Then be thy Wrath appeas'd with our Disgrace, And fhew Compaffion to the Thebän Race, Opprefs'd by Tyrant Pow'r! While yet he spoke, Arcite on Emily had fix'd his Look;

The fatal Dart a ready Paffage found,

And deep within his Heart infix'd the Wound:
So that if Palamon were wounded fore,

Arcite was hurt as much as he, or more:
Then from his inmost Soul he sigh'd, and faid, ́
The Beauty I behold has ftruck me dead:
Unknowingly she strikes; and kills by Chance ;
Poyson is in her Eyes, and Death in ev'ry Glance.
O, I must ask; nor ask alone, but move
Her Mind to Mercy, or must die for Love.

Thus Arcite: And thus Palamon replies,

(Eager his Tone, and ardent were his Eyes.)
Speak'ft thou in earnest, or in jesting Vein?
Jefting, faid Arcite, fuits but ill with Pain.
It fuits far worfe (said Palamon again,

}

And bent his Brows)withMen whoHonour weigh, Their Faith to break, their Friendship to betray; But worft with Thee, of Noble Lineage born, My Kinfman, and in Arms my Brother (worn.

Have we not plighted each our holy Oath,
That one fhou'd be the Common Good of both?
One Soul fhou'd both infpire, and neither prove
His Fellow's Hindrance in pursuit of Love?
To this before the Gods we gave our Hands,
And nothing but our Death can break the Bands.
This binds thee, then, to farther my Design;
As I am bound by Vow to farther thine:
Nor canft, nor dar'ft thou, Traitor, on the Plain
Appeach my Honour, or thy own maintain,
Since thou art of my Council, and the Friend
Whofe Faith I truft, and on whofe Care depend:
And wou'dft thou court my Lady's Love, which I
Much rather than release, would chuse to die?
But thou falfe Arcite never fhalt obtain

Thy bad Pretence; I told thee first my Pain:
For firft my Love began ere thine was born;
Thou, as my Council, and my Brother sworn,
Art bound t'affift my Eldership of Right,.
Or justly to be deem'd a perjur'd Knight.
Thus Palamon: But Arcite with Difdain
In haughty Language thus reply'd again:

Forfworn thy felf: The Traitor's odious Name
I first return, and then difprove thy Claim.
If Love be Paffion, and that Passion nurst
With strong Defires, I lov❜d the Lady first.
Canft thou pretend Defire, whom Zeal inflam'd

To worship, and a Pow'r Colestial nam'd? :
Thine was Devotion to the Bleft above,

I saw the Woman, and defir'd her Love;
First own'd my Paffion, and to thee commend
Th' important Secret, as my chosen Friend.
Suppofe (which yet I grant not) thy Defire
A Moment elder than my Rival Fire;
Can Chance of feeing first thy Title prove?

And know'st thou not, no Law is made for Love?

Maids, Widows, Wives, without diftinction fall; The sweeping Deluge, Love, comes on, and co

vers all.

If then the Laws of Friendship I tranfgrefs,
I keep the Greater, while I break the Lefs;
And both are mad alike, fince neither can poffefs.
Both hopeless to be ranfom'd, never more
To see the Sun, but as he paffes o'er.

Like Efop's Hounds contending for the Bone,
Each pleaded Right, and wou'd be Lord alone.
The fruitless Fight continu'd all the Day;
A Cur came by, and fnatch'd the Prize away.
As Courtiers therefore juftle for a Grant,
[Want,
And when they break their Friendship, plead their
So thou, if Fortune will thy Suit advance,
Love on; nor envy me my equal Chance:
For I must love, and am refolv'd to try
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 walkingHand in Hand; But when they met, they made a furly Stand;

C

And glar'd like angry Lions as they pass'd,

And wish'd that ev'ry Look might be their last.
It chanc'd at length, Perithous came, t'attend
This worthy Thefeus, his familiar Friend:
Their Love in early Infancy began,
And rofe as Childhood ripen'd into Man.
Companions of the War; and lov'd fo well,'
That when one dy'd, as ancient Stories tell,
His Fellow to redeem him went to Hell.

}

But to pursue my Tale; to welcome home His Warlike Brother, is Perithous come: Arcite of Thebes was known in Arms long fince, And honour'd by this young Theffalian Prince. Thefeus, to gratifie his Friend and Guest, Who made our Arcite's Freedom his Request, Reftor'❜d to Liberty the Captive Knight, But on thefe hard Conditions I recite: That if hereafter Arcite shou'd be found Within the Compass of Athenian Ground, By-Day or Night, or on whate'er Pretence, His Head fhou'd pay the Forfeit of th' Offence. To this, Perithous for his Friend, agreed, And on his Promise was the Pris'ner freed.