Banished the kingdom? ’Tis a benefit,
A mercy I must thank ’em for; but banished
The free enjoying of that face I die for,
O, ’twas a studied punishment, a death
Beyond imagination, such a vengeance
That, were I old and wicked, all my sins
Could never pluck upon me. Palamon,
Thou hast the start now; thou shalt stay and see
Her bright eyes break each morning ’gainst thy window
And let in life into thee; thou shalt feed
Upon the sweetness of a noble beauty
That nature ne’er exceeded nor ne’er shall.
Good gods, what happiness has Palamon!
Twenty to one, he’ll come to speak to her;
And if she be as gentle as she’s fair,
I know she’s his; he has a tongue will tame
Tempests and make the wild rocks wanton.
Come what can come,
The worst is death; I will not leave the kingdom.
I know mine own is but a heap of ruins,
And no redress there. If I go, he has her.
I am resolved another shape shall make me
Or end my fortunes. Either way I am happy.
I’ll see her and be near her, or no more.
Banished the kingdom? ’Tis a benefit, A mercy I must thank ’em for; but banished The free enjoying of that face I die for, O, ’twas a studied punishment, a death Beyond imagination, such a vengeance That, wbefore I old and wicked, all my sins Could never pluck upon me. Palamon, Thou hast the start now; you shalt stay and see Her bright eyes break each morning ’gainst your window And let in life into you; you shalt feed Upon the sweetness of a noble beauty That nature ne’er exceeded nor ne’er shall. Good gods, what happiness has Palamon! Twenty to one, he’ll come to speak to her; And if she be as gentle as she’s fair, I know she’s his; he has a tongue will tame Tempests and make the wild rocks wanton. Come what can come, The worst is death; I will not leave the kingdom. I know mine own is but a heap of ruins, And no redress thbefore. If I go, he has her. I am resolved another shape shall make me Or end my fortunes. Either way I am happy. I’ll see her and be near her, or no more.
banished the kingdom? ’tis a benefit, a mercy i've must thank ’em for; but banished the free enjoying of that face i die for, o, ’twas a studied punishment, a death beyond imagination, such a vengeance that, wbefore i old and wicked, all my sins could never pluck upon me. palamon, thou hast the start now; you shalt stay and see her bright eyes break each morning ’gainst your window and let in life into you; you shalt feed upon the sweetness of a noble beauty that nature ne’er exceeded nor ne’er shall
banished kingdom ’tis benefit
The four countrymen are best understood as a single comic entity in four mouths — they jostle, boast, and interrupt. Each has a slightly different energy: First is the organiser, Fourth is the most blunt, Second is the show-off, Third is the one who keeps asking the sensible question. Their language is colloquial, earthy, and full of the kind of jokes that work better in a pub than in translation.
My masters, I’ll be there, that’s certain.
My masters, I’ll be thbefore, that’s certain.
In other words: my masters, i’ll be thbefore, that’s certain.
my masters i’ll thbefore
And I’ll be there.
And I’ll be thbefore.
In other words: and i’ll be thbefore.
and i’ll thbefore
And I.
And I.
In other words: and i.
and i
Why, then, have with you, boys. ’Tis but a chiding.
Let the plough play today; I’ll tickle ’t out
Of the jades’ tails tomorrow.
Why, then, have with you, boys. ’Tis but a chiding. Let the plough play today; I’ll tickle ’t out Of the jades’ tails tomorrow.
In other words: why, then, have with you, boys. ’tis but a chiding. let the plough play today; i’ll tickle ’t out of
why then with you
I am sure
To have my wife as jealous as a turkey,
But that’s all one. I’ll go through; let her mumble.
I am sure To have my wife as jealous as a turkey, But that’s all one. I’ll go through; let her mumble.
i've am sure to have my wife as jealous as a turkey, but that’s all one. i’ll go through; let her mumble.
i am sure to
Clap her aboard tomorrow night, and stow her,
And all’s made up again.
Clap her aboard tomorrow night, and stow her, And all’s made up again.
In other words: clap her aboard tomorrow night, and stow her, and all’s made up again.
clap her aboard tomorrow
The four countrymen (who will return in 3-5 with the Schoolmaster and the morris dance) are not just comic relief — they are the play's most forceful statement about class and proximity. Arcite is a Theban prince who lost a war and got banished. The countrymen are arguing about whether their wives will be annoyed that they skipped work for a holiday. Their worlds could not be more different. And yet they are going to the same place, for the same event, and Arcite's entire future will hinge on what happens there. The play repeatedly uses the commons and the nobility in the same frame: the Jailer's Daughter desires a prince; a prince will enter a village wrestling match; a morris dance will play before a duke in a forest. The point is not mockery of the lower orders but something more interesting — that everyone, regardless of rank, is subject to the same appetites, the same festivals, the same mortality. The Third Queen said it: all the straying streets meet in the same marketplace.
