If he not answer'd, I should call a wolf,
And do him but that service. I have heard
Strange howls this live-long night: why may 't not be
They have made prey of him? he has no weapons;
He cannot run; the jingling of his gyves
Might call fell things to listen, who have in them
A sense to know a man unarm'd, and can
Smell where resistance is. I'll set it down
He's torn to pieces; they howl'd many together,
And then they fed on him: so much for that!
Be bold to ring the bell; how stand I, then?
All's char'd when he is gone. No, no, I lie;
My father's to be hang'd for his escape;
Myself to beg, if I priz'd life so much
As to deny my act; but that I would not,
Should I try death by dozens. I am mop'd:
Food took I none these two days-
Sipp'd some water; I have not clos'd mine eyes,
Save when my lids scour'd off their brine.
Dissolve, my Life! let not my sense unsettle,
Lest I should drown, or stab, or hang myself!
O State of Nature, fail together in me,

Alas,

10 ACT III

20

30

Since thy best props are warp'd! So, which way now?

The best way is the next way to a grave:

Each errant step beside is torment. Lo,

The Moon is down, the crickets chirp, the screech-owl

Calls in the dawn! all offices are done,

Save what I fail in: but the point is this,

Sc. II

An end, and that is all.

[exit.

SCENE III. The same Part of the Forest as in Scene I.

Enter ARCITE, with meat, wine, files, etc.

ARC. I should be near the place. Hoa, Cousin Palamon!

PAL. Arcite ?

ARC.

Enter PALAMON.

The same: I have brought you food and files. Come forth, and fear not; here's no Theseus.

ACT III PAL. Nor none so honest, Arcite.

Sc. III

ARC.

That's no matter: We'll argue that hereafter. Come, take courage; You shall not die thus beastly: here, Sir, drink;

I know you're faint; then I'll talk further with

you.

PAL. Arcite, thou might'st now poison me.

ARC.

I might;

But I must fear you first. Sit down; and, good

now,

No more of these vain parleys: let us not,

Having our ancient reputation with us,

Make talk for fools and cowards. To your health!

PAL. DO.

ARC.

ΤΟ

[drinks.

Pray, sit down, then; and let me entreat you,

By all the honesty and honour in you,

No mention of this woman! 'twill disturb us;

We shall have time enough.

PAL

Well, Sir, I'll pledge you.

[drinks.

ARC. Drink a good hearty draught; it breeds good blood,

But, if it did, your's is too tart, sweet Cousin.
What is this?

ARC.

PAL

Venison.

"Tis a lusty meat.

Give me more wine: here, Arcite, to the wenches

We have known in our days! The Lord-Steward's daughter;

PAL. And I have heard some call him Arcite; and—
ARC. Out with it, 'faith!

PAL.

She met him in an arbour:

What did she there, Coz? play o' the virginals?

ARC. Something she did, Sir.

PAL

Or two, or three, or ten.

ARC.

Made her groan a month for 't;

The Marshal's sister

Had her share too, as I remember, Cousin,
Else there be tales abroad; you'll pledge her?
PAL.

ARC. A pretty brown wench 'tis: there was a time
When young men went a-hunting, and a wood,
And a broad beech; and thereby hangs a tale.
Heigh-ho!

PAL.

For Emily, upon my life! Fool,
Away with this strain'd mirth! I say again,

That sigh was breath'd for Emily: base Cousin,
Dar'st thou break first?

Yes.

40

ARC. There's all things needful, files, and shirts, and

perfumes :

I'll come again some two hours hence, and bring
That that shall quiet all.

ACT III
Sc. III

A sword and armour?

ARC. Fear me not. You are now too foul: farewell: your trinkets; you shall want nought.

ACT III
Sc. III

PAL.

Get off

PAL.

ARC. I'll hear no more.

PAL.

50

Sirrah[exit.

If he keep touch, he dies for 't.

[exit.

SCENE IV. Another Part of the Forest.

Enter Gaoler's Daughter.

DAUGH. I am very cold; and all the Stars are out too,
The little Stars and all, that look like aglets:1

The Sun has seen my folly.

Alas, no! he's in Heaven.

Palamon!

Where am I now?

Yonder's the Sea, and there's a ship: how 't tumbles!
And there's a rock lies watching under water;
Now, now, it beats upon it; now, now, now,
There's a leak sprung, a sound one; how they cry !
Run her before the wind, you'll lose all, else;
Up with a course or two, and tack about, Boys:
Good night, good night; ye're gone.

hungry :

ΤΟ

I am very

Would I could find a fine frog! he would tell me

News from all parts o' the World; then would I make
A carack of a cockle-shell, and sail

By east and north-east to the King of Pigmies,

For he tells fortunes rarely. Now, my father,
Twenty to one, is truss'd up in a trice

To-morrow morning: I'll say never a word.

[sings.

For I'll cut my green coat a foot above my knee ;
And I'll clip my yellow locks an inch below mine e’e:

Hey, nonny, nonny, nonny.

He s' buy me a white cut, forth for a ride,

20

And I'll go seek him through the World that is so wide:
Hey, nonny, nonny, nonny.

O for a prick now, like a nightingale,

To put my breast against! I shall sleep like a top else.

1 tags of laces.

[exit.

SCENE V. Another Part of the Forest.

Enter GERROLD, four Countrymen as Morris-dancers, another as the Bavian,' five Wenches, and a Taborer.

GER. Fie, fie!

What tediosity and disensanity

Is here among ye! Have my rudiments

Been labour'd so long with ye, milk'd unto ye,
And, by a figure, even the very plum-broth

And marrow of my understanding laid upon ye,

And do you still cry Where, and How, and Where-
fore?

You most coarse frieze Capacities, ye jane2 Judgments,
Have I said Thus let be, and There let be,

And Then let be, and no man understand me?
Proh Deum, medius fidius, ye are all dunces!

ΤΟ

For why here stand I; here the Duke comes; there

are you,

Close in the thicket: the Duke appears;

him,

And unto him I utter learned things

I meet

And many figures: he hears, and nods, and hums,
And then cries Rare! and I go forward; at length
I fling my cap up; mark there! then do

As once did Meleager and the boar,

you,

Break comely out before him, like two lovers;

Cast yourselves in a body decently,

20

And sweetly, by a figure, trace and turn, Boys.
FIRST COUN. And sweetly we will do it, Master Gerrold.
SEC. COUN. Draw up the company. Where's the Taborer?
THIRD COUN. Why, Timothy!

TAB.

Here, my mad Boys; have at ye!

GER. But I say where's their women?

FOURTH COUN.

Here's Friz and Maudlin.

SEC. COUN. And little Luce with the white legs, and

bouncing Barbary.

FIRST COUN. And freckled Nell, that never fail'd her

master.

1 a man dressed as a baboon.

2 worth a farthing.

ACT III

Sc. V