The Knight's Tale

Iamque domos patrias, Sithice post
aspera gentis prelia,laurigero, etc.

[And now (Theseus drawing nigh his) native land in
laurelled car after battling with the Scithian folk, etc.]

859        Whilom, as olde stories tellen us,
               Once, as old histories tell us,
860        Ther was a duc that highte Theseus;
               There was a duke who was called Theseus;
861        Of Atthenes he was lord and governour,
               He was lord and governor of Athens,
862        And in his tyme swich a conquerour
               And in his time such a conqueror
863        That gretter was ther noon under the sonne.
               That there was no one greater under the sun.
864        Ful many a riche contree hadde he wonne;
               Very many a powerful country had he won;
865        What with his wysdom and his chivalrie,
               What with his wisdom and his chivalry,
866        He conquered al the regne of Femenye,
               He conquered all the land of the Amazons,
867        That whilom was ycleped Scithia,
               That once was called Scithia,
868        And weddede the queene Ypolita,
               And wedded the queen Ypolita,
869        And broghte hire hoom with hym in his contree
               And brought her home with him into his country
870        With muchel glorie and greet solempnytee,
               With much glory and great ceremony,
871        And eek hir yonge suster Emelye.
               And also her young sister Emelye.
872        And thus with victorie and with melodye
               And thus with victory and with festivity
873        Lete I this noble duc to Atthenes ryde,
               I leave this noble duke riding to Athens,
874        And al his hoost in armes hym bisyde.
               And all his host in arms beside him.
875        And certes, if it nere to long to heere,
               And certainly, if it were not too long to hear,
876        I wolde have toold yow fully the manere
               I would have told you fully the manner
877        How wonnen was the regne of Femenye
               How the reign of Femenye was won
878        By Theseus and by his chivalrye;
               By Theseus and by his chivalry;
879        And of the grete bataille for the nones
               And of the great battle at that time
880        Bitwixen Atthenes and Amazones;
               Between Athenians and Amazons;
881        And how asseged was Ypolita,
               And how Ypolita was besieged,
882        The faire, hardy queene of Scithia;
               The fair, bold queen of Scithia;
883        And of the feste that was at hir weddynge,
               And of the festivity that was at their wedding,
884        And of the tempest at hir hoom-comynge;
               And of the storm at her home-coming;
885        But al that thyng I moot as now forbere.
               But all that matter I must now forgo.
886        I have, God woot, a large feeld to ere,
               I have, God knows, a large field to till,
887        And wayke been the oxen in my plough.
               And the oxen in my plow are weak.
888        The remenant of the tale is long ynough.
               The remnant of the tale is long enough.
889        I wol nat letten eek noon of this route;
               Also I will not hinder any one of this company;
890        Lat every felawe telle his tale aboute,
               Let every fellow tell his tale in turn,
891        And lat se now who shal the soper wynne;
               And let's see now who shall win the supper;
892        And ther I lefte, I wol ayeyn bigynne.
               And where I left off, I will again begin.
893        This duc, of whom I make mencioun,
               This duke, of whom I make mention,
894        Whan he was come almoost unto the toun,
               When he was come almost unto the town,
895        In al his wele and in his mooste pride,
               In all his prosperity and in his most pride,
896        He was war, as he caste his eye aside,
               He was aware, as he cast his eye aside,
897        Where that ther kneled in the heighe weye
               Where there kneeled in the high way
898        A compaignye of ladyes, tweye and tweye,
               A company of ladies, two by two,
899        Ech after oother clad in clothes blake;
               Each after another, clad in black clothes;
900        But swich a cry and swich a wo they make
               But such a cry and such a woeful (lament) they make
901        That in this world nys creature lyvynge
               That in this world is no living creature
902        That herde swich another waymentynge;
               That (ever) heard lamentation such as this;
903        And of this cry they nolde nevere stenten
               And of this cry they would not ever stop
904        Til they the reynes of his brydel henten.
               Until they seized the reins of his bridle.
905        "What folk been ye, that at myn hom-comynge
               "What folk are you, who at my homecoming
906        Perturben so my feste with criynge?"
               So disturb my festival with crying?"
907        Quod Theseus. "Have ye so greet envye
               Said Theseus. "Have you such great envy
908        Of myn honour, that thus compleyne and crye?
               Of my honor, (you) who thus lament and cry?
909        Or who hath yow mysboden or offended?
               Or who has injured or offended you?
910        And telleth me if it may been amended,
               And tell me if it may be remedied,
911        And why that ye been clothed thus in blak."
               And why you are clothed thus in black."
912        The eldeste lady of them alle spak,
               The eldest lady of them all spoke,
913        Whan she hadde swowned with a deedly cheere,
               After she had swooned with (so) deadly a countenance,
914        That it was routhe for to seen and heere;
               That it was pitiful to see and hear;
915        She seyde, "Lord, to whom Fortune hath yiven
               She said, "Lord, to whom Fortune has given
916        Victorie, and as a conqueror to lyven,
               Victory, and (allowed) to live as a conqueror,
917        Nat greveth us youre glorie and youre honour,
               Your glory and your honor does not grieve us,
918        But we biseken mercy and socour.
               But we beseech (you for) mercy and succor.
919        Have mercy on oure wo and oure distresse!
               Have mercy on our woe and our distress!
920        Som drope of pitee, thurgh thy gentillesse,
               Some drop of pity, because of thy nobility,
921        Upon us wrecched wommen lat thou falle,
               Let thou fall upon us wretched women,
922        For, certes, lord, ther is noon of us alle
               For, certainly, lord, there is not one of us all
923        That she ne hath been a duchesse or a queene.
               Who has not been a duchesse or a queen.
924        Now be we caytyves, as it is wel seene,
               Now we are miserable wretches, as it is easily seen,
925        Thanked be Fortune and hire false wheel,
               Thanks be to Fortune and her false wheel,
926        That noon estaat assureth to be weel.
               Who assures no estate (will continue) to be well.
927        And certes, lord, to abyden youre presence,
               And certainly, lord, to await your presence,
928        Heere in this temple of the goddesse Clemence
               Here in this temple of the goddess Clemency
929        We han ben waitynge al this fourtenyght.
               We have been waiting all this fortnight.
930        Now help us, lord, sith it is in thy myght.
               Now help us, lord, since it is in thy power.
931        "I, wrecche, which that wepe and wayle thus,
               "I, wretch, who weep and wail thus,
932        Was whilom wyf to kyng Cappaneus,
               Was once wife to king Cappaneus,
933        That starf at Thebes -- cursed be that day! --
               Who died at Thebes -- cursed be that day! --
934        And alle we that been in this array
               And all of us who are in this condition
935        And maken al this lamentacioun,
               And make all this lamentation,
936        We losten alle oure housbondes at that toun,
               We lost all our husbands at that town,
937        Whil that the seege theraboute lay.
               While the siege lay around it.
938        And yet now the olde Creon -- weylaway! --
               And yet now the old Creon -- woe oh woe! --
939        That lord is now of Thebes the citee,
               Who is now lord of the city of Thebes,
940        Fulfild of ire and of iniquitee,
               Filled with anger and with iniquity,
941        He, for despit and for his tirannye,
               He, for spite and for his tyranny,
942        To do the dede bodyes vileynye
               To do dishonor to the dead bodies
943        Of alle oure lordes whiche that been yslawe,
               Of all our lords who are slain,
944        Hath alle the bodyes on an heep ydrawe,
               Has dragged all the bodies in a heap,
945        And wol nat suffren hem, by noon assent,
               And will not allow them, not at all,
946        Neither to been yburyed nor ybrent,
               Neither to be buried nor burned,
947        But maketh houndes ete them in despit."
               But makes hounds eat them as an insult."

948        And with that word, withouten moore respit,
               And with that word, without more delay,
949        They fillen gruf and criden pitously,
               They fell face down and cried piteously,
950        "Have on us wrecched wommen som mercy,
               "Have some mercy on us wretched women,
951        And lat oure sorwe synken in thyn herte."
               And let our sorrow sink in thy heart."
952        This gentil duc doun from his courser sterte
               This gentle duke leaped down from his war horse
953        With herte pitous, whan he herde them speke.
               With compassionate heart, when he heard them speak.
954        Hym thoughte that his herte wolde breke,
               It seemed to him that his heart would break,
955        Whan he saugh hem so pitous and so maat,
               When he saw them so pitiful and so dejected,
956        That whilom weren of so greet estaat;
               That once were of such high rank;
957        And in his armes he hem alle up hente,
               And in his arms he caught up them all,
958        And hem conforteth in ful good entente,
               And comforts them with very good will,
959        And swoor his ooth, as he was trewe knyght,
               And swore his oath, as he was true knight,
960        He wolde doon so ferforthly his myght
               (That) he would do his might so completely
961        Upon the tiraunt Creon hem to wreke
               To avenge them upon the tyrant Creon
962        That al the peple of Grece sholde speke
               That all the people of Greece should speak (about)
963        How Creon was of Theseus yserved
               How Creon was treated by Theseus
964        As he that hadde his deeth ful wel deserved.
               As one who had very well deserved his death.
965        And right anoon, withouten moore abood,
               And right away, without more delay,
966        His baner he desplayeth, and forth rood
               He displays his banner, and rode forth
967        To Thebes-ward, and al his hoost biside.
               Toward Thebes, and all his army beside (him).
968        No neer Atthenes wolde he go ne ride,
               He would not walk nor ride any nearer to Athens,
969        Ne take his ese fully half a day,
               Nor take his ease fully half a day,
970        But onward on his wey that nyght he lay,
               But that night he lay (camped) on his way,
971        And sente anon Ypolita the queene,
               And sent straightway Ypolita the queen,
972        And Emelye, hir yonge suster sheene,
               And Emelye, her beautiful young sister,
973        Unto the toun of Atthenes to dwelle,
               Unto the town of Athens to dwell,
974        And forth he rit; ther is namoore to telle.
               And forth he rides; there is no more to tell.
975        The rede statue of Mars, with spere and targe,
               The red statue of Mars, with spear and shield,
976        So shyneth in his white baner large
               So shines in his large white banner
977        That alle the feeldes glyteren up and doun;
               That all the fields glitter all around;
978        And by his baner born is his penoun
               And by his banner is carried his pennon
979        Of gold ful riche, in which ther was ybete
               Of very rich gold, in which there was embroidered
980        The Mynotaur, which that he wan in Crete.
               The Minotaur, which he defeated in Crete.
981        Thus rit this duc, thus rit this conquerour,
               Thus rides this duke, thus rides this conqueror,
982        And in his hoost of chivalrie the flour,
               And in his army the flower of chivalry,
983        Til that he cam to Thebes and alighte
               Until he came to Thebes and dismounted
984        Faire in a feeld, ther as he thoughte to fighte.
               Graciously in a field, where he intended to fight.
985        But shortly for to speken of this thyng,
               But briefly to speak of this thing,
986        With Creon, which that was of Thebes kyng,
               With Creon, who was king of Thebes,
987        He faught, and slough hym manly as a knyght
               He fought, and slew him boldly as a knight
988        In pleyn bataille, and putte the folk to flyght;
               In open battle, and put the army to flight;
989        And by assaut he wan the citee after,
               And by assault he won the city afterwards,
990        And rente adoun bothe wall and sparre and rafter;
               And tore down both wall and beam and rafter;
991        And to the ladyes he restored agayn
               And he gave back to the ladies
992        The bones of hir freendes that were slayn,
               The bones of their husbands who were slain,
993        To doon obsequies, as was tho the gyse.
               To do obsequies, as was then the custom.
994        But it were al to longe for to devyse
               But it would be all too long to describe
995        The grete clamour and the waymentynge
               The great clamor and the lamentation
996        That the ladyes made at the brennynge
               That the ladies made at the burning
997        Of the bodies, and the grete honour
               Of the bodies, and the great honor
998        That Theseus, the noble conquerour,
               That Theseus, the noble conqueror,
999        Dooth to the ladyes, whan they from hym wente;
               Does to the ladies, when they went from him;
1000        But shortly for to telle is myn entente.
                 But briefly to tell is my intent.

