The Canterbury tales

Sequitur pars quarta.

Greet was the feeste in atthenes that day, Line 2483 And eek the lusty seson of that may Line 2484 Made every wight to been in swich plesaunce Line 2485 That al that monday justen they and daunce, Line 2486 And spenden it in venus heigh servyse. Line 2487 But by the cause that they sholde ryse Line 2488 Eerly, for to seen the grete fight, Line 2489 Unto hir reste wenten they at nyght. Line 2490 And on the morwe, whan that day gan sprynge, Line 2491 Of hors and harneys noyse and claterynge Line 2492 Ther was in hostelryes al aboute; Line 2493 And to the paleys rood ther many a route Line 2494 Of lordes upon steedes and palfreys. Line 2495 Ther maystow seen devisynge of harneys Line 2496 So unkouth and so riche, and wroght so weel Line 2497 Of goldsmythrye, of browdynge, and of steel; Line 2498 The sheeldes brighte, testeres, and trappures, Line 2499 Gold-hewen helmes, hauberkes, cote-armures; Line 2500 Lordes in parementz on hir courseres, Line 2501 Knyghtes of retenue, and eek squieres Line 2502 Nailynge the speres, and helmes bokelynge; Line 2503 Giggynge of sheeldes, with layneres lacynge Line 2504 (there as nede is they weren no thyng ydel); Line 2505 The fomy steedes on the golden brydel Line 2506 Gnawynge, and faste the armurers also Line 2507 With fyle and hamer prikynge to and fro; Line 2508 Yemen on foote, and communes many oon Line 2509 With shorte staves, thikke as they may goon. Line 2510 Pypes, trompes, nakers, clariounes, Line 2511 That in the bataille blowen blody sounes; Line 2512 The paleys ful of peple up and doun, Line 2513 Heere thre, ther ten, holdynge hir questioun, Line 2514 Dyvynynge of thise thebane knyghtes two. Line 2515 Somme seyden thus, somme seyde it shal be so; Line 2516 Somme helden with hym with the blake berd, Line 2517 Somme with the balled, somme with the thikke herd; Line 2518 Somme seyde he looked grymme, and he wolde fighte; Line 2519 He hath a sparth of twenty pound of wighte. Line 2520 Thus was the halle ful of divynynge, Line 2521 Longe after that the sonne gan to sprynge. Line 2522 The grete theseus, that of his sleep awaked Line 2523 With mynstralcie and noyse that was maked, Line 2524 Heeld yet the chambre of his paleys riche, Line 2525 Til that the thebane knyghtes, bothe yliche Line 2526 Honured, were into the paleys fet. Line 2527 Duc theseus was at a wyndow set, Line 2528 Arrayed right as he were a God in trone. Line 2529 The peple preesseth thiderward ful soone Line 2530 Hym for to seen, and doon heigh reverence, Line 2531 And eek to herkne his heste and his sentence. Line 2532 And heraud on a scaffold made an oo! Line 2533 Til al the noyse of peple was ydo, Line 2534 And whan he saugh the peple of noyse al stille, Line 2535 Tho shewed he the myghty dukes wille. Line 2536 The lord hath of his heigh discrecioun Line 2537 Considered that it were destruccioun Line 2538 To gentil blood to fighten in the gyse Line 2539 Of mortal bataille now in this emprise. Line 2540 Wherfore, to shapen that they shal nat dye, Line 2541 He wol his firste purpos modifye. Line 2542 No man therfore, up peyne of los of lyf, Line 2543 No maner shot, ne polax, ne short knyf Line 2544

Line 2544 Into the lystes sende, or thider brynge; Line 2545 Ne short swerd, for to stoke with poynt bitynge, Line 2546 No man ne drawe, ne bere it by his syde. Line 2547 Ne no man shal unto his felawe ryde Line 2548 But o cours, with a sharpe ygrounde spere; Line 2549 Foyne, if hym list, on foote, hymself to were. Line 2550 And he that is at meschief shal be take Line 2551 And noght slayn, but be broght unto the stake Line 2552 That shal ben ordeyned on either syde; Line 2553 But thider he shal by force, and there abyde. Line 2554 And if so falle the chieftayn be take Line 2555 On outher syde, or elles sleen his make, Line 2556 No lenger shal the turneiynge laste. Line 2557 God spede you! gooth forth, and ley on faste! Line 