[Part II. No gap in the MS.]
¶ . Whan þat Arcite / to Thebes come was
fful ofte a day / he swelte & seide allas
Line 1356
ffor sen my lady / shal I neuere mo
And shortly to concluden / al his woo
So meche sorwe / had neuere creature
That is or shal / while þe world may dure
Line 1360
his slepe his mete & drynk / is him byraft
That lene he wex & drye / as is a shaft
His eyen holwe / and grysely to be-holde
his hewe falwe / and pale / as asshen colde
Line 1364
And solitarie he was / and euere allone
And walkyng al þe nyght / makyng his mone
And if he herd song / or Instrument
Than wold he wepe / he myght nat stynt
Line 1368
So feble eke were hise spirites / and so lowe
And chaunged so / þat noman koude him knowe
His speche ne his vois / though men yt herde
And in his gere / for al the world he ferde
Line 1372
Nouȝt only lyke / the louyers maladye
Of hereos / but rather lyke Manye [¶ mania]
Engendred / of humour / malicolyk [folio 19b]
Byforn his owen / Celle fantasyk
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And shortly turned / was al vp so doun
Bothe habit / and eke disposicioun
Of hym / this wooful louyer Arcite
what shuld I al day / of hys woo endite
Line 1380
whan he endured had / a ȝere or two
Thys cruel turment / & thys peyne & woo
At Thebes in his contre / as I seyde
Vp-on a nyght in slepe / as he him leyde
Line 1384
him þouȝt how þat / the wynged god Mercurie
Byforn him stod / & bad him to be merie
his slepy yerde / in honde he bar vp-right
An hatte he wered / vp-on his heris bright
Line 1388