1001        Whan that this worthy duc, this Theseus,
                 When this worthy duke, this Theseus,
1002        Hath Creon slayn and wonne Thebes thus,
                   Has slain Creon and thus won Thebes,
1003         Stille in that feeld he took al nyght his reste,
                   Still in that field he took all night his rest,
1004          And dide with al the contree as hym leste.
                   And did with all the country as he pleased.
1005          To ransake in the taas of bodyes dede,
                   To search in the heap of dead bodies,
1006          Hem for to strepe of harneys and of wede,
                   To strip them of armor and of clothing,
1007          The pilours diden bisynesse and cure
                   The scavengers took great pains and worked hard
1008          After the bataille and disconfiture.
                   After the battle and defeat.
1009          And so bifel that in the taas they founde,
                   And (it) so befell that in the heap they found,
1010          Thurgh-girt with many a grevous blody wounde,
                   Pierced through with many a grievous bloody wound,
1011          Two yonge knyghtes liggynge by and by,
                   Two young knights lying side by side,
1012          Bothe in oon armes, wroght ful richely,
                   Both with the same coat of arms, very richly wrought,
1013          Of whiche two Arcita highte that oon,
                   Of which two one was called Arcite,
1014          And that oother knyght highte Palamon.
                   And that other knight was called Palamon.
1015          Nat fully quyke, ne fully dede they were,
                   They were not fully alive, nor fully dead,
1016          But by hir cote-armures and by hir gere
                   But by their coats of arms and by their equipment
1017          The heraudes knewe hem best in special
                   The heralds best knew them in particular
1018          As they that weren of the blood roial
                   As they that were of the royal blood
1019          Of Thebes, and of sustren two yborn.
                   Of Thebes, and born of two sisters.
1020          Out of the taas the pilours han hem torn,
                   The scavengers have pulled them out of the heap,
1021          And han hem caried softe unto the tente
                   And have carried them softy unto the tent
1022          Of Theseus; and he ful soone hem sente
                   Of Theseus; and he very soon sent them
1023          To Atthenes, to dwellen in prisoun
                   To Athens, to dwell in prison
1024          Perpetuelly -- he nolde no raunsoun.
                   Perpetually -- he would not (accept) any ransom.
1025          And whan this worthy duc hath thus ydon,
                   And when this worthy duke has thus done,
1026          He took his hoost, and hoom he rit anon
                   He took his army, and home he rides straightway
1027          With laurer crowned as a conquerour;
                   As a conqueror crowned with laurel;
1028          And ther he lyveth in joye and in honour
                   And there he lives in joy and in honor
1029          Terme of his lyf; what nedeth wordes mo?
                   For the duration of his life; what more words are needed?
1030          And in a tour, in angwissh and in wo,
                   And in a tower, in anguish and in woe,
1031          This Palamon and his felawe Arcite
                   This Palamon and his fellow Arcite
1032          For everemoore; ther may no gold hem quite.
                   For evermore (remain); no gold can ransom them.
1033          This passeth yeer by yeer and day by day,
                   This passes year by year and day by day,
1034          Till it fil ones, in a morwe of May,
                   Until it befell once, in a morning of May,
1035          That Emelye, that fairer was to sene
                   That Emelye, who was fairer to be seen
1036          Than is the lylie upon his stalke grene,
                   Than is the lily upon its green stalk,
1037          And fressher than the May with floures newe --
                   And fresher than the May with new flowers --
1038          For with the rose colour stroof hire hewe,
                   For her hue vied with color of the rose,
1039          I noot which was the fyner of hem two --
                   I do not know which was the finer of them two --
1040          Er it were day, as was hir wone to do,
                   Before it was day, as was her custom to do,
1041          She was arisen and al redy dight,
                   She was arisen and all ready prepared,
1042          For May wole have no slogardie anyght.
                   For May will have no laziness at night.
1043          The sesoun priketh every gentil herte,
                   The season urges on every gentle heart,
1044          And maketh it out of his slep to sterte,
                   And makes it out of its sleep to awake suddenly,
1045          And seith "Arys, and do thyn observaunce."
                   And says "Arise, and do thy observance."
1046          This maked Emelye have remembraunce
                   This made Emelye remember
1047          To doon honour to May, and for to ryse.
                   To do honor to May, and to rise.
1048          Yclothed was she fressh, for to devyse:
                   She was gaily clothed, so to say:
1049          Hir yelow heer was broyded in a tresse
                   Her yellow hair was braided in a tress
1050          Bihynde hir bak, a yerde long, I gesse.
                   Behind her back, a yard long, I guess.
1051          And in the gardyn, at the sonne upriste,
                   And in the garden, at the rising of the sun,
1052          She walketh up and doun, and as hire liste
                   She walks up and down, and as she pleases
1053          She gadereth floures, party white and rede,
                   She gathers flowers, mixed white and red,
1054          To make a subtil gerland for hire hede;
                   To make an intricate garland for her head;
1055          And as an aungel hevenysshly she soong.
                   And she sang (as) heavenly as an angel.
1056          The grete tour, that was so thikke and stroong,
                   The great tower, that was so thick and strong,
1057          Which of the castel was the chief dongeoun
                   Which was the main fortification of the castle
1058          (Ther as the knyghtes weren in prisoun
                   (Where the knights were in prison
1059          Of which I tolde yow and tellen shal),
                   Of which I told yow and shall tell),
1060          Was evene joynant to the gardyn wal
                   Was just next to the garden wall
1061          Ther as this Emelye hadde hir pleyynge.
                   Where this Emelye took her pleasure.
1062          Bright was the sonne and cleer that morwenynge,
                   The sun was bright and clear that morning,
1063          And Palamoun, this woful prisoner,
                   And Palamon, this woeful prisoner,
1064          As was his wone, by leve of his gayler,
                   As was his custom, by permission of his jailer,
1065          Was risen and romed in a chambre an heigh,
                   Had risen and roamed in a chamber on high,
1066          In which he al the noble citee seigh,
                   In which he saw all the noble city,
1067          And eek the gardyn, ful of braunches grene,
                   And also the garden, full of green branches,
1068          Ther as this fresshe Emelye the shene
                   Where this fresh Emelye the bright
1069          Was in hire walk, and romed up and doun.
                   Was in her walk, and roamed up and down.
1070          This sorweful prisoner, this Palamoun,
                   This sorrowful prisoner, this Palamon,
1071          Goth in the chambre romynge to and fro
                   Goes in the chamber roaming to and fro
1072          And to hymself compleynynge of his wo.
                   And to himself lamenting his woe.
1073          That he was born, ful ofte he seyde, "allas!"
                   That he was born, full often he said, "alas!"
1074          And so bifel, by aventure or cas,
                   And so it happened, by chance or accident,
1075          That thurgh a wyndow, thikke of many a barre
                   That through a window, thickly set with many a bar
1076          Of iren greet and square as any sparre,
                   Of iron, great and square as any beam,
1077          He cast his eye upon Emelya,
                   He cast his eye upon Emelye,
1078          And therwithal he bleynte and cride, "A!"
                   And with that he turned pale and cried, "A!"
1079          As though he stongen were unto the herte.
                   As though he were stabbed unto the heart.
1080          And with that cry Arcite anon up sterte
                   And with that cry Arcite immediately leaped up
1081          And seyde, "Cosyn myn, what eyleth thee,
                   And said, "My cousin, what ails thee,
1082          That art so pale and deedly on to see?
                   Who art so pale and deadly to look upon?
1083          Why cridestow? Who hath thee doon offence?
                   Why didst thou cry out? Who has done thee offence?
1084          For Goddes love, taak al in pacience
                   For the love of God, take all in patience
1085          Oure prisoun, for it may noon oother be.
                   Our imprisonment, for it may not be otherwise.
1086          Fortune hath yeven us this adversitee.
                   Fortune has given us this adversity.
1087          Som wikke aspect or disposicioun
                   Some wicked aspect or disposition
1088          Of Saturne, by som constellacioun,
                   Of Saturn, by some arrangement of the heavenly bodies,
1089          Hath yeven us this, although we hadde it sworn;
                   Has given us this, although we had sworn it would not be;
1090          So stood the hevene whan that we were born.
                   So stood the heavens when we were born.
1091          We moste endure it; this is the short and playn."
                   We must endure it; this is the short and plain."
1092          This Palamon answerde and seyde agayn,
                   This Palamon answered and said in reply,
1093          "Cosyn, for sothe, of this opinioun
                   "Cousin, truly, concerning this opinion
1094          Thow hast a veyn ymaginacioun.
                   Thou hast a foolish conception.
1095          This prison caused me nat for to crye,
                   This prison did not cause me to cry out,
1096          But I was hurt right now thurghout myn ye
                   But I was hurt right now through my eye
1097          Into myn herte, that wol my bane be.
                   Into my heart, so that it will be the death of me.
1098          The fairnesse of that lady that I see
                   The fairness of that lady whom I see
1099          Yond in the gardyn romen to and fro
                   Yonder in the garden roaming to and fro
1100          Is cause of al my criyng and my wo.
                   Is cause of all my crying and my woe.
1101          I noot wher she be womman or goddesse,
                   I know not whether she is woman or goddess,
1102          But Venus is it soothly, as I gesse."
                   But truly it is Venus, as I suppose."
1103          And therwithal on knees doun he fil,
                   And with that he fell down on his knees,
1104          And seyde, "Venus, if it be thy wil
                   And said, "Venus, if it be thy will
1105          Yow in this gardyn thus to transfigure
                   Thus to transfigure yourself in this garden
1106          Bifore me, sorweful, wrecched creature,
                   Before me, sorrowful, wretched creature,
1107          Out of this prisoun help that we may scapen.
                   Help that we may escape out of this prison.
1108          And if so be my destynee be shapen
                   And if it be so that my destiny is shaped
1109          By eterne word to dyen in prisoun,
                   By eternal decree to die in prison,
1110          Of oure lynage have som compassioun,
                   Have some compassion on our (noble) lineage
1111          That is so lowe ybroght by tirannye."
                   Which is brought so low by tyranny."
1112          And with that word Arcite gan espye
                   And with that word Arcite did see
1113          Wher as this lady romed to and fro,
                   Where this lady roamed to and fro,
1114          And with that sighte hir beautee hurte hym so,
                   And with that sight her beauty hurt him so,
1115          That, if that Palamon was wounded sore,
                   That, if Palamon was sorely wounded,
1116          Arcite is hurt as muche as he, or moore.
                   Arcite is hurt as much as he, or more.
1117          And with a sigh he seyde pitously,
                   And with a sigh he said piteously,
1118          "The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly
                   "The fresh beauty slays me suddenly
1119          Of hire that rometh in the yonder place;
                   Of her who roams in the yonder place;
1120          And but I have hir mercy and hir grace,
                   And unless I have her mercy and her grace,
1121          That I may seen hire atte leeste weye,
                   So that I can at least see her,
1122          I nam but deed; ther nis namoore to seye."
                   I am as good as dead; there is no more to say."
1123          This Palamon, whan he tho wordes herde,
                   This Palamon, when he heard those words,
1124          Dispitously he looked and answerde,
                   Angrily he looked and answered,
1125          "Wheither seistow this in ernest or in pley?"
                   "Sayest thou this in earnest or in play?"
1126          "Nay," quod Arcite, "in ernest, by my fey!
                   "Nay," said Arcite, "in earnest, by my faith!
1127          God helpe me so, me list ful yvele pleye."
                   So help me God, I have no desire to play."
1128          This Palamon gan knytte his browes tweye.
                   This Palamon did knit his two brows.
1129          "It nere," quod he, "to thee no greet honour
                   "It would not be," said he, "any great honor to thee
1130          For to be fals, ne for to be traitour
                   To be false, nor to be traitor
1131          To me, that am thy cosyn and thy brother
                   To me, who am thy cousin and thy brother
1132          Ysworn ful depe, and ech of us til oother,
                   Sworn very sincerely, and each of us to the other,
1133          That nevere, for to dyen in the peyne,
                   That never, though we had to die by torture,
1134          Til that the deeth departe shal us tweyne,
                   Until death shall part us two,
1135          Neither of us in love to hyndre oother,
                   Neither of us in love (is) to hinder the other,
1136          Ne in noon oother cas, my leeve brother,
                   Nor in any other case, my dear brother,
1137          But that thou sholdest trewely forthren me
                   But rather thou shouldest truly help me
1138          In every cas, as I shal forthren thee --
                   In every case, as I shall help thee --
1139          This was thyn ooth, and myn also, certeyn;
                   This was thy oath, and mine also, certainly;
1140          I woot right wel, thou darst it nat withseyn.
                   I know right well, thou darest not deny it.
1141          Thus artow of my conseil, out of doute,
                   Thus thou art my trusted confidant, without doubt,
1142          And now thow woldest falsly been aboute
                   And now thou wouldest falsely be busy preparing
1143          To love my lady, whom I love and serve,
                   To love my lady, whom I love and serve,
1144          And evere shal til that myn herte sterve.
                   And ever shall until my heart dies.
1145          Nay, certes, false Arcite, thow shalt nat so.
                   Nay, certainly, false Arcite, thou shalt not (do) so.
1146          I loved hire first, and tolde thee my wo
                   I loved hire first, and told thee my woe
1147          As to my conseil and my brother sworn
                   As to my confidant and my sworn brother
1148          To forthre me, as I have toold biforn.
                   To further me, as I have told before.
1149          For which thou art ybounden as a knyght
                   For which thou art bound as a knight
1150          To helpen me, if it lay in thy myght,
                   To help me, if it lay in thy power,
1151          Or elles artow fals, I dar wel seyn."
                   Or else thou art false, I dare well say."
1152          This Arcite ful proudly spak ageyn:
                   This Arcite full proudly spoke in return:
1153          "Thow shalt," quod he, "be rather fals than I;
                   "Thou shalt," said he, "be rather false than I;
1154          And thou art fals, I telle thee outrely,
                   And thou art false, I tell thee flatly,
1155          For paramour I loved hire first er thow.
                   As a mistress I loved her first before thou.
1156          What wiltow seyen? Thou woost nat yet now
                   What wilt thou say? Thou knowest not yet now
1157          Wheither she be a womman or goddesse!
                   Whether she is a woman or goddess!
1158          Thyn is affeccioun of hoolynesse,
                   Thine is a feeling of holiness,
1159          And myn is love as to a creature;
                   And mine is love as to a creature;
1160          For which I tolde thee myn aventure
                   For which I told thee my circumstance
1161          As to my cosyn and my brother sworn.
                   As to my cousin and my sworn brother.
1162          I pose that thow lovedest hire biforn;
                   I posit (this assumption): that thou lovedest her first;
1163          Wostow nat wel the olde clerkes sawe,
                   Knowest thou not well the old clerks' saying,
1164          That `who shal yeve a lovere any lawe?'
                   That `who shall give a lover any law?'
1165          Love is a gretter lawe, by my pan,
                   Love is a greater law, by my skull,
1166          Than may be yeve to any erthely man;
                   Than may be given to any earthly man;
1167          And therfore positif lawe and swich decree
                   And therefore positive (man-made) law and such decree
1168          Is broken al day for love in ech degree.
                   Is broken every day for love in every way.
1169          A man moot nedes love, maugree his heed;
                   A man must of necessity love, in spite of all he can do;
1170          He may nat fleen it, thogh he sholde be deed,
                   He can not flee (from) it, though he should be dead,
1171          Al be she mayde, or wydwe, or elles wyf.
                   Whether she be maid, or widow, or else wife.
1172          And eek it is nat likly al thy lyf
                   And also it is not likely all thy life
1173          To stonden in hir grace; namoore shal I;
                   To stand in her good graces; no more shall I;
1174          For wel thou woost thyselven, verraily,
                   For well thou thyself knowest, truly,
1175          That thou and I be dampned to prisoun
                   That thou and I are condemned to prison
1176          Perpetuelly; us gayneth no raunsoun.
                   Perpetually; no ransom can help us.
1177          We stryve as dide the houndes for the boon;
                   We strive as the hounds did for the bone;
1178          They foughte al day, and yet hir part was noon.
                   They fought all day, and yet their share was nothing.
1179          Ther cam a kyte, whil that they were so wrothe,
                   There came a kite, while they were so angry,
1180          And baar awey the boon bitwixe hem bothe.
                   And carried away the bone between them both.
1181          And therfore, at the kynges court, my brother,
                   And therefore, at the king's court, my brother,
1182          Ech man for hymself, ther is noon oother.
                   Each man for himself, there is no other (way).
1183          Love, if thee list, for I love and ay shal;
                   Love, if it please thee, for I love and always shall;
1184          And soothly, leeve brother, this is al.
                   And truly, dear brother, this is all.
1185          Heere in this prisoun moote we endure,
                   Here in this prison we must endure,
1186          And everich of us take his aventure."
                   And each one of us take his chance."
1187          Greet was the strif and long bitwix hem tweye,
                   Great and long was the strife between them two,
1188          If that I hadde leyser for to seye;
                   If I had leisure to tell (it);
1189          But to th'effect. It happed on a day,
                   But to the point. It happened on a day,
1190          To telle it yow as shortly as I may,
                   To tell it to you as briefly as I can,
1191          A worthy duc that highte Perotheus,
                   A worthy duke that was called Perotheus,
1192          That felawe was unto duc Theseus
                   Who was a friend to duke Theseus
1193          Syn thilke day that they were children lite,
                   Since that same time that they were little children,
1194          Was come to Atthenes his felawe to visite,
                   Had come to Athens to visit his friend,
1195          And for to pleye as he was wont to do;
                   And to amuse himself as he was accustomed to do;
1196          For in this world he loved no man so,
                   For in this world he loved no man so (much),
1197          And he loved hym als tendrely agayn.
                   And he (Theseus) loved him as tenderly in turn.
1198          So wel they lovede, as olde bookes sayn,
                   So well they loved, as old books say,
1199          That whan that oon was deed, soothly to telle,
                   That when one was dead, truly to tell,
1200          His felawe wente and soughte hym doun in helle --
                   His friend went and sought him down in hell --
1201          But of that storie list me nat to write.
                   But of that story I do not desire to write.
1202          Duc Perotheus loved wel Arcite,
                   Duke Perotheus loved well Arcite,
1203          And hadde hym knowe at Thebes yeer by yere,
                   And had known him at Thebes year after year,
1204          And finally at requeste and preyere
                   And finally at request and prayer
1205          Of Perotheus, withouten any raunsoun,
                   Of Perotheus, without any ransom,
1206          Duc Theseus hym leet out of prisoun
                   Duke Theseus let him out of prison
1207          Frely to goon wher that hym liste over al,
                   Freely to go all over, wherever he wishes,
1208          In swich a gyse as I you tellen shal.
                   In such a manner as shall I tell you.
1209          This was the forward, pleynly for t'endite,
                   This was the agreement, plainly to write,
1210          Bitwixen Theseus and hym Arcite:
                   Between Theseus and this Arcite:
1211          That if so were that Arcite were yfounde
                   That if it so were that Arcite were found
1212          Evere in his lif, by day or nyght, oo stounde
                   Ever in his life, by day or night, at any moment
1213          In any contree of this Theseus,
                   In any country of this Theseus,
1214          And he were caught, it was acorded thus,
                   And if he were caught, it was agreed thus,
1215          That with a swerd he sholde lese his heed.
                   That with a sword he should lose his head.
1216          Ther nas noon oother remedie ne reed;
                   There was no other remedy nor course of action;
1217          But taketh his leve, and homward he him spedde.
                   But (he) takes his leave, and homeward he sped.
1218          Lat hym be war! His nekke lith to wedde.
                   Let him be ware! His neck lies as a pledge.
1219          How greet a sorwe suffreth now Arcite!
                   How great a sorrow now suffers Arcite!
1220          The deeth he feeleth thurgh his herte smyte;
                   He feels the death smite through his heart;
1221          He wepeth, wayleth, crieth pitously;
                   He weeps, wails, cries piteously;
1222          To sleen hymself he waiteth prively.
                   To slay himself he secretly awaits (an opportunity).
1223          He seyde, "Allas that day that I was born!
                   He said, "Alas that day that I was born!
1224          Now is my prisoun worse than biforn;
                   Now my prison is worse than before;
1225          Now is me shape eternally to dwelle
                   Now I am destined eternally to dwell
1226          Noght in purgatorie, but in helle.
                   Not in purgatory, but in hell.
1227          Allas, that evere knew I Perotheus!
                   Alas, that ever I knew Perotheus!
1228          For elles hadde I dwelled with Theseus,
                   For else I would have remained with Theseus,
1229          Yfetered in his prisoun everemo.
                   Fettered in his prison evermore.
1230          Thanne hadde I been in blisse and nat in wo.
                   Then would I have been in bliss and not in woe.
1231          Oonly the sighte of hire whom that I serve,
                   Only the sight of her whom I serve,
1232          Though that I nevere hir grace may deserve,
                   Though I never can deserve her grace,
1233          Wolde han suffised right ynough for me.
                   Would have sufficed right enough for me.
1234          O deere cosyn Palamon," quod he,
                   O dear cousin Palamon," said he,
1235          "Thyn is the victorie of this aventure.
                   "The victory of this adventure is thine.
1236          Ful blisfully in prison maistow dure --
                   Very blissfully in prison thou can remain --
1237          In prison? Certes nay, but in paradys!
                   In prison? Certainly not, but in paradise!
1238          Wel hath Fortune yturned thee the dys,
                   Well has Fortune turned the dice for thee,
1239          That hast the sighte of hire, and I th'absence.
                   That hast the sight of her, and I the absence.
1240          For possible is, syn thou hast hire presence,
                   For it is possible, since thou hast her presence,
1241          And art a knyght, a worthy and an able,
                   And art a knight, a worthy and an able (one),
1242          That by som cas, syn Fortune is chaungeable,
                   That by some chance, since Fortune is changeable,
1243          Thow maist to thy desir somtyme atteyne.
                   Thou mayest sometime attain thy desire.
1244          But I, that am exiled and bareyne
                   But I, who am exiled and barren
1245          Of alle grace, and in so greet dispeir
                   Of all grace, and in so great despair
1246          That ther nys erthe, water, fir, ne eir,
                   That there is not earth, water, fire, nor air,
1247          Ne creature that of hem maked is,
                   Nor creature that is made of them,
1248          That may me helpe or doon confort in this,
                   That can help me or do comfort (to me) in this,
1249          Wel oughte I sterve in wanhope and distresse.
                   Well ought I to die in despair and distress.
1250          Farwel my lif, my lust, and my gladnesse!
                   Farwell my life, my desire, and my gladness!
1251          "Allas, why pleynen folk so in commune
                   "Alas, why do folk so commonly complain
1252          On purveiaunce of God, or of Fortune,
                   About the providence of God, or of Fortune,
1253          That yeveth hem ful ofte in many a gyse
                   That gives them full often in many a manner
1254          Wel bettre than they kan hemself devyse?
                   Much better than they can themselves imagine?
1255          Som man desireth for to han richesse,
                   One man desires to have riches,
1256          That cause is of his mordre or greet siknesse;
                   Which is the cause of his murder or great sickness;
1257          And som man wolde out of his prisoun fayn,
                   And one man would happily (go) out of his prison,
1258          That in his hous is of his meynee slayn.
                   Who is slain in his house by members of his household.
1259          Infinite harmes been in this mateere.
                   Infinite harms are in this matter.
1260          We witen nat what thing we preyen heere;
                   We know not what thing we pray for here;
1261          We faren as he that dronke is as a mous.
                   We act like one who is drunk as a mouse.
1262          A dronke man woot wel he hath an hous,
                   A drunk man knows well he has a house,
1263          But he noot which the righte wey is thider,
                   But he does not know which is the right way to it,
1264          And to a dronke man the wey is slider.
                   And to a drunk man the way is slippery.
1265          And certes, in this world so faren we;
                   And certainly, so we fare in this world;
1266          We seken faste after felicitee,
                   We seek eagerly after felicity,
1267          But we goon wrong ful often, trewely.
                   But we go wrong very often, truly.
1268          Thus may we seyen alle, and namely I,
                   Thus can we all say, and especially I,
1269          That wende and hadde a greet opinioun
                   Who supposed and had a firm belief
1270          That if I myghte escapen from prisoun,
                   That if I might escape from prison,
1271          Thanne hadde I been in joye and parfit heele,
                   Then I would have been in joy and perfect well-being,
1272          Ther now I am exiled fro my wele.
                   Whereas now I am exiled from my source of happiness.
1273          Syn that I may nat seen you, Emelye,
                   Since I can not see you, Emelye,
1274          I nam but deed; ther nys no remedye."
                   I am as good as dead; there is not any remedy."
1275          Upon that oother syde Palamon,
                   Upon that other side Palamon,
1276          Whan that he wiste Arcite was agon,
                   When he knew Arcite was gone,
1277          Swich sorwe he maketh that the grete tour
                   He makes such sorrow that the great tour
1278          Resouneth of his youlyng and clamour.
                   Resounds with his yowling and clamor.
1279          The pure fettres on his shynes grete
                   The great fetters themselves on his shins
1280          Weren of his bittre, salte teeres wete.
                   Were wet from his bitter, salt tears.
1281          "Allas," quod he, "Arcita, cosyn myn,
                   "Alas," said he, "Arcite, cousin mine,
1282          Of al oure strif, God woot, the fruyt is thyn.
                   Of all our strife, God knows, the profit is thine.
1283          Thow walkest now in Thebes at thy large,
                   Thou walkest freely now in Thebes,
1284          And of my wo thow yevest litel charge.
                   And thou care little about my woe.
1285          Thou mayst, syn thou hast wisdom and manhede,
                   Thou mayest, since thou hast wisdom and manhood,
1286          Assemblen alle the folk of oure kynrede,
                   Assemble all the folk of our family,
1287          And make a werre so sharp on this citee
                   And make a war so sharp on this city
1288          That by som aventure or some tretee
                   That by some chance or some treaty
1289          Thow mayst have hire to lady and to wyf
                   Thou mayest have her as lady and as wife
1290          For whom that I moste nedes lese my lyf.
                   For whom I must of necessity lose my life.
1291          For, as by wey of possibilitee,
                   For, as by way of possibility,
1292          Sith thou art at thy large, of prisoun free,
                   Since thou art at thy liberty, free of prison,
1293          And art a lord, greet is thyn avauntage
                   And art a lord, thy advantage is great,
1294          Moore than is myn, that sterve here in a cage.
                   More than is mine, who die here in a cage.
1295          For I moot wepe and wayle, whil I lyve,
                   For I must weep and wail, while I live,
1296          With al the wo that prison may me yive,
                   With all the woe that prison may give me,
1297          And eek with peyne that love me yeveth also,
                   And also with pain that love gives me also,
1298          That doubleth al my torment and my wo."
                   That doubles all my torment and my woe."
1299          Therwith the fyr of jalousie up sterte
                   With that the fire of jealousy started up
1300          Withinne his brest, and hente him by the herte
                   Within his breast, and seized him by the heart
1301          So woodly that he lyk was to biholde
                   So madly that he was to look upon like
1302          The boxtree or the asshen dede and colde.
                   The box tree or the ash dead and cold.
1303          Thanne seyde he, "O crueel goddes that governe
                   Then said he, "O cruel gods that govern
1304          This world with byndyng of youre word eterne,
                   This world with binding of your eternal word,
1305          And writen in the table of atthamaunt
                   And write in the table of adamant (hardest of stones)
1306          Youre parlement and youre eterne graunt,
                   Your decision and your eternal decree,
1307          What is mankynde moore unto you holde
                   Why is mankind more obligated unto you
1308          Than is the sheep that rouketh in the folde?
                   Than is the sheep that cowers in the sheepfold?
1309          For slayn is man right as another beest,
                   For man is slain exactly like another beast,
1310          And dwelleth eek in prison and arreest,
                   And dwells also in prison and detention,
1311          And hath siknesse and greet adversitee,
                   And has sickness and great adversity,
1312          And ofte tymes giltelees, pardee.
                   And often times guiltless, indeed.
1313          "What governance is in this prescience,
                   "What (sort of) governance is in this foreknowledge,
1314          That giltelees tormenteth innocence?
                   That torments guiltless innocence?
1315          And yet encresseth this al my penaunce,
                   And yet this increases all my suffering,
1316          That man is bounden to his observaunce,
                   That man is bound to his duty,
1317          For Goddes sake, to letten of his wille,
                   For God's sake, to refrain from his desire,
1318          Ther as a beest may al his lust fulfille.
                   Whereas a beast may fulfill all his desire.
1319          And whan a beest is deed he hath no peyne;
                   And when a beast is dead he has no pain;
1320          But man after his deeth moot wepe and pleyne,
                   But man after his death must weep and lament,
1321          Though in this world he have care and wo.
                   Though in this world he may have (had) care and woe.
1322          Withouten doute it may stonden so.
                   Without doubt such is the case.
1323          The answere of this lete I to dyvynys,
                   The answer to this I leave to theologians,
1324          But wel I woot that in this world greet pyne ys.
                   But well I know that great pain is in this world.
1325          Allas, I se a serpent or a theef,
                   Alas, I see a serpent or a thief,
1326          That many a trewe man hath doon mescheef,
                   That has done mischief to many a true man,
1327          Goon at his large, and where hym list may turne.
                   Go at his liberty, and can go where he pleases.
1328          But I moot been in prisoun thurgh Saturne,
                   But I must be in prison because of Saturn,
1329          And eek thurgh Juno, jalous and eek wood,
                   And also because of Juno, jealous and also mad,
1330          That hath destroyed wel ny al the blood
                   Who has destroyed well nigh all the blood
1331          Of Thebes with his waste walles wyde;
                   Of Thebes with its wide devastated walls;
1332          And Venus sleeth me on that oother syde
                   And Venus slays me on that other side
1333          For jalousie and fere of hym Arcite."
                   For jealousy and fear of this Arcite."
1334          Now wol I stynte of Palamon a lite,
                   Now will I cease (speaking of) of Palamon for a little while,
1335          And lete hym in his prisoun stille dwelle,
                   And leave him to dwell in his prison still,
1336          And of Arcita forth I wol yow telle.
                   And of Arcite forth I will tell you.
1337          The somer passeth, and the nyghtes longe
                   The summer passes, and the long nights
1338          Encressen double wise the peynes stronge
                   Increase doubly the strong pains
1339          Bothe of the lovere and the prisoner.
                   Both of the lover and the prisoner.
1340          I noot which hath the wofuller mester.
                   I know not which has the more woeful task.
1341          For, shortly for to seyn, this Palamoun
                   For, briefly to say (it), this Palamon
1342          Perpetuelly is dampned to prisoun,
                   Is damned perpetually to prison,
1343          In cheynes and in fettres to been deed;
                   In chains and in fetters to be dead;
1344          And Arcite is exiled upon his heed
                   And Arcite is exiled on threat of losing his head
134e          For everemo, as out of that contree,
                   For evermore, out of that country,
1346          Ne nevere mo ne shal his lady see.
                   Nor nevermore shall see his lady.
1347          Yow loveres axe I now this questioun:
                   Yow lovers now I ask this question:
1348          Who hath the worse, Arcite or Palamoun?
                   Who has the worse, Arcite or Palamon?
1349          That oon may seen his lady day by day,
                   That one may see his lady every day,
1350          But in prison he moot dwelle alway;
                   But in prison he must always dwell;
1351          That oother wher hym list may ride or go,
                   That other where he pleases may ride or walk,
1352          But seen his lady shal he nevere mo.
                   But he shall see his lady nevermore.
1353          Now demeth as yow liste, ye that kan,
                   Now judge as it pleases you, you who know (of such things),
1354          For I wol telle forth as I bigan.
                   For I will tell forth as I began.

