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ARCITE Faith, very little -- love has used you kindly.

PALAMON I'll warrant thee, I'll strike home.

ARCITE Do, and spare not --

I'll give you cause, sweet cousin.

PALAMON Now to you, sir. [Palamon arms Arcite.]

Methinks this armor's very like that, Arcite, ...

Thou wor'st that day the three kings fell, but lighter.

ARCITE That was a very good one, and that day,

I well remember, you outdid me, cousin.

I never saw such valor. When you charged

Upon the left wing of the enemy,

I spurred hard to come up, and under me

I had a right good horse.

PALAMON You had indeed --

A bright bay, I remember.

ARCITE Yes, but all

Was vainly labored in me -- you outwent me, ...

Nor could my wishes reach you. Yet a little

I did by imitation.

PALAMON More by virtue --

You are modest, cousin.

ARCITE When I saw you charge first,

Methought I heard a dreadful clap of thunder

Break from the troop.

PALAMON But still before that flew

The lightning of your valor. Stay a little,

Is not this piece too strait?

ARCITE No, no, 'tis well.

PALAMON I would have nothing hurt thee but my sword --

A bruise would be dishonor.

ARCITE Now I am perfect.

PALAMON Stand off, then.

ARCITE Take my sword; I hold it better.

PALAMON I thank ye. No, keep it -- your life lies on it. ...

Here's one -- if it but hold, I ask no more

For all my hopes. My cause and honor guard me.

ARCITE And me, my love.

They bow several ways, then advance and stand.)

~~~ Is there aught else to say?

PALAMON This only, and no more. Thou art mine aunt's son,

And that blood we desire to shed is mutual:

In me, thine, and in thee, mine. My sword

Is in my hand, and if thou kill'st me,

The gods and I forgive thee. If there be

A place prepared for those that sleep in honor,

I wish his weary soul that falls may win it.

Fight bravely, cousin. Give me thy noble hand.

ARCITE Here, Palamon. This hand shall never more

Come near thee with such friendship.

PALAMON I commend thee.

ARCITE If I fall, curse me, and say I was a coward --

For none but such dare die in these just trials.

Once more farewell, my cousin.

PALAMON Farewell, Arcite. [Fight. Horns within; they stand.]

ARCITE Lo, cousin, lo, our folly has undone us.

PALAMON Why?

ARCITE This is the Duke a-hunting, as I told you.

If we be found, we are wretched. O, retire,

For honor's sake, and safely, presently, ...

Into your bush again. Sir, we shall find

Too many hours to die. In, gentle cousin --

If you be seen, you perish instantly

For breaking prison, and I, if you reveal me,

for my contempt. Then all the world will scorn us,

And say we had a noble difference,

But base disposers of it.

PALAMON No, no, cousin,

I will no more be hidden, nor put off

This great adventure to a second trial.

I know your cunning and I know your cause -- ...

He that faints now, shame take him! Put thyself

Upon thy present guard --

ARCITE You are not mad?

PALAMON Or I will make th'advantage of this hour

Mine own, and what to come shall threaten me

I fear less than my fortune. Know, weak cousin,

I love Emilia, and in that I'll bury

Thee and all crosses else.

ARCITE Then come what can come,

Thou shalt know, Palamon, I dare as well

Die as discourse or sleep. Only this fears me,

The law will have the honor of our ends.

Have at thy life!

PALAMON Look to thine own well, Arcite!

[They fight again. Horns, Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Emilia, Pirithous,

and train. Theseus separates Palamon and Arcite.]

THESEUS What ignorant and mad malicious traitors

Are you, that 'gainst the tenor of my laws

Are making battle, thus like knights appointed,

Without my leave and officers of arms?

By Castor, both shall die.

PALAMON Hold thy word, Theseus.

We are certainly both traitors both despisers

Of thee and of thy goodness. I am Palamon,

That cannot love thee, he that broke thy prison --

Think well what that deserves. And this is Arcite; ...

A bolder traitor never trod thy ground,

A falser ne'er seemed friend. This is the man

Was begged and banished;