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Actus Quintus

Scaena 1. (Before the Temples of Mars, Venus, and Diana.)

[Enter Thesius, Perithous, Hipolita, attendants.]

THESEUS.

Now let’em enter, and before the gods

Tender their holy prayers: Let the Temples

Burne bright with sacred fires, and the Altars

In hallowed clouds commend their swelling Incense

To those above us: Let no due be wanting; [Florish of Cornets.]

They have a noble worke in hand, will honour

The very powers that love ‘em.

[Enter Palamon and Arcite, and their Knights.]

PERITHOUS.

Sir, they enter.

THESEUS.

You valiant and strong harted Enemies,

You royall German foes, that this day come

To blow that furnesse out that flames betweene ye:

Lay by your anger for an houre, and dove-like,

Before the holy Altars of your helpers,

(The all feard gods) bow downe your stubborne bodies.

Your ire is more than mortall; So your helpe be,

And as the gods regard ye, fight with Iustice;

Ile leave you to your prayers, and betwixt ye

I part my wishes.

PERITHOUS.

Honour crowne the worthiest. [Exit Theseus, and his traine.]

PALAMON.

The glasse is running now that cannot finish

Till one of us expire: Thinke you but thus,

That were there ought in me which strove to show

Mine enemy in this businesse, wer’t one eye

Against another, Arme opprest by Arme,

I would destroy th’offender, Coz, I would,

Though parcell of my selfe: Then from this gather

How I should tender you.

ARCITE.

I am in labour

To push your name, your auncient love, our kindred

Out of my memory; and i’th selfe same place

To seate something I would confound: So hoyst we

The sayles, that must these vessells port even where

The heavenly Lymiter pleases.

PALAMON.

You speake well;

Before I turne, Let me embrace thee, Cosen:

This I shall never doe agen.

ARCITE.

One farewell.

PALAMON.

Why, let it be so: Farewell, Coz. [Exeunt Palamon and his

Knights.]

ARCITE.

Farewell, Sir.—

Knights, Kinsemen, Lovers, yea, my Sacrifices,

True worshippers of Mars, whose spirit in you

Expells the seedes of feare, and th’apprehension

Which still is farther off it, Goe with me

Before the god of our profession: There

Require of him the hearts of Lyons, and

The breath of Tigers, yea, the fearcenesse too,

Yea, the speed also,—to goe on, I meane,

Else wish we to be Snayles: you know my prize

Must be drag’d out of blood; force and great feate

Must put my Garland on, where she stickes

The Queene of Flowers: our intercession then

Must be to him that makes the Campe a Cestron

Brymd with the blood of men: give me your aide

And bend your spirits towards him. [They kneele.]

Thou mighty one, that with thy power hast turnd

Greene Neptune into purple, (whose Approach)

Comets prewarne, whose havocke in vaste Feild

Vnearthed skulls proclaime, whose breath blowes downe,

The teeming Ceres foyzon, who doth plucke

With hand armypotent from forth blew clowdes

The masond Turrets, that both mak’st and break’st

The stony girthes of Citties: me thy puple,

Yongest follower of thy Drom, instruct this day

With military skill, that to thy lawde

I may advance my Streamer, and by thee,

Be stil’d the Lord o’th day: give me, great Mars,

Some token of thy pleasure.

[Here they fall on their faces as formerly, and there is heard

clanging of Armor, with a short Thunder as the burst of a

Battaile,

whereupon they all rise and bow to the Altar.]

O Great Corrector of enormous times,

Shaker of ore-rank States, thou grand decider

Of dustie and old tytles, that healst with blood

The earth when it is sicke, and curst the world

O’th pluresie of people; I doe take

Thy signes auspiciously, and in thy name

To my designe march boldly. Let us goe. [Exeunt.]

[Enter Palamon and his Knights, with the former observance.]

PALAMON.

Our stars must glister with new fire, or be

To daie extinct; our argument is love,

Which if the goddesse of it grant, she gives

Victory too: then blend your spirits with mine,

You, whose free noblenesse doe make my cause

Your personall hazard; to the goddesse Venus

Commend we our proceeding, and implore

Her power unto our partie. [Here they kneele as formerly.]

