astart by grace, I dreadë not that either thou shalt die, Or else thou shalt not loven Emily. Choose which thou wilt, for thou shalt not astart.”
This Arcite then, with full dispiteous heart, When he him knew, and had his talë heard, As fierce as lion pulled out a swerd, And saidë thus; “By God that sitt’th above, N’ere it that thou art sick, and wood for love, And eke that thou no weap’n hast in this place, Thou should’st never out of this grovë pace, That thou ne shouldest dien of mine hand. For I defy the surety and the band, Which that thou sayest I have made to thee. What? very fool, think well that love is free; And I will love her maugré all thy might. But, for thou art a worthy gentle knight, And wilnest to darraine her by bataille, Have here my troth, to-morrow I will not fail, Without weeting of any other wight, That here I will be founden as a knight, And bringë harness right enough for thee; And choose the best, and leave the worst for me. And meat and drinkë this night will I bring Enough for thee, and clothes for thy beddíng. And if so be that thou my lady win, And slay me in this wood that I am in, Thou may’st well have thy lady as for me.” This Palamon answér’d, “I grant it thee.” And thus they be departed till the morrow, When each of them hath laid his faith to borrow.