Hip. It was Flavia. Emi. Yes. You talk of Perithous' and Theseus' love: Theirs has more ground, is more maturely season'd, Their intertangled roots of love; but I And she (I sigh and spoke of) were things innocent; Was then of me approv'd; what not, condemn'd,- That the true love 'tween maid and maid may be Lov'd, for we did.] Loved because we did; loved for loving's sake. k 3 Like old Importment's bastard.] Who was he? and who was old Importment" himself? The sense is very obscure. Mr. Weber's interpretation appears to be adopted by the commentators. He construes the passage thus:-This rehearsal of our affections (which, every innocent soul well knows, comes in like the mere bastard, the faint shadow of the true import, the real extent of our natural affections) has this end, or purpose,-to prove that the love between two maidens, &c.--I suspect that "old Importment" was something special and significant. He looks very like our old friend "Moral," who is so officious in explaining Æsop's Fables. IMPRISONMENT, FRIENDSHIP, AND LOVE. Palamon and Arcite, two friends in prison, are turned into enemies by love. SCENE-A Room in a Prison, looking out on a garden. Enter the Two Captives from opposite doors. Pal. How do you, noble cousin? Arc. How do you, sir? Pal. Why, strong enough to laugh at Misery, And bear the chance of war yet. We are prisoners, Arc. I believe it; And to that destiny have patiently Laid up my hour to come. Pal. Oh, cousin Arcite, Where is Thebes now? where is our noble country? The hardy youths strive for the games of honour, Out-stript the people's praises, won the garlands, Oh, never Shall we two exercise, like twins of Honour, Our arms again, and feel our fiery horses, Like proud seas under us! Our good swords now Arc. No, Palamon, Those hopes are prisoners with us. Here we are, And here the graces of our youths must wither, Loaden with kisses, arm'd with thousand Cupids, Shall never clasp our necks! no issue know us; To glad our age, and like young eagles teach 'em Arc. Yet, cousin, Even from the bottom of these miseries, I see two comforts rising, two mere blessings, Pal. Certainly 'Tis a main goodness, cousin, that our fortunes The gall of hazard, so they grow together, 1 To hold here.] To keep station; to maintain superintendence. Arc. Shall we make worthy uses of this place, Pal. How, gentle cousin ? Arc. Let's think this prison a holy sanctuary, To keep us from corruption of worse men! We are young, and yet desire the ways of Honour; The poison of pure spirits, might, like women, May make it ours? and here being thus together, We are one another's wife, ever begetting New births of Love; we are father, friends, acquaint- I am your heir, and you are mine; this place [ance; Dare take this from us: here, with a little patience, A wife might part us lawfully, or business; Grave1 our acquaintance; I might sicken, cousin, Pal. You have made me (I thank you, cousin Arcite!) almost wanton It is to live abroad, and everywhere! 'Tis like a beast methinks! I find the court here, 1 Grave.] Put an end to; bury. cr "Ditches grave you all." Timon of Athens. 2 A more content.] This word more, must surely be a misprint for mere: a mere content;" that is, a court which gives thorough contentment. The word mere, used in this way, is of constant occurrence in writings of the time. That woo the wills of men to vanity, Arc. I would hear you still. Is there recòrd of any two that lov'd Arc. Sure there cannot. Pal. I do not think it possible our friendship Arc. Till our deaths it cannot; And after death our spirits shall be led Serv. 'Tis call'd Narcissus, madam. Emi. That was a fair boy certain, but a fool To love himself; were there not maids enough ? Arc. Pray, forward! Pal. Yes. Emi. Or were they all hard-hearted ? Serv. They could not be to one so fair. Emi. Thou wouldst not? Serv. I think I should not, madam. Emi. That's a good wench! But take heed to your kindness though! The people's curses.] "This scene," observes Lamb, "bears indubitable marks of Fletcher; the two which precede it [Theseus with the queen, and a scene not here given] give strong countenance to the tradition that Shakspeare had a hand in this play. The same judgment may be formed of the death of Arcite and some other passages." |