Haile, Soveraigne Queene of secrets, who hast power

To call the feircest Tyrant from his rage,

And weepe unto a Girle; that ha’st the might,

Even with an ey-glance, to choke Marsis Drom

And turne th’allarme to whispers; that canst make

A Criple florish with his Crutch, and cure him

Before Apollo; that may’st force the King

To be his subjects vassaile, and induce

Stale gravitie to daunce; the pould Bachelour—

Whose youth, like wonton Boyes through Bonfyres,

Have skipt thy flame—at seaventy thou canst catch

And make him, to the scorne of his hoarse throate,

Abuse yong laies of love: what godlike power

Hast thou not power upon? To Phoebus thou

Add’st flames hotter then his; the heavenly fyres

Did scortch his mortall Son, thine him; the huntresse

All moyst and cold, some say, began to throw

Her Bow away, and sigh. Take to thy grace

Me, thy vowd Souldier, who doe beare thy yoke

As t’wer a wreath of Roses, yet is heavier

Then Lead it selfe, stings more than Nettles.

I have never beene foule mouthd against thy law,

Nev’r reveald secret, for I knew none—would not,

Had I kend all that were; I never practised

Vpon mans wife, nor would the Libells reade

Of liberall wits; I never at great feastes

Sought to betray a Beautie, but have blush’d

At simpring Sirs that did; I have beene harsh

To large Confessors, and have hotly ask’d them

If they had Mothers: I had one, a woman,

And women t’wer they wrong’d. I knew a man

Of eightie winters, this I told them, who

A Lasse of foureteene brided; twas thy power

To put life into dust; the aged Crampe

Had screw’d his square foote round,

The Gout had knit his fingers into knots,

Torturing Convulsions from his globie eyes,

Had almost drawne their spheeres, that what was life

In him seem’d torture: this Anatomie

Had by his yong faire pheare a Boy, and I

Beleev’d it was him, for she swore it was,

And who would not beleeve her? briefe, I am

To those that prate and have done no Companion;

To those that boast and have not a defyer;

To those that would and cannot a Rejoycer.

Yea, him I doe not love, that tells close offices

The fowlest way, nor names concealements in

The boldest language: such a one I am,

And vow that lover never yet made sigh

Truer then I. O, then, most soft, sweet goddesse,

Give me the victory of this question, which

Is true loves merit, and blesse me with a signe

Of thy great pleasure.

[Here Musicke is heard, Doves are seene to flutter; they fall

againe upon their faces, then on their knees.]

PALAMON.

O thou, that from eleven to ninetie raign’st

In mortall bosomes, whose chase is this world,

And we in heards thy game: I give thee thankes

For this faire Token, which, being layd unto

Mine innocent true heart, armes in assurance [They bow.]

My body to this businesse. Let us rise

And bow before the goddesse: Time comes on. [Exeunt.]

[Still Musicke of Records.]

[Enter Emilia in white, her haire about her shoulders, (wearing) a wheaten wreath: One in white holding up her traine, her haire stucke with flowers: One before her carrying a silver Hynde, in which is conveyd Incense and sweet odours, which being set upon the Altar (of Diana) her maides standing a loofe, she sets fire to it; then they curtsey and kneele.]

EMILIA.

O sacred, shadowie, cold and constant Queene,

Abandoner of Revells, mute, contemplative,

Sweet, solitary, white as chaste, and pure

As windefand Snow, who to thy femall knights

Alow’st no more blood than will make a blush,

Which is their orders robe: I heere, thy Priest,

Am humbled fore thine Altar; O vouchsafe,

With that thy rare greene eye, which never yet

Beheld thing maculate, looke on thy virgin;

And, sacred silver Mistris, lend thine eare

(Which nev’r heard scurrill terme, into whose port

Ne’re entred wanton found,) to my petition

Seasond with holy feare: This is my last

Of vestall office; I am bride habited,

But mayden harted, a husband I have pointed,

But doe not know him; out of two I should

Choose one and pray for his successe, but I

Am guiltlesse of election: of mine eyes,

Were I to loose one, they are equall precious,

I could doombe neither, that which perish’d should

Goe too’t unsentenc’d: Therefore, most modest Queene,

He of the two Pretenders, that best loves me

And has the truest title in’t, Let him

Take off my wheaten Gerland, or else grant

The fyle and qualitie I hold, I may

Continue in thy Band.

