The Two Noble Kinsmen

1 Enter Palamon and Arcite in prison.
2 PALAMON.
3 How do you, noble cousin?
4 ARCITE.
5 How do you, sir?
6 PALAMON.
7 Why, strong enough to laugh at misery
8 And bear the chance of war; yet we are prisoners
9 I fear for ever, cousin.
10 ARCITE.
11 I believe it,
12 And to that destiny have patiently
13 Laid up my hour to come.
14 PALAMON.
15 O, cousin Arcite,
16 Where is Thebes now? Where is our noble country?
17 Where are our friends and kindreds? Never more
18 Must we behold those comforts, never see
19 The hardy youths strive for the games of honour,
20 Hung with the painted favours of their ladies,
21 Like tall ships under sail; then start amongst ’em,
22 And as an east wind leave ’em all behind us,
23 Like lazy clouds, whilst Palamon and Arcite,
24 Even in the wagging of a wanton leg,
25 Outstripped the people’s praises, won the garlands,
26 Ere they have time to wish ’em ours. O, never
27 Shall we two exercise, like twins of honour,
28 Our arms again, and feel our fiery horses
29 Like proud seas under us! Our good swords now—
30 Better the red-eyed god of war ne’er wore—
31 Ravished our sides, like age must run to rust
32 And deck the temples of those gods that hate us;
33 These hands shall never draw ’em out like lightning
34 To blast whole armies more.
35 ARCITE.
36 No, Palamon,
37 Those hopes are prisoners with us. Here we are,
38 And here the graces of our youths must wither
39 Like a too-timely spring; here age must find us
40 And, which is heaviest, Palamon, unmarried.
41 The sweet embraces of a loving wife,
42 Loaden with kisses, armed with thousand Cupids,
43 Shall never clasp our necks; no issue know us,
44 No figures of ourselves shall we e’er see,
45 To glad our age, and like young eagles teach ’em
46 Boldly to gaze against bright arms and say
47 “Remember what your fathers were, and conquer!”
