and cure, After the battle and discomfiture. And so befell, that in the tas they found, Through girt with many a grievous bloody wound, Two youngë knightës ligging by and by Both in one armës, wrought full richëly: Of whichë two, Arcita hight that one, And he that other hightë Palamon. Not fully quick, nor fully dead they were, But by their coat-armoúr, and by their gear, The heralds knew them well in speciál, As those that weren of the blood royál Of Thebes, and of sistren two y-born. Out of the tas the pillers have them torn, And have them carried soft unto the tent Of Theseus, and he full soon them sent To Athens, for to dwellen in prisón Perpetually, he n’oldë no ranson. And when this worthy Duke had thus y-done, He took his host, and home he rit anon With laurel crowned as a conquerour; And there he lived in joy and in honour Term of his life; what needeth wordës mo’? And in a tower, in anguish and in woe, Dwellen this Palamon, and eke Arcite, For evermore, there may no gold them quite.
Thus passed year by year, and day by day, Till it fell onës in a morn of May That Emily, that fairer was to seen Than is the lily upon his stalkë green, And fresher than the May with flowers new (For with the rosë colour strove her hue; I n’ot which was the finer of them two), Ere it was day, as she was wont to do, She was arisen, and all ready dight, For May will have no sluggardy a-night; The season pricketh every gentle heart, And maketh him out of his sleep to start, And saith, “Arise, and do thine óbservance.”
This maketh Emily have rémembrance To do honoúr to May, and for to rise. Y-clothed was she fresh for to devise; Her yellow hair was braided in a tress, Behind her back, a yardë long I guess. And in the garden at the sun uprist She walketh up and down where as her list. She gathereth flowers, party white and red, To make a sotel garland for her head, And as an angel heavenly she sung. The greatë tower, that was so thick and strong, Which of the castle was the chief dungeón (Where as these knightës weren in prisón, Of which I toldë you, and tellë shall), Was even joinant to the garden wall, There as this Emily had her playing.