‘THE MINOR POEMS’ IN VOL. I. (continued 2)

In derknesse and horrible and strong prisoun This seven yeer hath seten Palamoun, Forpyned, what for wo and for distresse; Who feleth double soor and hevinesse 1455 But Palamon? that love destreyneth so, That wood out of his wit he gooth for wo; And eek therto he is a prisoner (600) Perpetuelly, noght oonly for a yeer. Who coude ryme in English proprely 1460 His martirdom? for sothe, it am nat I; Therefore I passe as lightly as I may.

It fel that in the seventhe yeer, in May, The thridde night, (as olde bokes seyn, That al this storie tellen more pleyn,) 1465 Were it by aventure or destinee, (As, whan a thing is shapen, it shal be,) That, sone after the midnight, Palamoun, (610) By helping of a freend, brak his prisoun, And fleeth the citee, faste as he may go; 1470 For he had yive his gayler drinke so Of a clarree, maad of a certeyn wyn, With nercotikes and opie of Thebes fyn, That al that night, thogh that men wolde him shake, The gayler sleep, he mighte nat awake; 1475 And thus he fleeth as faste as ever he may. The night was short, and faste by the day, That nedes-cost he moste him-selven hyde, (620) And til a grove, faste ther besyde, With dredful foot than stalketh Palamoun. 1480 For shortly, this was his opinioun, That in that grove he wolde him hyde al day, And in the night than wolde he take his way To Thebes-ward, his freendes for to preye On Theseus to helpe him to werreye; 1485 And shortly, outher he wolde lese his lyf, Or winnen Emelye un-to his wyf; This is theffect and his entente pleyn.

(630) Now wol I torne un-to Arcite ageyn, That litel wiste how ny that was his care, 1490 Til that fortune had broght him in the snare.

The bisy larke, messager of day, Saluëth in hir song the morwe gray; And fyry Phebus ryseth up so brighte, That al the orient laugheth of the lighte, 1495 And with his stremes dryeth in the greves The silver dropes, hanging on the leves. And Arcite, that is in the court royal (640) With Theseus, his squyer principal, Is risen, and loketh on the myrie day. 1500 And, for to doon his observaunce to May, Remembring on the poynt of his desyr, He on a courser, sterting as the fyr, Is riden in-to the feeldes, him to pleye, Out of the court, were it a myle or tweye; 1505 And to the grove, of which that I yow tolde, By aventure, his wey he gan to holde, To maken him a gerland of the greves, (650) Were it of wodebinde or hawethorn-leves, And loude he song ageyn the sonne shene: 1510 ‘May, with alle thy floures and thy grene, Wel-come be thou, faire fresshe May, I hope that I som grene gete may.’ And from his courser, with a lusty herte, In-to the grove ful hastily he sterte, 1515 And in a path he rometh up and doun, Ther-as, by aventure, this Palamoun Was in a bush, that no man mighte him see, (660) For sore afered of his deeth was he. No-thing ne knew he that it was Arcite: 1520 God wot he wolde have trowed it ful lyte. But sooth is seyd, gon sithen many yeres, That ‘feeld hath eyen, and the wode hath eres.’ It is ful fair a man to bere him evene, For al-day meteth men at unset stevene. 1525 Ful litel woot Arcite of his felawe, That was so ny to herknen al his sawe, For in the bush he sitteth now ful stille.

(670) Whan that Arcite had romed al his fille, And songen al the roundel lustily, 1530 In-to a studie he fil sodeynly, As doon thise loveres in hir queynte geres, Now in the croppe, now doun in the breres, Now up, now doun, as boket in a welle. Right as the Friday, soothly for to telle, 1535 Now it shyneth, now it reyneth faste, Right so can gery Venus overcaste The hertes of hir folk; right as hir day (680) Is gerful, right so chaungeth she array. Selde is the Friday al the wyke y-lyke.

1540 Whan that Arcite had songe, he gan to syke, And sette him doun with-outen any more: ‘Alas!’ quod he, ‘that day that I was bore! How longe, Iuno, thurgh thy crueltee, Woltow werreyen Thebes the citee? 1545 Allas! y-broght is to confusioun The blood royal of Cadme and Amphioun; Of Cadmus, which that was the firste man 690 That Thebes bulte, or first the toun bigan, And of the citee first was crouned king, 1550 Of his linage am I, and his of-spring By verray ligne, as of the stok royal: And now I am so caitif and so thral, That he, that is my mortal enemy, I serve him as his squyer povrely. 1555 And yet doth Iuno me wel more shame, For I dar noght biknowe myn owne name; But ther-as I was wont to highte Arcite, 700 Now highte I Philostrate, noght worth a myte. Allas! thou felle Mars, allas! Iuno, 1560 Thus hath your ire our kinrede al fordo, Save only me, and wrecched Palamoun, That Theseus martyreth in prisoun. And over al this, to sleen me utterly, Love hath his fyry dart so brenningly 1565 Y-stiked thurgh my trewe careful herte, That shapen was my deeth erst than my sherte. Ye sleen me with your eyen, Emelye; (710) Ye been the cause wherfor that I dye. Of al the remenant of myn other care 1570 Ne sette I nat the mountaunce of a tare, So that I coude don aught to your plesaunce!’ And with that word he fil doun in a traunce A longe tyme; and after he up-sterte.

This Palamoun, that thoughte that thurgh his herte 1575 He felte a cold swerd sodeynliche glyde, For ire he quook, no lenger wolde he byde. And whan that he had herd Arcites tale, (720) As he were wood, with face deed and pale, He sterte him up out of the buskes thikke, 1580 And seyde: ‘Arcite, false traitour wikke, Now artow hent, that lovest my lady so, For whom that I have al this peyne and wo, And art my blood, and to my counseil sworn, As I ful ofte have told thee heer-biforn, 1585 And hast by-iaped here duk Theseus, And falsly chaunged hast thy name thus; I wol be deed, or elles thou shalt dye. (730) Thou shalt nat love my lady Emelye, But I wol love hir only, and namo; 1590 For I am Palamoun, thy mortal fo. And though that I no wepne have in this place, But out of prison am astert by grace, I drede noght that outher thou shalt dye, Or thou ne shalt nat loven Emelye. 1595 Chees which thou wilt, for thou shalt nat asterte.’

This Arcitë, with ful despitous herte, Whan he him knew, and hadde his tale herd, (740) As fiers as leoun, pulled out a swerd, And seyde thus: ‘by God that sit above, 1600 Nere it that thou art sik, and wood for love, And eek that thou no wepne hast in this place, Thou sholdest never out of this grove pace, That thou ne sholdest dyen of myn hond. For I defye the seurtee and the bond 1605 Which that thou seyst that I have maad to thee. What, verray fool, think wel that love is free, And I wol love hir, maugre al thy might! (750) But, for as muche thou art a worthy knight, And wilnest to darreyne hir by batayle, 1610 Have heer my trouthe, to-morwe I wol nat fayle, With-outen witing of any other wight, That here I wol be founden as a knight, And bringen harneys right y-nough for thee; And chees the beste, and leve the worste for me. 1615 And mete and drinke this night wol I bringe Y-nough for thee, and clothes for thy beddinge. And, if so be that thou my lady winne, (760) And slee me in this wode ther I am inne, Thou mayst wel have thy lady, as for me.’ 1620 This Palamon answerde: ‘I graunte it thee.’ And thus they been departed til a-morwe, When ech of hem had leyd his feith to borwe.

O Cupide, out of alle charitee! O regne, that wolt no felawe have with thee! 1625 Ful sooth is seyd, that love ne lordshipe Wol noght, his thankes, have no felaweshipe; Wel finden that Arcite and Palamoun. (770) Arcite is riden anon un-to the toun, And on the morwe, er it were dayes light, 1630 Ful prively two harneys hath he dight, Bothe suffisaunt and mete to darreyne The bataille in the feeld bitwix hem tweyne. And on his hors, allone as he was born, He carieth al this harneys him biforn; 1635 And in the grove, at tyme and place y-set, This Arcite and this Palamon ben met. Tho chaungen gan the colour in hir face; (780) Right as the hunter in the regne of Trace, That stondeth at the gappe with a spere, 1640 Whan hunted is the leoun or the bere, And hereth him come russhing in the greves, And breketh bothe bowes and the leves, And thinketh, ‘heer cometh my mortel enemy, With-oute faile, he moot be deed, or I; 1645 For outher I mot sleen him at the gappe, Or he mot sleen me, if that me mishappe:’ So ferden they, in chaunging of hir hewe, (790) As fer as everich of hem other knewe. Ther nas no good day, ne no saluing; 1650 But streight, with-outen word or rehersing, Everich of hem halp for to armen other, As freendly as he were his owne brother; And after that, with sharpe speres stronge They foynen ech at other wonder longe. 1655 Thou mightest wene that this Palamoun In his fighting were a wood leoun, And as a cruel tygre was Arcite: (800) As wilde bores gonne they to smyte, That frothen whyte as foom for ire wood. 1660 Up to the ancle foghte they in hir blood. And in this wyse I lete hem fighting dwelle; And forth I wol of Theseus yow telle.