Explicit prima pars
The first part ends

____________________________

Sequitur pars secunda
The second part follows

1355        Whan that Arcite to Thebes comen was,
                   When Arcite was come to Thebes,
1356        Ful ofte a day he swelte and seyde "Allas!"
                   Very often each day he grew faint and said "Alas!"
1357        For seen his lady shal he nevere mo.
                   For he shall never more see his lady.
1358        And shortly to concluden al his wo,
                   And shortly to conclude (telling) all his woe,
1359        So muche sorwe hadde nevere creature
                   So much sorrow never had creature
1360        That is, or shal, whil that the world may dure.
                   That is, or shall (be), while the world may endure.
1361        His slep, his mete, his drynke, is hym biraft,
                   He is bereft of his sleep, his food, his drink
1362        That lene he wex and drye as is a shaft;
                   So that he became lean and dry as is a stick;
1363        His eyen holwe and grisly to biholde,
                   His eyes sunken and grisly to behold,
1364        His hewe falow and pale as asshen colde,
                   His hue sickly yellow and pale as cold ashes,
1365        And solitarie he was and evere allone,
                   And he was solitary and ever alone,
1366        And waillynge al the nyght, makynge his mone;
                   And wailing all the night, making his moan;
1367        And if he herde song or instrument,
                   And if he heard song or instrument,
1368        Thanne wolde he wepe, he myghte nat be stent.
                   Then would he weep, he could not be stopped.
1369        So feble eek were his spiritz, and so lowe,
                   So feeble also were his spirits, and so low,
1370        And chaunged so, that no man koude knowe
                   And changed so, that no man could know
1371        His speche nor his voys, though men it herde.
                   His speech nor his voice, though men heard it.
1372        And in his geere for al the world he ferde
                   And in his behavior for all the world he fared
1373        Nat oonly lik the loveris maladye
                   Not only like the lover's malady
1374        Of Hereos, but rather lyk manye,
                   Of Hereos, but rather like mania,
1375        Engendred of humour malencolik
                   Engendered by the melancholic humor
1376        Biforen, in his celle fantastik.
                   In the front lobe, in his imagination.
1377        And shortly, turned was al up so doun
                   And shortly, all was turned topsy-turvy
1378        Bothe habit and eek disposicioun
                   Both the physical condition and also the mental disposition
1379        Of hym, this woful lovere daun Arcite.
                   Of him, this woeful lover dan Arcite.
1380        What sholde I al day of his wo endite?
                   Why should I all daylong write of his woe?
1381        Whan he endured hadde a yeer or two
                   When he had endured a year or two
1382        This crueel torment and this peyne and wo,
                   This cruel torment and this pain and woe,
1383        At Thebes, in his contree, as I seyde,
                   At Thebes, in his country, as I said,
1384        Upon a nyght in sleep as he hym leyde,
                   Upon one night as he laid himself in sleep,
1385        Hym thoughte how that the wynged god Mercurie
                   It seemed to him that the winged god Mercury
1386        Biforn hym stood and bad hym to be murie.
                   Stood before him and commanded him to be merry.
1387        His slepy yerde in hond he bar uprighte;
                   His sleep-inducing staff he carried upright in his hand;
1388        An hat he werede upon his heris brighte.
                   He wore a hat upon his bright hair.
1389        Arrayed was this god, as he took keep,
                   This god was dressed, as he (Arcite) noticed,
1390        As he was whan that Argus took his sleep;
                   As he was when he put Argus to sleep;
1391        And seyde hym thus: "To Atthenes shaltou wende,
                   And said to him thus: "To Athens shalt thou go,
1392        Ther is thee shapen of thy wo an ende."
                   Where an end of thy woe is destined for thee."
1393        And with that word Arcite wook and sterte.
                   And with that word Arcite awoke and leaped up.
1394        "Now trewely, hou soore that me smerte,"
                   "Now truly, however sorely it may pain me,"
1395        Quod he, "to Atthenes right now wol I fare,
                   Said he, "I will go to Athens right now,
1396        Ne for the drede of deeth shal I nat spare
                   Nor shall I refrain for the dread of death
1397        To se my lady, that I love and serve.
                   From seeing my lady, whom I love and serve.
1398        In hire presence I recche nat to sterve."
                   In her presence I care not if I die."
1399        And with that word he caughte a greet mirour,
                   And with that word he picked up a large mirror,
1400        And saugh that chaunged was al his colour,
                   And saw that all his color was changed,
1401        And saugh his visage al in another kynde.
                   And saw his visage all (changed) to another sort.
1402        And right anon it ran hym in his mynde,
                   And right away it ran to him in his mind,
1403        That, sith his face was so disfigured
                   That, since his face was so disfigured
1404        Of maladye the which he hadde endured,
                   By the malady which he had endured,
1405        He myghte wel, if that he bar hym lowe,
                   He might well, if he conducted himself humbly,
1406        Lyve in Atthenes everemoore unknowe,
                   Live in Athens evermore unknown,
1407        And seen his lady wel ny day by day.
                   And see his lady almost every day.
1408        And right anon he chaunged his array,
                   And right away he changed his clothing,
1409        And cladde hym as a povre laborer,
                   And clad himself as a poor laborer,
1410        And al allone, save oonly a squier
                   And all alone, except only a squire
1411        That knew his privetee and al his cas,
                   Who knew his private affairs and all his situation,
1412        Which was disgised povrely as he was,
                   Who was disguised as poorly as he was,
1413        To Atthenes is he goon the nexte way.
                   To Athens he is gone the nearest way.
1414        And to the court he wente upon a day,
                   And to the court he went upon a day,
1415        And at the gate he profreth his servyse
                   And at the gate he offers his service
1416        To drugge and drawe, what so men wol devyse.
                   To drudge and draw water, whatever men will command.
1417        And shortly of this matere for to seyn,
                   And shortly to speak of this matter,
1418        He fil in office with a chamberleyn
                   He was given employment by a household attendant
1419        The which that dwellynge was with Emelye,
                   Who was dwelling with Emelye,
1420        For he was wys and koude soone espye,
                   For he was wise and could soon take the measure
1421        Of every servaunt, which that serveth here.
                   Of every servant, who serves here.
1422        Wel koude he hewen wode, and water bere,
                   He could well hew wood, and carry water,
1423        For he was yong and myghty for the nones,
                   For he was young and mighty indeed,
1424        And therto he was long and big of bones
                   And moreover he was tall and strong of bones
1425        To doon that any wight kan hym devyse.
                   To do what any one can command him.
1426        A yeer or two he was in this servyse,
                   A year or two he was in this service,
1427        Page of the chambre of Emelye the brighte,
                   Page of the chamber of Emelye the bright,
1428        And Philostrate he seyde that he highte.
                   And he said that he was called Philostrate.
1429        But half so wel biloved a man as he
                   But half so well beloved a man as he
1430        Ne was ther nevere in court of his degree;
                   Was never in court (anyone) of his rank;
1431        He was so gentil of condicioun
                   He was so noble in manner
1432        That thurghout al the court was his renoun.
                   That his fame was (spread) throughout all the court .
1433        They seyden that it were a charitee
                   They said that it would be a act of charity
1434        That Theseus wolde enhauncen his degree,
                   If Theseus would advance his rank,
1435        And putten hym in worshipful servyse,
                   And put him in noble employment,
1436        Ther as he myghte his vertu excercise.
                   Where he could exercise his abilities.
1437        And thus withinne a while his name is spronge,
                   And thus within a short time his fame is sprung,
1438        Bothe of his dedes and his goode tonge,
                   Both for his deeds and his good speech,
1439        That Theseus hath taken hym so neer
                   That Theseus has taken him so near
1440        That of his chambre he made hym a squier,
                   That he has made him a squire of his chamber,
1441        And gaf hym gold to mayntene his degree.
                   And gave him gold to maintain (a life style suitable to) his rank.
1442        And eek men broghte hym out of his contree,
                   And also men brought him out of his country,
1443        From yeer to yeer, ful pryvely his rente;
                   From year to year, very secretly, his income;
1444        But honestly and slyly he it spente,
                   But properly and slyly he spent it,
1445        That no man wondred how that he it hadde.
                   So that no man wondered how he acquired it.
1446        And thre yeer in this wise his lif he ladde,
                   And three years in this manner he led his life,
1447        And bar hym so, in pees and eek in werre,
                   And conducted himself so that, in peace and also in war,
1448        Ther was no man that Theseus hath derre.
                   There was no man whom Theseus holds dearer.
1449        And in this blisse lete I now Arcite,
                   And in this bliss I now leave Arcite,
1450        And speke I wole of Palamon a lite.
                   And I will speak of Palamon a little.
1451        In derknesse and horrible and strong prisoun
                   In darkness and horrible and strong imprisonment
1452        Thise seven yeer hath seten Palamoun
                   These seven years Palamon has sat
1453        Forpyned, what for wo and for distresse.
                   Wasted by suffering, what for woe and for distress.
1454        Who feeleth double soor and hevynesse
                   Who feels double pain and sadness
1455        But Palamon, that love destreyneth so
                   But Palamon, whom love so afflicts
1456        That wood out of his wit he goth for wo?
                   That he goes mad, out of his wits because of woe?
1457        And eek therto he is a prisoner
                   And also moreover he is a prisoner
1458        Perpetuelly, noght oonly for a yer.
                   Perpetually, not just for a year.
1459        Who koude ryme in Englyssh proprely
                   Who could rime in English properly
1460        His martirdom? For sothe it am nat I;
                   His martyrdom? In truth it is not I;
1461        Therfore I passe as lightly as I may.
                   Therefore I pass on as quickly as I can.
1462        It fel that in the seventhe yer, of May
                   It happened that in the seventh year, of May
1463        The thridde nyght (as olde bookes seyn,
                   The third night (as old books say,
1464        That al this storie tellen moore pleyn),
                   That tell all this story more fully),
1465        Were it by aventure or destynee --
                   Whether it was by chance or fate --
1466        As, whan a thyng is shapen, it shal be --
                   As, when a thing is pre-ordained, it must be --
1467        That soone after the mydnyght Palamoun,
                   That soon after midnight Palamon,
1468        By helpyng of a freend, brak his prisoun
                   With the help of a friend, broke out of his prison
1469        And fleeth the citee faste as he may go.
                   And flees the city as fast as he can go.
1470        For he hadde yeve his gayler drynke so
                   For he had so given his jailer drink
1471        Of a clarree maad of a certeyn wyn,
                   Of a spiced and sweetened drink made of a certain wine,
1472        With nercotikes and opie of Thebes fyn,
                   With narcotics and pure opium of Thebes,
1473        That al that nyght, thogh that men wolde him shake,
                   That all that night, though men would shake him,
1474        The gayler sleep; he myghte nat awake.
                   The jailer slept; he could not awake.
1475        And thus he fleeth as faste as evere he may.
                   And thus he flees as fast as ever he can.
1476        The nyght was short and faste by the day
                   The night was short and very close to the day
1477        That nedes cost he moot hymselven hyde,
                   So that by necessity he must hide himself,
1478        And til a grove faste ther bisyde
                   And to a grove close by
1479        With dredeful foot thanne stalketh Palamon.
                   With fearful foot then stalks Palamon.
1480        For, shortly, this was his opinion:
                   For, shortly, this was his idea:
1481        That in that grove he wolde hym hyde al day,
                   That in that grove he would hide himself all day,
1482        And in the nyght thanne wolde he take his way
                   And in the night then he would take his way
1483        To Thebes-ward, his freendes for to preye
                   Toward Thebes, to pray his friends
1484        On Theseus to helpe him to werreye;
                   To help him to wage war on Theseus;
1485        And shortly, outher he wolde lese his lif
                   And shortly, he would either lose his life
1486        Or wynnen Emelye unto his wyf.
                   Or win Emelye to be his wife.
1487        This is th'effect and his entente pleyn.
                   This is the purpose and his full intent.
1488        Now wol I turne to Arcite ageyn,
                   Now I will turn again to Arcite,
1489        That litel wiste how ny that was his care,
                   That little knew how near his trouble was,
1490        Til that Fortune had broght him in the snare.
                   To which Fortune had brought him in the snare.
1491        The bisy larke, messager of day,
                   The busy lark, messenger of day,
1492        Salueth in hir song the morwe gray,
                   Salutes the morning gray in her song,
1493        And firy Phebus riseth up so bright
                   And fiery Phoebus rises up so bright
1494        That al the orient laugheth of the light,
                   That all the orient laughs because of the light,
1495        And with his stremes dryeth in the greves
                   And with his rays dries in the groves
1496        The silver dropes hangynge on the leves.
                   The silver drops hanging on the leaves.
1497        And Arcita, that in the court roial
                   And Arcite, who in the royal court
1498        With Theseus is principal squier,
                   With Theseus is chief squire,
1499        Is risen and looketh on the myrie day.
                   Is risen and looks on the merry day.
1500        And for to doon his observaunce to May,
                   And to do his observance to May,
1501        Remembrynge on the poynt of his desir,
                   Meditating on the object of his desire,
1502        He on a courser, startlynge as the fir,
                   He on a war horse, leaping about like the fire,
1503        Is riden into the feeldes hym to pleye,
                   Has ridden into the fields to amuse himself,
1504        Out of the court, were it a myle or tweye.
                   Out of the court, about a mile or two.
1505        And to the grove of which that I yow tolde
                   And to the grove of which I told you
1506        By aventure his wey he gan to holde
                   By chance he began to hold his way
1507        To maken hym a gerland of the greves,
                   To make himself a garland of the branches,
1508        Were it of wodebynde or hawethorn leves,
                   Were it of woodbine or hawthorn leaves,
1509        And loude he song ayeyn the sonne shene:
                   And loud he sang in the bright sun:
1510        "May, with alle thy floures and thy grene,
                   "May, with all thy flowers and thy greenery,
1511        Welcome be thou, faire, fresshe May,
                   Welcome be thou, fair, fresh May,
1512        In hope that I som grene gete may."
                   In hope that I can get something green."
1513        And from his courser, with a lusty herte,
                   And from his war horse, with an eager heart,
1514        Into the grove ful hastily he sterte,
                   He rushed into the grove hastily,
1515        And in a path he rometh up and doun,
                   And in a path he roams up and down,
1516        Ther as by aventure this Palamoun
                   Where by chance this Palamon
1517        Was in a bussh, that no man myghte hym se,
                   Was in a thicket, so that no man could see him,
1518        For soore afered of his deeth was he.
                   For he was sorely afraid of his death.
1519        No thyng ne knew he that it was Arcite;
                   In no way did he know that it was Arcite;
1520        God woot he wolde have trowed it ful lite.
                   God knows he would scarcely have believed it
1521        But sooth is seyd, go sithen many yeres,
                   But truly it is said, since many years ago,
1522        That "feeld hath eyen and the wode hath eres."
                   That "field has eyes and the wood has ears."
1523        It is ful fair a man to bere hym evene,
                   It is very good for a man to act calmly,
1524        For al day meeteth men at unset stevene.
                   For every day people meet at unexpected times.
1525        Ful litel woot Arcite of his felawe,
                   Arcite knows full little of his fellow,
1526        That was so ny to herknen al his sawe,
                   Who was near enough to hear all his speech,
1527        For in the bussh he sitteth now ful stille.
                   For in the thicket he sits now very still.
1528        Whan that Arcite hadde romed al his fille,
                   When Arcite had roamed all his fill,
1529        And songen al the roundel lustily,
                   And sung all the rondel cheerfully,
1530        Into a studie he fil sodeynly,
nbsp;                  He fell suddenly into a state of anxiety,
1531        As doon thise loveres in hir queynte geres,
                   As these lovers do in their strange manners,
1532        Now in the crope, now doun in the breres,
                   Now in the tree top, now down in the briars,
1533        Now up, now doun, as boket in a welle.
                   Now up, now down, like a bucket in a well.
1534        Right as the Friday, soothly for to telle,
                   Exactly like the Friday, truly for to tell,
1535        Now it shyneth, now it reyneth faste,
                   Now it shines, now it rains hard,
1536        Right so kan geery Venus overcaste
                   Just so can fickle Venus sadden
1537        The hertes of hir folk; right as hir day
                   The hearts of her folk; just as her day
1538        Is gereful, right so chaungeth she array.
                   Is changeable, just so she changes her array.
1539        Selde is the Friday al the wowke ylike.
                   Friday is seldom like all the rest of the week.
1540        Whan that Arcite had songe, he gan to sike
                   When Arcite had sung, he began to sigh
1541        And sette hym doun withouten any moore.
                   And sat himself down without any more.
1542        "Allas," quod he, "that day that I was bore!
                   "Alas," he said, "that day that I was born!
1543        How longe, Juno, thurgh thy crueltee,
                   How long, Juno, through thy cruelty,
1544        Woltow werreyen Thebes the citee?
                   Wilt thou make war on the city of Thebes?
1545        Allas, ybroght is to confusioun
                   Alas, to ruin is brought
1546        The blood roial of Cadme and Amphioun --
                   The royal blood of Cadmus and Amphion --
1547        Of Cadmus, which that was the firste man
                   Of Cadmus, who was the first man
1548        That Thebes bulte, or first the toun bigan,
                   Who built Thebes, before the town first began,
1549        And of the citee first was crouned kyng.
                   And first was crowned king of the city.
1550        Of his lynage am I and his ofspryng
                   I am of his lineage and his offspring
1551        By verray ligne, as of the stok roial,
                   By true lineage, of the royal family,
1552        And now I am so caytyf and so thral,
                   And now I am so wretched and so enslaved,
1553        That he that is my mortal enemy,
                   That he who is my mortal enemy,
1554        I serve hym as his squier povrely.
                   I meekly serve him as his squire.
1555        And yet dooth Juno me wel moore shame,
                   And yet Juno does me much more shame,
1556        For I dar noght biknowe myn owene name;
                   For I dare not acknowledge my own name;
1557        But ther as I was wont to highte Arcite,
                   But whereas I was accustomed to be called Arcite,
1558        Now highte I Philostrate, noght worth a myte.
                   Now I am called Philostrate, not worth a penny.
1559        Allas, thou felle Mars! Allas, Juno!
                   Alas, thou fierce Mars! Alas, Juno!
1560        Thus hath youre ire oure lynage al fordo,
                   Thus has your anger destroyed all our lineage,
1561        Save oonly me and wrecched Palamoun,
                   Save only me and wretched Palamon,
1562        That Theseus martireth in prisoun.
                   Whom Theseus torments in prison.
1563        And over al this, to sleen me outrely
                   And in addition to all this, to slay me utterly
1564        Love hath his firy dart so brennyngly
                   Love has his fiery dart so ardently
1565        Ystiked thurgh my trewe, careful herte
                   Stabbed through my faithful, sorrowful heart
1566        That shapen was my deeth erst than my sherte.
                   That my death was destined before my first garment was made.
1567        Ye sleen me with youre eyen, Emelye!
                   You slay me with your eyes, Emelye!
1568        Ye been the cause wherfore that I dye.
                   You are the cause by which I die.
1569        Of al the remenant of myn oother care
                   Of all the rest of my other troubles
1570        Ne sette I nat the montance of a tare,
                   I do not reckon at the value of a weed,
1571        So that I koude doon aught to youre plesaunce."
                   Provided that I could do anything to please you."
1572        And with that word he fil doun in a traunce
                   And with that word he fell down in a trance
1573        A longe tyme, and after he up sterte.
                   A long time, and afterwards he leaped up.
1574        This Palamoun, that thoughte that thurgh his herte
                   This Palamon, that thought that through his heart
1575        He felte a coold swerd sodeynliche glyde,
                   He felt a cold sword suddenly glide,
1576        For ire he quook; no lenger wolde he byde.
                   For anger he trembled; no longer would he wait.
1577        And whan that he had herd Arcites tale,
                   And when he had heard Arcite's tale,
1578        As he were wood, with face deed and pale,
                   As if he were mad, with face dead and pale,
1579        He stirte hym up out of the buskes thikke
                   He leaped up out of the thick bushes
1580        And seide: "Arcite, false traytour wikke,
                   And said: "Arcite, false, wicked traitor,
1581        Now artow hent, that lovest my lady so,
                   Now art thou taken, who lovest my lady so,
1582        For whom that I have al this peyne and wo,
                   For whom that I have all this pain and woe,
1583        And art my blood, and to my conseil sworn,
                   And art of my blood, and sworn to be in my confidence,
1584        As I ful ofte have told thee heerbiforn,
                   As I full often have told thee before now,
1585        And hast byjaped heere duc Theseus,
                   And hast tricked here duke Theseus,
1586        And falsly chaunged hast thy name thus!
                   And thus hast falsely changed thy name!
1587        I wol be deed, or elles thou shalt dye.
                   I will be dead, or else thou shalt die.
1588        Thou shalt nat love my lady Emelye,
                   Thou shalt not love my lady Emelye,
1589        But I wol love hire oonly and namo;
                   But I will love her only and no other;
1590        For I am Palamon, thy mortal foo.
                   For I am Palamon, thy mortal foe.
1591        And though that I no wepene have in this place,
                   And though I have no weapon in this place,
1592        But out of prison am astert by grace,
                   But out of prison am escaped by good luck,
1593        I drede noght that outher thow shalt dye,
                   I doubt not that either thou shalt dye,
1594        Or thow ne shalt nat loven Emelye.
                   Either thou shalt not love Emelye,
1595        Chees which thou wolt, or thou shalt nat asterte!"
                   Choose which thou wish, or thou shalt not escape!"
1596        This Arcite, with ful despitous herte,
                   This Arcite, with full spiteful heart,
1597        Whan he hym knew, and hadde his tale herd,
                   When he knew him, and had heard his tale,
1598        As fiers as leon pulled out his swerd,
                   As fierce as a lion pulled out his sword,
1599        And seyde thus: "By God that sit above,
                   And said thus: "By God who sits above,
1600        Nere it that thou art sik and wood for love,
                   Were it not that thou art sick and mad for love,
1601        And eek that thow no wepne hast in this place,
                   And also because thou hast no weapon in this place,
1602        Thou sholdest nevere out of this grove pace,
                   Thou shouldest never walk out of this grove,
1603        That thou ne sholdest dyen of myn hond.
                   Rather thou shouldest die of my hand.
1604        For I defye the seurete and the bond
                   For I repudiate the pledge and the bond
1605        Which that thou seist that I have maad to thee.
                   Which thou sayest that I have made to thee.
1606        What! Verray fool, thynk wel that love is free,
                   Lo! True fool, think well that love is free,
1607        And I wol love hire maugree al thy myght!
                   And I will love her in spite of all thy might!
1608        But for as muche thou art a worthy knyght
                   But for as much as thou art a worthy knight
1609        And wilnest to darreyne hire by bataille,
                   And desire to decide the right to her by battle,
1610        Have heer my trouthe; tomorwe I wol nat faille,
                   Have here my pledge; tomorrow I will not fail,
1611        Withoute wityng of any oother wight,
                   Without the knowledge of any other person,
1612        That heere I wol be founden as a knyght,
                   But here I will be found as a knight,
1613        And bryngen harneys right ynough for thee;
                   And bring armor right enough for thee;
1614        And ches the beste, and leef the worste for me.
                   And choose the best, and leave the worst for me.
1615        And mete and drynke this nyght wol I brynge
                   And food and drink this night will I bring
1616        Ynough for thee, and clothes for thy beddynge.
                   Enough for thee, and bed-clothes for thy bedding.
1617        And if so be that thou my lady wynne,
                   And if it so be that thou win my lady,
1618        And sle me in this wode ther I am inne,
                   And slay me in this wood where I am in,
1619        Thow mayst wel have thy lady as for me."
                   Thou mayest well have thy lady as far as I am concerned."
1620        This Palamon answerde, "I graunte it thee."
                   This Palamon answered, "I agree."
1621        And thus they been departed til amorwe,
                   And thus they are departed until morning,
1622        Whan ech of hem had leyd his feith to borwe.
                   When each of them had laid his faith as a pledge.
1623        O Cupide, out of alle charitee!
                   O Cupid, devoid of all kindness to others!
1624        O regne, that wolt no felawe have with thee!
                   O reign, that will have no partner with thee!
1625        Ful sooth is seyd that love ne lordshipe
                   Full truly it is said that love nor lordship
1626        Wol noght, his thankes, have no felaweshipe.
                   Will not, willingly, have any partnership.
1627        Wel fynden that Arcite and Palamoun.
                   Arcite and Palamon well find that (to be true).
1628        Arcite is riden anon unto the toun,
                   Arcite has ridden immediately into the town,
1629        And on the morwe, er it were dayes light,
                   And on the morning, before it was day's light,
1630        Ful prively two harneys hath he dight,
                   Very secretly he has prepared two sets of armor,
1631        Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne
                   Both sufficient and suitable to decide
1632        The bataille in the feeld bitwix hem tweyne;
                   The battle in the field between them two;
1633        And on his hors, allone as he was born,
                   And on his horse, alone as he was born,
1634        He carieth al the harneys hym biforn.
                   He carries all the armor before him.
1635        And in the grove, at tyme and place yset,
                   And in the grove, at time and place set,
1636        This Arcite and this Palamon ben met.
                   This Arcite and this Palamon are met.
1637        To chaungen gan the colour in hir face;
                   The color in their faces began to change;
1638        Right as the hunters in the regne of Trace,
                   Just as the hunters in the reign of Thrace,
1639        That stondeth at the gappe with a spere,
                   He who stands at the gap in the forrest with a spear,
1640        Whan hunted is the leon or the bere,
                   When the lion or the bear is hunted,
1641        And hereth hym come russhyng in the greves,
                   And hears him come rushing in the bushes,
1642        And breketh bothe bowes and the leves,
                   And breaks both boughs and the leaves,
1643        And thynketh, "Heere cometh my mortal enemy!
                   And thinks, "Here comes my mortal enemy!
1644        Withoute faille, he moot be deed, or I,
                   Without fail, he must be dead, or I,
1645        For outher I moot sleen hym at the gappe,
                   For either I must slay him at the gap,
1646        Or he moot sleen me, if that me myshappe."
                   Or he must slay me, if I suffer misfortune."
1647        So ferden they in chaungyng of hir hewe,
                   So fared they in changing colors of their faces,
1648        As fer as everich of hem oother knewe.
                   When each of them knew the other.
1649        Ther nas no good day, ne no saluyng,
                   There was no 'good day,' nor no salutations,
1650        But streight, withouten word or rehersyng,
                   But straightway, without word or conversing,
1651        Everich of hem heelp for to armen oother
                   Each one of them helped to arm the other
1652        As freendly as he were his owene brother;
                   As friendly as if he were his own brother;
1653        And after that, with sharpe speres stronge
                   And after that, with sharp strong spears
1654        They foynen ech at oother wonder longe.
                   They thrust at each other a wonderfully long time.
1655        Thou myghtest wene that this Palamon
                   Thou mightest suppose that this Palamon
1656        In his fightyng were a wood leon,
                   In his fighting was a mad lion,
1657        And as a crueel tigre was Arcite;
                   And Arcite was like a cruel tiger;
1658        As wilde bores gonne they to smyte,
                   They began to smite like wild boars,
1659        That frothen whit as foom for ire wood.
                   That froth at the mouth white as foam for mad anger.
1660        Up to the ancle foghte they in hir blood.
                   They fought up to the ankle in their blood.
1661        And in this wise I lete hem fightyng dwelle,
                   And in this manner I leave them to remain fighting,
1662        And forth I wole of Theseus yow telle.
                   And forth I will tell you of Theseus.
1663        The destinee, ministre general,
                   The destiny, general minister,
1664        That executeth in the world over al
                   That executes in the world everywhere
1665        The purveiaunce that God hath seyn biforn,
                   The providence that God has foreseen,
1666        So strong it is that, though the world had sworn
                   So strong it is that, though the world had sworn
1667        The contrarie of a thyng by ye or nay,
                   The contrary of a thing by yes or no,
1668        Yet somtyme it shal fallen on a day
                   Yet sometimes it shall happen on one day
1669        That falleth nat eft withinne a thousand yeer.
                   That happens not again in a thousand years.
1670        For certeinly, oure appetites heer,
                   For certainly, our desires here,
1671        Be it of werre, or pees, or hate, or love,
                   Be it of war, or peace, or hate, or love,
1672        Al is this reuled by the sighte above.
                   All this is ruled by the foresight above.
1673        This mene I now by myghty Theseus,
                   I mean this now in regard to mighty Theseus,
1674        That for to hunten is so desirus,
                   Who is so desirous to hunt,
1675        And namely at the grete hert in May,
                   And especially at the large hart in May,
1676        That in his bed ther daweth hym no day
                   That in his bed there dawns for him no day
1677        That he nys clad, and redy for to ryde
                   That he is not clad, and ready to ride
1678        With hunte and horn and houndes hym bisyde.
                   With huntsman and horn and hounds beside him.
1679        For in his huntyng hath he swich delit
                   For in his hunting he has such delight
1680        That it is al his joye and appetit
                   That it is all his joy and desire
1681        To been hymself the grete hertes bane,
                   To be himself the large hart's slayer,
1682        For after Mars he serveth now Dyane.
                   For next to Mars he now serves Diana.
1683        Cleer was the day, as I have toold er this,
                   The day was clear, as I have told before this,
1684        And Theseus with alle joye and blis,
                   And Theseus with all joy and bliss,
1685        With his Ypolita, the faire queene,
                   With his Ypolita, the faire queen,
1686        And Emelye, clothed al in grene,
                   And Emelye, clothed all in green,
1687        On huntyng be they riden roially.
                   On hunting they are ridden royally.
1688        And to the grove that stood ful faste by,
                   And to the grove that stood very close by,
1689        In which ther was an hert, as men hym tolde,
                   In which there was a hart, so people told him,
1690        Duc Theseus the streighte wey hath holde.
                   Duke Theseus has held the straight way.
1691        And to the launde he rideth hym ful right,
                   And directly to the glade he rides,
1692        For thider was the hert wont have his flight,
                   For through there the hart was accustomed to take his escape,
1693        And over a brook, and so forth on his weye.
                   And (flee) over a brook, and so forth on his way.
1694        This duc wol han a cours at hym or tweye
                   This duke will have a run or two at him
1695        With houndes swiche as that hym list comaunde.
                   With such hounds as he pleases to command.
1696        And whan this duc was come unto the launde,
                   And when this duke was come unto the glade,
1697        Under the sonne he looketh, and anon
                   He looks toward the sun, and immediately
1698        He was war of Arcite and Palamon,
                   He was aware of Arcite and Palamon,
1699        That foughten breme as it were bores two.
                   Who fought as fiercely as if it were two wild boars.
1700        The brighte swerdes wenten to and fro
                   The bright swords went to and fro
1701        So hidously that with the leeste strook
                   So hideously that with the weakest stroke
1702        It semed as it wolde felle an ook.
                   It seemed as if it would fell an oak.
1703        But what they were, no thyng he ne woot.
                   But who they were, he knew nothing.
1704        This duc his courser with his spores smoot,
                   This duke smote his warhorse with his spurs,
1705        And at a stert he was bitwix hem two,
                   And with a sudden leap he was between them two,
1706        And pulled out a swerd and cride, "Hoo!
                   And pulled out a sword and cried, "Stop!
1707        Namoore, up peyne of lesynge of youre heed!
                   No more, on the penalty of the loss of your head!
1708        By myghty Mars, he shal anon be deed
                   By mighty Mars, he shall at once be dead
1709        That smyteth any strook that I may seen.
                   Who smites any stroke that I can see.
1710        But telleth me what myster men ye been,
                   But tell me what sort of men you are,
1711        That been so hardy for to fighten heere
                   Who are so bold as to fight here
1712        Withouten juge or oother officere,
                   Without judge or other officer,
1713        As it were in a lystes roially."
                   As it would be in a properly conducted duel,"
1714        This Palamon answerde hastily
                   This Palamon answered hastily
1715        And seyde, "Sire, what nedeth wordes mo?
                   And said, "Sire, what more words are needed?
1716        We have the deeth disserved bothe two.
                   We have deserved the death, both of us two.
1717        Two woful wrecches been we, two caytyves,
                   Two woeful wretches are we, two miserable people,
1718        That been encombred of oure owene lyves;
                   Who are burdened down by our own lives;
1719        And as thou art a rightful lord and juge,
                   And as thou art a rightful lord and judge,
1720        Ne yif us neither mercy ne refuge,
                   Give us neither mercy nor refuge,
1721        But sle me first, for seinte charitee!
                   But slay me first, by holy charity!
1722        But sle my felawe eek as wel as me;
                   But slay my fellow also as well as me;
1723        Or sle hym first, for though thow knowest it lite,
                   Or slay him first, for though thou little knowest it,
1724        This is thy mortal foo, this is Arcite,
                   This is thy mortal foe, this is Arcite,
1725        That fro thy lond is banysshed on his heed,
                   Who is banished from thy land on (pain of losing) his head,
1726        For which he hath deserved to be deed.
                   For which he has deserved to be dead.
1727        For this is he that cam unto thy gate
                   For this is he that came unto thy gate
1728        And seyde that he highte Philostrate.
                   And said that he was called Philostrate.
1729        Thus hath he japed thee ful many a yer,
                   Thus has he tricked thee for many years,
1730        And thou hast maked hym thy chief squier;
                   And thou hast made him thy chief squire;
1731        And this is he that loveth Emelye.
                   And this is he that loves Emelye.
1732        For sith the day is come that I shal dye,
                   For since the day is come that I must dye,
1733        I make pleynly my confessioun
                   I make plainly my confession
1734        That I am thilke woful Palamoun
                   That I am that same woeful Palamon
1735        That hath thy prisoun broken wikkedly.
                   That wickedly has broken (out of) thy prison.
1736        I am thy mortal foo, and it am I
                   I am thy mortal foe, and it is I
1737        That loveth so hoote Emelye the brighte
                   Who loves the beautiful Emelye so passionately
1738        That I wol dye present in hir sighte.
                   That I will die at this moment in her sight.
1739        Wherfore I axe deeth and my juwise;
                   Therefore I ask death and my judicial sentence;
1740        But sle my felawe in the same wise,
                   But slay my fellow in the same way,
1741        For bothe han we deserved to be slayn."
                   For we have both deserved to be slain."
1742        This worthy duc answerde anon agayn,
                   This worthy duke answered at once in reply,
1743        And seyde, "This is a short conclusioun.
                   And said, "This is a brief (easy) decision.
1744        Youre owene mouth, by youre confessioun,
                   Your own mouth, by your confession,
1745        Hath dampned yow, and I wol it recorde;
                   Has condemned you, and I will pronounce it;
1746        It nedeth noght to pyne yow with the corde.
                   There is no deed to torture you with the cord.
1747        Ye shal be deed, by myghty Mars the rede!"
                   You shall be dead, by mighty Mars the red!"
1748        The queene anon, for verray wommanhede,
                   The queen at once, for true womanliness,
1749        Gan for to wepe, and so dide Emelye,
                   Began to weep, and so did Emelye,
1750        And alle the ladyes in the compaignye.
                   And all the ladies in the company.
1751        Greet pitee was it, as it thoughte hem alle,
                   Great pity was it, as it seemed to them all,
1752        That evere swich a chaunce sholde falle,
                   That ever such a misfortune should occur,
1753        For gentil men they were of greet estaat,
                   For they were gentle men of high rank,
1754        And no thyng but for love was this debaat;
                   And this debate was for nothing but love;
1755        And saugh hir blody woundes wyde and soore,
                   And saw their bloody wounds wide and sore,
1756        And alle crieden, bothe lasse and moore,
                   And all cried, both low ranking and high,
1757        "Have mercy, Lord, upon us wommen alle!"
                   "Have mercy, Lord, upon all of us women!"
1758        And on hir bare knees adoun they falle
                   And they fall down on their bare knees
1759        And wolde have kist his feet ther as he stood;
                   And would have kissed his feet there where he stood;
1760        Til at the laste aslaked was his mood,
                   Until at the last his mood was calmed,
1761        For pitee renneth soone in gentil herte.
                   For pity comes soon to a gentle heart.
1762        And though he first for ire quook and sterte,
                   And though he first for anger shook and trembled,
1763        He hath considered shortly, in a clause,
                   He has considered shortly, in brief,
1764        The trespas of hem bothe, and eek the cause,
                   The trespass of them both, and also the cause,
1765        And although that his ire hir gilt accused,
                   And although his anger reproached them for their guilt,
1766        Yet in his resoun he hem bothe excused,
                   Yet in his reason he excused them both,
1767        As thus: he thoghte wel that every man
                   As thus: he thought well that every man
1768        Wol helpe hymself in love, if that he kan,
                   Will help himself in love, if he can,
1769        And eek delivere hymself out of prisoun.
                   And also deliver himself out of prison.
1770        And eek his herte hadde compassioun
                   And also his heart had compassion
1771        Of wommen, for they wepen evere in oon,
                   Of women, for they weep continually,
1772        And in his gentil herte he thoughte anon,
                   And in his gentle heart he thought straightway,
1773        And softe unto hymself he seyde, "Fy
                   And softly to himself he said, "Fie
1774        Upon a lord that wol have no mercy,
                   Upon a lord that will have no mercy,
1775        But been a leon, bothe in word and dede,
                   But be a lion, both in word and deed,
1776        To hem that been in repentaunce and drede,
                   To those who are in repentance and fear,
1777        As wel as to a proud despitous man
                   As well as to a proud, spiteful man
1778        That wol mayntene that he first bigan.
                   Who will persist in what he first began.
1779        That lord hath litel of discrecioun,
                   That lord has little sound judgment,
1780        That in swich cas kan no divisioun
                   That in such cases knows no distinctions
1781        But weyeth pride and humblesse after oon."
                   But considers pride and humility equal."
1782        And shortly, whan his ire is thus agoon,
                   And shortly, when his anger is thus gone,
1783        He gan to looken up with eyen lighte
                   He began to look up with bright eyes
1784        And spak thise same wordes al on highte:
                   And spoke these same words all aloud:
1785        "The god of love, a benedicite!
                   "The god of love, ah, bless my soul!
1786        How myghty and how greet a lord is he!
                   How mighty and how great a lord is he!
1787        Ayeyns his myght ther gayneth none obstacles.
                   Against his power there avail no obstacles.
1788        He may be cleped a god for his myracles,
                   He may be called a god for his miracles,
1789        For he kan maken, at his owene gyse,
                   For he can make, as he pleases,
1790        Of everich herte as that hym list divyse.
                   Of every heart whatever he wants to devise.
1791        Lo heere this Arcite and this Palamoun,
                   Lo here this Arcite and this Palamon,
1792        That quitly weren out of my prisoun,
                   Who freely were out of my prison,
1793        And myghte han lyved in Thebes roially,
                   And could have lived royally in Thebes,
1794        And witen I am hir mortal enemy,
                   And know I am their mortal enemy,
1795        And that hir deth lith in my myght also,
                   And that their death lies in my power also,
1796        And yet hath love, maugree hir eyen two,
                   And yet has Love, despite anything they could do,
1797        Broght hem hyder bothe for to dye.
                   Brought them both hither to die.
1798        Now looketh, is nat that an heigh folye?
                   Now look, is that not a great folly?
1799        Who may been a fool but if he love?
                   Who can be a fool unless he is in love?
1800        Bihoold, for Goddes sake that sit above,
                   Behold, for the sake of God who sits above,
1801        Se how they blede! Be they noght wel arrayed?
                   See how they bleed! Are they not in fine condition?
1802        Thus hath hir lord, the god of love, ypayed
                   Thus has their lord, the god of love, paid
1803        Hir wages and hir fees for hir servyse!
                   Their wages and their fees for their service!
1804        And yet they wenen for to been ful wyse
                   And yet they consider themselves very wise,
1805        That serven love, for aught that may bifalle.
                   Those who serve love, whatever may happen.
1806        But this is yet the beste game of alle,
                   But this is yet the best joke of all,
1807        That she for whom they han this jolitee
                   That she for whom they have this sport
1808        Kan hem therfore as muche thank as me.
                   Owes them as much gratitude for this as she owes me.
1809        She woot namoore of al this hoote fare,
                   She knows no more of all this passionate business,
1810        By God, than woot a cokkow or an hare!
                   By God, than knows a cuckoo or a hare!
1811        But all moot ben assayed, hoot and coold;
                   But all must be tried, hot or cold;
1812        A man moot ben a fool, or yong or oold --
                   A man must be a fool, either young or old --
1813        I woot it by myself ful yore agon,
                   I know it by my own experience very long ago,
1814        For in my tyme a servant was I oon.
                   For in my time I was a servant (of love).
1815        And therfore, syn I knowe of loves peyne
                   And therefore, since I know of love's pain
1816        And woot hou soore it kan a man distreyne,
                   And know how sorely it can afflict a man,
1817        As he that hath ben caught ofte in his laas,
                   As one who has been often caught in its snare,
1818        I yow foryeve al hoolly this trespaas,
                   I wholly forgive you this trespass,
1819        At requeste of the queene, that kneleth heere,
                   At the request of the queen, who kneels here,
1820        And eek of Emelye, my suster deere.
                   And also of Emelye, my dear sister.
1821        And ye shul bothe anon unto me swere
                   And you must both immediately swear unto me
1822        That nevere mo ye shal my contree dere,
                   That you shall never more harm my country,
1823        Ne make werre upon me nyght ne day,
                   Nor make war upon me at any time,
1824        But been my freendes in all that ye may.
                   But be my friends in all that you can.
1825        I yow foryeve this trespas every deel."
                   I forgive you this trespass completely."
1826        And they hym sworen his axyng faire and weel,
                   And they fairly and well swore to him (to do) his request,
1827        And hym of lordshipe and of mercy preyde,
                   And prayed him to be their lord and to have mercy ,
1828        And he hem graunteth grace, and thus he seyde:
                   And he grants them his favor, and thus he said:
1829        "To speke of roial lynage and richesse,
                   "To speak of royal lineage and riches,
1830        Though that she were a queene or a princesse,
                   Though she were a queen or a princess,
1831        Ech of you bothe is worthy, doutelees,
                   Each of you both is worthy, doubtless,
1832        To wedden whan tyme is; but nathelees --
                   To wed when it is time; but none the less --
1833        I speke as for my suster Emelye,
                   I speak for my sister Emelye,
1834        For whom ye have this strif and jalousye --
                   For whom you have this strife and jealousy --
1835        Ye woot yourself she may nat wedden two
                   You know yourself she can not wed two
1836        Atones, though ye fighten everemo,
                   At once, though you were to fight for evermore,
1837        That oon of you, al be hym looth or lief,
                   That one of you, whether he likes it or not,
1838        He moot go pipen in an yvy leef;
                   He must go whistle in an ivy leaf;
1839        This is to seyn, she may nat now han bothe,
                   This is to say, she can not now have both,
1840        Al be ye never so jalouse ne so wrothe.
                   Although you be never so jealous nor so angry.
1841        And forthy I yow putte in this degree,
                   And therefore I put you in this situation,
1842        That ech of yow shal have his destynee
                   That each of you shall have his destiny
1843        As hym is shape, and herkneth in what wyse;
                   As is ordained for him, and listen in what way;
1844        Lo, heere youre ende of that I shal devyse.
                   Lo, hear what I shall arrange for your fate.
1845        My wyl is this, for plat conclusioun,
                   My will is this, for flat conclusion,
1846        Withouten any repplicacioun --
                   Without any arguing --
1847        If that you liketh, take it for the beste:
                   If this pleases you, take it for the best:
1848        That everich of you shal goon where hym leste
                   That each one of you shall go where he pleases
1849        Frely, withouten raunson or daunger,
                   Freely, without ransom or resistance,
1850        And this day fifty wykes, fer ne ner,
                   And fifty weeks from this day, more or less,
1851        Everich of you shal brynge an hundred knyghtes
                   Each one of you shall bring a hundred knights
1852        Armed for lystes up at alle rightes,
                   Armed up for the lists in all respects,
1853        Al redy to darreyne hire by bataille.
                   All ready to decide the right to her by battle.
1854        And this bihote I yow withouten faille,
                   And this I promise you without fail,
1855        Upon my trouthe, and as I am a knyght,
                   Upon my word, and as I am a knight,
1856        That wheither of yow bothe that hath myght --
                   That whichever of you both who has the power --
1857        This is to seyn, that wheither he or thow
                   This is to say, that whether he or thou
1858        May with his hundred, as I spak of now,
                   Can with his hundred, as I spoke of now,
1859        Sleen his contrarie, or out of lystes dryve,
                   Slay his opponent, or drive him out of the lists ,
1860        Thanne shal I yeve Emelya to wyve
                   Then I shall give Emelye as wife
1861        To whom that Fortune yeveth so fair a grace.
                   To whom Fortune gives so good a gift (to win the battle).
1862        The lystes shal I maken in this place,
                   I shall make the lists in this place,
1863        And God so wisly on my soule rewe
                   And as God may surely have pity on my soul
1864        As I shal evene juge been and trewe.
                   I shall be an impartial and true judge.
1865        Ye shul noon oother ende with me maken,
                   You shall make no other agreement with me,
1866        That oon of yow ne shal be deed or taken.
                   (Save this:) that one of you must be dead or taken.
1867        And if yow thynketh this is weel ysayd,
                   And if it seems to you that this is well said,
1868        Seyeth youre avys, and holdeth you apayd.
                   Say your opinion, and consider yourself satisfied.
1869        This is youre ende and youre conclusioun."
                   This is your (destined) end and your conclusion."
1870        Who looketh lightly now but Palamoun?
                   Who but Palamon looks happy now?
1871        Who spryngeth up for joye but Arcite?
                   Who springs up for joy but Arcite?
1872        Who kouthe telle, or who kouthe it endite,
                   Who could tell, or who could describe in writing,
1873        The joye that is maked in the place
                   The joy that is made in the place
1874        Whan Theseus hath doon so fair a grace?
                   When Theseus has behaved so graciously?
1875        But doun on knees wente every maner wight,
                   But down on knees went every sort of person,
1876        And thonked hym with al hir herte and myght,
                   And thanked him with all their heart and might,
1877        And namely the Thebans often sithe.
                   And especially the Thebans many times.
1878        And thus with good hope and with herte blithe
                   And thus with good hope and with happy heart
1879        They taken hir leve, and homward gonne they ride
                   They take their leave, and homeward did they ride
1880        To Thebes with his olde walles wyde.
                   To Thebes with his old wide walls.

