Allas, the woo! allas, the peynes stronge pains That I for you have suffred, and so longe! suffered Allas, the deth! allas, myn Emelye! death Allas, departyng of our compainye! separating Allas, myn hertes queen! allas, my wyf! Myn hertes lady, endere of my lyf! What is this world? what asken men to have? ask Now with his love, now in his colde grave Allone, withouten eny compainye! any Farwel, my swete foo! myn Emelye![110] foe And softe tak me in youre armes tweye, two For love of God, and herkneth what I seye. hearken “Alas, the woe! alas, the trials strong That I for you have borne--and, ah, so long! Alas, to die! alas, mine Emelye! Alas, that we so soon part company! Alas, my heart’s one queen! alas, my wife! Ah, my heart’s lady, ender of my life! What is life worth? what do men yearn to have? Now with his darling--now in his cold grave, Alone, alone, and with no company! Farewell, my sweet foe--farewell, Emelye, And softly take me in your arms to-day For love of God, and listen what I say.” Then Arcite pointed to Palamon, and said-- I have heer with my cosyn Palamon Had stryf and rancour many a day agon For love of yow, and for my jelousie. * * * * * So Jupiter have of my soule part, As in this world right now ne knowe I non So worthy to be loved as Palamon, That serveth you, and wol don al his lyf. And if that evere ye schul ben a wyf, shall Foryet not Palamon, the gentil man. forget And with that word his speche faille gan, began to fail For fro his feete up to his brest was come The cold of deth, that hadde him overnome.[111] And yet moreover in his armes two already The vital strengthe is lost, and al ago. gone Only the intellect, withouten more, without That dwellede in his herte sik and sore, Gan fayllen, when the herte felte deth; began to fail Dusked his eyen two, and failled his breth. darkened, failed But on his lady yit caste he his eye; His laste word was--_Mercy, Emelye_. “I have here with my cousin Palamon Had strife and hatred days and years agone For love of you, and for my jealousy. * * * * * So Jupiter have of my soul a part, As in the whole wide world now know I none So worthy to be loved as Palamon, Who served you well, and will do all his life. Therefore, if ever you shall be a wife, Forget not Palamon, that noble man.”