The destinee, ministre general, That executeth in the world over-al 1665 The purveyaunce, that God hath seyn biforn, So strong it is, that, though the world had sworn The contrarie of a thing, by ye or nay, (810) Yet somtyme it shal fallen on a day That falleth nat eft with-inne a thousand yere. 1670 For certeinly, our appetytes here, Be it of werre, or pees, or hate, or love, Al is this reuled by the sighte above. This mene I now by mighty Theseus, That for to honten is so desirous, 1675 And namely at the grete hert in May, That in his bed ther daweth him no day, That he nis clad, and redy for to ryde (820) With hunte and horn, and houndes him bisyde. For in his hunting hath he swich delyt, 1680 That it is al his Ioye and appetyt To been him-self the grete hertes bane; For after Mars he serveth now Diane.

Cleer was the day, as I have told er this, And Theseus, with alle Ioye and blis, 1685 With his Ipolita, the fayre quene, And Emelye, clothed al in grene, On hunting be they riden royally. (830) And to the grove, that stood ful faste by, In which ther was an hert, as men him tolde, 1690 Duk Theseus the streighte wey hath holde. And to the launde he rydeth him ful right, For thider was the hert wont have his flight, And over a brook, and so forth on his weye. This duk wol han a cours at him, or tweye, 1695 With houndes, swiche as that him list comaunde.

And whan this duk was come un-to the launde, Under the sonne he loketh, and anon (840) He was war of Arcite and Palamon, That foughten breme, as it were bores two; 1700 The brighte swerdes wenten to and fro So hidously, that with the leeste strook It seemed as it wolde felle an ook; But what they were, no-thing he ne woot. This duk his courser with his spores smoot, 1705 And at a stert he was bitwix hem two, And pulled out a swerd and cryed, ‘ho! Namore, up peyne of lesing of your heed. (850) By mighty Mars, he shal anon be deed, That smyteth any strook, that I may seen! 1710 But telleth me what mister men ye been, That been so hardy for to fighten here With-outen Iuge or other officere, As it were in a listes royally?’

This Palamon answerde hastily, 1715 And seyde: ‘sire, what nedeth wordes mo? We have the deeth deserved bothe two. Two woful wrecches been we, two caytyves, (860) That been encombred of our owne lyves; And as thou art a rightful lord and Iuge, 1720 Ne yeve us neither mercy ne refuge, But slee me first, for seynte charitee; But slee my felawe eek as wel as me. Or slee him first; for, though thou knowe it lyte, This is thy mortal fo, this is Arcite, 1725 That fro thy lond is banished on his heed, For which he hath deserved to be deed. For this is he that cam un-to thy gate, (870) And seyde, that he highte Philostrate. Thus hath he Iaped thee ful many a yeer, 1730 And thou has maked him thy chief squyer; And this is he that loveth Emelye. For sith the day is come that I shal dye, I make pleynly my confessioun, That I am thilke woful Palamoun, 1735 That hath thy prison broken wikkedly. I am thy mortal fo, and it am I That loveth so hote Emelye the brighte, (880) That I wol dye present in hir sighte. Therfore I axe deeth and my Iuwyse; 1740 But slee my felawe in the same wyse, For bothe han we deserved to be slayn.’

This worthy duk answerde anon agayn, And seyde, ‘This is a short conclusioun: Youre owne mouth, by your confessioun, 1745 Hath dampned you, and I wol it recorde, It nedeth noght to pyne yow with the corde. Ye shul be deed, by mighty Mars the rede!’ (890) The quene anon, for verray wommanhede, Gan for to wepe, and so dide Emelye, 1750 And alle the ladies in the companye. Gret pitee was it, as it thoughte hem alle, That ever swich a chaunce sholde falle; For gentil men they were, of greet estat, And no-thing but for love was this debat; 1755 And sawe hir blody woundes wyde and sore; And alle cryden, bothe lasse and more, ‘Have mercy, lord, up-on us wommen alle!’ (900) And on hir bare knees adoun they falle, And wolde have kist his feet ther-as he stood, 1760 Til at the laste aslaked was his mood; For pitee renneth sone in gentil herte. And though he first for ire quook and sterte, He hath considered shortly, in a clause, The trespas of hem bothe, and eek the cause: 1765 And al-though that his ire hir gilt accused, Yet in his reson he hem bothe excused; As thus: he thoghte wel, that every man (910) Wol helpe him-self in love, if that he can, And eek delivere him-self out of prisoun; 1770 And eek his herte had compassioun Of wommen, for they wepen ever in oon; And in his gentil herte he thoghte anoon, And softe un-to himself he seyde: ‘fy Up-on a lord that wol have no mercy, 1775 But been a leoun, bothe in word and dede, To hem that been in repentaunce and drede As wel as to a proud despitous man (920) That wol maynteyne that he first bigan! That lord hath litel of discrecioun, 1780 That in swich cas can no divisioun, But weyeth pryde and humblesse after oon.’ And shortly, whan his ire is thus agoon, He gan to loken up with eyen lighte, And spak thise same wordes al on highte:— 1785 The god of love, a! benedicite, How mighty and how greet a lord is he! Ayeins his might ther gayneth none obstacles, (930) He may be cleped a god for his miracles; For he can maken at his owne gyse 1790 Of everich herte, as that him list devyse. Lo heer, this Arcite and this Palamoun, That quitly weren out of my prisoun, And mighte han lived in Thebes royally, And witen I am hir mortal enemy, 1795 And that hir deeth lyth in my might also, And yet hath love, maugree hir eyen two, Y-broght hem hider bothe for to dye! (940) Now loketh, is nat that an heigh folye? Who may been a fool, but-if he love? 1800 Bihold, for Goddes sake that sit above, Se how they blede! be they noght wel arrayed? Thus hath hir lord, the god of love, y-payed Hir wages and hir fees for hir servyse! And yet they wenen for to been ful wyse 1805 That serven love, for aught that may bifalle! But this is yet the beste game of alle, That she, for whom they han this Iolitee, (950) Can hem ther-for as muche thank as me; She woot namore of al this hote fare, 1810 By God, than woot a cokkow or an hare! But al mot been assayed, hoot and cold; A man mot been a fool, or yong or old; I woot it by my-self ful yore agoon: For in my tyme a servant was I oon. 1815 And therfore, sin I knowe of loves peyne, And woot how sore it can a man distreyne, As he that hath ben caught ofte in his las, (960) I yow foryeve al hoolly this trespas, At requeste of the quene that kneleth here, 1820 And eek of Emelye, my suster dere. And ye shul bothe anon un-to me swere, That never-mo ye shul my contree dere, Ne make werre up-on me night ne day, But been my freendes in al that ye may; 1825 I yow foryeve this trespas every del.’ And they him swore his axing fayre and wel, And him of lordshipe and of mercy preyde, (970) And he hem graunteth grace, and thus he seyde:

‘To speke of royal linage and richesse, 1830 Though that she were a quene or a princesse, Ech of yow bothe is worthy, doutelees, To wedden whan tyme is, but nathelees I speke as for my suster Emelye, For whom ye have this stryf and Ielousye; 1835 Ye woot your-self, she may not wedden two At ones, though ye fighten ever-mo: That oon of yow, al be him looth or leef, (980) He moot go pypen in an ivy-leef; This is to seyn, she may nat now han bothe, 1840 Al be ye never so Ielous, ne so wrothe. And for-thy I yow putte in this degree, That ech of yow shal have his destinee As him is shape; and herkneth in what wyse; Lo, heer your ende of that I shal devyse.

1845 My wil is this, for plat conclusioun, With-outen any replicacioun, If that yow lyketh, tak it for the beste, (990) That everich of yow shal gon wher him leste Frely, with-outen raunson or daunger; 1850 And this day fifty wykes, fer ne ner, Everich of yow shal bringe an hundred knightes, Armed for listes up at alle rightes, Al redy to darreyne hir by bataille. And this bihote I yow, with-outen faille, 1855 Up-on my trouthe, and as I am a knight, That whether of yow bothe that hath might, This is to seyn, that whether he or thou (1000) May with his hundred, as I spak of now, Sleen his contrarie, or out of listes dryve, 1860 Him shal I yeve Emelya to wyve, To whom that fortune yeveth so fair a grace. The listes shal I maken in this place, And God so wisly on my soule rewe, As I shal even Iuge been and trewe. 1865 Ye shul non other ende with me maken, That oon of yow ne shal be deed or taken. And if yow thinketh this is wel y-sayd, (1010) Seyeth your avys, and holdeth yow apayd. This is your ende and your conclusioun.’

1870 Who loketh lightly now but Palamoun? Who springeth up for Ioye but Arcite? Who couthe telle, or who couthe it endyte, The Ioye that is maked in the place Whan Theseus hath doon so fair a grace? 1875 But doun on knees wente every maner wight, And thanked him with al her herte and might, And namely the Thebans ofte sythe. (1020) And thus with good hope and with herte blythe They take hir leve, and hom-ward gonne they ryde 1880 To Thebes, with his olde walles wyde.

Explicit secunda pars. Sequitur pars tercia. I trowe men wolde deme it necligence, If I foryete to tellen the dispence Of Theseus, that goth so bisily To maken up the listes royally; 1885 That swich a noble theatre as it was, I dar wel seyn that in this world ther nas. The circuit a myle was aboute, (1030) Walled of stoon, and diched al with-oute. Round was the shap, in maner of compas, 1890 Ful of degrees, the heighte of sixty pas, That, whan a man was set on o degree, He letted nat his felawe for to see.

