The Two Noble Kinsmen
Act III, Scene 3
Another part of the forest near Athens.
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Enter Arcite with meat, wine, and files.
Arcite
1
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I should be near the place. Ho, cousin Palamon!
Arcite
3 - 4
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The same. I have brought you food and files.
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Come forth and fear not, here’s no Theseus.
Palamon
5
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Nor none so honest, Arcite.
Arcite
6 - 9
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That’s no matter,
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We’ll argue that hereafter. Come, take courage,
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You shall not die thus beastly. Here, sir, drink—
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I know you are faint—then I’ll talk further with you.
Palamon
10
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Arcite, thou mightst now poison me.
Arcite
11 - 15
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I might;
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But I must fear you first. Sit down, and good now
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No more of these vain parleys; let us not,
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Having our ancient reputation with us,
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Make talk for fools and cowards. To your health, etc.
Arcite
17 - 20
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Pray sit down then, and let me entreat you
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By all the honesty and honor in you,
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No mention of this woman. ’Twill disturb us,
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We shall have time enough.
Palamon
21
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Well, sir, I’ll pledge you.
Arcite
22 - 23
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Drink a good hearty draught, it breeds good blood, man.
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Do not you feel it thaw you?
Palamon
24 - 25
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Stay, I’ll tell you
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After a draught or two more.
Arcite
26 - 27
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Spare it not,
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The Duke has more, coz. Eat now.
Arcite
29 - 30
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I am glad
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You have so good a stomach.
Palamon
31 - 32
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I am gladder
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I have so good meat to’t.
Arcite
33 - 34
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Is’t not mad lodging
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Here in the wild woods, cousin?
Palamon
35 - 36
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Yes, for them
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That have wild consciences.
Arcite
37 - 38
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How tastes your victuals?
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Your hunger needs no sauce, I see.
Palamon
39 - 41
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Not much.
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But if it did, yours is too tart, sweet cousin.
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What is this?
Palamon
43 - 46
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’Tis a lusty meat.
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Give me more wine. Here, Arcite, to the wenches
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We have known in our days! The Lord Steward’s daughter—
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Do you remember her?
Arcite
47
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After you, coz.
Palamon
48
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She lov’d a black-hair’d man.
Arcite
49
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She did so; well, sir?
Palamon
50
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And I have heard some call him Arcite, and—
Arcite
51
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Out with’t, faith!
Palamon
52 - 53
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She met him in an arbor:
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What did she there, coz? Play o’ th’ virginals?
Arcite
54
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Something she did, sir.
Palamon
55 - 56
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Made her groan a month for’t;
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Or two, or three, or ten.
Arcite
57 - 59
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The Marshal’s sister
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Had her share too, as I remember, cousin,
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Else there be tales abroad. You’ll pledge her?
Arcite
61 - 64
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A pretty brown wench ’tis. There was a time
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When young men went a-hunting, and a wood,
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And a broad beech; and thereby hangs a tale.
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Heigh-ho!
Palamon
65 - 68
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For Emily, upon my life! Fool,
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Away with this strain’d mirth! I say again,
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That sigh was breath’d for Emily. Base cousin,
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Dar’st thou break first?
Palamon
70 - 71
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By heaven and earth,
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There’s nothing in thee honest.
Arcite
72 - 73
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Then I’ll leave you;
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You are a beast now.
Palamon
74
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As thou mak’st me, traitor!
Arcite
75 - 77
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There’s all things needful, files and shirts and perfumes.
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I’ll come again some two hours hence and bring
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That that shall quiet all.
Palamon
78
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A sword and armor.
Arcite
79 - 80
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Fear me not. You are now too foul; farewell.
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Get off your trinkets, you shall want nought.
Arcite
82
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I’ll hear no more.
Palamon
83
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If he keep touch, he dies for’t.
