The Lansdowne ms of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[PART III. No gap in the MS.]

.I. trowe men wolde it deme Necligence Ȝif .I. for-ȝate to tellen þe dispence Of Theseus þat goþe so besily To Maken vp þe listes roially Line 1884 Þat suche a noble theatre as it was .I. dare wele saie in þe werlde þere nas The circuite a Mile was aboute [VII. 108.] Walled of stone and diche all wiþ-oute [[no ditch.]] Line 1888 Rounde was þe schappe maner of compas

fful of degrees þe heighte of sexti pas That whan a man was sette on o degree [VII. 110.] He let-it nouhte his felow for to see Line 1892 Estwarde þere stoode a gate of marble white [VII. 109.] Westward riht stoode a-noþer in þe opposite. And schortly to conclude suche a place Was none in erþe and in so litel a space. Line 1896 ffor in þe londe þere nas no crafti man [folio 24b] That Geomatrie or arce metrik can Ne Purtreoure ne keruer of ymages Thas Theseus ne ȝafe mete and wages Line 1900 The Theatre to make and to deuise And for to done his riht and sacrifice He Estwarde haþ vpon þe gate aboue In worschipe of venus goddes of loue Line 1904 Done maken an Auter and an Oratorie And in þe westwarde in Memorie Of Marce he Maked haþe riht suche anoþer Þat cost largeli of gold a foþer Line 1908 And Northwarde in a toret on· þe walle Of Alabastre white and rede Coralle An oratorie riche for to se In worschipe of Dyane of chastite Line 1912 Haþe Theseus don wrouht in noble wise Bot ȝite had .I. forgeten to deuise Þe noble painteynge and þe purtres The schappe þe countenance and þe figures Line 1916 That weren in þese oratories þre fferst in þe temple of venus maist þou see Wrouhte in þe walle fu[l] pitouse to be-holde The broken slepes. and þe sikes colde Line 1920 The sacrede teres and þe weymenynge The firy strokes of desireinge [VII. 59.] That loues seruantȝ in þis life enduren The oþes þat here couenantz ensuren Line 1924 Plesant and hope desire foolhardinesse [See VII. 55-6, &c.]

Beaute and ȝouþe. bauderie Richesse [See VII. 56, & 64.] Charmes and force leseinges flaterie [See VII. 55-6, 59.] Dispense Besinesse and Ielowsie Line 1928 That wered of ȝalowe gowldes a garlonde And a kokkowe sittinge on his honde ffestes Instrumentes karoles daunces [See VII. 53, & 57.] Luste and arraie and al þe Circumstaunces Line 1932 Of loue whiche þat rekened and reken schall Be order were peinted on þe wall And mo þan .I. can make of Mencione ffor soþeli al þe mounte of Githerone [VII. 50.] Line 1936 There venus haþ hir principal dwellinge Was schewede on þe wall in purtreinge [

Videvi storie per tutto dipinte. . . . .E'l grand Ercole vide tra costoro. VII. 62.

] Wiþ al the Gardyne and þe lustinesse [folio 25a] Nat was for-ȝete þe porter ydelnesse ['Richezza' is Porter in the Teseide, VII. 64: the Roman de la Rose is followed here.] Line 1940 Ne Narcisus þe faire of ȝore agone Ne þe foly of kinge salamon Ne ȝitte þe grete strenke of hercules [

Videvi storie per tutto dipinte. . . . .E'l grand Ercole vide tra costoro. VII. 62.

