The Two Noble Kinsmen
Act I, Scene 4
A field before Thebes.
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Cornets. A battle struck within; then a retreat; flourish.
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Then enter Theseus, victor, with his Lords.
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The three Queens meet him and fall on their faces before
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him.
First Queen
1
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To thee no star be dark.
Second Queen
2 - 3
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Both heaven and earth
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Friend thee forever.
Third Queen
4 - 5
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All the good that may
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Be wish’d upon thy head, I cry amen to’t.
Theseus
6 - 16
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Th’ impartial gods, who from the mounted heavens
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View us their mortal herd, behold who err,
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And in their time chastise. Go and find out
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The bones of your dead lords, and honor them
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With treble ceremony; rather than a gap
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Should be in their dear rites, we would supply’t.
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But those we will depute which shall invest
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You in your dignities, and even each thing
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Our haste does leave imperfect. So adieu,
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And heaven’s good eyes look on you!
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Exeunt Queens.
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Enter Herald with Attendants bearing Palamon and Arcite on
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two hearses.
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What are those?
Herald
17 - 19
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Men of great quality, as may be judg’d
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By their appointment. Some of Thebes have told’s
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They are sisters’ children, nephews to the King.
Theseus
20 - 25
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By th’ helm of Mars, I saw them in the war,
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Like to a pair of lions smear’d with prey,
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Make lanes in troops aghast. I fix’d my note
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Constantly on them; for they were a mark
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Worth a god’s view. What was’t that prisoner told me
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When I inquired their names?
Herald
26 - 27
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Wi’ leave, they’re called
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Arcite and Palamon.
Theseus
28 - 29
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’Tis right—those, those.
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They are not dead?
Herald
30 - 33
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Nor in a state of life; had they been taken
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When their last hurts were given, ’twas possible
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They might have been recovered. Yet they breathe
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And have the name of men.
Theseus
34 - 55
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Then like men use ’em.
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The very lees of such (millions of rates)
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Exceed the wine of others. All our surgeons
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Convent in their behoof, our richest balms,
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Rather than niggard, waste; their lives concern us
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Much more than Thebes is worth. Rather than have ’em
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Freed of this plight, and in their morning state
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(Sound and at liberty), I would ’em dead;
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But forty thousand fold we had rather have ’em
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Prisoners to us than death. Bear ’em speedily
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From our kind air, to them unkind, and minister
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What man to man may do; for our sake more,
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Since I have known frights, fury, friends’ behests,
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Love’s provocations, zeal, a mistress’ task,
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Desire of liberty, a fever, madness,
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Hath set a mark which nature could not reach to
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Without some imposition, sickness in will
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O’er-wrestling strength in reason. For our love,
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And great Apollo’s mercy, all our best
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Their best skill tender.—Lead into the city,
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Where having bound things scatter’d, we will post
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To Athens ’fore our army.
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Flourish. Exeunt, Attendants bearing Palamon and Arcite.