Est-ward ther stood a gate of marbel whyt, West-ward, right swich another in the opposit. 1895 And shortly to concluden, swich a place Was noon in erthe, as in so litel space; For in the lond ther nas no crafty man, (1040) That geometrie or ars-metrik can, Ne purtreyour, ne kerver of images, 1900 That Theseus ne yaf him mete and wages The theatre for to maken and devyse. And for to doon his ryte and sacrifyse, He est-ward hath, up-on the gate above, In worship of Venus, goddesse of love, 1905 Don make an auter and an oratorie; And west-ward, in the minde and in memorie Of Mars, he maked hath right swich another, (1050) That coste largely of gold a fother. And north-ward, in a touret on the wal, 1910 Of alabastre whyt and reed coral An oratorie riche for to see, In worship of Dyane of chastitee, Hath Theseus don wroght in noble wyse.

But yet hadde I foryeten to devyse 1915 The noble kerving, and the portreitures, The shap, the countenaunce, and the figures, That weren in thise oratories three. (1060) First in the temple of Venus maystow see Wroght on the wal, ful pitous to biholde, 1920 The broken slepes, and the sykes colde; The sacred teres, and the waymenting; The fyry strokes of the desiring, That loves servaunts in this lyf enduren; The othes, that hir covenants assuren; 1925 Plesaunce and hope, desyr, fool-hardinesse, Beautee and youthe, bauderie, richesse, Charmes and force, lesinges, flaterye, (1070) Dispense, bisynesse, and Ielousye, That wered of yelwe goldes a gerland, 1930 And a cokkow sitting on hir hand; Festes, instruments, caroles, daunces, Lust and array, and alle the circumstaunces Of love, whiche that I rekne and rekne shal, By ordre weren peynted on the wal, 1935 And mo than I can make of mencioun. For soothly, al the mount of Citheroun, Ther Venus hath hir principal dwelling, (1080) Was shewed on the wal in portreying, With al the gardin, and the lustinesse. 1940 Nat was foryeten the porter Ydelnesse, Ne Narcisus the faire of yore agon, Ne yet the folye of king Salamon, Ne yet the grete strengthe of Hercules— Thenchauntements of Medea and Circes— 1945 Ne of Turnus, with the hardy fiers corage, The riche Cresus, caytif in servage. Thus may ye seen that wisdom ne richesse, (1090) Beautee ne sleighte, strengthe, ne hardinesse, Ne may with Venus holde champartye; 1950 For as hir list the world than may she gye. Lo, alle thise folk so caught were in hir las, Til they for wo ful ofte seyde ‘allas!’ Suffyceth heer ensamples oon or two, And though I coude rekne a thousand mo.

1955 The statue of Venus, glorious for to see, Was naked fleting in the large see, And fro the navele doun all covered was (1100) With wawes grene, and brighte as any glas. A citole in hir right hand hadde she, 1960 And on hir heed, ful semely for to see, A rose gerland, fresh and wel smellinge; Above hir heed hir dowves flikeringe. Biforn hir stood hir sone Cupido, Up-on his shuldres winges hadde he two; 1965 And blind he was, as it is ofte sene; A bowe he bar and arwes brighte and kene.

Why sholde I noght as wel eek telle yow al (1110) The portreiture, that was up-on the wal With-inne the temple of mighty Mars the rede? 1970 Al peynted was the wal, in lengthe and brede, Lyk to the estres of the grisly place, That highte the grete temple of Mars in Trace, In thilke colde frosty regioun, Ther-as Mars hath his sovereyn mansioun. 1975 First on the wal was peynted a foreste, In which ther dwelleth neither man ne beste, With knotty knarry bareyn treës olde (1120) Of stubbes sharpe and hidous to biholde; In which ther ran a rumbel and a swough, 1980 As though a storm sholde bresten every bough: And downward from an hille, under a bente, Ther stood the temple of Mars armipotente, Wroght al of burned steel, of which thentree Was long and streit, and gastly for to see. 1985 And ther-out cam a rage and such a vese, That it made al the gates for to rese. The northren light in at the dores shoon, (1130) For windowe on the wal ne was ther noon, Thurgh which men mighten any light discerne. 1990 The dores were alle of adamant eterne, Y-clenched overthwart and endelong With iren tough; and, for to make it strong, Every piler, the temple to sustene, Was tonne-greet, of iren bright and shene.

1995 Ther saugh I first the derke imagining Of felonye, and al the compassing; The cruel ire, reed as any glede; (1140) The pykepurs, and eek the pale drede; The smyler with the knyf under the cloke; 2000 The shepne brenning with the blake smoke; The treson of the mordring in the bedde; The open werre, with woundes al bi-bledde; Contek, with blody knyf and sharp manace; Al ful of chirking was that sory place. 2005 The sleere of him-self yet saugh I ther, His herte-blood hath bathed al his heer; The nayl y-driven in the shode a-night; (1150) The colde deeth, with mouth gaping up-right. Amiddes of the temple sat meschaunce, 2010 With disconfort and sory contenaunce. Yet saugh I woodnesse laughing in his rage; Armed compleint, out-hees, and fiers outrage. The careyne in the bush, with throte y-corve: A thousand slayn, and nat of qualm y-storve; 2015 The tiraunt, with the prey by force y-raft; The toun destroyed, ther was no-thing laft. Yet saugh I brent the shippes hoppesteres; (1160) The hunte strangled with the wilde beres: The sowe freten the child right in the cradel; 2020 The cook y-scalded, for al his longe ladel. Noght was foryeten by the infortune of Marte; The carter over-riden with his carte, Under the wheel ful lowe he lay adoun. Ther were also, of Martes divisioun, 2025 The barbour, and the bocher, and the smith That forgeth sharpe swerdes on his stith. And al above, depeynted in a tour, (1170) Saw I conquest sittinge in greet honour, With the sharpe swerde over his heed 2030 Hanginge by a sotil twynes threed. Depeynted was the slaughtre of Iulius, Of grete Nero, and of Antonius; Al be that thilke tyme they were unborn, Yet was hir deeth depeynted ther-biforn, 2035 By manasinge of Mars, right by figure; So was it shewed in that portreiture As is depeynted in the sterres above, (1180) Who shal be slayn or elles deed for love. Suffyceth oon ensample in stories olde, 2040 I may not rekne hem alle, thogh I wolde.

The statue of Mars up-on a carte stood, Armed, and loked grim as he were wood; And over his he’ed ther shynen two figures Of sterres, that been cleped in scriptures, 2045 That oon Puella, that other Rubeus. This god of armes was arrayed thus:— A wolf ther stood biforn him at his feet (1190) With eyen rede, and of a man he eet; With sotil pencel was depeynt this storie, 2050 In redoutinge of Mars and of his glorie.

Now to the temple of Diane the chaste As shortly as I can I wol me haste, To telle yow al the descripcioun. Depeynted been the walles up and doun 2055 Of hunting and of shamfast chastitee. Ther saugh I how woful Calistopee, Whan that Diane agreved was with here, (1200) Was turned from a womman til a bere, And after was she maad the lode-sterre; 2060 Thus was it peynt, I can say yow no ferre; Hir sone is eek a sterre, as men may see. Ther saugh I Dane, y-turned til a tree, I mene nat the goddesse Diane, But Penneus doughter, which that highte Dane. 2065 Ther saugh I Attheon an hert y-maked, For vengeaunce that he saugh Diane al naked; I saugh how that his houndes have him caught, (1210) And freten him, for that they knewe him naught. Yet peynted was a litel forther-moor, 2070 How Atthalante hunted the wilde boor, And Meleagre, and many another mo, For which Diane wroghte him care and wo. Ther saugh I many another wonder storie, The whiche me list nat drawen to memorie. 2075 This goddesse on an hert ful hye seet, With smale houndes al aboute hir feet; And undernethe hir feet she hadde a mone, (1220) Wexing it was, and sholde wanie sone. In gaude grene hir statue clothed was, 2080 With bowe in honde, and arwes in a cas. Hir eyen caste she ful lowe adoun, Ther Pluto hath his derke regioun. A womman travailinge was hir biforn, But, for hir child so longe was unborn, 2085 Ful pitously Lucyna gan she calle, And seyde, ‘help, for thou mayst best of alle.’ Wel couthe he peynten lyfly that it wroghte, (1230) With many a florin he the hewes boghte.

Now been thise listes maad, and Theseus, 2090 That at his grete cost arrayed thus The temples and the theatre every del, Whan it was doon, him lyked wonder wel. But stinte I wol of Theseus a lyte, And speke of Palamon and of Arcite.

2095 The day approcheth of hir retourninge, That everich sholde an hundred knightes bringe, The bataille to darreyne, as I yow tolde; (1240) And til Athenes, hir covenant for to holde, Hath everich of hem broght an hundred knightes 2100 Wel armed for the werre at alle rightes. And sikerly, ther trowed many a man That never, sithen that the world bigan, As for to speke of knighthod of hir hond, As fer as God hath maked see or lond, 2105 Nas, of so fewe, so noble a companye. For every wight that lovede chivalrye, And wolde, his thankes, han a passant name, (1250) Hath preyed that he mighte ben of that game; And wel was him, that ther-to chosen was. 2110 For if ther fille to-morwe swich a cas, Ye knowen wel, that every lusty knight, That loveth paramours, and hath his might, Were it in Engelond, or elles-where, They wolde, hir thankes, wilnen to be there. 2115 To fighte for a lady, benedicite! It were a lusty sighte for to see.

