[ { "title": "Monday Night May 11th 1846 / Domestic Peace", "author": "Anne Bronte", "lines": [ "Why should such gloomy silence reign;", "And why is all the house so drear,", "When neither danger, sickness, pain,", "Nor death, nor want have entered here?", "We are as many as we were", "That other night, when all were gay,", "And full of hope, and free from care;", "Yet, is there something gone away.", "", "The moon without as pure and calm", "Is shining as that night she shone;", "but now, to us she brings no balm,", "For something from our hearts is gone.", "", "Something whose absence leaves a void,", "A cheerless want in every heart.", "Each feels the bliss of all destroyed", "And mourns the change - but each apart.", "", "The fire is burning in the grate", "As redly as it used to burn,", "But still the hearth is desolate", "Till Mirth and Love with Peace return.", "", "'Twas Peace that flowed from heart to heart", "With looks and smiles that spoke of Heaven,", "And gave us language to impart", "The blissful thoughts itself had given.", "", "Sweet child of Heaven, and joy of earth!", "O, when will Man thy value learn?", "We rudely drove thee from our hearth,", "And vainly sigh for thy return." ], "linecount": "28" }, { "title": "Sonnet 30 - I see thine image through my tears to-night", "author": "Elizabeth Barrett Browning", "lines": [ "I see thine image through my tears to-night,", "And yet to-day I saw thee smiling. How", "Refer the cause?—Beloved, is it thou", "Or I, who makes me sad? The acolyte", "Amid the chanted joy and thankful rite", "May so fall flat, with pale insensate brow,", "On the altar-stair. I hear thy voice and vow,", "Perplexed, uncertain, since thou art out of sight,", "As he, in his swooning ears, the choir's Amen.", "Beloved, dost thou love? or did I see all", "The glory as I dreamed, and fainted when", "Too vehement light dilated my ideal,", "For my soul's eyes? Will that light come again,", "As now these tears come—falling hot and real?" ], "linecount": "14" }, { "title": "The Night is Darkening Around Me", "author": "Emily Bronte", "lines": [ "The night is darkening round me,", "The wild winds coldly blow ;", "But a tyrant spell has bound me,", "And I cannot, cannot go.", "", "The giant trees are bending", "Their bare boughs weighed with snow ;", "The storm is fast descending,", "And yet I cannot go.", "", "Clouds beyond clouds above me,", "Wastes beyond wastes below ;", "But nothing drear can move me :", "I will not, cannot go." ], "linecount": "12" }, { "title": "Night is Darkening Around Me, The", "author": "Emily Bronte", "lines": [ "The night is darkening round me,", "The wild winds coldly blow ;", "But a tyrant spell has bound me,", "And I cannot, cannot go.", "", "The giant trees are bending", "Their bare boughs weighed with snow ;", "The storm is fast descending,", "And yet I cannot go.", "", "Clouds beyond clouds above me,", "Wastes beyond wastes below ;", "But nothing drear can move me :", "I will not, cannot go." ], "linecount": "12" }, { "title": "His Heart was darker than the starless night", "author": "Emily Dickinson", "lines": [ "His Heart was darker than the starless night", "For that there is a morn", "But in this black Receptacle", "Can be no Bode of Dawn" ], "linecount": "4" }, { "title": "Dying! Dying in the night!", "author": "Emily Dickinson", "lines": [ "Dying! Dying in the night!", "Won't somebody bring the light", "So I can see which way to go", "Into the everlasting snow?", "", "And \"Jesus\"! Where is Jesus gone?", "They said that Jesus -- always came --", "Perhaps he doesn't know the House --", "This way, Jesus, Let him pass!", "", "Somebody run to the great gate", "And see if Dollie's coming! Wait!", "I hear her feet upon the stair!", "Death won't hurt -- now Dollie's here!" ], "linecount": "12" }, { "title": "As Children bid the Guest \"Good Night\"", "author": "Emily Dickinson", "lines": [ "As Children bid the Guest \"Good Night\"", "And then reluctant turn --", "My flowers raise their pretty lips --", "Then put their nightgowns on.", "", "As children caper when they wake", "Merry that it is Morn --", "My flowers from a hundred cribs", "Will peep, and prance again." ], "linecount": "8" }, { "title": "The Starlight Night", "author": "Gerard Manley Hopkins", "lines": [ "Look at the stars! look, look up at the skies!", " O look at all the fire-folk sitting in the air!", " The bright boroughs, the circle-citadels there!", "Down in dim woods the diamond delves! the elves'-eyes!", "The grey lawns cold where gold, where quickgold lies!", " Wind-beat whitebeam! airy abeles set on a flare!", " Flake-doves sent floating forth at a farmyard scare!—", "Ah well! it is all a purchase, all is a prize.", "Buy then! bid then!—What?—Prayer, patience, aims, vows.", "Look, look: a May-mess, like on orchard boughs!", " Look! March-bloom, like on mealed-with-yellow sallows!", "These are indeed the barn; withindoors house", "The shocks. This piece-bright paling shuts the spouse", " Christ home, Christ and his mother and all his hallows." ], "linecount": "14" }, { "title": "A Night-Rain in Summer", "author": "James Henry Leigh Hunt", "lines": [ "Open the window, and let the air", "Freshly blow upon face and hair,", "And fill the room, as it fills the night,", "With the breath of the rain's sweet might.", "Hark! the burthen, swift and prone!", "And how the odorous limes are blown!", "Stormy Love's abroad, and keeps", "Hopeful coil for gentle sleeps.", "", "Not a blink shall burn to-night", "In my chamber, of sordid light;", "Nought will I have, not a window-pane,", "'Twixt me and the air and the great good rain,", "Which ever shall sing me