| 265 |
This Palamon, whan he tho wordes herde, |
| Dispitously he looked and answerde, |
| "Wheither seistow this in ernest or in pley?" |
|
"Nay," quod Arcite, "in ernest by my fey, |
| God helpe me so, me list ful yvele pleye." |
| 270 | This Palamon gan knytte his browes tweye; |
| "It nere," quod he, "to thee no greet honour |
| For to be fals, ne for to be traitour |
| To me, that am thy cosyn and thy brother, |
| Ysworn ful depe, and ech of us til oother, |
| 275 | That nevere for to dyen in the peyne, |
| Til that the deeth departe shal us tweyne, |
| Neither of us in love to hyndre other, |
| Ne in noon oother cas, my leeve brother, |
| But that thou sholdest trewely forthren me |
| 280 | In every cas, as I shal forthren thee, - |
| This was thyn ooth, and myn also certeyn, |
| I woot right wel thou darst it nat withseyn. |
| Thus artow of my conseil, out of doute; |
| And now thou woldest falsly been aboute |
| 285 | To love my lady, whom I love and serve |
| And evere shal, til that myn herte sterve. |
| Nay, certes, false Arcite, thow shalt nat so! |
| I loved hire first, and tolde thee my wo |
| As to my conseil, and to my brother sworn, |
| 290 | To forthre me as I have toold biforn, |
| For which thou art ybounden as a knyght |
| To helpen me, if it lay in thy myght, |
| Or elles artow fals, I dar wel seyn." |
|
| 265 |
This Palamon, when these words he had heard, |
| Pitilessly he watched him, and answered: |
| "Do you say this in earnest or in play?" |
| "Nay," said Arcita, "earnest, now, I say! |
| God help me, I am in no mood for play!" |
| 270 | Palamon knit his brows and stood at bay. |
| "It will not prove," he said, "to your honour |
| After so long a time to turn traitor |
| To me, who am your cousin and your brother, |
| Sworn as we are, and each unto the other, |
| 275 | That never, though for death in any pain, |
| Never, indeed, till death shall part us twain, |
| Either of us in love shall hinder other, |
| No, nor in any thing, O my dear brother; |
| But that, instead, you shall so further me |
| 280 | As I shall you, all this we did agree. |
| Such was your oath and such was mine also. |
| You dare not now deny it, well I know. |
| Thus you are of my party, beyond doubt. |
| And now you would all falsely go about |
| 285 | To love my lady, whom I love and serve, |
| And shall while life my heart's blood may preserve. |
| Nay, false Arcita, it shall not be so. |
| I loved her first, and told you all my woe, |
| As to a brother and to one that swore |
| 290 | To further me, as I have said before. |
| For which you are in duty bound, as knight, |
| To help me, if the thing lie in your might, |
| Or else you're false, I say, and downfallen." |
|
