Scene IV. The paluc
Enter trumpets, sound in^; ; then two Aldermen. Lord
Mayor, Garter, Cranmek. Duke of NokKni.K with
his marshal's staff, Duke of SUFFOLK, /r.v> Noblemen
beari'jig p-eat sta>ui/fig-btru'/s /or the ihriiter.:Hgm
gifts; then four Noblemen A
/;- a mnopv. un^
der 7i>hich the Duchess of Norfolk, i^odmother,
bearing the child richly habited in a mantle, &*c.,
train borne by a Lady; then folhru's the Mar-
chioness of Dorset, the other godmother and
Ladies. The troop pass once about the stage, and
Garter speaks.
Gart. Heaven, from thy endless goodness, send pros-
perous life, long, and ever happy, to the hi^jh and mighty
princess of England, Elizabeth I
Flourish. Enter King and Train.
Cran. \kneeling\ And to your royal grace, and the good
queen.
My noble partners and myself thus pra\ ; —
All comfort, joy, in this most gracious lady.
Heaven ever laid up to make parents hapi)y.
May hourly fall upon ye I
A'. //dV/. Thank you, good lord archbishop :
What is her name ?
Cran. Elizabeth.
K. Hen. Stand up. lord. —
[Cranmer rises. — '/'he King lisses the Ckild,
With this kiss take my blessing: God'protccl thee!
Into whose hand I give thy life.
Cran. ' .Amen.
K.H.VIII. 87.) ^'11 339-
Aar.] KING HENRY THE EIGHTH. lSce7ie IV
K. Hen, My noble gossips, ye've been too prodigal :
I thank ye heartily ; so shall this lady,
When she has so much English.
Cran. Let me speak, sir,
For heaven now bids me ; and the words I utter
Let none think flattery, for they'll find 'em truth.
This royal infant — heaven still move about her! —
Though in her cradle, yet now promises
Upon this land a thousand thousand blessings,
Which time shall bring to ripeness : she shall be —
But few now living can behold that goodness —
A pattern to all princes living with her.
And all that shall succeed : Saba was never
More covetous of wisdom and fair virtue
Than this pure soul shall be : all princely graces,
That mold up such a mighty piece as this is,
With all the virtues that attend the good.
Shall still be doubled on her : truth shall nurse her.
Holy and heavenly thoughts still counsel her :
She shall be lov'd and fear'd : her own shall bless her,
Her foes shake like a field of beaten corn,
And hang their heads with sorrow : good grows with herr
In her days ever}" man shall eat in safety,
Under his own vine, what he plants ; and sing
The merry songs of peace to all his neighbors:
God shall be truly known ; and those about her
From her shall read the perfect ways of honor,
And by those claim their greatness, not by blood.
Nor shall this peace sleep with her : but as when
The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phoenix.
Her ashes new create another heir.
As great in admiration as herself ;
So shall she leave her blessedness to one,
When heaven shall call her from this cloud of darkness,
Who from the sacred ashes of her honor
Shall star-like rise, as great in fame as she was,
And so stand fix'd : peace, plenty, love, truth, terror,
That were the servants to this chosen infant.
Shall then be his, and like a vine grow to him :
Wherever the bright sun of heaven shall shine,
His honor and the greatness of his name
Shall be, and make new nations : he shall flourish,
VII. 340. [k.h.vih. 88.
4ct r.] A'/XC ///â– :. \- A' i' THE HIL}/
IV.
And, like a mountain cedar, reach his l)ranchcs
To all ihc plains about liim : — our children's children
Shall see this, and bless heaven.
A'. Hen. Thou speakcst wondcrt.
Cran. She shall be, to the hap|)iness of Mngland,
An aged princess ; many days shall see her,
And yet no day without a deed to crown it.
Would I had known no more I but she must die, —
She must, the saints must have her.— yet a vir>;in ;
A most unspotted lily shall she pass
To the ground, and all the world shall mourn her.
K. Jlcfi. O lord archbishop.
Thou hast made me now a man ! never before
This happy child did I get any thing :
This oracle of comfort has so pleas'd mc.
That when I am in heaven I shall desire
To see what this child does, and i)raise my Maker.—
I thank ye all. — To you, my good lord mayor.
And your good brethren, I am nmch beholding;
I have receiv'd much honor by your |)resencc.
