The Two Noble Kinsmen Part 8

I cannot tell what you have done, I have; Beshrew mine eyes for't: now I feele my Shackles.

PALAMON.

You love her, then?

ARCITE.

Who would not?

PALAMON.

And desire her?

ARCITE.

Before my liberty.

PALAMON.

I saw her first.

ARCITE.

That's nothing.

PALAMON.

But it shall be.

ARCITE.

I saw her too.

PALAMON.

Yes, but you must not love her.

ARCITE.

I will not as you doe, to wors.h.i.+p her, As she is heavenly, and a blessed G.o.ddes; I love her as a woman, to enjoy her: So both may love.

PALAMON.

You shall not love at all.

ARCITE.

Not love at all!

Who shall deny me?

PALAMON.

I, that first saw her; I, that tooke possession First with mine eyes of all those beauties In her reveald to mankinde: if thou lou'st her, Or entertain'st a hope to blast my wishes, Thou art a Traytour, Arcite, and a fellow False as thy t.i.tle to her: friends.h.i.+p, blood, And all the tyes betweene us I disclaime, If thou once thinke upon her.

ARCITE.

Yes, I love her, And if the lives of all my name lay on it, I must doe so; I love her with my soule: If that will lose ye, farewell, Palamon; I say againe, I love, and in loving her maintaine I am as worthy and as free a lover, And have as just a t.i.tle to her beauty As any Palamon or any living That is a mans Sonne.

PALAMON.

Have I cald thee friend?

ARCITE.

Yes, and have found me so; why are you mov'd thus?

Let me deale coldly with you: am not I Part of your blood, part of your soule? you have told me That I was Palamon, and you were Arcite.

PALAMON.

Yes.

ARCITE.

Am not I liable to those affections, Those joyes, greifes, angers, feares, my friend shall suffer?

PALAMON.

Ye may be.

ARCITE.

Why, then, would you deale so cunningly, So strangely, so vnlike a n.o.ble kinesman, To love alone? speake truely: doe you thinke me Vnworthy of her sight?

PALAMON.

No; but unjust, If thou pursue that sight.

ARCITE.

Because an other First sees the Enemy, shall I stand still And let mine honour downe, and never charge?

PALAMON.

Yes, if he be but one.

ARCITE.

But say that one Had rather combat me?