2996Scaena 3. Enter Theseus, Hipolita, Emilia, Perithous: and

2998Emil. Ile no step further.

2999Per. Will you loose this sight?

3000Emil. I had rather see a wren hawke at a fly

3001Then this decision ev'ry; blow that falls

3002Threats a brave life, each stroake laments

3003The place whereon it fals, and sounds more like

3004A Bell, then blade: I will stay here,

3005It is enough my hearing shall be punishd,

3006With what shall happen, gainst the which there is

3007No deaffing, but to heare; not taint mine eye

3008With dread sights, it may shun.

3009Pir. Sir, my good Lord

3010Your Sister will no further.

3011Thes. Oh she must.

3012She shall see deeds of honour in their kinde,

3013Which sometime show well pencild. Nature now

3014Shall make, and act the Story, the beleife

3015Both seald with eye, and eare; you must be present,

3016You are the victours meede, the price, and garlond

3017To crowne the Questions title.

3018Emil. Pardon me,

3019If I were there, I'ld winke

3020Thes. You must be there;

3021This Tryall is as t'wer i'th night, and you

3022The onely star to shine.

3023Emil. I am extinct,

3024There is but envy in that light, which showes

3025The one the other: darkenes which ever was

3026The dam of horrour, who do's stand accurst

3027Of many mortall Millions, may even now

3028By casting her blacke mantle over both

3029That neither could finde other, get her selfe

3030Some part of a good name, and many a murther

3031Set off wherto she's guilty.

3032Hip. You must goe.

3033Emil, In faith I will not.

3034Thes. Why the knights must kindle

3035Their valour at your eye: know of this war

3036You are the Treasure, and must needes be by

3037To give the Service pay.

3038Emil, Sir pardon me,

3039The tytle of a kingdome may be tride

3040Out of it selfe.

3041Thes. Well, well then, at your pleasure,

3042Those that remaine with you, could wish their office

3043To any of their Enemies.

3044Hip. Farewell Sister,

3045I am like to know your husband fore your selfe

3046By some small start of time, he whom the gods

3047Doe of the two know best, I pray them he

3048Be made your Lot.

3050Emil. Arcite is gently visagd; yet his eye

3051Is like an Engyn bent, or a sharpe weapon

3052In a soft sheath; mercy, and manly courage

3053Are bedfellowes in his visage: Palamon

3054Has a most menacing aspect, his brow

3055Is grav'd, and seemes to bury what it frownes on,

3056Yet sometime tis not so, but alters to

3057The quallity of his thoughts; long time his eye

3058Will dwell upon his object. Mellencholly

3059Becomes him nobly; So do's Arcites mirth,

3060But Palamons sadnes is a kinde of mirth,

3061So mingled, as if mirth did make him sad,

3062And sadnes, merry; those darker humours that

3063Sticke misbecomingly on others, on them

3064Live in faire dwelling.

3066Harke how yon spurs to spirit doe incite

3067The Princes to their proofe, Arcite may win me,

3068And yet may Palamon wound Arcite to

3069The spoyling of his figure. O what pitty

3070Enough for such a chance; if I were by

3071I might doe hurt, for they would glance their eies

M Toward

3072Toward my Seat, and in that motion might

3073Omit a ward, or forfeit an offence

3074Which crav'd that very time: it is much better

3076I am not there, oh better never borne

3077Then minister to such harme, what is the chance?

3079Ser. The Crie's a Palamon.

3080Emil. Then he has won: Twas ever likely,

3081He lookd all grace and successe, and he is

3082Doubtlesse the prim'st of men: I pre' thee run

3083And tell me how it goes.

3085Ser. Still Palamon.

3086Emil. Run and enquire, poore Servant thou hast lost,

3087Vpon my right side still I wore thy picture,

3088Palamons on the leff, why so, I know not,

3089I had no end in't; else chance would have it so.

3091On the sinister side, the heart lyes; Palamon

3092Had the best boding chance: This burst of clamour

3093Is sure th' end o'th Combat. Enter Servant.

3094Ser. They saide that Palamon had Arcites body

3095Within an inch o'th Pyramid, that the cry

3096Was generall a Palamon: But anon,

3097Th' Assistants made a brave redemption, and

3098The two bold Tytlers, at this instant are

3099Hand to hand at it.

3100Emil. Were they metamorphisd

3101Both into one; oh why? there were no woman

3102Worth so composd a Man: their single share,

3103Their noblenes peculier to them, gives

3104The prejudice of disparity values shortnes

3106To any Lady breathing---More exulting?

3107Palamon still?

3108Ser. Nay, now the sound is Arcite.

3109Emil. I pre' thee lay attention to the Cry.

3111Set both thine eares to'th busines.

3112Ser. The cry is

3113Arcite, and victory, harke Arcite, victory,

3114The Combats consummation is proclaim'd

3115By the wind Instruments.

3116Emil. Halfe sights saw

3117That Arcite was no babe: god's lyd, his richnes

3118And costlines of spirit look't through him, it could

3119No more be hid in him, then fire in flax,

3120Then humble banckes can goe to law with waters,

3121That drift windes, force to raging: I did thinke

3122Good Palamon would miscarry, yet I knew not

3123Why I did thinke so; Our reasons are not prophets

3124When oft our fancies are: They are comming off:

3125Alas poore Palamon. Cornets.

3128Thes. Lo, where our Sister is in expectation,

3129Yet quaking, and unsetled: Fairest Emily,

3130The gods by their divine arbitrament

3131Have given you this Knight, he is a good one

3132As ever strooke at head: Give me your hands;

3133Receive you her, you him, be plighted with

3134A love that growes, as you decay;

3135Arcite. Emily,

3136To buy you, I have lost what's deerest to me,

3137Save what is bought, and yet I purchase cheapely,

3138As I doe rate your value.

3139Thes. O loved Sister,

3140He speakes now of as brave a Knight as ere

3141Did spur a noble Steed: Surely the gods

3142Would have him die a Batchelour, least his race

3143Should shew i'th world too godlike: His behaviour

3144So charmd me, that me thought Alcides was

3145To him a sow of lead: if I could praise

3146Each part of him to'th all; I have spoke, your Arcite

3147Did not loose by't; For he that was thus good

M2 Encountred

3148Encountred yet his Better, I have heard

3149Two emulous Philomels, beate the eare o'th night

3150With their contentious throates, now one the higher,

3151Anon the other, then againe the first,

3152And by and by out breasted, that the sence

3153Could not be judge betweene 'em: So it far'd

3154Good space betweene these kinesmen; till heavens did

3155Make hardly one the winner: weare the Girlond

3156With joy that you have won: For the subdude,

3157Give them our present Iustice, since I know

3158Their lives but pinch 'em; Let it here be done:

3159The Sceane's not for our seeing, goe we hence,

3160Right joyfull, with some sorrow. Arme your prize,

3161I know you will not loose her: Hipolita

3162I see one eye of yours conceives a teare

3163The which it will deliver. Florish.

3164Emil. Is this wynning?

3165Oh all you heavenly powers where is you mercy?

3166But that your wils have saide it must be so,

3167And charge me live to comfort this unfriended,

3168This miserable Prince, that cuts away

3169A life more worthy from him, then all women;

3170I should, and would die too.

3171Hip. Infinite pitty

3172That fowre such eies should be so fixd on one

3173That two must needes be blinde fort.

3174Thes. So it is. Exeunt.