Collected Works of Giovanni Boccaccio
Page 401
Jai. Dau. (to Wooer) Will you go with me?
Woo. What shall we do there, wench?
Jai. Dau. Why, play at stool-ball —
What is there else to do?
Woo. I am content 76
If we shall keep our wedding there.
Jai. Dau. ’Tis true —
For there, I will assure you, we shall find
Some blind priest for the purpose that will venture
To marry us, for here they are nice, and foolish. 80
Besides, my father must be hanged tomorrow,
And that would be a blot i’th’ business.
Are not you Palamon?
Woo. Do not you know me?
Jai. Dau. Yes, but you care not for me. I have nothing
But this poor petticoat and two coarse smocks. 85
Woo. That’s all one — I will have you.
Jai. Dau. Will you surely?
Woo. Yes, by this fair hand, will I.
Jai. Dau. We’ll to bed then.
Woo. E’en when you will.
He kisses her
Jai. Dau. (rubbing off the kiss)
O, sir, you would fain be nibbling.
Woo. Why do you rub my kiss off?
Jai. Dau. ’Tis a sweet one,
And will perfume me finely against the wedding. 90
(Indicating the Doctor) Is not this your cousin Arcite?
Doc. Yes, sweetheart,
And I am glad my cousin Palamon
Has made so fair a choice.
Jai. Dau. Do you think he’ll have me?
Doc.
Yes, without doubt.
Jai. Dau. (to the Jailer) Do you think so too?
Jai. Yes.
Jai. Dau. We shall have many children. [To the Doctorl Lord, how you’re grownl 95
My Palamon, I hope, will grow too, finely,
Now he’s at liberty. Alas, poor chicken,
He was kept down with hard meat and ill lodging,
But I’ll kiss him up again.
Enter a Messenger
Mes. What do you here? You’ll lose the noblest sight 100
That e’er was seen.
Jai. Are they i’th’ field?
Mes. They are —
You bear a charge there too.
Jai. I’ll away straight.
[to the others] I must e’en leave you here.
Doc. Nay, we’ll go with you —
I will not lose the sight.
Jai. HOW did you like her?
Doc.
I’ll warrant you, within these three or four days 105
I’ll make her right again.
[Exit Jailer with the Messenger]
(To the Wooer) You must not from her,
But still preserve her in this way.
Woo. I will.
Doc.
Let’s get her in.
Woo. (to the Jailer’s Daughter)
Come, sweet, we’ll go to dinner,
And then we’ll play at cards.
Jai. Dau. And shall we kiss too?
Woo. A hundred times.
Jai. Dau. And twenty.
Woo. Ay, and twenty. 110
Jai. Dau. And then we’ll sleep together.
Doc. (to the Wooer) Take her offer.
Woo. (to the Jailer’s Daughter)
Yes, marry, will we.
Jai. Dau. But you shall not hurt me.
Woo. I will not, sweet.
Jai. Dau. If you do, love, I’ll cry. Exeunt
Act V. Scene V.
FLOURISH. ENTER THESEUS, Hippolyta, Emilia, Pirithous, and some attendants
Emi. I’ll no step further.
Pir. Will you lose this sight?
Emi. I had rather see a wren hawk at a fly
Than this decision. Every blow that falls
Threats a brave life; each stroke laments
The place whereon it falls, and sounds more like 5
A bell than blade. I will stay here.
It is enough my hearing shall be punished
With what shall happen, ‘gainst the which there is
No deafing, but to hear; not taint mine eye
With dread sights it may shun.
Pir. (to Theseus) Sir, my good lord, 10
Your sister will no further.
The. O, she must.
She shall see deeds of honour in their kind,
Which sometime show well pencilled. Nature now
Shall make and act the story, the belief
Both sealed with eye and ear. (To Emilia) You must be present — 15
You are the victor’s meed, the price and garland
To crown the question’s title.
Emi. Pardon me,
If I were there I’d wink.
The. YOU must be there —
This trial is, as ‘twere, i’th’ night, and you
The only star to shine.
Emi. I am extinct. 20
There is but envy in that light which shows
The one the other. Darkness, which ever was
The dam of horror, who does stand accursed
Of many mortal millions, may even now,
By casting her black mantle over both, 25
That neither could find other, get herself
Some part of a good name, and many a murder
Set off whereto she’s guilty.
Hipp. You must go.
Emi. In faith, I will not.
The. Why, the knights must kindle
Their valour at your eye. Know, of this war 30
You are the treasure, and must needs be by
To give the service pay.
Emi. Sir, pardon me —
The title of a kingdom may be tried
Out of itself.
The. Well, well — then at your pleasure.
Those that remain with you could wish their office 35
To any of their enemies.
Hipp. Farewell, sister.
