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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [1269]

By Root 20901 0
grateful to the sense. All this shall become

Palamon, for Palamon can sing, and Palamon is sweet

and every good thing. Desire to eat with her, carve

her, drink to her, and still among intermingle your

petition of grace and acceptance into her favor. Learn

what maids have been her companions and play-feres,

and let them repair to her, with Palamon in their

mouths, and appear with tokens as if they suggested

for him. It is a falsehood she is in, which is with ...

falsehoods to be combated. This may bring her to eat,

to sleep, and reduce what's now out of square in her

into their former law and regiment. I have seen it

approved, how many times I know not, but to make

the number more I have great hope in this. I will

between the passages of this project come in with my

appliance,. Let us put it in execution, and hasten the

success, which doubt not will bring forth comfort. [Exeunt.]

Act V, Scene 1

An altar prepared. Flourish. Enter Theseus, Pirithous,

Hippolyta, attendants.

THESEUS Now let 'em enter and before the gods

Tender their holy prayers. Let the temples

Burn bright with sacred fires, and the altars

In hallowed clouds commend their swelling incense

To those above us. Let no due be wanting.

[Flourish of cornets.] They have a noble work in hand, will honor

The very powers that love 'em.

[Enter Palamon with his three Knights, at one door, and Arcite with his three Knights, at the other door.]

PIRITHOUS Sir, they enter.

THESEUS You valiant and strong-hearted enemies,

You royal german foes that this day come

To blow that nearness out that flames between ye, ...

Lay by your anger for an hour and dove-like,

Before the holy altars of your helpers,

The all-feared gods, bow down your stubborn bodies.

Your ire is more than mortal -- so your help be;

And as the gods regard ye, fight with justice.

I'll leave you to your prayers, and betwixt ye

I part my wishes.

PIRITHOUS Honor crown the worthiest.

[Exit Theseus and his train.]

PALAMON [to Arcite.] The glass is running now that cannot finish

Till one of us expire. Think you but thus,

That were there aught in me which strove to show ...

Mine enemy in this business, were't one eye

Against another, arm oppressed by arm,

I would destroy th'offender -- coz, I would,

Though parcel of myself. Then from this gather

How I should tender you.

ARCITE I am in labor

To push your name, your ancient love, our kindred,

Out of my memory, and i' th' self-same place

To seat something I would confound. So hoist we

The sails that must these vessels port even where

The heavenly limiter pleases.

PALAMON You speak well, ...

Before I turn, let me embrace thee, cousin --

This I shall never do again.

ARCITE One farewell.

PALAMON Why, let it be so -- farewell, coz.

ARCITE Farewell, sir. [Exeunt Palamon and his three Knights.]

Knights, kinsmen, lovers -- yea, my sacrifices,

True worshipers of Mars, whose spirit in you

Expels the seeds of fear and th'apprehension

Which still is father of it, go with me

Before the god of our profession. There

Require of him the hearts of lions and

The breath of tigers, yea, the fierceness too, ...

Yea, the speed also -- to go on, I mean,

Else wish we to be snails. You know my prize

Must be dragged out of blood -- force and great feat

Must put my garland on me, where she sticks,

The queen of flowers. Our intercession, then,

Must be to him that makes the camp a cistern

Brimmed with the blood of men -- give me your aid,

And bend your spirits towards him.

[They kneel before the altar, fall on their faces, then on their knees again.]

[Praying to Mars] ~~~ Thou mighty one,

That with thy power hast turned green Neptune into purple;

Whose havoc in vast field comets prewarn, ...

Unearthed skulls proclaim; whose breath blows down

The teeming Ceres' foison; who dost pluck

With hand armipotent from forth blue clouds

The masoned turrets, that both mak'st and break'st

The stony girths of cities; me thy pupil,

Youngest follower of thy drum, instruct this day

With military

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