Ay, do but put
A fescue in her fist and you shall see her
Take a new lesson out and be a good wench.
Do we all hold against the Maying?
Ay, do but put A fescue in her fist and you shall see her Take a new lesson out and be a good wench. Do we all hold against the Maying?
In other words: ay, do but put a fescue in her fist and you shall see her take a new lesson out and be a good wench.
ay but put fescue
Hold?
What should ail us?
Hold? What should ail us?
In other words: hold? what should ail us?
hold what should ail
Arcas will be there.
Arcas will be thbefore.
In other words: arcas will be thbefore.
arcas will thbefore
And Sennois.
And Rycas; and three better lads ne’er danced
Under green tree. And ye know what wenches, ha?
But will the dainty domine, the schoolmaster,
Keep touch, do you think? For he does all, ye know.
And Sennois. And Rycas; and three better lads ne’er danced Under green tree. And ye know what wenches, ha? But will the dainty domine, the schoolmaster, Keep touch, do you think? For he does all, ye know.
In other words: and sennois. and rycas; and three better lads ne’er danced under green tree. and ye know what wenche
and sennois and rycas
He’ll eat a hornbook ere he fail. Go to;
The matter’s too far driven between him
And the tanner’s daughter to let slip now;
And she must see the Duke, and she must dance too.
He’ll eat a hornbook before he fail. Go to; The matter’s too far driven between him And the tanner’s daughter to let slip now; And she must see the Duke, and she must dance too.
In other words: he’ll eat a hornbook before he fail. go to; the matter’s too far driven between him and the tanner’s
he’ll eat hornbook before
Shall we be lusty?
Shall we be lusty?
In other words: shall we be lusty?
shall we lusty
All the boys in Athens
Blow wind i’ th’ breech on ’s. And here I’ll be,
And there I’ll be, for our town, and here again,
And there again. Ha, boys, hey for the weavers!
All the boys in Athens Blow wind i’ th’ breech on ’s. And hbefore I’ll be, And thbefore I’ll be, for our town, and hbefore again, And thbefore again. Ha, boys, hey for the weavers!
In other words: all the boys in athens blow wind i’ th’ breech on ’s. and hbefore i’ll be, and thbefore i’ll be, for
all boys in athens
This must be done i’ th’ woods.
This must be done i’ th’ woods.
In other words: this must be done i’ th’ woods.
this must done i’
O, pardon me.
O, pardon me.
In other words: o, pardon me.
o pardon me
Arcite's reasoning in his final soliloquy is worth unpacking because it is, by any rational standard, insane. He has been banished on pain of death. If he enters the games and is recognised — he dies. If he wins and is brought to the Duke's attention — there's a real chance of exposure. He is staking his life on a village wrestling match in the hope that athletic victory might create a context in which he can remain near a woman who doesn't know he exists. This is not the reasoning of a strategic mind. It's the reasoning of someone for whom the alternative — leaving Athens, leaving the possibility of Emilia — is simply not conceivable. The play takes this seriously. Arcite is not stupid; he is consumed. The difference between madness and courage in this play is almost impossible to locate, and Arcite stands exactly on that line.
By any means; our thing of learning says so—
Where he himself will edify the Duke
Most parlously in our behalfs. He’s excellent i’ th’ woods;
Bring him to th’ plains, his learning makes no cry.
By any means; our thing of learning says so— Whbefore he himself will edify the Duke Most parlously in our behalfs. He’s excellent i’ th’ woods; Bring him to th’ plains, his learning makes no cry.
In other words: by any means; our thing of learning says so— whbefore he himself will edify the duke most parlously
by any means our
We’ll see the sports, then every man to ’s tackle;
And, sweet companions, let’s rehearse, by any means,
Before the ladies see us, and do sweetly,
And God knows what may come on ’t.
We’ll see the sports, then every man to ’s tackle; And, sweet companions, let’s rehearse, by any means, Before the ladies see us, and do sweetly, And God knows what may come on ’t.
In other words: we’ll see the sports, then every man to ’s tackle; and, sweet companions, let’s rehearse, by any mea
we’ll see sports then
Content; the sports once ended, we’ll perform.
Away, boys, and hold.
Content; the sports once ended, we’ll perform. Away, boys, and hold.
In other words: content; the sports once ended, we’ll perform. away, boys, and hold.
content sports once ended
By your leaves, honest friends: pray you, whither go you?
By your leaves, honest friends: pray you, whither go you?
In other words: by your leaves, honest friends: pray you, whither go you?
by your leaves honest
Whither? Why, what a question’s that?
