Constantly on them; for they were a mark
Worth a god’s view. What was’t that prisoner told me
When I inquired their names?
By the helmet of Mars, I saw them in the war,
they were like a pair of lions attacking their prey,
cutting paths through the terrified troops.
I watched them constantly, for they were worthy
of being watched by gods. What did that prisoner say to me
when I asked their names?
HERALD
Wi’ leave, they’re called
Arcite and Palamon.
If you please, they are called
Arcite and Palamon.
THESEUS
’Tis right—those, those.
They are not dead?
That's right, those are the ones.
They're not dead?
HERALD
Nor in a state of life; had they been taken
When their last hurts were given, ’twas possible
They might have been recovered. Yet they breathe
And have the name of men.
They are hardly alive; had they been captured
at the time they got their last wounds, it might have been
possible for them to recover. But they are still breathing
and can still be called men.
THESEUS
Then like men use ’em.
The very lees of such (millions of rates)
Exceed the wine of others. All our surgeons
Convent in their behoof, our richest balms,
Rather than niggard, waste; their lives concern us
Much more than Thebes is worth. Rather than have ’em
Freed of this plight, and in their morning state
(Sound and at liberty), I would ’em dead;
But forty thousand fold we had rather have ’em
Prisoners to us than death. Bear ’em speedily
From our kind air, to them unkind, and minister
What man to man may do; for our sake more,
Since I have known frights, fury, friends’ behests,
Love’s provocations, zeal, a mistress’ task,
Desire of liberty, a fever, madness,
Hath set a mark which nature could not reach to
Without some imposition, sickness in will
O’er-wrastling strength in reason. For our love,
And great Apollo’s mercy, all our best
Their best skill tender.—Lead into the city,
Where having bound things scatter’d, we will post
To Athens ’fore our army.
Then treat them like men.
The very dregs of such men are a million times better
than the wine of others. Gather all of
our doctors to work on them, it would be better to waste our best medicines than be sparing with them; their lives are more important to me
than all of Thebes. Rather than them being
out of danger and in the same position they were in this morning
(healthy and free), I would rather they were dead;
but I would forty thousand times prefer to have them
as my prisoners rather than dead. Take them away quickly
from this place which hasn't been good to them, and do
everything for them a man can for another; for my sake do more,
since I have known fear, fury, the requests of friends,
the pains of love, anger, the scolding of a mistress,
the desire for freedom, a fever, madness,
which could not be suffered without
leaving some scars, the sickness of desire
overcoming the strength of reason. Out of love for me,
and to gain mercy from great Apollo, tell all our best men
to do their best. Lead us into the city,
and when we have gathered together our forces, I will ride
to Athens at the head of my army.
Flourish. Exeunt, Attendants bearing Palamon and Arcite.
Another part of a field before Thebes.
(Three Queens, Knights)
Music. Enter the Queens with the hearses of their Knights in a funeral solemnity, etc.
Song.
Urns and odors bring away,
Vapors, sighs, darken the day;
Our dole more deadly looks than dying;
Balms, and gums, and heavy cheers,
Sacred vials fill’d with tears,
And clamors through the wild air flying!
Come all sad and solemn shows,
That are quick-ey’d pleasure’s foes!
We convent nought else but woes:
We convent, etc.
Carry away the urns and incense,
Tears and sighs darken the day;
our grief looks more deadly than death itself;
with medicines, and potions and great cries,
holy vials filled with tears,
with cries ringing through the stormy air!
Come all demonstrations of sadness,
the opposites to bright eyed pleasure!
Nothing but sorrow is gathering here.
THIRD QUEEN
This funeral path brings to your household’s grave:
Joy seize on you again! Peace sleep with him!
This funeral route brings you to your family grave:
May you be happy again! Rest in peace!
SECOND QUEEN
And this to yours.
And the same to yours.
FIRST QUEEN
Yours this way. Heavens lend
A thousand differing ways to one sure end.
And to yours. The heavens give us
a thousand different ways to come to one certain end.
THIRD QUEEN
This world’s a city full of straying streets,
And death’s the market-place, where each one meets.
This world is a city full of wandering streets,
and death is the marketplace, where they all meet.
Exeunt severally.
Athens. A garden, with a prison in the background.
(Jailer, Wooer, Daughter, Palamon, Arcite)
Enter Jailer and Wooer.