2558 With long swerd and with maces fighteth youre fille. Line 2559 Gooth now youre wey, this is the lordes wille. Line 2560 The voys of peple touchede the hevene, Line 2561 So loude cride they with murie stevene, Line 2562 God save swich a lord, that is so good, Line 2563 He wilneth no destruccion of blood! Line 2564 Up goon the trompes and the melodye, Line 2565 And to the lystes rit the compaignye, Line 2566 By ordinance, thurghout the citee large, Line 2567 Hanged with clooth of gold, and nat with sarge. Line 2568 Ful lik a lord this noble duc gan ryde, Line 2569 Thise two thebans upon either syde; Line 2570 And after rood the queene, and emelye, Line 2571 And after that another compaignye Line 2572 Of oon and oother, after hir degree. Line 2573 And thus they passen thurghout the citee, Line 2574 And to the lystes come they by tyme. Line 2575 It nas nat of the day yet fully pryme Line 2576 Whan set was theseus ful riche and hye, Line 2577 Ypolita the queene, and emelye, Line 2578 And othere ladys in degrees aboute. Line 2579 Unto the seetes preesseth al the route. Line 2580 And westward, thurgh the gates under marte, Line 2581 Arcite, and eek the hondred of his parte, Line 2582 With baner reed is entred right anon; Line 2583 And in that selve moment palamon Line 2584 Is under venus, estward in the place, Line 2585 With baner whyt, and hardy chiere and face. Line 2586 In al the world, to seken up and doun, Line 2587 So evene, withouten variacioun, Line 2588 Ther nere swiche compaignyes tweye; Line 2589 For ther was noon so wys that koude seye Line 2590 That any hadde of oother avauntage Line 2591 Of worthynesse, ne of estaat, ne age, Line 2592 So evene were they chosen, for to gesse. Line 2593 And in two renges faire they hem dresse. Line 2594 Whan that hir names rad were everichon, Line 2595 That in hir nombre gyle were ther noon, Line 2596 Tho were the gates shet, and cried was loude: Line 2597 Do now youre devoir, yonge knyghtes proude! Line 2598 The heraudes lefte hir prikyng up and doun; Line 2599 Now ryngen trompes loude and clarioun. Line 2600 Ther is namoore to seyn, but west and est Line 2601 In goon the speres ful sadly in arrest; Line 2602 In gooth the sharpe spore into the syde. Line 2603 Ther seen men who kan juste and who kan ryde; Line 2604 Ther shyveren shaftes upon sheeldes thikke; Line 2605 He feeleth thurgh the herte-spoon the prikke. Line 2606 Up spryngen speres twenty foot on highte; Line 2607 Out goon the swerdes as the silver brighte; Line 2608 The helmes they tohewen and toshrede; Line 2609 Out brest the blood with stierne stremes rede; Line 2610 With myghty maces the bones they tobreste. Line 2611 He thurgh the thikkeste of the throng gan threste; Line 2612 Ther stomblen steedes stronge, and doun gooth al; Line 2613 He rolleth under foot as dooth a bal; Line 2614 He foyneth on his feet with his tronchoun, Line 2615 And he hym hurtleth with his hors adoun; Line 2616 He thurgh the body is hurt and sither take, Line 2617 Maugree his heed, and broght unto the stake: Line 2618 As forward was, right there he moste abyde. Line 2619 Another lad is on that oother syde. Line 2620 And some tyme dooth hem theseus to reste, Line 2621 Hem to refresshe and drynken, if hem leste. Line 2622 Ful ofte a day han thise thebanes two Line 2623 Togydre ymet, and wroght his felawe wo; Line 2624 Unhorsed hath ech oother of hem tweye. Line 2625 Ther nas no tygre in the vale of galgopheye, Line 2626 Whan that hir whelp is stole whan it is lite, Line 2627 So crueel on the hunte as is arcite Line 2628 For jelous herte upon this palamon. Line 2629 Ne in belmarye ther nys so fel leon, Line 2630 That hunted is, or for his hunger wood, Line 2631 Ne of his praye desireth so the blood, Line 2632 As palamon to sleen his foo arcite. Line 2633 The jelous strokes on hir helmes byte; Line 2634 Out renneth blood on bothe hir sydes rede. Line 2635 Som tyme an ende ther is of every dede. Line 2636 For er the sonne unto the reste wente, Line 2637 The stronge kyng emetreus gan hente Line 2638 This palamon, as he faught with arcite, Line 2639 And made his swerd depe in his flessh to byte; Line 2640 And by the force of twenty is he take Line 2641 Unyolden, and ydrawe unto the stake. Line 2642 And in the rescus of this palamoun Line 2643 The stronge kyng lygurge is born adoun, Line 2644 And kyng emetreus, for al his strengthe, Line 2645