sharp lullabies;", "And God's own darkness shall close mine eyes;", "And I will sleep, with all things blest,", "In the pure earth-shadow of natural rest." ], "linecount": "16" }, { "title": "Holy Sonnet XIII: What If This Present Were The World's Last Night?", "author": "John Donne", "lines": [ "What if this present were the world's last night?", "Mark in my heart, O soul, where thou dost dwell,", "The picture of Christ crucified, and tell", "Whether that countenance can thee affright,", "Tears in his eyes quench the amazing light,", "Blood fills his frowns, which from his pierced head fell.", "And can that tongue adjudge thee unto hell,", "Which prayed forgiveness for his foes' fierce spite?", "No, no; but as in my idolatry", "I said to all my profane mistresses,", "Beauty, of pity, foulness only is", "A sign of rigour: so I say to thee,", "To wicked spirits are horrid shapes assigned,", "This beauteous form assures a piteous mind." ], "linecount": "14" }, { "title": "In Drear-Nighted December", "author": "John Keats", "lines": [ "In drear-nighted December,", "Too happy, happy tree,", "Thy branches ne'er remember", "Their green felicity:", "The north cannot undo them", "With a sleety whistle through them;", "Nor frozen thawings glue them", " From budding at the prime.", "", "In drear-nighted December,", "Too happy, happy brook,", "Thy bubblings ne'er remember", "Apollo's summer look;", "But with a sweet forgetting,", "They stay their crystal fretting,", "Never, never petting", "About the frozen time.", "", "Ah! would 'twere so with many", "A gentle girl and boy!", "But were there ever any", "Writhed not at passed joy?", "The feel of not to feel it,", "When there is none to heal it", "Nor numbed sense to steel it,", "Was never said in rhyme." ], "linecount": "24" }, { "title": "Ode to the Nightingale", "author": "Robinson", "lines": [ "SWEET BIRD OF SORROW! ­why complain", "In such soft melody of Song,", "That ECHO, am'rous of thy Strain,", "The ling'ring cadence doth prolong?", "Ah! tell me, tell me, why,", "Thy dulcet Notes ascend the sky.", "Or on the filmy vapours glide", "Along the misty moutain's side?", "And wherefore dost Thou love to dwell,", "In the dark wood and moss-grown cell,", "Beside the willow-margin'd stream­", "Why dost Thou court wan Cynthia's beam?", "Sweet Songstress­if thy wayward fate", "Hath robb'd Thee of thy bosom's mate,", "Oh, think not thy heart-piercing moan", "Evap'rates on the breezy air,", "Or that the plaintive Song of Care", "Steals from THY Widow'd Breast alone.", "Oft have I heard thy mournful Tale,", "On the high Cliff, that o'er the Vale", "Hangs its dark brow, whose awful shade", "Spreads a deep gloom along the glade:", "Led by its sound, I've wander'd far,", "Till crimson evening's flaming Star", "On Heav'n's vast dome refulgent hung,", "And round ethereal vapours flung;", "And oft I've sought th'HYGEIAN MAID,", "In rosy dimply smiles array'd,", "Till forc'd with every HOPE to part,", "Resistless Pain subdued my Heart.", "", "Oh then, far o'er the restless deep", "Forlorn my poignant pangs I bore,", "Alone in foreign realms to weep,", "Where ENVY's voice could taunt no more.", "I hop'd, by mingling with the gay,", "To snatch the veil of Grief away;", "To break Affliction's pond'rous chain;", "VAIN was the Hope­in vain I sought", "The placid hour of careless thought,", "Where Fashion wing'd her light career,", "And sportive Pleasure danc'd along,", "Oft have I shunn'd the blithsome throng,", "To hide th'involuntary tear,", "For e'en where rapt'rous transports glow,", "From the full Heart the conscious tear will flow,", "When to my downy couch remov'd,", "FANCY recall'd my wearied mind", "To scenes of FRIENDSHIP left behind,", "Scenes still regretted, still belov'd!", "Ah, then I felt the pangs of Grief,", "Grasp my warm Heart, and mock relief;", "My burning lids Sleep's balm defied,", "And on my fev'rish lip imperfect murmurs died.", "", "Restless and sad­I sought once more", "A calm retreat on BRITAIN's shore;", "Deceitful HOPE, e'en there I found", "That soothing FRIENDSHIP's specious name", "Was but a short-liv'd empty sound,", "And LOVE a false delusive flame.", "", "Then come, Sweet BIRD, and with thy strain,", "Steal from my breast the thorn of pain;", "Blest solace of my lonely hours,", "In craggy caves and silent bow'rs,", "When HAPPY Mortals seek repose,", "By Night's pale lamp we'll chaunt our woes,", "And, as her chilling tears diffuse", "O'er the white thorn their silv'ry dews,", "I'll with the lucid boughts entwine", "A weeping Wreath, which round my Head", "Shall by the waning Cresent shine,", "And light us to our leafy bed,­", "But ah! nor leafy beds nor bow'rs", "Fring'd with soft MAY's enamell'd flow'rs,", "Nor pearly leaves, nor Cynthia's beams,", "Nor smiling Pleasure's shad'wy dreams,", "Sweet BIRD, not e'en THY melting Strains", "Can calm the Heart, where TYRANT SORROW REIGNS." ], "linecount": "77" }, { "title": "The Wood-cutter's Night Song", "author": "John Clare", "lines": [ "Welcome, red and roundy sun,", " Dropping lowly in the west;", "Now my hard day's work is done,", " I'm as happy as the best.", "", "Joyful are the thoughts of home,", " Now I'm ready for my chair,", "So, till morrow-morning's come,", " Bill and mittens, lie ye there!", "", "Though to leave your pretty song,", " Little birds, it gives me pain,", "Yet to-morrow is not long,", " Then I'm with you all again.", "", "If I stop, and stand about,", " Well I know how things will be,", "Judy will be looking out", " Every now-and-then for me.", "", "So fare ye well! and hold your tongues,", " Sing no more until I come;", "They're not worthy of your