How do you, noble cousin?
How are you doing, noble cousin?
Hey, how're you holding up, cousin?
you good?
How do you, sir?
How are you doing, sir?
And how are you?
you?
Why, strong enough to laugh at misery
And bear the chance of war; yet we are prisoners
I fear for ever, cousin.
Well, I'm strong enough to laugh at misery and handle war's uncertainty. But we're prisoners, I fear forever, cousin.
I'm tough enough to laugh at this mess and deal with whatever war throws at us. But we're locked up here, and I think we always will be, cousin.
strong enough to handle this but we're prisoners forever that's the real damage
I believe it,
And to that destiny have patiently
Laid up my hour to come.
I believe that, and I've patiently accepted this fate already.
Yeah, I believe it. I've just kind of... accepted that this is how things are now.
yeah i already made peace w it
O, cousin Arcite,
Where is Thebes now? Where is our noble country?
Where are our friends and kindreds? Never more
Must we behold those comforts, never see
The hardy youths strive for the games of honour,
Hung with the painted favours of their ladies,
Like tall ships under sail; then start amongst ’em,
And as an east wind leave ’em all behind us,
Like lazy clouds, whilst Palamon and Arcite,
Even in the wagging of a wanton leg,
Outstripped the people’s praises, won the garlands,
Ere they have time to wish ’em ours. O, 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—
Better the red-eyed god of war ne’er wore—
Ravished our sides, like age must run to rust
And deck the temples of those gods that hate us;
These hands shall never draw ’em out like lightning
To blast whole armies more.
Oh, cousin Arcite, where is Thebes now? Where is our noble country? Where are our friends and family? We will never again see those comforts, never watch the strong young men compete for games of honor, decorated with their ladies' colorful favors, like tall ships under sail. Then we'd surge among them and like an east wind leave them all behind us, like lazy clouds. Palamon and Arcite, even with just a casual movement of the leg, outpaced everyone's admiration, won the prizes before they even had time to hope for them. Oh, never will we two compete again like honored twins, wield our arms again, feel our spirited horses like proud seas beneath us! Our good swords now— better than anything the red-eyed god of war ever wore— were stolen from us. We must watch them rust and decorate the temples of the gods who hate us. These hands will never draw them out like lightning to destroy whole armies again.
Oh, Arcite, what happened to Thebes? Our whole country is gone from us. Our friends and family—we'll never see any of them again, never watch those young guys compete for sports and glory, showing off the favors their girlfriends gave them, looking like ships under full sail. Then we'd blast through the middle of them like an east wind, leaving them all eating our dust like lazy clouds. Palamon and Arcite used to outrun everyone just by moving our legs casually, win the trophies before people even finished wishing us luck. We'll never compete like that again, never feel that rush on our horses or pull our swords in battle. Those swords are better than anything the god of war himself ever had, and now they're taking them from us, letting them rust in temples of gods that hate us. We'll never wield them again to bring armies down.
thebes is gone family gone forever no more games no more glory no more swords no more battles just rust and temples we're done
No, Palamon,
Those hopes are prisoners with us. Here we are,
And here the graces of our youths must wither
Like a too-timely spring; here age must find us
And, which is heaviest, Palamon, unmarried.
The sweet embraces of a loving wife,
Loaden with kisses, armed with thousand Cupids,
Shall never clasp our necks; no issue know us,
No figures of ourselves shall we e’er see,
To glad our age, and like young eagles teach ’em
Boldly to gaze against bright arms and say
“Remember what your fathers were, and conquer!”
The fair-eyed maids shall weep our banishments
And in their songs curse ever-blinded Fortune
Till she for shame see what a wrong she has done
To youth and nature. This is all our world.
We shall know nothing here but one another,
Hear nothing but the clock that tells our woes.
The vine shall grow, but we shall never see it;
Summer shall come, and with her all delights,
But dead-cold winter must inhabit here still.
No, Palamon, our hopes are locked away with us here. We are here, and here our youth must wither like a flower that blooms too early. Age will find us here, and worst of all, Palamon, unmarried. The sweet embraces of a loving wife, filled with kisses, surrounded by cupids, will never hold us. We'll have no children, no image of ourselves to see, to make our old age happy, and like young eagles teach them to look boldly at bright weapons and say "Remember what your fathers were, and win!" The beautiful maidens will weep for our exile and in their songs curse always-blind Fortune until she is ashamed to see what wrong she has done to youth and nature. This is our entire world. We'll know nothing here but each other, hear nothing but the clock marking our sorrows. Grapes will grow, but we'll never see it. Summer will come with all its pleasures, but cold, dead winter will live here always.