JAILER
I may depart with little, while I live; something I may cast to you, not much. Alas, the prison I keep, though it be for great ones, yet they seldom come: before one salmon, you shall take a number of minnows. I am given out to be better lin’d than it can appear to me report is a true speaker. I would I were really that I am deliver’d to be. Marry, what I have (be it what it will) I will assure upon my daughter at the day of my death.
I can't give much away, while I'm alive; I might be able to give you something, not much. Alas, although the prison I run is for noblemen, I don't often get them: you catch many more minnows than salmon. The rumours say I am much wealthier than I actually am. I wish I had what they say I have. Still, whatever I have, whatever it is, I promise to my daughter on the day I die.
WOOER
Sir, I demand no more than your own offer, and I will estate your daughter in what I have promis’d.
Sir, I want nothing more than what you have offered, and I will settle what I have promised on your daughter.
JAILER
Well, we will talk more of this when the solemnity is past. But have you a full promise of her? When that shall be seen, I tender my consent.
Well, we will talk more of this when the serious business is over. But have you got her full agreement? When I see that, I'll give my consent.
Enter Daughter with strewings.
WOOER
I have, sir. Here she comes.
I have, sir. Here she comes.
JAILER
Your friend and I have chanc’d to name you here, upon the old business. But no more of that now; so soon as the court hurry is over, we will have an end of it. I’ th’ mean time, look tenderly to the two prisoners. I can tell you they are princes.
Your friend and I happened to be talking about you, on the usual matter. But enough of that for now; as soon as all this commotion at court is over we will settle the matter. In the meantime, look after the two prisoners carefully. I can tell you they are princes.
JAILER’S DAUGHTER
These strewings are for their chamber. ’Tis pity they are in prison, and ’twere pity they should be out. I do think they have patience to make any adversity asham’d. The prison itself is proud of ’em; and they have all the world in their chamber.
These flowers are for their room. It's a shame they are in prison, and it would be a shame if they weren't. I think may have the patience to suffer any adversity. The prison is proud to have them as guests, and everybody visits their room.
JAILER
They are fam’d to be a pair of absolute men.
They are said to be a pair of wonderful men.
JAILER’S DAUGHTER
By my troth, I think fame but stammers ’em, they stand a grise above the reach of report.
I swear their reputation isn't good enough, they are head and shoulders above what they are said to be.
JAILER
I heard them reported in the battle to be the only doers.
I heard it said that they were the only ones fighting in the battle.
JAILER’S DAUGHTER
Nay, most likely, for they are noble suff’rers. I marvel how they would have look’d had they been victors, that with such a constant nobility enforce a freedom out of bondage, making misery their mirth, and affliction a toy to jest at.
That's very likely, for they are very noble in their suffering. I'm amazed to think what they would have been like if they had won, when they so nobly seem to be free in their imprisonment, laughing in their misery, and joking at their wounds.
JAILER
Do they so?
Is that what they do?
JAILER’S DAUGHTER
It seems to me they have no more sense of their captivity than I of ruling Athens. They eat well, look merrily, discourse of many things, but nothing of their own restraint and disasters. Yet sometime a divided sigh, martyr’d as ’twere i’ th’ deliverance, will break from one of them; when the other presently gives it so sweet a rebuke that I could wish myself a sigh to be so chid, or at least a sigher to be comforted.
They seem to have no more idea that they are captives than I would have of ruling Athens. They eat well, look happy, talk of many things, but they don't say anything about their own imprisonment and misfortunes. But sometimes one of them will give a stifled sigh, choked off even as it breaks out; then the other will rebuke it so sweetly that it makes me wish I was a sigh to be criticised like that, or at least a sigher to receive such comfort.
WOOER
I never saw ’em.
I never saw them.
JAILER
The Duke himself came privately in the night, and so did they. What the reason of it is, I know not.
Enter Palamon and Arcite above.
Look yonder they are! That’s Arcite looks out.
The Duke himself came privately at night, and so did they. What the reason is for that, I don't know.
Look, they are up there! That's Arcite looking out.
JAILER’S DAUGHTER
No, sir, no, that’s Palamon. Arcite is the lower of the twain; you may perceive a part of him.
No, sir, no, that's Palamon. Arcite is the shorter of the two; you can see part of him.
JAILER
Go to, leave your pointing. They would not make us their object. Out of their sight.
