The Two Noble Kinsmen Part 23

HIPPOLITA.

By that faith, That faire hand, and that honest heart you gave me.

EMILIA.

By that you would have pitty in another, By your owne vertues infinite.

HIPPOLITA.

By valour, By all the chaste nights I have ever pleasd you.

THESEUS.

These are strange Conjurings.

PERITHOUS.

Nay, then, Ile in too: By all our friendship, Sir, by all our dangers, By all you love most: warres and this sweet Lady.

EMILIA.

By that you would have trembled to deny, A blushing Maide.

HIPPOLITA.

By your owne eyes: By strength, In which you swore I went beyond all women, Almost all men, and yet I yeelded, Theseus.

PERITHOUS.

To crowne all this: By your most n.o.ble soule, Which cannot want due mercie, I beg first.

HIPPOLITA.

Next, heare my prayers.

EMILIA.

Last, let me intreate, Sir.

PERITHOUS.

For mercy.

HIPPOLITA.

Mercy.

EMILIA.

Mercy on these Princes.

THESEUS.

Ye make my faith reele: Say I felt Compa.s.sion to'em both, how would you place it?

EMILIA.

Vpon their lives: But with their banishments.

THESEUS.

You are a right woman, Sister; you have pitty, But want the vnderstanding where to use it.

If you desire their lives, invent a way Safer then banishment: Can these two live And have the agony of love about 'em, And not kill one another? Every day They'ld fight about you; howrely bring your honour In publique question with their Swords. Be wise, then, And here forget 'em; it concernes your credit And my oth equally: I have said they die; Better they fall by'th law, then one another.

Bow not my honor.

EMILIA.

O my n.o.ble Brother, That oth was rashly made, and in your anger, Your reason will not hold it; if such vowes Stand for expresse will, all the world must perish.

Beside, I have another oth gainst yours, Of more authority, I am sure more love, Not made in pa.s.sion neither, but good heede.

THESEUS.

What is it, Sister?

PERITHOUS.

Vrge it home, brave Lady.

EMILIA.

That you would nev'r deny me any thing Fit for my modest suit, and your free granting: I tye you to your word now; if ye fall in't, Thinke how you maime your honour, (For now I am set a begging, Sir, I am deafe To all but your compa.s.sion.) How, their lives Might breed the ruine of my name, Opinion!

Shall any thing that loves me perish for me?

That were a cruell wisedome; doe men proyne The straight yong Bowes that blush with thousand Blossoms, Because they may be rotten? O Duke Theseus, The goodly Mothers that have groand for these, And all the longing Maides that ever lov'd, If your vow stand, shall curse me and my Beauty, And in their funerall songs for these two Cosens Despise my crueltie, and cry woe worth me, Till I am nothing but the scorne of women; For heavens sake save their lives, and banish 'em.

THESEUS.

On what conditions?

EMILIA.

Sweare'em never more To make me their Contention, or to know me, To tread upon thy Dukedome; and to be, Where ever they shall travel, ever strangers To one another.

PALAMON.

Ile be cut a peeces Before I take this oth: forget I love her?

O all ye G.o.ds dispise me, then! Thy Banishment I not mislike, so we may fairely carry Our Swords and cause along: else, never trifle, But take our lives, Duke: I must love and will, And for that love must and dare kill this Cosen On any peece the earth has.

THESEUS.