No, Palamon, we're stuck with these hopes right here inside this prison. Our whole world is this place, and our youth is just going to die here like a plant that bloomed too soon. We'll get old here, and the worst part? We'll never marry. No wife's arms around us, no kisses, no feeling loved like that. No kids. No one to carry on after us, to grow up strong and remember who we were. The girls are going to cry when they hear we're gone, and they'll curse luck itself for taking us away when we were young and had everything going for us. All we have is each other and the sound of a clock ticking away our suffering. Vines will grow out there. Summer will happen. But we're stuck in this permanent winter.
we're stuck here youth dying no wives no kids no legacy no summer just winter forever only each other and a clock counting down
’Tis too true, Arcite. To our Theban hounds
That shook the aged forest with their echoes
No more now must we hallow, no more shake
Our pointed javelins whilst the angry swine
Flies like a Parthian quiver from our rages,
Struck with our well-steeled darts. All valiant uses,
The food and nourishment of noble minds,
In us two here shall perish; we shall die,
Which is the curse of honour, lastly,
Children of grief and ignorance.
That's too true, Arcite. We won't hunt with our Theban dogs anymore, those that echoed through the old forest. We won't shout hunting calls or throw our pointed spears while angry boars run from us like arrows from a quiver, fleeing our rage, struck by our well-made spears. All noble activities, the food and nourishment that noble minds need, will die in us two here. We'll die— which is honor's curse, finally— as children of sorrow and ignorance.
You're right, Arcite, and it kills me. We'll never hunt with those Theban dogs again, the ones that used to make the old forest shake with noise. Never yell the hunting calls or throw spears at wild boars that scatter like arrows. All the things that made us feel alive, that fed our sense of who we were—that all dies with us here. We end up destroyed by it, cursed by honor itself, just ignorant and broken.
never hunt again all the stuff that made us us dies here honor's curse we just break down
Yet, cousin,
Even from the bottom of these miseries,
From all that fortune can inflict upon us,
I see two comforts rising, two mere blessings,
If the gods please: to hold here a brave patience,
And the enjoying of our griefs together.
Whilst Palamon is with me, let me perish
If I think this our prison!
Yet, cousin, even from the bottom of these miseries, from everything fortune can throw at us, I see two comforts rising, two pure blessings, if the gods allow: to hold steadfast patience here, and to share our suffering together. While Palamon is with me, let me fall dead if I think this is prison!
But cousin, you know what? Even in the middle of all this wretchedness, when Fortune's done everything it can to us, I can see two things worth something: we can stay strong together, and we suffer side by side. As long as I have you with me, this doesn't feel like prison at all.
but we have each other patience and companionship with you here this isn't prison
Certainly
’Tis a main goodness, cousin, that our fortunes
Were twined together; ’tis most true, two souls
Put in two noble bodies, let ’em suffer
The gall of hazard, so they grow together,
Will never sink; they must not, say they could.
A willing man dies sleeping and all’s done.
Of course. It's a real blessing, cousin, that our fortunes are tied together. That's the truth—two souls in two noble bodies. If they both suffer the pain of danger, but grow together, they'll never sink. They can't, even if they could. A willing man dies peacefully and it's done.
Absolutely. It's actually something to be grateful for, that we're in this together. Two people, two strong spirits in noble bodies, but one fate. As long as we stick together through the pain, we can't go down. A man who accepts his lot dies in peace.
yeah it's a blessing we're together two souls one fate we won't sink if we stay together
Shall we make worthy uses of this place
That all men hate so much?
Can we find something worthwhile to do in this place that everyone hates so much?
So what if we actually made something good out of this place nobody wants to be in?
can we make this place worth something?
How, gentle cousin?
How, gentle cousin?
In other words: how, gentle cousin?
how gentle cousin
Let’s think this prison holy sanctuary,
To keep us from corruption of worse men.
We are young and yet desire the ways of honour;
That liberty and common conversation,
The poison of pure spirits, might like women,
Woo us to wander from. What worthy blessing
Can be but our imaginations
May make it ours? And here being thus together,
We are an endless mine to one another;
We are one another’s wife, ever begetting
New births of love; we are father, friends, acquaintance;
We are, in one another, families;
I am your heir, and you are mine. This place
Is our inheritance; no hard oppressor
Dare take this from us; here with a little patience
We shall live long and loving. No surfeits seek us;
The hand of war hurts none here, nor the seas
Swallow their youth. Were we at liberty,
A wife might part us lawfully, or business;
Quarrels consume us; envy of ill men
Crave our acquaintance. I might sicken, cousin,
Where you should never know it, and so perish
Without your noble hand to close mine eyes,
Or prayers to the gods. A thousand chances,
Were we from hence, would sever us.
Let's think of this prison as a holy sanctuary, to protect us from corruption by worse men. We are young and still want to live with honor. That freedom and normal interaction, the poison of pure spirits, might like women tempt us to wander from the path. What worthy good can we not create through our imaginations? We can make it ours. And here together, we're an endless source of value to each other. We are each other's wife, always creating new love for each other. We are father, friends, acquaintances. We are families to each other. I am your heir, and you are mine. This place is our inheritance. No cruel oppressor can take this from us. Here, with a little patience, we'll live long and happily. No excess will tempt us. War doesn't hurt anyone here, nor do the seas kill the young. If we were free, a wife could legally separate us, or work obligations. Arguments would destroy us. Jealousy of bad men would demand our attention. I might get sick, cousin, where you'd never know it, and die without your noble hand to close my eyes, or prayers to the gods. A thousand things would pull us apart if we were out there.