And ye shall find me thankful. — Lead the wav, lords: ^
Ye must all see the queen, and she must thank yc;
She will be sick else. This day no man think
'Has business at his house ; for all shall stay :
This little one shall make it holiday. [ExtUHL
EPILOGl'E.
'Tis ten to one this play can never please
All that are here : some come to take their ease.
And sleep an act or two; but those, we fear.
We've frighted with our trumjx-ts ; so, 'tis clear.
They'll sav 'tis naught : others, to hear the citjr
Abus'd e.x'tremely, and to cr>', •• Thai's witty I
Which we have not done neither: that, 1 fear.
All the expected good were like to hear
For this play at this time, is only in
The merciful construction of good women ;
For such a one we show'd 'em: if they smile.
And say 'twill do, I know, within a while
All the' best men are ours; for 'tis ill h.ip.
If they hold when their ladies bid 'em clap.
K.H.Vin. 89.) VII. 141.
THE TWO NOBLR KIXSMI^X.
DRAMATIS PERSONiE.
Theseus, duke of Athens.
PiRlTHOUS, an Athenian gen-
eral.
Artesius, an Athenian cap-
tain.
Palamon, ) nephews to Creon
Arcite, f king of Thebes.
Valerius, a Theban noble-
man.
Six Knights.
Herald.
Gaoler.
Wooer to the Gaoler's Daugh-
ter.
Doctor.
Brother )
Friends ^
Gentleman.
Gerroi.d, a school nuuter.
to the Gaoler.
HlPPOLYl A, ..11 .\iu.i/ n, I
to Theseus.
E.MII lA, her sister.
Three Queens,
Gaoler's Daughter.
Waitiug-woman to Emilii
Countrymen, Messengers, a man personating Hymen. Boy.
Executioner, Guard, and Attendants. Country wenches,
and women personating Nymphs.
Scene — Athens and the neighborhood, except in part
of the first act, luhere it is Thebes
and the neighborhood.
PROLOGUE.
{Flourish.
New plays and maidenheads are near akin ;
jNIuch follow'd both, for both much money K''^'".
If they stand sound and well : and a good play.
Whose modest scenes blush on his marriai;r-
And shake to lose his honor, is like hrr
That, after holy tie and tirst night's stir.
Yet still is moclesty, and still rt-tains
TN K >' VII. «4V
Aci/.-] THE nvO NOBLE KINSMEI^. \Scen* f.
More of the maid to '^ght than husband's pains.
We pray our play m?Y be so; for I'm sure
It has a noble breede~ and a pure,
A learned, and a poe* never went
More famous yet 't\vi'>'t Po and silver Trent ;
Chaucer, of all admir'i, the story gives ;
There constant to eternity it lives.
If we let fall the nobleness of this.
And the first soimd t^is child hear be a hiss,
How will it shake the bones of that good man,
And make him cry fr-'-'m under ground, " O, fan
From me the witless ':haff of such a writer
That blasts my bayr, ^nd my fam'd works makes lightet
Than Robin Hood ! " This is the fear we bring ;
For, to say truth, it vere an endless thing,
And too ambitiouSj *o aspire to him.
Weak as we are, and almost breathless swim
In this deep water, do but you hold out
Your helping hands, and we shall tack about.
And something do to save us: you shall hear
Scenes, though below his art, may yet appear
Worth two hours' travail. To his bones sweet sleep !
Content to you ! — If this play do not keep
A little dull time from us, we perceive
Our ]oss*i« fall so thick, we must needs leave. [Flourish,
ACT I.
Scene I. Athens. Befo?'e a temple.
Enie* T-Tymen 7uzth a torch burnhig ; a Boy, in a white
rohc, before, singing and streiuing flowers ; after
Hymen, a Nymph, encompassed in her tresses, bearing
a wheateti garland : then Tkesevs, betiaeen two
other Nymphs with wheaten chaplets on their
heads; then HiPPOLYTA, the bride, led by
PiRITHOUS, a7td another holding a garland over
her head, her tresses likeivise hajiging ; after her,
Emilia, holding up her train ; Artesius and
Attendants.
'ai. 34O, [T.N.K.
Act /.) T//£ mo A'. >U/. E KiySM&Ji. I ^mt /.
Song by the Boy,
Roses, their sharp spines hcinjj goot.
Not royal in their smells alone.