And right so ferden they with Palamon. (1260) With him ther wenten knightes many oon; Som wol ben armed in an habergeoun, 2120 In a brest-plat and in a light gipoun; And somme woln have a peyre plates large; And somme woln have a Pruce sheld, or a targe; Somme woln ben armed on hir legges weel, And have an ax, and somme a mace of steel. 2125 Ther nis no newe gyse, that it nas old. Armed were they, as I have you told, Everich after his opinioun.

(1270) Ther maistow seen coming with Palamoun Ligurge him-self, the grete king of Trace; 2130 Blak was his berd, and manly was his face. The cercles of his eyen in his heed, They gloweden bitwixe yelow and reed; And lyk a griffon loked he aboute, With kempe heres on his browes stoute; 2135 His limes grete, his braunes harde and stronge, His shuldres brode, his armes rounde and longe. And as the gyse was in his contree, (1280) Ful hye up-on a char of gold stood he, With foure whyte boles in the trays. 2140 In-stede of cote-armure over his harnays, With nayles yelwe and brighte as any gold, He hadde a beres skin, col-blak, for-old. His longe heer was kembd bihinde his bak, As any ravenes fether it shoon for-blak: 2145 A wrethe of gold arm-greet, of huge wighte, Upon his heed, set ful of stones brighte, Of fyne rubies and of dyamaunts. (1290) Aboute his char ther wenten whyte alaunts, Twenty and mo, as grete as any steer, 2150 To hunten at the leoun or the deer, And folwed him, with mosel faste y-bounde, Colers of gold, and torets fyled rounde. An hundred lordes hadde he in his route Armed ful wel, with hertes sterne and stoute.

2155 With Arcita, in stories as men finde, The grete Emetreus, the king of Inde, Up-on a stede bay, trapped in steel, (1300) Covered in cloth of gold diapred weel, Cam ryding lyk the god of armes, Mars. 2160 His cote-armure was of cloth of Tars, Couched with perles whyte and rounde and grete. His sadel was of brend gold newe y-bete; A mantelet upon his shuldre hanginge Bret-ful of rubies rede, as fyr sparklinge. 2165 His crispe heer lyk ringes was y-ronne, And that was yelow, and glitered as the sonne. His nose was heigh, his eyen bright citryn, (1310) His lippes rounde, his colour was sangwyn, A fewe fraknes in his face y-spreynd, 2170 Betwixen yelow and somdel blak y-meynd, And as a leoun he his loking caste. Of fyve and twenty yeer his age I caste. His berd was wel bigonne for to springe; His voys was as a trompe thunderinge. 2175 Up-on his heed he wered of laurer grene A gerland fresh and lusty for to sene. Up-on his hand he bar, for his deduyt, (1320) An egle tame, as eny lilie whyt. An hundred lordes hadde he with him there, 2180 Al armed, sauf hir heddes, in al hir gere, Ful richely in alle maner thinges. For trusteth wel, that dukes, erles, kinges, Were gadered in this noble companye, For love and for encrees of chivalrye. 2185 Aboute this king ther ran on every part Ful many a tame leoun and lepart. And in this wyse thise lordes, alle and some, (1330) Ben on the Sonday to the citee come Aboute pryme, and in the toun alight.

2190 This Theseus, this duk, this worthy knight, Whan he had broght hem in-to his citee, And inned hem, everich in his degree, He festeth hem, and dooth so greet labour To esen hem, and doon hem al honour, 2195 That yet men weneth that no mannes wit Of noon estat ne coude amenden it. The minstralcye, the service at the feste, (1340) The grete yiftes to the moste and leste, The riche array of Theseus paleys, 2200 Ne who sat first ne last up-on the deys, What ladies fairest been or best daunsinge, Or which of hem can dauncen best and singe, Ne who most felingly speketh of love: What haukes sitten on the perche above, 2205 What houndes liggen on the floor adoun: Of al this make I now no mencioun; But al theffect, that thinketh me the beste; (1350) Now comth the poynt, and herkneth if yow leste.

The Sonday night, er day bigan to springe, 2210 When Palamon the larke herde singe, Although it nere nat day by houres two, Yet song the larke, and Palamon also. With holy herte, and with an heigh corage He roos, to wenden on his pilgrimage 2215 Un-to the blisful Citherea benigne, I mene Venus, honurable and digne. And in hir houre he walketh forth a pas (1360) Un-to the listes, ther hir temple was, And doun he kneleth, and with humble chere 2220 And herte soor, he seyde as ye shul here.

‘Faireste of faire, o lady myn, Venus, Doughter to Iove and spouse of Vulcanus, Thou glader of the mount of Citheroun, For thilke love thou haddest to Adoun, 2225 Have pitee of my bittre teres smerte, And tak myn humble preyer at thyn herte. Allas! I ne have no langage to telle (1370) Theffectes ne the torments of myn helle; Myn herte may myne harmes nat biwreye; 2230 I am so confus, that I can noght seye. But mercy, lady bright, that knowest weel My thought, and seest what harmes that I feel, Considere al this, and rewe up-on my sore, As wisly as I shal for evermore, 2235 Emforth my might, thy trewe servant be, And holden werre alwey with chastitee; That make I myn avow, so ye me helpe. (1380) I kepe noght of armes for to yelpe, Ne I ne axe nat to-morwe to have victorie, 2240 Ne renoun in this cas, ne veyne glorie Of pris of armes blowen up and doun, But I wolde have fully possessioun Of Emelye, and dye in thy servyse; Find thou the maner how, and in what wyse. 2245 I recche nat, but it may bettre be, To have victorie of hem, or they of me, So that I have my lady in myne armes. (1390) For though so be that Mars is god of armes, Your vertu is so greet in hevene above, 2250 That, if yow list, I shal wel have my love, Thy temple wol I worshipe evermo, And on thyn auter, wher I ryde or go, I wol don sacrifice, and fyres bete. And if ye wol nat so, my lady swete, 2255 Than preye I thee, to-morwe with a spere That Arcita me thurgh the herte bere. Thanne rekke I noght, whan I have lost my lyf, (1400) Though that Arcita winne hir to his wyf. This is theffect and ende of my preyere, 2260 Yif me my love, thou blisful lady dere.’

Whan thorisoun was doon of Palamon, His sacrifice he dide, and that anon Ful pitously, with alle circumstaunces, Al telle I noght as now his observaunces. 2265 But atte laste the statue of Venus shook, And made a signe, wher-by that he took That his preyere accepted was that day. (1410) For thogh the signe shewed a delay, Yet wiste he wel that graunted was his bone; 2270 And with glad herte he wente him hoom ful sone.

The thridde houre inequal that Palamon Bigan to Venus temple for to goon, Up roos the sonne, and up roos Emelye, And to the temple of Diane gan hye. 2275 Hir maydens, that she thider with hir ladde, Ful redily with hem the fyr they hadde, Thencens, the clothes, and the remenant al (1420) That to the sacrifyce longen shal; The hornes fulle of meth, as was the gyse; 2280 Ther lakked noght to doon hir sacrifyse. Smoking the temple, ful of clothes faire, This Emelye, with herte debonaire, Hir body wessh with water of a welle; But how she dide hir ryte I dar nat telle, 2285 But it be any thing in general; And yet it were a game to heren al; To him that meneth wel, it were no charge: (1430) But it is good a man ben at his large. Hir brighte heer was kempt, untressed al; 2290 A coroune of a grene ook cerial Up-on hir heed was set ful fair and mete. Two fyres on the auter gan she bete, And dide hir thinges, as men may biholde In Stace of Thebes, and thise bokes olde. 2295 Whan kindled was the fyr, with pitous chere Un-to Diane she spak, as ye may here.

‘O chaste goddesse of the wodes grene, (1440) To whom bothe hevene and erthe and see is sene, Quene of the regne of Pluto derk and lowe, 2300 Goddesse of maydens, that myn herte hast knowe Ful many a yeer, and woost what I desire, As keep me fro thy vengeaunce and thyn ire, That Attheon aboughte cruelly. Chaste goddesse, wel wostow that I 2305 Desire to been a mayden al my lyf, Ne never wol I be no love ne wyf. I am, thou woost, yet of thy companye, (1450) A mayde, and love hunting and venerye, And for to walken in the wodes wilde, 2310 And noght to been a wyf, and be with childe. Noght wol I knowe companye of man. Now help me, lady, sith ye may and can, For tho thre formes that thou hast in thee. And Palamon, that hath swich love to me, 2315 And eek Arcite, that loveth me so sore, This grace I preye thee with-oute more, As sende love and pees bitwixe hem two; (1460) And fro me turne awey hir hertes so, That al hir hote love, and hir desyr, 2320 And al hir bisy torment, and hir fyr Be queynt, or turned in another place; And if so be thou wolt not do me grace, Or if my destinee be shapen so, That I shal nedes have oon of hem two, 2325 As sende me him that most desireth me. Bihold, goddesse of clene chastitee, The bittre teres that on my chekes falle. (1470) Sin thou are mayde, and keper of us alle, My maydenhede thou kepe and wel conserve, 2330 And whyl I live a mayde, I wol thee serve.’

