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