Thou maist wel have thy lady as for me. This Palamon answerde, I graunt it the. Crying, “False, wicked traitor! false Arcite! Now art thou caught, that lov’st my lady so, For whom I suffer all this pain and wo! Yet art my blood--bound to me by thy vow, As I have told thee oftentimes ere now-- And hast so long befool’d Duke Theseus And falsely hid thy name and nurture thus! For all this falseness thou or I must die. Thou shalt not love my lady Emelye-- But I will love her and no man but I, For I am Palamon, thine enemy! And tho’ I am unarmed, being but now Escap’d from out my dungeon, care not thou, For nought I dread--for either thou shalt die Now--or thou shalt not love my Emelye. Choose as thou wilt--thou shalt not else depart.” But Arcite, with all fury in his heart, Now that he knew him and his story heard, Fierce as a lion, snatch’d he forth his sword, Saying these words: “By Him who rules above, Were’t not that thou art sick and mad for love, And hast no weapon--never should’st thou move, Living or like to live, from out this grove, But thou shouldest perish by my hand! on oath I cast thee back the bond and surety, both, Which thou pretendest I have made to thee. What? very fool! remember love is free, And I will love her maugré all thy might! But since thou art a worthy, noble knight, And willing to contest her in fair fight, Have here my troth, to-morrow, at daylight, Unknown to all, I will not fail nor fear To meet thee as a knight in combat here, And I will bring full arms for me and thee; And choose the best, and leave the worst for me! And I will bring thee meat and drink to-night, Enough for thee, and bedding as is right: And if the victory fall unto thine hand, To slay me in this forest where I stand, Thou may’st attain thy lady-love, for me!” Then Palamon replied--“I grant it thee.” Then these, who had once been friends, parted till the morrow.