Page 1398 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

THESEUS

Who saw ’em?

PIRITHOUS
I awhile.

GENTLEMAN
And I. [70]

Enter a Messenger.

THESEUS
From whence come you, sir?

MESSENGER
From the knights.

THESEUS
Pray speak,

You that have seen them, what they are.

MESSENGER
I will, sir,
And truly what I think. Six braver spirits
That these they have brought − if we judge by the outside −

I never saw, nor read of. He that stands [75]
In the first place with Arcite, by his seeming
Should be a stout man; by his face, a prince.
His very looks so say him; his complexion,

Nearer a brown than black, stern and yet noble,
Which shows him hardy, fearless, proud of dangers; [80]
The circles of his eyes show fire within him,
And as a heated lion, so he looks;

His hair hangs long behind him, black and shining
Like ravens’ wings; his shoulders broad and strong,
Armed long and round; and on his thigh a sword [85]
Hung by a curious baldric, when he frowns

To seal his will with − better, o’ my conscience,