680 lines
32 KiB
C++
680 lines
32 KiB
C++
// Text is an extract from The Canterbury Tales
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// Full text at http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext00/cbtls12.txt
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#include <avr/pgmspace.h>
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const char knightsTale[] PROGMEM= {
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" THE KNIGHT'S TALE <1>\n"
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"\n"
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"\n"
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"WHILOM*, as olde stories tellen us, *formerly\n"
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"There was a duke that highte* Theseus. *was called <2>\n"
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"Of Athens he was lord and governor,\n"
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"And in his time such a conqueror\n"
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"That greater was there none under the sun.\n"
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"Full many a riche country had he won.\n"
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"What with his wisdom and his chivalry,\n"
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"He conquer'd all the regne of Feminie,<3>\n"
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"That whilom was y-cleped Scythia;\n"
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"And weddede the Queen Hippolyta\n"
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"And brought her home with him to his country\n"
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"With muchel* glory and great solemnity, *great\n"
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"And eke her younge sister Emily,\n"
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"And thus with vict'ry and with melody\n"
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"Let I this worthy Duke to Athens ride,\n"
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"And all his host, in armes him beside.\n"
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"\n"
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"And certes, if it n'ere* too long to hear, *were not\n"
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"I would have told you fully the mannere,\n"
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"How wonnen* was the regne of Feminie, <4> *won\n"
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"By Theseus, and by his chivalry;\n"
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"And of the greate battle for the nonce\n"
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"Betwixt Athenes and the Amazons;\n"
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"And how assieged was Hippolyta,\n"
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"The faire hardy queen of Scythia;\n"
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"And of the feast that was at her wedding\n"
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"And of the tempest at her homecoming.\n"
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"But all these things I must as now forbear.\n"
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"I have, God wot, a large field to ear* *plough<5>;\n"
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"And weake be the oxen in my plough;\n"
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"The remnant of my tale is long enow.\n"
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"I will not *letten eke none of this rout*. *hinder any of\n"
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"Let every fellow tell his tale about, this company*\n"
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"And let see now who shall the supper win.\n"
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"There *as I left*, I will again begin. *where I left off*\n"
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"\n"
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"This Duke, of whom I make mentioun,\n"
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"When he was come almost unto the town,\n"
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"In all his weal, and in his moste pride,\n"
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"He was ware, as he cast his eye aside,\n"
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"Where that there kneeled in the highe way\n"
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"A company of ladies, tway and tway,\n"
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"Each after other, clad in clothes black:\n"
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"But such a cry and such a woe they make,\n"
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"That in this world n'is creature living,\n"
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"That hearde such another waimenting* *lamenting <6>\n"
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"And of this crying would they never stenten*, *desist\n"
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"Till they the reines of his bridle henten*. *seize\n"
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"\"What folk be ye that at mine homecoming\n"
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"Perturben so my feaste with crying?\"\n"
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"Quoth Theseus; \"Have ye so great envy\n"
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"Of mine honour, that thus complain and cry?\n"
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"Or who hath you misboden*, or offended? *wronged\n"
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"Do telle me, if it may be amended;\n"
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"And why that ye be clad thus all in black?\"\n"
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"\n"
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"The oldest lady of them all then spake,\n"
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"When she had swooned, with a deadly cheer*, *countenance\n"
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"That it was ruthe* for to see or hear. *pity\n"