Think of this as a safe place for us, keeping us away from people who'd make us worse. We're still young and want to live right. If we had freedom and normal life to distract us, we'd probably wander off track—that's what happens to good people when they get too much choice. But what good things can't we imagine here? We can build a whole life. We're everything to each other here—wives to each other, always making new love. We're fathers, friends, family. I inherit from you and you from me. This place is ours. Nobody can take it. We'll live long and happy if we're patient. No temptation, no war wounds, no drowning in storms. Out there, a woman could split us up legally. Business could separate us. People fighting would pull us apart. Envy would mess with us. I could get sick and die without you there. Out there we'd be split apart by a thousand things, but in here, we have each other.
make this a sanctuary we're everything to each other wife father friend family this is ours no one takes it together we're safe and whole
You have made me—
I thank you, cousin Arcite—almost wanton
With my captivity. What a misery
It is to live abroad and everywhere!
’Tis like a beast, methinks. I find the court here,
I am sure, a more content; and all those pleasures
That woo the wills of men to vanity
I see through now, and am sufficient
To tell the world ’tis but a gaudy shadow
That old Time as he passes by takes with him.
What had we been, old in the court of Creon,
Where sin is justice, lust and ignorance
The virtues of the great ones? Cousin Arcite,
Had not the loving gods found this place for us,
We had died as they do, ill old men, unwept,
And had their epitaphs, the people’s curses.
Shall I say more?
You've just made me— I thank you, cousin Arcite—almost joyful with my captivity. What a misery it is to live out in the world everywhere! It seems like being a beast to me. I find the court here, I'm sure, more content than outside. And all those pleasures that tempt men's desires to foolishness— I see through them now, and I'm certain enough to tell the world it's just a flashy illusion that old Time takes with him as he passes. What would we have become, old in King Creon's court, where injustice is justice, lust and ignorance are what the powerful call virtues? Cousin Arcite, if the caring gods hadn't found this place for us, we would have died as they do, wretched old men, unmourned, and had their curses instead of monuments. Shall I say more?
You just made me—thanks, Arcite—actually almost happy to be locked up. It's terrible to live out there in the real world, stumbling around everywhere. This court is somehow better, more peaceful. Those things out there that tempt people to want stupid stuff? I see through all that now. It's just flashy garbage that time takes away. If we were old in King Creon's court out there, surrounded by corruption and injustice dressed up as virtue, we'd have died as broken old men nobody mourned. Instead the gods stuck us in here where we're actually better off. Should I keep going?
you made captivity feel like joy out there is a trap creon's court is corruption here we're safe gods placed us right
I would hear you still.
I want to keep listening.
Keep going, I'm listening.
keep talking
Ye shall.
Is there record of any two that loved
Better than we do, Arcite?
You will. Is there any record of two people who loved better than we do, Arcite?
I will. Is there any story of two people who loved each other more than we do?
is there any love story better than ours?
Sure, there cannot.
Surely there cannot be any.
No way there could be any that loved more than us.
no way
I do not think it possible our friendship
Should ever leave us.
I don't think it's possible that our friendship would ever leave us.
I really don't think our friendship could ever end.
our friendship can't end
Till our deaths it cannot;
It can't, not until our deaths.
It won't, not until we die.
not til we die
And after death our spirits shall be led
To those that love eternally. Speak on, sir.
And after death our spirits will be guided to those who love forever. Please, go on.
And when we die, our spirits will join all those souls who love eternally. Keep talking, tell me more.
after we die we'll join the souls who love forever keep going
This garden has a world of pleasures in’t.
What flower is this?
This garden has a whole world of pleasures in it. What flower is this?
This garden is amazing, so much beauty. What flower is that?
this garden's incredible what flower?
’Tis called narcissus, madam.
It's called narcissus, madam.
That's called narcissus, madam.
narcissus madam
That was a fair boy, certain, but a fool,
To love himself. Were there not maids enough?
That was a beautiful young man, certainly, but a fool, to love himself. Were there not girls available?
He was a beautiful guy, that's true, but what an idiot—falling in love with himself. There weren't enough real girls for him?
pretty boy but dumb only loved himself where were the girls
Pray, forward.
Pray, forward.
In other words: pray, forward.
pray forward
Yes.
Yes.
In other words: yes.
yes
Or were they all hard-hearted?
Were all the maidens really so heartless?
Were they all really so cold-hearted?
were they all just cold
They could not be to one so fair.
They couldn't be unloving to someone so beautiful.
