The Two Noble Kinsmen

fire!” one cries, “O, that ever I did it behind the arras!” and then howls; th’ other curses a suing fellow and her garden-house. Sings.

I will be true, my stars, my fate, etc. Exit.

Gaoler What think you of her, sir? Doctor I think she has a perturbed mind, which I cannot minister to. Gaoler Alas, what then? Doctor Understand you she ever affected any man ere she beheld Palamon? Gaoler I was once, sir, in great hope she had fixed her liking on this gentleman, my friend. Wooer I did think so too; and would account I had a great pen’worth on’t, to give half my state, that both she and I at this present stood unfeinedly on the same terms. Doctor That intemperate surfeit of her eye hath distemper’d the other senses: they may return and settle again to execute their preordained faculties; but they are now in a most extravagant vagary. This you must do: confine her to a place where the light may rather seem to steal in than be permitted. Take upon you, young sir, her friend, the name of Palamon; say you come to eat with her, and to commune of love; this will catch her attention, for this her mind beats upon; other objects, that are inserted ’tween her mind and eye, become the pranks and friskins of her madness: sing to her such green songs of love as she says Palamon hath sung in prison; come to her, stuck in as sweet flowers as the season is mistress of, and thereto make an addition of some other compounded odours, which are 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 favour: 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 I

Athens. Three altars prepared, and inscribed severally to Mars, Venus, and Diana.

	A flourish. Enter Theseus, Pirithous, Hippolyta, and 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 hallow’d clouds commend their swelling incense To those above us: let no due be wanting: They have a noble work in hand, will honour The very powers that love ’em.
Pirithous	Sir, they enter.
	A flourish of cornets. Enter Palamon, Arcite, and their Knights.
Theseus	You valiant and strong-hearted enemies, You royal germane 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-fear’d gods, bow down your stubborn bodies: Your hire 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	Honour crown the worthiest! Exit Theseus and his Train.
Palamon	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 oppress’d 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 labour To push your name, your ancient love, our kindred, Out of my memory; and i’ the selfsame place To seat something I would confound: so hoist we The sails, that must these vessels port even where The heavenly lymiter 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! They embrace.⁠—Exeunt Palamon and his Knights. Knights, kinsmen, lovers, yea, my sacrifices, True worshippers of Mars, whose spirit in you Expels the seeds of fear, and th’ apprehension Which still is farther off 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 dragg’d out of blood; force and great feat Must put my garland on, where she sticks The queen of flowers; our intercession, then, Must be to him that makes the camp a cestron Brimm’d with the blood of men; give me your aid, And bend your spirits towards him. They advance to the altar of Mars, and fall on their faces; then kneel. Thou mighty one, that with thy power hast turn’d Green Neptune into purple; whose approach Comets prewarn; whose havoc in vast field Unearth’d skulls proclaim; whose breath blows down The teeming Ceres’ foyzon; who dost pluck With hand armipotent from forth blue clouds The mason’d turrets; that both mak’st and break’st The stony girths of cities; me thy pupil, Young’st follower of thy drum, instruct this day With military skill, that to thy laud I may advance my streamer, and by thee Be styl’d the lord o’ the day;⁠—give me, great Mars, Some token of thy pleasure. Here they fall on their faces as formerly, and there is heard clanging of armour, with a short thunder, as the burst of a battle, whereupon they all rise and bow to the altar. O great corrector of enormous times, Shaker of o’er-rank states, thou grand