Line 2645 Is born out of his sadel a swerdes lengthe, Line 2646 So hitte him palamoun er he were take; Line 2647 But al for noght, he was broght to the stake. Line 2648 His hardy herte myghte hym helpe naught: Line 2649 He moste abyde, whan that he was caught, Line 2650 By force and eek by composicioun. Line 2651 Who sorweth now but woful palamoun, Line 2652 That moot namoore goon agayn to fighte? Line 2653 And whan that theseus hadde seyn this sighte, Line 2654 Unto the folk that foghten thus echon Line 2655 He cryde, hoo! namoore, for it is doon! Line 2656 I wol be trewe juge, and no partie. Line 2657 Arcite of thebes shal have emelie, Line 2658 That by his fortune hath hire faire ywonne. Line 2659 Anon ther is a noyse of peple bigonne Line 2660 For joye of this, so loude and heighe withalle, Line 2661 It semed that the lystes sholde falle. Line 2662 What kan now faire venus doon above? Line 2663 What seith she now? what dooth this queene of love, Line 2664 But wepeth so, for wantynge of hir wille, Line 2665 Til that hir teeres in the lystes fille? Line 2666 She seyde, I am ashamed, douteless. Line 2667 Saturnus seyde, doghter, hoold thy pees! Line 2668 Mars hath his wille, his knyght hath al his boone, Line 2669 And, by myn heed, thow shalt been esed soone. Line 2670 The trompours, with the loude mynstralcie, Line 2671 The heraudes, that ful loude yelle and crie, Line 2672 Been in hire wele for joye of daun arcite. Line 2673 But herkneth me, and stynteth noyse a lite, Line 2674 Which a myracle ther bifel anon. Line 2675 This fierse arcite hath of his helm ydon, Line 2676 And on a courser, for to shewe his face, Line 2677 He priketh endelong the large place Line 2678 Lokynge upward upon this emelye; Line 2679 And she agayn hym caste a freendlich ye Line 2680 (for wommen, as to speken in comune, Line 2681 Thei folwen alle the favour of fortune) Line 2682 And was al his chiere, as in his herte. Line 2683 Out of the ground a furie infernal sterte, Line 2684 From pluto sent at requeste of saturne, Line 2685 For which his hors for fere gan to turne, Line 2686 And leep aside, and foundred as he leep; Line 2687 And er that arcite may taken keep, Line 2688 He pighte hym on the pomel of his heed, Line 2689 That in the place he lay as he were deed, Line 2690 His brest tobrosten with his sadel-bowe. Line 2691 As blak he lay as any cole or crowe, Line 2692 So was the blood yronnen in his face. Line 2693 Anon he was yborn out of the place, Line 2694 With herte soor, to theseus paleys. Line 2695 Tho was he korven out of his harneys, Line 2696 And in a bed ybrought ful faire and blyve; Line 2697 For he was yet in memorie and alyve, Line 2698 And alwey criynge after emelye. Line 2699 Duc theseus, with al his compaignye, Line 2700 Is comen hoom to atthenes his citee, Line 2701 With alle blisse and greet solempnitee. Line 2702 Al be it that this aventure was falle, Line 2703 He nolde noght disconforten hem alle. Line 2704 Men seyde eek that arcite shal nat dye; Line 2705 He shal been heeled of his maladye. Line 2706 And of another thyng they weren as fayn, Line 2707 That of hem alle was ther noon yslayn, Line 2708 Al were they soore yhurt, and namely oon, Line 2709 That with a spere was thirled his brest boon. Line 2710 To othere woundes and to broken armes Line 2711 Somme hadden salves, and somme hadden charmes; Line 2712 Fermacies of herbes, and eek save Line 2713 They dronken, for they wolde hir lymes have. Line 2714 For which this