] Thenchauntementez of Medea and Circes Line 1944 Ne of Turnus wiþ þe hardy fiers corage The Riche Crisus Caitif in seruage Thus maie ȝe seen þat wisdome ne richesse Beute ne strengeþe ne sleiht ne hardinesse Line 1948 Ne maie wiþ venus halde Champartie ffor as sche liste þe werlde þan maie sche gye. Lo al þis folke so kauht were in hire lace Til þei ful woo ful oft seide Alace Line 1952 Suffiseþe here ensamples one or two And þouhe .I. couþe rekken a þousand mo The Statue of venus glorious for to see [See H. of Fame, 198; and Albricus Philosophus in Staveren's Auctores Mythographi, 1702, vol. ii. p. 903.] Was made fleteynge in þe large see Line 1956 And fro þe nauel doune al couerd was Wiþ wawes grene and briht as any glas A Citole in hire Rihte honde had sche And on hir hede ful semely for to see Line 1960 A rose garland frische and wele smellinge

A-boue hire hede here doufes flikeringe Be-forne hir stode hir sonne Cupido Vpon his scholderes wenges had he tuo Line 1964 And blinde he was as it is oft sene A bowe he bare and arwes briht and kene ¶ Whi schold .I. nouht also wele eke tel þe hall The purtratoure þat was vpon þe wall Line 1968 Wiþ-inne þe temple of myhti mars þe rede Al peinted was þe wal in lengethe and brede [VII. 36.] Like to þe estres of þe grisely place [VII. 29, 30.] That hihte þe grete temple of mars in trace Line 1972 In þilke colde frosti Region Ther as Marce haþe his souereine Mansion ffirste on þe wal was peinted a forest [VII. 31.] In whiche þere dwelled neyþer man ne beste [[but a real forest there, not a painted one.]] Line 1976 With knotty knarry baran tres olde Of stubbes scharpe and hidouse to be-holde In whiche þer ran a rombel in a swouhe. As þouhe a storme scholde berste euery bouhe. Line 1980 And dounewarde from an hill vnder a bent [folio 25b] Ther stode þe temple of Mars armipotent [VII. 32.] Wrowht al of Burnede stele of wyche þentre Was longe and streite and gastly for to see Line 1984 And þere owte come a rage and suche a veze [VII. 33.] That maade al þe gates for to rese The Northern liht in att þat dore schone [Boccaccio makes the temple lighted by altar-fires, kindled from the flames of plundered cities. VII. 35.] ffor windowe on þe [walle] was þere none. Line 1988 Thoruhe whiche men myht any liht discerne The dores waren all of Attemant ete[r]ne [VII. 32.] Ychenchede ouereþwart and enlonge Wiþ yren toughe and for to make it stronge Line 1992 Euery peler þe temple to susteine [VII. 33.] Was tune grete of yren briht and schene There sawe .I. first þe derke ymaginynge Of felony an al þe compassinge Line 1996 The Cruele Ire as rede as any glede

The Pike-purs and eke þe pale drede [VII. 33. [not the pickpurse.]] The smyler wiþe þe knyf vnder þe cloke [VII. 34.] The Shepen birneinge with þe blake smoke Line 2000 The Treson of þe Morþeringe in þe bedde The Open werre wiþ wondes all be-bledde Contek wiþ blody knyfe and scharpe manace [VII. 34.] All fful of schrikeinge was þat sor place Line 2004 The sleere of himself ȝit sawe .I. þere His herte haþ baþed al his here The naile y-dryue in þe schode on nyht The colde deþe wiþ mouþe gapeand vpriht Line 2008 A mides of þe temple satte Mischaunce ['Amyddes of the' place sat 'la virtù tristissima.' VII. 34.] With discomford and sori countenaunce Ȝit sauhe .I. wodenes lawheynge in his rage [VII. 35.] Armed compleinte outehees and fires outrage ['La Morte armata vide e lo stupore.' VII. 35.] The karoigne in þe buske wiþ þrote. ycorue A. þousand ysleine and not of qualme ystorue The terant wiþe preie be for þrafte The towne destroiede. þer was no þinge laft [VII. 36.] Line 2016 Ȝete sawe .I. bernte þe schippes hoppesters ['Le navi bellatrici.' VII. 37. Neither Boccaccio, nor yet his prototype Statius, speaks of any ships as burnt, but merely as trophies.] The hunte strangeld wiþ þe wilde beres The sowe freteynge þe childe riht in þe Cradell The Coke. Iscalded for al his longe ladell Line 2020 Nouht was forȝeten be þenfortune of Marte The Carte ouerriden wiþ his Carte [VII. 37.] Vnder þe whele ful lowe he laie a doune [folio 26a] There were also of Martis diuisioune Line 2024 The barboure and þe bocher and þe smithe That forgeþ scharpe swerdes on his stiþe And al aboue depeinted in a toure Sauhe .I. conqueste sit in grete honoure Line 2028 Wiþ þe scharpe swerde ouere his hede Hangeinge be a subtile twine þrede Depeinted was þe slawhter of Iulius Of grete Nero and of Anthonius Line 2032 Al be þat ilke time þei weren vnborne

