The Knight’s Tale

world had sworn The contrary of a thing by yea or nay, Yet some time it shall fallën on a day That falleth not eft in a thousand year. For certainly our appetitës here, Be it of war, or peace, or hate, or love, All is this ruled by the sight above. This mean I now by mighty Theseus, That for to hunten is so desiroús⁠— And namëly the greatë hart in May⁠— That in his bed there dawneth him no day That he n’is clad, and ready for to ride With hunt and horn, and houndës him beside. For in his hunting hath he such delight, That it is all his joy and appetite To be himself the greatë hartë’s bane; For after Mars he serveth now Diane. Clear was the day, as I have told ere this, And Theseus, with allë joy and bliss, With his Hippolyta, the fairë queen, And Emily, y-clothed all in green, On hunting be they ridden royally. And to the grove, that stood there fastë by, In which there was an hart, as men him told, Duke Theseus the straightë way doth hold, And to the laund he rideth him full right, There was the hart y-wont to have his flight, And over a brook, and so forth on his way. This Duke will have a course at him or tway With houndës, such as him lust to command. And when this Duke was comë to the laund, Under the sun he looked, and anon He was ware of Arcite and Palamon, That foughtë breme, as it were bullës two. The brightë swordës wentë to and fro So hideously, that with the leastë stroke It seemed that it wouldë fell an oak, But what they werë, nothing yet