The fyres brenne up-on the auter clere, Whyl Emelye was thus in hir preyere; But sodeinly she saugh a sighte queynte, For right anon oon of the fyres queynte, 2335 And quiked agayn, and after that anon That other fyr was queynt, and al agon; And as it queynte, it made a whistelinge, (1480) As doon thise wete brondes in hir brenninge, And at the brondes ende out-ran anoon 2340 As it were blody dropes many oon; For which so sore agast was Emelye, That she was wel ny mad, and gan to crye, For she ne wiste what it signifyed; But only for the fere thus hath she cryed, 2345 And weep, that it was pitee for to here. And ther-with-al Diane gan appere, With bowe in hond, right as an hunteresse, (1490) And seyde: ‘Doghter, stint thyn hevinesse. Among the goddes hye it is affermed, 2350 And by eterne word write and confermed, Thou shalt ben wedded un-to oon of tho That han for thee so muchel care and wo; But un-to which of hem I may nat telle. Farwel, for I ne may no lenger dwelle. 2355 The fyres which that on myn auter brenne Shul thee declaren, er that thou go henne, Thyn aventure of love, as in this cas.’ (1500) And with that word, the arwes in the cas Of the goddesse clateren faste and ringe, 2360 And forth she wente, and made a vanisshinge; For which this Emelye astoned was, And seyde, ‘What amounteth this, allas! I putte me in thy proteccioun, Diane, and in thy disposicioun.’ 2365 And hoom she gooth anon the nexte weye. This is theffect, ther is namore to seye.

The nexte houre of Mars folwinge this, (1510) Arcite un-to the temple walked is Of fierse Mars, to doon his sacrifyse, 2370 With alle the rytes of his payen wyse. With pitous herte and heigh devocioun, Right thus to Mars he seyde his orisoun:

‘O stronge god, that in the regnes colde Of Trace honoured art, and lord y-holde, 2375 And hast in every regne and every lond Of armes al the brydel in thyn hond, And hem fortunest as thee list devyse, (1520) Accept of me my pitous sacrifyse. If so be that my youthe may deserve, 2380 And that my might be worthy for to serve Thy godhede, that I may been oon of thyne, Than preye I thee to rewe up-on my pyne. For thilke peyne, and thilke hote fyr, In which thou whylom brendest for desyr, 2385 Whan that thou usedest the grete beautee Of fayre yonge fresshe Venus free, And haddest hir in armes at thy wille, (1530) Al-though thee ones on a tyme misfille Whan Vulcanus had caught thee in his las, 2390 And fond thee ligging by his wyf, allas! For thilke sorwe that was in thyn herte, Have routhe as wel up-on my peynes smerte. I am yong and unkonning, as thou wost, And, as I trowe, with love offended most, 2395 That ever was any lyves creature; For she, that dooth me al this wo endure, Ne reccheth never wher I sinke or flete. (1540) And wel I woot, er she me mercy hete, I moot with strengthe winne hir in the place; 2400 And wel I woot, withouten help or grace Of thee, ne may my strengthe noght availle. Than help me, lord, to-morwe in my bataille, For thilke fyr that whylom brente thee, As wel as thilke fyr now brenneth me; 2405 And do that I to-morwe have victorie. Myn be the travaille, and thyn be the glorie! Thy soverein temple wol I most honouren (1550) Of any place, and alwey most labouren In thy plesaunce and in thy craftes stronge, 2410 And in thy temple I wol my baner honge, And alle the armes of my companye; And evere-mo, un-to that day I dye, Eterne fyr I wol biforn thee finde. And eek to this avow I wol me binde: 2415 My berd, myn heer that hongeth long adoun, That never yet ne felte offensioun Of rasour nor of shere, I wol thee yive, (1560) And ben thy trewe servant whyl I live. Now lord, have routhe up-on my sorwes sore, 2420 Yif me victorie, I aske thee namore.’

The preyere stinte of Arcita the stronge, The ringes on the temple-dore that honge, And eek the dores, clatereden ful faste, Of which Arcita som-what him agaste. 2425 The fyres brende up-on the auter brighte, That it gan al the temple for to lighte; And swete smel the ground anon up-yaf, (1570) And Arcita anon his hand up-haf, And more encens in-to the fyr he caste, 2430 With othere rytes mo; and atte laste The statue of Mars bigan his hauberk ringe. And with that soun he herde a murmuringe Ful lowe and dim, that sayde thus, ‘Victorie:’ For which he yaf to Mars honour and glorie. 2435 And thus with Ioye, and hope wel to fare, Arcite anon un-to his inne is fare, As fayn as fowel is of the brighte sonne.

(1580) And right anon swich stryf ther is bigonne For thilke graunting, in the hevene above, 2440 Bitwixe Venus, the goddesse of love, And Mars, the sterne god armipotente, That Iupiter was bisy it to stente; Til that the pale Saturnus the colde, That knew so manye of aventures olde, 2445 Fond in his olde experience an art, That he ful sone hath plesed every part. As sooth is sayd, elde hath greet avantage; (1590) In elde is bothe wisdom and usage; Men may the olde at-renne, and noght at-rede. 2450 Saturne anon, to stinten stryf and drede, Al be it that it is agayn his kynde, Of al this stryf he gan remedie fynde.

‘My dere doghter Venus,’ quod Saturne, ‘My cours, that hath so wyde for to turne, 2455 Hath more power than wot any man. Myn is the drenching in the see so wan; Myn is the prison in the derke cote; (1600) Myn is the strangling and hanging by the throte; The murmure, and the cherles rebelling, 2460 The groyning, and the pryvee empoysoning: I do vengeance and pleyn correccioun Whyl I dwelle in the signe of the leoun. Myn is the ruine of the hye halles, The falling of the toures and of the walles 2465 Up-on the mynour or the carpenter. I slow Sampsoun in shaking the piler; And myne be the maladyes colde, (1610) The derke tresons, and the castes olde; My loking is the fader of pestilence. 2470 Now weep namore, I shal doon diligence That Palamon, that is thyn owne knight, Shal have his lady, as thou hast him hight. Though Mars shal helpe his knight, yet nathelees Bitwixe yow ther moot be som tyme pees, 2475 Al be ye noght of o complexioun, That causeth al day swich divisioun. I am thin ayel, redy at thy wille; (1620) Weep thou namore, I wol thy lust fulfille.’

Now wol I stinten of the goddes above, 2480 Of Mars, and of Venus, goddesse of love, And telle yow, as pleynly as I can, The grete effect, for which that I bigan. Explicit tercia pars. Sequitur pars quarta. Greet was the feste in Athenes that day, And eek the lusty seson of that May 2485 Made every wight to been in swich plesaunce, That al that Monday Iusten they and daunce, And spenden it in Venus heigh servyse. (1630) But by the cause that they sholde ryse Erly, for to seen the grete fight, 2490 Unto hir reste wente they at night. And on the morwe, whan that day gan springe, Of hors and harneys, noyse and clateringe Ther was in hostelryes al aboute; And to the paleys rood ther many a route 2495 Of lordes, up-on stedes and palfreys. Ther maystow seen devysing of herneys So uncouth and so riche, and wroght so weel (1640) Of goldsmithrie, of browding, and of steel; The sheeldes brighte, testers, and trappures; 2500 Gold-hewen helmes, hauberks, cote-armures; Lordes in paraments on hir courseres, Knightes of retenue, and eek squyeres Nailinge the speres, and helmes bokelinge, Gigginge of sheeldes, with layneres lacinge; 2505 Ther as need is, they weren no-thing ydel; The fomy stedes on the golden brydel Gnawinge, and faste the armurers also (1650) With fyle and hamer prikinge to and fro; Yemen on fote, and communes many oon 2510 With shorte staves, thikke as they may goon; Pypes, trompes, nakers, clariounes, That in the bataille blowen blody sounes; The paleys ful of peples up and doun, Heer three, ther ten, holding hir questioun, 2515 Divyninge of thise Thebane knightes two. Somme seyden thus, somme seyde it shal be so; Somme helden with him with the blake berd, (1660) Somme with the balled, somme with the thikke-herd; Somme sayde, he loked grim and he wolde fighte; 2520 He hath a sparth of twenty pound of wighte. Thus was the halle ful of divyninge, Longe after that the sonne gan to springe.

The grete Theseus, that of his sleep awaked With minstralcye and noyse that was maked, 2525 Held yet the chambre of his paleys riche, Til that the Thebane knightes, bothe y-liche Honoured, were into the paleys fet. (1670) Duk Theseus was at a window set, Arrayed right as he were a god in trone. 2530 The peple preesseth thider-ward ful sone Him for to seen, and doon heigh reverence, And eek to herkne his hest and his sentence. An heraud on a scaffold made an ho, Til al the noyse of the peple was y-do; 2535 And whan he saugh the peple of noyse al stille, Tho showed he the mighty dukes wille.

‘The lord hath of his heigh discrecioun (1680) Considered, that it were destruccioun To gentil blood, to fighten in the gyse 2540 Of mortal bataille now in this empryse; Wherfore, to shapen that they shul not dye, He wol his firste purpos modifye. No man therfor, up peyne of los of lyf, No maner shot, ne pollax, ne short knyf 2545 Into the listes sende, or thider bringe; Ne short swerd for to stoke, with poynt bytinge, No man ne drawe, ne bere it by his syde. (1690) Ne no man shal un-to his felawe ryde But o cours, with a sharp y-grounde spere; 2550 Foyne, if him list, on fote, him-self to were. And he that is at meschief, shal be take, And noght slayn, but be broght un-to the stake That shal ben ordeyned on either syde; But thider he shal by force, and ther abyde. 2555 And if so falle, the chieftayn be take On either syde, or elles slee his make, No lenger shal the turneyinge laste. (1700) God spede yow; goth forth, and ley on faste. With long swerd and with maces fight your fille. 2560 Goth now your wey; this is the lordes wille.’