Ȝite was þeire deþe depainted þere be-forne Be Manassinge of Mars riht be figure So was it schewde in þat purtrature. Line 2036 As is depeinted in þe sertres a-boue Who schal be sleine or elles dede for loue Suffiseth oone ensample in stories oolde .I. maie nouht reken hem al þouhe þat .I. wolde Line 2040 ¶ The statue of Mars vppon a Carte stode Armed and loked grime as he war wode And ouere his heuede þere schines two figures Of sterre þat bene closed in scriptures Line 2044 Þat on puella þat oþer Rubeus This god of armes was arraide þus A wolfe þere stode be-for him att his fete Wiþ yȝen reede and of a man he ete Line 2048 Wiþþe sotel pensel was depeinted þis storie In redouteinge of Mars and of his glorie. ¶ Nowe to þe temple of Diane þe chast As schortli as .I. can .I. wil me haste Line 2052 To telle ȝowe al þe descripcioune Depeinted bene þe walles vp and doune Of huntynge and of schamfast chastite There sauhe .I. howe woful Caliste Line 2056 Whan þat Diane was agreued wiþe here Was turne fro a womman to a bere [Vrsa Maior] And after was sche maade þe lode-sterre Thus was sche peinted .I. can sei ȝowe no ferre. Line 2060 Hir sone is eke a sterre as men Maie see Thar sawhe [I] Dane turned til a tree .I. mene nouht þe goddes Diane Bot Penneus douhter whiche þat hiht Dane. Line 2064 ¶ Ther sawhe .I. Accheon an herte ymaked [folio 26b] ffor veniaunce þat he sawhe Diane al nakede .I. sawhe howe þat his hondes haþ him cauht And freten him for þat þei knewe him nauht Line 2068 Ȝite y-peinted was a litel forþermore

Howe Athalance hunted þe wilde bore And Meliagre and mony an oþer moo ffor whiche Diane wrouht care and woo Line 2072 There sawhe .I. many a noþer wondere storie The whiche me luste nouht drawe to memorie ¶ This Goddes on an hert ful hihe sche seete Wiþ smalle houndes al aboute her feete. Line 2076 And vnder-neþe hire feete sche had a mone Waxinge it was and scholde wany sone In gaude grene hire statue cloþed was Wiþ bowe in honde and arwes in a kas Line 2080 Hir yhen kest sche ful lowe adoune Thare pluto haþ his derke Regione A womman trauaillinge was hire beforne Bot for hire childe was so longe vnborne Line 2084 fful pitously Lucina gan sche calle And seide helpe for þou maiste best of alle Wele couþe he peinte lifly þat it wrouht Wiþ many a floren he þe hewes bouht Line 2088 Nowe bene þes listes maade and Theseus That att his grete cost arraide þus The temples and þe Teatre euery dele Whan it was done it liked him wondere wele Line 2092 Bot stinte .I. will of Theseus a lite And speke of Palamon and of Arcite The daie approcheþ of hire retournynge That eueryche schold an .C. knyhtes bringe. Line 2096 The Bataile to darraine as .I. ȝowe tolde And til Athenes here couenant for to holde Haþe eueryche of hem brouht an .C. knyhtes Wele armed for þe werre att al rihtes Line 2100 An sekurly þere trowed mony a man That neuer siþþe þat þe werlde be-gan [VI. 71.] As for to speke of knyhthode of hire honde As fer as god haþ maked see and londe Line 2104 Was of so fewe so noble a compaignye [VI. 71.]

