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Than minister to such harm. [Enter Servant.]

What is the chance?

SERVANT The cry's 'A Palamon'.

EMILIA Then he has won. 'Twas ever likely --

He looked all grace and success, and he is

Doubtless the prim'st of men. I prithee run ...

And tell me how it goes.

SERVANT Still 'Palamon'.

EMILIA Run and enquire. [Exit Servant.]

[She speaks to the picture in her right hand.]

~~~ Poor servant, thou hast lost.

Upon my right side still I wore thy picture,

Palamon's on the left. Why so, I know not.

I had no end in't, else chance would have it so.

[Another cry and shout within and cornets.]

On the sinister side the heart lies -- Palamon

Had the best-boding chance. This burst of clamor

Is sure the end o'th' combat. [Enter Servant.]

SERVANT They said that Palamon had Arcite's body

Within an inch o'th' pyramid -- that the cry ...

Was general 'A Palamon'. But anon

Th'assistants made a brave redemption, and

The two bold tilters at this instant are

Hand to hand at it.

EMILIA Were they metamorphosed

Both into one! O why? There were no woman

Worth so composed a man: their single share,

Their nobleness peculiar to them, gives

The prejudice of disparity, value's shortness,

To any lady breathing -- [Cornets. Cry within, 'Arcite, Arcite'.]

~~~ More exulting?

'Palamon' still?

SERVANT Nay, now the sound is 'Arcite'.

EMILIA I prithee, lay attention to the cry.

[Cornets. A great shout and cry, 'Arcite, victory!']

Set both thine ears to th' business.

SERVANT The cry is

'Arcite' and 'Victory' -- hark, 'Arcite, victory!'

The combat's consummation is proclaimed

By the wind instruments.

EMILIA Half sights saw

That Arcite was no babe. God's lid, his richness

And costliness of spirit looked through him -- it could

No more be hid in him than fire in flax,

Than humble banks can go to law with waters

That drift winds force to raging. I did think ...

Good Palamon would miscarry, yet I knew not

Why I did think so. Our reasons are not prophets

When oft our fancies are. They are coming off --

Alas, poor Palamon.

[She puts away the pictures. Cornets. Enter Theseus, Hippolyta,

Pirithous, Arcite as victor, and attendants.]

THESEUS Lo, where our sister is in expectation,

Yet quaking and unsettled. Fairest Emily,

The gods by their divine arbitrament

Have given you this knight. He is a good one

As ever struck at head. [to Arcite and Emilia.] Give me your hands.

[to Arcite.] Receive you her, [to Emilia.]

~~~ you him: [to both.] be plighted with ...

A love that grows as you decay.

ARCITE Emilia,

To buy you I have lost what's dearest to me

Save what is bought, and yet I purchase cheaply

As I do rate your value.

THESEUS [to Emilia.] ~~~ O loved sister,

He speaks now of as brave a knight as e'er

Did spur a noble steed. Surely the gods

Would have him die a bachelor lest his race

Should show i' th' world too godlike. His behavior

So charmed me that, methought, Alcides was

To him a sow of lead. If I could praise ...

Each part of him to th'all I have spoke, your Arcite

Did not lose by't; for he that was thus good,

Encountered yet his better. I have heard

Two emulous Philomels beat the ear o'th' night

With their contentious throats, now one the higher,

Anon the other, then again the first,

And by and by out-breasted, that the sense

Could not be judge between 'em -- so it fared

Good space between these kinsmen, till heavens did

Make hardly one the winner. [to Arcite.] Wear the garland ...

With joy that you have won. -- For the subdued,

Give them our present justice, since I know

Their lives but pinch 'em. Let it be here done.

The scene's not for our seeing; go we hence

Right joyful, with some sorrow. [to Arcite.] Arm your prize;

I know you will not lose her. Hippolyta,

I see one eye of yours conceives a tear,

The which it will deliver. [Flourish.]

EMILIA Is this winning?

O all you heavenly powers, where is your mercy?

But that your wills have said it must be so, ...

And charge me live to comfort this unfriended,

This miserable