The Knight's Tale
Folio 28v
5 of 54 folios
1375
Considere al þis & rewe vpon my sore
As wisly as .I. schal for eūer more
Enforþe my myht þi trewe seruant be
And halden were alwaie wiþ chastite
That .I. make myne a vowe so ȝe me helpe
1380
.I. kepe nouht of armes for to ȝelpe
Ne .I. ne axe not to morue to haue victorie
Ne renoune in þis caas ne veine glorie
Of pis of armes blowen vp & doune
Bot .I. wolde haue fully possessione
1385
Of Emelye & die in his seruise
Finde ȝowe þe manere howe & in whatt wise
.I. reche nouȝt bot it better maie bue
To haue victorie of hem or þei of me
So þat .I. maie my lady in myne armes
1390
For þouhe so be þat mars is god of Armes
Ȝoure vertue is so grete in heuene aboue
Þat . if þou list .I. schal wel haue myloue
¶ Thi temple wil .I. worschipe euere mo
And oñ þine autere where .I. ride or go
1395
.I. wil dōn sacrifise & fires bete
And if ȝe wil nouȝt so my lady swete
Þan . praie .I. þe to morue wiþ a spere
Þat Arcite þourhe þe herte bere
Than reke .I. nouht whan .I. haue lost my lif
1400
Thouht þat Arcite winne hire to his wif
This is þeffect & ende of my payere
Ȝef me my loue þou blisseful ladi dere
¶ Whan þe orison was done of Palamon
His sacrifice hedide & þat anone
1405
Ful pitously wiþ al circumstances
Aƚƚ tel .I. not as nowe his obseruances
Bot att þe laste þe Statue of venus schooke
And Maade a signe where bi þat he toke
That his praier was accept þat daie
1410
For þoughe þe signe schewed a delaie
Ȝit wist he wele þat gaunted was his bone
And wiþ glad herte he went him hom ful sone
The þrede houre inequale þat Palamon
Be gan to venus temple for to gone
1415
Vp rose þe sonne & vpe roos Emelye
And to þe temple of Diane gan hye