is mutuall,

1895In me, thine, and in thee, mine: My Sword

1896Is in my hand, and if thou killst me

1897The gods, and I forgive thee; If there be

1898A place prepar'd for those that sleepe in honour,

1899I wish his wearie soule, that falls may win it:

1900Fight bravely Cosen, give me thy noble hand.

1901Arc. Here Palamon: This hand shall never more

1902Come neare thee with such friendship.

1903Pal. I commend thee.

1904Arc. If I fall, curse me, and say I was a coward,

1905For none but such, dare die in these just Tryalls,

1906Once more farewell my Cosen,

1907Pal. Farewell Arcite. Fight.

1909Arc. Loe Cosen, loe, our Folly has undon us.

1910Pal. Why?

1911Arc. This is the Duke, a hunting as I told you,

1912If we be found, we are wretched, O retire

1913For honours sake, and safely presently

1914Into your Bush agen; Sir we shall finde

1915Too many howres to dye in, gentle Cosen:

1916If you be seene you perish instantly

1917For breaking prison, and I, if you reveale me,

1918For my contempt; Then all the world will scorne us,

1919And say we had a noble difference,

1920But base disposers of it.

1921Pal. No, no, Cosen

1922I will no more be hidden, nor put off

1923This great adventure to a second Tryall:

1924I know your cunning, and I know your cause,

1925He that faints now, shame take him, put thy selfe

1926Vpon thy present guard.

1927Arc. You are not mad?

1928Pal. Or I will make th' advantage of this howre

1929Mine owne, and what to come shall threaten me,

1930I feare lesse then my fortune: know weake Cosen

1931I love Emilia, and in that ile bury

1932Thee, and all crosses else.

1933Arc. Then come, what can come

1934Thou shalt know Palamon, I dare as well

1935Die, as discourse, or sleepe: Onely this feares me,

1936The law will have the honour of our ends.

1937Have at thy life.

H2 Pal.

1938Pal. Looke to thine owne well Arcite.

1941 Theseus. What ignorant and mad malicious Traitors,

1942Are you? That gainst the tenor of my Lawes

1943Are making Battaile, thus like Knights appointed,

1944Without my leave, and Officers of Armes?

1945By Castor both shall dye.

1946Pal. Hold thy word Theseus,

1947We are certainly both Traitors, both despisers

1948Of thee, and of thy goodnesse: I am Palamon

1949That cannot love thee, he that broke thy Prison,

1950Thinke well, what that deserves; and this is Arcite

1951A bolder Traytor never trod thy ground

1952A Falser neu'r seem'd friend: This is the man

1953Was begd and banish'd, this is he contemnes thee

1954And what thou dar'st doe; and in this disguise

1955Against this owne Edict followes thy Sister,

1956That fortunate bright Star, the faire Emilia

1957Whose servant, (if there be a right in seeing,

1958And first bequeathing of the soule to) justly

1959I am, and which is more, dares thinke her his.

1960This treacherie like a most trusty Lover,

1961I call'd him now to answer; if thou bee'st

1962As thou art spoken, great and vertuous,

1963The true descider of all injuries,

1964Say, Fight againe, and thou shalt see me Theseus

1965Doe such a Iustice, thou thy selfe wilt envie,

1966Then take my life, Ile wooe thee too't.

1967Per. O heaven,

1968What more then man is this!

1969Thes. I have sworne.

1970Arc. We seeke not

1971Thy breath of mercy Theseus, Tis to me

1972A thing as soone to dye, as thee to say it,

1973And no more mov'd: where this man calls me Traitor,

1974Let me say thus much; if in love be Treason,

1975In service of so excellent a Beutie,

1976As I love most, and in that faith will perish,

1977As I have brought my life here to confirme it,

1978As I have serv'd her truest, worthiest,

1979As I dare kill this Cosen, that denies it,

1980So let me be most Traitor, and ye please me:

1981For scorning thy Edict Duke, aske that Lady

1982Why she is faire, and why her eyes command me

1983Stay here to love her; and if she say Traytor,

1984I am a villaine fit to lye unburied.

1985Pal. Thou shalt have pitty of us both, o Theseus,

1986If unto neither thou shew mercy, stop,

1987(As thou art just) thy noble eare against us,

1988As thou art valiant; for thy Cosens soule

1989Whose 12. strong labours crowne his memory,

1990Lets die together, at one instant Duke,

1991Onely a little let him fall before me,

1992That I may tell my Soule he shall not have her.

1993Thes. I grant your wish, for to say true, your Cosen

1994Has ten times more offended, for I gave him

1995More mercy then you found, Sir, your offenses

1996Being no more then his: None here speake for 'em

1997For ere the Sun set, both shall sleepe for ever.

1998Hipol. Alas the pitty, now or never Sister

1999Speake not to be denide; That face of yours

2000Will beare the curses else of after ages

2001For these lost Cosens.

2002Emil. In my face deare Sister

2003I finde no anger to 'em; nor no ruyn,

2004The misadventure of their owne eyes kill 'em;

2005Yet that I will be woman, and have pitty,

2006My knees shall grow to 'th ground but Ile get mercie.

2007Helpe me deare Sister, in a deede so vertuous,

2008The powers of all women will be with us,

2009Most royall Brother.

2010Hipol. Sir by our tye of Marriage.

2011Emil. By your owne spotlesse honour.

2012Hip. By that faith,

2013That faire hand, and that honest heart you gave me.

H3 Emil.

2014Emil. By that you would have pitty in another,

2015By your owne vertues infinite.

2016Hip. By valour,

2017By all the chaste nights I have ever pleasd you.

2018Thes. These are strange Conjurings.