noble duc, as he wel kan, Line 2715 Conforteth and honoureth every man, Line 2716 And made revel al the longe nyght Line 2717 Unto the straunge lordes, as was right. Line 2718 Ne ther was holden no disconfitynge Line 2719 But as a justes, or a tourneiynge; Line 2720 For soothly ther was no disconfiture. Line 2721 For fallyng nys nat but an aventure, Line 2722 Ne to be lad by force unto the stake Line 2723 Unyolden, and with twenty knyghtes take, Line 2724 O persone allone, withouten mo, Line 2725 And haryed forth by arme, foot, and too, Line 2726 And eke his steede dryven forth with staves Line 2727 With footmen, bothe yemen and eek knaves, -- Line 2728 It nas arretted hym no vileynye; Line 2729 Ther may no man clepen it cowardye. Line 2730 For which anon duc theseus leet crye, Line 2731 To stynten alle rancour and envye, Line 2732 The gree as wel of o syde as of oother, Line 2733 And eyther syde ylik as ootheres brother; Line 2734 And yaf hem yiftes after hir degree, Line 2735 And fully heeld a feeste dayes three, Line 2736 And conveyed the kynges worthily Line 2737 Out of his toun a journee largely. Line 2738 And hoom wente every man the righte way. Line 2739 Ther was namoore but fare wel, have good day! Line 2740 Of this bataille I wol namoore endite, Line 2741 But speke of palamon and of arcite. Line 2742 Swelleth the brest of arcite, and the soore Line 2743 Encreesseth at his herte moore and moore. Line 2744 The clothered blood, for any lechecraft, Line 2745 Corrupteth, and is in his bouk ylaft, Line 2746 That neither veyne-blood, ne ventusynge, Line 2747 Ne drynke of herbes may ben his helpynge. Line 2748 The vertu expulsif, or animal, Line 2749

Line 2749 Fro thilke vertu cleped natural Line 2750 Ne may the venym voyden ne expelle. Line 2751 The pipes of his longes gonne to swelle, Line 2752 And every lacerte in his brest adoun Line 2753 Is shent with venym and corrupcioun. Line 2754 Hym gayneth neither, for to gete his lif, Line 2755 Vomyt upward, ne dounward laxatif. Line 2756 Al is tobrosten thilke regioun; Line 2757 Nature hath now no dominacioun. Line 2758 And certeinly, ther nature wol nat wirche, Line 2759 Fare wel phisik! go ber the man to chirche! Line 2760 This al and som, that arcita moot dye; Line 2761 For which he sendeth after emelye, Line 2762 And palamon, that was his cosyn deere. Line 2763 Thanne seyde he thus, as ye shal after heere: Line 2764 Naught may the woful spirit in myn herte Line 2765 Declare o point of alle my sorwes smerte Line 2766 To yow, my lady, that I love moost; Line 2767 But I biquethe the servyce of my goost Line 2768 To yow aboven every creature, Line 2769 Syn that my lyf may no lenger dure. Line 2770 Allas, the wo! allas, the peynes stronge, Line 2771 That I for yow have suffred, and so longe! Line 2772 Allas, the deeth! allas, myn emelye! Line 2773 Allas, departynge of oure compaignye! Line 2774 Allas, myn hertes queene! allas, my wyf! Line 2775 Myn hertes lady, endere of my lyf! Line 2776 What is this world? what asketh men to have? Line 2777 Now with his love, now in his colde grave Line 2778 Allone, withouten any compaignye. Line 2779 Fare wel, my sweete foo, myn emelye! Line 2780 And softe taak me in youre armes tweye, Line 2781 For love of god, and herkneth what I seye. Line 2782 I have heer with my cosyn palamon Line 2783 Had strif and rancour many a day agon Line 2784 For love of yow, and for my jalousye. Line 2785 And juppiter so wys my soule gye, Line 2786 To speken of a servaunt proprely, Line 2787 With alle circumstances trewely -- Line 2788 That is to seyen, trouthe, honour, knyghthede, Line 2789 Wysdom, humblesse, estaat, and heigh kynrede, Line 2790 Fredom, and al that longeth to that art -- Line 2791 So juppiter have of my soule part, Line 2792 As in this world right now ne knowe I non Line 2793 So worthy to ben loved as palamon, Line 2794 That serveth yow, and wol doon al his lyf. Line 2795 And if that evere