48 The fair-eyed maids shall weep our banishments
49 And in their songs curse ever-blinded Fortune
50 Till she for shame see what a wrong she has done
51 To youth and nature. This is all our world.
52 We shall know nothing here but one another,
53 Hear nothing but the clock that tells our woes.
54 The vine shall grow, but we shall never see it;
55 Summer shall come, and with her all delights,
56 But dead-cold winter must inhabit here still.
57 PALAMON.
58 ’Tis too true, Arcite. To our Theban hounds
59 That shook the aged forest with their echoes
60 No more now must we hallow, no more shake
61 Our pointed javelins whilst the angry swine
62 Flies like a Parthian quiver from our rages,
63 Struck with our well-steeled darts. All valiant uses,
64 The food and nourishment of noble minds,
65 In us two here shall perish; we shall die,
66 Which is the curse of honour, lastly,
67 Children of grief and ignorance.
68 ARCITE.
69 Yet, cousin,
70 Even from the bottom of these miseries,
71 From all that fortune can inflict upon us,
72 I see two comforts rising, two mere blessings,
73 If the gods please: to hold here a brave patience,
74 And the enjoying of our griefs together.
75 Whilst Palamon is with me, let me perish
76 If I think this our prison!
77 PALAMON.
78 Certainly
79 ’Tis a main goodness, cousin, that our fortunes
80 Were twined together; ’tis most true, two souls
81 Put in two noble bodies, let ’em suffer
82 The gall of hazard, so they grow together,
83 Will never sink; they must not, say they could.
84 A willing man dies sleeping and all’s done.
85 ARCITE.
86 Shall we make worthy uses of this place
87 That all men hate so much?
88 PALAMON.
89 How, gentle cousin?
90 ARCITE.
91 Let’s think this prison holy sanctuary,
92 To keep us from corruption of worse men.
93 We are young and yet desire the ways of honour;
94 That liberty and common conversation,
95 The poison of pure spirits, might like women,
96 Woo us to wander from. What worthy blessing
97 Can be but our imaginations
98 May make it ours? And here being thus together,
99 We are an endless mine to one another;
100 We are one another’s wife, ever begetting
101 New births of love; we are father, friends, acquaintance;
102 We are, in one another, families;
103 I am your heir, and you are mine. This place
104 Is our inheritance; no hard oppressor
105 Dare take this from us; here with a little patience
106 We shall live long and loving. No surfeits seek us;
107 The hand of war hurts none here, nor the seas
108 Swallow their youth. Were we at liberty,
109 A wife might part us lawfully, or business;
110 Quarrels consume us; envy of ill men
111 Crave our acquaintance. I might sicken, cousin,
112 Where you should never know it, and so perish
113 Without your noble hand to close mine eyes,
114 Or prayers to the gods. A thousand chances,
115 Were we from hence, would sever us.
116 PALAMON.
117 You have made me—
118 I thank you, cousin Arcite—almost wanton
119 With my captivity. What a misery
120 It is to live abroad and everywhere!
121 ’Tis like a beast, methinks. I find the court here,
122 I am sure, a more content; and all those pleasures
123 That woo the wills of men to vanity
124 I see through now, and am sufficient
125 To tell the world ’tis but a gaudy shadow
126 That old Time as he passes by takes with him.
127 What had we been, old in the court of Creon,
128 Where sin is justice, lust and ignorance
129 The virtues of the great ones? Cousin Arcite,
130 Had not the loving gods found this place for us,
131 We had died as they do, ill old men, unwept,
132 And had their epitaphs, the people’s curses.
133 Shall I say more?
134 ARCITE.
135 I would hear you still.
136 PALAMON.
137 Ye shall.
138 Is there record of any two that loved
139 Better than we do, Arcite?
140 ARCITE.
141 Sure, there cannot.
142 PALAMON.
143 I do not think it possible our friendship
144 Should ever leave us.
145 ARCITE.
146 Till our deaths it cannot;
147 Enter Emilia and her Woman, below.
148 And after death our spirits shall be led
149 To those that love eternally. Speak on, sir.
150 EMILIA.
151 This garden has a world of pleasures in’t.
152 What flower is this?
153 WOMAN.
154 ’Tis called narcissus, madam.
