Page 1308 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

Of his loud infamy; for our milk
Will relish of the pasture, and we must
Be vile or disobedient, not his kinsmen
In blood unless in quality.

PALAMON
Nothing truer.

I think the echoes of his shames have deafed [80]
The ears of heavenly justice; widows’ cries
Descend again into their throats, and have not

Due audience of the gods.
Enter Valerius.
Valerius.

VALERIUS
The King calls for you; yet be leaden-footed
Till his great rage be off him. Phoebus, when [85]

He broke his whipstock and exclaimed against
The horses of the sun, but whispered to
The loudness of his fury.

PALAMON
Small winds shake him.

But what’s the matter?

VALERIUS

Theseus, who where he threats appals, hath sent [90]
Deadly defiance to him and pronounces
Ruin to Thebes; who is at hand to seal
The promise of his wrath.

ARCITE
Let him approach;

But that we fear the gods in him, he brings not
A jot of terror to us. Yet what man [95]
Thirds his own worth − the case is each of ours −

When that his action’s dregged with mind assured