The Knight's Tale
Folio 27v
41 of 42 folios
Whan wyth honour yolden is his breth .
Than whan his name appalled is for age
2190
For al forgeten is his vassalage
Than is it best as for a worthi fame
To dyen whan he is best of name
¶ The contrarye of al this is wylfulnes
Whi grucchen we whi haue we heuynes
2195
That good arcite of chiualry the flour
Departed is wyth duette and honour
Out of this foule pisoun of this lyf
Whi grucchen here his cosyn and his wyf
Of his welfare that loueth hem so wel
2200
Kan he hem thank nay god wot neuer a del
That both his sowle and ek hem offende
And yet thei mowe hir lustes amende
¶ What may I conclude of this longe serye
But aftyr sorwe I rede vs to be merye
2205
And thonken Iuppiter of al his gace
And er we depart from this place
I rede we make of sorwes two
O parfyte ioy lastyng euer mo
And loketh now where most sorwe is her ynne .
2210
Ther wol I first amenden and bygynne.
¶ Suster quod he this is my ful assent
Wyth al the thauys here of my parlement
That gentil palamon youre owne knyght
That serueth yow wyth wylle and hert and myght
2215
And euer hath doon syn ye first him knew
That ye shul of your grace vpon him rew
An taken him for husbond and for lord
Lene me youre hond for this is our accord
Lat se now of your womanly pitee
2220
He is a kynges brother sone pardee
And thogh he were a pore bachiler
Syn he hath serued yow so many a ȝer
And had for yow so gret aduersitee
It most be considred leueth me
2225
For gentil oghte to passen ryght