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"She saide; \"Lord, to whom fortune hath given\n"
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"Vict'ry, and as a conqueror to liven,\n"
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"Nought grieveth us your glory and your honour;\n"
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"But we beseechen mercy and succour.\n"
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"Have mercy on our woe and our distress;\n"
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"Some drop of pity, through thy gentleness,\n"
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"Upon us wretched women let now fall.\n"
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"For certes, lord, there is none of us all\n"
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"That hath not been a duchess or a queen;\n"
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"Now be we caitives*, as it is well seen: *captives\n"
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"Thanked be Fortune, and her false wheel,\n"
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"That *none estate ensureth to be wele*. *assures no continuance of\n"
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"And certes, lord, t'abiden your presence prosperous estate*\n"
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"Here in this temple of the goddess Clemence\n"
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"We have been waiting all this fortenight:\n"
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"Now help us, lord, since it lies in thy might.\n"
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"\n"
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"\"I, wretched wight, that weep and waile thus,\n"
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"Was whilom wife to king Capaneus,\n"
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"That starf* at Thebes, cursed be that day: *died <7>\n"
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"And alle we that be in this array,\n"
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"And maken all this lamentatioun,\n"
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"We losten all our husbands at that town,\n"
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"While that the siege thereabouten lay.\n"
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"And yet the olde Creon, wellaway!\n"
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"That lord is now of Thebes the city,\n"
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"Fulfilled of ire and of iniquity,\n"
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"He for despite, and for his tyranny,\n"
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"To do the deade bodies villainy*, *insult\n"
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"Of all our lorde's, which that been y-slaw, *slain\n"
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"Hath all the bodies on an heap y-draw,\n"
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"And will not suffer them by none assent\n"
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"Neither to be y-buried, nor y-brent*, *burnt\n"
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"But maketh houndes eat them in despite.\"\n"
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"And with that word, withoute more respite\n"
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"They fallen groff,* and cryden piteously; *grovelling\n"
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"\"Have on us wretched women some mercy,\n"
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"And let our sorrow sinken in thine heart.\"\n"
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"\n"
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"This gentle Duke down from his courser start\n"
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"With hearte piteous, when he heard them speak.\n"
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"Him thoughte that his heart would all to-break,\n"
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"When he saw them so piteous and so mate* *abased\n"
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"That whilom weren of so great estate.\n"
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"And in his armes he them all up hent*, *raised, took\n"
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"And them comforted in full good intent,\n"
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"And swore his oath, as he was true knight,\n"
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"He woulde do *so farforthly his might* *as far as his power went*\n"
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"Upon the tyrant Creon them to wreak*, *avenge\n"
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"That all the people of Greece shoulde speak,\n"
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"How Creon was of Theseus y-served,\n"
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"As he that had his death full well deserved.\n"
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"And right anon withoute more abode* *delay\n"
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"His banner he display'd, and forth he rode\n"
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"To Thebes-ward, and all his, host beside:\n"
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"No ner* Athenes would he go nor ride, *nearer\n"
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"Nor take his ease fully half a day,\n"
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"But onward on his way that night he lay:\n"
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"And sent anon Hippolyta the queen,\n"
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"And Emily her younge sister sheen* *bright, lovely\n"
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"Unto the town of Athens for to dwell:\n"
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"And forth he rit*; there is no more to tell. *rode\n"
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"\n"
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"The red statue of Mars with spear and targe* *shield\n"
