Page 1377 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

I have sworn.

ARCITE
We seek not
Thy breath of mercy, Theseus; ’tis to me
A thing as soon to die as thee to say it,
And no more moved. Where this man calls me traitor, [160]

Let me say thus much: if in love be treason,
In service of so excellent a beauty,
As I love most, and in that faith will perish,

As I have brought my life here to confirm it,
As I have served her truest, worthiest, [165]
As I dare kill this cousin that denies it,
So let me be most traitor, and ye please me.
For scorning thy edict, Duke, ask that lady

Why she is fair, and why her eyes command me
Stay here to love her; and if she say ‘traitor’, [170]
I am a villain fit to lie unburied.

PALAMON
Thou shalt have pity of us both, O Theseus,

If unto neither thou show mercy. Stop,
As thou art just, thy noble ear against us;
As thou art valiant, for thy cousin’s soul, [175]
Whose twelve strong labours crown his memory,

Let’s die together, at one instant, Duke;
Only a little let him fall before me,
That I may tell my soul he shall not have her.

THESEUS
I grant your wish, for to say true your cousin [180]

Has ten times more offended, for I gave him
More mercy than you found, sir, your offences
Being no more than his. None here speak for ’em;
For ere the sun set, both shall sleep for ever.

HIPPOLYTA
Alas, the pity! Now or never, sister, [185]