songs", " That never care to drop a crumb.", "", "All day long I love the oaks,", " But, at nights, yon little cot,", "Where I see the chimney smokes,", " Is by far the prettiest spot.", "", "Wife and children all are there,", " To revive with pleasant looks,", "Table ready set, and chair,", " Supper hanging on the hooks.", "", "Soon as ever I get in,", " When my faggot down I fling,", "Little prattlers they begin", " Teasing me to talk and sing.", "", "Welcome, red and roundy sun,", " Dropping lowly in the west;", "Now my hard day's work is done,", " I'm as happy as the best.", "", "Joyful are the thoughts of home,", " Now I'm ready for my chair,", "So, till morrow-morning's come,", " Bill and mittens, lie ye there!" ], "linecount": "40" }, { "title": "Early Nightingale", "author": "John Clare", "lines": [ "When first we hear the shy-come nightingales,", "They seem to mutter oer their songs in fear,", "And, climb we eer so soft the spinney rails,", "All stops as if no bird was anywhere.", "The kindled bushes with the young leaves thin", "Let curious eyes to search a long way in,", "Until impatience cannot see or hear", "The hidden music; gets but little way", "Upon the path--when up the songs begin,", "Full loud a moment and then low again.", "But when a day or two confirms her stay", "Boldly she sings and loud for half the day;", "And soon the village brings the woodman's tale", "Of having heard the newcome nightingale." ], "linecount": "14" }, { "title": "To-Night", "author": "Edward Thomas", "lines": [ "HARRY, you know at night", "The larks in Castle Alley", "Sing from the attic's height", "As if the electric light", "Were the true sun above a summer valley:", "Whistle, don't knock, to-night.", "", "I shall come early, Kate:", "And we in Castle Alley", "Will sit close out of sight", "Alone, and ask no light", "Of lamp or sun above a summer valley:", "To-night I can stay late." ], "linecount": "12" }, { "title": "144. A Winter Night", "author": "Robert Burns", "lines": [ "WHEN biting Boreas, fell and dour,", "Sharp shivers thro’ the leafless bow’r;", "When Phoebus gies a short-liv’d glow’r,", " Far south the lift,", "Dim-dark’ning thro’ the flaky show’r,", " Or whirling drift:", "", "", "Ae night the storm the steeples rocked,", "Poor Labour sweet in sleep was locked,", "While burns, wi’ snawy wreaths up-choked,", " Wild-eddying swirl;", "Or, thro’ the mining outlet bocked,", " Down headlong hurl:", "", "", "List’ning the doors an’ winnocks rattle,", "I thought me on the ourie cattle,", "Or silly sheep, wha bide this brattle", " O’ winter war,", "And thro’ the drift, deep-lairing, sprattle", " Beneath a scar.", "", "", "Ilk happing bird,—wee, helpless thing!", "That, in the merry months o’ spring,", "Delighted me to hear thee sing,", " What comes o’ thee?", "Whare wilt thou cow’r thy chittering wing,", " An’ close thy e’e?", "", "", "Ev’n you, on murdering errands toil’d,", "Lone from your savage homes exil’d,", "The blood-stain’d roost, and sheep-cote spoil’d", " My heart forgets,", "While pityless the tempest wild", " Sore on you beats!", "", "", "Now Phoebe in her midnight reign,", "Dark-muff’d, view’d the dreary plain;", "Still crowding thoughts, a pensive train,", " Rose in my soul,", "When on my ear this plantive strain,", " Slow, solemn, stole:—", "", "", "“Blow, blow, ye winds, with heavier gust!", "And freeze, thou bitter-biting frost!", "Descend, ye chilly, smothering snows!", "Not all your rage, as now united, shows", " More hard unkindness unrelenting,", " Vengeful malice unrepenting.", "Than heaven-illumin’d Man on brother Man bestows!", "", "", "“See stern Oppression’s iron grip,", " Or mad Ambition’s gory hand,", "Sending, like blood-hounds from the slip,", " Woe, Want, and Murder o’er a land!", " Ev’n in the peaceful rural vale,", " Truth, weeping, tells the mournful tale,", "How pamper’d Luxury, Flatt’ry by her side,", " The parasite empoisoning her ear,", " With all the servile wretches in the rear,", "Looks o’er proud Property, extended wide;", " And eyes the simple, rustic hind,", " Whose toil upholds the glitt’ring show—", " A creature of another kind,", " Some coarser substance, unrefin’d—", "Plac’d for her lordly use thus far, thus vile, below!", "", "", "“Where, where is Love’s fond, tender throe,", " With lordly Honour’s lofty brow,", " The pow’rs you proudly own?", " Is there, beneath Love’s noble name,", " Can harbour, dark, the selfish aim,", " To bless himself alone?", " Mark maiden-innocence a prey", " To love-pretending snares:", " This boasted Honour turns away,", " Shunning soft Pity’s rising sway,", "Regardless of the tears and unavailing pray’rs!", " Perhaps this hour, in Misery’s squalid nest,", " She strains your infant to her joyless breast,", "And with a mother’s fears shrinks at the rocking blast!", "", "", "“Oh ye! who, sunk in beds of down,", " Feel not a want but what yourselves create,", " Think, for a moment, on his wretched fate,", " Whom friends and fortune quite disown!", "Ill-satisfy’d keen nature’s clamorous call,", " Stretch’d on his straw, he lays himself to sleep;", "While through the ragged roof and chinky wall,", " Chill, o’er his slumbers, piles the drifty heap!", " Think on the dungeon’s grim confine,", " Where Guilt and poor Misfortune pine!", " Guilt, erring man, relenting view,", " But shall thy legal rage pursue", " The wretch, already crushed low", " By cruel Fortune’s undeserved blow?", "Affliction’s sons are brothers in distress;", "A brother to relieve, how exquisite the bliss!”", "", "", " I heard nae mair, for Chanticleer", " Shook off the pouthery snaw,", " And hail’d the morning with a cheer,", " A cottage-rousing