No girl could be cold to someone that beautiful.
no girl would reject him
Thou wouldst not.
You wouldn't.
You wouldn't either.
you wouldn't
I think I should not, madam.
I think I wouldn't, madam.
I don't think I would, madam.
i wouldn't madam
That’s a good wench.
But take heed to your kindness, though.
That's good. But watch out with your kindness, though.
Good answer. But be careful with that kindness of yours.
good but watch your kindness
Why, madam?
Why, madam?
In other words: why, madam?
why madam
Men are mad things.
Men are insane.
Men are totally wild.
guys r unhinged lol
Will ye go forward, cousin?
Will you keep walking, cousin?
Should we keep going, cousin?
keep walking?
Canst not thou work such flowers in silk, wench?
Can you embroider such flowers in silk, girl?
Can you stitch flowers like these in silk?
can you embroider flowers in silk
Yes.
Yes.
In other words: yes.
yes
I’ll have a gown full of ’em, and of these.
This is a pretty colour; will ’t not do
Rarely upon a skirt, wench?
I'll get a dress covered with these, and these ones here. This is a pretty color. Won't it look beautiful on a skirt, girl?
I want a whole gown made of flowers like these. This color is gorgeous—won't it look amazing on a skirt?
want a gown full of these this color looks gorgeous would look amazing on a skirt
Dainty, madam.
Dainty, madam.
In other words: dainty, madam.
dainty madam
Cousin, cousin! How do you, sir? Why, Palamon!
Cousin, cousin! How are you, sir? Palamon, why—
Cousin, cousin! What's wrong, man? Palamon, what's—
cousin what's up palamon what
Never till now I was in prison, Arcite.
I was never truly in prison until now, Arcite.
I wasn't really in prison before this moment, Arcite.
now i know what prison is
Why, what’s the matter, man?
What's the matter with you?
What's going on?
what happened
Shakespeare uses love at first sight as a kind of structural explosion — it appears in Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, and here. But TNK uses it with unusual precision: we are shown the friendship at its peak, convinced that it is the play's real subject, and then Emilia appears and everything we've watched is obliterated in real time. Palamon's declaration 'Never till now I was in prison' is a direct reversal of everything he just said — forty lines of arguing that the prison is a paradise because they're together, demolished by a glimpse through a window. The speed is not carelessness but deliberate craft: love doesn't argue with philosophy. It simply arrives.
Behold, and wonder!
By heaven, she is a goddess.
Look and be amazed! By heaven, she is a goddess.
Look at her! By all that's holy, she's a goddess.
look at her she's a goddess
Ha!
Ha!
In other words: ha!
ha
Do reverence. She is a goddess, Arcite.
Show reverence. She is a goddess, Arcite.
Respect her. She's a goddess, Arcite.
bow down she's divine
Of all flowers,
Methinks a rose is best.
Of all the flowers, I think a rose is best.
Of all these flowers, I think the rose is the most beautiful.
rose is the best
Why, gentle madam?
Why, gentle madam?
In other words: why, gentle madam?
why gentle madam
It is the very emblem of a maid.
For when the west wind courts her gently,
How modestly she blows and paints the sun
With her chaste blushes! When the north comes near her,
Rude and impatient, then, like chastity,
She locks her beauties in her bud again,
And leaves him to base briers.
It is the true symbol of a young woman. When the soft west wind courts her gently, how modestly she opens and colors the sun with her chaste blushes! When the harsh north wind comes near, rude and demanding, then, like modesty itself, she closes her beauty back into her bud, and leaves him to the common thorns.
It's the perfect symbol of a girl. When the warm west wind comes gently and softly, she blooms so modestly, her blush coloring everything beautifully. But when the harsh, rude north wind shows up, she shuts herself back in like she's protecting herself, and leaves that brutal wind to the thorns.
rose = girl gentleness = she opens harshness = she closes protecting herself always
Yet, good madam,
Sometimes her modesty will blow so far
She falls for ’t. A maid,
If she have any honour, would be loath
To take example by her.
And yet, good madam, sometimes her modesty will make her open so much she falls because of it. A girl, if she has any honor, wouldn't want to follow her example.
But still, madam, sometimes that modesty goes too far and she opens up so much she falls apart. A girl with any self-respect wouldn't want to copy that.
but sometimes she opens too much and falls girl with honor won't follow that
Thou art wanton.
You're being cheeky.
You're being a little bold there.
you're being cheeky
She is wondrous fair.
She is wonderfully beautiful.
She's incredibly beautiful.
she's beautiful
She is all the beauty extant.
She has all the beauty that exists.
She's got all the beauty in the world.
she's got all the beauty
The sun grows high; let’s walk in. Keep these flowers.
We’ll see how near art can come near their colours.
I am wondrous merry-hearted. I could laugh now.
The sun is high. Let's go inside. Keep these flowers. We'll see how closely art can match their colors. I'm in a wonderful mood. I could laugh right now.
