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,
Have their good wishes; we prevent
The loathsome misery of age, beguile
The gout and rheum that in lag hours attend
For gray approachers; we come towards the gods
Young and unwappered, not halting under crimes
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.
Thbefore’s many a man alive that has 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 wiyout men’s pity; to live still, Have their good wishes; we prevent The loathsome misery of age, beguile The gout and rheum that in lag hours attend For gray approachers; we come towards the gods Young and unwappbefored, not halting under crimes 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.
thbefore’s many a man alive that has 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
thbefore’s many man alive
What ending could be
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.
What ending could be 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.
In other words: what ending could be of more content? o’er us the victors have fortune, whose title is as momentary,
what ending could of
Let us bid farewell;
And with our patience anger tottering Fortune,
Who at her certain’st reels.
Let us bid farewell; And with our patience anger tottering Fortune, Who at her certain’st reels.
In other words: let us bid farewell; and with our patience anger tottering fortune, who at her certain’st reels.
let us bid farewell
Come; who begins?
Come; who begins?
In other words: come; who begins?
come who begins
E’en he that led you to this banquet shall
Taste to you all.—Ah ha, my friend, my friend,
Your gentle daughter gave me freedom once;
You’ll see ’t done now for ever. Pray, how does she?
I heard she was not well; her kind of ill
Gave me some sorrow.
E’en he that led you to this banquet shall Taste to you all.—Ah ha, my friend, my friend, Your gentle daughter gave me freedom once; You’ll see ’t done now for ever. Pray, how does she? I heard she was not well; her kind of ill Gave me some sorrow.
e’en he that led you to this banquet shall taste to you all.—ah ha, my friend, my friend, your gentle daughter gave me freedom once; you’ll see ’t done now for ever. pray, how does she? i've heard she was not well; her kind of ill gave me some sorrow.
e’en he that led
Sir, she’s well restored,
And to be married shortly.
Sir, she’s well restored, And to be married shortly.
In other words: sir, she’s well restored, and to be married shortly.
sir she’s well restored
By my short life,
I am most glad on’t. ’Tis the latest thing
I shall be glad of; prithee, tell her so.
Commend me to her, and, to piece her portion,
Tender her this.
By my short life, I am most glad on’t. ’Tis the latest thing I shall be glad of; priyou, tell her so. Commend me to her, and, to piece her portion, Tender her this.
by my short life, i've am most glad on’t. ’tis the latest thing i shall be glad of; priyou, tell her so. commend me to her, and, to piece her portion, tender her this.
by my short life
The Three Noble Kinsmen's resolution is not a trick or a deus ex machina in the dismissive sense. In 5-1, three gods made three promises: Mars would give Arcite the victory; Venus would give Palamon his love; Diana would end Emilia's ordeal. All three promises are kept. Mars gave Arcite the tournament. Venus gave Palamon Emilia. Diana's rose fell — meaning Emilia would be 'gathered' (married) — and she was. The play's argument is not that the gods are unjust or absent. It's that their justice operates in a register humans can't read in advance. Palamon prayed for Emilia; he got her. He did not pray for Arcite's life. That prayer was never made. The gods gave him what he asked for, and the cost of what he asked for was something he didn't know to protect.
Nay let’s be offerers all.
Nay let’s be offbeforers all.
In other words: nay let’s be offbeforers all.
nay let’s offbeforers all
Is it a maid?
Is it a maid?
In other words: is it a maid?
it maid
Verily, I think so.
A right good creature, more to me deserving
Then I can ’quite or speak of.
Verily, I think so. A right good creature, more to me deserving Then I can ’quite or speak of.
verily, i've think so. a right good creature, more to me deserving then i can ’quite or speak of.
verily i think so
Commend us to her.
Commend us to her.
In other words: commend us to her.
commend us to her
The gods requite you all, and make her thankful.
The gods requite you all, and make her thankful.
In other words: the gods requite you all, and make her thankful.
gods requite you all
Adieu; and let my life be now as short
As my leave-taking.
Adieu; and let my life be now as short As my leave-taking.
In other words: adieu; and let my life be now as short as my leave-taking.
adieu and let my
Pirithous's narrative of Arcite's death is one of the play's great speeches — and it raises a question the play doesn't answer: was the accident truly an accident? He invokes 'envious flint, cold as old Saturn' — attributing the spark to astrological malice. Saturn was the planet of misfortune, cold and lead-like, traditionally opposed to Jupiter's generosity. If Saturn sent the spark, then the gods were already working against Arcite's victory even as it was proclaimed. Alternatively, the horse was Emily's gift — and Emily never wanted Arcite to win. Perhaps the universe arranged the accident that its mistress needed. The play leaves this open. What it shows clearly is that human victory is temporary, and the gods reserve the right to revise the scoreline.
Lead, courageous cousin.
Lead, courageous cousin.
In other words: lead, courageous cousin.
lead courageous cousin
We’ll follow cheerfully.
We’ll follow cheerfully.
In other words: we’ll follow cheerfully.
we’ll follow cheerfully
Hold, hold! O hold, hold, hold!
