[PART II. No gap in the MS.]
¶ Whan þat Arcite to Thebes commen was
fful often adaie he swelte and seide alas
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ffor seen his ladi schal he neuer moo
And schortly to concluden al his woo
So muche sorwe had neuer creature
That is or schall whil þat þe werde mai dure
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His slepe his mete his drinke is be-raft [IV. 26, 27.]
þat lene he wex and drie as is a schaft
His yhe hollowe and grisely to be-holde [IV. 28.]
His hiew falowe and pale as asshe colde [IV. 27.]
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And solitarie he was. and euer a lone
And weyleynge al þe nyht makinge his mone.
And if he herde songe or instrument
Than wolde he wepe he myht nouht be stent
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So feble eke were his spretes and he lowe [IV. 29.]
And Chaungede so þat noman couþe knowe
His speche nor his voice þouhe men hit herde
And in his gere for al þe werlde he ferde
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Not comly lyke to louers maledye
Of heres bot raþer like manye
Engenderd of humor malancolike
Be-forne his celle ffantastike
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And scortly torned was al vp and downe
Boþe Abite and disposicioune
Of him þis woful louer dame Arcite
¶ Wat schold .I. al daie of his wo endite
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Whan he endured had a ȝere or two
This cruel torment and þis peine and woo
As Thebes in his Contre as .I. seide
Vpon a nyhte on slepe as he him leide.
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Him þouht howe þat venged god Mercurie
Be-forne him stode and bad him to be merie
His slepi ȝerde in honde he bar vp riht
An hatte he werede vpon his heres briht
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