The Knight's Tale
Folio 9v
5 of 42 folios
The bones of hir frendes that were slayn.
135
And doon obsequijs as was tho the gyse
But yt were al to longe for to deuyse.
The gret clamour and the waymentynge
That the ladyes made at the brennynge
Of the bodyes and the gret honour
140
That theseus the noble conquerour
Doth to the ladyes whan thei from him wente
But shortly for to telle is myn entente.
¶ Whan that this worthi duke this Theseus
Hath Creon slayn and wonne thebes thus.
145
Styl in that felde he toke al nyght his reste
And dyde wyth al the contree as him leste.
¶ To ransake in the taas of the bodyes dede
Hem for to strype of hernoyes and of wede.
The pilours deden bysynes and cure
150
After the bataille and discomfiture.
And so bifel that in the taas thei founde
Thurgh girt wt many a greues blody wonde
Two yonge knyghtes lyggyng by and by.
Booth in on armes wrought ful rychely.
155
Of which two Arcita hight that oon
And that other knyght hight Palamon
Nat fully quyk ne fully ded thei were
But bi her cote armures and bi hir gere.
The heroudes knew hem best in specyal.
160
As thei that weren of the blood ryal.
Of thebes and of Sustren two y borñ
Out of the taas the pilour han hem torn
And han hem caryed softe vn to the tente
Of theseus and ful sone he hem sente
165
To atthenes to dwelle in pisoun
Perpetuelly he nolde no raunson
And whan this worthi duke hath thus y doū
He took his hoost and hoom he ryt anon.
Wyth laurer crowned as a conquerour
170
And ther wyth lyueth in Ioy and in honour
Terme of his lyfe what nedeth wordes mo.
And in a toure in angussh and in wo.
This palamon and his felaw arcite.