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A life more worthy from him than all women,

I should and would die too.

HIPPOLYTA Infinite pity

That four such eyes should be so fixed on one

That two must needs be blind for't.

THESEUS

So it is. [Exeunt.]

Act V, Scene 6

Enter, guarded, Palamon and his three Knights pinioned;

Enter with them the Jailer and an executioner with block and axe.

PALAMON There's many a man alive that hath outlived

The love o'th' people; yea, i' th' self-same state

Stands many a father with his child: some comfort

We have by so considering. We expire,

And not without men's pity; to live still,

Have their good wishes. We prevent

The loathsome misery of age, beguile

The gout and rheum that in lag hours attend

The grey approachers; we come towards the gods

Young and unwappered, not halting under crimes ...

Many and stale -- that sure shall please the gods

Sooner than such, to give us nectar with 'em,

For we are more clear spirits. May dear kinsmen,

Whose lives for this poor comfort are laid down,

You have sold 'em too too cheap.

1 KNIGHT What ending could be

Of more content? O'er us the victors have

Fortune, whose title is as momentary

As to us death is certain -- a grain of honor

They not o'erweigh us.

2 KNIGHT Let us bid farewell,

And with our patience anger tott'ring fortune, ...

Who at her certain'st reels.

2 KNIGHT Come, who begins?

PALAMON E'en he that led you to this banquet shall

Taste to you all. [to the Jailer] Aha, my friend, my friend,

Your gentle daughter gave me freedom once;

You'll see't done now for ever. Pray, how does she?

I heard she was not well; her kind of ill

Gave me some sorrow.

JAILER Sir, she's well restored

And is to be married shortly.

PALAMON By my short life,

I am most glad on't. 'Tis the latest thing

I shall be glad of. Prithee, tell her so; ...

Commend me to her, and to piece her portion

Tender her this. [He gives his purse.]

1 KNIGHT Nay, let's be offerers all.

2 KNIGHT Is it a maid?

PALAMON Verily, I think so --

A right good creature more to me deserving

Than I can quit or speak of.

ALL 3 KNIGHTS Commend us to her.

[They give their purses.]

JAILER The gods requite you all, and make her thankful.

PALAMON Adieu, and let my life be now as short

As my leave-taking. [He lies on the block.]

1 KNIGHT Lead, courageous cousin.

2 and 3 KNIGHTS We'll follow cheerfully.

[A great noise within: crying, 'Run! Save! Hold!'

Enter in haste a Messenger.]

MESSENGER Hold! Hold! O, hold! Hold! Hold! ...

[Enter Pirithous in haste.]

PIRITHOUS Hold, ho! It is a cursed haste you made

If you had done so quickly! Noble Palamon,

The gods will show their glory in a life

That thou art yet to lead.

PALAMON Can that be,

When Venus, I have said, is false? How do things fare?

PIRITHOUS Arise, great sir, and give the tidings ear

That are most rarely sweet and bitter.

PALAMON What

Hath waked us from our dream?

PIRITHOUS List, then: your cousin,

Mounted upon a steed that Emily

Did first bestow on him, a black one owing

Not a hair-worth of white -- which some will say

Weakens his price and many will not buy

His goodness with this note; which superstition

Here finds allowance -- on this horse is Arcite

Trotting the stones of Athens, which the calkins

Did rather tell than trample; for the horse

Would make his length a mile, if't pleased his rider

To put pride in him. As he thus went counting

The flinty pavement, dancing, as 'twere, to th' music

His own hooves made -- for, as they say, from iron ...

Came music's origin -- what envious flint,

Cold as old Saturn and like him possessed

With fire malevolent, darted a spark,

Or what fierce sulfur else, to this end made,

I comment not -- the hot horse, hot as fire,

Took toy at this and fell to what disorder

His power could give his will, bounds; comes on end;

Forgets school-doing, being therein trained

And of kind manage; pig-like he whines

At the sharp rowel, which he frets at rather ...

Than any jot obeys; seeks all foul means

Of boist'rous