That Greece should see perform'd what he declar'd,

And cruel Creon find his just reward.
He said no more, but, shunning all delay,
Rode on, nor enter'd Athens on his way;
But left his sister and his queen behind,
And wav'd his royal banner in the wind:
Where in an argent field the God of War
Was drawn triumphant on his iron car; 110
Red was his sword, and shield, and whole
attire,

And all the godhead seem'd to glow with fire;

Ev'n the ground glitter'd where the standard flew,

And the green grass was dyed to sanguine hue.

High on his pointed lance his pennon bore His Cretan fight, the conquer'd Minotaur: The soldiers shout around with generous

rage,

And in that victory their own presage.
He prais'd their ardor, inly pleas'd to see
His host the flow'r of Grecian chivalry.
All day he march'd, and all th' ensuing
night,

120

And saw the city with returning light.
The process of the war I need not tell,
How Theseus conquer'd, and how Creon
fell;

Or after, how by storm the walls were won, Or how the victor sack'd and burn'd the town;

How to the ladies he restor'd again
The bodies of their lords in battle slain;
And with what ancient rites they were in-
terr'd-

All these to fitter time shall be deferr'd. 130
I spare the widows' tears, their woful cries,
And howling at their husbands' obsequies;
How Theseus at these fun'rals did assist,
And with what gifts the mourning dames
dismiss'd.

Thus when the victor chief had Creon slain,

And conquer'd Thebes, he pitch'd upon the

plain

care,

159

He to his city sent as pris'ners of the war, Hopeless of ransom, and condemn'd to lie In durance, doom'd a lingʼring death to die. This done, he march'd away with warlike sound,

And to his Athens turn'd with laurels crown'd,

Where happy long he liv'd, much lov'd,
and more renown'd.

But in a tow'r, and never to be loos'd,
The woful captive kinsmen are enclos'd.
Thus year by year they pass, and day by
day,

Till once ('t was on the morn of cheerful
May)

170

The young Emilia, fairer to be seen
Than the fair lily on the flow'ry green,
More fresh than May herself in blossoms

new,

For with the rosy color strove her hue, Wak'd, as her custom was, before the day, To do th' observance due to sprightly May: For sprightly May commands our youth to keep

The vigils of her night, and breaks their sluggard sleep;

So that if Palamon were wounded sore, Arcite was hurt as much as he, or more. Then from his inmost soul he sigh'd, and said:

"The beauty I behold has struck me dead: Unknowingly she strikes, and kills by chance;

Poison is in her eyes, and death in ev'ry glance.

O, I must ask; nor ask alone, but move 280
Her mind to mercy, or must die for love."
Thus Arcite: and thus Palamon replies
(Eager his tone, and ardent were his eyes):
Speak'st thou in earnest, or in jest-

ing vein?"

"Jesting," said Arcite, "suits but ill with pain."

"It suits far worse," said Palamon again,

And bent his brows, "with men who honor weigh,

Their faith to break, their friendship to betray;

But worst with thee, of noble lineage born, My kinsman, and in arms my brother

This binds thee, then, to farther my design, As I am bound by vow to farther thine. Nor canst, nor dar'st thou, traitor, on the plain

Appeach my honor, or thy own maintain, 300 Since thou art of my council, and the friend Whose faith I trust, and on whose care depend.

And wouldst thou court my lady's love, which I

Much rather than release would choose to die ?

But thou, false Arcite, never shalt obtain Thy bad pretense; I told thee first my pain, For first my love began ere thine was born; Thou, as my council, and my brother sworn, Art bound t' assist my eldership of right, Or justly to be deem'd a perjur'd knight." Thus Palamon; but Arcite with disdain In haughty language thus replied again: 312 "Forsworn thyself: the traitor's odious

name

I first return, and then disprove thy claim. If love be passion, and that passion nurs'd With strong desires, I lov'd the lady first. Canst thou pretend desire, whom zeal inflam'd

To worship, and a pow'r celestial nam'd? Thine was devotion to the blest above;

I saw the woman, and desir'd her love; 320 First own'd my passion, and to thee commend

Th' important secret, as my chosen friend.
Suppose (which yet I grant not) thy desire
A moment elder than my rival fire;
Can chance of seeing first thy title prove?
And know'st thou not, no law is made for
love?

Law is to things which to free choice relate;

Love is not in our choice, but in our fate: Laws are but positive; love's pow'r, we see, Is Nature's sanction, and her first decree. 330 Each day we break the bond of human laws For love, and vindicate the common cause. Laws for defense of civil rights are plac'd,

Love throws the fences down, and makes a general waste:

Maids, widows, wives, without distinction fall;

The sweeping deluge, love, comes on, and covers all.

If then the laws of friendship I transgress, I keep the greater, while I break the less; And both are mad alike, since neither can possess.

Both hopeless to be ransom'd, never more To see the sun, but as he passes o'er. 341 "Like Esop's hounds contending for the

bone

Each pleaded right, and would be lord alone:

The fruitless fight continued all the day;
A cur came by and snatch'd the prize away.
As courtiers therefore justle for a grant,
And when they break their friendship,
plead their want,

So thou, if fortune will thy suit advance,
Love on, nor envy me my equal chance:
For I must love, and am resolv'd to try 350
My fate, or failing in th' adventure die."

Great was their strife, which hourly was

renew'd,

Till each with mortal hate his rival view'd: Now friends no more, nor walking hand in

hand;

But doom'd to drag my loathsome life in

care,

For my reward, must end it in despair. Fire, water, air, and earth, and force of fates,

That governs all, and Heav'n that all creates,

Nor art, nor Nature's hand can ease my grief;

Nothing but death, the wretch's last relief: Then farewell youth, and all the joys that dwell

With youth and life, and life itself, farewell!

"But why, alas! do mortal men in vain 420 Of Fortune, Fate, or Providence complain? God gives us what he knows our wants require,

And better things than those which we desire:

Some pray for riches; riches they obtain; But, watched by robbers, for their wealth are slain:

Some pray from prison to be freed; and