Previous Previous:
From The Knight's Tale, lines 417-478:
Palamon pities himself still being in prison		 Previous
 Librarius Homepage
© Librarius
All rights reserved.

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Knight's Tale
lines 479-496: The Knight asks which of the two knights is the luckiest


      The somer passeth, and the nyghtes longe
480Encressen double wise the peynes stronge
Bothe of the lovere and the prisoner;
I noot which hath the wofuller mester.
For shortly for to seyn, this Palamoun
Perpetuelly is dampned to prisoun
485In cheynes and in fettres to been deed,
And Arcite is exiled upon his heed
For evere mo as out of that contree,
Ne nevere mo he shal his lady see.
      Summer being passed away and nights grown long,
480Increased now doubly all the anguish strong
Both of the lover and the prisoner.
I know not which one was the woefuller.
For, to be brief about it, Palamon
Is doomed to lie for ever in prison,
485In chains and fetters till he shall be dead;
And exiled, on thread of losing his head
Arcita must remain abroad, nor see,
For evermore, the face of his lady.
      Yow loveres axe I now this questioun,
490Who hath the worse, Arcite or Palamoun?
That oon may seen his lady day by day,
But in prison he moot dwelle alway;
That oother wher hym list may ride or go,
But seen his lady shal he nevere mo.
495Now demeth as yow liste ye that kan,
For I wol telle forth, as I bigan.
      You lovers, now I ask you this question:
490Who has the worse, Arcita or Palamon?
The one may see his lady day by day,
But yet in prison must he dwell for aye.
The other, where he wishes, he may go,
But never see his lady more, ah no.
495Now answer as you wish, all you that can.
For I will speak right on as I began.


Explicit Prima Pars
(Here ends the first part)




Next Next:
From The Knight's Tale, lines 497-521:
Arcita returns to Thebes		 Next