Explicit secunda pars
The second part ends

____________________________

Sequitur pars tercia
The third part follows

1881        I trowe men wolde deme it necligence
                   I suppose men would consider it negligence
1882        If I foryete to tellen the dispence
                   If I forget to tell the expenditure
1883        Of Theseus, that gooth so bisily
                   Of Theseus, who goes (about) so busily
1884        To maken up the lystes roially,
                   To build the lists royally,
1885        That swich a noble theatre as it was
                   That such a noble theatre as it was
1886        I dar wel seyen in this world ther nas.
                   I dare well say there was not (another such) in this world.
1887        The circuit a myle was aboute,
                   The circumference was a mile around,
1888        Walled of stoon, and dyched al withoute.
                   Walled with stone, and surrounded by a ditch.
1889        Round was the shap, in manere of compas,
                   Round was the shape, in the manner of a circle,
1890        Ful of degrees, the heighte of sixty pas,
                   Full of tiers of seats, the height of sixty paces,
1891        That whan a man was set on o degree,
                   That when a man was set on one tier of seats,
1892        He letted nat his felawe for to see.
                   He did not hinder his fellow from seeing.
1893        Estward ther stood a gate of marbul whit,
                   Eastward there stood a gate of white marble,
1894        Westward right swich another in the opposit.
                   Westward just such another on the opposite (side).
1895        And shortly to concluden, swich a place
                   And shortly to conclude, such a place
1896        Was noon in erthe, as in so litel space;
                   Was none in earth, (constructed) in so little time;
1897        For in the lond ther was no crafty man
                   For in the land there was no skilled man
1898        That geometrie or ars-metrike kan,
                   Who knows geometry or arithmetic,
1899        Ne portreyour, ne kervere of ymages,
                   Nor painter, nor carver of images,
1900        That Theseus ne yaf him mete and wages
                   That Theseus did not give him food and wages
1901        The theatre for to maken and devyse.
                   To make and devise the theatre.
1902        And for to doon his ryte and sacrifise,
                   And to do his rite and sacrifice,
1903        He estward hath, upon the gate above,
                   He has eastward, upon the gate above,
1904        In worshipe of Venus, goddesse of love,
                   In worship of Venus, goddess of love,
1905        Doon make an auter and an oratorie;
                   Had made an altar and a chapel;
1906        And on the gate westward, in memorie
                   And on the westward gate, in memory
1907        Of Mars, he maked hath right swich another,
                   Of Mars, he has made just such another,
1908        That coste largely of gold a fother.
                   That cost fully a cartload of gold.
1909        And northward, in a touret on the wal,
                   And northward, in a turret on the wall,
1910        Of alabastre whit and reed coral,
                   Of white alabaster and red coral,
1911        An oratorie, riche for to see,
                   A chapel, rich to look upon,
1912        In worshipe of Dyane of chastitee,
                   In worship of Diana of chastity,
1913        Hath Theseus doon wroght in noble wyse.
                   Has Theseus had made in noble style.
1914        But yet hadde I foryeten to devyse
                   But yet had I forgotten to describe
1915        The noble kervyng and the portreitures,
                   The noble sculpture and the portraits,
1916        The shap, the contenaunce, and the figures
                   The shape, the appearance, and the figures
1917        That weren in thise oratories thre.
                   That were in these three chapels.
1918        First in the temple of Venus maystow se
                   First in the temple of Venus canst thou see
1919        Wroght on the wal, ful pitous to biholde,
                   Wrought on the wall, full piteous to behold,
1920        The broken slepes, and the sikes colde,
                   The broken sleeps, and the cold sighs,
1921        The sacred teeris, and the waymentynge,
                   The sacred tears, and the lamenting,
1922        The firy strokes of the desirynge
                   The fiery strokes of the desiring
1923        That loves servantz in this lyf enduren;
                   That love's servants endure in this life;
1924        The othes that hir covenantz assuren;
                   The oaths that assure their covenants;
1925        Pleasance and Hope, Desir, Foolhardynesse,
                   Pleasure and Hope, Desire, Foolhardiness,
1926        Beautee and Youthe, Bauderie, Richesse,
                   Beauty and Youth, Mirth, Riches,
1927        Charmes and Force, Lesynges, Flaterye,
                   Charms and Force, Lies, Flattery,
1928        Despense, Bisynesse, and Jalousye,
                   Expenditures, Attentiveness, and Jealousy,
1929        That wered of yelewe gooldes a gerland,
                   Who wore a garland of yellow marigolds,
1930        And a cokkow sittynge on hir hand;
                   And a cuckoo sitting on her hand;
1931        Festes, instrumentz, caroles, daunces,
                   Feasts, musical instruments, dance-songs, dances,
1932        Lust and array, and alle the circumstaunces
                   Desire and festivity, and all the details
1933        Of love, which that I rekned and rekne shal,
                   Of love, which I recounted and shall recount,
1934        By ordre weren peynted on the wal,
                   Were painted in sequence on the wall,
1935        And mo than I kan make of mencioun.
                   And more than I can make mention of.
1936        For soothly al the mount of Citheroun,
                   For truly all the mount of Cithaeron,
1937        Ther Venus hath hir principal dwellynge,
                   Where Venus has her principal dwelling,
1938        Was shewed on the wal in portreyynge,
                   Was shown on the wall in portraits,
1939        With al the gardyn and the lustynesse.
                   With all the garden (of Love) and the pleasure.
1940        Nat was foryeten the porter, Ydelnesse,
                   The porter, Idleness, was not forgotten
1941        Ne Narcisus the faire of yore agon,
                   Nor the handsome Narcissus of many years ago,
1942        Ne yet the folye of kyng Salomon,
                   Nor yet the folly of king Solomon,
1943        Ne yet the grete strengthe of Ercules --
                   Nor yet the great strength of Hercules --
1944        Th'enchauntementz of Medea and Circes --
                   The enchantments of Medea and Circes --
1945        Ne of Turnus, with the hardy fiers corage,
                   Nor of Turnus, with the hardy fierce courage,
1946        The riche Cresus, kaytyf in servage.
                   The riche Cresus, wretched in servitude.
1947        Thus may ye seen that wysdom ne richesse,
                   Thus can you see that wisdom nor riches,
1948        Beautee ne sleighte, strengthe ne hardynesse,
                   Beauty nor trickery, strength nor bravery,
1949        Ne may with Venus holde champartie,
                   Can not share power with Venus,
1950        For as hir list the world than may she gye.
                   For she may rule the world as she pleases.
1951        Lo, alle thise folk so caught were in hir las,
                   Lo, all these folk were so caught in her snare,
1952        Til they for wo ful ofte seyde "allas!"
                   Until for woe they very often said "alas!"
1953        Suffiseth heere ensamples oon or two,
                   One or two examples here suffice,
1954        And though I koude rekene a thousand mo.
                   Even though I could recount a thousand more.
1955        The statue of Venus, glorious for to se,
                   The statue of Venus, glorious to look upon,
1956        Was naked, fletynge in the large see,
                   Was naked, floating in the large sea,
1957        And fro the navele doun al covered was
                   And from the navel down all was covered
1958        With wawes grene, and brighte as any glas.
                   With waves green and bright as any glass.
1959        A citole in hir right hand hadde she,
                   She had a citole (zither-like instrument) in her right hand,
1960        And on hir heed, ful semely for to se,
                   And on her head, very elegant to look upon,
1961        A rose gerland, fressh and wel smellynge;
                   A rose garland, fresh and fragrant;
1962        Above hir heed hir dowves flikerynge.
                   Above her head her doves fluttering.
1963        Biforn hire stood hir sone Cupido;
                   Before her stood her son Cupid;
1964        Upon his shuldres wynges hadde he two,
                   He had two wings upon his shoulders,
1965        And blynd he was, as it is often seene;
                   And he was blind, as it is often seen;
1966        A bowe he bar and arwes brighte and kene.
                   He carried a bow and arrows bright and keen.
1967        Why sholde I noght as wel eek telle yow al
                   Why should I not as well also tell you all
1968        The portreiture that was upon the wal
                   The portraiture that was upon the wall
1969        Withinne the temple of myghty Mars the rede?
                   Within the temple of mighty Mars the red?
1970        Al peynted was the wal, in lengthe and brede,
                   All painted was the wall, in length and breadth,
1971        Lyk to the estres of the grisly place
                   Like to the interior of the grisly place
1972        That highte the grete temple of Mars in Trace,
                   That is called the Great Temple of Mars in Thrace,
1973        In thilke colde, frosty regioun
                   In that same cold, frosty region
1974        Ther as Mars hath his sovereyn mansioun.
                   Where Mars has his most excellent mansion.
1975        First on the wal was peynted a forest,
                   First a forest was painted on the wall,
1976        In which ther dwelleth neither man ne best,
                   In which there dwells neither man nor beast,
1977        With knotty, knarry, bareyne trees olde,
                   With knotty, gnarled, barren old trees,
1978        Of stubbes sharpe and hidouse to biholde,
                  Of stumps sharp and hideous to behold,
1979        In which ther ran a rumbel in a swough,
                  Through which there ran a rumbling in a moaning of wind,
1980        As though a storm sholde bresten every bough.
                 As though a storm should burst every bough.
1981        And dounward from an hille, under a bente,
                 And downward from a hill, close to a grassy slope,
1982        Ther stood the temple of Mars armypotente,
                 There stood the temple of Mars, powerful in arms,
1983        Wroght al of burned steel, of which the entree
                 Wrought all of burnished steel, of which the entry
1984        Was long and streit, and gastly for to se.
                   Was long and narrow, and frightening to look upon.
1985        And therout came a rage and swich a veze
                   And out of there came a rush of wind and such a blast
1986        That it made al the gate for to rese.
                   That it made all the gate to shake.
1987        The northren lyght in at the dores shoon,
                   The northern light shone in at the doors,
1988        For wyndowe on the wal ne was ther noon,
                   For there was no window on the wall,
1989        Thurgh which men myghten any light discerne.
                   Through which men might discern any light.
1990        The dore was al of adamant eterne,
                   The door was all of eternal adamant (hardest of stones),
1991        Yclenched overthwart and endelong
                   Bound crosswise and lengthwise
1992        With iren tough; and for to make it strong,
                   With tough iron; and to make it strong,
1993        Every pyler, the temple to sustene,
                   Every pillar, to support the temple,
1994        Was tonne-greet, of iren bright and shene.
                   Was big as a large barrel, (made) of iron bright and shining.
1995        Ther saugh I first the derke ymaginyng
                   There I saw first the malicious plotting
1996        Of Felonye, and al the compassyng;
                   Of Felony, and all the scheming;
1997        The crueel Ire, reed as any gleede;
                   The cruel Anger, red as any glowing coal;
1998        The pykepurs, and eek the pale Drede;
                   The pick-purse, and also the pale Fear;
1999        The smylere with the knyf under the cloke;
                   The smiler with the knife under the cloak;
2000        The shepne brennynge with the blake smoke;
                   The stable burning with the black smoke;
2001        The tresoun of the mordrynge in the bedde;
                   The treason of the murdering in the bed;
2002        The open werre, with woundes al bibledde;
                   The open war, all covered with blood from wounds:
2003        Contek, with blody knyf and sharp manace.
                   Strife, with bloody knife and sharp menacing.
2004        Al ful of chirkyng was that sory place.
                   All full of creaking was that sorry place.
2005        The sleere of hymself yet saugh I ther --
                   There yet I saw slayer of himself there --
2006        His herte-blood hath bathed al his heer --
                   His heart-blood has bathed all his hair --
2007        The nayl ydryven in the shode anyght;
                   The nail driven in the top of the head at night;
2008        The colde deeth, with mouth gapyng upright.
                   The cold death, with mouth gaping upwards.
2009        Amyddes of the temple sat Meschaunce,
                   Amidst the temple sat Misfortune,
2010        With disconfort and sory contenaunce.
                   With grief and sorry countenance.
2011        Yet saugh I Woodnesse, laughynge in his rage,
                   Yet I saw Madness, laughing in his rage,
2012        Armed Compleint, Outhees, and fiers Outrage;
                   Armed Discontent, Alarm, and fierce Violence;
2013        The careyne in the busk, with throte ycorve;
                   The corpse in the woods, with (its) throat cut;
2014        A thousand slayn, and nat of qualm ystorve;
                   A thousand slain, and not killed by the plague;
2015        The tiraunt, with the pray by force yraft;
                   The tyrant, with his prey taken by force;
2016        The toun destroyed, ther was no thyng laft.
                   The town destroyed, there was nothing left.
2017        Yet saugh I brent the shippes hoppesteres;
                   Yet I saw burned the ships dancing (on the waves);
2018        The hunte strangled with the wilde beres;
                   The hunter killed by the wild bears;
2019        The sowe freten the child right in the cradel;
                   The sow devouring the child right in the cradle;
2020        The cook yscalded, for al his longe ladel.
                   The cook scalded, despite his long-handled spoon.
2021        Noght was foryeten by the infortune of Marte.
                   Nothing concerning the evil influence of Mars was forgotten.
2022        The cartere overryden with his carte --
                   The wagon driver run over by his wagon --
2023        Under the wheel ful lowe he lay adoun.
                   He lay down full low under the wheel.
2024        Ther were also, of Martes divisioun,
                   There were also, of those influenced by Mars,
2025        The barbour, and the bocher, and the smyth,
                   The barber, and the butcher, and the smith,
2026        That forgeth sharpe swerdes on his styth.
                   Who forges sharp swords on his anvil.
2027        And al above, depeynted in a tour,
                   And all above, painted in a tower,
2028        Saugh I Conquest, sittynge in greet honour,
                   I saw conquest, sitting in great honor,
2029        With the sharpe swerd over his heed
                   With the sharp sword over his head
2030        Hangynge by a soutil twynes threed.
                   Hanging by a thin thread of twine.
2031        Depeynted was the slaughtre of Julius,
                   Depicted was the slaughter of Julius,
2032        Of grete Nero, and of Antonius;
                   Of great Nero, and of Antonius;
2033        Al be that thilke tyme they were unborn,
                   Although at that same time they were unborn,
2034        Yet was hir deth depeynted ther-biforn
                   Yet was their death depicted before then
2035        By manasynge of Mars, right by figure;
                   By menacing of Mars, according to the horoscope;
2036        So was it shewed in that portreiture,
                   So was it shown in that portraiture,
2037        As is depeynted in the sterres above
                   As is depicted in the stars above
2038        Who shal be slayn or elles deed for love.
                   Who shall be slain or else dead for love.
2039        Suffiseth oon ensample in stories olde;
                   Suffices one illustrative tale in old histories;
2040        I may nat rekene hem alle though I wolde.
                   I can not recount them all even if I desired to.
2041        The statue of Mars upon a carte stood
                   The statue of Mars stood upon a chariot
2042        Armed, and looked grym as he were wood;
                   Armed, and looked as grim as if he were mad;
2043        And over his heed ther shynen two figures
                   And over his head there shine two figures
2044        Of sterres, that been cleped in scriptures,
                   Of stars, that are called in books,
2045        That oon Puella, that oother Rubeus --
                   That one Puella, that other Rubeus --
2046        This god of armes was arrayed thus.
                   This god of arms was arrayed thus.
2047        A wolf ther stood biforn hym at his feet
                   A wolf stood there before him at his feet
2048        With eyen rede, and of a man he eet;
                   With red eyes, and he ate of a man;
2049        With soutil pencel was depeynted this storie
                   With subtle brush was depicted this story
2050        In redoutynge of Mars and of his glorie.
                   In reverence of Mars and of his glory.