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"So shineth in his white banner large\n"
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"That all the fieldes glitter up and down:\n"
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"And by his banner borne is his pennon\n"
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"Of gold full rich, in which there was y-beat* *stamped\n"
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"The Minotaur<8> which that he slew in Crete\n"
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"Thus rit this Duke, thus rit this conqueror\n"
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"And in his host of chivalry the flower,\n"
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"Till that he came to Thebes, and alight\n"
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"Fair in a field, there as he thought to fight.\n"
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"But shortly for to speaken of this thing,\n"
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"With Creon, which that was of Thebes king,\n"
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"He fought, and slew him manly as a knight\n"
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"In plain bataille, and put his folk to flight:\n"
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"And by assault he won the city after,\n"
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"And rent adown both wall, and spar, and rafter;\n"
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"And to the ladies he restored again\n"
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"The bodies of their husbands that were slain,\n"
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"To do obsequies, as was then the guise*. *custom\n"
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"\n"
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"But it were all too long for to devise* *describe\n"
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"The greate clamour, and the waimenting*, *lamenting\n"
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"Which that the ladies made at the brenning* *burning\n"
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"Of the bodies, and the great honour\n"
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"That Theseus the noble conqueror\n"
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"Did to the ladies, when they from him went:\n"
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"But shortly for to tell is mine intent.\n"
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"When that this worthy Duke, this Theseus,\n"
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"Had Creon slain, and wonnen Thebes thus,\n"
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"Still in the field he took all night his rest,\n"
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"And did with all the country as him lest*. *pleased\n"
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"To ransack in the tas* of bodies dead, *heap\n"
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"Them for to strip of *harness and of **weed, *armour **clothes\n"
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"The pillers* did their business and cure, *pillagers <9>\n"
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"After the battle and discomfiture.\n"
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"And so befell, that in the tas they found,\n"
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"Through girt with many a grievous bloody wound,\n"
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"Two younge knightes *ligging by and by* *lying side by side*\n"
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"Both in *one armes*, wrought full richely: *the same armour*\n"
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"Of whiche two, Arcita hight that one,\n"
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"And he that other highte Palamon.\n"
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"Not fully quick*, nor fully dead they were, *alive\n"
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"But by their coat-armour, and by their gear,\n"
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"The heralds knew them well in special,\n"
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"As those that weren of the blood royal\n"
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"Of Thebes, and *of sistren two y-born*. *born of two sisters*\n"
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"Out of the tas the pillers have them torn,\n"
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"And have them carried soft unto the tent\n"
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"Of Theseus, and he full soon them sent\n"
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"To Athens, for to dwellen in prison\n"
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"Perpetually, he *n'olde no ranson*. *would take no ransom*\n"
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"And when this worthy Duke had thus y-done,\n"
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"He took his host, and home he rit anon\n"
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"With laurel crowned as a conquerour;\n"
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"And there he lived in joy and in honour\n"
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"Term of his life; what needeth wordes mo'?\n"
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"And in a tower, in anguish and in woe,\n"
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"Dwellen this Palamon, and eke Arcite,\n"
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"For evermore, there may no gold them quite* *set free\n"
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"\n"
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"Thus passed year by year, and day by day,\n"
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"Till it fell ones in a morn of May\n"
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"That Emily, that fairer was to seen\n"
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"Than is the lily upon his stalke green,\n"
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"And fresher than the May with flowers new\n"