craw.", " But deep this truth impress’d my mind—", " Thro’ all His works abroad,", " The heart benevolent and kind", " The most resembles God." ], "linecount": "96" }, { "title": "83. The Cotter’s Saturday Night", "author": "Robert Burns", "lines": [ "MY lov’d, my honour’d, much respected friend!", " No mercenary bard his homage pays;", "With honest pride, I scorn each selfish end,", " My dearest meed, a friend’s esteem and praise:", " To you I sing, in simple Scottish lays,", "The lowly train in life’s sequester’d scene,", " The native feelings strong, the guileless ways,", "What Aiken in a cottage would have been;", "Ah! tho’ his worth unknown, far happier there I ween!", "", "", "November chill blaws loud wi’ angry sugh;", " The short’ning winter-day is near a close;", "The miry beasts retreating frae the pleugh;", " The black’ning trains o’ craws to their repose:", " The toil-worn Cotter frae his labour goes,—", "This night his weekly moil is at an end,", " Collects his spades, his mattocks, and his hoes,", "Hoping the morn in ease and rest to spend,", "And weary, o’er the moor, his course does hameward bend.", "", "", "At length his lonely cot appears in view,", " Beneath the shelter of an aged tree;", "Th’ expectant wee-things, toddlin, stacher through", " To meet their dead, wi’ flichterin noise and glee.", " His wee bit ingle, blinkin bonilie,", "His clean hearth-stane, his thrifty wifie’s smile,", " The lisping infant, prattling on his knee,", "Does a’ his weary kiaugh and care beguile,", "And makes him quite forget his labour and his toil.", "", "", "Belyve, the elder bairns come drapping in,", " At service out, amang the farmers roun’;", "Some ca’ the pleugh, some herd, some tentie rin", " A cannie errand to a neibor town:", " Their eldest hope, their Jenny, woman-grown,", "In youthfu’ bloom-love sparkling in her e’e—", " Comes hame, perhaps to shew a braw new gown,", "Or deposite her sair-won penny-fee,", "To help her parents dear, if they in hardship be.", "", "", "With joy unfeign’d, brothers and sisters meet,", " And each for other’s weelfare kindly speirs:", "The social hours, swift-wing’d, unnotic’d fleet:", " Each tells the uncos that he sees or hears.", " The parents, partial, eye their hopeful years;", "Anticipation forward points the view;", " The mother, wi’ her needle and her shears,", "Gars auld claes look amaist as weel’s the new;", "The father mixes a’ wi’ admonition due.", "", "", "Their master’s and their mistress’ command,", " The younkers a’ are warned to obey;", "And mind their labours wi’ an eydent hand,", " And ne’er, tho’ out o’ sight, to jauk or play;", " “And O! be sure to fear the Lord alway,", "And mind your duty, duly, morn and night;", " Lest in temptation’s path ye gang astray,", "Implore His counsel and assisting might:", "They never sought in vain that sought the Lord aright.”", "", "", "But hark! a rap comes gently to the door;", " Jenny, wha kens the meaning o’ the same,", "Tells how a neibor lad came o’er the moor,", " To do some errands, and convoy her hame.", " The wily mother sees the conscious flame", "Sparkle in Jenny’s e’e, and flush her cheek;", " With heart-struck anxious care, enquires his name,", "While Jenny hafflins is afraid to speak;", "Weel-pleased the mother hears, it’s nae wild, worthless rake.", "", "", "Wi’ kindly welcome, Jenny brings him ben;", " A strappin youth, he takes the mother’s eye;", "Blythe Jenny sees the visit’s no ill ta’en;", " The father cracks of horses, pleughs, and kye.", " The youngster’s artless heart o’erflows wi’ joy,", "But blate an’ laithfu’, scarce can weel behave;", " The mother, wi’ a woman’s wiles, can spy", "What makes the youth sae bashfu’ and sae grave,", "Weel-pleas’d to think her bairn’s respected like the lave.", "", "", "O happy love! where love like this is found:", " O heart-felt raptures! bliss beyond compare!", "I’ve paced much this weary, mortal round,", " And sage experience bids me this declare,—", " “If Heaven a draught of heavenly pleasure spare—", "One cordial in this melancholy vale,", " ’Tis when a youthful, loving, modest pair", "In other’sarms, breathe out the tender tale,", "Beneath the milk-white thorn that scents the evening gale.”", "", "", "Is there, in human form, that bears a heart,", " A wretch! a villain! lost to love and truth!", "That can, with studied, sly, ensnaring art,", " Betray sweet Jenny’s unsuspecting youth?", " Curse on his perjur’d arts! dissembling smooth!", "Are honour, virtue, conscience, all exil’d?", " Is there no pity, no relenting ruth,", "Points to the parents fondling o’er their child?", "Then paints the ruin’d maid, and their distraction wild?", "", "", "But now the supper crowns their simple board,", " The halesome parritch, chief of Scotia’s food;", "The sowp their only hawkie does afford,", " That, ’yont the hallan snugly chows her cood:", " The dame brings forth, in complimental mood,", "To grace the lad, her weel-hain’d kebbuck, fell;", " And aft he’s prest, and aft he ca’s it guid:", "The frugal wifie, garrulous, will tell", "How t’was a towmond auld, sin’ lint was i’ the bell.", "", "", "The cheerfu’ supper done, wi’ serious face,", " They, round the ingle, form a circle wide;", "The sire turns o’er, with patriarchal grace,", " The big ha’bible, ance his father’s pride:", " His bonnet rev’rently is laid aside,", "His lyart haffets wearing thin and bare;", " Those strains that once did sweet in Zion glide,", "He wales a portion with judicious care;", "And “Let us worship God!” he says with solemn air.", "", "", "They chant their artless notes in simple guise,", " They tune their hearts, by far the noblest aim;", "Perhaps