The Knight's Tale
Folio 30r
2 of 54 folios
For whiche þi emely astoned was
And seide what a mounteþ þis alas
1505
.I. pute me in þi proteccione
Diane & in þine dispocicōn
And home sche goþe a none þe next weye
Þis is þeffecte þere is nomore to seie
¶ The next houre of Mars folwynge þis
1510
Arcite vnto þe temple walke is
Of fires Mars to don his sacrifice
Wiþ aƚƚ þe rihtes of his payen wise
Wiþe pitous hert & hihe deuocione
Riht þus to mars he sent his orison
1515
¶ O stronge good þat in þe regne colde
Of Trace honoured erte & lorde .I. holde
And hast in euery regne & in euery londe
Of armes al þe bridel in þin honde
And hem fortunest as þe liste deuyse
1520
Accepte of me my pitous sacrifise
If so be þat my ȝouþe mai deserue
And þat .I. myht be worþi for to serue
Thi godhede þat .I. maie bene one of þine
Þat praie .I. to þe to rewe vpon my pine
1525
For þilke pine and þilke hote fire
In whiche þou whilome berneste for desire
Whan þat þou vsedest þi beaute
Of faire ȝonge Fressche venus fre
And haddest hir in armes att þi wiƚƚ
1530
Al þouhe ȝe ones on a time mysfeƚƚ
Wha\ne/ Vulcanus hadde cauht þe in his laas
And fonde þe liggynge be his wif alaas
For þilke sorwe þat was in þin herte
Haue reuþe as wele vpon my peines smerte
1535
.I. am ȝonge & vnkunynge as þou woste
And as .I. trowe wiþ loue offendude moste
Þat euer was any liues creature
For sche þat doþe me al þis woo endure
Ne reccheþ neuer wheþer .I. sinke or flete
1540
And wele .I. wote ar sche me merci hete
.I. moste wiþ strenkeþ winne hir in þe place
And wele .I. wote wiþ owten helpe or grace
Of þe ; ne maie my strenkeþ nouht availe
Than helpe me lorde to morue in my bataile .