The Knight's Tale
Folio 13r
36 of 54 folios
Thonked be fortune & hire false whele
Thate none astate ensureþ for to bene wele
Now certes lorde to abide ȝowre persence
70
Here in þis temple of goddes clemence
We haue bne waiteinge al þis fourtenyhte
Helpe vs lorde seþ it is in þi myhte
.I. wriche whiche þat wepeþ & weyleþ þus
Was whilom wif of kinge Cappaneus
75
That starfe att Thebes cursed be þat dai
And aƚƚ we þat bene in þis array
And Maken aƚƚ þis lamentaciōne
We losten al our hosbondes att þat towne .
While þat a sege þare a bowte laie
80
And ȝit nowe þe olde Creon weilowaie
Þat lord is nowe of Thebes Citee
Fulfilled of ire & iniquite
He for dispite & for his Tirannye
To done þe dede bodies velanye
85
Of aƚƚ oure lordes whiche þat han be slawe
Haþe al þe bodies on an hepe y drawe
And wil not suffre hem be none assent
Neyþere to be beride neiþer be to brent
Bot makeþ houndes ete hem in despite
90
And wiþ þat word wt oute more respite
Þei Fellen groffe & criden pytouslye
Haue on vs wrecched wēmen sum Mercie
And latt owre sorwe sinken in þin herte
¶ This gentil Duc downe fro his courser sterte
95
W hert pitous whan he herd hem speke
Him þouhte þat his herte wolde breke
Whan he sawhe hem so pitee & so mate
That whilome weren of so grete astate
And in his armes he hem al vp hent
100
And hem comforteþ in ful goode entent
And swore his hoþe as he was trewe knyht
He wolde done so ferforþelie his miht
Vppon þe Tirant Creon hem al wreke
That al þe peple of grece scholde speke
105
How creon was of Theseus seruede
As he þat had his deþe ful wele deseruede
And riht anone wiþ owten more abode
His Baner he displeide & forþe rode .