ye shul ben a wyf, Line 2796 Foryet nat palamon, the gentil man. Line 2797 And with that word his speche faille gan, Line 2798 For from his feet up to his brest was come Line 2799 The coold of deeth, that hadde hym overcome, Line 2800 And yet mooreover, for in his armes two Line 2801 The vital strengthe is lost and al ago. Line 2802 Oonly the intellect, withouten moore, Line 2803 That dwelled in his herte syk and soore, Line 2804 Gan faillen whan the herte felte deeth. Line 2805 Dusked his eyen two, and failled breeth, Line 2806 But on his lady yet caste he his ye; Line 2807 His laste word was, mercy, emelye! Line 2808 His spirit chaunged hous and wente ther, Line 2809 As I cam nevere, I kan nat tellen wher. Line 2810 Therfore I stynte, I nam no divinistre; Line 2811 Of soules fynde I nat in this registre, Line 2812 Ne me ne list thilke opinions to telle Line 2813 Of hem, though that they writen wher they dwelle. Line 2814 Arcite is coold, ther mars his soule gye! Line 2815 Now wol I speken forth of emelye. Line 2816 Shrighte emelye, and howleth palamon, Line 2817 And theseus his suster took anon Line 2818 Swownynge, and baar hire fro the corps away. Line 2819 What helpeth it to tarien forth the day Line 2820 To tellen how she weep bothe eve and morwe? Line 2821 For in swich cas wommen have swich sorwe, Line 2822 Whan that hir housbondes ben from hem ago, Line 2823 That for the moore part they sorwen so, Line 2824 Or ellis fallen in swich maladye, Line 2825 That at the laste certeinly they dye. Line 2826 Infinite been the sorwes and the teeres Line 2827 Of olde folk, and folk of tendre yeeres, Line 2828 In al the toun for deeth of this theban. Line 2829 For hym ther wepeth bothe child and man; Line 2830 So greet wepyng was ther noon, certayn, Line 2831 Whan ector was ybroght, al fressh yslayn, Line 2832 To troye. Allas, the pitee that was ther, Line 2833 Cracchynge of chekes, rentynge eek of heer. Line 2834 Why woldestow be deed, thise wommen crye, Line 2835 And haddest gold ynough, and emelye? Line 2836 No man myghte gladen theseus, Line 2837 Savynge his olde fader egeus, Line 2838 That knew this worldes transmutacioun, Line 2839 As he hadde seyn it chaunge bothe up and doun, Line 2840 Joye after wo, and wo after gladnesse, Line 2841 And shewed hem ensamples and liknesse. Line 2842 Right as ther dyed nevere man, quod he, Line 2843 That he ne lyvede in erthe in some degree, Line 2844 Right so ther lyvede never man, he seyde, Line 2845 In al this world, that som tyme he ne deyde. Line 2846 This world nys but a thurghfare ful of wo, Line 2847 And we been pilgrymes, passynge to and fro. Line 2848 Deeth is an ende of every worldly soore. Line 2849 And over al this yet seyde he muchel moore Line 2850 To this effect, ful wisely to enhorte Line 2851 The peple that they sholde hem reconforte. Line 2852 Duc theseus, with al his bisy cure, Line 2853

Line 2853 Caste now wher that the sepulture Line 2854 Of goode arcite may best ymaked be, Line 2855 And eek moost honurable in his degree. Line 2856 And at the laste he took conclusioun Line 2857 That ther as first arcite and palamoun Line 2858 Hadden for love the bataille hem bitwene, Line 2859 That in that selve grove, swoote and grene, Line 2860 Ther as he hadde his amorouse desires, Line 2861 His compleynte, and for love his hoote fires, Line 2862 He wolde make a fyr in which the office Line 2863 Funeral he myghte al accomplice. Line 2864 And leet comande anon to hakke and hewe Line 2865 The okes olde, and leye hem on a rewe Line 2866 In colpons wel arrayed for to brenne. Line 2867 His officers with swifte feet they renne Line 2868 And ryde anon at his comandement. Line 2869 And after this, theseus hath ysent Line 2870 After a beere, and it al over spradde Line 2871 With clooth of gold, the richeste that he hadde. Line 2872 And of the same suyte he cladde arcite; Line 2873 Upon his hondes hadde he gloves white, Line 2874 Eek on his