The Two Noble Kinsmen | Page 8

state of life: had they bin taken,?When their last hurts were given, twas possible [3. Hearses ready.]?They might have bin recovered; Yet they breathe?And haue the name of men.
THESEUS.
Then like men use 'em.?The very lees of such (millions of rates)?Exceede the wine of others: all our Surgions?Convent in their behoofe; our richest balmes?Rather then niggard, waft: their lives concerne us?Much more then Thebs is worth: rather then have 'em?Freed of this plight, and in their morning state?(Sound and at liberty) I would 'em dead;?But forty thousand fold we had rather have 'em?Prisoners to us then death. Beare 'em speedily?From our kinde aire, to them unkinde, and minister?What man to man may doe--for our sake more,?Since I have knowne frights, fury, friends beheastes,?Loves provocations, zeale, a mistris Taske,?Desire of liberty, a feavour, madnes,?Hath set a marke which nature could not reach too?Without some imposition: sicknes in will?Or wrastling strength in reason. For our Love?And great Appollos mercy, all our best?Their best skill tender. Leade into the Citty,?Where having bound things scatterd, we will post [Florish.] To Athens for(e) our Army [Exeunt. Musicke.]
Scaena 5. (Another part of the same.)
[Enter the Queenes with the Hearses of their Knightes, in a Funerall Solempnity, &c.]
Vrnes and odours bring away,?Vapours, sighes, darken the day;?Our dole more deadly lookes than dying;?Balmes, and Gummes, and heavy cheeres,?Sacred vials fill'd with teares,?And clamors through the wild ayre flying.
Come all sad and solempne Showes,?That are quick-eyd pleasures foes;?We convent nought else but woes.?We convent, &c.
3. QUEEN.
This funeral path brings to your housholds grave:?Ioy ceaze on you againe: peace sleepe with him.
2. QUEEN.
And this to yours.
1. QUEEN.
Yours this way: Heavens lend?A thousand differing waies to one sure end.
3. QUEEN.
This world's a Citty full of straying Streetes,?And Death's the market place, where each one meetes. [Exeunt severally.]
Actus Secundus.
Scaena 1. (Athens. A garden, with a prison in the background.)
[Enter Iailor, and Wooer.]
IAILOR.
I may depart with little, while I live; some thing I may cast to you, not much: Alas, the Prison I keepe, though it be for great ones, yet they seldome come; Before one Salmon, you shall take a number of Minnowes. I am given out to be better lyn'd then it can appeare to me report is a true Speaker: I would I were really that I am deliverd to be. Marry, what I have (be it what it will)?I will assure upon my daughter at the day of my death.
WOOER.
Sir, I demaund no more then your owne offer, and I will estate your?Daughter in what I have promised.
IAILOR.
Wel, we will talke more of this, when the solemnity is past. But have you a full promise of her? When that shall be seene, I tender?my consent.
[Enter Daughter.]
WOOER.
I have Sir; here shee comes.
IAILOR.
Your Friend and I have chanced to name you here, upon the old busines: But no more of that now; so soone as the Court hurry is over, we will have an end of it: I'th meane time looke?tenderly to the two Prisoners. I can tell you they are princes.
DAUGHTER.
These strewings are for their Chamber; tis pitty they are in prison,?and twer pitty they should be out: I doe thinke they have?patience?to make any adversity asham'd; the prison it selfe is proud of 'em;?and they have all the world in their Chamber.
IAILOR.
They are fam'd to be a paire of absolute men.
DAUGHTER.
By my troth, I think Fame but stammers 'em; they stand a greise above the reach of report.
IAILOR.
I heard them reported in the Battaile to be the only doers.
DAUGHTER.
Nay, most likely, for they are noble suffrers; I mervaile how they?would have lookd had they beene Victors, that with such a?constant?Nobility enforce a freedome out of Bondage, making misery their Mirth,?and affliction a toy to jest at.
IAILOR.
Doe they so?
DAUGHTER.
It seemes to me they have no more sence of their Captivity, then I?of ruling Athens: they eate well, looke merrily, discourse of many?things, but nothing of their owne restraint, and disasters: yet sometime a devided sigh, martyrd as 'twer i'th deliverance, will breake from one of them; when the other presently gives it so sweete?a rebuke, that I could wish my selfe a Sigh to be so chid, or at least a Sigher to be comforted.
WOOER.
I never saw 'em.
IAILOR.
The Duke himselfe came privately in the night,
[Enter Palamon, and Arcite, above.]
and so did they: what the reason of it is, I know not: Looke, yonder?they are! that's Arcite lookes out.
DAUGHTER.
No, Sir, no, that's Palamon: Arcite is the lower of the twaine; you?may perceive a part of him.
IAILOR.
Goe too, leave your pointing; they would not make us their?object;?out of their sight.
DAUGHTER.
It is a holliday to looke on them: Lord, the diffrence of men! [Exeunt.]
Scaena 2. (The prison)
[Enter Palamon, and Arcite in prison.]
PALAMON.
How doe you, Noble Cosen?
ARCITE.
How doe you, Sir?
PALAMON.
Why strong inough to laugh at misery,?And beare the chance of warre, yet we are prisoners,?I feare,