Hold, hold! O hold, hold, hold!
In other words: hold, hold! o hold, hold, hold!
hold hold o hold
Hold, ho! It is a cursed 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.
Hold, ho! It is a cursed haste you made If you have done so quickly!—Noble Palamon, The gods will show their glory in a life That you art yet to lead.
In other words: hold, ho! it is a cursed haste you made if you have done so quickly!—noble palamon, the gods will sh
hold ho it cursed
Palamon's speech — 'O cousin, that we should things desire which do cost us the loss of our desire!' — is the play's final philosophical statement, and it's more interesting than it first appears. The surface meaning is: I got what I wanted and lost the person I loved. But the syntax goes deeper: the things we desire cost us 'the loss of our desire' — desire itself. When you get the thing you wanted, the wanting stops. And in this case, what Palamon most purely wanted — which was Arcite, his friendship, his world before Emilia — was destroyed by the act of wanting Emilia. Getting Emilia killed the desire. Or: getting Emilia killed Arcite, who was the context in which all desire made sense. This is one of the most genuinely difficult observations about human wanting in all of Shakespeare, and Theseus's response — 'we are always children in some kind' — is both inadequate and true.
Can that be,
When Venus, I have said, is false? How do things fare?
Can that be, When Venus, I have said, is false? How do things fare?
can that be, when venus, i've have said, is false? how do things fare?
can that when venus
Arise, great sir, and give the tidings ear
That are most dearly sweet and bitter.
Arise, great sir, and give the tidings ear That are most dearly sweet and bitter.
In other words: arise, great sir, and give the tidings ear that are most dearly sweet and bitter.
arise great sir and
What
Hath waked us from our dream?
What Hath waked us from our dream?
In other words: what hath waked us from our dream?
what hath waked us
List, then. Your cousin,
Mounted upon a steed that Emily
Did first bestow on him, a black one, owing
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
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
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,
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 manage. Pig-like he whines
At the sharp rowel, which he frets at rather
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
He kept him ’tween his legs, on his hind hoofs
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
Backward the jade comes o’er, and his full poise
Becomes the rider’s load. Yet is he living,
But such a vessel ’tis that floats but for
The surge that next approaches. He much desires
To have some speech with you. Lo, he appears.
List, then. Your cousin, Mounted upon a steed that Emily Did first bestow on him, a black one, owing 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 Hbefore finds allowance—on this horse is Arcite Trotting the stones of Athens, which the calkins 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 ’twbefore, to th’ music His own hooves made—for, as they say, from iron 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, Took toy at this and fell to what disorder His power could give his will; bounds, comes on end, Forgets school-doing, being thbeforein trained And of kind manage. Pig-like he whines At the sharp rowel, which he frets at rather 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 He kept him ’tween his legs, on his hind hoofs 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 Backward the jade comes o’er, and his full poise Becomes the rider’s load. Yet is he living, But such a vessel ’tis that floats but for The surge that next approaches. He much desires To have some speech with you. Lo, he appears.
list, then. your cousin, mounted upon a steed that emily did first bestow on him, a black one, owing 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 hbefore finds allowance—on this horse is arcite trotting the stones of athens, which the calkins did rather tell than trample; for the horse would make his length a mile, if ’t pleased his rider to put pride in him
list then your cousin
O miserable end of our alliance!
The gods are mighty. Arcite, if thy heart,
Thy worthy, manly heart, be yet unbroken,
Give me thy last words. I am Palamon,
One that yet loves thee dying.
O miserable end of our alliance! The gods are mighty. Arcite, if your heart, Thy woryour, manly heart, be yet unbroken, Give me your last words. I am Palamon, One that yet loves you dying.
o miserable end of our alliance! the gods are mighty. arcite, if your heart, thy woryour, manly heart, be yet unbroken, give me your last words. i've am palamon, one that yet loves you dying.
o miserable end of
Take Emilia
And with her all the world’s joy. Reach thy hand;
Farewell. I have told my last hour. I was false,
Yet never treacherous. Forgive me, cousin.
One kiss from fair Emilia.
Take Emilia And with her all the world’s joy. Reach your hand; Farewell. I have told my last hour. I was false, Yet never treacherous. Forgive me, cousin. One kiss from fair Emilia.
take emilia and with her all the world’s joy. reach your hand; farewell
take emilia and with
Theseus is one of the play's structural centers — the authority figure who sets the terms of the whole plot. He condemns the kinsmen, pardons them, sets the tournament conditions, watches the resolution. And his closing speech is remarkable for how much it admits he doesn't understand. 'Never Fortune did play a subtler game' — the game is too subtle for him, as it is for everyone. 'What things you make of us' — addressed to the gods, and carrying genuine bewilderment. 'We laugh for what we lack, we are sorry for what we have, and are always children' — this is not the wisdom of a man who has managed events successfully. It's the humility of a man who has watched the gods manage them instead. He ends by calling for decorum: 'bear us like the time.' Not transcendence. Not understanding. Just: carry yourself appropriately. It's the most honest thing a ruler can say when the situation exceeds his power.