Dundee’s wild-warbling measures rise;", " Or plaintive Martyrs, worthy of the name;", " Or noble Elgin beets the heaven-ward flame;", "The sweetest far of Scotia’s holy lays:", " Compar’d with these, Italian trills are tame;", "The tickl’d ears no heart-felt raptures raise;", "Nae unison hae they with our Creator’s praise.", "", "", "The priest-like father reads the sacred page,", " How Abram was the friend of God on high;", "Or Moses bade eternal warfare wage", " With Amalek’s ungracious progeny;", " Or how the royal bard did groaning lie", "Beneath the stroke of Heaven’s avenging ire;", " Or Job’s pathetic plaint, and wailing cry;", "Or rapt Isaiah’s wild, seraphic fire;", "Or other holy seers that tune the sacred lyre.", "", "", "Perhaps the Christian volume is the theme,", " How guiltless blood for guilty man was shed;", "How He, who bore in Heaven the second name,", " Had not on earth whereon to lay His head:", " How His first followers and servants sped;", "The precepts sage they wrote to many a land:", " How he, who lone in Patmos banished,", "Saw in the sun a mighty angel stand,", "And heard great Bab’lon’s doom pronounc’d by Heaven’s command.", "", "", "Then, kneeling down to Heaven’s Eternal King,", " The saint, the father, and the husband prays:", "Hope “springs exulting on triumphant wing,” 1", " That thus they all shall meet in future days,", " There, ever bask in uncreated rays,", "No more to sigh, or shed the bitter tear,", " Together hymning their Creator’s praise,", "In such society, yet still more dear;", "While circling Time moves round in an eternal sphere", "", "", "Compar’d with this, how poor Religion’s pride,", " In all the pomp of method, and of art;", "When men display to congregations wide", " Devotion’s ev’ry grace, except the heart!", " The Power, incens’d, the pageant will desert,", "The pompous strain, the sacerdotal stole;", " But haply, in some cottage far apart,", "May hear, well-pleas’d, the language of the soul;", "And in His Book of Life the inmates poor enroll.", "", "", "Then homeward all take off their sev’ral way;", " The youngling cottagers retire to rest:", "The parent-pair their secret homage pay,", " And proffer up to Heaven the warm request,", " That he who stills the raven’s clam’rous nest,", "And decks the lily fair in flow’ry pride,", " Would, in the way His wisdom sees the best,", "For them and for their little ones provide;", "But chiefly, in their hearts with grace divine preside.", "", "", "From scenes like these, old Scotia’s grandeur springs,", " That makes her lov’d at home, rever’d abroad:", "Princes and lords are but the breath of kings,", " “An honest man’s the noblest work of God;”", " And certes, in fair virtue’s heavenly road,", "The cottage leaves the palace far behind;", " What is a lordling’s pomp? a cumbrous load,", "Disguising oft the wretch of human kind,", "Studied in arts of hell, in wickedness refin’d!", "", "", "O Scotia! my dear, my native soil!", " For whom my warmest wish to Heaven is sent,", "Long may thy hardy sons of rustic toil", " Be blest with health, and peace, and sweet content!", " And O! may Heaven their simple lives prevent", "From luxury’s contagion, weak and vile!", " Then howe’er crowns and coronets be rent,", "A virtuous populace may rise the while,", "And stand a wall of fire around their much-lov’d isle.", "", "", "O Thou! who pour’d the patriotic tide,", " That stream’d thro’ Wallace’s undaunted heart,", "Who dar’d to nobly stem tyrannic pride,", " Or nobly die, the second glorious part:", " (The patriot’s God peculiarly thou art,", "His friend, inspirer, guardian, and reward!)", " O never, never Scotia’s realm desert;", "But still the patriot, and the patriot-bard", "In bright succession raise, her ornament and guard!", "", "", " Note 1. Pope’s “Windsor Forest.”—R. B. [back]" ], "linecount": "190" }, { "title": "The Night Journey", "author": "Rupert Brooke", "lines": [ "Hands and lit faces eddy to a line;", "The dazed last minutes click; the clamour dies.", "Beyond the great-swung arc o' the roof, divine,", "Night, smoky-scarv'd, with thousand coloured eyes", "", "Glares the imperious mystery of the way.", "Thirsty for dark, you feel the long-limbed train", "Throb, stretch, thrill motion, slide, pull out and sway,", "Strain for the far, pause, draw to strength again. . . .", "", "As a man, caught by some great hour, will rise,", "Slow-limbed, to meet the light or find his love;", "And, breathing long, with staring sightless eyes,", "Hands out, head back, agape and silent, move", "", "Sure as a flood, smooth as a vast wind blowing;", "And, gathering power and purpose as he goes,", "Unstumbling, unreluctant, strong, unknowing,", "Borne by a will not his, that lifts, that grows,", "", "Sweep out to darkness, triumphing in his goal,", "Out of the fire, out of the little room. . . .", "-- There is an end appointed, O my soul!", "Crimson and green the signals burn; the gloom", "", "Is hung with steam's far-blowing livid streamers.", "Lost into God, as lights in light, we fly,", "Grown one with will, end-drunken huddled dreamers.", "The white lights roar. The sounds of the world die.", "", "And lips and laughter are forgotten things.", "Speed sharpens; grows. Into the night, and on,", "The strength and splendour of our purpose swings.", "The lamps fade; and the stars. We are alone." ], "linecount": "28" }, { "title": "The Night Dance", "author": "Thomas Moore", "lines": [ "Strike the gay harp! see the moon is on high,", "And, as true to her beam as the tides of the ocean,", "Young hearts, when they feel the soft light of her eye,", "Obey the mute call, and heave into motion.", "Then, sound