Page 1306 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

When such I meet, and wish great Juno would
Resume her ancient fit of jealousy
To get the soldier work, that peace might purge
For her repletion, and retain anew

Her charitable heart, now hard and harsher [25]
Than strife or war could be.

ARCITE
Are you not out?
Meet you no ruin but the soldier in

The cranks and turns of Thebes? You did begin
As if you met decays of many kinds;
Perceive you none that do arouse your pity [30]
But th’unconsidered soldier?

PALAMON
Yes, I pity

Decays where’er I find them, but such most
That sweating in an honourable toil
Are paid with ice to cool ’em.

ARCITE
’Tis not this

I did begin to speak of; this is virtue, [35]
Of no respect in Thebes. I spake of Thebes,
How dangerous, if we will keep our honours,
It is for our residing, where every evil
Hath a good colour; where every seeming good’s

A certain evil; where not to be even jump [40]
As they are, here were to be strangers, and
Such things to be, mere monsters.

PALAMON
’Tis in our power −

Unless we fear that apes can tutor’s − to
Be masters of our manners. What need I
Affect another’s gait, which is not catching [45]
Where there is faith, or to be fond upon