It's getting late. Let's go back inside. Keep these flowers. We'll see if we can copy these colors with embroidery. I'm feeling great. I could laugh.
sun's high let's go in keep the flowers i'm happy af
I could lie down, I am sure.
I could lie down, I'm sure.
I could take a nap right now, honestly.
could sleep rn
And take one with you?
Will you take a flower back to your room too?
And bring one of these flowers with you?
bring one w u
That’s as we bargain, madam.
That depends on what we agree to, madam.
That depends on what we work out, madam.
depends on the deal madam
Well, agree then.
Well, agree then.
In other words: well, agree then.
well agree then
What think you of this beauty?
What's your opinion of such beauty?
What do you make of her?
thoughts on her
’Tis a rare one.
She is quite rare.
She's one of a kind.
10/10 not typical
Is’t but a rare one?
Is that all she is—unusual?
More than just rare, surely?
just rare? that's it?
Yes, a matchless beauty.
Yes, she has no equal in beauty.
Yeah, she's incomparable.
no one compares
Might not a man well lose himself, and love her?
Couldn't a man easily lose himself and love her?
Couldn't a guy completely lose his mind and fall for her?
could you lose yourself loving her
I cannot tell what you have done; I have,
Beshrew mine eyes for’t! Now I feel my shackles.
I can't say what you've done. I have— curse these eyes for it! Now I feel my chains.
I don't know what you've gone through, but I just... damn my eyes for seeing her! Now I feel how trapped I really am.
damn i feel it i feel my chains now
You love her, then?
Do you love her?
You're actually in love with her?
you're into her
Who would not?
Who would not?
In other words: who would not?
who would not
And desire her?
And desire her?
In other words: and desire her?
and desire her
Before my liberty.
Before my liberty.
In other words: before my liberty.
before my liberty
I saw her first.
I saw her before you did.
I spotted her first, though.
she was mine first
That’s nothing.
That’s nothing.
In other words: that’s nothing.
that’s nothing
But it shall be.
But it will matter.
But it's going to matter.
it'll matter
I saw her too.
I also saw her.
But I saw her as well.
i noticed her too
Yes, but you must not love her.
Yes, but you're forbidden from loving her.
Yeah, but that means you back off.
but she's mine don't touch
I will not, as you do, to worship her
As she is heavenly and a blessed goddess.
I love her as a woman, to enjoy her.
So both may love.
I will not love her like you do, to worship her as if she's heavenly and a blessed goddess. I love her as a woman, to be with her. So we both can love.
I'm not going to love her the way you do, like she's some heaven-sent angel. I love her as a real person, and I want her. So we can both love her.
i won't worship her i'll love her as a woman we can both love her
You shall not love at all.
You will not love at all.
You won't love her at all.
you won't love her
Not love at all! Who shall deny me?
Not love at all! Who can stop me?
Not love her at all! Who's going to stop me?
who's stopping me
I, that first saw her; I that took possession
First with mine eye of all those beauties in her
Revealed to mankind. If thou lovest her,
Or entertain’st a hope to blast my wishes,
Thou art a traitor, Arcite, and a fellow
False as thy title to her. Friendship, blood,
And all the ties between us, I disclaim
If thou once think upon her.
I will, because I saw her first. I was the first to see with my own eyes all that beauty in her revealed to mankind. If you love her, or even hope to ruin my chances, you're a traitor, Arcite, and a liar more false than your claims to her. Friendship, family bonds, and everything between us—I reject all of it if you so much as think about her.
I will. I saw her first. I was the one who saw her beauty revealed to the world. If you love her or even think about ruining what I want, you're a traitor, Arcite. You're a liar worse than a thief. Friendship, family, everything—I'm done with all of it if you even think about her.
i saw her first if you love her you're a traitor friendship over everything over
Yes, I love her;
And, if the lives of all my name lay on it,
I must do so; I love her with my soul.
If that will lose ye, farewell, Palamon.
I say again, I love, and in loving her maintain
I am as worthy and as free a lover
And have as just a title to her beauty,
As any Palamon, or any living
That is a man’s son.
Yes, I love her. And if the lives of every person in my family depended on it, I have to do this. I love her with my whole soul. If that costs me your friendship, goodbye, Palamon. I'm telling you again: I love her, and in loving her I maintain that I'm as worthy and as free a lover and have as valid a claim to her beauty as any Palamon or any other living man born of a woman.
Yeah, I love her. And if my whole family's lives were on the line, I'd still do it. I love her completely, with everything I am. If that means losing you, then goodbye. I'm saying it again: I love her, and I have just as much right to love her as you do. I'm just as worthy, just as free, just as much a man as you are.
i love her with my whole soul if that costs our friendship goodbye i have as much right as you
Have I called thee friend?
Did I refer to you as my friend?
Haven't I been your friend this whole time?
after everything i said
Yes, and have found me so. Why are you moved thus?