ffor euery whiht þat loued cheualrie. And wold his þonkes and haue a passant name [folio 27a] Haþe preide þat he myhte be of þat game. ['giuoco,' VII. 4.] Line 2108 And wel was him þat þere-to chosen was ffor if þere fell to morwe suche a cas Ȝe knewe wele þat euery lusty knyht Þat loueþ paramoures . And haþ his myht Line 2112 Were it in Ingelonde or elles where Thei wolde here þonkes willen to be þere To fighte for a lady benedicite It were a lusti siht for to see Line 2116 And riht so ferden þei wiþ Palamon Wiþe him þere went knyhtes manyon Some wol ben armed in an haburgeon And in a breste plate . And in a liht Iepon Line 2120 And some wil haue a paire plates large And some wil haue a pruce schelde or a targe Some wel bene armed on his legges wele And haue an ax and some a mace of stele Line 2124 Thar is no new gise þat it nas holde Armed were þei as .I. haue ȝowe tolde Eueryche after his opinione Thare maistowe see comynge wiþ palamon [[on Arcita's side Tes.]] Line 2128 Ligurge him selfe þe grete kinge of trace [VI. 14.] Blake was his berde and manly was his face [VI. 21. The points marked VI. 21, 22, are taken from the description of 'Aga|memnone.'] The cercles of his yhen in his hede Thei glowde be-twix ȝalowe and rede Line 2132 And like a griffon loked he a-boute With kempe heres on his browes stoute His limes grete . his braune harde and stronge [VI. 21.] His scholdres brod . his armes rounde and longe Line 2136 And as þe gise was in his contre fful hihe vpon a chare of gold stode he [VI. 21.] Wiþþe foure white boles in þe trays In stede of cote armoure ouer his hernays [VI. 22.] Line 2140 Wiþ naille ȝelow and briht as any golde

He had a berskinne cole-blake for olde His longe here was kembed be-hinde his bak [VI. 22.] As any Rauenes feþer it schane for blak Line 2144 A wreþe of golde arme grete of huge wighte Vpon his hede sette ful of stones briht Of fine Rubies and of diamantz A-boute his chare þer went white alantz Line 2148 Twenty and moo as grete as any stere [folio 27b] To hunten att þe lyon or þe dere And folowed him wiþ mosel fast bounde Colers of golde and turettes filed rounde Line 2152 An .C. lordes had he in his Route Armed ful wele wiþ hertes sterene and stoute ¶ Wiþ Arcita in Stories as men finde The grete Emetrius þe kinge of Inde Line 2156 Vpon a stede baie trapped in stele Couerd wiþ cloþe of gold diapred wele [VI. 29. The points here are from the descriptions of 'Ippodamo' (VI. 29), of 'Peleo' (VI. 17, 16), and of 'Peritoo' (VI. 41).] Cam rideinge like þe god of Armes mars His cote armur was of cloþe of tars Line 2160 Couched wiþ perles white and rounde and grete His sade[l] was of brent gold new ybette [VI. 17.] A mantelet vpon his scholdere hongeynge [VI. 16.] Breteful of Rubies rede as fire sparklinge Line 2164 His crispe here like ringes was yronne And þat was ȝalowe and gleteringe as þe sone His nose was hihe his yȝen briht Citrine His lippes rounde . his colour was sanguyne Line 2168 A fewe fraknes in his face y-sprined Be-twix ȝalowe and somdel blak ymeyned And as lion he his lokeynge cast Of five and twenti ȝere his age .I. cast Line 2172 His berd was wele be-gunne for to springe His vois was as a trompe thundringe Vpon his hede he wered of laurer grene [VI. 41.] A garland fresche and lusti for to seene Line 2176 Vpon his honde he bare for his deduyte

