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Was then of me approved; what not, condemned --

No more arraignment. The flower that I would pluck

And put between my breasts -- O then but beginning

To swell about the blossom -- she would long

Till she had such another, and commit it

To the like innocent cradle, where phoenix-like, ...

They died in perfume. On my head no toy

But was her pattern. Her affections -- pretty,

Though happily her careless wear -- I followed

For my most serious decking. Had mine ear

Stol'n some new air, or at adventure hummed one,

From musical coinage, why, it was a note

Whereon her spirits would sojourn -- rather dwell on --

And sing it in her slumbers. This rehearsal --

Which, seely innocence wots well, comes in

Like old 8emportment's bastard -- has this end: ...

That the true love 'tween maid and maid may be

More than in sex dividual.

HIPPOLYTA You're out of breath,

And this high-speeded pace is but to say

That you shall never, like the maid Flavina,

Love any that's called man.

EMILIA I am sure I shall not.

HIPPOLYTA Now alack, weak sister,

I must no more believe thee in this point --

Though in't I know thou dost believe thyself --

Than I will trust a sickly appetite ...

That loathes even as it longs. But sure, my sister,

If I were ripe for your persuasion, you

Have said enough to shake me from the arm

Of the all-noble Theseus, for whose fortunes

I will now in and kneel, with great assurance

That we more than his Pirithous possess

The high throne in his heart.

EMILIA I am not

Against your faith, yet I continue mine. [Exeunt.]

Act I, Scene 4

Cornets. A battle struck within. Then a retreat. Flourish. Then enter Theseus, victor. The three Queens meet him and fall on their faces before him. Also enter a Herald, and attendants bearing Palamon and Arcite on two hearses.

1 QUEEN [to Theseus.] To thee no star be dark.

2 QUEEN [to Theseus.] Both heaven and earth

Friend thee for ever.

3 QUEEN [to Theseus.] All the good that may

Be wished upon thy head, I cry 'Amen' to't.

THESEUS Th'impartial gods, who from the mounted heavens

View us their mortal herd, behold who err

And in their time chastise. Go and find out

The bones of your dead lords and honor them

With treble ceremony: rather than a gap

Should be in their dear rites we would supply't.

But those we will depute which shall invest ...

You in your dignities, and even each thing

Our haste does leave imperfect. So adieu,

And heaven's good eyes look on you. [Exeunt the Queen.]

~~~ What are those?

HERALD Men of great quality, as may be judged

By their appointment. Some of Thebes have told's

They are sisters' children, nephews to the King.

THESEUS By th' helm of Mars I saw them in the war,

Like to a pair of lions smeared with prey,

Make lanes in troops aghast. I fixed my note

Constantly on them, for they were a mark ...

Worth a god's view. What prisoner was't that told me

When I enquired their names?

HERALD Wi' leave, they're called

Arcite and Palamon.

THESEUS 'Tis right: those, those.

They are not dead?

HERALD Nor in a state of life. Had they been taken

When their last hurts were given, 'twas possible

They might have been recovered. Yet they breathe,

And have the name of men.

THESEUS Then like men use 'em.

The very lees of such, millions of rates

Exceed the wine of others. All our surgeons ...

Convent in their behoof; our richest balms,

Rather than niggard, waste. Their lives concern us

Much more than Thebes is worth. Rather than have 'em

Freed of this plight and in their morning state --

Sound and at liberty -- I would 'em dead;

But forty-thousandfold we had rather have 'em

Prisoners to us, than death. Bear 'em speedily

From our kind air, to them unkind, and minister

What man to man may do -- for our sake, more,

Since I have known frights, fury, friends' behests, ...

Love's provocations, zeal, a mistress' task,

Desire of liberty, a fever, madness,

Hath set a mark which nature could not reach to

Without some imposition, sickness in will

O'er-wrestling