The Knight’s Tale

feet they renne And ride anon at his commandëment. And after this, Duke Theseus hath sent After a bier, and it all oversprad With cloth of gold, the richest that he had; And of the samë suit he clad Arcite. Upon his handës were his glovës white, Eke on his head a crown of laurel green, And in his hand a sword full bright and keen. He laid him bare the visage on the bier, Therewith he wept, that pity was to hear. And, for the people shouldë see him all, When it was day he brought them to the hall, That roareth of the crying and the soun’. Then came this woful Theban, Palamon, With sluttery beard, and ruggy ashy hairs, In clothës black, y-dropped all with tears, And (passing over weeping Emily) The ruefullest of all the company. And inasmuch as the servíce should be The more noble and rich in its degree, Duke Theseus let forth three steedës bring, That trapped were in steel all glittering. And covered with the arms of Dan Arcite. Upon these steedës, that were great and white, There sattë folk, of whom one bare his shield, Another his spear in his handës held; The thirdë bare with him his bow Turkeis, Of brent gold was the case and the harness: And ridë forth a pace with sorrowful cheer Toward the grove, as ye shall after hear.