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"(For with the rose colour strove her hue;\n"
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"I n'ot* which was the finer of them two), *know not\n"
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"Ere it was day, as she was wont to do,\n"
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"She was arisen, and all ready dight*, *dressed\n"
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"For May will have no sluggardy a-night;\n"
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"The season pricketh every gentle heart,\n"
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"And maketh him out of his sleep to start,\n"
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"And saith, \"Arise, and do thine observance.\"\n"
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"\n"
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"This maketh Emily have remembrance\n"
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"To do honour to May, and for to rise.\n"
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"Y-clothed was she fresh for to devise;\n"
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"Her yellow hair was braided in a tress,\n"
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"Behind her back, a yarde long I guess.\n"
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"And in the garden at *the sun uprist* *sunrise\n"
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"She walketh up and down where as her list.\n"
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"She gathereth flowers, party* white and red, *mingled\n"
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"To make a sotel* garland for her head, *subtle, well-arranged\n"
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"And as an angel heavenly she sung.\n"
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"The greate tower, that was so thick and strong,\n"
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"Which of the castle was the chief dungeon<10>\n"
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"(Where as these knightes weren in prison,\n"
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"Of which I tolde you, and telle shall),\n"
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"Was even joinant* to the garden wall, *adjoining\n"
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"There as this Emily had her playing.\n"
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"\n"
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"Bright was the sun, and clear that morrowning,\n"
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"And Palamon, this woful prisoner,\n"
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"As was his wont, by leave of his gaoler,\n"
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"Was ris'n, and roamed in a chamber on high,\n"
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"In which he all the noble city sigh*, *saw\n"
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"And eke the garden, full of branches green,\n"
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"There as this fresh Emelia the sheen\n"
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"Was in her walk, and roamed up and down.\n"
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"This sorrowful prisoner, this Palamon\n"
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"Went in his chamber roaming to and fro,\n"
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"And to himself complaining of his woe:\n"
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"That he was born, full oft he said, Alas!\n"
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"And so befell, by aventure or cas*, *chance\n"
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"That through a window thick of many a bar\n"
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"Of iron great, and square as any spar,\n"
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"He cast his eyes upon Emelia,\n"
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"And therewithal he blent* and cried, Ah! *started aside\n"
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"As though he stungen were unto the heart.\n"
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"And with that cry Arcite anon up start,\n"
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"And saide, \"Cousin mine, what aileth thee,\n"
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"That art so pale and deadly for to see?\n"
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"Why cried'st thou? who hath thee done offence?\n"
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"For Godde's love, take all in patience\n"
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"Our prison*, for it may none other be. *imprisonment\n"
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"Fortune hath giv'n us this adversity'.\n"
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"Some wick'* aspect or disposition *wicked\n"
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"Of Saturn<11>, by some constellation,\n"
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"Hath giv'n us this, although we had it sworn,\n"
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"So stood the heaven when that we were born,\n"
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"We must endure; this is the short and plain.\n"
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"\n"
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"This Palamon answer'd, and said again:\n"
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"\"Cousin, forsooth of this opinion\n"
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"Thou hast a vain imagination.\n"
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"This prison caused me not for to cry;\n"
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"But I was hurt right now thorough mine eye\n"
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"Into mine heart; that will my bane* be. *destruction\n"
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"The fairness of the lady that I see\n"
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"Yond in the garden roaming to and fro,\n"
