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The horses of the sun, but whispered to

The loudness of his fury.

PALAMON Small winds shake him.

But what's the matter?

VALERIUS Theseus, who where he threats, appalls, hath sent ...

Deadly defiance to him and pronounces

Ruin to Thebes, who is at hand to seal

The promise of his wrath.

ARCITE Let him approach.

But that we fear the gods in him, he brings not

A jot of terror to us. Yet what man

Thirds his own worth -- the case is each of ours --

When that his action's dregged with mind assured

'Tis bad he goes about.

PALAMON Leave that unreasoned.

Our services stand now for Thebes, not Creon,

Yet to be neutral to him were dishonor, ...

Rebellious to oppose. Therefore we must

With him stand to the mercy of our fate,

Who hath bounded our last minute.

ARCITE So we must.

Is't said this war's afoot? Or shall it be

On fall of some condition?

VALERIUS ÔTis in motion,

The intelligence of state came in the instant

With the defier.

PALAMON Let's to the King, who, were he

A quarter carrier of that honor which

His enemy come in, the blood we venture

Should be as for our health, which were not spent, ...

Rather laid out for purchase. But, alas,

Our hands advanced before our hearts, what will

The fall o'th' stroke do damage?

ARCITE Let th'event --

That never-erring arbitrator -- tell us

When we know all ourselves, and let us follow

The becking of our chance. [Exeunt.]

Act I, Scene 3

Enter Pirithous, Hippolyta, and Emilia

PIRITHOUS No further.

HIPPOLYTA Sir, farewell. Repeat my wishes

To our great lord, of whose success I dare not

Make any timorous question; yet I wish him

Excess and overflow of power, an't might be,

To dure ill-dealing fortune. Speed to him;

Store never hurts good governors.

PIRITHOUS Though I know

His ocean needs not my poor drops, yet they

Must yield their tribute there. [to Emilia] My precious maid,

Those best affections that the heavens infuse

In their best-tempered pieces keep enthroned ...

In your dear heart.

EMILIA Thanks, sir. Remember me

To our all-royal brother, for whose speed

The great Bellona I'll solicit; and

Since in our terrene state petitions are not

Without gifts understood, I'll offer to her

What I shall be advised she likes. Our hearts

Are in his army, in his tent.

HIPPOLYTA In's bosom.

We have been soldiers, and we cannot weep

When our friends don their helms, or put to sea,

Or tell of babes broached on the lance, or women ...

That have sod their infants in-and after eat them --

The brine they wept at killing 'em: then if

You stay to see of us such spinsters, we

Should hold you here forever.

PIRITHOUS Peace be to you

As I pursue this war, which shall be then

Beyond further requiring. [Exit Pirithous.]

EMILIA How his longing

Follows his friend! Since his depart, his sports,

Though craving seriousness and skill, passed slightly

His careless execution, where nor gain

Made him regard or loss consider, but ...

Yet fate hath brought them off. Their knot of love,

Tied, weaved, entangled with so true, so long,

And with a finger of so deep a cunning,

May be outworn, never undone. I think

Theseus cannot be umpire to himself,

Cleaving his conscience into twain and doing

Each side like justice, which he loves best.

EMILIA Doubtless

There is a best, and reason has no manners

So say it is not you. I was acquainted

Once with a time when I enjoyed a playfellow; ...

You were at wars when she the grave enriched,

Who made too proud the bed; took leave o'th' moon --

Which then looked pale at parting -- when our count

Was each eleven.

HIPPOLYTA 'Twas Flavina

EMILIA Yes.

You talk of Pirithous' and Theseus' love:

Theirs has more ground, is more maturely seasoned,

More buckled with strong judgment, and their needs

The one of th'other may be said to water

Their intertangled roots of love; but I

And she I sigh and spoke of were things innocent, ...

Loved for what we did, and like the elements,

That know not what, nor why, yet do effect

Rare issues by their operance, our souls