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Better they fall by th' law than one another.

Bow not my honor.

EMILIA O my noble brother,

That oath was rashly made, and in your anger.

Your reason will not hold it. If such vows

Stand for express will, all the world must perish.

Beside, I have another oath 'gainst yours, ...

Of more authority, I am sure more love --

Not made in passion, neither, but good heed.

THESEUS What is it, sister?

PIRITHOUS [to Emilia] ~~~ Urge it home, brave lady.

EMILIA That you would ne'er deny me anything

Fit for my modest suit and your free granting.

I tie you to your word now; if ye fail in't,

Think how you maim your honor --

For now I am set a-begging, sir. I am deaf

To all but your compassion -- how their lives

Might breed the ruin of my name, opinion. ...

Shall anything that loves me perish for me?

That were a cruel wisdom: do men prune

The straight young boughs that blush with thousand blossoms

Because they may be rotten? O, Duke Theseus,

The goodly mothers that have groaned for these,

And all the longing maids that ever loved,

If your vow stand, shall curse me and my beauty,

And in their funeral songs for these two cousins

Despise my cruelty and cry woe worth me,

Till I am nothing but the scorn of women. ...

For heaven's sake, save their lives and banish 'em.

THESEUS On what conditions?

EMILIA Swear 'em never more

To make me their contention, or to know me,

To tread upon thy dukedom; and to be,

Wherever they shall travel, ever strangers

To one another.

PALAMON I'll be cut a-pieces

Before I take this oath -- forget I love her?

O all ye gods, despise me, then. Thy banishment

I not mislike, so we may fairly carry

Our swords and cause along -- else, never trifle, ...

But take our lives, Duke. I must love, and will;

And for that love must and dare kill this cousin

On any piece the earth has.

THESEUS Will you, Arcite,

Take these conditions?

PALAMON He's a villain then.

PIRITHOUS These are men!

ARCITE No, never, Duke. 'Tis worse to me than begging,

To take my life so basely. Though I think

I never shall enjoy her, yet I'll preserve

The honor of affection and die for her,

Make death a devil.

THESEUS What may be done? For now I feel compassion.

PIRITHOUS Let it not fall again, sir.

THESEUS Say, Emilia,

If one of them were dead -- as one must -- are you

Content to take the other to your husband?

They cannot both enjoy you. They are princes

As goodly as your own eyes, and as noble

As ever fame yet spoke of. Look upon 'em,

And if you can love, end this difference.

I give consent. [to Palamon and Arcite.] Are you content too, princes?

PALAMON and ARCITE With all our souls.

THESEUS He that she refuses

Must die, then.

PALAMON and ARCITE Any death thou canst invent, Duke.

PALAMON If I fall from that mouth, I fall with favor,

And lovers yet unborn shall bless my ashes.

ARCITE If she refuse me, yet my grave will wed me,

And soldiers sing my epitaph.

THESEUS [to Emilia.] ~~~ Make choice, then.

EMILIA I cannot, sir. They are both too excellent

For me, a hair shall never fall of these men.

HIPPOLYTA [to Theseus.] What will become of 'em?

THESEUS Thus I ordain it,

And by mine honor once again it stands,

Or both shall die. [to Palamon and Arcite.] You shall both to your country,

And each within this month, accompanied ...

With three fair knights, appear again in this place,

In which I'll plant a pyramid; and whether,

Before us that are here, can force his cousin,

By fair and knightly strength, to touch the pillar,

He shall enjoy her; the other lose his head,

And all his friends; nor shall he grudge to fall,

Nor think he dies with interest in this lady.

Will this content ye?

PALAMON Yes. Here, cousin Arcite,

I am friends again till that hour.

ARCITE I embrace ye.

THESEUS [to Emilia.] Are you content, sister?

EMILIA Yes, I must, sir. ...

Else both miscarry.

THESEUS [to Palamon and Arcite.] Come, shake hands again, then,

And take heed, as you are gentlemen, this quarrel

Sleep till the hour prefixed,