heed a coroune of laurer grene, Line 2875 And in his hond a swerd ful bright and kene. Line 2876 He leyde hym, bare the visage, on the beere; Line 2877 Therwith he weep that pitee was to heere. Line 2878 And for the peple sholde seen hym alle, Line 2879 Whan it was day, he broghte hym to the halle, Line 2880 That roreth of the criyng and the soun. Line 2881 Tho cam this woful theban palamoun, Line 2882 With flotery berd and ruggy, asshy heeres, Line 2883 In clothes blake, ydropped al with teeres; Line 2884 And, passynge othere of wepynge, emelye, Line 2885 The rewefulleste of al the compaignye. Line 2886 In as muche as the servyce sholde be Line 2887 The moore noble and riche in his degree, Line 2888 Duc theseus leet forth thre steedes brynge, Line 2889 That trapped were in steel al gliterynge, Line 2890 And covered with the armes of daun arcite. Line 2891 Upon thise steedes, that weren grete and white, Line 2892 Ther seten folk, of whiche oon baar his sheeld, Line 2893 Another his spere up on his hondes heeld, Line 2894 The thridde baar with hym his bowe turkeys Line 2895 (of brend gold was the caas and eek the harneys); Line 2896 And riden forth a paas with sorweful cheere Line 2897 Toward the grove, as ye shul after heere. Line 2898 The nobleste of the grekes that ther were Line 2899 Upon hir shuldres caryeden the beere, Line 2900 With slakke paas, and eyen rede and wete, Line 2901 Thurghout the citee by the maister strete, Line 2902 That sprad was al with blak, and wonder hye Line 2903 Right of the same is the strete ywrye. Line 2904 Upon the right hond wente olde egeus, Line 2905 And on that oother syde duc theseus, Line 2906 With vessels in hir hand of gold ful fyn, Line 2907 Al ful of hony, milk, and blood, and wyn; Line 2908 Eek palamon, with ful greet compaignye; Line 2909 And after that cam woful emelye, Line 2910 With fyr in honde, as was that tyme the gyse, Line 2911 To do the office of funeral servyse. Line 2912 Heigh labour and ful greet apparaillynge Line 2913 Was at the service and the fyr-makynge, Line 2914 That with his grene top the hevene raughte; Line 2915 And twenty fadme of brede the armes straughte -- Line 2916 This is to seyn, the bowes weren so brode. Line 2917 Of stree first ther was leyd ful many a lode. Line 2918 But how the fyr was maked upon highte, Line 2919 Ne eek the names that the trees highte, Line 2920 As ook, firre, birch, aspe, alder, holm, popler, Line 2921 Wylugh, elm, plane, assh, box, chasteyn, lynde, laurer, Line 2922 Mapul, thorn, bech, hasel, ew, whippeltree, -- Line 2923 How they weren feld, shal nat be toold for me; Line 2924 Ne hou the goddes ronnen up and doun, Line 2925 Disherited of hire habitacioun, Line 2926 In which they woneden in reste and pees, Line 2927 Nymphes, fawnes and amadrides; Line 2928 Ne hou the beestes and the briddes alle Line 2929 Fledden for fere, whan the wode was falle; Line 2930 Ne how the ground agast was of the light, Line 2931 That was nat wont to seen the sonne bright; Line 2932 Ne how the fyr was couched first with stree, Line 2933 And thanne with drye stikkes cloven a thre, Line 2934 And thanne with grene wode and spicerye, Line 2935 And thanne with clooth of gold and with perrye, Line 2936 And gerlandes, hangynge with ful many a flour; Line 2937 The mirre, th' encens, with al so greet odour; Line 2938 Ne how arcite lay among al this, Line 2939 Ne what richesse aboute his body is; Line 2940 Ne how that emelye, as was the gyse, Line 2941 Putte in the fyr of funeral servyse; Line 2942 Ne how she swowned whan men made the fyr, Line 2943 Ne what she spak, ne what was hir desir; Line 2944 Ne what jeweles men in the fyre caste, Line 2945 Whan that the fyr was greet and brente faste; Line 2946 Ne how somme caste hir sheeld, and somme hir spere, Line 2947 And of hire vestimentz, whiche that they were, Line 2948 And coppes fulle of wyn, and milk, and blood, Line 2949 Into the fyr, that brente as it were wood; Line 2950 Ne how the grekes, with an huge route, Line 2951 Thries riden al the fyr aboute Line 2952 Upon the left hand, with a loud shoutynge, Line 2953 And thries with hir speres claterynge; Line 2954 And thries how the ladyes gonne crye; Line 2955

