Page 1376 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

They fight again. Horns sound within; enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Emilia,
Pirithous, and train.

THESEUS
What ignorant and mad malicious traitors
Are you, that ’gainst the tenor of my laws
Are making battle, thus like knights appointed,

Without my leave and officers of arms? [135]
By Castor, both shall die.

PALAMON
Hold thy word, Theseus;
We are certainly both traitors, both despisers

Of thee, and of thy goodness. I am Palamon
That cannot love thee, he that broke thy prison −
Think well what that deserves − and this is Arcite; [140]
A bolder traitor never trod thy ground,

A falser ne’er seemed friend; this is the man
Was begged and banished, this is he contemns thee
And what thou darest do, and in this disguise,
Against thine own edict follows thy sister, [145]

That fortunate bright star, the fair Emilia −
Whose servant, if there be a right in seeing,
And first bequeathing of the soul to, justly
I am − and which is more, dares think her his.

This treachery, like a most trusty lover, [150]
I called him now to answer; if thou be’st
As thou art spoken, great and virtuous,
The true decider of all injuries,

Say ‘Fight again’, and thou shalt see me, Theseus,
Do such a justice thou thyself wilt envy. [155]
Then take my life; I’ll woo thee to’t.

PIRITHOUS
O heaven,
What more than man is this!

THESEUS