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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Scaena 3. Enter Theseus, Hipolita, Emilia, Perithous: and
    some Attendants, T. Tucke: Curtis.
    Emil. Ile no step further.
    Per. Will you loose this sight?
    3000Emil. I had rather see a wren hawke at a fly
    Then this decision ev'ry; blow that falls
    Threats a brave life, each stroake laments
    The place whereon it fals, and sounds more like
    A Bell, then blade: I will stay here,
    3005It is enough my hearing shall be punishd,
    With what shall happen, gainst the which there is
    No deaffing, but to heare; not taint mine eye
    With dread sights, it may shun.
    Pir. Sir, my good Lord
    3010Your Sister will no further.
    Thes. Oh she must.
    She shall see deeds of honour in their kinde,
    Which sometime show well pencild. Nature now
    Shall make, and act the Story, the beleife
    3015Both seald with eye, and eare; you must be present,
    You are the victours meede, the price, and garlond
    To crowne the Questions title.
    Emil. Pardon me,
    If I were there, I'ld winke
    3020Thes. You must be there;
    This Tryall is as t'wer i'th night, and you
    The onely star to shine.
    Emil. I am extinct,
    There is but envy in that light, which showes
    3025The one the other: darkenes which ever was
    The dam of horrour, who do's stand accurst
    Of many mortall Millions, may even now
    By casting her blacke mantle over both
    That neither could finde other, get her selfe
    3030Some part of a good name, and many a murther
    Set off wherto she's guilty.
    Hip. You must goe.
    Emil, In faith I will not.
    Thes.
    The Two Noble Kinsmen.
    Thes. Why the knights must kindle
    3035Their valour at your eye: know of this war
    You are the Treasure, and must needes be by
    To give the Service pay.
    Emil, Sir pardon me,
    The tytle of a kingdome may be tride
    3040Out of it selfe.
    Thes. Well, well then, at your pleasure,
    Those that remaine with you, could wish their office
    To any of their Enemies.
    Hip. Farewell Sister,
    3045I am like to know your husband fore your selfe
    By some small start of time, he whom the gods
    Doe of the two know best, I pray them he
    Be made your Lot.
    Exeunt Theseus, Hipolita, Perithous, &c.
    3050Emil. Arcite is gently visagd; yet his eye
    Is like an Engyn bent, or a sharpe weapon
    In a soft sheath; mercy, and manly courage
    Are bedfellowes in his visage: Palamon
    Has a most menacing aspect, his brow
    3055Is grav'd, and seemes to bury what it frownes on,
    Yet sometime tis not so, but alters to
    The quallity of his thoughts; long time his eye
    Will dwell upon his object. Mellencholly
    Becomes him nobly; So do's Arcites mirth,
    3060But Palamons sadnes is a kinde of mirth,
    So mingled, as if mirth did make him sad,
    And sadnes, merry; those darker humours that
    Sticke misbecomingly on others, on them
    Live in faire dwelling.
    3065Cornets. Trompets sound as to a charge.
    Harke how yon spurs to spirit doe incite
    The Princes to their proofe, Arcite may win me,
    And yet may Palamon wound Arcite to
    The spoyling of his figure. O what pitty
    3070Enough for such a chance; if I were by
    I might doe hurt, for they would glance their eies
    M Toward
    The Two Noble Kinsmen.
    Toward my Seat, and in that motion might
    Omit a ward, or forfeit an offence
    Which crav'd that very time: it is much better
    3075(Cornets. a great cry and noice within crying a Palamon.)
    I am not there, oh better never borne
    Then minister to such harme, what is the chance?
    Enter Servant.
    Ser. The Crie's a Palamon.
    3080Emil. Then he has won: Twas ever likely,
    He lookd all grace and successe, and he is
    Doubtlesse the prim'st of men: I pre' thee run
    And tell me how it goes.
    Showt, and Cornets: Crying a Palamon.
    3085Ser. Still Palamon.
    Emil. Run and enquire, poore Servant thou hast lost,
    Vpon my right side still I wore thy picture,
    Palamons on the leff, why so, I know not,
    I had no end in't; else chance would have it so.
    3090Another cry, and showt within, and Cornets.
    On the sinister side, the heart lyes; Palamon
    Had the best boding chance: This burst of clamour
    Is sure th' end o'th Combat. Enter Servant.
    Ser. They saide that Palamon had Arcites body
    3095Within an inch o'th Pyramid, that the cry
    Was generall a Palamon: But anon,
    Th' Assistants made a brave redemption, and
    The two bold Tytlers, at this instant are
    Hand to hand at it.
    3100Emil. Were they metamorphisd
    Both into one; oh why? there were no woman
    Worth so composd a Man: their single share,
    Their noblenes peculier to them, gives
    The prejudice of disparity values shortnes
    3105Cornets. Cry within, Arcite, Arcite.
    To any Lady breathing---More exulting?
    Palamon still?
    Ser. Nay, now the sound is Arcite.
    Emil. I pre' thee lay attention to the Cry.
    Cornets.
    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
    The Two Noble Kinsmen.
    Encountred yet his Better, I have heard
    Two emulous Philomels, beate the eare o'th night
    3150With their contentious throates, now one the higher,
    Anon the other, then againe the first,
    And by and by out breasted, that the sence
    Could not be judge betweene 'em: So it far'd
    Good space betweene these kinesmen; till heavens did
    3155Make hardly one the winner: weare the Girlond
    With joy that you have won: For the subdude,
    Give them our present Iustice, since I know
    Their lives but pinch 'em; Let it here be done:
    The Sceane's not for our seeing, goe we hence,
    3160Right joyfull, with some sorrow. Arme your prize,
    I know you will not loose her: Hipolita
    I see one eye of yours conceives a teare
    The which it will deliver. Florish.
    Emil. Is this wynning?
    3165Oh all you heavenly powers where is you mercy?
    But that your wils have saide it must be so,
    And charge me live to comfort this unfriended,
    This miserable Prince, that cuts away
    A life more worthy from him, then all women;
    3170I should, and would die too.
    Hip. Infinite pitty
    That fowre such eies should be so fixd on one
    That two must needes be blinde fort.
    Thes. So it is. Exeunt.
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