|
What sholde I al day of his wo endite? |
| Whan he endured hadde a yeer or two |
| This crueel torment, and this peyne and wo, |
| 525 | At Thebes in his contree, as I seyde, |
| Upon a nyght in sleep as he hym leyde, |
| Hym thoughte how that the wynged god Mercurie |
| Biforn hym stood, and bad hym to be murie. |
| His slepy yerde in hond he bar uprighte, |
| 530 | An hat he werede upon hise heris brighte. |
| Arrayed was this god, as he took keep, |
| As he was whan that Argus took his sleep; |
| And seyde hym thus, "To Atthenes shaltou wende, |
| Ther is thee shapen of thy wo an ende." |
| 535 | And with that word Arcite wook and sterte. |
| "Now trewely, how soore that me smerte," |
| Quod he, "to Atthenes right now wol I fare, |
| Ne for the drede of deeth shal I nat spare |
| To se my lady that I love and serve, |
| 540 | In hire presence I recche nat to sterve." |
|
| Why should I all day of his woe indite? |
| When he'd endured all this a year or two, |
| This cruel torment and this pain and woe, |
| 525 | At Thebes, in his own country, as I said, |
| Upon a night, while sleeping in his bed, |
| He dreamed of how the winged God Mercury |
| Before him stood and bade him happier be. |
| His sleep-bestowing wand he bore upright; |
| 530 | A hat he wore upon his ringlets bright. |
| Arrayed this god was (noted at a leap) |
| As he'd been when to Argus he gave sleep. |
| And thus he spoke: "To Athens shall you wend; |
| For all your woe is destined there to end." |
| 535 | And on that word Arcita woke and started. |
| "Now truly, howsoever sore I'm smarted," |
| Said he, "to Athens right now will I fare; |
| Nor for the dread of death will I now spare |
| To see my lady, whom I love and serve; |
| 540 | I will not reck of death, with her, nor swerve." |
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