Titanius and Titania

TITANIUS
O' sweet sister o' myne! Why art thy brow furrowed?
Was't it that cad that hurt thy heart
Or that dandy that doth stole yours mere weeks before?

TITANIA
O dear brother, thou art severe in thy chiding---
The men thou referst to art not guilty of thy charges
Tho' true it may be that they severally and solely
Hath tak'n my heart but they didst not---as thou claimed---to cause my vexations.

TITANIUS
Then speak my dear sister! So that I may avenge thee!
To foil the cur who darest make thou furrow thy beauteous brow
To tear asunder all that maketh he.

TITANIA
Dear brother, whyfore art thou so prone to such ejaculations?

TITANIUS
Am not!

TITANIA
Are so! Such vitriol spewing from thy honourable lips
Quite unbecoming of the fruits of our lord's loins.
Vexed I may be, but to fall to such violence over an unknown cause;
Thou art making sport of thyself.
Be glad that none else are present to see thy affect.

TITANIUS
Pry'thee, dear sister, forgive my outburst
Thou art my lovely kinsmen, meek and fair
Harm of any sort that befalls thou
Breakst my heart and rouses my fury.

TITANIA
O brother, thou art forgiven!
But soft, who goes?


Enter MESSENGER


MESSENGER
Mi'lady and mi'lord, pardon my intrusion.
I have with me a missive from the King.

TITANIUS
What missive dost thou have? Speak fast for I am in no mood for dally.

MESSENGER
The King requests thy help to defend his bastion.
The hour nears, a foot army of thousand strong this way comes.
Should mi'lord refuse, there may be no kingdom left in the morrow.

TITANIA
Oh dear! Hath the enemy crosseth the border?

MESSENGER
Nay mi'lady, though they art expected to in two days' time.

TITANIUS
The timing be bad. My army rests from the last battle.
Many a good men lost whilst defending the bastion.
Hold on they did till the very end when the King sallied with reinforcements.
I have but five hundred from my thousand
Trained but not weaned yet.

TITANIA
Dost thou know if his Lordship hath consulted Duke Freynus for aid?

MESSENGER
Nay mi'lady.

TITANIUS
Reply that Titanius hath received the missive and pray tell his Lordship we will join up in two days at his bastion.

MESSENGER
Yes mi'lord, it shall be done.

TITANIUS
Tarry not and begone!


Exeunt MESSENGER


TITANIUS
Dear sister, thou told me not thy vexations.

TITANIA
That can wait, dear brother. How shalt we aid the King?
We hath only five hundred second rate soldiers?
Should we seek aid from Lord Herringer?

TITANIUS
A conundrum. Lord Herringer left us displeased last campaign and may not be as willing again.

TITANIA
Thou knowest the way to placate him.

TITANIUS
Never! Too great a sacrifice!

TITANIA
Thy pride will be thy downfall! Thou should have honoured thy agreement and let me marry him.

TITANIUS
Thou art delusional. Lord Herringer is four and sixty years old, thy marriage to him will not be a happy one!

TITANIA
But thou hath given thy honour!
A man may curse and swear
And perhaps act brutish
But a word he speaks, a promise he makes
Is worth its weight in gold!
Thou asked what vexes me
Well, it is this!
I knew a day shalt pass where Lord Herringer's help be needed
But I realised not that day come swiftly as thus.
Thou promised Lord Herringer my hand
Then my hand he must have despite your objections.
Moreover we need his help to help our King
So that we may live free to see the 'morrow.
I see it not as a sacrifice but as a duty
And with that I willingly stand forward.
If thou were true to curing me of my vexations
Then thou must drop thy pride and plead with Lord Herringer.
Agree, then send me in your stead
To get aid and to fulfill your bargain.

TITANIUS
Sister dear whyfore thou art stubborn about promises and bargains
Made under duress and unforeseen outcomes?
Thou knowest as well as I why I had to say what I said
And why I do what I do now.
A promise made, a promise kept,
But to rogueish knaves like Lord Herringer
One can take the high ground
And fulfill not an unfair bargain.