Phedra answerde, 'y-wis, me is as wo 1985 For him as ever I was for any man; (101) And, to his help, the beste reed I can Is that we doon the gayler prively To come, and speke with us hastily, And doon this woful man with him to come. 1990 For if he may this monstre overcome, Than were he quit; ther is noon other bote. Lat us wel taste him at his herte-rote, That, if so be that he a wepen have, Wher that he dar, his lyf to kepe and save, 1995 Fighten with this fend, and him defende. (111) For, in the prison, ther he shal descende, Ye wite wel, that the beste is in a place That nis nat derk, and hath roum eek and space To welde an ax or swerd or staf or knyf, 2000 So that, me thinketh, he sholde save his lyf; If that he be a man, he shal do so. And we shul make him balles eek also Of wexe and towe, that, whan he gapeth faste, Into the bestes throte he shal hem caste 2005 To slake his hunger and encombre his teeth; (121) And right anon, whan that Theseus seeth The beste achoked, he shal on him lepe To sleen him, or they comen more to-hepe. This wepen shal the gayler, or that tyde, 2010 Ful privily within the prison hyde; And, for the hous is crinkled to and fro, And hath so queinte weyes for to go-- For hit is shapen as the mase is wroght-- Therto have I a remedie in my thoght, 2015 That, by a clewe of twyne, as he hath goon, (131) The same wey he may returne anoon, Folwing alwey the threed, as he hath come. And, whan that he this beste hath overcome, Then may he fleen awey out of this drede, 2020 And eek the gayler may he with him lede, And him avaunce at hoom in his contree, Sin that so greet a lordes sone is he. This is my reed, if that he dar hit take.' What sholde I lenger sermoun of hit make? 2025 The gayler cometh, and with him Theseus. (141) And whan thise thinges been acorded thus, Adoun sit Theseus upon his knee:-- 'The righte lady of my lyf,' quod he, 'I, sorweful man, y-dampned to the deeth, 2030 Fro yow, whyl that me lasteth lyf or breeth, I wol nat twinne, after this aventure, But in your servise thus I wol endure, That, as a wrecche unknowe, I wol yow serve For ever-mo, til that myn herte sterve. 2035 Forsake I wol at hoom myn heritage, (151) And, as I seide, ben of your court a page, If that ye vouche-sauf that, in this place, Ye graunte me to han so gret a grace That I may han nat but my mete and drinke; 2040