[Here the Hynde vanishes under the Altar: and in the place ascends

a Rose Tree, having one Rose upon it.]

See what our Generall of Ebbs and Flowes

Out from the bowells of her holy Altar

With sacred act advances! But one Rose:

If well inspird, this Battaile shal confound

Both these brave Knights, and I, a virgin flowre

Must grow alone unpluck’d.

[Here is heard a sodaine twang of Instruments, and the Rose fals\

from the Tree (which vanishes under the altar.)]

The flowre is falne, the Tree descends: O, Mistris,

Thou here dischargest me; I shall be gather’d:

I thinke so, but I know not thine owne will;

Vnclaspe thy Misterie.—I hope she’s pleas’d,

Her Signes were gratious. [They curtsey and Exeunt.]

Scaena 2. (A darkened Room in the Prison.) [Enter Doctor, Iaylor and Wooer, in habite of Palamon.]

DOCTOR.

Has this advice I told you, done any good upon her?

WOOER.

O very much; The maids that kept her company

Have halfe perswaded her that I am Palamon;

Within this halfe houre she came smiling to me,

And asked me what I would eate, and when I would kisse her:

I told her presently, and kist her twice.

DOCTOR.

Twas well done; twentie times had bin far better,

For there the cure lies mainely.

WOOER.

Then she told me

She would watch with me to night, for well she knew

What houre my fit would take me.

DOCTOR.

Let her doe so,

And when your fit comes, fit her home,

And presently.

WOOER.

She would have me sing.

DOCTOR.

You did so?

WOOER.

No.

DOCTOR.

Twas very ill done, then;

You should observe her ev’ry way.

WOOER.

Alas,

I have no voice, Sir, to confirme her that way.

DOCTOR.

That’s all one, if yee make a noyse;

If she intreate againe, doe any thing,—

Lye with her, if she aske you.

IAILOR.

Hoa, there, Doctor!

DOCTOR.

Yes, in the waie of cure.

IAILOR.

But first, by your leave,

I’th way of honestie.

DOCTOR.

That’s but a nicenesse,

Nev’r cast your child away for honestie;

Cure her first this way, then if shee will be honest,

She has the path before her.

IAILOR.

Thanke yee, Doctor.

DOCTOR.

Pray, bring her in,

And let’s see how shee is.

IAILOR.

I will, and tell her

Her Palamon staies for her: But, Doctor,

Me thinkes you are i’th wrong still. [Exit Iaylor.]

DOCTOR.

Goe, goe:

You Fathers are fine Fooles: her honesty?

And we should give her physicke till we finde that—

WOOER.

Why, doe you thinke she is not honest, Sir?

DOCTOR.

How old is she?

WOOER.

She’s eighteene.

DOCTOR.

She may be,

But that’s all one; tis nothing to our purpose.

What ere her Father saies, if you perceave

Her moode inclining that way that I spoke of,

Videlicet, the way of flesh—you have me?

WOOER.

Yet, very well, Sir.

DOCTOR.

Please her appetite,

And doe it home; it cures her, ipso facto,

The mellencholly humour that infects her.

WOOER.

I am of your minde, Doctor.

[Enter Iaylor, Daughter, Maide.]

DOCTOR.

You’l finde it so; she comes, pray humour her.

IAILOR.

Come, your Love Palamon staies for you, childe,

And has done this long houre, to visite you.

DAUGHTER.

I thanke him for his gentle patience;

He’s a kind Gentleman, and I am much bound to him.

Did you nev’r see the horse he gave me?

IAILOR.

Yes.