notes -- the gayest, the lightest,", "That ever took wing, when heaven look'd brightest", "Again! Again!", "Oh! could such heart-stirring music be heard", "In that City of Statues described by romancers,", "So wakening its spell, even stone would be stirr'd,", "And statues themselves all start into dancers!", "", "Why then delay, with such sounds in our ears,", "And the flower of Beauty's own garden before us --", "While stars overhead leave the song of their spheres,", "And, listening to ours, hang wondering o'er us?", "Again, that strain! -- to hear it thus sounding", "Might set even Death's cold pulses bounding --", "Again! Again!", "Oh, what delight when the youthful and gay", "Each with eye like a sunbeam and foot like a feather,", "Thus dance, like the Hours to the music of May,", "And mingle sweet song and sunshine together." ], "linecount": "22" }, { "title": "On the Beach at Night, Alone.", "author": "Walt Whitman", "lines": [ "ON the beach at night alone,", "As the old mother sways her to and fro, singing her husky song,", "As I watch the bright stars shining—I think a thought of the clef of the universes, and of", " the future.", "", "A VAST SIMILITUDE interlocks all,", "All spheres, grown, ungrown, small, large, suns, moons, planets, comets, asteroids,", "All the substances of the same, and all that is spiritual upon the same,", "All distances of place, however wide,", "All distances of time—all inanimate forms,", "All Souls—all living bodies, though they be ever so different, or in different worlds,", "All gaseous, watery, vegetable, mineral processes—the fishes, the brutes,", "All men and women—me also;", "All nations, colors, barbarisms, civilizations, languages;", "All identities that have existed, or may exist, on this globe, or any globe;", "All lives and deaths—all of the past, present, future;", "This vast similitude spans them, and always has spann’d, and shall forever span them, and", " compactly hold them, and enclose them." ], "linecount": "17" }, { "title": "Between the Dusk of a Summer Night", "author": "William Ernest Henley", "lines": [ "Between the dusk of a summer night", "And the dawn of a summer day,", "We caught at a mood as it passed in flight,", "And we bade it stoop and stay.", "And what with the dawn of night began", "With the dusk of day was done;", "For that is the way of woman and man,", "When a hazard has made them one.", "Arc upon arc, from shade to shine,", "The World went thundering free;", "And what was his errand but hers and mine --", "The lords of him, I and she?", "O, it's die we must, but it's live we can,", "And the marvel of earth and sun", "Is all for the joy of woman and man", "And the longing that makes them one." ], "linecount": "16" }, { "title": "An All-Night Sea Fight", "author": "William Topaz McGonagall", "lines": [ "Ye sons of Mars, come list to me,", "And I will relate to ye", "A great and heroic naval fight,", "Which will fill your hearts with delight.", "", "The fight was between the French Frigate \"Pique\" and the British Frigate \"Blanche,\"", "But the British crew were bold and staunch;", "And the battle was fought in West Indian waters in the year of 1795,", "And for to gain the victory the French did nobly strive.", "", "And on the morning of the 4th of January while cruising off Gadulope,", "The look-out man from the foretop loudly spoke,", "And cried, \"Sail ahoy!\" \"Where away ?\"", "\"On the lee bow, close in shore, sir,\" was answered without delay.", "", "Then Captain Faulkner cried, \"Clear the decks!\"", "And the French vessel with his eyeglass he inspects;", "And he told his men to hoist the British flag,", "And \"prepare my heroes to pull down that French rag.\"", "", "Then the \"Blanche\" made sail and bore away", "In the direction of the \"Pique\" without delay;", "And Captain Fauikner cried, \"Now, my lads, bear down on him,", "And make ready quickly and begin.\"", "", "It was about midnight when the Frenchman hove in sight,", "And could be seen distinctly in the starlight;", "And for an hour and a half they fired away", "Broadsides into each other without dismay.", "", "And with tne rapid flashes the Heavens were aflame,", "As each volley from the roaring cannons came;", "And the incessant roll of musketry was awful to hear,", "As it broke over the silent sea and smote upon the ear.", "", "The French vessel had nearly 400 men,", "Her decks were literally crowded from stem to stern;", "And the musketeers kept up a fierce fire on the \" Blanche,\"", "But still the \"Blanche\" on them did advance.", "", "And the \"Blanche's\" crew without dismay", "Fired a broadside into the \"Pique\" without delay,", "Which raked her fore and aft, and knocked her to smash,", "And the mizzen mast fell overboard with a terrible crash.", "", "Then the Frenohmen rushed forward to board the \"Blanche,\"", "But in doing so they had a very poor chance,", "For the British Tars in courage didn't lack,", "Because thrice in succession on their own deck they were driven back.", "", "Then \"Brave, my lads!