I am like to know your husband fore yourself,
By some small start of time. He whom the gods
Do of the two know best, I pray them he
Be made your lot. 40
Exeunt all but Emilia
[Emilia takes out two pictures, one from her right and one from her left]
Emi. Arcite is gently visaged, yet his eye
Is like an engine bent or a sharp weapon
In a soft sheath. Mercy and manly courage
Are bedfellows in his visage. Palamon
Has a most menacing aspect. His brow 45
Is graved and seems to bury what it frowns on,
Yet sometime ’tis not so, but alters to
The quality of his thoughts. Long time his eye
Will dwell upon his object. Melancholy
Becomes him nobly — so does Arcite’s mirth. 50
But Palamon’s sadness is a kind of mirth,
So mingled as if mirth did make him sad
And sadness merry. Those darker humours that
Stick misbecomingly on others, on them
Live in fair dwelling. 55
Trumpets. Trumpets sound as to a charge
Hark, how yon spurs to spirit do incite
The princes to their proof. Arcite may win me,
And yet may Palamon wound Arcite to
The spoiling of his figure. O, what pity
Enough for such a chance! If I were by 6o
I might do hurt, for they would glance their eyes
Toward my seat, and in that motion might
Omit a ward or forfeit an offence
Which craved that very time. It is much better
Trumpets. A great cry and noise within, crying, ‘A Palamon’
I am not there. O better never born, 65
Than minister to such harm.
Enter Servant
What is the chance?
SERVANT The cry’s ‘A Palamon’.
Emi. Then he has won. ’Twas ever likely —
He looked all grace and success, an
d he is
Doubtless the prim’st of men. I prithee run 70
And tell me how it goes.
Shout and cornetts, crying, ‘A Palamon’ servant Still ‘Palamon’.
Emi. Run and enquire. Exit Servant
[She speaks to the picture on the right]
Poor servant, thou hast lost.
Upon my right side still I wore thy picture,
Palamon’s on the left. Why so, I know not.
I had no end in’t, else chance would have it so. 75
Another cry and shout within and cornetts
On the sinister side the heart lies — Palamon
Had the best-boding chance. This burst of clamour
Is sure the end o’th’ combat.
Enter Servant
SERVANT
They said that Palamon had Arcite’s body
Within an inch o’th’ pyramid — that the cry 80
Was general ‘A Palamon’. But anon
Th’assistants made a brave redemption, and
The two bold titlers at this instant are
Hand to hand at it.
Emi. Were they metamorphosed
Both into one! O why? There were no woman 85
Worth so composed a man: their single share,
Their nobleness peculiar to them, gives
The prejudice of disparity, value’s shortness,
To any lady breathing —
Trumpets. Cry within, ‘Arcite, Arcite’
More exulting?
‘Palamon’ still?
SERVANT Nay, now the sound is ‘Arcite’. 90
Emi. I prithee, lay attention to the cry.
Trumpets. A great shout and cry, ‘Arcite, victory!’
Set both thine ears to th’ business.
SERVANT The cry is
‘Arcite’ and ‘Victory’ — hark, ‘Arcite, victory!’
The combat’s consummation is proclaimed
By the wind instruments.
Emi. Half sights saw 95
That Arcite was no babe. God’s lid, his richness
And costliness of spirit looked through him — it could
No more be hid in him than fire in flax,
Than humble banks can go to law with waters
That drift winds force to raging. I did think 100
Good Palamon would miscarry, yet I knew not
Why I did think so. Our reasons are not prophets
When oft our fancies are. They are coming off —
Alas, poor Palamon.
[She puts away the pictures]
Trumpets. Enter Theseus, Hippolyta, Pirithous,
Arcite as victor, and attendants
The. Lo, where our sister is in expectation, 105
Yet quaking and unsettled. Fairest Emily,
The gods by their divine arbitrament
Have given you this knight. He is a good one
As ever struck at head. [To Arcite and Emilia] Give me your hands.
(To Arcite) Receive you her, (to Emilia) you him: (to both) be plighted with 110
A love that grows as you decay.
Arc. Emilia,
To buy you I have lost what’s dearest to me
Save what is bought, and yet I purchase cheaply
As I do rate your value.
The. (to Emilia) O lovèd sister,
He speaks now of as brave a knight as e’er 115
Did spur a noble steed. Surely the gods
Would have him die a bachelor lest his race
Should show i’th’ world too godlike. His behaviour
So charmed me that, methought, Alcides was
To him a sow of lead. If I could praise 120
Each part of him to th’all I have spoke, your Arcite
Did not lose by’t; for he that was thus good,
Encountered yet his better. I have heard
Two emulous Philomels beat the ear o’th’ night
With their contentious throats, now one the higher,
Anon the other, then again the first, 126
And by and by out-breasted, that the sense
Could not be judge between ’em — so it fared
Good space between these kinsmen, till heavens did
Make hardly one the winner. (To Arcite) Wear the garland 130
With joy that you have won. — For the subdued,
Give them our present justice, since I know
Their lives but pinch’ em. Let it here be done.
