But when my mortal anguish caused my cry, That moment I was hurt through either eye; Pierced with a random shaft, I faint away, And perish with insensible decay: A glance of some new goddess gave the wound, Whom, like Acteon, unaware I found. Look how she walks along yon shady space! } Not Juno moves with more majestic grace, } And all the Cyprian queen is in her face. } If thou art Venus, (for thy charms confess, That face was formed in heaven, nor art thou less; Disguised in habit, undisguised in shape,) O help us captives from our chains to 'scape! But if our doom be past in bonds to lie For life, and in a loathsome dungeon die, Then be thy wrath appeased with our disgrace, And shew compassion to the Theban race, Oppressed by tyrant power!"--While yet he spoke, Arcite on Emily had fixed his look; The fatal dart a ready passage found, And deep within his heart infixed the wound: So that if Palamon were wounded sore, Arcite was hurt as much as he, or more: Then from his inmost soul he sighed, 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 every glance. O, I must; 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'st thou in earnest, or in jesting vein? } Jesting, said Arcite, suits but ill with pain. } It suits far worse, (said Palamon again, } And bent his brows,) with men who honour weigh, Their faith to break, their friendship to betray; But worst with thee, of noble lineage born, My kinsman, and in arms my brother sworn. Have we not plighted each our holy oath, That one should be the common good of both; One soul should both inspire, 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 further my design, As I am bound by vow to further thine: Nor canst, nor dar'st thou, traitor, on the plain, Appeach my honour, or thy own maintain; 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 pretence; 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 to assist my eldership of right, Or justly to be deemed a perjured knight.-- Thus Palamon: But Arcite, with disdain, In haughty language, thus replied again,-- Forsworn thyself: the traitor's odious name I first return, and then disprove thy claim. If love be passion, and that passion nurst With strong desires, I loved the lady first. Canst thou pretend desire, whom zeal inflamed