DAUGHTER.

How doe you like him?

IAILOR.

He’s a very faire one.

DAUGHTER.

You never saw him dance?

IAILOR.

No.

DAUGHTER.

I have often.

He daunces very finely, very comely,

And for a Iigge, come cut and long taile to him,

He turnes ye like a Top.

IAILOR.

That’s fine, indeede.

DAUGHTER.

Hee’l dance the Morris twenty mile an houre,

And that will founder the best hobby-horse

(If I have any skill) in all the parish,

And gallops to the turne of LIGHT A’ LOVE:

What thinke you of this horse?

IAILOR.

Having these vertues,

I thinke he might be broght to play at Tennis.

DAUGHTER.

Alas, that’s nothing.

IAILOR.

Can he write and reade too?

DAUGHTER.

A very faire hand, and casts himselfe th’accounts

Of all his hay and provender: That Hostler

Must rise betime that cozens him. You know

The Chestnut Mare the Duke has?

IAILOR.

Very well.

DAUGHTER.

She is horribly in love with him, poore beast,

But he is like his master, coy and scornefull.

IAILOR.

What dowry has she?

DAUGHTER.

Some two hundred Bottles,

And twenty strike of Oates; but hee’l ne’re have her;

He lispes in’s neighing, able to entice

A Millars Mare: Hee’l be the death of her.

DOCTOR.

What stuffe she utters!

IAILOR.

Make curtsie; here your love comes.

WOOER.

Pretty soule,

How doe ye? that’s a fine maide, ther’s a curtsie!

DAUGHTER.

Yours to command ith way of honestie.

How far is’t now to’th end o’th world, my Masters?

DOCTOR.

Why, a daies Iorney, wench.

DAUGHTER.

Will you goe with me?

WOOER.

What shall we doe there, wench?

DAUGHTER.

Why, play at stoole ball:

What is there else to doe?

WOOER.

I am content,

If we shall keepe our wedding there.

DAUGHTER.

Tis true:

For there, I will assure you, we shall finde

Some blind Priest for the purpose, that will venture

To marry us, for here they are nice, and foolish;

Besides, my father must be hang’d to morrow

And that would be a blot i’th businesse.

Are not you Palamon?

WOOER.

Doe not you know me?

DAUGHTER.

Yes, but you care not for me; I have nothing

But this pore petticoate, and too corse Smockes.

WOOER.

That’s all one; I will have you.

DAUGHTER.

Will you surely?

WOOER.

Yes, by this faire hand, will I.

DAUGHTER.

Wee’l to bed, then.

WOOER.

Ev’n when you will. [Kisses her.]

DAUGHTER.

O Sir, you would faine be nibling.

WOOER.

Why doe you rub my kisse off?

DAUGHTER.

Tis a sweet one,

And will perfume me finely against the wedding.

Is not this your Cosen Arcite?

DOCTOR.

Yes, sweet heart,

And I am glad my Cosen Palamon

Has made so faire a choice.

DAUGHTER.

Doe you thinke hee’l have me?

DOCTOR.

Yes, without doubt.

DAUGHTER.

Doe you thinke so too?

IAILOR.

Yes.

DAUGHTER.

We shall have many children:—Lord, how y’ar growne!

My Palamon, I hope, will grow, too, finely,

Now he’s at liberty: Alas, poore Chicken,

He was kept downe with hard meate and ill lodging,

But ile kisse him up againe.

[Emter a Messenger.]

MESSENGER.

What doe you here? you’l loose the noblest sight

That ev’r was seene.

IAILOR.

Are they i’th Field?

MESSENGER.

They are.

You beare a charge there too.

IAILOR.

Ile away straight.

I must ev’n leave you here.

DOCTOR.

Nay, wee’l goe with you;

I will not loose the Fight.

IAILOR.

How did you like her?

DOCTOR.

Ile warrant you, within these 3. or 4. daies

Ile make her right againe. You must not from her,

But still preserve her in this way.

WOOER.

I will.

DOCTOR.

Lets get her in.

WOOER.