An Egle tame as any lely white An .C. lordes had he wiþ him þere Al armed saue hire hedes in al her gere Line 2180 fful richely in al maner þinges ffor trusteþ wele þat Dukes Erles and kinges [VI. 65.] Weren gaderd in þis noble compaignie ffor loue and for encres of chiualrie Line 2184 A-boute þis kinge þar ranne on euery parte fful mony a tame lion and lepart ¶ And in þis wise þes lordes al and some Bene on þe sondaie to þe Cite come Line 2188 Aboute prime and in þe towne a-lihte This theseus þis duc þis worþi knyht [VI. 65.] Whan he had brouht hem in to his Citee [folio 28a] And Inned hem eueriche att his degree Line 2192 He festeþ hem and doþe so grete la-boure To esen hem and done hem al honoure That ȝit men weneþ þat nomannes witte Of none astate ne couþe amende it Line 2196 The minstralcie þe seruice att þe feste [VI. 69-70.] The grete ȝeftes to þe most and leste The Riche arraie of Theseus Paleis Ne who satt first ne last vppon þe deis Line 2200 What ladies fairest bene or best daunceinge Or whiche of hem can best daunsen or singe [VI. 70.] Ne who moste feleingelike spekeþ of loue What haukes sitten in þe perche aboue [VI. 8.] Line 2204 What houndes liggen on þe flore adoune Of all þis make .I. nowe no mencioune Bot al þeffect þat þenkeþ me beste Now comeþ þe pointe and herken if ȝow leste Line 2208 ¶ The sondaye att nyht ar day be-gan to springe Whan Palamon þe larke herde singe Al þouhe it nar nouht daie be houres tuo Ȝete songe þe larke An Palamon riht þo Line 2212 Wiþ holy herte and wiþ an hihe corage

He rose to wende on his pilgrenage Vnto þe blisful Citharea benigne .I. mene venus honurable and digne Line 2216 And in hire houre he walkeþ forþe apace Vnto þe listes þer hir temple wace An doune he kneled and wiþ humble chere And hert sore he seide as ȝe schal here Line 2220 ¶ ffairest of faire O ladi myne Venus Douhter to Ioue and spouse to vulcanus [VII. 43.] Thou glader of þe mounte of Citherōn ffor þilke loue þou haddest to Adon Line 2224 Haue pite of my bitter teres smarte. And take myne humble preier att þine herte Allas .I. ne haue no langage to telle [VII. 45.] The effectes ne þe torment on myn helle Line 2228 Mine herte maie myne harmes nouht bi-wreie .I. am so confuse þat .I. can nouht seie [VII. 45.] Bot Merci ladi briht þat knowest wele Mi þouhte and seest what harmes þat .I. fele. Line 2232 Considere al þis and rewe vpon my sore As wisly as .I. schal for euer More Enforþe my myht þi trewe seruant be And halden were alwaie wiþ chastite Line 2236 That .I. make myne avowe so ȝe me helpe .I. kepe nouht of armes for to ȝelpe [VII. 46.] Ne .I. ne axe not to morne to haue victorie Ne renoune in þis caas ne veine glorie Line 2240 Of pris of armes blowen vp and doune Bot .I. wolde haue fully possessione Of Emelye and die in his seruise ffinde ȝowe þe manere howe and in whatt wise [VII. 47.] Line 2244 .I. reche nouȝt bot it better maie bue To haue victorie of hem or þei of me So þat .I. maie my lady in myne armes ffor þouhe so be þat mars is god of Armes Line 2248 Ȝoure vertue is so grete in heuene aboue

