Ye slen me with youre eyen, Emelye; Ye ben the cause wherfore that I dye: be Of al the remenant of myn other care remnant Ne sette I nought the mountaunce of a tare, amount So that I couthe don aught to youre pleasaunce! were able to “You slay me with your eyes, O Emelye! You are the cause wherefore I daily die. For, ah, the worth of all my other woes Is not as e’en the poorest weed that grows, So that I might do aught to pleasure you!” Palamon, hearing this, felt as though a cold sword glided through his heart. He was so angry that he flung himself forth like a madman upon Arcite:-- And seyde: False[88] Arcyte--false traitour wikke, wicked Now art thou hent, that lovest my lady so, For whom that I have al this peyne and wo, And art my blood, and to my counseil sworn, counsel As I ful ofte have told the heere byforn, before now And hast byjaped here duke Theseus, tricked And falsly chaunged hast thy name thus; I wol be deed, or elles thou schalt dye. dead, else Thou schalt not love my lady Emelye, But I wil love hire oonly and no mo; more For I am Palamon, thy mortal fo. foe And though that I no wepne have in this place, weapon But out of prisoun am astert by grace, escaped I drede not, that outher thou schalt dye, fear Or thou ne schalt not loven Emelye. Ches which thou wilt, for thou schalt not asterte. escape This Arcite, with ful dispitous herte, there Whan he him knew, and hadde his tale herde, As fers as a lyoun, pulleth out a swerde, fierce And seide thus: By God that sitteth above, Nere it that thou art sike and wood for love, were it not And eek that thou no wepne hast in this place, also Thou schuldest nevere out of this grove pace, step That thou ne schuldest deyen of myn hond. die For I defye the seurté and the bond defy Which that thou seyst that I have maad to the; sayest What, verray fool, thenk wel that love is fre! And I wol love hire mawgré al thy might. In spite of But, for thou art a gentil perfight knight, because And wilnest to dereyne hire by batayle, art willing Have heere my trouthe, to morwe I nyl not fayle, pledge Withouten wityng of eny other wight, without knowledge That heer I wol be founden as a knight, will, found And bryngen harneys[89] right inough for the; And ches the best, and lef the worst for me. And mete and drynke this night wil I brynge Inough for the, and clothes for thy beddynge. And if so be that thou my lady wynne, win And sle me in this wode, ther I am inne, wood