Come, sweete, wee’l goe to dinner;

And then weele play at Cardes.

DAUGHTER.

And shall we kisse too?

WOOER.

A hundred times.

DAUGHTER.

And twenty.

WOOER.

I, and twenty.

DAUGHTER.

And then wee’l sleepe together.

DOCTOR.

Take her offer.

WOOER.

Yes, marry, will we.

DAUGHTER.

But you shall not hurt me.

WOOER.

I will not, sweete.

DAUGHTER.

If you doe, Love, ile cry. [Florish. Exeunt]

Scaena 3. (A Place near the Lists.)

[Enter Theseus, Hipolita, Emilia, Perithous: and some Attendants,

(T. Tucke: Curtis.)]

EMILIA.

Ile no step further.

PERITHOUS.

Will you loose this sight?

EMILIA.

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;

It 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.

PERITHOUS.

Sir, my good Lord,

Your Sister will no further.

THESEUS.

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

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

You are the victours meede, the price, and garlond

To crowne the Questions title.

EMILIA.

Pardon me;

If I were there, I’ld winke.

THESEUS.

You must be there;

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

The onely star to shine.

EMILIA.

I am extinct;

There is but envy in that light, which showes

The 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 coulde finde other, get her selfe

Some part of a good name, and many a murther

Set off wherto she’s guilty.

HIPPOLITA.

You must goe.

EMILIA.

In faith, I will not.

THESEUS.

Why, the knights must kindle

Their valour at your eye: know, of this war

You are the Treasure, and must needes be by

To give the Service pay.

EMILIA.

Sir, pardon me;

The tytle of a kingdome may be tride

Out of it selfe.

THESEUS.

Well, well, then, at your pleasure;

Those that remaine with you could wish their office

To any of their Enemies.

HIPPOLITA.

Farewell, Sister;

I 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.]

EMILIA.

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

Is 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,

But 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. [Cornets. 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

Enough for such a chance; if I were by,

I might doe hurt, for they would glance their eies

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

I am not there; oh better never borne

Then minister to such harme. [Cornets. A great cry and noice within,

crying ‘a Palamon’.] What is the chance?

[Enter Servant.]

SERVANT.

The Crie’s ‘a Palamon’.

EMILIA.

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.’]

SERVANT.

Still Palamon.

EMILIA.

Run and enquire. Poore Servant, thou hast lost;

Vpon my right side still I wore thy picture,

Palamons on the left: why so, I know not;

I had no end in’t else, chance would have it so.

On the sinister side the heart lyes; Palamon

Had the best boding chance. [Another cry, and showt within, and

Cornets.] This burst of clamour

Is sure th’end o’th Combat.

[Enter Servant.]

SERVANT.

They saide that Palamon had Arcites body

Within 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.

EMILIA.

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, [Cornets. Cry within,

Arcite, Arcite.]

To any Lady breathing—More exulting?

Palamon still?

SERVANT.

Nay, now the sound is Arcite.

EMILIA.

I pre’thee, lay attention to the Cry, [Cornets. A great showt and cry, ‘Arcite, victory!’] Set both thine eares to’th busines.

SERVANT.

The cry is

‘Arcite’, and ‘victory’, harke: ‘Arcite, victory!’

The Combats consummation is proclaim’d

By the wind Instruments.

EMILIA.

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,

Then 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:

Alas, poore Palamon! [Cornets.]

[Enter Theseus, Hipolita, Pirithous, Arcite as victor, and

attendants, &c.]

THESEUS.

Lo, where our Sister is in expectation,

Yet quaking, and unsetled.—Fairest Emily,

The 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.

ARCITE.

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.

THESEUS.

O loved Sister,

He 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 charmed me, that me thought Alcides was

To 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

Encountred yet his Better. I have heard

Two emulous Philomels beate the eare o’th night

With 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

Make 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,

Right 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.]

EMILIA.

Is this wynning?

Oh all you heavenly powers, where is your 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,

I should, and would, die too.

HIPPOLITA.

Infinite pitty,

That fowre such eies should be so fixd on one

That two must needes be blinde fort.