þat. if þou liste .I. schal wel haue my loue ¶ Thi temple wil .I. worschipe euere mo [VII. 48.] And on þine autere where .I. ride or go Line 2252 .I. wil dōn sacrifise and fires bete And if ȝe wil nouȝt so my lady swete [VII. 49.] þan praie .I. þe to-morne wiþ a spere Þat Arcite [me] þourhe þe herte bere Line 2256 Than reke .I. nouht whan .I. haue lost my lif Thouht þat Arcite winne hire to his wif This is þeffect and ende of my prayere Ȝef me my loue þou blisseful ladi dere Line 2260 ¶ Whan þe orison was done of Palamon [VII. 68.] His sacrifice he dide and þat a-none fful pitously wiþ al circumstances [Compare also stanza 42, 'con vittime piatose.'] All tel .I. not as nowe his obseruances Line 2264 Bot att þe laste þe Statue of venus schooke And Maade a signe where-bi þat he toke That his praier was accept þat daie ffor þoughe þe signe schewed a delaie Line 2268 Ȝit wist he wele þat graunted was his bone And wiþ glad herte he went him hom ful sone The þrede houre inequale þat Palamon Be-gan to venus temple for to gone Line 2272 Vp rose þe sonne and vpe roos Emelye And to þe temple of Diane gan hye The Maidens þat þedere wiþ hire ladde [folio 29a] [VII. 71.] fful redely wiþ hem þe fire þei hadde Line 2276 The encens þe cloþes and þe remenant all That to þe sacrifice longen schall The hornes ful of Meþe as was þe gise [VII. 71.] There lakked nouht to done hir sacrifise Line 2280 Smokeinge þe temple ful of cloþes faire [VII. 72.] This Emely wiþ hert debonaire Hir body [wessh] wiþe water of a well [VII. 72.] Bot how sche did hir riht .I. dar not tell Line 2284 Bot it be any þinge in generall

And ȝit it were a game to here it all Til him þat meneþe wele it ner no charge Bot it is goode a man be att his large Line 2288 Her brihte here vn-kembed vntrussed al A coron of a grene oke serial [VII. 74.] Vpon hire hed sett ful feire and mete Two fires on þe auter gan sche bete Line 2292 And dide hir þinges as men mai be-holde In Stace of Thebes as þes bokes olde Whan kindeled was þe fire wiþ pitous chere [VII. 76.] Vn to Diane sche spak as ȝe maye here Line 2296 ¶ O chaste goddes of þe wodes grene [VII. 79.] To whom boþe heuen and erþe and see is sene [VII. 77.] Queene of þe regne of Pluto derke and lawe Goddes of maydenes þat myn hert haste knowe Line 2300 fful mony a ȝere and woste what .I. desire As kepe me fro þi veniance and þine ire [VII. 79.] Þat Attheon abouht cruely Chaste goddes wel woste þou þat .I. Line 2304 Desire to be a maiden al my lif Ne neuer wil .I. be no loue ne wi .I. am þou woste ȝit of þi compaignie [VII. 81.] A mayden and loue huntynge and venerye Line 2308 And for to walken in þe wodes wilde And nouht to bene a wif and be wiþ childe Note wil .I. knowe company of man [VII. 81.] Now he[re] me ladi seþþe ȝe maie and can Line 2312 ffor þree formes þat þu haste in þe And palamon þat haþ suche a loue to me And eke Arcite þat loueþ me so sore Þis grace .I. pray. ȝowe wiþ-owten more [VII. 84.] Line 2316 And sende loue and pees be-twene hem two And fro me torne awaie her hertes soo That al her hote loue and desire [folio 29b] And al her bysy torment and hire fire Line 2320 Be qveynte or tornede in a noþeþer place