155 EMILIA.
156 That was a fair boy, certain, but a fool,
157 To love himself. Were there not maids enough?
158 ARCITE.
159 Pray, forward.
160 PALAMON.
161 Yes.
162 EMILIA.
163 Or were they all hard-hearted?
164 WOMAN.
165 They could not be to one so fair.
166 EMILIA.
167 Thou wouldst not.
168 WOMAN.
169 I think I should not, madam.
170 EMILIA.
171 That’s a good wench.
172 But take heed to your kindness, though.
173 WOMAN.
174 Why, madam?
175 EMILIA.
176 Men are mad things.
177 ARCITE.
178 Will ye go forward, cousin?
179 EMILIA.
180 Canst not thou work such flowers in silk, wench?
181 WOMAN.
182 Yes.
183 EMILIA.
184 I’ll have a gown full of ’em, and of these.
185 This is a pretty colour; will ’t not do
186 Rarely upon a skirt, wench?
187 WOMAN.
188 Dainty, madam.
189 ARCITE.
190 Cousin, cousin! How do you, sir? Why, Palamon!
191 PALAMON.
192 Never till now I was in prison, Arcite.
193 ARCITE.
194 Why, what’s the matter, man?
195 PALAMON.
196 Behold, and wonder!
197 By heaven, she is a goddess.
198 ARCITE.
199 Ha!
200 PALAMON.
201 Do reverence. She is a goddess, Arcite.
202 EMILIA.
203 Of all flowers,
204 Methinks a rose is best.
205 WOMAN.
206 Why, gentle madam?
207 EMILIA.
208 It is the very emblem of a maid.
209 For when the west wind courts her gently,
210 How modestly she blows and paints the sun
211 With her chaste blushes! When the north comes near her,
212 Rude and impatient, then, like chastity,
213 She locks her beauties in her bud again,
214 And leaves him to base briers.
215 WOMAN.
216 Yet, good madam,
217 Sometimes her modesty will blow so far
218 She falls for ’t. A maid,
219 If she have any honour, would be loath
220 To take example by her.
221 EMILIA.
222 Thou art wanton.
223 ARCITE.
224 She is wondrous fair.
225 PALAMON.
226 She is all the beauty extant.
227 EMILIA.
228 The sun grows high; let’s walk in. Keep these flowers.
229 We’ll see how near art can come near their colours.
230 I am wondrous merry-hearted. I could laugh now.
231 WOMAN.
232 I could lie down, I am sure.
233 EMILIA.
234 And take one with you?
235 WOMAN.
236 That’s as we bargain, madam.
237 EMILIA.
238 Well, agree then.
239 [_Exeunt Emilia and Woman._]
240 PALAMON.
241 What think you of this beauty?
242 ARCITE.
243 ’Tis a rare one.