But in ihcir hue ;
Maiden pinks, of odcjr faint.
Daisies sniell-less. yet most quaint.
And sweet thyme true;
Primrose, first-born child of Vcr,
Merry si)rinj^-iime's iiarbingcr.
With her bells dim;
Oxiips in their cradles j;ro\ving.
Marigolds on deathbeds blowing,
Lark's-heels trim ;
All dear Nature's children sweet.
Lie 'fore bride and bridegroom's feel.
Blessing their sense T {Strt-'.cing JUjfWfrt^
Not an angel of the air,
Bird melodious or bird fair.
Be absent hence !
The crow, the slanderous cuckoo, nor
The boding raven, nor chough hoar.
Nor chattering pie,
May on our bride-house perch or sing.
Or with them any discord bring.
But from it ily I
Enter three Queens, in black, luith veils stainrJ, amd
wearimr imperial crcm>ns. The first Queen failt
down at the foot of Thf.skus; the seionJ
falls down at the foot of Hll'POLV Y\ ; tJU
third before \\\\\\.\\.
First Queen. For pity's sake and true gentility's.
Hear, and respect me !
Sec. (Jneen. ' For your mother's s,»kr.
And as^ou wish your womb may thrive with fair ones.
Hear, and respect me I
Third (2iicen. Now. for the love of him whom Jorf
halh maik'd
The honor of your bed, ami for the sake
T.N.K. 5.] Vil J47.
fid /.] THE TWO NOBLE KINSMEN. \Scen£ i.
Of clear virginity, be advocate
For us and our "distresses ! This good deed
Shall raze you out o' the book of trespasses
All you are set down there.
Thes. Sad lady, rise.
Hii). Stand up.
Enii. No knees to me :
What woman I may stead that is distress'd
Does bind me to her.
Thes. What's your request ? deliver you for all.
First Queen, We are three queens, whose sovereigns
fell before
The wrath of cruel Creon ; who endure
The beaks of ravens, talons of the kites.
And pecks of crows, in the foul fields of Thebes:
He will not suffer us to burn their bones.
To urn their ashes, nor to take th' offense
Of mortal loathsomeness from the blest eye
Of holy Phoebus, but infects the winds
With stench of our slain lords. O, pity, duke !
Thou purger of the earth, draw thy fear'd sword,
That does good turns to the world ; give us the bones
Of our dead kings, that we may chapel them ;
And, of thy boundless goodness, take some note
That for our crowned heads we have no roof
Save this, which is the lion's and the bear's,
And vault to every thing !
Thes. Pray you, kneel not :
I was transported with your speech, and suffer'd
Your knees to wrong themselves. I've heard the fortunes
Of your dead lords, which gives me such lamenting
As wakes my vengeance^and revenge for 'em.
King Capaneus was your lord : the day
That he should marr}^ you, at such a season
As now it is with me, I met your groom
By Mars's altar ; you were that time fair.
Not Juno's mantle fairer than your trusses,
Nor in more bounty spread her ; your wheaten wreath
Was then nor thrash'd nor blasted ; Fortune at you
Dimpled her cheeks with smiles ; Hercules our kinsman-
Then weaker than your eyes — laid by his club;
He tumbled down upon his Nemean hide*
VII. 34S [T.N.K.&
Ad n THE TUO XO/iLE h'lXSMES. [S^trnt k
And swore his sinews thaw'd. O. j^ricf and lime.
Fearful consumers, you will all drx our !
Fi?'st (Jui-rn. O. I hope sonu! ;^otl,
Some ood jiath i)ut his mercy in your manhood,
Whereto he'll infuse power, and press you forth
Our undertaker !
'jyii's. O, no knees, none, widow I
Unto the helmcted Bellona use them,
And i)ray for me, your soldier. —
Troubled I am. [7'/////^ ii.Lty
St'c. Queen, Honor'd Hi|)i)olyta,
Most dreaded Amazonian, that hast slain
The scythe-tusk'd boar ; that, with thy arm as strong
As it is white, wast near to make the male
To thy sex captive, but that this thy lord —
Born to uphold creation in that honor
First Nature styl'd it in — shrunk thee into
The bound thou wast o'erflowinj^, at once subduing
Thy force and thy affection ; soldieress,
That equally canst poise sternness with pii\ :
\Vho now, i know, hast much more power on him
Than e'er he had on thee; who ow'st his slrenjjth
And iiis love too, who is a servant for
The tenor of thy speech ; dear i;lass of ladies,
Bid him that we, whom riaminj^ War doth scorch.