And if so be þou wilt nouht do me grace Or if my destany be schapede so [VII. 85.] That .I. schal nedes haue one of þem tuo Line 2324 As sende me him þat most desireþ me Be-holde goddes of clene chastite The bitter teres þat on my cheke falle [VII. 78.] Sen þou art Maiden and keper of vs alle Line 2328 My maidenhede þou kepe and wele conserue And wile .I. leue a maide .I. wil ȝowe serue The fires berne vpon þe auter clere [VII. 88.] While emely was þus in hir preiere Line 2332 Bot sodanly sche sawe a siht queynte ffor rihte a-none on of þe fires queynte [VII. 91.] An quyked aȝeine and after þat anone That oþer fire was queynte and al agone Line 2336 And as it queynte it maad a whistelynge As done þes wete brondes in her brenynge [VII. 92.] And att þe brondes ende oute ran anone As it were blodi dropes many one Line 2340 ffor whiche so sore agaste was Emelye That sche was nyhe mad and gan to crie ffor sche ne wist what it signified [VII. 92.] Bot onely for þe fere þus haþ sche cried Line 2344 And wepe þat Pite was to here And þere wiþ all Diane gan a-pere [VII. 88.] Wiþ bowe in honde riht as an hunteresse And seide douhter stinte þine heuinesse Line 2348 Amonge þe goddes on hihe it is affermede [VII. 89.] And be eterne worde wreten and confermede [['con eterna pa|rola,' VII. 85.]] Thou schalt be wedded vn to one of þoo [VII. 89.] That haue for þe so muche care and woo Line 2352 Bot vnto whiche of hem .I. maie nouht telle [VII. 89.] ffare wele for .I. ne maie no longer dwelle The fires whiche þat on myn auter berne [VII. 89.] Schole ȝe declaren arr þat ȝe gon henne Line 2356 ¶ Thyne auentur of loue as in þis caas

And wiþ þat worde þe Arwes in þe caas Of þe goddes claterne fast and ringe [VII. 90.] And forþe sche wente and made a vanyssinge Line 2360 ffor whiche þi[ng] emely astoned was [folio 30a] And seide what a-mounteþ þis alas .I. pute me in þi protectione Diane and in þine dispocicion Line 2364 And home sche goþe a-none þe next weye [VII. 93.] Þis is þeffecte þere is nomore to seie ¶ The next houre of Mars folwynge þis Arcite vnto þe temple walke is Line 2368 Of fires Mars to don his sacrifice Wiþ all þe rihtes of his payen wise Wiþe pitous hert and hihe deuocione [VII. 23.] Riht þus to mars he sent his orison Line 2372 ¶ O stronge good þat in þe regne colde [VII. 24.] Of Trace honoured erte and lorde .I.-holde And hast in euery regne and in euery londe Of armes al þe bridel in þin honde Line 2376 And hem fortunest as þe liste deuyse Accepte of me my pitous sacrifise If so be þat my ȝouþe mai deserue [VII. 25.] And þat .I. myht be worþi for to serue Line 2380 Thi godhede þat .I. maie bene one of þine Þat praie .I. to þe to rewe vpon my pine ffor þilke pine and þilke hote fire In whiche þou whilome berneste for desire Line 2384 Whan þat þou vsedest þi beaute [VII. 25.] Of faire ȝonge fressche venus fre And haddest hir in armes att þi will Al-þouhe ȝe ones on a time mysfell Line 2388 Whane vulcanus hadde cauht þe in his laas [VII. 25.] And fonde þe liggynge be his wif alaas ffor þilke sorwe þat was in þin herte Haue reuþe as wele vpon my peines smerte Line 2392 .I. am ȝonge and vnkunynge as þou woste [VII. 26.]

