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From The Knight's Tale, lines 1885-1958:
Arcita says goodbye to Palamon and Emily and dies		 Previous
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From The Canterbury Tales:
The Knight's Tale
lines 1959-1978: Athens mourns for the death of Arcita


      Shrighte Emelye, and howleth Palamon,
1960And Theseus his suster took anon
Swownynge, and baar hir fro the corps away.
What helpeth it to tarien forth the day
To tellen how she weep bothe eve and morwe?
For in swich cas wommen have swich sorwe
1965Whan that hir housbond is from hem ago,
That for the moore part they sorwen so,
Or ellis fallen in swich maladye,
That at the laste certeinly they dye.
      Shrieked Emily and howled now Palamon,
1960Till Theseus his sister took, anon,
And bore her, swooning, from the corpse away.
How shall it help, to dwell the livelong day
In telling how she wept both night and morrow?
For in like cases women have such sorrow,
1965When their good husband from their side must go,
And, for the greater part, they take on so,
Or else they fall into such malady
That, at the last, and certainly, they die.
      Infinite been the sorwes and the teeres
1970Of olde folk, and eek of tendre yeeres
In al the toun, for deeth of this Theban.
For hym ther wepeth bothe child and man;
So greet a wepyng was ther noon, certayn,
Whan Ector was ybroght al fressh yslayn
1975To Troye. Allas, the pitee that was ther,
Cracchynge of chekes, rentynge eek of heer;
"Why woldestow be deed," thise wommen crye,
"And haddest gold ynough, and Emelye?"
      Infinite were the sorrows and the tears
1970Of all old folk and folk of tender years
Throughout the town, at death of this Theban;
For him there wept the child and wept the man;
So great a weeping was not, 'tis certain,
When Hector was brought back, but newly slain,
1975To Troy. Alas, the sorrow that was there!
Tearing of cheeks and rending out of hair.
"Oh why will you be dead," these women cry,
"Who had of gold enough, and Emily?"




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From The Knight's Tale, lines 1979-1994:
Death is the end of every worldly sore		 Next