The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (682 page)

has been strengthened through adult judgement, and the

needs they have of each other could be said to water

the entwined roots of their love, but she

and I (I sigh to speak of her) were innocents,

simply loved without reason, like the stars

that have no knowledge of how or why but still

affect great issues in their motions, that was what

our souls were like to one another. What she liked

I immediately liked, what she didn't, I hated

without question. If I plucked a flower

and put it between my breasts (which were then just

beginning to grow) she would pine

until she had one just the same, and put it

into the same innocent holder, where they would die

releasing their perfume. I wouldn't wear a hat

that wasn't like hers, her fashions (pretty,

even when she had just thrown something on) I followed

for my most formal wear. If I heard

some new tune, or perhaps hummed one

of my own invention, why, she would

take it into her heart

and sing it in her sleep. This story

(which every simpleton can see produces

great emotion in me) has this moral,

that true love between two girls may be

greater than between men and women.

HIPPOLYTA

Y’ are out of breath,

And this high-speeded pace is but to say

That you shall never (like the maid Flavina)

Love any that’s call’d man.

You are out of breath,

and your rushing words tell me

that you will never love a man

as you loved the girl Flavina.

EMILIA

I am sure I shall not.

I am sure I shall not.

HIPPOLYTA

Now alack, weak sister,

I must no more believe thee in this point

(Though in’t I know thou dost believe thyself)

Than I will trust a sickly appetite,

That loathes even as it longs. But sure, my sister,

If I were ripe for your persuasion, you

Have said enough to shake me from the arm

Of the all-noble Theseus, for whose fortunes

I will now in and kneel, with great assurance

That we, more than his Pirithous, possess

The high throne in his heart.

Now alas, weak sister,

I don't give any more credence to you on this

(although I know that you believe it is true)

then I would give to the appetite of an invalid,

that craves things even though they would sicken it.

I can assure you, my sister, if I could be persuaded,

you have said enough to pull me away from

the great noble Theseus, for whom I will now

go in and pray, safe in the knowledge

that I, not his Pirithous, hold the

highest place in his heart.

EMILIA

I am not

Against your faith, yet I continue mine.

I won't

argue with you, though I still believe what I said.

Exeunt.

A field before Thebes.

(Theseus, Lords, Three Queens, Herald, Attendants, Palamon, Arcite)

Cornets. A battle strook within; then a retrait; flourish.

Then enter Theseus, victor, with his Lords. The three Queens meet him and fall on their faces before him.

FIRST QUEEN

To thee no star be dark.

May the stars always shine on you.

SECOND QUEEN

Both heaven and earth

Friend thee forever.

May Heaven and Earth

always be your friends.

THIRD QUEEN

All the good that may

Be wish’d upon thy head, I cry amen to’t.

I pray for all good things

to fall upon your head.

THESEUS

Th’ impartial gods, who from the mounted heavens

View us their mortal herd, behold who err,

And in their time chastise. Go and find out

The bones of your dead lords, and honor them

With treble ceremony; rather than a gap

Should be in their dear rites, we would supply’t.

But those we will depute which shall invest

You in your dignities, and even each thing

Our haste does leave imperfect. So adieu,

And heaven’s good eyes look on you!

The impartial gods, who look down from heaven

to see us, their mortal flock, see who does wrong,

and in the fullness of time punish them. Go find

the bodies of your dead lords, and perform

the funeral rites three times over; rather than

anything being missing in the ceremony, I would

gladly perform them myself.

But those I shall order to do it will

make sure it's done with dignity, and they will make sure

that anything I have left undone in my hurry is corrected. So goodbye,

and may the gods look upon you favourably!

Exeunt Queens.

Enter Herald with Attendants bearing Palamon and Arcite on two hearses.

What are those?

Who are those people?

HERALD

Men of great quality, as may be judg’d

By their appointment. Some of Thebes have told’s

They are sisters’ children, nephews to the King.

They are men of great quality, you can tell

by their clothes. Some of the Thebans told me

that they are children of his sister, nephews to the King.

THESEUS

By th’ helm of Mars, I saw them in the war,

Like to a pair of lions smear’d with prey,

Make lanes in troops aghast. I fix’d my note

Constantly on them; for they were a mark

Worth a god’s view. What was’t that prisoner told me

When I inquired their names?

By the helmet of Mars, I saw them in the war,

they were like a pair of lions attacking their prey,

cutting paths through the terrified troops.

I watched them constantly, for they were worthy

of being watched by gods. What did that prisoner say to me

when I asked their names?

HERALD

Wi’ leave, they’re called

Arcite and Palamon.

If you please, they are called

Arcite and Palamon.

THESEUS

’Tis right—those, those.

They are not dead?

That's right, those are the ones.

They're not dead?

HERALD

Nor in a state of life; had they been taken

When their last hurts were given, ’twas possible

They might have been recovered. Yet they breathe

And have the name of men.

They are hardly alive; had they been captured

at the time they got their last wounds, it might have been

possible for them to recover. But they are still breathing

and can still be called men.

THESEUS

Then like men use ’em.

The very lees of such (millions of rates)

Exceed the wine of others. All our surgeons

Convent in their behoof, our richest balms,

Rather than niggard, waste; their lives concern us

Much more than Thebes is worth. Rather than have ’em

Freed of this plight, and in their morning state

(Sound and at liberty), I would ’em dead;

But forty thousand fold we had rather have ’em

Prisoners to us than death. Bear ’em speedily

From our kind air, to them unkind, and minister

What man to man may do; for our sake more,

Since I have known frights, fury, friends’ behests,

Love’s provocations, zeal, a mistress’ task,

Desire of liberty, a fever, madness,

Hath set a mark which nature could not reach to

Without some imposition, sickness in will

O’er-wrastling strength in reason. For our love,

And great Apollo’s mercy, all our best

Their best skill tender.—Lead into the city,

Where having bound things scatter’d, we will post

To Athens ’fore our army.

Then treat them like men.

The very dregs of such men are a million times better

than the wine of others. Gather all of

our doctors to work on them, it would be better to waste our best medicines than be sparing with them; their lives are more important to me

than all of Thebes. Rather than them being

out of danger and in the same position they were in this morning

(healthy and free), I would rather they were dead;

but I would forty thousand times prefer to have them

as my prisoners rather than dead. Take them away quickly

from this place which hasn't been good to them, and do

everything for them a man can for another; for my sake do more,

since I have known fear, fury, the requests of friends,

the pains of love, anger, the scolding of a mistress,

the desire for freedom, a fever, madness,

which could not be suffered without

leaving some scars, the sickness of desire

overcoming the strength of reason. Out of love for me,

and to gain mercy from great Apollo, tell all our best men

to do their best. Lead us into the city,

and when we have gathered together our forces, I will ride

to Athens at the head of my army.

Flourish. Exeunt, Attendants bearing Palamon and Arcite.

Another part of a field before Thebes.