The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Уильям Шекспир

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СКАЧАТЬ great applause:

      By the memorable Worthies of their time;

       Mr. John Fletcher, Gent., and

       Mr. William Shakspeare, Gent.

       Printed at London by Tho. Cotes, for John Waterson: and are to be sold at the signe of the Crowne in Pauls Churchyard. 1634.

       (The Persons represented in the Play.

       Hymen,

       Theseus,

       Hippolita, Bride to Theseus

       Emelia, Sister to Theseus

       [Emelia’s Woman],

       Nymphs,

       Three Queens,

       Three valiant Knights,

       Palamon, and

       Arcite, The two Noble Kinsmen, in love with fair Emelia

       [Valerius],

       Perithous,

       [A Herald],

       [A Gentleman],

       [A Messenger],

       [A Servant],

       [Wooer],

       [Keeper],

       Jaylor,

       His Daughter, in love with Palamon

       [His brother],

       [A Doctor],

       [4] Countreymen,

       [2 Friends of the Jaylor],

       [3 Knights],

       [Nel, and other]

       Wenches,

       A Taborer,

       Gerrold, A Schoolmaster.)

       PROLOGVE.

       [Florish.]

       New Playes, and Maydenheads, are neare a kin,

       Much follow’d both, for both much mony g’yn,

       If they stand sound, and well: And a good Play

       (Whose modest Sceanes blush on his marriage day,

       And shake to loose his honour) is like hir

       That after holy Tye and first nights stir

       Yet still is Modestie, and still retaines

       More of the maid to sight, than Husbands paines;

       We pray our Play may be so; For I am sure

       It has a noble Breeder, and a pure,

       A learned, and a Poet never went

       More famous yet twixt Po and silver Trent:

       Chaucer (of all admir’d) the Story gives,

       There constant to Eternity it lives.

       If we let fall the Noblenesse of this,

       And the first sound this child heare, be a hisse,

       How will it shake the bones of that good man,

       And make him cry from under ground, ‘O fan

       From me the witles chaffe of such a wrighter

       That blastes my Bayes, and my fam’d workes makes lighter

       Then Robin Hood!’ This is the feare we bring;

       For to say Truth, it were an endlesse thing,

       And too ambitious, to aspire to him,

       Weake as we are, and almost breathlesse swim

       In this deepe water. Do but you hold out

       Your helping hands, and we shall take about,

       And something doe to save us: You shall heare

       Sceanes, though below his Art, may yet appeare

       Worth two houres travell. To his bones sweet sleepe:

       Content to you. If this play doe not keepe

       A little dull time from us, we perceave

       Our losses fall so thicke, we must needs leave. [Florish.]

       Actus Primus.

      [Scaena 1.] (Athens. Before a temple.)

       [Enter Hymen with a Torch burning: a Boy, in a white Robe before

       singing, and strewing Flowres: After Hymen, a Nimph, encompast

       in

       her Tresses, bearing a wheaten Garland. Then Theseus betweene

       two other Nimphs with wheaten Chaplets on their heades. Then

       Hipolita the Bride, lead by Pirithous, and another holding a

       Garland over her head (her Tresses likewise hanging.) After

       her Emilia holding up her Traine. (Artesius and Attendants.)]

       The Song, [Musike.]

       Roses their sharpe spines being gon,

       Not royall in their smels alone,

       But in their hew.

       Maiden Pinckes, of odour faint,

       Dazies smel-lesse, yet most quaint

       And sweet Time true.

       Primrose first borne child of Ver,

       Merry Spring times Herbinger,

       With her bels dimme.

       Oxlips, in their Cradles growing,

       Mary-golds, on death beds blowing,

       Larkes-heeles trymme.

       All deere natures children sweete,

       Ly fore Bride and Bridegroomes feete, [Strew Flowers.]

       Blessing their sence.

       Not an angle of the aire,

       Bird melodious, or bird faire,

       Is absent hence.

       The Crow, the slaundrous Cuckoe, nor

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