William Shakespeare - The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

Dreame how I suffer. Come; now bury me. [Exeunt Palamon, and

Keeper.]

Scaena 3. (The country near Athens.)

[Enter Arcite.]

ARCITE.

Banishd the kingdome? tis a benefit,

A mercy I must thanke ‘em for, but banishd

The free enjoying of that face I die for,

Oh twas a studdied punishment, a death

Beyond Imagination: Such a vengeance

That, were I old and wicked, all my sins

Could never plucke upon me. Palamon,

Thou ha’st the Start now, thou shalt stay and see

Her bright eyes breake each morning gainst thy window,

And let in life into thee; thou shalt feede

Vpon the sweetenes of a noble beauty,

That nature nev’r exceeded, nor nev’r shall:

Good gods! what happines has Palamon!

Twenty to one, hee’le come to speake to her,

And if she be as gentle as she’s faire,

I know she’s his; he has a Tongue will tame

Tempests, and make the wild Rockes wanton.

Come what can come,

The worst is death; I will not leave the Kingdome.

I know mine owne is but a heape of ruins,

And no redresse there; if I goe, he has her.

I am resolu’d an other shape shall make me,

Or end my fortunes. Either way, I am happy:

Ile see her, and be neere her, or no more.

[Enter 4. Country people, & one with a garlond before them.]

1. COUNTREYMAN

My Masters, ile be there, that’s certaine

2. COUNTREYMAN

And Ile be there.

3. COUNTREYMAN

And I.

4. COUNTREYMAN

Why, then, have with ye, Boyes; Tis but a chiding.

Let the plough play to day, ile tick’lt out

Of the Iades tailes to morrow.

1. COUNTREYMAN

I am sure

To have my wife as jealous as a Turkey:

But that’s all one; ile goe through, let her mumble.

2. COUNTREYMAN

Clap her aboard to morrow night, and stoa her,

And all’s made up againe.

3. COUNTREYMAN

I, doe but put a feskue in her fist, and you shall see her

Take a new lesson out, and be a good wench.

Doe we all hold against the Maying?

4. COUNTREYMAN

Hold? what should aile us?

3. COUNTREYMAN

Arcas will be there.

2. COUNTREYMAN

And Sennois.

And Rycas, and 3. better lads nev’r dancd

Under green Tree. And yee know what wenches: ha?

But will the dainty Domine, the Schoolemaster,

Keep touch, doe you thinke? for he do’s all, ye know.

3. COUNTREYMAN

Hee’l eate a hornebooke ere he faile: goe too, the matter’s too farre driven betweene him and the Tanners daughter, to let slip now, and she must see the Duke, and she must daunce too.

4. COUNTREYMAN

Shall we be lusty?

2. COUNTREYMAN

All the Boyes in Athens blow wind i’th breech on’s, and heere ile be and there ile be, for our Towne, and here againe, and there againe: ha, Boyes, heigh for the weavers.

1. COUNTREYMAN

This must be done i’th woods.

4. COUNTREYMAN

O, pardon me.

2. COUNTREYMAN

By any meanes, our thing of learning saies so:

Where he himselfe will edifie the Duke

Most parlously in our behalfes: hees excellent i’th woods;

Bring him to’th plaines, his learning makes no cry.

3. COUNTREYMAN

Weele see the sports, then; every man to’s Tackle:

And, Sweete Companions, lets rehearse by any meanes,

Before the Ladies see us, and doe sweetly,

And God knows what May come on’t.

4. COUNTREYMAN

Content; the sports once ended, wee’l performe.

Away, Boyes and hold.

ARCITE.

By your leaves, honest friends: pray you, whither goe you?

4. COUNTREYMAN

Whither? why, what a question’s that?

ARCITE.

Yes, tis a question, to me that know not.

3. COUNTREYMAN

To the Games, my Friend.

2. COUNTREYMAN

Where were you bred, you know it not?

ARCITE.

Not farre, Sir,

Are there such Games to day?

1. COUNTREYMAN

Yes, marry, are there:

And such as you neuer saw; The Duke himselfe

Will be in person there.

ARCITE.

What pastimes are they?

2. COUNTREYMAN

Wrastling, and Running.—Tis a pretty Fellow.

3. COUNTREYMAN

Thou wilt not goe along?

ARCITE.

Not yet, Sir.

4. COUNTREYMAN

Well, Sir,

Take your owne time: come, Boyes.

1. COUNTREYMAN

My minde misgives me;

This fellow has a veng’ance tricke o’th hip:

Marke how his Bodi’s made for’t

2. COUNTREYMAN

Ile be hangd, though,

If he dare venture; hang him, plumb porredge,

He wrastle? he rost eggs! Come, lets be gon, Lads. [Exeunt.]

ARCITE.

This is an offerd oportunity

I durst not wish for. Well I could have wrestled,

The best men calld it excellent, and run—

Swifter the winde upon a feild of Corne

(Curling the wealthy eares) never flew: Ile venture,

And in some poore disguize be there; who knowes

Whether my browes may not be girt with garlands?

And happines preferre me to a place,

Where I may ever dwell in sight of her. [Exit Arcite.]

Scaena 4. (Athens. A room in the prison.)

[Enter Iailors Daughter alone.]

DAUGHTER.

Why should I love this Gentleman? Tis odds

He never will affect me; I am base,

My Father the meane Keeper of his Prison,

And he a prince: To marry him is hopelesse;

To be his whore is witles. Out upon’t,

What pushes are we wenches driven to,

When fifteene once has found us! First, I saw him;

I (seeing) thought he was a goodly man;

He has as much to please a woman in him,

(If he please to bestow it so) as ever

These eyes yet lookt on. Next, I pittied him,

And so would any young wench, o’ my Conscience,

That ever dream’d, or vow’d her Maydenhead

To a yong hansom Man; Then I lov’d him,

Extreamely lov’d him, infinitely lov’d him;

And yet he had a Cosen, faire as he too.

But in my heart was Palamon, and there,

Lord, what a coyle he keepes! To heare him

Sing in an evening, what a heaven it is!

And yet his Songs are sad ones. Fairer spoken

Was never Gentleman. When I come in

To bring him water in a morning, first

He bowes his noble body, then salutes me, thus:

‘Faire, gentle Mayde, good morrow; may thy goodnes

Get thee a happy husband.’ Once he kist me.

I lov’d my lips the better ten daies after.

Would he would doe so ev’ry day! He greives much,

And me as much to see his misery.

What should I doe, to make him know I love him?

For I would faine enjoy him. Say I ventur’d

To set him free? what saies the law then? Thus much

For Law, or kindred! I will doe it,

And this night, or to morrow, he shall love me. [Exit.]

Scaena 5. (An open place in Athens.) [Enter Theseus, Hipolita, Pirithous, Emilia: Arcite with a

Garland, &c.]

[This short florish of Cornets and Showtes within.]

THESEUS.

You have done worthily; I have not seene,

Since Hercules, a man of tougher synewes;

What ere you are, you run the best, and wrastle,

That these times can allow.

ARCITE.

I am proud to please you.

THESEUS.

What Countrie bred you?

ARCITE.

This; but far off, Prince.

THESEUS.

Are you a Gentleman?

ARCITE.

My father said so;

And to those gentle uses gave me life.

THESEUS.

Are you his heire?

ARCITE.

His yongest, Sir.

THESEUS.

Your Father

Sure is a happy Sire then: what prooves you?

ARCITE.

A little of all noble Quallities:

I could have kept a Hawke, and well have holloa’d

To a deepe crie of Dogges; I dare not praise

My feat in horsemanship, yet they that knew me