eke the doorës, clattered full fast, Of which Arcita somewhat was aghast. The firës burn’d upon the altar bright, That it gan all the temple for to light; A sweetë smell anon the ground up gaf, And Arcita anon his hand up haf, And more incénse into the fire he cast, With other ritës more and at the last The statue of Mars began his hauberk ring; And with that sound he heard a murmuring Full low and dim, that saidë thus, “Victóry.” For which he gave to Mars honour and glory. And thus with joy, and hopë well to fare, Arcite anon unto his inn doth fare. As fain as fowl is of the brightë sun.
And right anon such strife there is begun For thilkë granting, in the heav’n above, Betwixtë Venus the goddéss of love, And Mars the sternë god armipotent, That Jupiter was busy it to stent: Till that the palë Saturnus the cold, That knew so many of adventures old, Found in his old experience such an art, That he full soon hath pleased every part. As sooth is said, eld hath great advantage, In eld is bothë wisdom and uságe: Men may the old out-run, but not out-rede. Saturn anon, to stint the strife and drede, Albeit that it is against his kind, Of all this strife gan a remédy find.