ARCITE

I saw her too.

PALAMON

Yes, but you must not love her.

ARCITE

I will not, as you do, to worship her

As she is heavenly and a blessèd goddess!

I love her as a woman, to enjoy her—

So both may love.

PALAMON

You shall not love at all.

ARCITE

Not love at all—who shall deny me?

PALAMON

I that first saw her, I that took possession

First with mine eye of all those beauties

In her revealed to mankind. If thou lov’st her,

Or entertain’st a hope to blast my wishes,

Thou art a traitor, Arcite, and a fellow

False as thy title to her. Friendship, blood,

And all the ties between us I disclaim,

If thou once think upon her.

ARCITE

Yes, I love her—And if the lives of all my name lay on it,

I must do so. I love her with my soul—

If that will lose ye, farewell, Palamon!

I say again,

I love her, and in loving her maintain

I am as worthy and as free a lover,

And have as just a title to her beauty,

As any Palamon, or any living

That is a man’s son.

PALAMON

Have I called thee friend?

ARCITE

Yes, and have found me so. Why are you moved

thus?

Let me deal coldly with you. Am not I

Part of your blood, part of your soul? You have

told me

That I was Palamon and you were Arcite.

PALAMON Yes.

ARCITE

Am not I liable to those affections,

Those joys, griefs, angers, fears, my friend shall

suffer?

PALAMON

Ye may be.

ARCITE

Why then would you deal so cunningly, So strangely, so unlike a noble kinsman,

To love alone? Speak truly. Do you think me

Unworthy of her sight?

PALAMON

No, but unjust If thou pursue that sight.

ARCITE

Because another First sees the enemy, shall I stand still,

And let mine honour down, and never charge?

PALAMON

Yes, if he be but one.

ARCITE

But say that one

Had rather combat me?

PALAMON

Let that one say so, And use thy freedom; else, if thou pursuest her,

Be as that cursed man that hates his country,

A branded villain.

ARCITE

You are mad.

PALAMON

I must be. Till thou art worthy, Arcite, it concerns me;

And in this madness if I hazard thee

And take thy life, I deal but truly.

ARCITE

Fie, sir. You play the child extremely. I will love her,

I must, I ought to do so, and I dare—

And all this justly.

PALAMON

O, that now, that now Thy false self and thy friend had but this fortune—

To be one hour at liberty and grasp

Our good swords in our hands! I would quickly teach

thee

What ’twere to filch affection from another.

Thou art baser in it than a cutpurse.

Put but thy head out of this window more

And, as I have a soul, I’ll nail thy life to’t.

ARCITE

Thou dar’st not, fool; thou canst not; thou art feeble.

Put my head out? I’ll throw my body out

And leap the garden when I see her next,

Enter the Jailer ⌈above⌉

And pitch between her arms to anger thee.

PALAMON

No more—the keeper’s coming. I shall live

To knock thy brains out with my shackles.

ARCITE Do.

JAILER

By your leave, gentlemen.

PALAMON Now, honest keeper?

JAILER

Lord Arcite, you must presently to th’ Duke.

The cause I know not yet.

ARCITE I am ready, keeper.

JAILER

Prince Palamon, I must a while bereave you

Of your fair cousin’s company.

Exeunt Arcite and the Jailer

PALAMON

And me, too, Even when you please, of life. Why is he sent for?

It may be he shall marry her—he’s goodly,

And like enough the Duke hath taken notice

Both of his blood and body. But his falsehood!

Why should a friend be treacherous? If that

Get him a wife so noble and so fair,

Let honest men ne’er love again. Once more

I would but see this fair one. Blessèd garden,

And fruit and flowers more blessed, that still blossom

As her bright eyes shine on ye! Would I were,

For all the fortune of my life hereafter,

Yon little tree, yon blooming apricot—

How I would spread and fling my wanton arms

In at her window! I would bring her fruit

Fit for the gods to feed on; youth and pleasure

Still as she tasted should be doubled on her;

And if she be not heavenly, I would make her

So near the gods in nature they should fear her—

Enter the Jailer ⌈bove⌉

And then I am sure she would love me. How now,

keeper,

Where’s Arcite?

JAILER

Banished—Prince Pirithous Obtained his liberty; but never more,

Upon his oath and life, must he set foot

Upon this kingdom.

PALAMON ⌈aside⌉

He’s a blessed man. He shall see Thebes again, and call to arms

The bold young men that, when he bids ’em charge,

Fall on like fire. Arcite shall have a fortune,

If he dare make himself a worthy lover,

Yet in the field to strike a battle for her;

And if he lose her then, he’s a cold coward.

How bravely may he bear himself to win her

If he be noble Arcite; thousand ways!

Were I at liberty I would do things