244 PALAMON.
245 Is’t but a rare one?
246 ARCITE.
247 Yes, a matchless beauty.
248 PALAMON.
249 Might not a man well lose himself, and love her?
250 ARCITE.
251 I cannot tell what you have done; I have,
252 Beshrew mine eyes for’t! Now I feel my shackles.
253 PALAMON.
254 You love her, then?
255 ARCITE.
256 Who would not?
257 PALAMON.
258 And desire her?
259 ARCITE.
260 Before my liberty.
261 PALAMON.
262 I saw her first.
263 ARCITE.
264 That’s nothing.
265 PALAMON.
266 But it shall be.
267 ARCITE.
268 I saw her too.
269 PALAMON.
270 Yes, but you must not love her.
271 ARCITE.
272 I will not, as you do, to worship her
273 As she is heavenly and a blessed goddess.
274 I love her as a woman, to enjoy her.
275 So both may love.
276 PALAMON.
277 You shall not love at all.
278 ARCITE.
279 Not love at all! Who shall deny me?
280 PALAMON.
281 I, that first saw her; I that took possession
282 First with mine eye of all those beauties in her
283 Revealed to mankind. If thou lovest her,
284 Or entertain’st a hope to blast my wishes,
285 Thou art a traitor, Arcite, and a fellow
286 False as thy title to her. Friendship, blood,
287 And all the ties between us, I disclaim
288 If thou once think upon her.
289 ARCITE.
290 Yes, I love her;
291 And, if the lives of all my name lay on it,
292 I must do so; I love her with my soul.
293 If that will lose ye, farewell, Palamon.
294 I say again, I love, and in loving her maintain
295 I am as worthy and as free a lover
296 And have as just a title to her beauty,
297 As any Palamon, or any living
298 That is a man’s son.
299 PALAMON.
300 Have I called thee friend?
301 ARCITE.
302 Yes, and have found me so. Why are you moved thus?
303 Let me deal coldly with you: am not I
304 Part of your blood, part of your soul? You have told me
305 That I was Palamon and you were Arcite.
306 PALAMON.
307 Yes.
308 ARCITE.
309 Am not I liable to those affections,
310 Those joys, griefs, angers, fears, my friend shall suffer?
311 PALAMON.
312 Ye may be.
313 ARCITE.
314 Why then would you deal so cunningly,
315 So strangely, so unlike a noble kinsman,
316 To love alone? Speak truly; do you think me
317 Unworthy of her sight?
318 PALAMON.
319 No; but unjust,
320 If thou pursue that sight.
321 ARCITE.
322 Because another
323 First sees the enemy, shall I stand still
324 And let mine honour down, and never charge?
325 PALAMON.
326 Yes, if he be but one.
327 ARCITE.
328 But say that one
329 Had rather combat me?
330 PALAMON.
331 Let that one say so,
332 And use thy freedom. Else, if thou pursuest her,
333 Be as that cursed man that hates his country,
334 A branded villain.
335 ARCITE.
336 You are mad.
337 PALAMON.
338 I must be,
339 Till thou art worthy, Arcite; it concerns me;
340 And in this madness, if I hazard thee
341 And take thy life, I deal but truely.
342 ARCITE.
343 Fie, sir!
344 You play the child extremely. I will love her;
345 I must, I ought to do so, and I dare,
346 And all this justly.
347 PALAMON.
348 O, that now, that now,
349 Thy false self and thy friend had but this fortune,
350 To be one hour at liberty, and grasp
351 Our good swords in our hands! I would quickly teach thee
352 What ’twere to filch affection from another!
353 Thou art baser in it than a cutpurse.
354 Put but thy head out of this window more
355 And, as I have a soul, I’ll nail thy life to ’t.
356 ARCITE.
357 Thou dar’st not, fool, thou canst not, thou art feeble.
358 Put my head out? I’ll throw my body out
359 And leap the garden, when I see her next
360 And pitch between her arms, to anger thee.
361 Enter Jailer.
362 PALAMON.
363 No more; the keeper’s coming. I shall live
364 To knock thy brains out with my shackles.
365 ARCITE.
366 Do!
367 JAILER.
368 By your leave, gentlemen.
369 PALAMON.
370 Now, honest keeper?
371 JAILER.
372 Lord Arcite, you must presently to th’ Duke;
373 The cause I know not yet.
374 ARCITE.
375 I am ready, keeper.
376 JAILER.
377 Prince Palamon, I must awhile bereave you
378 Of your fair cousin’s company.
379 [_Exeunt Arcite and Jailer._]
380 PALAMON.
381 And me too,
382 Even when you please, of life.—Why is he sent for?
383 It may be he shall marry her; he’s goodly,
384 And like enough the Duke hath taken notice
385 Both of his blood and body. But his falsehood!
386 Why should a friend be treacherous? If that
387 Get him a wife so noble and so fair,
388 Let honest men ne’er love again. Once more
389 I would but see this fair one. Blessed garden
390 And fruit and flowers more blessed that still blossom
391 As her bright eyes shine on ye! Would I were,
392 For all the fortune of my life hereafter,
393 Yon little tree, yon blooming apricock!
394 How I would spread and fling my wanton arms
395 In at her window! I would bring her fruit
396 Fit for the gods to feed on; youth and pleasure
397 Still as she tasted should be doubled on her;
398 And, if she be not heavenly, I would make her
399 So near the gods in nature, they should fear her.
400 Enter Jailer.
401 And then I am sure she would love me. How now, keeper?
402 Where’s Arcite?
403 JAILER.
404 Banished. Prince Pirithous
405 Obtained his liberty, but never more
406 Upon his oath and life must he set foot
407 Upon this kingdom.
408 PALAMON.
409 He’s a blessed man.
410 He shall see Thebes again, and call to arms
411 The bold young men that, when he bids ’em charge,
412 Fall on like fire. Arcite shall have a fortune,
413 If he dare make himself a worthy lover,
414 Yet in the field to strike a battle for her;
415 And, if he lose her then, he’s a cold coward.
416 How bravely may he bear himself to win her
417 If he be noble Arcite, thousand ways!
418 Were I at liberty, I would do things
419 Of such a virtuous greatness that this lady,
420 This blushing virgin, should take manhood to her
421 And seek to ravish me.
422 JAILER.
423 My lord for you
424 I have this charge to—
425 PALAMON.
426 To discharge my life?
427 JAILER.
428 No, but from this place to remove your lordship;
429 The windows are too open.
430 PALAMON.
431 Devils take ’em,
432 That are so envious to me! Prithee, kill me.
433 JAILER.
434 And hang for’t afterward!
435 PALAMON.
436 By this good light,
437 Had I a sword I would kill thee.
438 JAILER.
439 Why, my Lord?
440 PALAMON.
441 Thou bringst such pelting, scurvy news continually,
442 Thou art not worthy life. I will not go.
443 JAILER.
444 Indeed, you must, my lord.
445 PALAMON.
446 May I see the garden?
447 JAILER.
448 No.
449 PALAMON.
450 Then I am resolved, I will not go.
451 JAILER.
452 I must constrain you then; and, for you are dangerous,
453 I’ll clap more irons on you.
454 PALAMON.
455 Do, good keeper.
456 I’ll shake ’em so, ye shall not sleep;
457 I’ll make you a new morris. Must I go?
458 JAILER.
459 There is no remedy.
460 PALAMON.
461 Farewell, kind window.
462 May rude wind never hurt thee!—O, my lady,
463 If ever thou hast felt what sorrow was,
464 Dream how I suffer.—Come, now bury me.
465 [_Exeunt Palamon and Jailer._]