Page 1350 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

Of one meal lend me. Come before me then,
A good sword in thy hand, and do but say [75]
That Emily is thine, I will forgive
The trespass thou hast done me − yea, my life,

If then thou carry’t; and brave souls in shades
That have died manly, which will seek of me
Some news from earth, they shall get none but this, [80]
That thou art brave and noble.

ARCITE

Be content;
Again betake you to your hawthorn house.
With counsel of the night, I will be here
With wholesome viands; these impediments
Will I file off; you shall have garments, and [85]

Perfumes to kill the smell o’th’prison. After,
When you shall stretch yourself, and say but ‘Arcite,
I am in plight’, there shall be at your choice

Both sword and armour.

PALAMON

O you heavens, dares any
So noble bear a guilty business? None [90]
But only Arcite; therefore none but Arcite
In this kind is so bold.

ARCITE
Sweet Palamon!

PALAMON
I do embrace you and your offer − for
Your offer do’t I only, sir; your person
Without hypocrisy I may not wish [95]
More than my sword’s edge on’t.

They wind horns off; cornets sounded.

ARCITE