\" Captain Faulkner loudly cries,", "\"Lash her bowsprit to our capstan, she's our prize\";", "And he seized some ropes to lash round his foe,", "But a musket ball pierced his heart and laid him low.", "", "Then a yell of rage burst from the noble crew,", "And near to his fallen body they drew;", "And tears for his loss fell fast on the deck,", "Their grief was so great their tears they conldn 't check.", "", "The crew was very sorry for their captain's downfall,", "But the sight didn't their brave hearts appall;", "Because they fastened the ropes to the \"Pique\" at the capstan,", "And the \"Pique\" was dragged after the \"Blanche,\" the sight was grand.", "", "Yet the crew of the \"Pique\" maintained the fight,", "Oh! most courageously they fought in the dead of night;", "And for two hours they kept up firing without dismay,", "But it was a sacrifice of human life, they had to give way.", "", "And about five o'clock in the morning the French cried for quarter,", "Because on board there had been a great slaughter;", "Their Captain Consail was mortally wounded in the fight", "Along with many officers and men; oh! it was a heartrending sight", "To see the wounded and dead weltering in their gore", "After the cannonading had ceased and the fighting was o'er." ], "linecount": "62" }, { "title": "Approaching Night", "author": "John Clare", "lines": [ "O take this world away from me;", "Its strife I cannot bear to see,", "Its very praises hurt me more", "Than een its coldness did before,", "Its hollow ways torment me now", "And start a cold sweat on my brow,", "Its noise I cannot bear to hear,", "Its joy is trouble to my ear,", "Its ways I cannot bear to see,", "Its crowds are solitudes to me.", "O, how I long to be agen", "That poor and independent man,", "With labour's lot from morn to night", "And books to read at candle light;", "That followed labour in the field", "From light to dark when toil could yield", "Real happiness with little gain,", "Rich thoughtless health unknown to pain:", "Though, leaning on my spade to rest,", "I've thought how richer folks were blest", "And knew not quiet was the best.", "", "Go with your tauntings, go;", "Neer think to hurt me so;", " I'll scoff at your disdain.", "Cold though the winter blow,", "When hills are free from snow", " It will be spring again.", "", "So go, and fare thee well,", "Nor think ye'll have to tell", " Of wounded hearts from me,", "Locked up in your hearts cell.", "Mine still at home doth dwell", " In its first liberty.", "", "Bees sip not at one flower,", "Spring comes not with one shower,", " Nor shines the sun alone", "Upon one favoured hour,", "But with unstinted power", " Makes every day his own.", "", "And for my freedom's sake", "With such I'll pattern take,", " And rove and revel on.", "Your gall shall never make", "Me honied paths forsake;", " So prythee get thee gone.", "", "And when my toil is blest", "And I find a maid possest", " Of truth that's not in thee,", "Like bird that finds its nest", "I'll stop and take my rest;", " And love as she loves me." ], "linecount": "51" }, { "title": "Nightwind", "author": "John Clare", "lines": [ "Darkness like midnight from the sobbing woods", "Clamours with dismal tidings of the rain,", "Roaring as rivers breaking loose in floods", "To spread and foam and deluge all the plain.", "The cotter listens at his door again,", "Half doubting whether it be floods or wind,", "And through the thickening darkness looks afraid,", "Thinking of roads that travel has to find", "Through night's black depths in danger's garb arrayed.", "And the loud glabber round the flaze soon stops", "When hushed to silence by the lifted hand", "Of fearing dame who hears the noise in dread", "And thinks a deluge comes to drown the land;", "Nor dares she go to bed until the tempest drops." ], "linecount": "14" }, { "title": "To a Lady Who Presented to the Author a Lock of Hair Braided With His Own, and Appointed a Night in December to Meet Him in the Garden", "author": "George Gordon, Lord Byron", "lines": [ "These locks, which fondly thus entwine,", "In firmer chains our hearts confine,", "Than all th' unmeaning protestations", "Which swell with nonsense, love orations.", "Our love is fix'd, I think we've prov'd it;", "Nor time, nor place, nor art have mov'd it;", "Then wherefore should we sigh and whine,", "With groundless jealousy repine;", "With silly whims, and fancies frantic,", "Merely to make our love romantic?", "Why should you weep, like _Lydia Languish_,", "And fret with self-created anguish?", "Or doom the lover you have chosen,", "On winter nights to sigh half frozen;", "In leafless shades, to sue for pardon,", "Only because the scene's a garden?", "For gardens seem, by one consent,", "(Since Shakespeare set the precedent;", "Since Juliet first declar'd her passion)", "To form the place of assignation.", "Oh! would some modern muse inspire,", "And seat her by a _sea-coal_ fire;", "Or had the bard at Christmas written,", "And laid the scene of love in Britain;", "He surely, in commiseration,", "Had chang'd the place of declaration.", "In Italy, I've no objection,", "Warm nights are proper for reflection;", "But here our climate is so rigid,", "That love itself, is rather frigid:", "Think on our chilly situation,", "And curb this rage for imitation.", "Then let us meet, as oft we've done,", "Beneath the influence of the sun;", "Or, if at midnight I must meet you,", "Within your mansion let me greet you:", "'There', we can love for hours together,", "Much better, in such snowy weather,", "Than plac'd in all th' Arcadian groves,", "That ever witness'd rural loves;", "'Then', if my passion fail to please,", "Next night I'll be content to freeze;", "No more I'll give a loose to laughter,", "But curse my fate, for ever after." ], "linecount": "44" }, { "title": "Good-Night", "author": "Edward Thomas", "lines": [ "THE skylarks are far behind that sang over the", " down;", "I can hear no more those suburb nightingales;", "Thrushes and blackbirds sing in the gardens of the", " town", "In vain: the noise of man, beast, and machine", " prevails.", "", "But the call of children in the unfamiliar streets", "That echo with a familiar twilight echoing,", "Sweet as the voice of nightingale or lark, completes", "A magic of