Discovered stood, and shewed his hostile face:-- False traitor, Arcite, traitor to thy blood, Bound by thy sacred oath to seek my good, Now art thou found forsworn, for Emily, And darest attempt her love, for whom I die. So hast thou cheated Theseus with a wile, Against thy vow, returning to beguile Under a borrowed name: as false to me, So false thou art to him, who set thee free. But rest assured, that either thou shalt die, Or else renounce thy claim in Emily; For, though unarmed I am, and (freed by chance) Am here without my sword, or pointed lance, Hope not, base man, unquestioned hence to go, For I am Palamon, thy mortal foe.-- Arcite, who heard his tale, and knew the man, His sword unsheathed, and fiercely thus began:-- Now, by the gods, who govern heaven above, Wert thou not weak with hunger, mad with love, That word had been thy last; or, in this grove, This hand should force thee to renounce thy love! The surety, which I gave thee, I defy: } Fool, not to know, that love endures no tie, } And Jove but laughs at lovers' perjury! } Know, I will serve the fair in thy despite; But, since thou art my kinsman, and a knight, Here, have my faith, to-morrow, in this grove, Our arms shall plead the titles of our love: And heaven so help my right, as I alone Will come, and keep the cause and quarrel both unknown, With arms of proof, both for myself and thee; Choose thou the best, and leave the worst to me. And, that at better ease thou may'st abide, Bedding and clothes I will this night provide, And needful sustenance, that thou may'st be A conquest better won, and worthy me.-- His promise Palamon accepts; but prayed To keep it better than the first he made. Thus fair they parted till the morrow's dawn; For each had laid his plighted faith to pawn. Oh Love! thou sternly dost thy power maintain, } And wilt not bear a rival in thy reign; } Tyrants and thou all fellowship disdain. } This was in Arcite proved and Palamon, Both in despair, yet each would love alone. Arcite returned, and, as in honour tied, His foe with bedding, and with food, supplied; Then, ere the day, two suits of armour sought, Which, borne before him, on his steed he brought; Both were of shining steel, and wrought so pure, As might the strokes of two such arms endure. Now at the time, and in the appointed place, The challenger and challenged, face to face, Approach; each other, from afar, they knew, And from afar their hatred changed their hue. So stands the Thracian herdsman, with his spear, Full in the gap, and hopes the hunted bear, And hears him rustling in the wood, and sees His course, at distance, by the bending trees; And thinks, here comes my mortal enemy, And either he must fall in fight, or I: This while he thinks, he lifts aloft his dart; } A generous chillness seizes every part; } The veins pour back the blood, and fortify the heart. }