The voys of peple touchede the hevene, So loude cryden they with mery stevene: ‘God save swich a lord, that is so good, He wilneth no destruccioun of blood!’ 2565 Up goon the trompes and the melodye. And to the listes rit the companye By ordinaunce, thurgh-out the citee large, (1710) Hanged with cloth of gold, and nat with sarge. Ful lyk a lord this noble duk gan ryde, 2570 Thise two Thebanes up-on either syde; And after rood the quene, and Emelye, And after that another companye Of oon and other, after hir degree. And thus they passen thurgh-out the citee, 2575 And to the listes come they by tyme. It nas not of the day yet fully pryme, Whan set was Theseus ful riche and hye, (1720) Ipolita the quene and Emelye, And other ladies in degrees aboute. 2580 Un-to the seetes preesseth al the route. And west-ward, thurgh the gates under Marte, Arcite, and eek the hundred of his parte, With baner reed is entred right anon; And in that selve moment Palamon 2585 Is under Venus, est-ward in the place, With baner whyt, and hardy chere and face. In al the world, to seken up and doun, (1730) So even with-outen variacioun, Ther nere swiche companyes tweye. 2590 For ther nas noon so wys that coude seye, That any hadde of other avauntage Of worthinesse, ne of estaat, ne age, So even were they chosen, for to gesse. And in two renges faire they hem dresse. 2595 Whan that hir names rad were everichoon, That in hir nombre gyle were ther noon, Tho were the gates shet, and cryed was loude: (1740) ‘Do now your devoir, yonge knightes proude!’

The heraudes lefte hir priking up and doun; 2600 Now ringen trompes loude and clarioun; Ther is namore to seyn, but west and est In goon the speres ful sadly in arest; In goth the sharpe spore in-to the syde. Ther seen men who can Iuste, and who can ryde; 2605 Ther shiveren shaftes up-on sheeldes thikke; He feleth thurgh the herte-spoon the prikke. Up springen speres twenty foot on highte; (1750) Out goon the swerdes as the silver brighte. The helmes they to-hewen and to-shrede; 2610 Out brest the blood, with sterne stremes rede. With mighty maces the bones they to-breste. He thurgh the thikkeste of the throng gan threste. Ther stomblen stedes stronge, and doun goth al. He rolleth under foot as dooth a bal. 2615 He foyneth on his feet with his tronchoun, And he him hurtleth with his hors adoun. He thurgh the body is hurt, and sithen y-take, (1760) Maugree his heed, and broght un-to the stake, As forward was, right ther he moste abyde; 2620 Another lad is on that other syde. And som tyme dooth hem Theseus to reste, Hem to refresshe, and drinken if hem leste. Ful ofte a-day han thise Thebanes two Togidre y-met, and wroght his felawe wo; 2625 Unhorsed hath ech other of hem tweye. Ther nas no tygre in the vale of Galgopheye, Whan that hir whelp is stole, whan it is lyte, (1770) So cruel on the hunte, as is Arcite For Ielous herte upon this Palamoun: 2630 Ne in Belmarye ther nis so fel leoun, That hunted is, or for his hunger wood, Ne of his praye desireth so the blood, As Palamon to sleen his fo Arcite. The Ielous strokes on hir helmes byte; 2635 Out renneth blood on bothe hir sydes rede.

Som tyme an ende ther is of every dede; For er the sonne un-to the reste wente, (1780) The stronge king Emetreus gan hente This Palamon, as he faught with Arcite, 2640 And made his swerd depe in his flesh to byte; And by the force of twenty is he take Unyolden, and y-drawe unto the stake. And in the rescous of this Palamoun The stronge king Ligurge is born adoun; 2645 And king Emetreus, for al his strengthe, Is born out of his sadel a swerdes lengthe, So hitte him Palamon er he were take; (1790) But al for noght, he was broght to the stake. His hardy herte mighte him helpe naught; 2650 He moste abyde, whan that he was caught By force, and eek by composicioun.

Who sorweth now but woful Palamoun, That moot namore goon agayn to fighte? And whan that Theseus had seyn this sighte, 2655 Un-to the folk that foghten thus echoon He cryde, ‘Ho! namore, for it is doon! I wol be trewe Iuge, and no partye. (1800) Arcite of Thebes shal have Emelye, That by his fortune hath hir faire y-wonne.’ 2660 Anon ther is a noyse of peple bigonne For Ioye of this, so loude and heigh with-alle, It semed that the listes sholde falle. What can now faire Venus doon above? What seith she now? what dooth this quene of love? 2665 But wepeth so, for wanting of hir wille, Til that hir teres in the listes fille; She seyde: ‘I am ashamed, doutelees.’ (1810) Saturnus seyde: ‘Doghter, hold thy pees. Mars hath his wille, his knight hath al his bone, 2670 And, by myn heed, thou shalt ben esed sone.’ The trompes, with the loude minstralcye, The heraudes, that ful loude yolle and crye, Been in hir wele for Ioye of daun Arcite. But herkneth me, and stinteth now a lyte, 2675 Which a miracle ther bifel anon.

This fierse Arcite hath of his helm y-don, And on a courser, for to shewe his face, (1820) He priketh endelong the large place, Loking upward up-on this Emelye; 2680 And she agayn him caste a freendlich yë, (For wommen, as to speken in comune, They folwen al the favour of fortune), And she was al his chere, as in his herte. Out of the ground a furie infernal sterte, 2685 From Pluto sent, at requeste of Saturne, For which his hors for fere gan to turne, And leep asyde, and foundred as he leep; (1830) And, er that Arcite may taken keep, He pighte him on the pomel of his heed, 2690 That in the place he lay as he were deed, His brest to-brosten with his sadel-bowe. As blak he lay as any cole or crowe, So was the blood y-ronnen in his face. Anon he was y-born out of the place 2695 With herte soor, to Theseus paleys. Tho was he corven out of his harneys, And in a bed y-brought ful faire and blyve, (1840) For he was yet in memorie and alyve, And alway crying after Emelye.

2700 Duk Theseus, with al his companye, Is comen hoom to Athenes his citee, With alle blisse and greet solempnitee. Al be it that this aventure was falle, He nolde noght disconforten hem alle. 2705 Men seyde eek, that Arcite shal nat dye; He shal ben heled of his maladye. And of another thing they were as fayn, (1850) That of hem alle was ther noon y-slayn, Al were they sore y-hurt, and namely oon, 2710 That with a spere was thirled his brest-boon. To othere woundes, and to broken armes, Some hadden salves, and some hadden charmes; Fermacies of herbes, and eek save They dronken, for they wolde hir limes have. 2715 For which this noble duk, as he wel can, Conforteth and honoureth every man, And made revel al the longe night, (1860) Un-to the straunge lordes, as was right. Ne ther was holden no disconfitinge, 2720 But as a Iustes or a tourneyinge; For soothly ther was no disconfiture, For falling nis nat but an aventure; Ne to be lad with fors un-to the stake Unyolden, and with twenty knightes take, 2725 O persone allone, with-outen mo, And haried forth by arme, foot, and to, And eek his stede driven forth with staves, (1870) With footmen, bothe yemen and eek knaves, It nas aretted him no vileinye, 2730 Ther may no man clepen it cowardye.

For which anon duk Theseus leet crye, To stinten alle rancour and envye, The gree as wel of o syde as of other, And either syde y-lyk, as otheres brother; 2735 And yaf hem yiftes after hir degree, And fully heeld a feste dayes three; And conveyed the kinges worthily (1880) Out of his toun a Iournee largely. And hoom wente every man the righte way. 2740 Ther was namore, but ‘far wel, have good day!’ Of this bataille I wol namore endyte, But speke of Palamon and of Arcite.

Swelleth the brest of Arcite, and the sore Encreesseth at his herte more and more. 2745 The clothered blood, for any lechecraft, Corrupteth, and is in his bouk y-laft, That neither veyne-blood, ne ventusinge, (1890) Ne drinke of herbes may ben his helpinge. The vertu expulsif, or animal, 2750 Fro thilke vertu cleped natural Ne may the venim voyden, ne expelle. The pypes of his longes gonne to swelle, And every lacerte in his brest adoun Is shent with venim and corrupcioun. 2755 Him gayneth neither, for to gete his lyf, Vomyt upward, ne dounward laxatif; Al is to-brosten thilke regioun, (1900) Nature hath now no dominacioun. And certeinly, ther nature wol nat wirche, 2760 Far-wel, phisyk! go ber the man to chirche! This al and som, that Arcita mot dye, For which he sendeth after Emelye, And Palamon, that was his cosin dere; Than seyde he thus, as ye shul after here.

2765 ‘Naught may the woful spirit in myn herte Declare o poynt of alle my sorwes smerte To yow, my lady, that I love most; (1910) But I biquethe the service of my gost To yow aboven every creature, 2770 Sin that my lyf may no lenger dure. Allas, the wo! allas, the peynes stronge, That I for yow have suffred, and so longe! Allas, the deeth! allas, myn Emelye! Allas, departing of our companye! 2775 Allas, myn hertes quene! allas, my wyf! Myn hertes lady, endere of my lyf! What is this world? what asketh men to have? (1920) Now with his love, now in his colde grave Allone, with-outen any companye. 2780 Far-wel, my swete fo! myn Emelye! And softe tak me in your armes tweye, For love of God, and herkneth what I seye.

