From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Knight's Tale, lines 1231-1258

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Knight's Tale
lines 1231-1258: Arcita and Palamon and their company come to Athens

	Now been thise listes maad, and Theseus,
	That at his grete cost arrayed thus
	The temples, and the theatre every deel,
	Whan it was doon, hym lyked wonder weel.-
1235	But stynte I wole of Theseus a lite,
	And speke of Palamon and of Arcite.

	But now the lists were done, and Theseus,
	Who at so great cost had appointed thus
	The temples and the circus, as I tell,
	When all was done, he liked it wondrous well.
1235	But hold I will from Theseus, and on
	To speak of Arcita and Palamon.

	The day approcheth of hir retournynge,
	That everich sholde an hundred knyghtes brynge
	The bataille to darreyne, as I yow tolde.
1240	And til Atthenes, hir covenantz for to holde,
	Hath everich of hem broght an hundred knyghtes,
	Wel armed for the werre at alle rightes.
	And sikerly, ther trowed many a man,
	That nevere sithen, that the world bigan,
1245	As for to speke of knyghthod of hir hond,
	As fer as God hath maked see or lond,
	Nas of so fewe so noble a compaignye.
	For every wight that lovede chivalrye,
	And wolde, his thankes, han a passant name,
1250	Hath preyed that he myghte been of that game;
	And wel was hym that therto chosen was.
	For if ther fille tomorwe swich a cas
	Ye knowen wel, that every lusty knyght
	That loveth paramours, and hath his myght,
1255	Were it in Engelond or elles where,
	They wolde, hir thankes, wilnen to be there,
	To fighte for a lady, benedicitee!
	It were a lusty sighte for to see.

	The day of their return is forthcoming,
	When each of them a hundred knights must bring
	The combat to support, as I have told;
1240	And into Athens, covenant to uphold,
	Has each one ridden with his hundred knights,
	Well armed for war, at all points, in their mights.
	And certainly, 'twas thought by many a man
	That never, since the day this world began,
1245	Speaking of good knights hardy of their hands,
	Wherever God created seas and lands,
	Was, of so few, so noble company.
	For every man that loved all chivalry,
	And eager was to win surpassing fame,
1250	Had prayed to play a part in that great game;
	And all was well with him who chosen was.
	For if there came tomorrow such a case,
	You know right well that every lusty knight
	Who loves the ladies fair and keeps his might,
1255	Be it in England, aye or otherwhere,
	Would wish of all things to be present there
	To fight for some fair lady. Ben'cite!
	'Twould be a pleasant goodly sight to see!