For scorning thy Edict, Duke, aske that LadyWhy she is faire, and why her eyes command me
Stay here to love her; and if she say ‘Traytor,’
I am a villaine fit to lye unburied.
PALAMON.
Thou shalt have pitty of us both, o Theseus,
If unto neither thou shew mercy; stop
(As thou art just) thy noble eare against us.
As thou art valiant, for thy Cosens soule
Whose 12. strong labours crowne his memory,
Lets die together, at one instant, Duke,
Onely a little let him fall before me,
That I may tell my Soule he shall not have her.
THESEUS.
I grant your wish, for, to say true, your Cosen
Has ten times more offended; for I gave him
More mercy then you found, Sir, your offenses
Being no more then his. None here speake for ‘em,
For, ere the Sun set, both shall sleepe for ever.
HIPPOLITA.
Alas the pitty! now or never, Sister,
Speake, not to be denide; That face of yours
Will beare the curses else of after ages
For these lost Cosens.
EMILIA.
In my face, deare Sister,
I finde no anger to ‘em, nor no ruyn;
The misadventure of their owne eyes kill ‘em;
Yet that I will be woman, and have pitty,
My knees shall grow to’th ground but Ile get mercie.
Helpe me, deare Sister; in a deede so vertuous
The powers of all women will be with us.
Most royall Brother—
HIPPOLITA.
Sir, by our tye of Marriage—
EMILIA.
By your owne spotlesse honour—
HIPPOLITA.
By that faith,
That faire hand, and that honest heart you gave me.
EMILIA.
By that you would have pitty in another,
By your owne vertues infinite.
HIPPOLITA.
By valour,
By all the chaste nights I have ever pleasd you.
THESEUS.
These are strange Conjurings.
PERITHOUS.
Nay, then, Ile in too:
By all our friendship, Sir, by all our dangers,
By all you love most: warres and this sweet Lady.
EMILIA.
By that you would have trembled to deny,
A blushing Maide.
HIPPOLITA.
By your owne eyes: By strength,
In which you swore I went beyond all women,
Almost all men, and yet I yeelded, Theseus.
PERITHOUS.
To crowne all this: By your most noble soule,
Which cannot want due mercie, I beg first.
HIPPOLITA.
Next, heare my prayers.
EMILIA.
Last, let me intreate, Sir.
PERITHOUS.
For mercy.
HIPPOLITA.
Mercy.
EMILIA.
Mercy on these Princes.
THESEUS.
Ye make my faith reele: Say I felt
Compassion to’em both, how would you place it?
EMILIA.
Vpon their lives: But with their banishments.
THESEUS.
You are a right woman, Sister; you have pitty,
But want the vnderstanding where to use it.
If you desire their lives, invent a way
Safer then banishment: Can these two live
And have the agony of love about ‘em,
And not kill one another? Every day
They’ld fight about you; howrely bring your honour
In publique question with their Swords. Be wise, then,
And here forget ‘em; it concernes your credit
And my oth equally: I have said they die;
Better they fall by’th law, then one another.
Bow not my honor.
EMILIA.
O my noble Brother,
That oth was rashly made, and in your anger,
Your reason will not hold it; if such vowes
Stand for expresse will, all the world must perish.
Beside, I have another oth gainst yours,
Of more authority, I am sure more love,
Not made in passion neither, but good heede.
THESEUS.
What is
