The Two Noble Kinsmen | Page 7

Shakespeare Apocrypha
Soldiers, and wee cannot weepe?When our Friends don their helmes, or put to sea,?Or tell of Babes broachd on the Launce, or women?That have sod their Infants in (and after eate them)?The brine, they wept at killing 'em; Then if?You stay to see of us such Spincsters, we?Should hold you here for ever.
PERITHOUS.
Peace be to you,?As I pursue this war, which shall be then?Beyond further requiring. [Exit Pir.]
EMILIA.
How his longing?Followes his Friend! since his depart, his sportes?Though craving seriousnes, and skill, past slightly?His careles execution, where nor gaine?Made him regard, or losse consider; but?Playing one busines in his hand, another?Directing in his head, his minde, nurse equall?To these so diffring Twyns--have you observ'd him,?Since our great Lord departed?
HIPPOLITA.
With much labour,?And I did love him fort: they two have Cabind?In many as dangerous, as poore a Corner,?Perill and want contending; they have skift?Torrents whose roring tyranny and power?I'th least of these was dreadfull, and they have?Fought out together, where Deaths-selfe was lodgd,?Yet fate hath brought them off: Their knot of love,?Tide, weau'd, intangled, with so true, so long,?And with a finger of so deepe a cunning,?May be outworne, never undone. I thinke?Theseus cannot be umpire to himselfe,?Cleaving his conscience into twaine and doing?Each side like Iustice, which he loves best.
EMILIA.
Doubtlesse?There is a best, and reason has no manners?To say it is not you: I was acquainted?Once with a time, when I enjoyd a Play-fellow;?You were at wars, when she the grave enrichd,?Who made too proud the Bed, tooke leave o th Moone?(Which then lookt pale at parting) when our count?Was each eleven.
HIPPOLITA.
Twas Flaui(n)a.
EMILIA.
Yes.?You talke of Pirithous and Theseus love;?Theirs has more ground, is more maturely seasond,?More buckled with strong Iudgement and their needes?The one of th'other may be said to water [2. Hearses ready with Palamon: and Arcite: the 3. Queenes. Theseus: and his Lordes ready.]?Their intertangled rootes of love; but I?And shee I sigh and spoke of were things innocent,?Lou'd for we did, and like the Elements?That know not what, nor why, yet doe effect?Rare issues by their operance, our soules?Did so to one another; what she lik'd,?Was then of me approov'd, what not, condemd,?No more arraignment; the flowre that I would plucke?And put betweene my breasts (then but beginning?To swell about the blossome) oh, she would long?Till shee had such another, and commit it?To the like innocent Cradle, where Phenix like?They dide in perfume: on my head no toy?But was her patterne; her affections (pretty,?Though, happely, her careles were) I followed?For my most serious decking; had mine eare?Stolne some new aire, or at adventure humd on?From musicall Coynadge, why it was a note?Whereon her spirits would sojourne (rather dwell on)?And sing it in her slumbers. This rehearsall?(Which ev'ry innocent wots well comes in?Like old importments bastard) has this end,?That the true love tweene Mayde, and mayde, may be?More then in sex idividuall.
HIPPOLITA.
Y'are out of breath?And this high speeded pace, is but to say?That you shall never like the Maide Flavina?Love any that's calld Man.
EMILIA.
I am sure I shall not.
HIPPOLITA.
Now, alacke, weake Sister,?I must no more beleeve thee in this point?(Though in't I know thou dost beleeve thy selfe,)?Then I will trust a sickely appetite,?That loathes even as it longs; but, sure, my Sister,?If I were ripe for your perswasion, you?Have saide enough to shake me from the Arme?Of the all noble Theseus, for whose fortunes?I will now in, and kneele with great assurance,?That we, more then his Pirothous, possesse?The high throne in his heart.
EMILIA.
I am not?Against your faith; yet I continew mine. [Exeunt. Cornets.]
Scaena 4. (A field before Thebes. Dead bodies lying on the ground.)
[A Battaile strooke within: Then a Retrait: Florish. Then?Enter Theseus (victor), (Herald and Attendants:) the three Queenes meete him, and fall on their faces before him.]
1. QUEEN.
To thee no starre be darke.
2. QUEEN.
Both heaven and earth?Friend thee for ever.
3. QUEEN.
All the good that may?Be wishd upon thy head, I cry Amen too't.
THESEUS.
Th'imparciall Gods, who from the mounted heavens?View us their mortall Heard, behold who erre,?And in their time chastice: goe and finde out?The bones of your dead Lords, and honour them?With treble Ceremonie; rather then a gap?Should be in their deere rights, we would supply't.?But those we will depute, which shall invest?You in your dignities, and even each thing?Our hast does leave imperfect: So, adiew,?And heavens good eyes looke on you. What are those? [Exeunt Queenes.]
HERALD.
Men of great quality, as may be judgd?By their appointment; Sone of Thebs have told's?They are Sisters children, Nephewes to the King.
THESEUS.
By'th Helme of Mars, I saw them in the war,?Like to a paire of Lions, smeard with prey,?Make lanes in troopes agast. I fixt my note?Constantly on them; for they were a marke?Worth a god's view: what prisoner was't that told me?When I enquired their names?
HERALD.
Wi'leave, they'r called Arcite and Palamon.
THESEUS.
Tis right: those, those. They are not dead?
HERALD.
Nor in a
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