Let me deal coldly with you: am not I
Part of your blood, part of your soul? You have told me
That I was Palamon and you were Arcite.
Yes, and you found I was. Why are you upset now? Let me speak plainly: am I not part of your blood, part of your soul? You've told me that I was Palamon and you were Arcite.
Yeah, and I was. So why are you acting like this? Let me be straight with you: aren't I part of your blood, part of who you are? You told me we were so close that the names could be switched between us.
i was your friend why are you like this aren't i part of you
Yes.
Yes.
In other words: yes.
yes
Am not I liable to those affections,
Those joys, griefs, angers, fears, my friend shall suffer?
Aren't I bound to feel the same joys, sorrows, angers, and fears that you feel?
Don't I have to feel the same things you feel—joy, sadness, anger, fear?
don't i feel what you feel joy sadness anger fear
Ye may be.
Ye may be.
In other words: ye may be.
ye may
Palamon's claim — 'I saw her first' — is both absurd and, in the play's terms, meaningful. In the courtly love tradition, first sight established a claim; the moment of falling in love was a kind of proprietary act. Arcite's counter — 'That's nothing' — is the modern response: feelings are not property rights. But Palamon insists: 'But it shall be.' The play refuses to adjudicate between these positions. Instead it arranges a tournament so that God can decide. What's remarkable is that neither man, once fallen, considers simply stepping aside. The love is not negotiable. It simply is — for both of them, equally. And one of them has to die for it. The play is honest about how arbitrary this is.
Why then would you deal so cunningly,
So strangely, so unlike a noble kinsman,
To love alone? Speak truly; do you think me
Unworthy of her sight?
Why would you act so deviously, so strangely, so unlike a noble cousin, to love alone? Tell me the truth: do you think I'm not worthy of looking at her?
So why are you being sneaky and weird about this, like you're some kind of noble acting unlike yourself? Tell the truth: do you think I'm not good enough for her?
why are you being sneaky do you think i'm not worthy of her
No; but unjust,
If thou pursue that sight.
No, you're not unworthy of her sight. But it would be unjust if you pursued her.
No, you deserve to see her. But it's wrong of you to chase after her.
no you're not unworthy but it's unjust if you pursue her
Because another
First sees the enemy, shall I stand still
And let mine honour down, and never charge?
Because another person saw the enemy first, should I stand still and let my honor drop, and never attack?
Because someone else saw the enemy first, I should just stand there and let myself look bad? Never fight?
just cuz you saw her first i should give up
Yes, if he be but one.
Yes, if there's only one person.
Yeah, if there's just one opponent.
if there's just one
But say that one
Had rather combat me?
But what if that person actually does want to fight me?
But what if they choose to come at me anyway?
what if they don't back down
Let that one say so,
And use thy freedom. Else, if thou pursuest her,
Be as that cursed man that hates his country,
A branded villain.
Let that person say so, and use your freedom. Otherwise, if you go after her, be like that cursed man who hates his own country, a branded outcast.
Let them say it, and then you're free to fight. But if you go after her anyway, you're like a man who betrays his own country—you're cursed.
let them say so then you can fight otherwise you're a traitor cursed
You are mad.
You are mad.
In other words: you are mad.
you mad
I must be,
Till thou art worthy, Arcite; it concerns me;
And in this madness, if I hazard thee
And take thy life, I deal but truely.
I have to be, until you're worthy, Arcite. It matters to me, and in this madness, if I risk your life and take it, I'm just acting fairly.
I have to be, until you're worthy. This is about my honor too. And in this rage, if I risk your life and take it, I'm being honest.
i have to be mad until you stop if i kill you that's fair
Fie, sir!
You play the child extremely. I will love her;
I must, I ought to do so, and I dare,
And all this justly.
Stop it, sir! You're acting like a child. I will love her. I must, I should love her, and I will dare to, and all of it is right.
Come on! You're being childish. I'm going to love her. I have to, I should, and I'm going to do it. And it's all justified.
you're acting like a kid i'm loving her i have to it's right
O, that now, that now,
Thy false self and thy friend had but this fortune,
To be one hour at liberty, and grasp
Our good swords in our hands! I would quickly teach thee
What ’twere to filch affection from another!
Thou art baser in it than a cutpurse.
Put but thy head out of this window more
And, as I have a soul, I’ll nail thy life to ’t.
Oh, if only right now you and I had just one hour of freedom and could grip our good swords in our hands! I would quickly teach you how wrong it is to steal love from another! You're more dishonest than a thief. Just stick your head out of this window and as I swear on my soul, I'll nail your life to it.
Oh, if we just had one free hour right now with our swords in our hands! I'd teach you what it means to steal a woman's heart from your friend. You're lower than a common thief. Just put your head out this window and I swear I'll kill you.
put your head out i'll nail you to this window swear on my soul
Thou dar’st not, fool, thou canst not, thou art feeble.
Put my head out? I’ll throw my body out
And leap the garden, when I see her next
And pitch between her arms, to anger thee.