And as .I. trowe wiþ loue offendude moste Þat euer was any liues creature [VII. 26.] ffor sche þat doþe me al þis woo endure Line 2396 Ne reccheþ neuer wheþer .I. sinke or flete And wele .I. wote ar sche me merci hete .I. moste wiþ strenkeþ winne hir in þe place And wele .I. wote wiþ-owten helpe or grace [VII. 26.] Line 2400 Of þe; ne maie my strenkeþ nouht aveile Than helpe me lorde to-morne in my bataile. [VII 27.] ffor þilke fire þat whilom brente þe [folio 30b] As wele as þilke fire nowe brenneþ me Line 2404 An do þat .I. to-morne haue þe victorie Myne be þe trauayle and þine be þe glorie ['Io il diletto, e tu n' abbia l' onore.' VII. 27.] Thi souereyne temple wele most .I honouren Of any place and al-wey moste labouren. Line 2408 In þi pesauntez and in þi craftes stronge And in þi temple .I. will Mi baner honge [VII. 28.] And al þe armes of my compaignye And euer more vntil þat .I. dye Line 2412 Eterne fire .I. will be-for þe finde [VII. 28.] And eke to þis a-vowe .I. wil me binde Mine Mine here þat hongeþ longe a doune [VII. 28.] That neuer ȝite ne felte offensione Line 2416 Of Rasoure ne of schere .I. wil þe ȝeue And bene þi treu seruant while .I. leue. Now lorde haue reuþe vpon my sorous sore Ȝif me þe victorie .I. ax þe no more Line 2420 ¶ The preier stinte of Arcita þe stronge The ringe on þe temple dore þat honge. And eke þe dores claterden ful fast [VII. 39.] Of whiche arcita sumwhat him a-gaste Line 2424 The fires brenten vpon þe auteres brihte [VI. 40.] That it gan al þe temple for to lihte And swete smelle þe gronde anone vp ȝafe And Arcita a-none his hand vp hafe [See VII. 40.] Line 2428 And More encence in to þe fire he caste

Wiþ oþere rihtes moo and at þe laste The Statue of Marcȝ began his hauberk ringe [VII. 40.] And wiþ þe sounde he herde a memorynge Line 2432 fful lowe and dimme þat seide þus victorie ffor whiche he ȝafe to mars honour and glorie And þus wiþ Ioy and hope wele to fare [VII. 41.] Arcite a-none vn to his Inne he is fare Line 2436 As feine as fowle is of þe briht sonne And riht anone ffrissche strife is be-gunne [VII. 67.] ffor þilke grauntynge in þe heuen a-boue Be-twix venus þe goddes of loue Line 2440 And marce þe steren god Armipotentent That Iubiter was besie it to stent Til þat þe pale Saturnus þe colde þat knewe so mony of aventures olde Line 2444 ffond in his olde experiens an arte [folio 31a] That ful sone haþe pleside euery parte A soþe is seide Elde haþ grete auantage In Elde is boþe wisdome and vsage Line 2448 Men Maie þe olde att-renne and nouht atrede Saturne a-none to stint strif and drede Al be it þat it is aȝeines his kinde Of Al þis st[r]if he gan remedi finde Line 2452 Mi dere Douhter venus quod Saturne Mi course þat haþe so wide for to turne Haþ more powere þan haþ any manne Mine is þe drynchinge in þe see so wanne Line 2456 Mine is þe prisone in þe derke cote Mine is þe strangle and hongeinge by þe þrote The murmure and þe cheles rebellinge The groneynge and þe priue enprisoneinge Line 2460 .I. do vengeance and pleine correctione Wil .I. dwelle in þe signe of þe leone Myne is þe ruyne of þe hihe halles The fallynge of þe toures and of þe walles Line 2464 Vpon þe minor and þe Carpenter

I slowhe Sampson schakinge þe piler And myne bene þe Maladies colde The derke tresoures and þe Costes olde Line 2468 My lokeynge is þe fader of pestelence Nowe wepe nomore .I. schal do diligence Þat palamon þat is þine owen knyht Schal haue his lady as þou him hihte Line 2472 Mars schal helpe his knyht naþeles Be-twix ȝowe þere mot be sum time pes Al be nouht boþe of on complexione Þat causeþ al daie suche diuisione Line 2476 .I. am þin ayell rede att þi will Wepe nowe no more þi lust .I. wil fulfill Nowe will .I. stente of þe goddes aboue Of Mars and of venus goddes of loue Line 2480 And tell þowe also pleinely as .I. can Þe gret effecte of whiche that .I. be-gan