2051        Now to the temple of Dyane the chaste,
                   Now to the temple of Diana the chaste,
2052        As shortly as I kan, I wol me haste,
                   As briefly as I can, I will hasten myself,
2053        To telle yow al the descripsioun.
                   To tell you all the description.
2054        Depeynted been the walles up and doun
                   The walls are painted all over
2055        Of huntyng and of shamefast chastitee.
                   (With scenes) of hunting and of modest chastity.
2056        Ther saugh I how woful Calistopee,
                   There I saw how woeful Callisto,
2057        Whan that Diane agreved was with here,
                   When Diana was angry with her,
2058        Was turned from a womman til a bere,
                   Was turned from a woman into a bear,
2059        And after was she maad the loode-sterre.
                   And after she was made the North Star
2060        Thus was it peynted; I kan sey yow no ferre.
                   Thus was it painted; I can tell you no more.
2061        Hir sone is eek a sterre, as men may see.
                   Her son is also a star, as one can see.
2062        Ther saugh I Dane, yturned til a tree --
                   There I saw Daphne, turned into a tree --
2063        I mene nat the goddesse Diane,
                   I mean not the goddess Diana,
2064        But Penneus doghter, which that highte Dane.
                   But Penneus' daughter, who is called Daphne.
2065        Ther saugh I Attheon an hert ymaked,
                   There I saw Actaeon changed into a hart,
2066        For vengeaunce that he saugh Diane al naked;
                   For vengeance that he saw Diana all naked;
2067        I saugh how that his houndes have hym caught
                   I saw how his hounds have caught him
2068        And freeten hym, for that they knewe hym naught.
                   And devoured him, because they did not know him.
2069        Yet peynted was a litel forther moor
                   Yet was painted a little further on
2070        How Atthalante hunted the wilde boor,
                   How Atalanta hunted the wild boar,
2071        And Meleagre, and many another mo,
                   And Meleager, and many more others,
2072        For which Dyane wroghte hym care and wo.
                   For which Diana wrought him care and woe.
2073        Ther saugh I many another wonder storie,
                   There I saw many another wonderful story,
2074        The which me list nat drawen to memorie.
                   The which I do not desire to call to mind.
2075        This goddesse on an hert ful hye seet,
                   This goddess sat full high on a hart,
2076        With smale houndes al aboute hir feet,
                   With small hounds all about her feet,
2077        And undernethe hir feet she hadde a moone --
                   And underneath her feet she had a moon --
2078        Wexynge it was and sholde wanye soone.
                   Waxing it was and should wane soon.
2079        In gaude grene hir statue clothed was,
                   Her statue was clothed in yellowish green,
2080        With bowe in honde and arwes in a cas.
                   With bow in hand and arrows in a quiver.
2081        Hir eyen caste she ful lowe adoun
                   She cast her eyes down full low
2082        Ther Pluto hath his derke regioun.
                   Where Pluto has his dark region.
2083        A womman travaillynge was hire biforn;
                   A woman in childbirth was before her;
2084        But for hir child so longe was unborn,
                   But because her child was so long unborn,
2085        Ful pitously Lucyna gan she calle
                   Very piteously did she call on Lucina
2086        And seyde, "Help, for thou mayst best of alle!"
                   And said, "Help, for thou canst (do so) best of all!"
2087        Wel koude he peynten lifly that it wroghte;
                   He who made it well knew how to paint in a life-like manner;
2088        With many a floryn he the hewes boghte.
                   With many a florin he bought the paints.
2089        Now been thise lystes maad, and Theseus,
                   Now these lists are made, and Theseus,
2090        That at his grete cost arrayed thus
                   Who at his great cost thus prepared
2091        The temples and the theatre every deel,
                   The temples and the theatre in all respects,
2092        Whan it was doon, hym lyked wonder weel.
                   When it was done, it greatly pleased him.
2093        But stynte I wole of Theseus a lite,
                   But I will stop speaking of Theseus a little while,
2094        And speke of Palamon and of Arcite.
                   And speak of Palamon and of Arcite.
2095        The day approcheth of hir retournynge,
                   The day of their return approaches,
2096        That everich sholde an hundred knyghtes brynge
                   When each one should bring a hundred knights
2097        The bataille to darreyne, as I yow tolde.
                   To decide the battle, as I told you.
2098        And til Atthenes, hir covenant for to holde,
                   And to Athens, to keep their agreement,
2099        Hath everich of hem broght an hundred knyghtes,
                   Each one of them has brought a hundred knights,
2100        Wel armed for the werre at alle rightes.
                   Well armed for the battle in all respects.
2101        And sikerly ther trowed many a man
                   And surely many a man there believed
2102        That nevere, sithen that the world bigan,
                   That never, since the world began,
2103        As for to speke of knyghthod of hir hond,
                   To speak of knighthood of (the deeds of) their hand,
2104        As fer as God hath maked see or lond,
                   As far as God has made sea or land,
2105        Nas of so fewe so noble a compaignye.
                   Was not of so few so noble a company.
2106        For every wight that lovede chivalrye
                   For every person that loved chivalry
2107        And wolde, his thankes, han a passant name,
                   And would, willingly, have an outstanding reputation
2108        Hath preyed that he myghte been of that game;
                   Has prayed that he might participate in that game;
2109        And wel was hym that therto chosen was,
                   And well it was for him who was chosen to be there,
2110        For if ther fille tomorwe swich a cas,
                   For if there fell tomorrow such a situation,
2111        Ye knowen wel that every lusty knyght
                   You know well that every vigorous knight
2112        That loveth paramours and hath his myght,
                   Who loves passionately and has his might,
2113        Were it in Engelond or elleswhere,
                   Were it in England or elsewhere,
2114        They wolde, hir thankes, wilnen to be there --
                   They would, willingly, desire to be there --
2115        To fighte for a lady, benedicitee!
                   To fight for a lady, bless me!
2116        It were a lusty sighte for to see.
                   It would be a pleasing sight to see.
2117        And right so ferden they with Palamon.
                   And right so fared those with Palamon.
2118        With hym ther wenten knyghtes many on;
                   With him there went knights many a one;
2119        Som wol ben armed in an haubergeoun,
                   One of them will be armed in a coat of mail,
2120        And in a brestplate and a light gypoun;
                   And in a breastplate and a light tunic;
2121        And som wol have a paire plates large;
                   And one of them will have a set of plate armor;
2122        And som wol have a Pruce sheeld or a targe;
                   And one of them will have a Prussian shield or a buckler;
2123        Som wol ben armed on his legges weel,
                   One of them will be well armed on his legs,
2124        And have an ax, and som a mace of steel --
                   And have an axe, and one a mace of steel --
2125        Ther is no newe gyse that it nas old.
                   There is no new fashion that has not been old.
2126        Armed were they, as I have yow told,
                   They were armed, as I have told you,
2127        Everych after his opinioun.
                   Every one according to his preference.
2128        Ther maistow seen, comynge with Palamoun,
                   There mayst thou seen, coming with Palamon,
2129        Lygurge hymself, the grete kyng of Trace.
                   Lycurgus himself, the great king of Thrace.
2130        Blak was his berd, and manly was his face;
                   Black was his beard, and manly was his face;
2131        The cercles of his eyen in his heed,
                   The circles of his eyes in his head,
2132        They gloweden bitwixen yelow and reed,
                   They glowed between yellow and red,
2133        And lik a grifphon looked he aboute,
                   And he looked about like a griffin (with an eagle's head),
2134        With kempe heeris on his browes stoute;
                   With shaggy hairs on his stout brows;
2135        His lymes grete, his brawnes harde and stronge,
                   His limbs large, his muscles hard and strong,
2136        His shuldres brode, his armes rounde and longe;
                   His shoulders broad, his arms round and long;
2137        And as the gyse was in his contree,
                   And as was the fashion in his country,
2138        Ful hye upon a chaar of gold stood he,
                   He stood full high upon a chariot of gold,
2139        With foure white boles in the trays.
                   With four white bulls in the traces.
2140        In stede of cote-armure over his harnays,
                   Instead of a tunic with his coat of arms over his armor,
2141        With nayles yelewe and brighte as any gold,
                   With claws yellow and bright as any gold,
2142        He hadde a beres skyn, col-blak for old.
                   He had a bear's skin, coal-black because of age.
2143        His longe heer was kembd bihynde his bak;
                   His long hair was combed behind his back;
2144        As any ravenes fethere it shoon for blak;
                   Like any raven's feather it shone because of its blackness;
2145        A wrethe of gold, arm-greet, of huge wighte,
                   A wreath of gold, thick as an arm, of huge weight,
2146        Upon his heed, set ful of stones brighte,
                   Upon his head, set full of bright stones,
2147        Of fyne rubyes and of dyamauntz.
                   Of fine rubies and of diamonds.
2148        Aboute his chaar ther wenten white alauntz,
                   About his chariot there went white wolfhounds,
2149        Twenty and mo, as grete as any steer,
                   Twenty and more, as big as any steer,
2150        To hunten at the leoun or the deer,
                   To hunt for the lion or the deer,
2151        And folwed hym with mosel faste ybounde,
                   And followed him with muzzles securely bound,
2152        Colered of gold, and tourettes fyled rounde.
                   Wearing collars of gold, and rings for leashes filed round.
2153        An hundred lordes hadde he in his route,
                   He had a hundred lords in his company,
2154        Armed ful wel, with hertes stierne and stoute.
                   Very well armed, with stern and stout hearts.
2155        With Arcita, in stories as men fynde,
                   With Arcite, as people find in histories,
2156        The grete Emetreus, the kyng of Inde,
                   The great Emetreus, the king of India,
2157        Upon a steede bay trapped in steel,
                   Upon a reddish-brown steed with trappings of steel,
2158        Covered in clooth of gold, dyapred weel,
                   Covered in cloth of gold, well decorated (with geometric patterns),
2159        Cam ridynge lyk the god of armes, Mars.
                   Came riding like the god of arms, Mars.
2160        His cote-armure was of clooth of Tars
                   His tunic with his coat of arms was of cloth of Tarsia (in Turkestan)
2161        Couched with perles white and rounde and grete;
                   Adorned with pearls white and round and big;
2162        His sadel was of brend gold newe ybete;
                   His saddle was newly adorned with pure gold;
2163        A mantelet upon his shulder hangynge,
                   A short cloak hanging upon his shoulder,
2164        Bret-ful of rubyes rede as fyr sparklynge;
                   Brimful of rubies red as sparkling fire;
2165        His crispe heer lyk rynges was yronne,
                   His curly hair like rings was run (fashioned),
2166        And that was yelow, and glytered as the sonne.
                   And that was yellow, and glittered like the sun.
2167        His nose was heigh, his eyen bright citryn,
                   His nose was high, his eyes bright lemon yellow,
2168        His lippes rounde, his colour was sangwyn;
                   His lips round, his color was ruddy;
2169        A fewe frakenes in his face yspreynd,
                   A few freckles were sprinkled in his face,
2170        Bitwixen yelow and somdel blak ymeynd;
                   Between yellow and somewhat mingled with black;
2171        And as a leon he his lookyng caste.
                   And as a lion he cast about his look.
2172        Of fyve and twenty yeer his age I caste.
                   I reckon his age at five and twenty years.
2173        His berd was wel bigonne for to sprynge;
                   His beard had well begun to spring;
2174        His voys was as a trompe thonderynge.
                   His voice was like a trumpet thundering.
2175        Upon his heed he wered of laurer grene
                   Upon his head he wore of green laurel
2176        A gerland, fressh and lusty for to sene.
                   A garland, fresh and pleasing to look upon.
2177        Upon his hand he bar for his deduyt
                   Upon his hand he carried for his delight
2178        An egle tame, as any lilye whyt.
                   A tame eagle, white as any lily.
2179        An hundred lordes hadde he with hym there,
                   He had a hundred lords with him there,
2180        Al armed, save hir heddes, in al hir gere,
                   All armed, except for their heads, in all their equipment,
2181        Ful richely in alle maner thynges.
                   Very richly in every detail.
2182        For trusteth wel that dukes, erles, kynges
                   For trust well that dukes, earls, kings
2183        Were gadered in this noble compaignye,
                   Were gathered in this noble company,
2184        For love and for encrees of chivalrye.
                   For love and for the benefit of chivalry.
2185        Aboute this kyng ther ran on every part
                   About this king there ran on all sides
2186        Ful many a tame leon and leopart.
                   Full many a tame lion and leopard.
2187        And in this wise thise lordes, alle and some,
                   And in this manner these lords, one and all,
2188        Been on the Sonday to the citee come
                   Are come to the city on the Sunday
2189        Aboute pryme, and in the toun alight.
                   About nine a.m., and in the town dismounted.
2190        This Theseus, this duc, this worthy knyght,
                   This Theseus, this duke, this worthy knight,
2191        Whan he had broght hem into his citee,
                   When he had brought them into his city,
2192        And inned hem, everich at his degree,
                   And provided them lodging, each one according to his rank,
2193        He festeth hem, and dooth so greet labour
                   He feasts them, and does such great labor
2194        To esen hem and doon hem al honour
                   To entertain them and do them all honor
2195        That yet men wenen that no mannes wit
                   That people still believe that the wit of no man
2196        Of noon estaat ne koude amenden it.
                   Of any rank could do better.
2197        The mynstralcye, the service at the feeste,
                   The music, the service at the feast,
2198        The grete yiftes to the meeste and leeste,
                   The great gifts to every one,
2199        The riche array of Theseus paleys,
                   The rich adornment of Theseus' palace,
2200        Ne who sat first ne last upon the deys,
                   Nor who sat first nor last upon the dais,
2201        What ladyes fairest been or best daunsynge,
                   What ladies are fairest or best in dancing,
2202        Or which of hem kan dauncen best and synge,
                   Or which of them can dance best and sing,
2203        Ne who moost felyngly speketh of love;
                   Nor who speaks most feelingly of love;
2204        What haukes sitten on the perche above,
                   What hawks sit on the perch above,
2205        What houndes liggen on the floor adoun --
                   What hounds lie down on the floor --
2206        Of al this make I now no mencioun,
                   I now make no mention of all this,
2207         But al th' effect; that thynketh me the beste.
                    But (speak only) of the substance; that seems to me the best.
2208        Now cometh the point, and herkneth if yow leste.
                   Now comes the point, and listen if you please.
2209        The Sonday nyght, er day bigan to sprynge,
                   The Sunday night, before day began to spring,
2210        Whan Palamon the larke herde synge
                   When Palamon heard the lark sing
2211        (Although it nere nat day by houres two,
                   (Although it was not day by two hours,
2212        Yet the larke sang) and Palamon right then
                   Yet sang the lark) and Palamon right then
2213        With hooly herte and with an heigh corage,
                   With pious heart and with a noble disposition,
2214        He roos to wenden on his pilgrymage
                   He rose to go on his pilgrimage
2215        Unto the blissful Citherea benign --
                   To the blessed gracious Citherea --
2216        I mene Venus, honurable and digne.
                   I mean Venus, honorable and worshipful.
2217        And in hir houre he walketh forth a pas
                   And in her (planetary) hour he walks forth slowly
2218        Unto the lystes ther hire temple was,
                   Unto the lists where her temple was,
2219        And doun he kneleth, and with humble cheere
                   And down he kneels, and with humble expression
2220        And herte soor he seyde as ye shal heere:
                   And painful heart he said as you shall hear:
2221        "Faireste of faire, O lady myn, Venus,
                   "Fairest of the fair, O lady mine, Venus,
2222        Doughter to Jove and spouse of Vulcanus,
                   Daughter to Jove and spouse of Vulcan,
2223        Thow gladere of the mount of Citheron,
                   Thou maker of joy of the mount of Citheron,
2224        For thilke love thow haddest to Adoon,
                   For that same love thou haddest to Adonis,
2225        Have pitee of my bittre teeris smerte,
                   Have pity on my bitter, smarting tears,
2226        And taak myn humble preyere at thyn herte.
                   And take my humble prayer to thy heart.
2227        Allas! I ne have no langage to telle
                   Alas! I do not have any language to tell
2228        Th'effectes ne the tormentz of myn helle;
                   The effects nor the torments of my hell;
2229        Myn herte may myne harmes nat biwreye;
                   My heart can not reveal my harms;
2230        I am so confus that I kan noght seye
                   I am so befuddled that I can not say (anything)
2231        But `Mercy, lady bright, that knowest weele
                   But `Mercy, lady bright, who knowest well
2232        My thought and seest what harmes that I feele!'
                   My thought and seest what harms I feel!'
2233        Considere al this and rewe upon my soore,
                   Consider all this and have pity upon my pain,
2234        As wisly as I shal for everemoore,
                   As surely as I shall for evermore,
2235        Emforth my myght, thy trewe servant be,
                   According to my power (as much as I can), be thy true servant,
2236        And holden werre alwey with chastitee.
                   And make war always against chastity.
2237        That make I myn avow, so ye me helpe!
                   I make that my vow, providing you help me!
2238        I kepe noght of armes for to yelpe,
                   I care not to boast of arms
2239        Ne I ne axe nat tomorwe to have victorie,
                   Nor do I ask to have victory tomorrow,
2240        Ne renoun in this cas, ne veyne glorie
                   Nor renown in this case, nor vain glory
2241        Of pris of armes blowen up and doun;
                   Nor fame for deeds of arms proclaimed everywhere;
2242        But I wolde have fully possessioun
                   But I would have fully possession
2243        Of Emelye, and dye in thy servyse.
                   Of Emelye, and die in thy service.
2244        Fynd thow the manere hou and in what wyse:
                   Find thou the manner how and in what way:
2245        I recche nat but it may bettre be
                   I care not if it may better be
2246        To have victorie of hem, or they of me,
                   To have victory over them, or they over me,
2247        So that I have my lady in myne armes.
                   So that I have my lady in my arms.
2248        For though so be that Mars is god of armes,
                   For though it be true that Mars is god of arms,
2249        Youre vertu is so greet in hevene above
                   Your power is so great in heaven above
2250        That if yow list, I shal wel have my love.
                   That if you please, I shall well have my love.
2251        Thy temple wol I worshipe everemo,
                   I will worship thy temple evermore,
2252        And on thyn auter, where I ride or go,
                   And on thy altar, whether I ride or walk (whatever I do),
2253        I wol doon sacrifice and fires beete.
                   I will do sacrifice and kindle fires.
2254        And if ye wol nat so, my lady sweete,
                   And if you will not (do) so, my lady sweet,
2255        Thanne preye I thee, tomorwe with a spere
                   Then I pray thee, tomorrow with a spear
2256        That Arcita me thurgh the herte bere.
                    That Arcite stab me through the heart.
2257        Thanne rekke I noght, whan I have lost my lyf,
                   Then I care not, when I have lost my life,
2258        Though that Arcita wynne hire to his wyf.
                   Though Arcite win her to be his wife.
2259        This is th'effect and ende of my preyere:
                   This is the substance and goal of my prayer:
2260        Yif me my love, thow blisful lady deere."
                   Give me my love, thou blessed dear lady."
2261        Whan the orison was doon of Palamon,
                   When the prayer of Palamon was done,
2262        His sacrifice he dide, and that anon,
                   He did his sacrifice, and that quickly,
2263        Ful pitously, with alle circumstaunces,
                   Full piteously, with all due ceremony,
2264        Al telle I noght as now his observaunces;
                   Although I tell not now his observances;
2265        But atte laste the statue of Venus shook,
                   But at the last the statue of Venus shook,
2266        And made a signe, wherby that he took
                   And made a sign, whereby he understood
2267        That his preyere accepted was that day.
                   That his prayer was accepted that day.
2268        For thogh the signe shewed a delay,
                   For though the sign showed a delay,
2269        Yet wiste he wel that graunted was his boone,
                   Yet he knew well that his request was granted,
2270        And with glad herte he wente hym hoom ful soone.
                   And with glad heart he went home very soon.
2271        The thridde houre inequal that Palamon
                   The third planetary hour after Palamon
2272        Bigan to Venus temple for to gon,
                   Began to go to Venus' temple,
2273        Up roos the sonne, and up roos Emelye
                   Up rose the sun, and up rose Emelye
2274        And to the temple of Dyane gan hye.
                   And to the temple of Diana did hasten.
2275        Hir maydens, that she thider with hire ladde,
                   Her maidens, whom she led thither with her,
2276        Ful redily with hem the fyr they hadde,
                   They had the fire full readily with them,
2277        Th'encens, the clothes, and the remenant al
                   The incense, the cloths, and all the rest
2278        That to the sacrifice longen shal;
                   That is needed for the sacrifice;
2279        The hornes fulle of meeth, as was the gyse --
                   The horns full of mead, as was the custom --
2280        Ther lakked noght to doon hir sacrifise.
                   There lacked nothing (needed) to do her sacrifice.
2281        Smokynge the temple, ful of clothes faire,
                   The temple smoking (with incense), full of fair cloths,
2282        This Emelye, with herte debonaire,
                   This Emelye, with gentle heart,
2283        Hir body wessh with water of a welle.
                   Washed her body with water of a well.
2284        But hou she dide hir ryte I dar nat telle,
                   But how she did her rite I dare not tell,
2285        But it be any thing in general;
                   Unless it be some thing in general;
2286        And yet it were a game to heeren al.
                   And yet it would be a pleasure to hear all.
2287        To hym that meneth wel it were no charge;
                   To one who means well it would be no matter of concern;
2288        But it is good a man been at his large.
                   But it is good for a man to be without restriction (speak freely).
2289        Hir brighte heer was kembd, untressed al;
                   Her bright hair was combed, all loose;
2290        A coroune of a grene ook cerial
                   A crown of an evergreen oak
2291        Upon hir heed was set ful fair and meete.
                   Was set upon her head full fair and suitable.
2292        Two fyres on the auter gan she beete,
                   Two fires on the altar did she kindle,
2293        And dide hir thynges, as men may biholde
                   And did her duties, as men can behold
2294         In Stace of Thebes and thise bookes olde.
                   In Statius' Thebaid and such old books.
2295        Whan kyndled was the fyr, with pitous cheere
                   When the fire was kindled, with a pitiful expression
2296        Unto Dyane she spak as ye may heere:
                   Unto Diana she spoke as you may hear:
2297        "O chaste goddesse of the wodes grene,
                   "O chaste goddess of the green woods,
2298        To whom bothe hevene and erthe and see is sene,
                   To whom both heaven and earth and sea is visible,
2299        Queene of the regne of Pluto derk and lowe,
                   Queen of the dark and low reign of Pluto,
2300        Goddesse of maydens, that myn herte hast knowe
                   Goddess of maidens, whom my heart hast known
2301        Ful many a yeer, and woost what I desire,
                   Full many a year, and knowest what I desire,
2302        As keepe me fro thy vengeaunce and thyn ire,
                   Keep me from thy vengeance and thy ire,
2303        That Attheon aboughte cruelly.
                   Which Acteon paid for cruelly.
2304        Chaste goddesse, wel wostow that I
                   Chaste goddess, well knowest thou that I
2305        Desire to ben a mayden al my lyf,
                   Desire to be a maiden all my life,
2306        Ne nevere wol I be no love ne wyf.
                   Nor never will I be no lover nor wife.
2307        I am, thow woost, yet of thy compaignye,
                   I am, thou knowest, yet of thy company,
2308        A mayde, and love huntynge and venerye,
                   A maiden, and love hunting and the chase,
2309        And for to walken in the wodes wilde,
                   And to walk in the wild woods,
2310        And noght to ben a wyf and be with childe.
                   And not to be a wife and be with child.
2311        Noght wol I knowe compaignye of man.
                   I do not desire to know company of man.
2312        Now help me, lady, sith ye may and kan,
                   Now help me, lady, since you can and know how,
2313        For tho thre formes that thou hast in thee.
                   For those three forms that thou hast in thee.
2314        And Palamon, that hath swich love to me,
                   And Palamon, that has such love to me,
2315        And eek Arcite, that loveth me so soore,
                   And also Arcite, who loves me so painfully,
2316        This grace I preye thee withoute moore,
                   This grace I pray thee and ask no more,
2317        As sende love and pees bitwixe hem two,
                   Send love and peace between them two,
2318        And fro me turne awey hir hertes so
                   And turn away their hearts from me so
2319        That al hire hoote love and hir desir,
                   That all their hot love and their desire,
2320        And al hir bisy torment, and hir fir
                   And all their intense torment, and their fire
2321        Be queynt, or turned in another place.
                   Will be quenched, or turned to another place.
2322        And if so be thou wolt nat do me grace,
                   And if it so be thou wilt not do me grace,
2323        Or if my destynee be shapen so
                   Or if my destiny is shaped so
2324        That I shal nedes have oon of hem two,
                   That I must by necessity have one of them two,
2325        As sende me hym that moost desireth me.
                   Send me him who most desires me.
2326        Bihoold, goddesse of clene chastitee,
                   Behold, goddess of clean chastity,
2327        The bittre teeris that on my chekes falle.
                   The bitter tears that fall on my cheeks.
2328        Syn thou art mayde and kepere of us alle,
                   Since thou art maiden and guardian of us all,
2329        My maydenhede thou kepe and wel conserve,
                   Thou care for and well conserve my maidenhood,
2330        And whil I lyve, a mayde I wol thee serve."
                   And while I live, as a maiden I will serve thee."
2331        The fires brenne upon the auter cleere,
                   The fires burn brightly upon the altar,
2332        Whil Emelye was thus in hir preyere.
                   While Emelye was thus in her prayer.
2333        But sodeynly she saugh a sighte queynte,
                   But suddenly she saw a curious sight,
2334        For right anon oon of the fyres queynte
                   For right away one of the fires quenched
2335        And quyked agayn, and after that anon
                   And rekindled again, and after that straightway
2336        That oother fyr was queynt and al agon;
                   That other fire was quenched and all gone;
2337        And as it queynte it made a whistelynge,
                   And as it quenched it made a roaring sound,
2338        As doon thise wete brondes in hir brennynge,
                   As these wet brands do in their burning,
2339        And at the brondes ende out ran anon
                   And at the brand's end (the fire) ran out straightway
2340        As it were blody dropes many oon;
                   As if it were many bloody drops;
2341        For which so soore agast was Emelye
                   For which so sorely frightened was Emelye
2342        That she was wel ny mad and gan to crye,
                   That she was well nigh mad and began to cry,
2343        For she ne wiste what it signyfied,
                   For she did not know what it signified,
2344        But oonly for the feere thus hath she cried,
                   But simply for fear has she cried thus,
2345        And weep that it was pitee for to heere.
                   And wept that it was a pity to hear.
2346        And therwithal Dyane gan appeere,
                   And right then Diana did appear,
2347        With bowe in honde, right as an hunteresse,
                   With bow in hand, just like a huntress,
2348        And seyde, "Doghter, stynt thyn hevynesse.
                   And said, "Daughter, cease thy sadness.
2349        Among the goddes hye it is affermed,
                   Among the high gods it is affirmed,
2350        And by eterne word writen and confermed,
                   And by eternal word written and confirmed,
2351        Thou shalt ben wedded unto oon of tho
                   Thou shalt be wedded unto one of those
2352        That han for thee so muchel care and wo,
                   Who have for thee so much care and woe,
2353        But unto which of hem I may nat telle.
                   But unto which of them I may not tell.
2354        Farwel, for I ne may no lenger dwelle.
                   Farwell, for I can stay no longer .
2355        The fires which that on myn auter brenne
                   The fires which burn on my altar
2356        Shulle thee declaren, er that thou go henne,
                   Shall declare to thee, before thou go hence,
2357        Thyn aventure of love, as in this cas."
                   Thy destiny concerning love, as in this situation."
2358        And with that word, the arwes in the caas
                   And with that word, the arrows in the quiver
2359        Of the goddesse clateren faste and rynge,
                   Of the goddess clatter fast and ring,
2360        And forth she wente and made a vanysshynge;
                   And forth she went and vanished;
2361        For which this Emelye astoned was,
                   For which this Emelye was astonished,
2362        And seyde, "What amounteth this, allas?
                   And said, "What does this mean, alas?
2363        I putte me in thy proteccioun,
                   I put me in thy protection,
2364        Dyane, and in thy disposicioun."
                   Diana, and in thy power."
2365        And hoom she goth anon the nexte weye.
                   And home she goes at once the nearest way.
2366        This is th'effect; ther is namoore to seye.
                   This is the substance; there is no more to say.
2367        The nexte houre of Mars folwynge this,
                   The next (planetary) hour of Mars following this,
2368        Arcite unto the temple walked is
                   Arcite has walked unto the temple
2369        Of fierse Mars to doon his sacrifise,
                   Of fierce Mars to do his sacrifice,
2370        With alle the rytes of his payen wyse.
                   With all the rites of his pagan manner (of worship).
2371        With pitous herte and heigh devocioun,
                   With sorrowful heart and intense devotion,
2372        Right thus to Mars he seyde his orisoun:
                   Right thus to Mars he said his prayer:
2373        "O stronge god, that in the regnes colde
                   "O strong god, who in the cold reigns
2374        Of Trace honoured art and lord yholde,
                   Of Thrace art honored and considered lord,
2375        And hast in every regne and every lond
                   And hast in every reign and every land
2376        Of armes al the brydel in thyn hond,
                   All the control of arms in thy hand,
2377        And hem fortunest as thee lyst devyse,
                   And grants them fortune as it pleases thee to command.
2378        Accepte of me my pitous sacrifise.
                   Accept of me my sorrowful sacrifice.
2379        If so be that my youthe may deserve,
                   If it so be that my youth may deserve,
2380        And that my myght be worthy for to serve
                   And that my power be worthy to serve
2381        Thy godhede, that I may been oon of thyne,
                   Thy godhead, so that I may be one of thine,
2382        Thanne preye I thee to rewe upon my pyne.
                   Then pray I thee to have pity upon my pain.
2383        For thilke peyne and thilke hoote fir
                   For that same pain and that same hot fire
2384        In which thow whilom brendest for desir,
                   In which thou once burned for desire,
2385        Whan that thow usedest the beautee
                   When that thou enjoyed the beauty
2386        Of faire, yonge, fresshe Venus free,
                   Of fair, young, fresh Venus the noble,
2387        And haddest hire in armes at thy wille --
                   And haddest her in arms as you wished --
2388        Although thee ones on a tyme mysfille,
                   Although once things went wrong for you,
2389        Whan Vulcanus hadde caught thee in his las
                   When Vulcan had caught thee in his snare
2390        And foond thee liggynge by his wyf, allas! --
                   And found thee lying by his wife, alas! --
2391        For thilke sorwe that was in thyn herte,
                   For that same sorrow that was in thy heart,
2392        Have routhe as wel upon my peynes smerte.
                   Have pity as well upon my painful sufferings.
2393        I am yong and unkonnynge, as thow woost,
                   I am young and ignorant, as thou knowest,
2394        And, as I trowe, with love offended moost
                   And, as I suppose, injured most by love
2395        That evere was any lyves creature,
                   Than ever was any living creature,
2396        For she that dooth me al this wo endure
                   For she that causes me to endure all this woe
2397        Ne reccheth nevere wher I synke or fleete.
                   Nor cares never whether I sink or swim.
2398        And wel I woot, er she me mercy heete,
                   And well I know, before she may promise me mercy,
2399        I moot with strengthe wynne hire in the place,
                   I must win her with strength in the lists,
2400        And wel I woot, withouten help or grace
                   And well I know, without help or grace
2401        Of thee ne may my strengthe noght availle.
                   Of thee my strength can not avail.
2402        Thanne help me, lord, tomorwe in my bataille,
                   Then help me, lord, tomorrow in my battle,
2403        For thilke fyr that whilom brente thee,
                   For that same fire that once burned thee,
2404        As wel as thilke fyr now brenneth me,
                   As well as that same fire now burns me,
2405        And do that I tomorwe have victorie.
                   And bring it about so that I have victory tomorrow.
2406        Myn be the travaille, and thyn be the glorie!
                   Mine be the labor, and thine be the glory!
2407        Thy sovereyn temple wol I moost honouren
                   I will most honor thy most excellent temple
2408        Of any place, and alwey moost labouren
                   Over any place, and always most labor
2409        In thy plesaunce and in thy craftes stronge,
                   In thy pleasure and in thy strong crafts,
2410        And in thy temple I wol my baner honge
                   And in thy temple I will hang my banner
2411        And alle the armes of my compaignye,
                   And all the arms of my company,
2412        And everemo, unto that day I dye,
                   And evermore, until that day I die,
2413        Eterne fir I wol bifore thee fynde.
                   Eternal fire I will provide before thee (on your altar).
2414        And eek to this avow I wol me bynde:
                   And also I will bind myself to this vow:
2415        My beerd, myn heer, that hongeth long adoun,
                   My beard, my hair, that hangs long down,
2416        That nevere yet ne felte offensioun
                   That never yet felt injury
2417        Of rasour nor of shere, I wol thee yive,
                   Of razor nor of shears, I will give thee,
2418        And ben thy trewe servant whil I lyve.
                   And be thy true servant while I live.
2419        Now, lord, have routhe upon my sorwes soore;
                   Now, lord, have pity upon my painful sorrows;
2420        Yif me [victorie]; I aske thee namoore."
                   Give me victory; I ask of thee no more."
2421        The preyere stynt of Arcita the stronge,
                   The prayer of Arcite the strong stopped,
2422        The rynges on the temple dore that honge,
                   The rings that hung on the temple door,
2423        And eek the dores, clatereden ful faste,
                   And also the doors, clattered very fast,
2424        Of which Arcita somwhat hym agaste.
                   Of which Arcite was somewhat afraid.
2425        The fyres brenden upon the auter brighte
                   The fires upon the altar burned (so) brightly
2426        That it gan al the temple for to lighte;
                   That it began to illuminate all the temple;
2427        A sweete smel the ground anon up yaf,
                   A sweet smell the ground at once yielded up,
2428        And Arcita anon his hand up haf,
                   And Arcite immediately raised up his hand,
2429        And moore encens into the fyr he caste,
                   And he cast more incense into the fire,
2430        With othere rytes mo; and atte laste
                   With more other rites; and at the last
2431        The statue of Mars bigan his hauberk rynge,
                   The statue of Mars began to ring its coat of mail,
2432        And with that soun he herde a murmurynge
                   And with that sound he heard a murmuring
2433        Ful lowe and dym, and seyde thus, "Victorie!"
                   Very low and faint, that said thus, "Victory!"
2434        For which he yaf to Mars honour and glorie.
                   For which he (Arcite) gave to Mars honor and glory.
2435        And thus with joye and hope wel to fare
                   And thus with joy and hope to fare well
2436        Arcite anon unto his in is fare,
                   Arcite at once is gone unto his lodging,
2437        As fayn as fowel is of the brighte sonne.
                   As happy as a fowl is for the bright sun.
2438        And right anon swich strif ther is bigonne,
                   And right away such strife there is begun,
2439        For thilke grauntyng, in the hevene above,
                   Because of that same grant, in the heaven above,
2440        Bitwixe Venus, the goddesse of love,
                   Between Venus, the goddess of love,
2441        And Mars, the stierne god armypotente,
                   And Mars, the stern god powerful in arms,
2442        That Juppiter was bisy it to stente,
                   That Jupiter was hard put to stop it,
2443        Til that the pale Saturnus the colde,
                   Until the pale Saturn the hostile,
2444        That knew so manye of aventures olde,
                   Who knew so many of old adventures,
2445        Foond in his olde experience an art
                   Found in his old experience a plan
2446        That he ful soone hath plesed every part.
                   That he full soon has pleased every side.
2447        As sooth is seyd, elde hath greet avantage;
                   As is truly said, old age has a great advantage;
2448        In elde is bothe wysdom and usage;
                   In old age is both wisdom and experience;
2449        Men may the olde atrenne and noght atrede.
                   One can outrun the old but not outwit them.
2450        Saturne anon, to stynten strif and drede,
                   Saturn anon, to stop strife and fear,
2451        Al be it that it is agayn his kynde,
                   Although it is against his natural disposition,
2452        Of al this strif he gan remedie fynde.
                   He found a remedy for all this strife.
2453        "My deere doghter Venus," quod Saturne,
                   "My dear daughter Venus," said Saturn,
2454        "My cours, that hath so wyde for to turne,
                   "My orbit, that has so wide (a course) to turn,
2455        Hath moore power than woot any man.
                   Has more power than any man knows.
2456        Myn is the drenchyng in the see so wan;
                   Mine is the drowning in the sea so dark;
2457        Myn is the prison in the derke cote;
                   Mine is the imprisonment in the dark cell;
2458        Myn is the stranglyng and hangyng by the throte,
                   Mine is the killing and hanging by the throat,
2459        The murmure and the cherles rebellyng,
                   The murmur (of discontent) and the churls' rebelling,
2460        The groynynge, and the pryvee empoysonyng;
                   The grumbling, and the secret poisoning;
2461        I do vengeance and pleyn correccioun,
                   I exact vengeance and do full punishment,
2462        Whil I dwelle in the signe of the leoun.
                   While I dwell in the (zodiacal) sign of the lion.
2463        Myn is the ruyne of the hye halles,
                   Mine is the ruin of the high halls,
2464        The fallynge of the toures and of the walles
                   The falling of the towers and of the walls
2465        Upon the mynour or the carpenter.
                   Upon the miner or the carpenter.
2466        I slow Sampsoun, shakynge the piler;
                   I slew Sampson, shaking the pillar;
2467        And myne be the maladyes colde,
                   And mine are the cold maladies,
2468        The derke tresons, and the castes olde;
                   The dark treasons, and the old plots;
2469        My lookyng is the fader of pestilence.
                   My (astrological) aspect is the father of pestilence.
2470        Now weep namoore; I shal doon diligence
                   Now weep no more; I shall do my diligence
2471        That Palamon, that is thyn owene knyght,
                   So that Palamon, who is thine own knight,
2472        Shal have his lady, as thou hast him hight.
                   Shall have his lady, as thou hast promised him.
2473        Though Mars shal helpe his knyght, yet nathelees
                   Though Mars shall help his knight, yet nonetheless
2474        Bitwixe yow ther moot be som tyme pees,
                   Between you there must be peace sometime,
2475        Al be ye noght of o compleccioun,
                   Although you are not of one (the same) temperament,
2476        That causeth al day swich divisioun.
                   Which daily causes such dissension.
2477        I am thyn aiel, redy at thy wille;
                   I am thy grandfather, ready (to do) as you wish;
2478        Weep now namoore; I wol thy lust fulfille."
                   Weep now no more; I will fulfill thy desire."
2479        Now wol I stynten of the goddes above,
                   Now I will stop (speaking) of the gods above,
2480        Of Mars, and of Venus, goddesse of love,
                   Of Mars, and of Venus, goddess of love,
2481        And telle yow as pleynly as I kan
                   And tell you as plainly as I can
2482        The grete effect, for which that I bygan.
                   The essential part, for which I began.