I have heer with my cosin Palamon Had stryf and rancour, many a day a-gon, 2785 For love of yow, and for my Ielousye. And Iupiter so wis my soule gye, To speken of a servant proprely, (1930) With alle circumstaunces trewely, That is to seyn, trouthe, honour, and knighthede, 2790 Wisdom, humblesse, estaat, and heigh kinrede, Fredom, and al that longeth to that art, So Iupiter have of my soule part, As in this world right now ne knowe I non So worthy to ben loved as Palamon, 2795 That serveth yow, and wol don al his lyf. And if that ever ye shul been a wyf, Foryet nat Palamon, the gentil man.’ (1940) And with that word his speche faille gan, For from his feet up to his brest was come 2800 The cold of deeth, that hadde him overcome. And yet more-over, in his armes two The vital strengthe is lost, and al ago. Only the intellect, with-outen more, That dwelled in his herte syk and sore, 2805 Gan faillen, when the herte felte deeth, Dusked his eyen two, and failled breeth. But on his lady yet caste he his yë; (1950) His laste word was, ‘mercy, Emelye!’ His spirit chaunged hous, and wente ther, 2810 As I cam never, I can nat tellen wher. Therfor I stinte, I nam no divinistre; Of soules finde I nat in this registre, Ne me ne list thilke opiniouns to telle Of hem, though that they wryten wher they dwelle. 2815 Arcite is cold, ther Mars his soule gye; Now wol I speken forth of Emelye.

Shrighte Emelye, and howleth Palamon, (1960) And Theseus his suster took anon Swowninge, and bar hir fro the corps away. 2820 What helpeth it to tarien forth the day, To tellen how she weep, bothe eve and morwe? For in swich cas wommen have swich sorwe, Whan that hir housbonds been from hem ago, That for the more part they sorwen so, 2825 Or elles fallen in swich maladye, That at the laste certeinly they dye.

Infinite been the sorwes and the teres (1970) Of olde folk, and folk of tendre yeres, In al the toun, for deeth of this Theban; 2830 For him ther wepeth bothe child and man; So greet a weping was ther noon, certayn, Whan Ector was y-broght, al fresh y-slayn, To Troye; allas! the pitee that was ther, Cracching of chekes, rending eek of heer. 2835 ‘Why woldestow be deed,’ thise wommen crye, ‘And haddest gold y-nough, and Emelye?’ No man mighte gladen Theseus, (1980) Savinge his olde fader Egeus, That knew this worldes transmutacioun, 2840 As he had seyn it chaungen up and doun, Ioye after wo, and wo after gladnesse: And shewed hem ensamples and lyknesse.

‘Right as ther deyed never man,’ quod he, ‘That he ne livede in erthe in som degree, 2845 Right so ther livede never man,’ he seyde, ‘In al this world, that som tyme he ne deyde. This world nis but a thurghfare ful of wo, (1990) And we ben pilgrimes, passinge to and fro; Deeth is an ende of every worldly sore.’ 2850 And over al this yet seyde he muchel more To this effect, ful wysly to enhorte The peple, that they sholde hem reconforte.

Duk Theseus, with al his bisy cure, Caste now wher that the sepulture 2855 Of good Arcite may best y-maked be, And eek most honurable in his degree. And at the laste he took conclusioun, (2000) That ther as first Arcite and Palamoun Hadden for love the bataille hem bitwene, 2860 That in that selve grove, swote and grene, Ther as he hadde his amorous desires, His compleynt, and for love his hote fires, He wolde make a fyr, in which thoffice Funeral he mighte al accomplice; 2865 And leet comaunde anon to hakke and hewe The okes olde, and leye hem on a rewe In colpons wel arrayed for to brenne; (2010) His officers with swifte feet they renne And ryde anon at his comaundement. 2870 And after this, Theseus hath y-sent After a bere, and it al over-spradde With cloth of gold, the richest that he hadde. And of the same suyte he cladde Arcite; Upon his hondes hadde he gloves whyte; 2875 Eek on his heed a croune of laurer grene, And in his hond a swerd ful bright and kene. He leyde him bare the visage on the bere, (2020) Therwith he weep that pitee was to here. And for the peple sholde seen him alle, 2880 Whan it was day, he broghte him to the halle, That roreth of the crying and the soun.

Tho cam this woful Theban Palamoun, With flotery berd, and ruggy asshy heres, In clothes blake, y-dropped al with teres; 2885 And, passing othere of weping, Emelye, The rewfulleste of al the companye. In as muche as the service sholde be (2030) The more noble and riche in his degree, Duk Theseus leet forth three stedes bringe, 2890 That trapped were in steel al gliteringe, And covered with the armes of daun Arcite. Up-on thise stedes, that weren grete and whyte, Ther seten folk, of which oon bar his sheeld, Another his spere up in his hondes heeld; 2895 The thridde bar with him his bowe Turkeys, Of brend gold was the cas, and eek the harneys; And riden forth a pas with sorweful chere (2040) Toward the grove, as ye shul after here. The nobleste of the Grekes that ther were 2900 Upon hir shuldres carieden the bere, With slakke pas, and eyen rede and wete, Thurgh-out the citee, by the maister-strete, That sprad was al with blak, and wonder hye Right of the same is al the strete y-wrye. 2905 Up-on the right hond wente old Egeus, And on that other syde duk Theseus, With vessels in hir hand of gold ful fyn, (2050) Al ful of hony, milk, and blood, and wyn; Eek Palamon, with ful greet companye; 2910 And after that cam woful Emelye, With fyr in honde, as was that tyme the gyse, To do thoffice of funeral servyse.

Heigh labour, and ful greet apparaillinge Was at the service and the fyr-makinge, 2915 That with his grene top the heven raughte, And twenty fadme of brede the armes straughte; This is to seyn, the bowes were so brode. (2060) Of stree first ther was leyd ful many a lode. But how the fyr was maked up on highte, 2920 And eek the names how the treës highte, As ook, firre, birch, asp, alder, holm, popler, Wilow, elm, plane, ash, box, chasteyn, lind, laurer, Mapul, thorn, beech, hasel, ew, whippeltree, How they weren feld, shal nat be told for me; 2925 Ne how the goddes ronnen up and doun, Disherited of hir habitacioun, In which they woneden in reste and pees, (2070) Nymphes, Faunes, and Amadrides; Ne how the bestes and the briddes alle 2930 Fledden for fere, whan the wode was falle; Ne how the ground agast was of the light, That was nat wont to seen the sonne bright; Ne how the fyr was couched first with stree, And than with drye stokkes cloven a three, 2935 And than with grene wode and spycerye, And than with cloth of gold and with perrye, And gerlandes hanging with ful many a flour, (2080) The mirre, thencens, with al so greet odour; Ne how Arcite lay among al this, 2940 Ne what richesse aboute his body is; Ne how that Emelye, as was the gyse, Putte in the fyr of funeral servyse; Ne how she swowned whan men made the fyr, Ne what she spak, ne what was hir desyr; 2945 Ne what Ieweles men in the fyr tho caste, Whan that the fyr was greet and brente faste; Ne how som caste hir sheeld, and som hir spere, (2090) And of hir vestiments, whiche that they were, And cuppes ful of wyn, and milk, and blood, 2950 Into the fyr, that brente as it were wood; Ne how the Grekes with an huge route Thryës riden al the fyr aboute Up-on the left hand, with a loud shoutinge, And thryës with hir speres clateringe; 2955 And thryës how the ladies gonne crye; Ne how that lad was hom-ward Emelye; Ne how Arcite is brent to asshen colde; (2100) Ne how that liche-wake was y-holde Al thilke night, ne how the Grekes pleye 2960 The wake-pleyes, ne kepe I nat to seye; Who wrastleth best naked, with oille enoynt, Ne who that bar him best, in no disioynt. I wol nat tellen eek how that they goon Hoom til Athenes, whan the pley is doon; 2965 But shortly to the poynt than wol I wende, And maken of my longe tale an ende.

By processe and by lengthe of certeyn yeres (2110) Al stinted is the moorning and the teres Of Grekes, by oon general assent. 2970 Than semed me ther was a parlement At Athenes, up-on certeyn poynts and cas; Among the whiche poynts y-spoken was To have with certeyn contrees alliaunce, And have fully of Thebans obeisaunce. 2975 For which this noble Theseus anon Leet senden after gentil Palamon, Unwist of him what was the cause and why; (2120) But in his blake clothes sorwefully He cam at his comaundement in hye. 2980 Tho sente Theseus for Emelye. Whan they were set, and hust was al the place, And Theseus abiden hadde a space Er any word cam from his wyse brest, His eyen sette he ther as was his lest, 2985 And with a sad visage he syked stille, And after that right thus he seyde his wille. ‘The firste moevere of the cause above, (2130) Whan he first made the faire cheyne of love, Greet was theffect, and heigh was his entente; 2990 Wel wiste he why, and what ther-of he mente; For with that faire cheyne of love he bond The fyr, the eyr, the water, and the lond In certeyn boundes, that they may nat flee; That same prince and that moevere,’ quod he, 2995 ‘Hath stablissed, in this wrecched world adoun, Certeyne dayes and duracioun To al that is engendred in this place, (2140) Over the whiche day they may nat pace, Al mowe they yet tho dayes wel abregge; 3000 Ther needeth non auctoritee allegge, For it is preved by experience, But that me list declaren my sentence. Than may men by this ordre wel discerne, That thilke moevere stable is and eterne. 3005 Wel may men knowe, but it be a fool, That every part deryveth from his hool. For nature hath nat take his beginning (2150) Of no partye ne cantel of a thing, But of a thing that parfit is and stable, 3010 Descending so, til it be corrumpable. And therfore, of his wyse purveyaunce, He hath so wel biset his ordinaunce, That speces of thinges and progressiouns Shullen enduren by successiouns, 3015 And nat eterne be, with-oute lye: This maistow understonde and seen at eye.

