|
Greet was the strif and long bitwix hem tweye, |
| 330 | If that I hadde leyser for to seye. |
| But to th'effect; it happed on a day, |
| To telle it yow as shortly as I may, |
| A worthy duc, that highte Perotheus, |
| That felawe was unto duc Theseus |
| 335 | Syn thilke day that they were children lite, |
| Was come to Atthenes his felawe to visite, |
| And for to pleye as he was wont to do- |
| For in this world he loved no man so, |
| And he loved hym als tendrely agayn. |
| 340 | So wel they lovede, as olde bookes sayn, |
| That whan that oon was deed, soothly to telle, |
| His felawe wente and soughte hym doun in helle. |
| But of that storie list me nat to write; |
| Duc Perotheus loved wel Arcite, |
| 345 | And hadde hym knowe at Thebes yeer by yere, |
| And finally, at requeste and preyere |
| Of Perotheus, withouten any raunsoun, |
| Duc Theseus hym leet out of prisoun |
| Frely to goon, wher that hym liste overal, |
| 350 | In swich a gyse as I you tellen shal. |
|
|
Great was the strife, and long, between the two, |
| 330 | If I had but the time to tell it you, |
| Except in effect; it happened on a day |
| To tell the tale as briefly as I may |
| A worthy duke men called Pirithous, |
| Who had been friend unto Duke Theseus |
| 335 | Since that day that they were children, |
| Was come to visit Athens and visit |
| His play-fellow, as he was used to do, |
| For in this whole world he loved no man so; |
| And Theseus loved him as truly- nay, |
| 340 | So well each loved the other, old books say, |
| That when one died, it is but truth I tell, |
| The other went and sought him down in Hell; |
| But of that tale I have no wish to write. |
| Pirithous loved Arcita, too, that knight, |
| 345 | Having known him in Thebes full many a year; |
| And finally, at his request and prayer, |
| And that without a coin of ransom paid, |
| Duke Theseus released him out of shade, |
| Freely to go where'er he wished, and go |
| 350 | In such a way, I will let you know. |
|