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"Is cause of all my crying and my woe.\n"
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"I *n'ot wher* she be woman or goddess, *know not whether*\n"
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"But Venus is it, soothly* as I guess, *truly\n"
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"And therewithal on knees adown he fill,\n"
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"And saide: \"Venus, if it be your will\n"
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"You in this garden thus to transfigure\n"
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"Before me sorrowful wretched creature,\n"
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"Out of this prison help that we may scape.\n"
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"And if so be our destiny be shape\n"
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"By etern word to dien in prison,\n"
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"Of our lineage have some compassion,\n"
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"That is so low y-brought by tyranny.\"\n"
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"\n"
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"And with that word Arcita *gan espy* *began to look forth*\n"
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"Where as this lady roamed to and fro\n"
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"And with that sight her beauty hurt him so,\n"
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"That if that Palamon was wounded sore,\n"
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"Arcite is hurt as much as he, or more.\n"
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"And with a sigh he saide piteously:\n"
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"\"The freshe beauty slay'th me suddenly\n"
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"Of her that roameth yonder in the place.\n"
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"And but* I have her mercy and her grace, *unless\n"
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"That I may see her at the leaste way,\n"
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"I am but dead; there is no more to say.\"\n"
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"This Palamon, when he these wordes heard,\n"
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"Dispiteously* he looked, and answer'd: *angrily\n"
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"\"Whether say'st thou this in earnest or in play?\"\n"
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"\"Nay,\" quoth Arcite, \"in earnest, by my fay*. *faith\n"
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"God help me so, *me lust full ill to play*.\" *I am in no humour\n"
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"This Palamon gan knit his browes tway. for jesting*\n"
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"\"It were,\" quoth he, \"to thee no great honour\n"
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"For to be false, nor for to be traitour\n"
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"To me, that am thy cousin and thy brother\n"
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"Y-sworn full deep, and each of us to other,\n"
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"That never for to dien in the pain <12>,\n"
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"Till that the death departen shall us twain,\n"
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"Neither of us in love to hinder other,\n"
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"Nor in none other case, my leve* brother; *dear\n"
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"But that thou shouldest truly farther me\n"
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"In every case, as I should farther thee.\n"
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"This was thine oath, and mine also certain;\n"
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"I wot it well, thou dar'st it not withsayn*, *deny\n"
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"Thus art thou of my counsel out of doubt,\n"
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"And now thou wouldest falsely be about\n"
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"To love my lady, whom I love and serve,\n"
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"And ever shall, until mine hearte sterve* *die\n"
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"Now certes, false Arcite, thou shalt not so\n"
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"I lov'd her first, and tolde thee my woe\n"
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"As to my counsel, and my brother sworn\n"
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"To farther me, as I have told beforn.\n"
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"For which thou art y-bounden as a knight\n"
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"To helpe me, if it lie in thy might,\n"
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"Or elles art thou false, I dare well sayn,\"\n"
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"\n"
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"This Arcita full proudly spake again:\n"
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"\"Thou shalt,\" quoth he, \"be rather* false than I, *sooner\n"
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"And thou art false, I tell thee utterly;\n"
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"For par amour I lov'd her first ere thou.\n"
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"What wilt thou say? *thou wist it not right now* *even now thou\n"
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"Whether she be a woman or goddess. knowest not*\n"
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"Thine is affection of holiness,\n"
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"And mine is love, as to a creature:\n"
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"For which I tolde thee mine aventure\n"
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"As to my cousin, and my brother sworn\n"
