The Knight's Tale
Folio 24r
29 of 48 folios
1325
Were gadered / in this noble compaignye
For loue / and for encrees of chiualrye
Aboute this kyng ther ran on euery part
Ful many a tame Leou / and leopard
And in this wise / thise lordes alle and some
1330
Been on the Sonday / to the Citee come
Aboute pryme / and in the toun aligħt
¶ This Theseus / this Duc this worthy knygħt
Whan he had brogħt hem / in to his Citee
And Inned hem / euerich in his degree
1335
He festeth hem / and dooth so greet labour
To esen hem / and doon hem al honour
That yet men weneth / þt no maner wit
Of noon estaat ne koude amenden it
¶ The Mynstralcye / the seruice / at the feeste
1340
The grete yiftes / to the meeste and leeste
The riche array / of Theseus paleys
Ne who sat first ne last vp on the deys
What ladyes fairest been / or best daunsynge
Or which of hem / kan dauncen best and synge
1345
Ne who moost felyngly speketh of loue
What haukes / sitten on the perche aboue
What houndes / liggen in the floor adoun
Of al this / make I now no mencioun
But al theffect that thynketh me the beste
1350
Now cometh the point and herkneth if yow leste
The Sonday nygħt er day bigan to sprynge
Whan Palamon / the larke herde synge
Al though it nere nat day / by houres two
Yet song the larke / and Palamon also
1355
With hooly herte / and with an heigħ corage
He roos / to wenden on his pilgrymage
Vn to the blisful Citherea benigne
I mene Venus / honurable and digne
And in hir houre / he walketh forth a pas
1360
Vn to the lystes / ther hire xx temple was
And doun he kneleth / with ful humble cheere
And herte soor / and seyde in this manere ;
Faireste of faire / o lady myn Venus
Doughter to Ioue / and Spouse of Vulcanus
1365
Thow glader / of the Mount of Citheron
For thilke loue / thow haddest to Adoon
Haue pitee / of my bittre teeris smerte
And taak myn humble preyere at thyn herte
Allas / I ne haue / no langage to telle
1370
Theffectes / ne the tormentz of myn helle
Myn herte / may myne harmes nat biwreye
I am so confus / that I kan noght seye