Line 2955 Ne how that lad was homward emelye; Line 2956 Ne how arcite is brent to asshen colde; Line 2957 Ne how that lyche-wake was yholde Line 2958 Al thilke nyght; ne how the grekes pleye Line 2959 The wake-pleyes, ne kepe I nat to seye; Line 2960 Who wrastleth best naked with oille enoynt, Line 2961 Ne who that baar hym best, in no disjoynt. Line 2962 I wol nat tellen eek how that they goon Line 2963 Hoom til atthenes, whan the pley is doon; Line 2964 But shortly to the point thanne wol I wende, Line 2965 And maken of my longe tale an ende. Line 2966 By processe and by lengthe of certeyn yeres, Line 2967 Al stynted is the moornynge and the teres Line 2968 Of grekes, by oon general assent. Line 2969 Thanne semed me ther was a parlement Line 2970 At atthenes, upon certein pointz and caas; Line 2971 Among the whiche pointz yspoken was, Line 2972 To have with certein contrees alliaunce, Line 2973 And have fully of thebans obeisaunce. Line 2974 For which this noble theseus anon Line 2975 Leet senden after gentil palamon, Line 2976 Unwist of hym what was the cause and why; Line 2977 But in his blake clothes sorwefully Line 2978 He cam at his comandement in hye. Line 2979 Tho sente theseus for emelye. Line 2980 Whan they were set, and hust was al the place, Line 2981 And theseus abiden hadde a space Line 2982 Er any word cam fram his wise brest, Line 2983 His eyen sette he ther as was his lest. Line 2984 And with a sad visage he siked stille, Line 2985 And after that right thus he seyde his wille: Line 2986 The firste moevere of the cause above, Line 2987 Whan he first made the faire cheyne of love, Line 2988 Greet was th' effect, and heigh was his entente. Line 2989 Wel wiste he why, and what thereof he mente; Line 2990 For with that faire cheyne of love he bond Line 2991 The fyr, the eyr, the water, and the lond Line 2992 In certeyn boundes, that they may nat flee. Line 2993 That same prince and that moevere, quod he, Line 2994 Hath stablissed in this wrecched world adoun Line 2995 Certeyne dayes and duracioun Line 2996 To al that is engendred in this place, Line 2997 Over the whiche day they may nat pace, Line 2998 Al mowe they yet tho dayes wel abregge. Line 2999 Ther nedeth noght noon auctoritee t' allegge, Line 3000 For it is preeved by experience, Line 3001 But that me list declaren my sentence. Line 3002 Thanne may men by this ordre wel discerne Line 3003 That thilke moevere stable is and eterne. Line 3004 Wel may men knowe, but it be a fool, Line 3005 That every part dirryveth from his hool; Line 3006 For nature hath nat taken his bigynnyng Line 3007 Of no partie or cantel of a thyng, Line 3008 But of a thyng that parfit is and stable, Line 3009 Descendynge so til it be corrumpable. Line 3010 And therfore, of his wise purveiaunce, Line 3011 He hath so wel biset his ordinaunce, Line 3012 That speces of thynges and progressiouns Line 3013 Shullen enduren by successiouns, Line 3014 And nat eterne, withouten any lye. Line 3015 This maystow understonde and seen at ye. Line 3016 Loo the ook, that hath so long a norisshynge Line 3017 From tyme that it first bigynneth to sprynge, Line 3018 And hath so long a lif, as we may see, Line 3019 Yet at the laste wasted is the tree. Line 3020 Considereth eek how that the harde stoon Line 3021 Under oure feet, on which we trede and goon, Line 3022 Yet wasteth it as it lyth by the weye. Line 3023 The brode ryver somtyme wexeth dreye; Line 3024 The grete tounes se we wane and wende. Line 3025 Thanne may ye se that al this thyng hath ende. Line 3026 Of man and womman seen we wel also Line 3027 That nedes, in oon of thise termes two, Line 3028 This is to seyn, in youthe or elles