THESEUS.

So it is. [Exeunt.]

Scaena 4. (The same; a Block prepared.)

[Enter Palamon and his Knightes pyniond: Iaylor, Executioner, &c. Gard.]

(PALAMON.)

Ther’s many a man alive that hath out liv’d

The love o’th people; yea, i’th selfesame state

Stands many a Father with his childe; some comfort

We have by so considering: we expire

And not without mens pitty. To live still,

Have their good wishes; we prevent

The loathsome misery of age, beguile

The Gowt and Rheume, that in lag howres attend

For grey approachers; we come towards the gods

Yong and unwapper’d, not halting under Crymes

Many and stale: that sure shall please the gods,

Sooner than such, to give us Nectar with ‘em,

For we are more cleare Spirits. My deare kinesmen,

Whose lives (for this poore comfort) are laid downe,

You have sould ‘em too too cheape.

1. KNIGHT.

What ending could be

Of more content? ore us the victors have

Fortune, whose title is as momentary,

As to us death is certaine: A graine of honour

They not ore’-weigh us.

2. KNIGHT.

Let us bid farewell;

And with our patience anger tottring Fortune,

Who at her certain’st reeles.

3. KNIGHT.

Come; who begins?

PALAMON.

Ev’n he that led you to this Banket shall

Taste to you all.—Ah ha, my Friend, my Friend,

Your gentle daughter gave me freedome once;

You’l see’t done now for ever: pray, how do’es she?

I heard she was not well; her kind of ill

Gave me some sorrow.

IAILOR.

Sir, she’s well restor’d,

And to be marryed shortly.

PALAMON.

By my short life,

I am most glad on’t; Tis the latest thing

I shall be glad of; pre’thee tell her so:

Commend me to her, and to peece her portion,

Tender her this. [Gives purse.]

1. KNIGHT.

Nay lets be offerers all.

2. KNIGHT.

Is it a maide?

PALAMON.

Verily, I thinke so,

A right good creature, more to me deserving

Then I can quight or speake of.

ALL KNIGHTS.

Commend us to her. [They give their purses.]

IAILOR.

The gods requight you all,

And make her thankefull.

PALAMON.

Adiew; and let my life be now as short,

As my leave taking. [Lies on the Blocke.]

1. KNIGHT.

Leade, couragious Cosin.

2. KNIGHT.

Wee’l follow cheerefully. [A great noise within crying, ‘run, save, hold!’]

[Enter in hast a Messenger.]

MESSENGER.

Hold, hold! O hold, hold, hold!

[Enter Pirithous in haste.]

PERITHOUS.

Hold! hoa! It is a cursed hast you made,

If you have done so quickly. Noble Palamon,

The gods will shew their glory in a life,

That thou art yet to leade.

PALAMON.

Can that be,

When Venus, I have said, is false? How doe things fare?

PERITHOUS.

Arise, great Sir, and give the tydings eare

That are most dearly sweet and bitter.

PALAMON.

What

Hath wakt us from our dreame?

PERITHOUS.