The scene’s not for our seeing; go we hence
Right joyful, with some sorrow. (To Arcite) Arm your prize; 135
I know you will not lose her. Hippolyta,
I see one eye of yours conceives a tear,
The which it will deliver.
Flourish
Emi. Is this winning?
O all you heavenly powers, where is your mercy?
But that your wills have said it must be so, 140
And charge me live to comfort this unfriended,
This miserable prince, that cuts away
A life more worthy from him than all women,
I should and would die too.
Hipp. Infinite pity
That four such eyes should be so fixed on one 145
That two must needs be blind for’t.
The. So it is. Exeunt
Act V. Scene VI.
ENTER, GUARDED, PALAMON and his three Knights pinioned; enter with them the Jailer and an executioner with block and axe
Pal. There’s many a man alive that hath outlived
The love o’th’ people; yea, i’th’ selfsame state
Stands many a father with his child: some comfort
We have by so considering. We expire,
And not without men’s pity; to live still, 5
Have their good wishes. We prevent
The loathsome misery of age, beguile
The gout and rheum that in lag hours attend
For grey approachers; we come towards the gods
Young and unwappered, not halting under crimes 10
Many and stale — that sure shall please the gods
Sooner than such, to give us nectar with ’em,
For we are more clear spirits. My dear kinsmen,
Whose lives for this poor comfort are laid down,
You have sold’ em too too cheap.
Fir. Kni. What ending could be 15
Of more content? O’er us the victors have
Fortune, whose title is as momentary
As to us death is certain — a grain of honour
They not o’erweigh us.
Sec. Kni. Let us bid farewell,
And with our patience anger tott’ring fortune, 20
Who at her certain’st reels.
Thi. Kni. Come, who begins?
Pal. E’en he that led you to this banquet shall
Taste to you all. (To the Jailer) Aha, my friend, my
Fri.,
Your gentle daughter gave me freedom once;
You’ll see’t done now for ever. Pray, how does she? 25
I — heard she was not well; her kind of ill
Gave me some sorrow.
Jai. Sir, she’s well restored
And to be married shortly.
Pal. By my short life,
I — am most glad on’t. ’Tis the latest thing
I — shall be glad of. Prithee, tell her so; 30
Commend me to her, and to piece her portion
Tender her this.
He gives his purse
Fir. Kni. Nay, let’s be offerers all.
Sec. Kni.
Is it a maid?
Pal. Verily, I think so —
A right good creature more to me deserving
Than I can quit or speak of.
All Three Knights Commend us to her. 35
They give their purses
Jai. The gods requite you all, and make her thankful.
Pal. Adieu, and let my life be now as short
As my leave-taking.<
br />
He lies on the block
Fir. Kni. Lead, courageous cousin.
Second and Third Knights We’ll follow cheerfully.
A great noise within: crying, ‘Run! Save! Hold!’ Enter in haste a Messenger
Mes. Holdl Hold! O, hold! Hold! Hold! 40
Enter Pirithous in haste
Pir. Hold, ho! It is a cursèd haste you made
If you have done so quickly! Noble Palamon,
The gods will show their glory in a life
That thou art yet to lead.
Pal. Can that be,
When Venus, I have said, is false? How do things fare? 45
Pir. Arise, great sir, and give the tidings ear
That are most rarely sweet and bitter.
Pal. What
Hath waked us from our dream?
Pir. List, then: your cousin,
Mounted upon a steed that Emily
Did first bestow on him, a black one owing 50
Not a hair-worth of white — which some will say
Weakens his price and many will not buy
His goodness with this note; which superstition
Here finds allowance — on this horse is Arcite
Trotting the stones of Athens, which the calkins 55
Did rather tell than trample; for the horse
Would make his length a mile, if’t pleased his rider
To put pride in him. As he thus went counting
The flinty pavement, dancing, as ‘twere, to th’ music
His own hooves made — for, as they say, from iron 60
Came music’s origin — what envious flint,
Cold as old Saturn and like him possessed
With fire malevolent, darted a spark,
Or what fierce sulphur else, to this end made,
I — comment not — the hot horse, hot as fire, 65
Took toy at this and fell to what disorder
His power could give his will; bounds; comes on end;
Forgets school-doing, being therein trained
And of kind manège; pig-like he whines
At the sharp rowel, which he frets at rather 70
The loss of our desire! That naught could buy
Dear love, but loss of dear love!
The. Never fortune
Than any jot obeys; seeks all foul means
Of boist’rous and rough jad’ry to disseat
His lord, that kept it bravely. When naught served,
When neither curb would crack, girth break, nor diff’ring plunges
Disroot his rider whence he grew, but that 75
He kept him ‘tween his legs, on his hind hooves —
On end he stands —
That Arcite’s legs, being higher than his head,
Seemed with strange art to hang. His victor’s wreath
Even then fell off his head; and presently 80
Backward the jade comes o’er and his full poise
Becomes the rider’s load. Yet is he living;