2019Per. Nay then Ile in too: By all our friendship Sir, by all(our dangers,

2020By all you love most, warres; and this sweet Lady.

2021Emil. By that you would have trembled to deny

2022A blushing Maide.

2023Hip. By your owne eyes: By strength

2024In which you swore I went beyond all women,

2025Almost all men, and yet I yeelded Theseus.

2026Per. To crowne all this; By your most noble soule

2027Which cannot want due mercie, I beg first.

2028Hip. Next heare my prayers.

2029Emil. Last let me intreate Sir.

2030Per. For mercy.

2031Hip. Mercy.

2032Emil. Mercy on these Princes.

2033Thes. Ye make my faith reele: Say I felt

2034Compassion to 'em both, how would you place it?

2035Emil. Vpon their lives: But with their banishments.

2036Thes. You are a right woman, Sister; you have pitty,

2037But want the vnderstanding where to use it.

2038If you desire their lives, invent a way

2039Safer then banishment: Can these two live

2040And have the agony of love about 'em,

2041And not kill one another? Every day

2042The'yld fight about yov; howrely bring your honour

2043In publique question with their Swords; Be wise then

2044And here forget 'em; it concernes your credit,

2045And my oth equally: I have said they die,

2046Better they fall by 'th law, then one another.

2047Bow not my honor.

2048Emil. O my noble Brother,

2049That oth was rashly made, and in your anger,

2050Your reason will not hold it, if such vowes

2051Stand for expresse will, all the world must perish.

2052Beside, I have another oth, gainst yours

2053Of more authority, I am sure more love,

2054Not made in passion neither, but good heede.

2055Thes. What is it Sister?

2056Per. Vrge it home brave Lady.

2057Emil. That you would nev'r deny me any thing

2058Fit for my modest suit, and your free granting:

2059I tye you to your word now, if ye fall in't,

2060Thinke how you maime your honour;

2061(For now I am set a begging Sir, I am deafe

2062To all but your compassion) how their lives

2063Might breed the ruine of my name; Opinion,

2064Shall any thing that loves me perish for me?

2065That were a cruell wisedome, doe men proyne

2066The straight yong Bowes that blush with thousand Blossoms

2067Because they may be rotten? O Duke Theseus

2068The goodly Mothers that have groand for these,

2069And all the longing Maides that ever lov'd,

2070If your vow stand, shall curse me and my Beauty,

2071And in their funerall songs, for these two Cosens

2072Despise my crueltie, and cry woe worth me,

2073Till I am nothing but the scorne of women;

2074For heavens sake save their lives, and banish 'em.

2075Thes. On what conditions?

2076Emil. Sweare 'em never more

2077To make me their Contention, or to know me,

2078To tread upon thy Dukedome, and to be

2079Where ever they shall travel, ever strangers to one another.

2080Pal. Ile be cut a peeces

2081Before I take this oth, forget I love her?

2082O all ye gods dispise me then: Thy Banishment

2083I not mislike, so we may fairely carry

2084Our Swords, aud cause along: else never trifle,

2085But take our lives Duke, I must love and will,

2086And for that love, must and dare kill this Cosen

2087On any peece the earth has.

2088Thes. Will you Arcite

2089Take these conditions?

2090Pal. H'es a villaine then.

2091Per. These are men.

2092Arcite. No, never Duke: Tis worse to me than begging

2093To take my life so basely, though I thinke

2094I never shall enjoy her, yet ile preserve

2095The honour of affection, and dye for her,

2096Make death a Devill.

2097Thes. What may be done? for now I feele compassion.

2098Per. Let it not fall agen Sir.

2099Thes. Say Emilia

2100If one of them were dead, as one muss, are you

2101Content to take th' other to your husband?

2102They cannot both enjoy you; They are Princes

2103As goodly as your owne eyes, and as noble

2104As ever fame yet spoke of; looke upon 'em,

2105And if you can love, end this difference,

2106I give consent, are you content too Princes?

2107Both. With all our soules.

2108Thes. He that she refuses

2109Must dye then.

2110Both. Any death thou canst invent Duke.

2111Pal. If I fall from that mouth, I fall with favour,

2112And Lovers yet unborne shall blesse my ashes.

2113Arc. If she refuse me, yet my grave will wed me,

2114And Souldiers sing my Epitaph.

2115Thes. Make choice then.

2116Emil. I cannot Sir, they are both too excellent

2117For me, a hayre shall never fall of these men.

2118Hip. What will become of 'em?

2119Thes. Thus I ordaine it,

2120And by mine honor, once againe it stands,

2121Or both shall dye. You shall both to your Countrey,

2122And each within this moneth accompanied

2123With three faire Knights, appeare againe in this place,

2124In which Ile plant a Pyramid; and whether

2125Before us that are here, can force his Cosen

2126By fayre and knightly strength to touch the Pillar,

2127He shall enjoy her: the other loose his head,

2128And all his friends; Nor shall he grudge to fall,

2129Nor thinke he dies with interest in this Lady:

2130Will this content yee?

2131Pal. Yes: here Cosen Arcite

2132I am friends againe, till that howre.

2133Arc. I embrace ye.

2134Thes. Are you content Sister?

2135Emil, Yes, I must Sir,

2136Els both miscarry.

2137Thes. Come shake hands againe then,

2138And take heede, as you are Gentlemen, this Quarrell

2139Sleepe till the howre prefixt, and hold your course.

2140Pal. We dare not faile thee Theseus.

2141Thes. Come, Ile give ye

2142Now usage like to Princes, and to Friends:

2143When ye returne, who wins, Ile settle heere,

2144Who looses, yet Ile weepe upon his Beere. Exeunt.