| 1995 |
Duc Theseus, with al his bisy cure, |
| Caste now, wher that the sepulture |
| Of goode Arcite may best ymaked be, |
| And eek moost honurable in his degree. |
| And at the laste he took conclusioun |
| 2000 | That ther as first Arcite and Palamoun |
| Hadden for love the bataille hem bitwene, |
| That in that selve grove swoote and grene |
| Ther as he hadde hise amorouse desires, |
| His compleynte, and for love hise hoote fires, |
| 2005 | He wolde make a fyr, in which the office |
| Funeral he myghte al accomplice. |
| And leet comande anon to hakke and hewe |
| The okes olde, and leye hem on a rewe |
| In colpons, wel arrayed for to brenne. |
| 2010 | His officers with swifte feet they renne |
| And ryden anon at his comandement; |
| And after this, Theseus hath ysent |
| After a beere, and it al over-spradde |
| With clooth of gold, the richeste that he hadde. |
| 2015 | And of the same suyte he cladde Arcite, |
| Upon his hondes hadde he gloves white, |
| Eek on his heed a coroune of laurer grene, |
| And in his hond a swerd ful bright and kene. |
| He leyde hym bare the visage on the beere, |
| 2020 | Therwith he weep that pitee was to heere. |
| And for the peple sholde seen hym alle, |
| Whan it was day, he broghte hym to the halle, |
| That roreth of the criyng and the soun. |
|
| 1995 |
Duke Theseus now considered and with care |
| What place of burial he should prepare |
| For good Arcita, as it best might be, |
| And one most worthy of his high degree. |
| And at the last concluded, hereupon, |
| 2000 | That where at first Arcita and Palamon |
| Had fought for love, with no man else between, |
| There, in that very grove, so sweet and green, |
| Where he mused on his amorous desires |
| Complaining of love's hot and flaming fires, |
| 2005 | He'd make a pyre and have the funeral |
| Accomplished there, and worthily in all. |
| And so he gave command to hack and hew |
| The ancient oaks, and lay them straight and true |
| In split lengths that would kindle well and burn. |
| 2010 | His officers, with sure swift feet, they turn |
| And ride away to do his whole intent. |
| And after this Duke Theseus straightway sent |
| For a great bier, and had it all o'er-spread |
| With cloth of gold, the richest that he had. |
| 2015 | Arcita clad he, too, in cloth of gold; |
| White gloves were on his hands where they did fold; |
| Upon his head a crown of laurel green, |
| And near his hand a sword both bright and keen. |
| Then, having bared the dead face on the bier, |
| 2020 | The duke so wept, 'twas pitiful to hear. |
| And, so that folk might see him, one and all, |
| When it was day he brought them to the hall, |
| Which echoed of their wailing cries anon. |
|