Under the shadow of his sword may cool us;
Require him he advance it o'er our heads ;
Speak't in a woman's key, like such a woman
As any of us three ; weep ere you fail ;
Lend us a knee;
But touch the <(round for us no lonj^er time
Than a dove's motion, when the lu-ad's pluck'd of!;
Tell him. if he i' the blood-siz'd tu-ld lay swoln.
Showing the sun his teeth.
What you would do !
Hip. Poor lady, say no more :
I had as lief trace this jj^ood action with you
As that whereto Fm j^oinij. and ne'er yet
Went I so willing way. My lord is taken
Heart-deep with your distress : let him consider;
Fll speak anon.
Third QittYfi. [ To Emih\x\ O. my petit-— ^^ '«^
Actr.'\ THE Tiro NOBLE KINSMEN. IScetut.
Set down in ice, which, by hot grief uncandied.
r^Ielts into drops ; so sorrow, wanting form,
Is press'd with deeper matter.
isw/. Pray, stand up:
Your grief is written in your cheek.
Third Queen. O, woe!
You cannot read it there : there, through my tears,
Like wrinkled pebbles in a glassy stream.
You may behold it. Lady, lady, alack.
He that will all the treasure know o' ih' earth
Must know the center too ; he that will fish
For my least minnow, let him lead his line
To catch one at my heart. O, pardon me!
Extremity, that sharpens sundr}- wits,
]\Lakes me a fool.
Emi. Pray you, say nothing ; pray you
AVho cannot feel nor see the rain, being in't.
Knows neither wet nor dry. If that you were
The ground-piece of some painter, I would buy you,
T* instruct me 'gainst a capital grief indeed ; —
Such heart-pierc'd demonstration ! — but, alas.
Being a natural sister of our sex.
Your sorrow beats so ardently upon me.
That it shall make a counter-reflect "gainst
^ly brother's heart, and warm it to some pity.
Though it were made of stone : pray, have good comfort,
Thes. Forward to the temple I leave not out a jot
O' the sacred ceremony.
First Queen. O, this celebration
AVill longer last, and be more costly, than
Your suppliants' war ! Remember that your fame
Knolls in th' ear o' the world : what you do quickly
Is not done rashly ; your first thought is more
Than others' labor'd meditance ; your premeditating
More than their actions ; but — O Jove ! — your actions,
•Soon as they move, as ospreys do the fish,
Subdue before they touch : think, dear duke, think
AYhat beds our slain kings have !
Sec. Queen. What griefs our beds,
That our dear lords have none !
Third Queen, None fit for the dead I
Those that with cords, knives, drams, precipitance,
VII. 35a. [t.w.k.1.
A.-t /.] TJIi; TA O NOBLE K/NSJttEX. i v. ,^ /.
Weary of this uorld's li^'hi. have u> themselves
Been death's most liorrici a^'cnts, human grace
Affords tliem dust and shadow.
First (Jinrn. Hut our lords
Lie blisterin;^ 'fore the vishatin;,' sun.
And were good kings when living.
^'/'^'•f- Iti^itruc;
And I will give you comfort,
To give your dead lords graves : the which to do
•Must make some work with Creon.
First (Jiurn. And that work
Presents itself to the doing:
Now 'twill take form ; the heats are gone lo-morrow.
Then bootless toil must recompense itself
With its own sweat ; now he is secure,
Not dreams we stand before your puissance.
Rinsing our holy begging in our eye^.
To make petition clear.
Sec. (2ucen. Now you may lake hitn
Drunk with his victory.
Third Qiii-oi. And his army full
Of bread and sloth.
Thes. .\rtesius, that best know'st
How to draw out, fit to this enterjirise
The prim'st for this i)roceeding. and the number
To carry such a business ; forth and levy
Our worthiest instruments; whilst we dispatch
This grand act of our life, this daring deed
Of fate in wedlock.
First Qut'cn. Dowagers, take hands ;
Let us be widows to our woes ; delay
Commends us to a famishing hope.
All the Queens. Farewell!
Sec. Queen. We come unseasonably; but whra could
grief
Cull forth, as un|)ang'd judgment can, fitl'st time
Vov best solicitation }
Thes. Why, good ladies.