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"I pose*, that thou loved'st her beforn: *suppose\n"
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"Wost* thou not well the olde clerke's saw<13>, *know'st\n"
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"That who shall give a lover any law?\n"
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"Love is a greater lawe, by my pan,\n"
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"Than may be giv'n to any earthly man:\n"
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"Therefore positive law, and such decree,\n"
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"Is broke alway for love in each degree\n"
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"A man must needes love, maugre his head.\n"
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"He may not flee it, though he should be dead,\n"
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"*All be she* maid, or widow, or else wife. *whether she be*\n"
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"And eke it is not likely all thy life\n"
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"To standen in her grace, no more than I\n"
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"For well thou wost thyselfe verily,\n"
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"That thou and I be damned to prison\n"
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"Perpetual, us gaineth no ranson.\n"
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"We strive, as did the houndes for the bone;\n"
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"They fought all day, and yet their part was none.\n"
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"There came a kite, while that they were so wroth,\n"
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"And bare away the bone betwixt them both.\n"
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"And therefore at the kinge's court, my brother,\n"
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"Each man for himselfe, there is no other.\n"
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"Love if thee list; for I love and aye shall\n"
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"And soothly, leve brother, this is all.\n"
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"Here in this prison musten we endure,\n"
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"And each of us take his Aventure.\"\n"
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"\n"
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"Great was the strife and long between these tway,\n"
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"If that I hadde leisure for to say;\n"
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"But to the effect: it happen'd on a day\n"
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"(To tell it you as shortly as I may),\n"
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"A worthy duke that hight Perithous<14>\n"
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"That fellow was to the Duke Theseus\n"
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"Since thilke* day that they were children lite** *that **little\n"
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"Was come to Athens, his fellow to visite,\n"
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"And for to play, as he was wont to do;\n"
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"For in this world he loved no man so;\n"
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"And he lov'd him as tenderly again.\n"
|
|
"So well they lov'd, as olde bookes sayn,\n"
|
|
"That when that one was dead, soothly to sayn,\n"
|
|
"His fellow went and sought him down in hell:\n"
|
|
"But of that story list me not to write.\n"
|
|
"Duke Perithous loved well Arcite,\n"
|
|
"And had him known at Thebes year by year:\n"
|
|
"And finally at request and prayere\n"
|
|
"Of Perithous, withoute ranson\n"
|
|
"Duke Theseus him let out of prison,\n"
|
|
"Freely to go, where him list over all,\n"
|
|
"In such a guise, as I you tellen shall\n"
|
|
"This was the forword*, plainly to indite, *promise\n"
|
|
"Betwixte Theseus and him Arcite:\n"
|
|
"That if so were, that Arcite were y-found\n"
|
|
"Ever in his life, by day or night, one stound* *moment<15>\n"
|
|
"In any country of this Theseus,\n"
|
|
"And he were caught, it was accorded thus,\n"
|
|
"That with a sword he shoulde lose his head;\n"
|
|
"There was none other remedy nor rede*. *counsel\n"
|
|
"But took his leave, and homeward he him sped;\n"
|
|
"Let him beware, his necke lieth *to wed*. *in pledge*\n"
|
|
"\n"
|
|
"How great a sorrow suff'reth now Arcite!\n"
|
|
"The death he feeleth through his hearte smite;\n"
|
|
"He weepeth, waileth, crieth piteously;\n"
|
|
"To slay himself he waiteth privily.\n"
|
|
"He said; \"Alas the day that I was born!\n"
|
|
"Now is my prison worse than beforn:\n"
|
|
"*Now is me shape* eternally to dwell *it is fixed for me*\n"
|
|
"Not in purgatory, but right in hell.\n"
|
|
"Alas! that ever I knew Perithous.\n"
|
|
"For elles had I dwelt with Theseus\n"
|
|
"Y-fettered in his prison evermo'.\n"
|
|
"Then had I been in bliss, and not in woe.\n"
|
|
"Only the sight of her, whom that I serve,\n"
|
|
"Though that I never may her grace deserve,\n"
|
|
"Would have sufficed right enough for me.\n"
|
|
"O deare cousin Palamon,\" quoth he,\n"
|
|
"\"Thine is the vict'ry of this aventure,\n"
|
|
"Full blissfully in prison to endure:\n"
|
|
"In prison? nay certes, in paradise.\n"
|
|
"Well hath fortune y-turned thee the dice,\n"
|
|
"That hast the sight of her, and I th' absence.\n"
|
|
"For possible is, since thou hast her presence,\n"
|
|
"And art a knight, a worthy and an able,\n"
|
|
"That by some cas*, since fortune is changeable, *chance\n"
|
|
"Thou may'st to thy desire sometime attain.\n"
|
|
"But I that am exiled, and barren\n"
|
|
"Of alle grace, and in so great despair,\n"
|
|
"That there n'is earthe, water, fire, nor air,\n"
|
|
"Nor creature, that of them maked is,\n"
|
|
"That may me helpe nor comfort in this,\n"
|
|
"Well ought I *sterve in wanhope* and distress. *die in despair*\n"
|
|
"Farewell my life, my lust*, and my gladness. *pleasure\n"
|
|
"Alas, *why plainen men so in commune *why do men so often complain\n"
