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This Palamon answerde and seyde agayn: |
| 235 | "Cosyn, for sothe, of this opinioun |
| Thow hast a veyn ymaginacioun. |
| This prison caused me nat for to crye, |
| But I was hurt right now thurgh-out myn ye |
| Into myn herte, that wol my bane be. |
| 240 | The fairnesse of that lady, that I see |
| Yond in the gardyn romen to and fro, |
| Is cause of al my criyng and my wo. |
| I noot wher she be womman or goddesse, |
| But Venus is it, soothly as I gesse." |
| 245 | And therwithal, on knees doun he fil, |
| And seyde, "Venus, if it be thy wil, |
| Yow in this gardyn thus to transfigure |
| Bifore me, sorweful wrecched creature, |
| Out of this prisoun helpe that we may scapen! |
| 250 | And if so be my destynee be shapen |
| By eterne word to dyen in prisoun, |
| Of oure lynage have som compassioun, |
| That is so lowe ybroght by tirannye." |
| And with that word Arcite gan espye |
| 255 | Wher-as this lady romed to and fro, |
| And with that sighte hir beautee hurte hym so, |
| That, if that Palamon was wounded sore, |
| Arcite is hurt as moche as he, or moore. |
| And with a sigh he seyde pitously: |
| 260 | "The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly |
| Of hire, that rometh in the yonder place, |
| And but I have hir mercy and hir grace |
| That I may seen hir atte leeste weye, |
| I nam but deed, ther is namoore to seye." |
|
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This Palamon replied and said again: |
| 235 | "Cousin, indeed in this opinion now |
| Your fancy is but vanity, I trow. |
| It's not our prison that caused me to cry. |
| But I was wounded lately through the eye |
| Down to my heart, and that my bane will be. |
| 240 | The beauty of the lady that I see |
| There in that garden, pacing to and fro, |
| Is cause of all my crying and my woe. |
| I know not if she's woman or goddess; |
| But Venus she is truly, I guess." |
| 245 | And thereupon down on his knees he fell, |
| And said: "O Venus, if it be thy will |
| To be transfigured in this garden, thus |
| Before me, sorrowing wretch, oh now help us |
| Out of this prison to be soon escaped. |
| 250 | And if it be my destiny is shaped, |
| By fate, to die in durance, in bondage, |
| Have pity, then, upon our lineage |
| That has been brought so low by tyranny." |
| And on that word Arcita looked to see |
| 255 | This lady who went roving to and fro. |
| And in that look her beauty struck him so |
| That, if poor Palamon is wounded sore, |
| Arcita is as deeply hurt, and more. |
| And with a sigh he said then, piteously: |
| 260 | "The virgin beauty slays me suddenly |
| Of her that wanders yonder in that place; |
| And save I have her pity and her grace, |
| That I at least may see her day by day, |
| I am as good as dead; there's no more to say." |
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