This is a service, whereto I am g«'ing.
Greater than any war; it more imports me
Than all the actions that I have foregone.
Or futurely can cope.
T.N.K. 9.) VII 331.
Aa/.} THE Tll'O NOBLE KIXSMEN. \Sccn. F,
First Queen. The more proclaiming
Our suit shall be neglected : when her arms,
Able to lock Jove from a synod, shall
,Ey warranting moonlight corslet thee, O, when
.Her twinning cherries shall their sweetness fall
Upon thy tasteful lips, what wilt thou think
Of rotten kings or blubber'd queens ? what care
For what thou feel'st not, what thou feel'st being able
To make Mars spurn his drum ? O, if thou couch
But one night with her, every hour in't will
Take hostage of thee for a hundred, and
Thou shalt reniember nothing more than what
That banquet bids thee to !
Hip. Though much unlike \^I\ne€ling,
Tou should be so transported, as much soriy
I should be such a suitor ; yet I think,
Did I not by th' abstaining of my joy,
AVhich breeds a deeper longing, cure their surfeit
That craves a present medicine, I should pluck
All ladies' scandal on me : therefore, sir,
As I shall here make trial of my prayers,
Either presuming them to have some force,
Or sentencing for aye their vigor dumb.
Prorogue this business we are going about, and hang
Tour shield afore your heart, about that neck
AVhich is my fee, and which I freely lend
To do these poor queens service.
All the Ou€£7is. [to Eviilial O, help now !
Our cause cries for your knee.
Eiiii. If you grant not [Kneeling.
J\Iy sister her petition, in that force.
With that celerity and nature, which
She makes it in, from henceforth I'll not dare
To ask you any thing, nor be so hardy
JEver to take a husband.
Thes. Pray, stand up: [tiip. aiid Eniil. ?-ise.
I am entreating of myself to do
That which you kneel to have me. — Pirithous,
lead on the bride : get you and pray the gods
Tor success and return ; omit not any thing
In the pretended celebration. — Queens,
Follow your soldier. — [ToArtesius] As before, hence you,
VII. 352.] [t.n.k. 10,
^ ^t /.] THE TWO NOni. E KISSMEN. [ . . , ,/ //.
And at the banks of Aulis mcrt us with
The forces you can raise, wIrtc nvc shall find
The moiety of a number, for a l)usiness
More big^^er-look'd.— Since that our theme Ls haste.
I stamp this kiss upon thy currant lij) ; ( AV.v.wf llippolvta.
Sweet, keep it as my token. — Set you forward ;
F'or I will see you gone. — \l'.xit Artcsius.
Farewell, my beauteous sister. — IMrithous,
Keep the feast full ; bate not an hour on'l.
Pir- Sir.
I'll follow you at heels : the feast's solemnity
Shall want till your return.
riu's. Cousin, I charj;e you
Budge not from Athens ; we shall i)e returning'
Ere you can end this feast, of which, I pray you,
Make no abatement. Once more, farewell all.
[Hippo/yfa, Emilia, Pirithous, J/yffun, liov, Xyniphx,
and Attendants enter the temple.
First Quec7i. Thus dost thou still make good
The tongue o' the world.
Sec. Queen, And earn'st a deity
Equal with Mars.
Third Queen. If not above him; for
Thou, being but mortal, mak'st affections bend
To godlike honors ; they themselves, some say.
Groan under such a mastery.
Thes. As we are men,
Thus should we do; being sensually subdu'd.
We lose our human title. Good chrtr. ladies !
Now turn we towards your comforts. [F/ourisft. Fxettnl,
Scene II. Thebes. The court of the palaee.
Enter Palamon <;//
Arc. Dear Palamon, dearer in love than l)lood.
And our prime cousin, yet unharden'd in
The crimes of nature ; let us leave the city
Thebes, and the templings in't. before we further
Sully our gloss of youth :
And here to keep in alistinence we shame
As in incontinence ; for not lo swim
r th' aid o' the current, wtic almost to sink.
T.N.K. II.] VII. 353.
Aci/.l THE TWO KOBLE KINSMEN, ^Scene II.
At least to frustrate striving ; and to follow
The common stream, 'twould bring us to an eddy
Where we should turn or drown ; if labor through.
Our gain but life and weakness.
