And he were caught it was acorded thus
That with a swerd he scholde lese his heed [folio 17a]
Ther nas noon oþer remedy ne reed
Line 1216
But took his leeue and homward he him spedde
Lete him be war his nekke liþ to wedde
HOw gret a sorwe suffreþ now Arcite
The deþ he feleþ þorugh his herte smyte
Line 1220
He weepeth weyleth cryeth pitously
To slen himself he wayteþ pryuyly
he seyde allas þe day þat I was born
Now is my prisoun werse þan was biforn
Line 1224
Now is me schape eternally to dwelle
Nought in purgatorie but in helle
Allas þat euer knewe I Perotheus
For elles had I dweld with Theseus
Line 1228
I-fetered in his prisoun for euere moo
Than had I ben in blis and nat in woo
Oonly þe sight of hir whom þat I serue
Þough þat I hir grace may nat deserue
Line 1232
wold han sufficed right ynough for me
O dere Cosyn Palamon quod he
Þyn is þe victoire of þis auenture
Ful blisfully in prisoun to endure
Line 1236
In prisoun nay certes but in paradys
wel hath fortune y-torned þe dys
That haþ þe sight of hir and I the absence
For possible is / syn þou hast hir presence
Line 1240
And art a knight a worþi and an able
But by som cas syn fortune is chaungable
Thou maist to þy desir somtyme atteyne
But I that am exiled and bareyne
Line 1244
Of alle grace / and in so gret despeir
That þer nys water erthe fyr ne eyr
Ne creature that of hem maked is
That may me helpe ne comfort in þis
Line 1248
wel ought I sterue in wanhope and distresse