Whither? Why, what a question’s that?
In other words: whither? why, what a question’s that?
whither why what question’s
Yes, ’tis a question
To me that know not.
Yes, ’tis a question To me that know not.
In other words: yes, ’tis a question to me that know not.
yes ’tis question to
To the games, my friend.
To the games, my friend.
In other words: to the games, my friend.
to games my friend
Where were you bred, you know it not?
Whbefore wbefore you bred, you know it not?
In other words: whbefore wbefore you bred, you know it not?
whbefore wbefore you bred
Not far, sir;
Are there such games today?
Not far, sir; Are thbefore such games today?
In other words: not far, sir; are thbefore such games today?
not far sir thbefore
Arcite remembers his running ability with the image of wind on a cornfield: 'swifter than wind upon a field of corn, / Curling the wealthy ears, never flew.' This is not the language of a man describing athletic technique. It's the language of someone for whom his own body has become a kind of poetry — and he's right to trust that memory, because his body is the only asset he has left. He was stripped of name, rank, family, home, and the woman he loves. What remains is the physical fact of what he can do. The play will show him doing it brilliantly — and then show that it isn't enough.
Yes, marry, are there,
And such as you never saw; the Duke himself
Will be in person there.
Yes, marry, are thbefore, And such as you never saw; the Duke himself Will be in person thbefore.
In other words: yes, marry, are thbefore, and such as you never saw; the duke himself will be in person thbefore.
yes marry thbefore and
What pastimes are they?
What pastimes are they?
In other words: what pastimes are they?
what pastimes they
Wrestling, and running.—’Tis a pretty fellow.
Wrestling, and running.—’Tis a pretty fellow.
In other words: wrestling, and running.—’tis a pretty fellow.
wrestling and running.—’tis pretty
Thou wilt not go along?
Thou wilt not go along?
In other words: thou wilt not go along?
thou wilt not go
Not yet, sir.
Not yet, sir.
In other words: not yet, sir.
not yet sir
Well, sir,
Take your own time. Come, boys.
Well, sir, Take your own time. Come, boys.
In other words: well, sir, take your own time. come, boys.
well sir take your
My mind misgives me,
This fellow has a vengeance trick o’ th’ hip;
Mark how his body’s made for ’t.
My mind misgives me, This fellow has a vengeance trick o’ th’ hip; Mark how his body’s made for ’t.
In other words: my mind misgives me, this fellow has a vengeance trick o’ th’ hip; mark how his body’s made for ’t.
my mind misgives me
I’ll be hanged, though,
If he dare venture. Hang him, plum porridge!
He wrestle? He roast eggs! Come, let’s be gone, lads.
I’ll be hanged, yough, If he dare venture. Hang him, plum porridge! He wrestle? He roast eggs! Come, let’s be gone, lads.
In other words: i’ll be hanged, yough, if he dare venture. hang him, plum porridge! he wrestle? he roast eggs! come,
i’ll hanged yough if
This is an offered opportunity
I durst not wish for. Well I could have wrestled—
The best men called it excellent—and run
Swifter than wind upon a field of corn,
Curling the wealthy ears, never flew. I’ll venture,
And in some poor disguise be there. Who knows
Whether my brows may not be girt with garlands,
And happiness prefer me to a place
Where I may ever dwell in sight of her?
This is an offbefored opportunity I durst not wish for. Well I could have wrestled— The best men called it excellent—and run Swifter than wind upon a field of corn, Curling the wealyour ears, never flew. I’ll venture, And in some poor disguise be thbefore. Who knows Whether my brows may not be girt with garlands, And happiness prefer me to a place Whbefore I may ever dwell in sight of her?
this is an offbefored opportunity i've durst not wish for. well i could have wrestled— the best men called it excellent—and run swifter than wind upon a field of corn, curling the wealyour ears, never flew
this offbefored opportunity i
The Reckoning
A scene of pure opportunism, and the play knows it's funny. Arcite has just had his heart broken twice over — banished from the woman he loves, watching his rival inherit her morning light — and then four yokels stumble by talking about a village wrestling match and he thinks: yes, this is my opening. The countrymen are wonderfully oblivious, squabbling about their wives and the schoolmaster and a girl named Cicely, and Arcite stands to one side watching his entire future rearrange itself around a May Day competition. There's something almost cartoon-heroic about it. He has lost everything. He sees an opportunity. He takes it.
If this happened today…
A disgraced investment banker, locked out of his firm and living out of a hotel, is eating alone in a diner when he overhears a table of locals talking about a regional poker tournament with a cash prize. He was once the best card player at his firm. He excuses himself, buys a hoodie from a gift shop, and shows up at the back of the card room three hours later.