Pal. Your advice
Is cried up with example : what strange ruins,
Since first we went to school, may we perceive
Walking in Thebes ! scars and bare weeds,
The gain o' the martialist, who did propound
To his bold ends honor and golden ingots,
AVhich, though he won, he had not ; and now flurted
By peace, for whom he fought ! Who, then, shall offer
To Mars's so-scorn'd altar? I do bleed
When such I meet, and wish great Juno would
Resume her ancient fit of jealousy.
To get the soldier work, that peace might purge
For her repletion, and retain anew
Her charitable heart, now hard, and harsher
Than strife or war could be.
Arc. Are you not out ?
]\Ieet you no ruin but the soldier in
The cranks and turns of Thebes ? You did begin
As if you met decays of many kinds :
Perceive you none that do arouse your pity,
Eut th' unconsider'd soldier ?
Pal. Yes ; I pity
Decays where'er I find them ; but such most
That,' sweating in an honorable toil.
Are paid with ice to cool 'em.
Arc. 'Tis not this
I did begin to speak of ; this is virtue
Of no respect in Thebes : I spake of Thebes,
How dangerous, if we will keep our honors,
It is for our residing ; where every evil
Hath a good color; where every seeming good's
A certain evil ; where not to be even jump
As they are here, were to be strangers, and
Such things to be mere monsters.
Pal. 'Tis in our power —
Unless we fear that apes can tutor 's — to
Be masters of our manners : what need I
Affect another's gait, which is not catching
VII. 354. [t.n.k. 12.
4c(/.] THE TWO SOliLE KISSMI . . ..I.
Where there is faith ? or to l)c fond upon
Anothers way of speech, when by ruitjc own
I may be reasonably conceiv'd, savd too.
Speaking it truly ? why am I bound
By any generous bonti to follow him
Follows his tailor, iiaply so lung until
The follow'd make i)ursuit ? or let inc know
Why mine own barber is unblest, with him
My poor chin too, for 'tis not scissar'd just
To such a favorite's glass ? what canon is there
That does command my rapier from my hip,
To dangle't in my hand, or to go tip-toe
Before the street be foul ? Eithei I am
The fore-horse in the team, or I am none
That draw i' the sequent trace. These poor slight sores
Need not a plaintain ; that which rips my bosom,
Almost to th' heart, "s, —
Arc. Our uncle Creon.
Pal. He,
A most unbounded tyrant, whose successes
Make heaven unfear'd, and villainy assur'd
Beyond its power there's nothing; almost puts
Faith in a fever, and deifies alone
Voluble chance ; who only attributes
The faculties of other instruments
To his own nerves and act; commands men's scnice
And what they win in't, boot and glory too;
That fears not to do harm; good dares not; let
The blood of mine that's sib to him be suck'd
From me with leeches ; let them break and fall
Off me with that corruption !
Arc. Clear-spirited cousin.
Let's leave his court, that we may nothing share
Of his loud infamy ; for our milk
Will relish of the pasture, and we must
Be vile or disobedient; not his kinsmen
In blood, unless in quality.
Pal. Nothing truer:
I think the echoes of his shames ha\e dcaf'd
The ears of heavenly justice : willows" cries
Descend again into their throats, and have not
Due audience of tiiegods. — X'alcnus !
T.N.ic. 13.) VII. 35y
^ct I.^ TUE Tiro XOBLE KINSMEN. [Scene//.
Etite?- Valerius.
Val. The king calls for \ ou ; ) et be ieaclen-footed.
Till his great rage be off him : Phcebus when
He broke his whipstock, and exclaim'd against
The horses of the sun, but whisper'd, to
The loudness of his fury.
Pal. Small winds shake him:
But what's the matter ? [sent
Ft^/. Theseus — who where he threats appals — hath
Deadly defiance to him, and pronounces
Huin to Thebes ; who is at hand to seal
The promise of his wrath,
Aj-c. Let him approach :
But that we fear the gods in him, he brings not
A jot of terror to us : yet what man
Thirds his own worth — the case is each of ours — •
AVhen that his action's dregg'd with mind assur'd
"" ris bad he goes about ?
Pal. Leave that unreason'd ;
Our services stand now for Thebes, not Creon :
Yet, to be neutral to him were dishonor.
Rebellious to oppose ; therefore we must
AVith him stand to the mercy of our fate,
AVho hath bounded our last minute.