‘Lo the ook, that hath so long a norisshinge (2160) From tyme that it first biginneth springe, And hath so long a lyf, as we may see, 3020 Yet at the laste wasted is the tree. ‘Considereth eek, how that the harde stoon Under our feet, on which we trede and goon, Yit wasteth it, as it lyth by the weye. The brode river somtyme wexeth dreye. 3025 The grete tounes see we wane and wende. Than may ye see that al this thing hath ende.

‘Of man and womman seen we wel also, (2170) That nedeth, in oon of thise termes two, This is to seyn, in youthe or elles age, 3030 He moot ben deed, the king as shal a page; Som in his bed, som in the depe see, Som in the large feeld, as men may se; Ther helpeth noght, al goth that ilke weye. Thanne may I seyn that al this thing moot deye. 3035 What maketh this but Iupiter the king? The which is prince and cause of alle thing, Converting al un-to his propre welle, (2180) From which it is deryved, sooth to telle. And here-agayns no creature on lyve 3040 Of no degree availleth for to stryve.

‘Thanne is it wisdom, as it thinketh me, To maken vertu of necessitee, And take it wel, that we may nat eschue, And namely that to us alle is due. 3045 And who-so gruccheth ought, he dooth folye, And rebel is to him that al may gye. And certeinly a man hath most honour (2190) To dyen in his excellence and flour, Whan he is siker of his gode name; 3050 Than hath he doon his freend, ne him, no shame. And gladder oghte his freend ben of his deeth, Whan with honour up-yolden is his breeth, Than whan his name apalled is for age; For al forgeten is his vasselage. 3055 Than is it best, as for a worthy fame, To dyen whan that he is best of name. The contrarie of al this is wilfulnesse. (2200) Why grucchen we? why have we hevinesse, That good Arcite, of chivalrye flour 3060 Departed is, with duetee and honour, Out of this foule prison of this lyf? Why grucchen heer his cosin and his wyf Of his wel-fare that loved hem so weel? Can he hem thank? nay, God wot, never a deel, 3065 That bothe his soule and eek hem-self offende, And yet they mowe hir lustes nat amende.

‘What may I conclude of this longe serie, (2210) But, after wo, I rede us to be merie, And thanken Iupiter of al his grace? 3070 And, er that we departen from this place, I rede that we make, of sorwes two, O parfyt Ioye, lasting ever-mo; And loketh now, wher most sorwe is her-inne, Ther wol we first amenden and biginne.

3075 ‘Suster,’ quod he, ‘this is my fulle assent, With al thavys heer of my parlement, That gentil Palamon, your owne knight, (2220) That serveth yow with wille, herte, and might, And ever hath doon, sin that ye first him knewe, 3080 That ye shul, of your grace, up-on him rewe, And taken him for housbonde and for lord: Leen me your hond, for this is our acord. Lat see now of your wommanly pitee. He is a kinges brother sone, pardee; 3085 And, though he were a povre bacheler, Sin he hath served yow so many a yeer, And had for yow so greet adversitee, (2230) It moste been considered, leveth me; For gentil mercy oghte to passen right.’

3090 Than seyde he thus to Palamon ful right; ‘I trowe ther nedeth litel sermoning To make yow assente to this thing. Com neer, and tak your lady by the hond.’ Bitwixen hem was maad anon the bond, 3095 That highte matrimoine or mariage, By al the counseil and the baronage. And thus with alle blisse and melodye (2240) Hath Palamon y-wedded Emelye. And God, that al this wyde world hath wroght, 3100 Sende him his love, that hath it dere a-boght. For now is Palamon in alle wele, Living in blisse, in richesse, and in hele; And Emelye him loveth so tendrely, And he hir serveth al-so gentilly, 3105 That never was ther no word hem bitwene Of Ielousye, or any other tene. Thus endeth Palamon and Emelye; (2250) And God save al this faire companye!—Amen. Here is ended the Knightes Tale.

Here folwen the wordes bitwene the Host and the Millere. Whan that the Knight had thus his tale y-told, 3110 In al the route nas ther yong ne old That he ne seyde it was a noble storie, And worthy for to drawen to memorie; And namely the gentils everichoon. Our Hoste lough and swoor, ‘so moot I goon, 3115 This gooth aright; unbokeled is the male; Lat see now who shal telle another tale: For trewely, the game is wel bigonne. (10) Now telleth ye, sir Monk, if that ye conne, Sumwhat, to quyte with the Knightes tale.’ 3120 The Miller, that for-dronken was al pale, So that unnethe up-on his hors he sat, He nolde avalen neither hood ne hat, Ne abyde no man for his curteisye, But in Pilates vois he gan to crye, 3125 And swoor by armes and by blood and bones, ‘I can a noble tale for the nones, With which I wol now quyte the Knightes tale.’

(20) Our Hoste saugh that he was dronke of ale, And seyde: ‘abyd, Robin, my leve brother, 3130 Som bettre man shal telle us first another: Abyd, and lat us werken thriftily.’

‘By goddes soul,’ quod he, ‘that wol nat I; For I wol speke, or elles go my wey.’ Our Hoste answerde: ‘tel on, a devel wey! 3135 Thou art a fool, thy wit is overcome.’

‘Now herkneth,’ quod the Miller, ‘alle and some! But first I make a protestacioun (30) That I am dronke, I knowe it by my soun; And therfore, if that I misspeke or seye, 3140 Wyte it the ale of Southwerk, I yow preye; For I wol telle a legende and a lyf Bothe of a Carpenter, and of his wyf, How that a clerk hath set the wrightes cappe.’

The Reve answerde and seyde, ‘stint thy clappe, 3145 Lat be thy lewed dronken harlotrye. It is a sinne and eek a greet folye To apeiren any man, or him diffame, (40) And eek to bringen wyves in swich fame. Thou mayst y-nogh of othere thinges seyn.’

3150 This dronken Miller spak ful sone ageyn, And seyde, ‘leve brother Osewold, Who hath no wyf, he is no cokewold. But I sey nat therfore that thou art oon; 3154 Ther been ful gode wyves many oon, [T. om. And ever a thousand gode ayeyns oon badde, [T. om. That knowestow wel thy-self, but-if thou madde. Why artow angry with my tale now? (50) I have a wyf, pardee, as well as thou, Yet nolde I, for the oxen in my plogh, 3160 Taken up-on me more than y-nogh, As demen of my-self that I were oon; I wol beleve wel that I am noon. An housbond shal nat been inquisitif Of goddes privetee, nor of his wyf. 3165 So he may finde goddes foyson there, Of the remenant nedeth nat enquere.’

What sholde I more seyn, but this Millere (60) He nolde his wordes for no man forbere, But tolde his cherles tale in his manere; 3170 Me thinketh that I shal reherce it here. And ther-fore every gentil wight I preye, For goddes love, demeth nat that I seye Of evel entente, but that I moot reherce Hir tales alle, be they bettre or werse, 3175 Or elles falsen som of my matere. And therfore, who-so list it nat y-here, Turne over the leef, and chese another tale; (70) For he shal finde y-nowe, grete and smale, Of storial thing that toucheth gentillesse, 3180 And eek moralitee and holinesse; Blameth nat me if that ye chese amis. The Miller is a cherl, ye knowe wel this; So was the Reve, and othere many mo, And harlotrye they tolden bothe two. 3185 Avyseth yow and putte me out of blame; And eek men shal nat make ernest of game. Here endeth the prologe.

Here biginneth the Millere his tale. Whylom ther was dwellinge at Oxenford A riche gnof, that gestes heeld to bord, And of his craft he was a Carpenter. 3190 With him ther was dwellinge a povre scoler, Had lerned art, but al his fantasye Was turned for to lerne astrologye, And coude a certeyn of conclusiouns To demen by interrogaciouns, 3195 If that men axed him in certein houres, (10) Whan that men sholde have droghte or elles shoures, Or if men axed him what sholde bifalle Of every thing, I may nat rekene hem alle.

This clerk was cleped hende Nicholas; 3200 Of derne love he coude and of solas; And ther-to be was sleigh and ful privee, And lyk a mayden meke for to see. A chambre hadde he in that hostelrye Allone, with-outen any companye, 3205 Ful fetisly y-dight with herbes swote; (20) And he him-self as swete as is the rote Of licorys, or any cetewale. His Almageste and bokes grete and smale, His astrelabie, longinge for his art, 3210 His augrim-stones layen faire a-part On shelves couched at his beddes heed: His presse y-covered with a falding reed. And al above ther lay a gay sautrye, On which he made a nightes melodye 3215 So swetely, that al the chambre rong; (30) And Angelus ad virginem he song; And after that he song the kinges note; Ful often blessed was his mery throte. And thus this swete clerk his tyme spente 3220 After his freendes finding and his rente.