|
|
"Of purveyance of God*, or of Fortune, of God's providence?*\n"
|
|
"That giveth them full oft in many a guise\n"
|
|
"Well better than they can themselves devise?\n"
|
|
"Some man desireth for to have richess,\n"
|
|
"That cause is of his murder or great sickness.\n"
|
|
"And some man would out of his prison fain,\n"
|
|
"That in his house is of his meinie* slain. *servants <16>\n"
|
|
"Infinite harmes be in this mattere.\n"
|
|
"We wot never what thing we pray for here.\n"
|
|
"We fare as he that drunk is as a mouse.\n"
|
|
"A drunken man wot well he hath an house,\n"
|
|
"But he wot not which is the right way thither,\n"
|
|
"And to a drunken man the way is slither*. *slippery\n"
|
|
"And certes in this world so fare we.\n"
|
|
"We seeke fast after felicity,\n"
|
|
"But we go wrong full often truely.\n"
|
|
"Thus we may sayen all, and namely* I, *especially\n"
|
|
"That ween'd*, and had a great opinion, *thought\n"
|
|
"That if I might escape from prison\n"
|
|
"Then had I been in joy and perfect heal,\n"
|
|
"Where now I am exiled from my weal.\n"
|
|
"Since that I may not see you, Emily,\n"
|
|
"I am but dead; there is no remedy.\"\n"
|
|
"\n"
|
|
"Upon that other side, Palamon,\n"
|
|
"When that he wist Arcita was agone,\n"
|
|
"Much sorrow maketh, that the greate tower\n"
|
|
"Resounded of his yelling and clamour\n"
|
|
"The pure* fetters on his shinnes great *very <17>\n"
|
|
"Were of his bitter salte teares wet.\n"
|
|
"\n"
|
|
"\"Alas!\" quoth he, \"Arcita, cousin mine,\n"
|
|
"Of all our strife, God wot, the fruit is thine.\n"
|
|
"Thou walkest now in Thebes at thy large,\n"
|
|
"And of my woe thou *givest little charge*. *takest little heed*\n"
|
|
"Thou mayst, since thou hast wisdom and manhead*, *manhood, courage\n"
|
|
"Assemble all the folk of our kindred,\n"
|
|
"And make a war so sharp on this country\n"
|
|
"That by some aventure, or some treaty,\n"
|
|
"Thou mayst have her to lady and to wife,\n"
|
|
"For whom that I must needes lose my life.\n"
|
|
"For as by way of possibility,\n"
|
|
"Since thou art at thy large, of prison free,\n"
|
|
"And art a lord, great is thine avantage,\n"
|
|
"More than is mine, that sterve here in a cage.\n"
|
|
"For I must weep and wail, while that I live,\n"
|
|
"With all the woe that prison may me give,\n"
|
|
"And eke with pain that love me gives also,\n"
|
|
"That doubles all my torment and my woe.\"\n"
|
|
"\n"
|
|
"Therewith the fire of jealousy upstart\n"
|
|
"Within his breast, and hent* him by the heart *seized\n"
|
|
"So woodly*, that he like was to behold *madly\n"
|
|
"The box-tree, or the ashes dead and cold.\n"
|
|
"Then said; \"O cruel goddess, that govern\n"
|
|
"This world with binding of your word etern* *eternal\n"
|
|
"And writen in the table of adamant\n"
|
|
"Your parlement* and your eternal grant, *consultation\n"
|
|
"What is mankind more *unto you y-hold* *by you esteemed\n"
|
|
"Than is the sheep, that rouketh* in the fold! *lie huddled together\n"
|
|
"For slain is man, right as another beast;\n"
|
|
"And dwelleth eke in prison and arrest,\n"
|
|
"And hath sickness, and great adversity,\n"
|
|
"And oftentimes guilteless, pardie* *by God\n"
|
|
"What governance is in your prescience,\n"
|
|
"That guilteless tormenteth innocence?\n"
|
|
"And yet increaseth this all my penance,\n"
|
|
"That man is bounden to his observance\n"
|
|
"For Godde's sake to *letten of his will*, *restrain his desire*\n"
|
|
"Whereas a beast may all his lust fulfil.\n"
|
|
"And when a beast is dead, he hath no pain;\n"
|
|
"But man after his death must weep and plain,\n"
|
|
"Though in this worlde he have care and woe:\n"
|
|
"Withoute doubt it maye standen so.\n"
|
|
"\"The answer of this leave I to divines,\n"
|
|
"But well I wot, that in this world great pine* is; *pain, trouble\n"
|
|
"Alas! I see a serpent or a thief\n"
|
|
"That many a true man hath done mischief,\n"
|
|
"Go at his large, and where him list may turn.\n"
|
|
"But I must be in prison through Saturn,\n"
|
|
"And eke through Juno, jealous and eke wood*, *mad\n"
|
|
"That hath well nigh destroyed all the blood\n"
|
|
"Of Thebes, with his waste walles wide.\n"
|
|
"And Venus slay'th me on that other side\n"
|
|
"For jealousy, and fear of him, Arcite.\"\n"
|
|
"\n"
|
|
"Now will I stent* of Palamon a lite**, *pause **little\n"
|
|
"And let him in his prison stille dwell,\n"
|
|
"And of Arcita forth I will you tell.\n"
|
|
"The summer passeth, and the nightes long\n"
|
|
"Increase double-wise the paines strong\n"
|
|
"Both of the lover and the prisonere.\n"
|
|
"I n'ot* which hath the wofuller mistere**. *know not **condition\n"
|
|
"For, shortly for to say, this Palamon\n"
|
|
"Perpetually is damned to prison,\n"
|
|
"In chaines and in fetters to be dead;\n"
|
|
"And Arcite is exiled *on his head* *on peril of his head*\n"
|
|
"For evermore as out of that country,\n"
|
|
"Nor never more he shall his lady see.\n"
|
|
"You lovers ask I now this question,<18>\n"
|
|
"Who lieth the worse, Arcite or Palamon?\n"
|
|
"The one may see his lady day by day,\n"
|
|
"But in prison he dwelle must alway.\n"
|
|
"The other where him list may ride or go,\n"
|
|
"But see his lady shall he never mo'.\n"
|
|
"Now deem all as you liste, ye that can,\n"
|
|
"For I will tell you forth as I began.\n"
|
|
"\n"
|
|
"When that Arcite to Thebes comen was,\n"
|
|
"Full oft a day he swelt*, and said, \"Alas!\" *fainted\n"
|
|
"For see this lady he shall never mo'.\n"
|
|
"And shortly to concluden all his woe,\n"
|
|
"So much sorrow had never creature\n"
|
|
"That is or shall be while the world may dure.\n"
|
|
"His sleep, his meat, his drink is *him byraft*, *taken away from him*\n"
|
|
"That lean he wex*, and dry as any shaft. *became\n"
|
|
"His eyen hollow, grisly to behold,\n"
|
|
"His hue sallow, and pale as ashes cold,\n"
|
|
"And solitary he was, ever alone,\n"
|
|
"And wailing all the night, making his moan.\n"
|
|
"And if he hearde song or instrument,\n"
|
|
"Then would he weepen, he might not be stent*. *stopped\n"
|
|
"So feeble were his spirits, and so low,\n"
|
|
"And changed so, that no man coulde know\n"
|
|
"His speech, neither his voice, though men it heard.\n"
|
|
"And in his gear* for all the world he far'd *behaviour <19>\n"
|
|
"Not only like the lovers' malady\n"
|
|
"Of Eros, but rather y-like manie* *madness\n"