List then: your Cosen,

Mounted upon a Steed that Emily

Did first bestow on him, a blacke one, owing

Not a hayre worth of white—which some will say

Weakens his price, and many will not buy

His goodnesse with this note: Which superstition

Heere findes allowance—On this horse is Arcite

Trotting the stones of Athens, which the Calkins

Did rather tell then trample; for the horse

Would make his length a mile, if’t pleas’d his Rider

To put pride in him: as he thus went counting

The flinty pavement, dancing, as t’wer, to’th Musicke

His owne hoofes made; (for as they say from iron

Came Musickes origen) what envious Flint,

Cold as old Saturne, and like him possest

With fire malevolent, darted a Sparke,

Or what feirce sulphur else, to this end made,

I comment not;—the hot horse, hot as fire,

Tooke Toy at this, and fell to what disorder

His power could give his will; bounds, comes on end,

Forgets schoole dooing, being therein traind,

And of kind mannadge; pig-like he whines

At the sharpe Rowell, which he freats at rather

Then any jot obaies; seekes all foule meanes

Of boystrous and rough Iadrie, to dis-seate

His Lord, that kept it bravely: when nought serv’d,

When neither Curb would cracke, girth breake nor diffring plunges

Dis-roote his Rider whence he grew, but that

He kept him tweene his legges, on his hind hoofes on end he stands,

That Arcites leggs, being higher then his head,

Seem’d with strange art to hand: His victors wreath

Even then fell off his head: and presently

Backeward the Iade comes ore, and his full poyze

Becomes the Riders loade: yet is he living,

But such a vessell tis, that floates but for

The surge that next approaches: he much desires

To have some speech with you: Loe he appeares.

[Enter Theseus, Hipolita, Emilia, Arcite in a chaire.]

PALAMON.

O miserable end of our alliance!

The gods are mightie, Arcite: if thy heart,

Thy worthie, manly heart, be yet unbroken,

Give me thy last words; I am Palamon,

One that yet loves thee dying.

ARCITE.

Take Emilia

And with her all the worlds joy: Reach thy hand:

Farewell: I have told my last houre. I was false,

Yet never treacherous: Forgive me, Cosen:—

One kisse from faire Emilia: Tis done:

Take her: I die.

PALAMON.

Thy brave soule seeke Elizium.

EMILIA.

Ile close thine eyes, Prince; blessed soules be with thee!

Thou art a right good man, and while I live,

This day I give to teares.

PALAMON.

And I to honour.

THESEUS.

In this place first you fought: ev’n very here

I sundred you: acknowledge to the gods

Our thankes that you are living.

His part is playd, and though it were too short,

He did it well: your day is lengthned, and

The blissefull dew of heaven do’s arowze you.

The powerfull Venus well hath grac’d her Altar,

And given you your love: Our Master Mars

Hath vouch’d his Oracle, and to Arcite gave

The grace of the Contention: So the Deities

Have shewd due justice: Beare this hence.

PALAMON.

O Cosen,

That we should things desire, which doe cost us

The losse of our desire! That nought could buy

Deare love, but losse of deare love!

THESEUS.

Never Fortune

Did play a subtler Game: The conquerd triumphes,

The victor has the Losse: yet in the passage

The gods have beene most equall: Palamon,

Your kinseman hath confest the right o’th Lady

Did lye in you, for you first saw her, and

Even then proclaimd your fancie: He restord her

As your stolne Iewell, and desir’d your spirit

To send him hence forgiven; The gods my justice

Take from my hand, and they themselves become

The Executioners: Leade your Lady off;

And call your Lovers from the stage of death,

Whom I adopt my Frinds. A day or two

Let us looke sadly, and give grace unto

The Funerall of Arcite; in whose end

The visages of Bridegroomes weele put on

And smile with Palamon; for whom an houre,

But one houre, since, I was as dearely sorry,

As glad of Arcite: and am now as glad,

As for him sorry. O you heavenly Charmers,

What things you make of us! For what we lacke

We laugh, for what we have, are sorry: still

Are children in some kind. Let us be thankefull

For that which is, and with you leave dispute

That are above our question. Let’s goe off,

And beare us like the time. [Florish. Exeunt.]

EPILOGVE

I would now aske ye how ye like the Play,

But, as it is with Schoole Boyes, cannot say,

I am cruell fearefull: pray, yet stay a while,

And let me looke upon ye: No man smile?

Then it goes hard, I see; He that has

Lov’d a yong hansome wench, then, show his face—

Tis strange if none be heere—and if he will

Against his Conscience, let him hisse, and kill

Our Market: Tis in vaine, I see, to stay yee;

Have at the worst can come, then! Now what say ye?

And yet mistake me not: I am not bold;

We have no such cause. If the tale we have told

(For tis no other) any way content ye

(For to that honest purpose it was ment ye)

We have our end; and ye shall have ere long,

I dare say, many a better, to prolong

Your old loves to us: we, and all our might

Rest at your service. Gentlemen, good night. [Florish.]

THE END