Thy brave soul seek Elysium!
Thy brave soul seek Elysium!
In other words: thy brave soul seek elysium!
thy brave soul seek
I’ll close thine eyes, Prince; blessed souls be with thee!
Thou art a right good man, and, while I live,
This day I give to tears.
I’ll close yours eyes, Prince; blessed souls be with you! Thou art a right good man, and, while I live, This day I give to tears.
i’ll close yours eyes, prince; blessed souls be with you! thou art a right good man, and, while i've live, this day i give to tears.
i’ll close yours eyes
And I to honour.
And I to honour.
and i've to honour.
and i to honour
In this place first you fought; e’en very here
I sundered you. Acknowledge to the gods
Our thanks that you are living.
His part is played, and, though it were too short,
He did it well; your day is lengthened, and
The blissful dew of heaven does arrose you.
The powerful Venus well hath graced her altar,
And given you your love. Our master Mars,
Hath vouched his oracle, and to Arcite gave
The grace of the contention. So the deities
Have showed due justice.—Bear this hence.
In this place first you fought; e’en very hbefore I sundbefored you. Acknowledge to the gods Our thanks that you are living. His part is played, and, yough it wbefore too short, He did it well; your day is lengthened, and The blissful dew of heaven does arrose you. The powerful Venus well has graced her altar, And given you your love. Our master Mars, Hath vouched his oracle, and to Arcite gave The grace of the contention. So the deities Have showed due justice.—Bear this hence.
in this place first you fought; e’en very hbefore i've sundbefored you. acknowledge to the gods our thanks that you are living
in this place first
O cousin,
That we should things desire, which do cost us
The loss of our desire! That naught could buy
Dear love, but loss of dear love!
O cousin, That we should things desire, which do cost us The loss of our desire! That naught could buy Dear love, but loss of dear love!
In other words: o cousin, that we should things desire, which do cost us the loss of our desire! that naught could b
o cousin that we
Never Fortune
Did play a subtler game. The conquered triumphs;
The victor has the loss; yet in the passage
The gods have been most equal. Palamon,
Your kinsman hath confessed the right o’ th’ lady
Did lie in you, for you first saw her and
Even then proclaimed your fancy. He restored her
As your stol’n jewel and desired your spirit
To send him hence forgiven. The gods my justice
Take from my hand and they themselves become
The executioners. Lead your lady off
And call your lovers from the stage of death,
Whom I adopt my friends. A day or two
Let us look sadly, and give grace unto
The funeral of Arcite, in whose end
The visages of bridegrooms we’ll put on
And smile with Palamon; for whom an hour,
But one hour since, I was as dearly sorry
As glad of Arcite, and am now as glad
As for him sorry. O you heavenly charmers,
What things you make of us! For what we lack
We laugh, for what we have are sorry, still
Are children in some kind. Let us be thankful
For that which is, and with you leave dispute
That are above our question. Let’s go off
And bear us like the time.
Never Fortune Did play a subtler game. The conqubefored triumphs; The victor has the loss; yet in the passage The gods have been most equal. Palamon, Your kinsman has confessed the right o’ th’ lady Did lie in you, for you first saw her and Even then proclaimed your fancy. He restored her As your stol’n jewel and desired your spirit To send him hence forgiven. The gods my justice Take from my hand and they themselves become The executioners. Lead your lady off And call your lovers from the stage of death, Whom I adopt my friends. A day or two Let us look sadly, and give grace unto The funeral of Arcite, in whose end The visages of bridegrooms we’ll put on And smile with Palamon; for whom an hour, But one hour since, I was as dearly sorry As glad of Arcite, and am now as glad As for him sorry. O you heavenly charmers, What things you make of us! For what we lack We laugh, for what we have are sorry, still Are children in some kind. Let us be thankful For that which is, and with you leave dispute That are above our question. Let’s go off And bear us like the time.
never fortune did play a subtler game. the conqubefored triumphs; the victor has the loss; yet in the passage the gods have been most equal
never fortune did play
The Reckoning
This is one of the strangest endings in Shakespeare: the loser wins. Arcite won the tournament, received Emilia — and then his horse threw him and he died. Palamon was about to be executed and is now given the woman and his life. The reversal is so complete and so fast that it functions almost as a joke — if you laughed, you would be wrong, because Arcite is genuinely dying and Palamon is genuinely losing his best friend. What the scene earns is not happiness, but something harder: 'O cousin, that we should things desire which do cost us the loss of our desire.' Palamon has everything he wanted and nothing he loves. Theseus names it: 'The conquered triumphs; the victor has the loss.' The gods kept all their promises. Every promise broke something.
If this happened today…
The man who lost the job to his best friend is called back in. His friend, who just got the promotion, crashed his car on the drive out and is in the hospital. The dying friend hands everything over: 'Take the job. Take my apartment. Forgive me for winning.' The guy who lost gets everything. He says: 'I got what I wanted, and it cost me the only person I wanted to share it with.' The CEO says: 'The gods played a very subtle game.' Everyone agrees. No one knows what to do with that.