|
|
"Engender'd of humours melancholic,\n"
|
|
"Before his head in his cell fantastic.<20>\n"
|
|
"And shortly turned was all upside down,\n"
|
|
"Both habit and eke dispositioun,\n"
|
|
"Of him, this woful lover Dan* Arcite. *Lord <21>\n"
|
|
"Why should I all day of his woe indite?\n"
|
|
"When he endured had a year or two\n"
|
|
"This cruel torment, and this pain and woe,\n"
|
|
"At Thebes, in his country, as I said,\n"
|
|
"Upon a night in sleep as he him laid,\n"
|
|
"Him thought how that the winged god Mercury\n"
|
|
"Before him stood, and bade him to be merry.\n"
|
|
"His sleepy yard* in hand he bare upright; *rod <22>\n"
|
|
"A hat he wore upon his haires bright.\n"
|
|
"Arrayed was this god (as he took keep*) *notice\n"
|
|
"As he was when that Argus<23> took his sleep;\n"
|
|
"And said him thus: \"To Athens shalt thou wend*; *go\n"
|
|
"There is thee shapen* of thy woe an end.\" *fixed, prepared\n"
|
|
"And with that word Arcite woke and start.\n"
|
|
"\"Now truely how sore that e'er me smart,\"\n"
|
|
"Quoth he, \"to Athens right now will I fare.\n"
|
|
"Nor for no dread of death shall I not spare\n"
|
|
"To see my lady that I love and serve;\n"
|
|
"In her presence *I recke not to sterve.*\" *do not care if I die*\n"
|
|
"And with that word he caught a great mirror,\n"
|
|
"And saw that changed was all his colour,\n"
|
|
"And saw his visage all in other kind.\n"
|
|
"And right anon it ran him ill his mind,\n"
|
|
"That since his face was so disfigur'd\n"
|
|
"Of malady the which he had endur'd,\n"
|
|
"He mighte well, if that he *bare him low,* *lived in lowly fashion*\n"
|
|
"Live in Athenes evermore unknow,\n"
|
|
"And see his lady wellnigh day by day.\n"
|
|
"And right anon he changed his array,\n"
|
|
"And clad him as a poore labourer.\n"
|
|
"And all alone, save only a squier,\n"
|
|
"That knew his privity* and all his cas**, *secrets **fortune\n"
|
|
"Which was disguised poorly as he was,\n"
|
|
"To Athens is he gone the nexte* way. *nearest <24>\n"
|
|
"And to the court he went upon a day,\n"
|
|
"And at the gate he proffer'd his service,\n"
|
|
"To drudge and draw, what so men would devise*. *order\n"
|
|
"And, shortly of this matter for to sayn,\n"
|
|
"He fell in office with a chamberlain,\n"
|
|
"The which that dwelling was with Emily.\n"
|
|
"For he was wise, and coulde soon espy\n"
|
|
"Of every servant which that served her.\n"
|
|
"Well could he hewe wood, and water bear,\n"
|
|
"For he was young and mighty for the nones*, *occasion\n"
|
|
"And thereto he was strong and big of bones\n"
|
|
"To do that any wight can him devise.\n"
|
|
"\n"
|
|
"A year or two he was in this service,\n"
|
|
"Page of the chamber of Emily the bright;\n"
|
|
"And Philostrate he saide that he hight.\n"
|
|
"But half so well belov'd a man as he\n"
|
|
"Ne was there never in court of his degree.\n"
|
|
"He was so gentle of conditioun,\n"
|
|
"That throughout all the court was his renown.\n"
|
|
"They saide that it were a charity\n"
|
|
"That Theseus would *enhance his degree*, *elevate him in rank*\n"
|
|
"And put him in some worshipful service,\n"
|
|
"There as he might his virtue exercise.\n"
|
|
"And thus within a while his name sprung\n"
|
|
"Both of his deedes, and of his good tongue,\n"
|
|
"That Theseus hath taken him so near,\n"
|
|
"That of his chamber he hath made him squire,\n"
|
|
"And gave him gold to maintain his degree;\n"
|
|
"And eke men brought him out of his country\n"
|
|
"From year to year full privily his rent.\n"
|
|
"But honestly and slyly* he it spent, *discreetly, prudently\n"
|
|
"That no man wonder'd how that he it had.\n"
|
|
"And three year in this wise his life be lad*, *led\n"
|
|
"And bare him so in peace and eke in werre*, *war\n"
|
|
"There was no man that Theseus had so derre*. *dear\n"
|
|
"And in this blisse leave I now Arcite,\n"
|
|
"And speak I will of Palamon a lite*. *little\n"
|
|
"\n"
|
|
"In darkness horrible, and strong prison,\n"
|
|
"This seven year hath sitten Palamon,\n"
|
|
"Forpined*, what for love, and for distress. *pined, wasted away\n"
|
|
"Who feeleth double sorrow and heaviness\n"
|
|
"But Palamon? that love distraineth* so, *afflicts\n"
|
|
"That wood* out of his wits he went for woe, *mad\n"
|
|
"And eke thereto he is a prisonere\n"
|
|
"Perpetual, not only for a year.\n"
|
|
"Who coulde rhyme in English properly\n"
|
|
"His martyrdom? forsooth*, it is not I; *truly\n"
|
|
"Therefore I pass as lightly as I may.\n"
|
|
"It fell that in the seventh year, in May\n"
|
|
"The thirde night (as olde bookes sayn,\n"
|
|
"That all this story tellen more plain),\n"
|
|
"Were it by a venture or destiny\n"
|
|
"(As when a thing is shapen* it shall be), *settled, decreed\n"
|
|
"That soon after the midnight, Palamon\n"
|
|
"By helping of a friend brake his prison,\n"
|
|
"And fled the city fast as he might go,\n"
|
|
"For he had given drink his gaoler so\n"
|
|
"Of a clary <25>, made of a certain wine,\n"
|
|
"With *narcotise and opie* of Thebes fine, *narcotics and opium*\n"
|
|
"That all the night, though that men would him shake,\n"
|
|
"The gaoler slept, he mighte not awake:\n"
|
|
"And thus he fled as fast as ever he may.\n"
|
|
"The night was short, and *faste by the day *close at hand was\n"
|
|
"That needes cast he must himself to hide*. the day during which\n"
|
|
"And to a grove faste there beside he must cast about, or contrive,\n"
|
|
"With dreadful foot then stalked Palamon. to conceal himself.*\n"
|
|
"For shortly this was his opinion,\n"
|
|
"That in the grove he would him hide all day,\n"
|
|
"And in the night then would he take his way\n"
|
|
"To Thebes-ward, his friendes for to pray\n"
|
|
"On Theseus to help him to warray*. *make war <26>\n"
|
|
"And shortly either he would lose his life,\n"
|
|
"Or winnen Emily unto his wife.\n"
|
|
"This is th' effect, and his intention plain.\n"
|
|
"\n"
|
|
"Now will I turn to Arcita again,\n"
|
|
"That little wist how nighe was his care,\n"
|
|
"Till that Fortune had brought him in the snare.\n"
|
|
"The busy lark, the messenger of day,\n"
|
|
"Saluteth in her song the morning gray;\n"
|
|
};
|
|
|
|
void setup() {
|
|
int i=0;
|
|
uint8_t c;
|
|
Serial.begin(115200);
|
|
do {
|
|
c = pgm_read_byte(knightsTale+i);
|
|
if (c) Serial.write(c);
|
|
i++;
|
|
} while (c);
|
|
}
|
|
void loop() {
|
|
}
|