Explicit tercia pars
The third part ends

____________________________

Sequitur pars quarta
The fourth part follows

2483        Greet was the feeste in Atthenes that day,
                   Great was the feast in Athens that day,
2484        And eek the lusty seson of that May
                   And also the pleasing season of that May
2485        Made every wight to been in swich plesaunce
                   Made every person to be in such delight
2486        That al that Monday justen they and daunce,
                   That all that Monday they joust and dance,
2487        And spenden it in Venus heigh servyse.
                   And spend that day in Venus's noble service.
2488        But by the cause that they sholde ryse
                   But because they must rise
2489        Eerly, for to seen the grete fight,
                   Early, to see the great fight,
2490        Unto hir reste wenten they at nyght.
                   Unto their rest they went at nightfall.
2491        And on the morwe, whan that day gan sprynge,
                   And in the morning, when day did spring,
2492        Of hors and harneys noyse and claterynge
                   Noise and clattering of horses and armor
2493        Ther was in hostelryes al aboute,
                   There was in hostelries all about,
2494        And to the paleys rood ther many a route
                   And to the palace there rode many a company
2495        Of lordes upon steedes and palfreys.
                   Of lords upon steeds and palfreys.
2496        Ther maystow seen devisynge of harneys
                   There canst thou see preparation of armor
2497        So unkouth and so riche, and wroght so weel
                   So exotic and so rich, and wrought so well
2498        Of goldsmythrye, of browdynge, and of steel;
                   Of goldsmiths' works, of embroidery, and of steel;
2499        The sheeldes brighte, testeres, and trappures,
                   The bright shields, horses' head-armor, and horse-armor,
2500        Gold-hewen helmes, coats of mail, cote-armures;
                   Gold-colored helms, coats of mail, tunics with heraldic devices;
2501        Lordes in parementz on hir courseres,
                   Lords in richly decorated robes on their coursers,
2502        Knyghtes of retenue, and eek squieres
                   Knights of (their) retinues, and also squires
2503        Nailynge the speres, and helmes bokelynge;
                   Nailing heads to the spear-shafts, and buckling helms;
2504        Giggynge of sheeldes, with layneres lacynge --
                   Fitting the shields with straps, fastening with laces --
2505        There as nede is they weren no thyng ydel;
                   Where it is needed they were not at all idle;
2506        The fomy steedes on the golden brydel
                   The steeds frothing on the golden bridles
2507        Gnawynge, and faste the armurers also
                   Gnawing, and fast the armorers also
2508        With fyle and hamer prikynge to and fro;
                   With file and hammer are spurring to and fro;
2509        Yemen on foote, and communes many oon
                   Yeomen on foot, and foot soldiers many a one
2510        With shorte staves, thikke as they may goon;
                   With short staves, thick as they can go;
2511        Pypes, trompes, nakers, clariounes,
                   Pipes, trumpets, kettle drums, bugles,
2512        That in the bataille blowen blody sounes;
                   That blow bloody sounds in the battle;
2513        The paleys ful of peple up and doun,
                   The palace full of people everywhere,
2514        Heere thre, ther ten, holdynge hir questioun,
                   Here three, there ten, debating,
2515        Dyvynynge of thise Thebane knyghtes two.
                   Conjecturing about these two Theban knights.
2516        Somme seyden thus, somme seyde "it shal be so";
                   Some said thus, some said "it shall be so";
2517        Somme helden with hym with the blake berd,
                   Some held with him with the black beard,
2518        Somme with the balled, somme with the thikke herd;
                   Some with the bald, some with the thickly haired;
2519        Somme seyde he looked grymme, and he wolde fighte:
                   Some said he looked grim, and he would fight:
2520        "He hath a sparth of twenty pound of wighte."
                   "He has a battle-ax of twenty pounds of weight."
2521        Thus was the halle ful of divynynge,
                   Thus was the hall full of conjecturing,
2522        Longe after that the sonne gan to sprynge.
                   Long after the sun began to rise.
2523        The grete Theseus, that of his sleep awaked
                   The great Theseus, who was awakened of his sleep
2524        With mynstralcie and noyse that was maked,
                   By the music and noise that was made,
2525        Heeld yet the chambre of his paleys riche
                   Remained yet in the chamber of his rich palace
2526        Til that the Thebane knyghtes, bothe yliche
                   Until the Theban knights, both equally
2527        Honured, were into the paleys fet.
                   Honored, were fetched into the palace.
2528        Duc Theseus was at a wyndow set,
                   Duke Theseus was set at a window,
2529        Arrayed right as he were a god in trone.
                   Arrayed exactly as if he were a god on a throne.
2530        The peple preesseth thiderward ful soone
                   The people press thither full soon
2531        Hym for to seen, and doon heigh reverence,
                   In order to see him, and to do great reverence,
2532        And eek to herkne his heste and his sentence.
                   And also to hear his command and his decision.
2533        An heraud on a scaffold made an "Oo!"
                   A herald on a scaffold made a "Ho!"
2534        Til al the noyse of peple was ydo,
                   Until all the noise of people was done,
2535        And whan he saugh the peple of noyse al stille,
                   And when he saw the people all still of noise,
2536        Tho shewed he the myghty dukes wille:
                   Then showed he the mighty duke's will:
2537        "The lord hath of his heigh discrecioun
                   "The lord has of his great sound judgment
2538        Considered that it were destruccioun
                   Considered that it would be destruction
2539        To gentil blood to fighten in the gyse
                   To gentle blood to fight in the manner
2540        Of mortal bataille now in this emprise.
                   Of mortal battle now in this undertaking.
2541        Wherfore, to shapen that they shal nat dye,
                   Wherefore, to arrange matters so that they shall not die,
2542        He wol his firste purpos modifye.
                   He will modify his previous plan.
2543        No man therfore, up peyne of los of lyf,
                   No man therefore, upon punishment of loss of life,
2544        No maner shot, ne polax, ne short knyf
                   No sort of arrow, nor battle-axe, nor short knife
2545        Into the lystes sende or thider brynge;
                   Send into the lists or bring there;
2546        Ne short swerd, for to stoke with poynt bitynge,
                   Nor short sword, to stab with piercing point,
2547        No man ne drawe, ne bere it by his syde.
                   May no man neither draw, nor bear it by his side.
2548        Ne no man shal unto his felawe ryde
                   And no man shall ride at his opponent
2549        But o cours with a sharpe ygrounde spere;
                   More than one course with a sharply honed spear;
2550        Foyne, if hym list, on foote, hymself to were.
                   Let him thrust, if he wishes, on foot, to defend himself.
2551        And he that is at meschief shal be take
                   And he who is at a disadvantage shall be taken
2552        And noght slayn, but be broght unto the stake
                   And not slain, but be brought unto the stake
2553        That shal ben ordeyned on either syde;
                   That shall be placed on either side;
2554        But thider he shal by force, and there abyde.
                   But thither he must (go) by force, and remain there.
2555        And if so falle the chieftayn be take
                   And if so happen that the chieftain be taken
2556        On outher syde, or elles sleen his make,
                   On either side, or else should slay his opponent,
2557        No lenger shal the turneiynge laste.
                   The tournament shall last no longer.
2558        God spede you! Gooth forth and ley on faste!
                   God give you success! Go forth and lay on fast!
2559        With long swerd and with mace fighteth youre fille.
                   With long sword and with mace fight your fill.
2560        Gooth now youre wey; this is the lordes wille."
                   Go now on your way; this is the lord's will."
2561        The voys of peple touchede the hevene,
                   The voice of people touched the heaven,
2562        So loude cride they with murie stevene,
                   So loudly they cried with merry voices,
2563        "God save swich a lord, that is so good
                   "God save such a lord, that is so good
2564        He wilneth no destruccion of blood!"
                   He desires no destruction of blood!"
2565        Up goon the trompes and the melodye,
                   Up go the trumpets and the melody,
2566        And to the lystes rit the compaignye,
                   And to the lists rides the company,
2567        By ordinance, thurghout the citee large,
                   In battle array, throughout all the city,
2568        Hanged with clooth of gold, and nat with sarge.
                   Hung with cloth of gold, and not with serge.
2569        Ful lik a lord this noble duc gan ryde,
                   Fully like a lord this noble duke did ride,
2570        Thise two Thebans upon either syde,
                   These two Thebans upon either side,
2571        And after rood the queene and Emelye,
                   And after rode the queen and Emelye,
2572        And after that another compaignye
                   And after that another company
2573        Of oon and oother, after hir degree.
                   One after another, according to their rank.
2574        And thus they passen thurghout the citee,
                   And thus they pass throughout the city,
2575        And to the lystes come they by tyme.
                   And they come to the lists in good time.
2576        It nas nat of the day yet fully pryme
                   It was not yet fully prime (nine a.m.) of the day
2577        Whan set was Theseus ful riche and hye,
                   When Theseus was set very splendidly and nobly,
2578        Ypolita the queene, and Emelye,
                   Ypolita the queen, and Emelye,
2579        And othere ladys in degrees aboute.
                   And other ladies about in tiers.
2580        Unto the seetes preesseth al the route.
                   Unto the seats press all the crowd.
2581        And westward, thurgh the gates under Marte,
                   And westward, through the gates under Mars,
2582        Arcite, and eek the hondred of his parte,
                   Arcite, and also the hundred of his party,
2583        With baner reed is entred right anon;
                   With red banner is entered right away;
2584        And in that selve moment Palamon
                   And in that same moment Palamon
2585        Is under Venus, estward in the place,
                   Is under Venus, eastward in the place,
2586        With baner whyt and hardy chiere and face.
                   With white banner and hardy countenance and face.
2587        In al the world, to seken up and doun,
                   In all the world, to seek up and down,
2588        So evene, withouten variacioun,
                   So evenly, without variation,
2589        Ther nere swiche compaignyes tweye,
                   There were not two such companies,
2590        For ther was noon so wys that koude seye
                   For there was no one so wise that could say
2591        That any hadde of oother avauntage
                   That any one had advantage over the other
2592        Of worthynesse, ne of estaat, ne age,
                   In worthiness, nor in status, nor age,
2593        So evene were they chosen, for to gesse.
                   So evenly were they chosen, as I estimate.
2594        And in two renges faire they hem dresse.
                   And in two fair ranks they arrange themselves.
2595        Whan that hir names rad were everichon,
                   When every one of their names were read,
2596        That in hir nombre gyle were ther noon,
                   So that in their total number there would be no deception,
2597        Tho were the gates shet, and cried was loude:
                   Then the gates were shut, and cried was aloud:
2598        "Do now youre devoir, yonge knyghtes proude!"
                   "Do now your duty, proud young knights!"
2599        The heraudes lefte hir prikyng up and doun;
                   The heralds left their spurring up and down;
2600        Now ryngen trompes loude and clarioun.
                   Now trumpets and bugles ring loud.
2601        Ther is namoore to seyn, but west and est
                   There is no more to say, but from west and east
2602        In goon the speres ful sadly in arrest;
                   In go the spears very firmly in the lance-rests;
2603        In gooth the sharpe spore into the syde.
                   In goes the sharp spur into the flank.
2604        Ther seen men who kan juste and who kan ryde;
                   There people see who can joust and who can ride;
2605        Ther shyveren shaftes upon sheeldes thikke;
                   There splinter spears upon thick shields;
2606        He feeleth thurgh the herte-spoon the prikke.
                   He feels the stabbing through the breast-bone.
2607        Up spryngen speres twenty foot on highte;
                   Up spring spears twenty foot on height;
2608        Out goon the swerdes as the silver brighte;
                   Out go the swords bright as silver;
2609        The helmes they tohewen and toshrede;
                   The helms they hew to pieces and cut into shreds
2610        Out brest the blood with stierne stremes rede;
                   Out burst the blood in strong red streams;
2611        With myghty maces the bones they tobreste.
                   With mighty maces they break the bones to pieces.
2612        He thurgh the thikkeste of the throng gan threste;
                   He did thrust through the thickest of the throng;
2613        Ther stomblen steedes stronge, and doun gooth al,
                   There strong steeds stumble, and down goes all,
2614        He rolleth under foot as dooth a bal;
                   He rolls under foot as does a ball;
2615        He foyneth on his feet with his tronchoun,
                   On his feet he stabs with the broken shaft of his spear,
2616        And he hym hurtleth with his hors adoun;
                   And he hurtles him down with his horse;
2617        He thurgh the body is hurt and sithen ytake,
                   He is hurt through the body and then taken,
2618        Maugree his heed, and broght unto the stake;
                   Despite all he can do, and brought unto the stake;
2619        As forward was, right there he moste abyde.
                   As was the agreement, right there he must abide.
2620        Another lad is on that oother syde.
                   Another on that other side is led away.
2621        And some tyme dooth hem Theseus to reste,
                   And for a while Theseus makes them rest,
2622        Hem to refresshe and drynken, if hem leste.
                   To refresh themselves and drink, if they wish.
2623        Ful ofte a day han thise Thebanes two
                   Many times these two Thebans have
2624        Togydre ymet, and wroght his felawe wo;
                   Met together, and (each) wrought woe to his opponent;
2625        Unhorsed hath ech oother of hem tweye.
                   Each has unhorsed the other of them two.
2626        Ther nas no tygre in the vale of Galgopheye,
                   There was not any tiger in the vale of Gargaphia,
2627        Whan that hir whelp is stole whan it is lite,
                   When her whelp is stolen when it is little,
2628        So crueel on the hunte as is Arcite
                   So cruel on the hunt as is Arcite
2629        For jelous herte upon this Palamon.
                   For jealous heart upon this Palamon.
2630        Ne in Belmarye ther nys so fel leon,
                   Nor in Benmarin there is not so fierce a lion,
2631        That hunted is, or for his hunger wood,
                   That is hunted, or maddened by his hunger,
2632        Ne of his praye desireth so the blood,
                   Nor of his prey desires so the blood,
2633        As Palamon to sleen his foo Arcite.
                   As Palamon to slay his foe Arcite.
2634        The jelous strokes on hir helmes byte;
                   The fervent strokes bite on their helms;
2635        Out renneth blood on bothe hir sydes rede.
                   Out runs red blood on both their sides.
2636        Som tyme an ende ther is of every dede.
                   Some time there is an end of every deed.
2637        For er the sonne unto the reste wente,
                   For before the sun went unto its rest,
2638        The stronge kyng Emetreus gan hente
                   The strong king Emetreus did seize
2639        This Palamon, as he faught with Arcite,
                   This Palamon, as he fought with Arcite,
2640        And made his swerd depe in his flessh to byte,
                   And made his sword deep in his flesh to bite,
2641        And by the force of twenty is he take
                   And by the force of twenty he (Palamon) is taken
2642        Unyolden, and ydrawen to the stake.
                   Without having surrendered, and dragged to the stake.
2643        And in the rescus of this Palamoun
                   And in the rescue of this Palamon
2644        The stronge kyng Lygurge is born adoun,
                   The strong king Lygurge is born down,
2645        And kyng Emetreus, for al his strengthe,
                   And king Emetreus, despite all his strength,
2646        Is born out of his sadel a swerdes lengthe,
                   Is carried out of his saddle a sword's length,
2647        So hitte him Palamoun er he were take.
                   So hit him Palamon before he was taken.
2648        But al for noght; he was broght to the stake.
                   But all for naught; he was brought to the stake.
2649        His hardy herte myghte hym helpe naught:
                   His hardy heart could not help him:
2650        He moste abyde, whan that he was caught,
                   He must abide, when he was caught,
2651        By force and eek by composicioun.
                   By force and also by the agreed terms of battle.
2652        Who sorweth now but woful Palamoun,
                   Who sorrows now but woeful Palamon,
2653        That moot namoore goon agayn to fighte?
                   That must no more go again to fight?
2654        And whan that Theseus hadde seyn this sighte,
                   And when Theseus had seen this sight,
2655        Unto the folk that foghten thus echon
                   Unto each one of the folk that fought thus
2656        He cryde, "Hoo! namoore, for it is doon!
                   He cried, "Stop! no more, for it is done!
2657        I wol be trewe juge, and no partie.
                   I will be true judge, and no partisan.
2658        Arcite of Thebes shal have Emelie,
                   Arcite of Thebes shall have Emelye,
2659        That by his fortune hath hire faire ywonne."
                   Who by his fortune has won her fairly."
2660        Anon ther is a noyse of peple bigonne
                   Immediately there is a noise of people begun
2661        For joye of this, so loude and heighe withalle
                   For joy of this, so loud and clamorous indeed
2662        It semed that the lystes sholde falle.
                   It seemed that the lists should fall.
2663        What kan now faire Venus doon above?
                   What now can fair Venus do above?
2664        What seith she now? What dooth this queene of love,
                   What says she now? What does this queen of love,
2665        But wepeth so, for wantynge of hir wille,
                   But weeps so, for lack of (having) her will,
2666        Til that hir teeres in the lystes fille?
                   Until her tears fell in the lists?
2667        She seyde, "I am ashamed, doutelees."
                   She said, "I am disgraced, doubtless."
2668        Saturnus seyde, "Doghter, hoold thy pees!
                   Saturn said, "Daughter, hold thy peace!
2669        Mars hath his wille, his knyght hath al his boone,
                   Mars has his will, his knight has all his request,
2670        And, by myn heed, thow shalt been esed soone."
                   And, by my head, thou shalt be relieved soon."
2671        The trompours, with the loude mynstralcie,
                   The trumpeters, with the loud music,
2672        The heraudes, that ful loude yelle and crie,
                   The heralds, who full loudly yell and cry,
2673        Been in hire wele for joye of daun Arcite.
                   Are in their happiest state for joy of dan Arcite.
2674        But herkneth me, and stynteth noyse a lite,
                   But listen to me, and stop the noise for a little,
2675        Which a myracle ther bifel anon.
                   (Hear) what a miracle at once befell there.
2676        This fierse Arcite hath of his helm ydon,
                   This fierce Arcite has taken off his helm,
2677        And on a courser, for to shewe his face,
                   And on a war horse, to show his face,
2678        He priketh endelong the large place
                   He spurs from one end to the other of the large open space
2679        Lokynge upward upon this Emelye;
                   Looking upward upon this Emelye;
2680        And she agayn hym caste a freendlich ye
                   And she to him cast a friendly eye
2681        (For wommen, as to speken in comune,
                   (For women, so to speak in general,
2682        Thei folwen alle the favour of Fortune)
                   They all follow the favor of Fortune)
2683        And was al his chiere, as in his herte.
                   And was all his source of pleasure, in his heart.
2684        Out of the ground a furie infernal sterte,
                   Out of the ground leaped an infernal fury,
2685        From Pluto sent at requeste of Saturne,
                   Sent from Pluto at the request of Saturn,
2686        For which his hors for fere gan to turne,
                   For which his horse for fear began to turn,
2687        And leep aside, and foundred as he leep;
                   And leaped aside, and stumbled as he leaped;
2688        And er that Arcite may taken keep,
                   And before Arcite can take heed,
2689        He pighte hym on the pomel of his heed,
                   He hit himself on the top of his head,
2690        That in the place he lay as he were deed,
                   That in the place he lay as if he were dead,
2691        His brest tobrosten with his sadel-bowe.
                   His breast shattered by his saddlebow.
2692        As blak he lay as any cole or crowe,
                   He lay as black as any coal or crow,
2693        So was the blood yronnen in his face.
                   The blood was so run in his face.
2694        Anon he was yborn out of the place,
                   Immediately he was carried out of the place,
2695        With herte soor, to Theseus paleys.
                   With painful heart, to Theseus's palace.
2696        Tho was he korven out of his harneys
                   Then was he cut out of his armor
2697        And in a bed ybrought ful faire and blyve,
                   And brought in a bed very gently and quickly,
2698        For he was yet in memorie and alyve,
                   For he was yet conscious and alive,
2699        And alwey criynge after Emelye.
                   And always crying for Emelye.
2700        Duc Theseus, with al his compaignye,
                   Duke Theseus, with all his company,
2701        Is comen hoom to Atthenes his citee,
                   Is come home to Athens, his city,
2702        With alle blisse and greet solempnitee.
                   With all bliss and great solemnity.
2703        Al be it that this aventure was falle,
                   Although this accident had happened,
2704        He nolde noght disconforten hem alle.
                   He would not distress them all.
2705        Men seyde eek that Arcite shal nat dye;
                   People said also that Arcite shall not dye;
2706        He shal been heeled of his maladye.
                   He shall be healed of his injuries.
2707        And of another thyng they weren as fayn,
                   And of another thing they were as happy,
2708        That of hem alle was ther noon yslayn,
                   That of them all there was no one slain,
2709        Al were they soore yhurt, and namely oon,
                   Although they (were) sorely hurt, and especially one,
2710        That with a spere was thirled his brest boon.
                   Whose breastbone was pierced by a spear.
2711        To othere woundes and to broken armes
                   To other wounds and to broken arms
2712        Somme hadden salves, and somme hadden charmes;
                   Some had salves, and some had charms;
2713        Fermacies of herbes, and eek save
                   Medicines made of herbs, and also of sage
2714        They dronken, for they wolde hir lymes have.
                   They drank, for they wanted to have their limbs cured.
2715        For which this noble duc, as he wel kan,
                   For which this noble duke, as he well knows how,
2716        Conforteth and honoureth every man,
                   Comforts and honors every man,
2717        And made revel al the longe nyght
                   And made revel all the long night
2718        Unto the straunge lordes, as was right.
                   For the foreign lords, as was right.
2719        Ne ther was holden no disconfitynge
                   Nor was it considered any defeat (in battle)
2720        But as a justes or a tourneiynge;
                   But (only) as a joust or a tournament;
2721        For soothly ther was no disconfiture.
                   For truly there was no defeat.
2722        For fallyng nys nat but an aventure,
                   For falling is nothing but an accident,
2723        Ne to be lad by force unto the stake
                   Nor to be led by force unto the stake
2724        Unyolden, and with twenty knyghtes take,
                   Without having surrendered, and taken by twenty knights,
2725        O persone allone, withouten mo,
                   One person alone, without others,
2726        And haryed forth by arme, foot, and too,
                   And dragged forth by arm, foot, and toe,
2727        And eke his steede dryven forth with staves
                   And also his steed driven forth with staves
2728        With footmen, bothe yemen and eek knaves --
                   By men on foot, both yeomen and also foot soldiers --
2729        It nas arretted hym no vileynye;
                   He incurred no shameful blame for it;
2730        Ther may no man clepen it cowardye.
                    No man there may call it cowardice.
2731        For which anon duc Theseus leet crye,
                   For which anon duke Theseus had proclaimed,
2732        To stynten alle rancour and envye,
                   To put a stop to all rancor and ill-will,
2733        The gree as wel of o syde as of oother,
                   The victory (is given) as well to one side as to the other,
2734        And eyther syde ylik as ootheres brother;
                   And either side equal as the other's brother;
2735        And yaf hem yiftes after hir degree,
                   And gave them gifts in accordance with their ranks,
2736        And fully heeld a feeste dayes three,
                   And held a feast for fully three days,
2737        And conveyed the kynges worthily
                   And honorably escorted the kings
2738        Out of his toun a journee largely.
                   Out of his town a full day's journey.
2739        And hoom wente every man the righte way.
                   And home went every man the direct way.
2740        Ther was namoore but "Fare wel, have good day!"
                   There was no more but "Fare well, have good day!"
2741        Of this bataille I wol namoore endite,
                   Of this battle I will write no more,
2742        But speke of Palamon and of Arcite.
                   But speak of Palamon and of Arcite.
2743        Swelleth the brest of Arcite, and the soore
                   The breast of Arcite swells, and the pain
2744        Encreesseth at his herte moore and moore.
                   At his heart increases more and more.
2745        The clothered blood, for any lechecraft,
                   The clotted blood, despite any medical treatment,
2746        Corrupteth, and is in his bouk ylaft,
                   Corrupts, and is left in the trunk of his body,
2747        That neither veyne-blood, ne ventusynge,
                   That neither blood letting at a vein, nor applying suction cups,
2748        Ne drynke of herbes may ben his helpynge.
                   Nor drink of herbs can be any help to him.
2749        The vertu expulsif, or animal,
                   The power expulsive (to expel fluids), or animal,
2750        Fro thilke vertu cleped natural
                   From that power called natural
2751        Ne may the venym voyden ne expelle.
                   Can not remove nor expel the poison.
2752        The pipes of his longes gonne to swelle,
                   The pipes of his lungs began to swell,
2753        And every lacerte in his brest adoun
                   And every muscle down in his breast
2754        Is shent with venym and corrupcioun.
                   Is destroyed by poison and corrupted matter.
2755        Hym gayneth neither, for to gete his lif,
                   Avails him neither, to preserve his life,
2756        Vomyt upward, ne dounward laxatif.
                   Vomit upward, nor downward laxative.
2757        Al is tobrosten thilke regioun;
                   All is shattered in that region;
2758        Nature hath now no dominacioun.
                   Nature now has no power to control.
2759        And certeinly, ther Nature wol nat wirche,
                   And certainly, where Nature will not work,
2760        Fare wel phisik! Go ber the man to chirche!
                   Fare well medicine! Go bear the man to church!
2761        This al and som, that Arcita moot dye;
                   This is the whole of it, that Arcite must die;
2762        For which he sendeth after Emelye,
                   For which he sends after Emelye,
2763        And Palamon, that was his cosyn deere.
                   And Palamon, who was his dear cousin.
2764        Thanne seyde he thus, as ye shal after heere:
                   Then said he thus, as you shall after hear:
2765        "Naught may the woful spirit in myn herte
                   "The woeful spirit in my heart can not
2766        Declare o point of alle my sorwes smerte
                   Declare one small part of all my painful sorrows
2767        To yow, my lady, that I love moost,
                   To you, my lady, whom I love most,
2768        But I biquethe the servyce of my goost
                   But I bequeath the service of my ghost
2769        To yow aboven every creature,
                   To you above every creature,
2770        Syn that my lyf may no lenger dure.
                   Since my life can no longer endure.
2771        Allas, the wo! Allas, the peynes stronge,
                   Alas, the woe! Alas, the strong pains,
2772        That I for yow have suffred, and so longe!
                   That I have suffered for you, and so long!
2773        Allas, the deeth! Allas, myn Emelye!
                   Alas, the death! Alas, my Emelye!
2774        Allas, departynge of oure compaignye!
                   Alas, separation of our company!
