night, Unto the strangë lordës, as was right. Nor there was holden no discomforting, But as at jousts or at a tourneying; For soothly there was no discomfiture, For falling is not but an áventure. Nor to be led by force unto a stake Unyielding, and with twenty knights y-take One person all alone, withouten mo’, And harried forth by armës, foot, and toe, And eke his steedë driven forth with staves, With footmen, bothë yeomen and eke knaves, It was aretted him no villainy: There may no man clepen it cowardy. For which anon Duke Theseus let cry— To stenten allë rancour and envy— The gree as well on one side as the other, And either side alike as other’s brother: And gave them giftës after their degree, And held a feastë fully dayës three: And conveyed the kingës worthily Out of his town a journée largëly. And home went every man the rightë way, There was no more but “Farewell, Have good day.” Of this batáille I will no more indite, But speak of Palamon and of Arcite.
Swelleth the breast of Arcite and the sore Increaseth at his heartë more and more. The clotted blood, for any leachë-craft, Corrupteth and is in his bouk y-laft, That neither veinë-blood nor ventousing, Nor drink of herbës may be his helping. The virtue expulsive or animal, From thilkë virtue called natural, Nor may the venom voidë, nor expel. The pipës of his lungs began to swell, And every lacert in his breast adown Is shent with venom and corruptioún. Him gaineth neither, for to get his life, Vomit upwárd, nor downward laxative; All is to-bursten thilkë región; Nature hath now no dominatión. And certainly where nature will not wirch, Farewell physíc: go bear the man to chirch. This all and some is, Arcite must die. For which he sendeth after Emily, And Palamon, that was his cousin dear. Then said he thus, as ye shall after hear.
“Nought may the woful spirit in mine heart Declare one point of all my sorrows’ smart To you, my lady, that I love the most; But I bequeath the service of my ghost To you aboven every creature, Since that my life ne may no longer dure. Alas the woe! alas, the painës strong That I for you have suffered, and so long! Alas the death! alas, mine Emily! Alas