age, Line 3029 He moot be deed, the kyng as shal a page; Line 3030 Som in his bed, som in the depe see, Line 3031 Som in the large feeld, as men may see; Line 3032 Ther helpeth noght, al goth that ilke weye. Line 3033 Thanne may I seyn that al this thyng moot deye. Line 3034 What maketh this but juppiter, the kyng, Line 3035 That is prince and cause of alle thyng, Line 3036 Convertynge al unto his propre welle Line 3037 From which it is dirryved, sooth to telle? Line 3038 And heer-agayns no creature on lyve, Line 3039 Of no degree, availleth for to stryve. Line 3040 Thanne is it wysdom, as it thynketh me, Line 3041 To maken vertu of necessitee, Line 3042 And take it weel that we may nat eschue, Line 3043 And namely that to us alle is due. Line 3044 And whoso gruccheth ought, he dooth folye, Line 3045 And rebel is to hym that al may gye. Line 3046 And certeinly a man hath moost honour Line 3047 To dyen in his excellence and flour, Line 3048 Whan he is siker of his goode name; Line 3049 Thanne hath he doon his freend, ne hym, no shame. Line 3050 And gladder oghte his freend been of his deeth, Line 3051 Whan with honour up yolden is his breeth, Line 3052 Than whan his name apalled is for age, Line 3053 For al forgeten is his vassellage. Line 3054 Thanne is it best, as for a worthy fame, Line 3055 To dyen whan that he is best of name. Line 3056 The contrarie of al this is wilfulnesse. Line 3057 Why grucchen we, why have we hevynesse, Line 3058 That goode arcite, of chivalrie the flour, Line 3059 Departed is with duetee and honour Line 3060 Out of this foule prisoun of this lyf? Line 3061

Line 3061 Why grucchen heere his cosyn and his wyf Line 3062 Of his welfare, that loved hem so weel? Line 3063 Kan he hem thank? nay, God woot, never a deel, Line 3064 That both his soule and eek hemself offende, Line 3065 And yet they mowe hir lustes nat amende. Line 3066 What may I conclude of this longe serye, Line 3067 But after wo I rede us to be merye, Line 3068 And thanken juppiter of al his grace? Line 3069 And er that we departen from this place Line 3070 I rede that we make of sorwes two Line 3071 O parfit joye, lastynge everemo. Line 3072 And looketh now, wher moost sorwe is herinne, Line 3073 Ther wol we first amenden and bigynne. Line 3074 Suster, quod he, this is my fulle assent, Line 3075 With al th' avys heere of my parlement, Line 3076 That gentil palamon, youre owene knyght, Line 3077 That serveth yow with wille herte, and myght, Line 3078 And ever hath doon syn ye first hym knewe, Line 3079 That ye shul of youre grace upon hym rewe, Line 3080 And taken hym for housbonde and for lord. Line 3081 Lene me youre hond, for this is oure accord. Line 3082 Lat se now of youre wommanly pitee. Line 3083 He is kynges brother sone, pardee; Line 3084 And though he were a povre bacheler, Line 3085 Syn he hath served yow so many a yeer, Line 3086 And had for yow so greet adversitee, Line 3087 It moste been considered, leeveth me; Line 3088 For gentil mercy oghte to passen right. Line 3089 Thanne seyde he thus to palamon the knight: Line 3090 I trowe ther nedeth litel sermonyng Line 3091 To make yow assente to this thyng. Line 3092 Com neer, and taak youre lady by the hond. Line 3093 Bitwixen hem was maad anon the bond Line 3094 That highte matrimoigne or mariage, Line 3095 By al the conseil and the baronage. Line 3096 And thus with alle blisse and melodye Line 3097 Hath palamon ywedded emelye. Line 3098 And god, that al this wyde world hath wroght, Line 3099 Sende hym his love that hath it deere aboght; Line 3100 For now is palamon in alle wele, Line 3101 Lyvynge in blisse, in richesse, and in heele, Line 3102 And emelye hym loveth so tendrely, Line 3103 And he hire serveth al so gentilly, Line 3104 That nevere was ther no word hem bitwene Line 3105 Of jalousie or any oother teene. Line 3106 Thus endeth palamon and emelye; Line 3107 And God save al this faire compaignye! amen. Line 3108