You won't dare, fool. You can't, you're weak. Put my head out? I'll throw my whole body out and jump down to the garden when I see her next and land right in her arms, just to make you angry.
You won't, you can't, you're too weak. Stick my head out? I'll throw my whole body out that window and jump to the garden to be near her, just to piss you off.
you won't i'll jump out myself land in her arms just to make you mad
No more; the keeper’s coming. I shall live
To knock thy brains out with my shackles.
Nothing more. The guard's coming. I will live to smash your brains out with my chains.
No more of this. The guard's coming. But I'll live long enough to beat you to death with my chains.
guard's coming i'll bash you with chains
Do!
Do!
In other words: do!
do!
By your leave, gentlemen.
With your permission, gentlemen.
With your leave, gentlemen.
by your leave sirs
Now, honest keeper?
Now, honest keeper?
In other words: now, honest keeper?
now honest keeper
Lord Arcite, you must presently to th’ Duke;
The cause I know not yet.
Lord Arcite, you must go to the Duke immediately. I don't know why yet.
Lord Arcite, you need to go see the Duke right away. I don't know the reason yet.
you gotta go to the duke now idk why
I am ready, keeper.
I stand ready, keeper.
Let's go, I'm prepared.
let's go
Prince Palamon, I must awhile bereave you
Of your fair cousin’s company.
Prince Palamon, I must take away your beautiful cousin's company for a while.
Prince Palamon, I have to separate you from your cousin for now.
gotta take your cousin away
And me too,
Even when you please, of life.—Why is he sent for?
It may be he shall marry her; he’s goodly,
And like enough the Duke hath taken notice
Both of his blood and body. But his falsehood!
Why should a friend be treacherous? If that
Get him a wife so noble and so fair,
Let honest men ne’er love again. Once more
I would but see this fair one. Blessed garden
And fruit and flowers more blessed that still blossom
As her bright eyes shine on ye! Would I were,
For all the fortune of my life hereafter,
Yon little tree, yon blooming apricock!
How I would spread and fling my wanton arms
In at her window! I would bring her fruit
Fit for the gods to feed on; youth and pleasure
Still as she tasted should be doubled on her;
And, if she be not heavenly, I would make her
So near the gods in nature, they should fear her.
And take my life too, whenever you want.—Why is he being sent for? He might marry her. He's good-looking, and probably the Duke noticed both his noble birth and his appearance. But his betrayal! Why should a friend become a traitor? If his deception gets him a wife so beautiful and noble, let honest men stop loving. One more time I want to see this beautiful woman. Blessed garden, and blessed flowers and fruit that always bloom as her bright eyes shine on you! I wish I were that little tree, that apricot tree blooming there! How I would stretch my wild arms into her window! I would bring her fruit fitted for gods to eat. Youth and pleasure would double with every taste she took. And if she isn't already divine, I would make her so close to the gods that they would be afraid of her.
And kill me too if you want.—Why is he being sent away? He might end up marrying her. He's handsome, and the Duke probably noticed his rank and his looks. But what about his disloyalty? How can a friend betray you? If his betrayal wins him such a beautiful, noble wife, then honest men should stop bothering with love. I want to see her one more time. Blessed garden, blessed flowers that keep blooming as her eyes shine on them! I wish I was that little apricot tree right there. How I'd stretch my arms through her window! I'd bring her fruit that gods would eat. Every time she tasted it, pleasure would double. If she's not already a goddess, I'd make her so close to one that the gods themselves would fear her.
why's he being sent away he'll marry her traitor i want to see her once more wish i was that tree would fill her window with fruit
And then I am sure she would love me. How now, keeper?
Where’s Arcite?
And then I'm sure she would love me. How is it now, keeper? Where's Arcite?
And then I know she'd love me back. What's going on now, keeper? Where did they take Arcite?
then she'd love me back for sure where's arcite keeper
Banished. Prince Pirithous
Obtained his liberty, but never more
Upon his oath and life must he set foot
Upon this kingdom.
He is banished. Prince Pirithous secured his freedom from death, but under oath and under penalty of his life, he can never again set foot in this kingdom.
He's been banished. Prince Pirithous managed to save his life and get him released, but in exchange, he's sworn an oath—he can never come back to this kingdom again.
arcite is banished pirithous freed him from death but he can never return
He’s a blessed man.
He shall see Thebes again, and call to arms
The bold young men that, when he bids ’em charge,
Fall on like fire. Arcite shall have a fortune,
If he dare make himself a worthy lover,
Yet in the field to strike a battle for her;
And, if he lose her then, he’s a cold coward.
How bravely may he bear himself to win her
If he be noble Arcite, thousand ways!
Were I at liberty, I would do things
Of such a virtuous greatness that this lady,
This blushing virgin, should take manhood to her
And seek to ravish me.