Come on, stop pointing at them. They don't want us staring at them. Lets get out of their sight.
JAILER’S DAUGHTER
It is a holiday to look on them. Lord, the diff’rence of men!
It's like a holiday to look at them. Lord, how different men can be!
Exeunt Jailer, Wooer, and Daughter.
The prison.
(Palamon, Arcite, Emilia, Woman, Jailer)
Enter Palamon, and Arcite in prison.
PALAMON
How do you, noble cousin?
How are you, noble cousin?
ARCITE
How do you, sir?
How are you, sir?
PALAMON
Why, strong enough to laugh at misery
And bear the chance of war yet. We are prisoners
I fear forever, cousin.
Well, strong enough to laugh at misery
and endure the fortunes of war. I fear that we are
to stay in prison forever, cousin.
ARCITE
I believe it,
And to that destiny have patiently
Laid up my hour to come.
I believe it,
and I have set myself to
patiently endure that fate.
PALAMON
O cousin Arcite,
Where is Thebes now? Where is our noble country?
Where are our friends and kindreds? Never more
Must we behold those comforts, never see
The hardy youths strive for the games of honor,
Hung with the painted favors of their ladies,
Like tall ships under sail; then start amongst ’em
And as an east wind leave ’em all behind us,
Like lazy clouds, whilst Palamon and Arcite,
Even in the wagging of a wanton leg,
Outstripp’d the people’s praises, won the garlands,
Ere they have time to wish ’em ours. O, never
Shall we two exercise, like twins of honor,
Our arms again, and feel our fiery horses
Like proud seas under us. Our good swords now
(Better the red-ey’d god of war nev’r ware),
Ravish’d our sides, like age must run to rust,
And deck the temples of those gods that hate us;
These hands shall never draw ’em out like lightning
To blast whole armies more.
Oh cousin Arcite,
where is Thebes now? Where is our noble country?
Where our friends and family? Will we
never see those sweet things again, never see
the robust youths jousting,
carrying the painted banners of their ladies,
like tall ships with their sails hoisted; then we would charge amongst them
and leave them all behind us like an east wind leaves the lazy clouds,
whilst Palamon and Arcite,
in the twinkling of an eye,
surpassed the praises people gave them, won the prizes,
before they even had time to say they should be ours. Oh, we two
shall never get to show off our weapons again, embodiments of honour,
or feel our fiery horses heaving
like great seas underneath us. Now our good swords
(Mars himself never carried a better one),
torn from our sides, must turn to rust like old men,
and decorate the temples of the gods who hate us;
these hands will never flash them out like lightning
to cut down great armies.
ARCITE
No, Palamon,
Those hopes are prisoners with us. Here we are,
And here the graces of our youths must wither
Like a too-timely spring. Here age must find us,
And which is heaviest, Palamon, unmarried.
The sweet embraces of a loving wife,
Loaden with kisses, arm’d with thousand Cupids,
Shall never clasp our necks; no issue know us;
No figures of ourselves shall we ev’r see
To glad our age, and like young eagles teach ’em
Boldly to gaze against bright arms, and say,
“Remember what your fathers were, and conquer!”
The fair-ey’d maids shall weep our banishments,
And in their songs curse ever-blinded Fortune
Till she for shame
see what a wrong she has done
To youth and nature. This is all our world:
We shall know nothing here but one another,
Hear nothing but the clock that tells our woes;
The vine shall grow, but we shall never see it;
Summer shall come, and with her all delights,
But dead-cold winter must inhabit here still.
No, Palamon,
those hopes are imprisoned with us. Here we are,
and here the beauty of our youth must fade
like a too early spring. Here we will grow old,
and what is worse, Palamon, we will do so unmarried.
The sweet embraces of a loving wife,
loaded with kisses, backed up by a thousand cupids,
will never be thrown round our necks; no children will know us;
we shall see no copies of ourselves
to brighten up our old age, and to teach them like young eagles
to boldly face the glare of the enemy's weapons, and say,
“Remember who your fathers were, and win!"
The beautiful girls will cry over our exile,
and in their songs they will curse eternally blind fortune,
until she is shamed into seeing what a wrong she has done
against youth and nature. This is our whole world:
we shall know nobody here but each other,
hear nothing but the clock ticking out our sorrows;
the vines will grow, but we shall never see them;
summer will come, with all her delights,
but it will always be the dead of winter in here.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) Page 416