2775        Allas, myn hertes queene! Allas, my wyf,
                   Alas, my heart's queen! Alas, my wife,
2776        Myn hertes lady, endere of my lyf!
                   My heart's lady, ender of my life!
2777        What is this world? What asketh men to have?
                   What is this world? What do people ask to have?
2778        Now with his love, now in his colde grave
                   Now with his love, now in his cold grave
2779        Allone, withouten any compaignye.
                   Alone, without any company.
2780        Fare wel, my sweete foo, myn Emelye!
                   Fare well, my sweet foe, my Emelye!
2781        And softe taak me in youre armes tweye,
                   And softly take me in your two arms,
2782        For love of God, and herkneth what I seye.
                   For love of God, and listen to what I say.
2783        "I have heer with my cosyn Palamon
                   "I have here with my cousin Palamon
2784        Had strif and rancour many a day agon
                   Had strife and rancor many a day ago
2785        For love of yow, and for my jalousye.
                   For love of you, and for my jealousy.
2786        And Juppiter so wys my soule gye,
                   And as Jupiter may guide my soul,
2787        To speken of a servaunt proprely,
                   To speak specifically of a servant (of love),
2788        With alle circumstances trewely --
                   With all the attendant attributes truly --
2789        That is to seyen, trouthe, honour, knyghthede,
                   That is to say, truth, honor, knighthood,
2790        Wysdom, humblesse, estaat, and heigh kynrede,
                   Wisdom, humbleness, rank, and noble ancestry,
2791        Fredom, and al that longeth to that art --
                   Nobility of character, and all that belongs to that art --
2792        So Juppiter have of my soule part,
                   As Jupiter may have concern for my soul,
2793        As in this world right now ne knowe I non
                   In this world right now I know no one
2794        So worthy to ben loved as Palamon,
                   So worthy to be loved as Palamon,
2795        That serveth yow, and wol doon al his lyf.
                   Who serves you, and will do so all his life.
2796        And if that evere ye shul ben a wyf,
                   And if ever you shall be a wife,
2797        Foryet nat Palamon, the gentil man."
                   Forget not Palamon, the gentle man."
2798        And with that word his speche faille gan,
                   And with that word his speech began to fail,
2799        For from his feet up to his brest was come
                   For from his feet up to his breast had come
2800        The coold of deeth, that hadde hym overcome,
                   The cold of death, which had overcome him,
2801        And yet mooreover, for in his armes two
                   And yet moreover, for in his two arms
2802        The vital strengthe is lost and al ago.
                   The vital strength is lost and all gone.
2803        Oonly the intellect, withouten moore,
                   Only the intellect, nothing else,
2804        That dwelled in his herte syk and soore,
                   That dwelled in his heart sick and sore,
2805        Gan faillen whan the herte felte deeth.
                   Began to fail when the heart felt death.
2806        Dusked his eyen two, and failled breeth,
                   His two eyes grew dark, and his breath failed,
2807        But on his lady yet caste he his ye;
                   But on his lady yet he cast his eye;
2808        His laste word was, "Mercy, Emelye!"
                   His last word was, "Mercy, Emelye!"
2809        His spirit chaunged hous and wente ther,
                   His spirit changed house and went where,
2810        As I cam nevere, I kan nat tellen wher.
                   Since I came never (there), I can not tell where.
2811        Therfore I stynte; I nam no divinistre;
                   Therefore I stop; I am no theologian;
2812        Of soules fynde I nat in this registre,
                   I find nothing about souls in this register,
2813        Ne me ne list thilke opinions to telle
                   Nor do I wish to tell such beliefs
2814        Of hem, though that they writen wher they dwelle.
                   Of them, though they write of where they (the souls) dwell.
2815        Arcite is coold, ther Mars his soule gye!
                   Arcite is cold, may Mars guide his soul!
2816        Now wol I speken forth of Emelye.
                   Now will I speak forth of Emelye.
2817        Shrighte Emelye, and howleth Palamon,
                   Emelye shrieked, and Palamon howls,
2818        And Theseus his suster took anon
                   And Theseus immediately took his sister
2819        Swownynge, and baar hire fro the corps away.
                   Swooning, and carried her away from the corpse.
2820        What helpeth it to tarien forth the day
                   What helps it to waste the whole day
2821        To tellen how she weep bothe eve and morwe?
                   To tell how she wept both evening and morning?
2822        For in swich cas wommen have swich sorwe,
                   For in such cases women have such sorrow,
2823        Whan that hir housbondes ben from hem ago,
                   When their husbands are gone from them,
2824        That for the moore part they sorwen so,
                   That for the most part they so sorrow,
2825        Or ellis fallen in swich maladye
                   Or else fall in such illness
2826        That at the laste certeinly they dye.
                   That at the last certainly they die.
2827        Infinite been the sorwes and the teeres
                   Infinite are the sorrows and the tears
2828        Of olde folk and folk of tendre yeeres
                   Of old folk and folk of tender years
2829        In al the toun for deeth of this Theban.
                   In all the town for the death of this Theban.
2830        For hym ther wepeth bothe child and man;
                   For him there weep both child and man;
2831        So greet wepyng was ther noon, certayn,
                   There was no such great weeping, certainly,
2832        Whan Ector was ybroght, al fressh yslayn,
                   When Hector was brought, just recently slain,
2833        To Troye. Allas, the pitee that was ther,
                   To Troy. Alas, the lamentation that was there,
2834        Cracchynge of chekes, rentynge eek of heer.
                   Scratching of cheeks, also tearing of hair.
2835        "Why woldestow be deed," thise wommen crye,
                   "Why wouldst thou be dead," these women cry,
2836        "And haddest gold ynough, and Emelye?"
                   "Since thou haddest gold enough, and Emelye?"
2837        No man myghte gladen Theseus,
                   No man might comfort Theseus,
2838        Savynge his olde fader Egeus,
                   Except for his old father Egeus,
2839        That knew this worldes transmutacioun,
                   Who knew the changes of this world,
2840        As he hadde seyn it chaunge bothe up and doun,
                   As he had seen it change both up and down,
2841        Joye after wo, and wo after gladnesse,
                   Joy after woe, and woe after gladness,
2842        And shewed hem ensamples and liknesse.
                   And showed them examples and comparisons.
2843        "Right as ther dyed nevere man," quod he,
                   "Right as there died never a man," said he,
2844        "That he ne lyvede in erthe in some degree,
                   "Who did not live in earth to some extent
2845        Right so ther lyvede never man," he seyde,
                   Just so there lived never a man," he said,
2846        "In al this world, that som tyme he ne deyde.
                   "In all this world, who some time did not die.
2847        This world nys but a thurghfare ful of wo,
                   This world is nothing but a thoroughfare full of woe,
2848        And we been pilgrymes, passynge to and fro.
                   And we are pilgrims, passing to and fro.
2849        Deeth is an ende of every worldly soore."
                   Death is an end of every worldly pain."
2850        And over al this yet seyde he muchel moore
                   And beyond all this yet he said much more
2851        To this effect, ful wisely to enhorte
                   To this effect, full wisely to exhort
2852        The peple that they sholde hem reconforte.
                   The people that they should comfort themselves.
2853        Duc Theseus, with al his bisy cure,
                   Duke Theseus, with all his careful attention,
2854        Caste now wher that the sepulture
                   Considered now where the tomb
2855        Of goode Arcite may best ymaked be,
                   Of good Arcite may best be made,
2856        And eek moost honurable in his degree.
                   And also most honorable in (regard to) his rank.
2857        And at the laste he took conclusioun
                   And at the last he concluded
2858        That ther as first Arcite and Palamoun
                   That there where first Arcite and Palamon
2859        Hadden for love the bataille hem bitwene,
                   Had the battle between them for love,
2860        That in that selve grove, swoote and grene,
                   That in that same grove, sweet-smelling and green,
2861        Ther as he hadde his amorouse desires,
                   Where he had his amorous desires,
2862        His compleynte, and for love his hoote fires,
                   His lament, and for love his hot fires,
2863        He wolde make a fyr in which the office
                   He would make a fire in which the rite
2864        Funeral he myghte al accomplice.
                   Of a funeral he might fully perform.
2865        And leet comande anon to hakke and hewe
                   And he ordered immediately to hack and hew
2866        The okes olde, and leye hem on a rewe
                   The old oaks, and lay them in a row
2867        In colpons wel arrayed for to brenne.
                   In piles arranged to burn well.
2868        His officers with swifte feet they renne
                   His officers with swift feet they run
2869        And ryde anon at his comandement.
                   And ride quickly at his commandment.
2870        And after this, Theseus hath ysent
                   And after this, Theseus has sent
2871        After a beere, and it al overspradde
                   For a bier, and it all overspread
2872        With clooth of gold, the richeste that he hadde.
                   With cloth of gold, the richest that he had.
2873        And of the same suyte he cladde Arcite;
                   And of the same material he clad Arcite;
2874        Upon his hondes hadde he gloves white,
                   Upon his hands he had white gloves,
2875        Eek on his heed a coroune of laurer grene,
                   Also on his head a crown of green laurel,
2876        And in his hond a swerd ful bright and kene.
                   And in his hand a sword full bright and keen.
2877        He leyde hym, bare the visage, on the beere;
                   He laid him, with the face bare, on the bier;
2878        Therwith he weep that pitee was to heere.
                   Therewith he wept that it was a pity to hear.
2879        And for the peple sholde seen hym alle,
                   And in order that all the people should see him,
2880        Whan it was day, he broghte hym to the halle,
                   When it was day, he brought him to the hall,
2881        That roreth of the criyng and the soun.
                   That resounds with the crying and the sound.
2882        Tho cam this woful Theban Palamoun,
                   Then came this woeful Theban Palamon,
2883        With flotery berd and ruggy, asshy heeres,
                   With waving beard and rough hair sprinkled with ashes,
2884        In clothes blake, ydropped al with teeres;
                   In black clothes, all sprinkled with tears;
2885        And, passynge othere of wepynge, Emelye,
                   And, excelling others in weeping, Emelye,
2886        The rewefulleste of al the compaignye.
                   The most pitiful of all the company.
2887        In as muche as the servyce sholde be
                   In order that the ritual should be
2888        The moore noble and riche in his degree,
                   The more noble and rich in its degree,
2889        Duc Theseus leet forth thre steedes brynge,
                   Duke Theseus had three steeds brought forth,
2890        That trapped were in steel al gliterynge,
                   That were equipped with trappings of steel all glittering,
2891        And covered with the armes of daun Arcite.
                   And covered with the coat of arms of Don Arcite.
2892        Upon thise steedes, that weren grete and white,
                   Upon these steeds, that were large and white,
2893        Ther seten folk, of whiche oon baar his sheeld,
                   There sat folk, of which one carried his (Arcite's) shield,
2894        Another his spere up on his hondes heeld,
                   Another held his spear upright in his hands,
2895        The thridde baar with hym his bowe Turkeys
                   The third carried with him his Turkish bow
2896        (Of brend gold was the caas and eek the harneys);
                   (Of pure gold was the quiver and also the fittings);
2897        And riden forth a paas with sorweful cheere
                   And they rode forth slowly with sorrowful demeanor
2898        Toward the grove, as ye shul after heere.
                   Toward the grove, as you shall later hear.
2899        The nobleste of the Grekes that ther were
                   The noblest of the Greeks that were there
2900        Upon hir shuldres caryeden the beere,
                   Carried the bier upon their shoulders,
2901        With slakke paas and eyen rede and wete,
                   With slow pace and eyes red and wet,
2902        Thurghout the citee by the maister strete,
                   Throughout the city by the main street,
2903        That sprad was al with blak, and wonder hye
                   Which was all spread with black, and wonderfully high
2904        Right of the same is the strete ywrye.
                   The street is covered with exactly the same.
2905        Upon the right hond wente olde Egeus,
                   Upon the right hand went old Egeus,
2906        And on that oother syde duc Theseus,
                   And on that other side duke Theseus,
2907        With vessels in hir hand of gold ful fyn,
                   With vessels of pure gold in their hands,
2908        Al ful of hony, milk, and blood, and wyn;
                   All full of honey, milk, and blood, and wine;
2909        Eek Palamon, with ful greet compaignye;
                   Also Palamon, with a very large company;
2910        And after that cam woful Emelye,
                   And after that came woeful Emelye,
2911        With fyr in honde, as was that tyme the gyse,
                   With fire in hand, as was at that time the custom,
2912        To do the ritual of funeral service.
                   To do the office of funeral service.
2913        Heigh labour and ful greet apparaillynge
                   Much labor and full great preparation
2914        Was at the service and the fyr-makynge,
                   Was at the service and the fire-making,
2915        That with his grene top the hevene raughte;
                   Which with its green top reached the heaven;
2916        And twenty fadme of brede the armes straughte --
                   And twenty fathom of breadth the sides stretched --
2917        This is to seyn, the bowes weren so brode.
                   This is to say, the boughs were so broad.
2918        Of stree first ther was leyd ful many a lode.
                   There was first laid very many a load of straw.
2919        But how the fyr was maked upon highte,
                   But how the fire was made on high,
2920        Ne eek the names that the trees highte,
                   Nor also the names that the trees are called,
2921        As ook, firre, birch, aspe, alder, holm, popler,
                   Such as oak, fir, birch, aspen, alder, holm oak, poplar,
2922        Wylugh, elm, plane, assh, box, chasteyn, lynde, laurer,
                   Willow, elm, plane, ash, box, chestnut, linden, laurel,
2923        Mapul, thorn, bech, hasel, ew, whippeltree --
                   Maple, thorn, beech, hazel, yew, dogwood --
2924        How they weren feld shal nat be toold for me;
                   How they were cut down shall not be told by me;
2925        Ne hou the goddes ronnen up and doun,
                   Nor how the gods ran up and down,
2926        Disherited of hire habitacioun,
                   Disinherited of their habitation,
2927        In which they woneden in reste and pees,
                   In which they dwelt in rest and peace,
2928        Nymphes, fawnes and amadrides;
                   Nymphs, fawns and hamadryades (wood nymphs);
2929        Ne hou the beestes and the briddes alle
                   Nor how the beasts and the birds all
2930        Fledden for fere, whan the wode was falle;
                   Fled for fear, when the wood was cut down;
2931        Ne how the ground agast was of the light,
                   Nor how frightened by the light was the ground,
2932        That was nat wont to seen the sonne bright;
                   Which was not accustomed to see the bright sun;
2933        Ne how the fyr was couched first with stree,
                   Nor how the fire was laid first with straw,
2934        And thanne with drye stikkes cloven a thre,
                   And then with dry branches cut in thirds,
2935        And thanne with grene wode and spicerye,
                   And then with green wood and mixtures of spices,
2936        And thanne with clooth of gold and with perrye,
                   And then with cloth of gold and with precious stones
2937        And gerlandes, hangynge with ful many a flour;
                   And garlands, hanging with full many a flower;
2938        The mirre, th'encens, with al so greet odour;
                   The myrrh, the incense, with such great fragrance;
2939        Ne how Arcite lay among al this,
                   Nor how Arcite lay among all this,
2940        Ne what richesse aboute his body is;
                   Nor what richness about his body is;
2941        Ne how that Emelye, as was the gyse,
                   Nor how Emelye, as was the custom,
2942        Putte in the fyr of funeral servyse;
                   Lighted the fire of funeral service;
2943        Ne how she swowned whan men made the fyr,
                   Nor how she swooned when men made the fire,
2944        Ne what she spak, ne what was hir desir;
                   Nor what she spoke, nor what was her desire;
2945        Ne what jeweles men in the fyre caste,
                   Nor what jewels men threw in the fire,
2946        Whan that the fyr was greet and brente faste;
                   When the fire was great and burned fast;
2947        Ne how somme caste hir sheeld, and somme hir spere,
                   Nor how some threw their shields, and some their spears,
2948        And of hire vestimentz, whiche that they were,
                   And of their vestments, which they wore,
2949        And coppes fulle of wyn, and milk, and blood,
                   And cups full of wine, and milk, and blood,
2950        Into the fyr, that brente as it were wood;
                   Into the fire, that burned as if it were mad;
2951        Ne how the Grekes, with an huge route,
                   Nor how the Greeks, with a huge company,
2952        Thries riden al the fyr aboute
                   Thrice ride all the fire about
2953        Upon the left hand, with a loud shoutynge,
                   Upon the left hand, with a loud shouting,
2954        And thries with hir speres claterynge;
                   And thrice with their spears clattering;
2955        And thries how the ladyes gonne crye;
                   And thrice how the ladies did cry;
2956        And how that lad was homward Emelye;
                   And how Emelye was led homeward;
2957        Ne how Arcite is brent to asshen colde;
                   Nor how Arcite is burned to cold ashes;
2958        Ne how that lyche-wake was yholde
                   Nor how that wake was held
2959        Al thilke nyght; ne how the Grekes pleye
                   All that same night; nor how the Greeks play
2960        The wake-pleyes; ne kepe I nat to seye
                   The funeral games I care not to say
2961        Who wrastleth best naked with oille enoynt,
                   Who wrestles best, naked with oil anointed,
2962        Ne who that baar hym best, in no disjoynt.
                   Nor who bore him best, in any difficulty.
2963        I wol nat tellen eek how that they goon
                   I will not tell also how they go
2964        Hoom til Atthenes, whan the pley is doon;
                   Home to Athens, when the games are done;
2965        But shortly to the point thanne wol I wende
                   But shortly to the point then I will go
2966        And maken of my longe tale an ende.
                   And make an end of my long tale.
2967        By processe and by lengthe of certeyn yeres,
                   By the course of events and by length of a certain number of years,
2968        Al stynted is the moornynge and the teres
                   All stopped is the mourning and the tears
2969        Of Grekes, by oon general assent.
                   Of the Greeks, by one general assent.
2970        Thanne semed me ther was a parlement
                   Then it seemed to me there was a parliament
2971        At Atthenes, upon certein pointz and caas;
                   At Athens, upon certain topics and cases;
2972        Among the whiche pointz yspoken was,
                   Among which topics was discussed (a proposal)
2973        To have with certein contrees alliaunce,
                   To have alliance with certain countries,
2974        And have fully of Thebans obeisaunce.
                   And have fully the submission of the Thebans.
2975        For which this noble Theseus anon
                   For which this noble Theseus immediately
2976        Leet senden after gentil Palamon,
                   Ordered (someone) to send for gentle Palamon,
2977        Unwist of hym what was the cause and why,
                   Unknown by him (Palamon) what was the cause and why,
2978        But in his blake clothes sorwefully
                   But in his black clothes sorrowfully
2979        He cam at his comandement in hye.
                   He came at his (Theseus's) commandment in haste.
2980        Tho sente Theseus for Emelye.
                   Then Theseus sent for Emelye.
2981        Whan they were set, and hust was al the place,
                   When they were set, and all the place was hushed,
2982        And Theseus abiden hadde a space
                   And Theseus had waited for a while
2983        Er any word cam fram his wise brest,
                   Before any word came from his wise breast,
2984        His eyen sette he ther as was his lest.
                   He set his eyes where his object of desire was.
2985        And with a sad visage he siked stille,
                   And with a sad face he sighed softly,
2986        And after that right thus he seyde his wille:
                   And after that exactly thus he pronounced his decision:
2987        "The Firste Moevere of the cause above,
                   "The First Mover of the First Cause above,
2988        Whan he first made the faire cheyne of love,
                   When he first made the faire chain of love,
2989        Greet was th'effect, and heigh was his entente.
                   Great was the effect, and noble was his plan.
2990        Wel wiste he why, and what thereof he mente,
                   Well knew he why, and what thereof he meant,
2991        For with that faire cheyne of love he bond
                   For with that faire chain of love he bound
2992        The fyr, the eyr, the water, and the lond
                   The fire, the air, the water, and the land
2993        In certeyn boundes, that they may nat flee.
                   In definite bounds, from which they may not flee.
2994        That same Prince and that Moevere," quod he,
                   That same Prince and that Mover," said he,
2995        "Hath stablissed in this wrecched world adoun
                   "Has established in this wretched world below
2996        Certeyne dayes and duracioun
                   Specific (numbers of) days and (term of) duration
2997        To al that is engendred in this place,
                   To all that is engendered in this place,
2998        Over the whiche day they may nat pace,
                   Beyond the which day they can not pass,
2999        Al mowe they yet tho dayes wel abregge.
                   Although they may yet well shorten those days.
3000        Ther nedeth noght noon auctoritee t'allegge,
                   There is no need to cite any written authority,
3001        For it is preeved by experience,
                   For it is proven by experience,
3002        But that me list declaren my sentence.
                   Unless I wish to make my meaning more clear.
3003        Thanne may men by this ordre wel discerne
                   Then one can by this order well discern
3004        That thilke Moevere stable is and eterne.
                   That that same Mover is stable and eternal.
3005        Wel may men knowe, but it be a fool,
                   Well may one know, unless it be a fool,
3006        That every part dirryveth from his hool,
                   That every part derives from its whole,
3007        For nature hath nat taken his bigynnyng
                   For nature has not taken its beginning
3008        Of no partie or cantel of a thyng,
                   Of no part or portion of a thing,
3009        But of a thyng that parfit is and stable,
                   But of a thing that is complete and stable,
3010        Descendynge so til it be corrumpable.
                   Descending (from that) until it becomes corruptible.
3011        And therfore, of his wise purveiaunce,
                   And therefore, by his wise foresight,
3012        He hath so wel biset his ordinaunce
                   He has so well established his plan
3013        That speces of thynges and progressiouns
                   That types of being and natural processes
3014        Shullen enduren by successiouns,
                   Shall endure (for a set time) one after another,
3015        And nat eterne, withouten any lye.
                   And not eternally, without any lie.
3016        This maystow understonde and seen at ye.
                   This thou canst understand and plainly see.
3017        "Loo the ook, that hath so long a norisshynge
                   "Lo the oak, that is so slow to mature,
3018        From tyme that it first bigynneth to sprynge,
                   From the time that it first begins to spring,
3019        And hath so long a lif, as we may see,
                   And has so long a life, as we may see,
3020        Yet at the laste wasted is the tree.
                   Yet at the last the tree is wasted away.
3021        "Considereth eek how that the harde stoon
                   "Consider also how the hard stone
3022        Under oure feet, on which we trede and goon,
                   Under our feet, on which we tread and go,
3023        Yet wasteth it as it lyth by the weye.
                   Eventually it is worn away as it lies by the way.
3024        The brode ryver somtyme wexeth dreye;
                   The broad river sometimes grows dry;
3025        The grete tounes se we wane and wende.
                   We see the great cities grow weak and pass away.
3026        Thanne may ye se that al this thyng hath ende.
                   Then you can see that all things have an end.
3027        "Of man and womman seen we wel also
                   "Of man and woman also we see well
3028        That nedes, in oon of thise termes two --
                   That by necessity, in one of these two periods of time --
3029        This is to seyn, in youthe or elles age --
                   This is to say, in youth or else in age --
3030        He moot be deed, the kyng as shal a page;
                   He must be dead, the king as must a servant boy;
3031        Som in his bed, som in the depe see,
                   One in his bed, one in the deep sea,
3032        Som in the large feeld, as men may see;
                   One in the large field, as people can see;
3033        Ther helpeth noght; al goth that ilke weye.
                   Nothing helps there; all goes that same way.
3034        Thanne may I seyn that al this thyng moot deye.
                   Then may I say that all things must die.
3035        "What maketh this but Juppiter, the kyng,
                   "What causes this but Jupiter, the king,
3036        That is prince and cause of alle thyng,
                   Who is prince and cause of all things,
3037        Convertynge al unto his propre welle
                   Causing all to return to its own origin
3038        From which it is dirryved, sooth to telle?
                   From which it is derived, to tell the truth?
3039        And heer-agayns no creature on lyve,
                   And against this no living creature,
3040        Of no degree, availleth for to stryve.
                   Of any rank, is helped by striving.
3041        "Thanne is it wysdom, as it thynketh me,
                   "Then is it wisdom, as it seems to me,
3042        To maken vertu of necessitee,
                   To make virtue of necessity,
3043        And take it weel that we may nat eschue,
                   And take it well what we may not escape,
3044        And namely that to us alle is due.
                   And namely that which is due to us all.
3045        And whoso gruccheth ought, he dooth folye,
                   And whoever complains in any way, he does folly,
3046        And rebel is to hym that al may gye.
                   And is rebel to Him that can rule all.
3047        And certeinly a man hath moost honour
                   And certainly a man has most honor
3048        To dyen in his excellence and flour,
                   To die in his (time of) excellence and flower,
3049        Whan he is siker of his goode name;
                   When he is sure of his good name;
3050        Thanne hath he doon his freend, ne hym, no shame.
                   Then he has not done his friend, nor himself, any shame.
3051        And gladder oghte his freend been of his deeth,
                   And his friend ought to be more pleased with his death,
3052        Whan with honour up yolden is his breeth,
                   When his breath is yielded up with honor,
3053        Than whan his name apalled is for age,
                   Than when his name is faded because of age,
3054        For al forgeten is his vassellage.
                   For all forgotten is his knightly prowess.
3055        Thanne is it best, as for a worthy fame,
                   Then is it best, for a worthy fame,
3056        To dyen whan that he is best of name.
                   To die when he has the most fame.
3057        "The contrarie of al this is wilfulnesse.
                   "The contrary of all this is willfulness.
3058        Why grucchen we, why have we hevynesse,
                   Why do we complain, why do we have sadness,
3059        That goode Arcite, of chivalrie flour,
                   That good Arcite, flower of chivalry,
3060        Departed is with duetee and honour
                   Is departed with all due honor
3061        Out of this foule prisoun of this lyf?
                   Out of this foul prison of this life?
3062        Why grucchen heere his cosyn and his wyf
                   Why do his cousin and his wife complain here
3063        Of his welfare, that loved hem so weel?
                   Of the welfare of him, who loved them so well?
3064        Kan he hem thank? Nay, God woot, never a deel,
                   Can he show them his gratitude? Nay, God knows, not a bit;
3065        That both his soule and eek hemself offende,
                   They offend both his soul and themselves as well,
3066        And yet they mowe hir lustes nat amende.
                   And as yet they may not change their desires.