He's a lucky man. He'll get to see Thebes again, and rally the daring young soldiers who, when he orders them to attack, sweep forward like fire. Arcite will still have a chance, if he has the courage to prove himself a worthy lover, to fight a battle on the field to win her; and if he loses her after that, he's a spineless coward. There are a thousand ways he could show his courage to win her, if he really is the noble Arcite! If I were free, I would perform deeds of such heroic greatness that this lady, this blushing maiden, would turn bold as a man and try to take me by force.
Lucky guy. He gets to go back to Thebes and fire up all those fearless young soldiers who, the second he says 'charge,' tear in like wildfire. Arcite's got a real shot, if he's got the guts to be a lover worth having, to go fight a war to win her. And if he still loses her after that? He's a gutless coward. If he's the Arcite I know, he's got a thousand ways to prove himself and win her! If I were free, I'd pull off such amazing, heroic stuff that this lady, this shy, blushing girl, would get all bold like a man and come after me and grab me herself.
arcite's so lucky he's free, he can go fight for her if he loses her after that he's a coward if i was out i'd be so heroic she'd be the one chasing ME
My lord for you
I have this charge to—
For you, my lord, I have orders to—
For you, my lord, I'm ordered to—
my lord i gotta
To discharge my life?
Are you ordering my execution?
Are you here to end me?
death sentence?
No, but from this place to remove your lordship;
The windows are too open.
No, but to move you from this place. The windows are too open.
No, but to move you away from here. These windows are too open.
move you away windows too open
Devils take ’em,
That are so envious to me! Prithee, kill me.
Damn them, those who are so envious of me! I beg you, kill me.
Curse those jealous bastards! Just kill me already.
curse all these envious ppl please just end me
And hang for’t afterward!
And hang for it afterwards!
And then get hanged for murder?
and get hanged? no thanks
By this good light,
Had I a sword I would kill thee.
By this bright light, if I had a sword I would kill you.
I swear to you, if I had a weapon I'd kill you myself.
swear to god if i had a sword you'd be dead
Why, my Lord?
Why, my Lord?
In other words: why, my lord?
why my lord
Thou bringst such pelting, scurvy news continually,
Thou art not worthy life. I will not go.
You bring such pathetic, foul news constantly. You don't deserve to live. I will not go.
You're always showing up with terrible, hateful news. You're not worth keeping alive. I won't move.
you're pathetic don't deserve to live i'm not going
Indeed, you must, my lord.
Yes, you have no choice, my lord.
You really have to, my lord.
u gotta go my lord
May I see the garden?
Is it possible for me to visit the garden?
Can I at least see the garden?
can i see the garden
No.
No.
In other words: no.
no
Then I am resolved, I will not go.
Then I have decided, I will not go.
Then I'm not going anywhere.
then i'm staying
I must constrain you then; and, for you are dangerous,
I’ll clap more irons on you.
I must force you then. And because you are dangerous, I'll put more chains on you.
Then I'll have to drag you. And since you're violent, I'm adding more irons.
i gotta force you more chains coming
Do, good keeper.
I’ll shake ’em so, ye shall not sleep;
I’ll make you a new morris. Must I go?
Go ahead, good keeper. I'll shake them so much that you won't sleep. I'll make you a new morris dance. Must I go?
Go right ahead. I'll rattle them so hard you'll never rest. I'll drive you insane with the noise. Do I have to leave?
go ahead keeper i'll make noise all night keep you up forever do i gotta go
There is no remedy.
Nothing can be done about it.
There's nothing we can do about it.
no way around it
Farewell, kind window.
May rude wind never hurt thee!—O, my lady,
If ever thou hast felt what sorrow was,
Dream how I suffer.—Come, now bury me.
Goodbye, kind window. May harsh wind never harm you!—Oh, my lady, if you've ever felt what sorrow is, understand how much I suffer.—Come, now bury me.
Goodbye, sweet window. May rough winds never hurt you!—Oh, my lady, if you know what pain feels like, imagine how much I'm hurting.—Come on, let's go. Might as well bury me.
goodbye window my lady if you know pain imagine mine bury me now
The Reckoning
This scene does something theatrically audacious: it shows us a perfect friendship and destroys it in the space of fifty lines. The first half is genuinely beautiful — two men who have decided to make prison their paradise because they have each other. Then Emilia appears below, and within minutes Palamon is threatening to kill Arcite and Arcite is threatening to throw himself out the window to reach her. The speed of it is the point: love doesn't negotiate. The audience watches the most celebrated friendship in the play dissolve in real time.
If this happened today…
Two best friends, who've been imprisoned overseas after a failed business venture, have talked themselves into finding peace in it — their bond is enough, freedom is overrated, they have each other. Then one of them looks out the window of their cell at the courtyard below and sees the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. 'Oh my god,' he says. The other one looks. Then they're both standing at the window. Then one of them says: 'She's mine.' 'What?' 'I saw her first.' Twenty years of friendship evaporates in about four exchanges.