The Two Noble Kinsmen (1613)

Intro

Online Critical Edition in Progress - Version 1.c.
Date variant: 1612
Shakespeare Network - https://shakespearenetwork.net/

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Act II, Scene 3

The country near Athens.

ARCITE
[Enter Arcite.]
Banished the kingdom? 'Tis a benefit,
A mercy I must thank 'em for; but banished
The free enjoying of that face I die for,
O, 'twas a studied punishment, a death
Beyond imagination--such a vengeance
That, were I old and wicked, all my sins
Could never pluck upon me. Palamon,
Thou hast the start now; thou shalt stay and see
Her bright eyes break each morning 'gainst thy
window
And let in life into thee; thou shalt feed
Upon the sweetness of a noble beauty
That nature ne'er exceeded nor ne'er shall.
Good gods, what happiness has Palamon!
Twenty to one he'll come to speak to her,
And if she be as gentle as she's fair,
I know she's his. He has a tongue will tame
Tempests and make the wild rocks wanton.
Come what can come,
The worst is death. I will not leave the kingdom.
I know mine own is but a heap of ruins,
And no redress there. If I go, he has her.
I am resolved another shape shall make me
Or end my fortunes. Either way I am happy.
I'll see her and be near her, or no more.

[Enter four Country people, and one with
a garland before them.]

[Arcite steps aside.]

FIRST COUNTRYMAN
My masters, I'll be there, that's certain.

SECOND COUNTRYMAN
And I'll be there.

THIRD COUNTRYMAN
And I.

FOURTH COUNTRYMAN
Why, then, have with you, boys.
'Tis but a chiding. Let the plough play today; I'll
tickle 't out of the jades' tails tomorrow.

FIRST COUNTRYMAN
I am sure to have my wife as jealous
as a turkey, but that's all one. I'll go through;
let her mumble.

SECOND COUNTRYMAN
Clap her aboard tomorrow night
and stow her, and all's made up again.

THIRD COUNTRYMAN
Ay, do but put a fescue in her fist
and you shall see her take a new lesson out and be
a good wench. Do we all hold against the Maying?

FOURTH COUNTRYMAN
Hold? What should ail us?

THIRD COUNTRYMAN
Arcas will be there.

SECOND COUNTRYMAN
And Sennois and Rycas; and
three better lads ne'er danced under green tree.
And you know what wenches, ha! But will the
dainty domine, the Schoolmaster, keep touch, do
you think? For he does all, you know.

THIRD COUNTRYMAN
He'll eat a hornbook ere he fail.
Go to, the matter's too far driven between him and
the tanner's daughter to let slip now; and she must
see the Duke, and she must dance too.

FOURTH COUNTRYMAN
Shall we be lusty?

FOURTH COUNTRYMAN
All the boys in Athens blow wind
i' th' breech on 's. And here I'll be and there I'll be,
for our town, and here again, and there again. Ha,
boys, hey for the weavers!

FIRST COUNTRYMAN
This must be done i' th' woods.

FOURTH COUNTRYMAN
O pardon me.

SECOND COUNTRYMAN
By any means; our thing of learning
says so--where he himself will edify the Duke
most parlously in our behalfs. He's excellent i' th'
woods; bring him to th' plains, his learning makes no cry.

THIRD COUNTRYMAN
We'll see the sports, then every
man to 's tackle. And, sweet companions, let's rehearse,
by any means, before the ladies see us, and
do sweetly, and God knows what may come on 't.

FOURTH COUNTRYMAN
Content. The sports once ended,
we'll perform. Away, boys, and hold.

[Arcite comes forward.]

ARCITE
By your leaves, honest friends: pray you,
whither go you?

FOURTH COUNTRYMAN
Whither?
Why, what a question's that?

ARCITE
Yes, 'tis a question
To me that know not.

THIRD COUNTRYMAN
To the games, my friend.

SECOND COUNTRYMAN
Where were you bred, you know it not?

ARCITE
Not far, sir.
Are there such games today?

FIRST COUNTRYMAN
Yes, marry, are there,
And such as you never saw. The Duke himself
Will be in person there.

ARCITE
What pastimes are they?

SECOND COUNTRYMAN
Wrestling and running.--'Tis a pretty fellow.

THIRD COUNTRYMAN
Thou wilt not go along?

ARCITE
Not yet, sir.

FOURTH COUNTRYMAN
Well, sir,
Take your own time.--Come, boys.

FIRST COUNTRYMAN
[aside to the others]
My mind misgives
me. This fellow has a vengeance trick o' th'
hip. Mark how his body's made for 't.

SECOND COUNTRYMAN
[aside to the others]
I'll be
hanged, though, if he dare venture. Hang him,
plum porridge! He wrestle? He roast eggs! Come,
let's be gone, lads.

[The four exit.]

ARCITE
This is an offered opportunity
I durst not wish for. Well I could have wrestled--
The best men called it excellent--and run
Swifter than wind upon a field of corn,
Curling the wealthy ears, never flew. I'll venture,
And in some poor disguise be there. Who knows
Whether my brows may not be girt with garlands,
And happiness prefer me to a place
Where I may ever dwell in sight of her?

[Arcite exits.]

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The Two Noble Kinsmen (1613)

Act II, Scene 3

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