3067        "What may I conclude of this longe serye,
                   "What can I conclude of this long argument,
3068        But after wo I rede us to be merye
                   But after woe I advise us to be merry
3069        And thanken Juppiter of al his grace?
                   And thank Jupiter for all his grace?
3070        And er that we departen from this place
                   And before we depart from this place
3071        I rede that we make of sorwes two
                   I advise that we make of two sorrows
3072        O parfit joye, lastynge everemo.
                   One perfect joy, lasting evermore.
3073        And looketh now, wher moost sorwe is herinne,
                   And look now, where most sorrow is herein,
3074        Ther wol we first amenden and bigynne.
                   There will we first amend and begin.
3075        "Suster," quod he, "this is my fulle assent,
                   "Sister," said he, "this is my full intention,
3076        With al th'avys heere of my parlement,
                   With all the advice of my parliament here,
3077        That gentil Palamon, youre owene knyght,
                   That gentle Palamon, your own knight,
3078        That serveth yow with wille, herte, and myght,
                   Who serves you with will, heart, and might,
3079        And ever hath doon syn ye first hym knewe,
                   And ever has done so since you first knew him,
3080        That ye shul of youre grace upon hym rewe,
                   That you shall of your grace have pity upon him,
3081        And taken hym for housbonde and for lord.
                   And take him for husband and for lord.
3082        Lene me youre hond, for this is oure accord.
                   Lend me your hand, for this is our decision.
3083        Lat se now of youre wommanly pitee.
                   Let your womanly pity now be seen.
3084        He is a kynges brother sone, pardee;
                   He is a king's brother's son, indeed;
3085        And though he were a povre bacheler,
                   And even if he were a poor young knight,
3086        Syn he hath served yow so many a yeer,
                   Since he has served you so many a year,
3087        And had for yow so greet adversitee,
                   And has had for you such great adversity,
3088        It moste been considered, leeveth me,
                   It must be taken in account, believe me,
3089        For gentil mercy oghte to passen right."
                   For gentle mercy ought to prevail over justice."
3090        Thanne seyde he thus to Palamon the knight:
                   Then said he thus to Palamon the knight:
3091        "I trowe ther nedeth litel sermonyng
                   "I suppose little preaching is needed here
3092        To make yow assente to this thyng.
                   To make you assent to this thing.
3093        Com neer, and taak youre lady by the hond."
                   Come near, and take your lady by the hand."
3094        Bitwixen hem was maad anon the bond
                   Between them was made right away the bond
3095        That highte matrimoigne or mariage,
                   That is called matrimony or marriage,
3096        By al the conseil and the baronage.
                   By all the council and the baronage.
3097        And thus with alle blisse and melodye
                   And thus with all bliss and festivity
3098        Hath Palamon ywedded Emelye.
                   Palamon has wedded Emelye.
3099        And God, that al this wyde world hath wroght,
                   And God, who has made all this wide world,
3100        Sende hym his love that hath it deere aboght;
                   Send him his love who has dearly paid for it;
3101        For now is Palamon in alle wele,
                   For now is Palamon in complete happiness,
3102        Lyvynge in blisse, in richesse, and in heele,
                   Living in bliss, in riches, and in health,
3103        And Emelye hym loveth so tendrely,
                   And Emelye loves him so tenderly,
3104        And he hire serveth so gentilly,
                   And he serves her so gently,
3105        That nevere was ther no word hem bitwene
                   That never was there any word between them
3106        Of jalousie or any oother teene.
                   Of jealousy or any other vexation.
3107        Thus endeth Palamon and Emelye;
                   Thus ends Palamon and Emelye;
3108        And God save al this faire compaignye! Amen.
                   And God save all this fair company! Amen. 

Heere is ended the Knyghtes Tale