strange welcome, so that I seem a king", "", "Among man, beast, machine, bird, child, and the", " ghost", "That in the echo lives and with the echo dies.", "The friendless town is friendly; homeless, I", " not lost;", "Though I know none of these doors, and meet but", " strangers' eyes.", "", "Never again, perhaps, after to-morrow, shall", "I see these homely streets, these church windows", " alight,", "Not a man or woman or child among them all:", "But it is All Friends' Night, a traveller's good", " night." ], "linecount": "24" }, { "title": "Night", "author": "William Blake", "lines": [ "The sun descending in the west,", "The evening star does shine;", "The birds are silent in their nest,", "And I must seek for mine.", " The moon, like a flower", " In heaven's high bower,", " With silent delight,", " Sits and smiles on the night.", "", "Farewell, green fields and happy grove,", "Where flocks have ta'en delight.", "Where lambs have nibbled, silent move", "The feet of angels bright;", " Unseen they pour blessing,", " And joy without ceasing,", " On each bud and blossom,", " And each sleeping bosom.", "", "They look in every thoughtless nest", "Where birds are covered warm;", "They visit caves of every beast,", "To keep them all from harm:", " If they see any weeping", " That should have been sleeping,", " They pour sleep on their head,", " And sit down by their bed.", "", "When wolves and tigers howl for prey,", "They pitying stand and weep;", "Seeking to drive their thirst away,", "And keep them from the sheep.", " But, if they rush dreadful,", " The angels, most heedful,", " Receive each mild spirit,", " New worlds to inherit.", "", "And there the lion's ruddy eyes", "Shall flow with tears of gold:", "And pitying the tender cries,", "And walking round the fold:", " Saying: \"Wrath by His meekness,", " And, by His health, sickness,", " Are driven away", " From our immortal day.", "", "\"And now beside thee, bleating lamb,", "I can lie down and sleep,", "Or think on Him who bore thy name,", "Graze after thee, and weep.", " For, washed in life's river,", " My bright mane for ever", " Shall shine like the gold,", " As I guard o'er the fold.\"" ], "linecount": "48" }, { "title": "The Woodman and the Nightingale", "author": "Percy Bysshe Shelley", "lines": [ "A woodman whose rough heart was out of tune", "(I think such hearts yet never came to good)", "Hated to hear, under the stars or moon,", "", "One nightingale in an interfluous wood", "Satiate the hungry dark with melody;--", "And as a vale is watered by a flood,", "", "Or as the moonlight fills the open sky", "Struggling with darkness--as a tuberose", "Peoples some Indian dell with scents which lie", "", "Like clouds above the flower from which they rose,", "The singing of that happy nightingale", "In this sweet forest, from the golden close", "", "Of evening till the star of dawn may fail,", "Was interfused upon the silentness;", "The folded roses and the violets pale", "", "Heard her within their slumbers, the abyss", "Of heaven with all its planets; the dull ear", "Of the night-cradled earth; the loneliness", "", "Of the circumfluous waters,--every sphere", "And every flower and beam and cloud and wave,", "And every wind of the mute atmosphere,", "", "And every beast stretched in its rugged cave,", "And every bird lulled on its mossy bough,", "And every silver moth fresh from the grave", "", "Which is its cradle--ever from below", "Aspiring like one who loves too fair, too far,", "To be consumed within the purest glow", "", "Of one serene and unapproached star,", "As if it were a lamp of earthly light,", "Unconscious, as some human lovers are,", "", "Itself how low, how high beyond all height", "The heaven where it would perish!--and every form", "That worshipped in the temple of the night", "", "Was awed into delight, and by the charm", "Girt as with an interminable zone,", "Whilst that sweet bird, whose music was a storm", "", "Of sound, shook forth the dull oblivion", "Out of their dreams; harmony became love", "In every soul but one.", "", "...", "", "And so this man returned with axe and saw", "At evening close from killing the tall treen,", "The soul of whom by Nature's gentle law", "", "Was each a wood-nymph, and kept ever green", "The pavement and the roof of the wild copse,", "Chequering the sunlight of the blue serene", "", "With jagged leaves,--and from the forest tops", "Singing the winds to sleep--or weeping oft", "Fast showers of aereal water-drops", "", "Into their mother's bosom, sweet and soft,", "Nature's pure tears which have no bitterness;--", "Around the cradles of the birds aloft", "", "They spread themselves into the loveliness", "Of fan-like leaves, and over pallid flowers", "Hang like moist clouds:--or, where high branches kiss,", "", "Make a green space among the silent bowers,", "Like a vast fane in a metropolis,", "Surrounded by the columns and the towers", "", "All overwrought with branch-like traceries", "In which there is religion--and the mute", "Persuasion of unkindled melodies,", "", "Odours and gleams and murmurs, which the lute", "Of the blind pilot-spirit of the blast", "Stirs as it sails, now grave and now acute,", "", "Wakening the leaves and waves, ere it has passed", "To such brief unison as on the brain", "One tone, which never can recur, has cast,", "One accent never to return again.", "", "...", "", "The world is full of Woodmen who expel", "Love's gentle Dryads from the haunts of life,", "And vex the nightingales in every dell.", "", "Let those who pine in pride or in revenge,", "Or think that ill for ill should be repaid,", "Who barter wrong for wrong, until the exchange", "Ruins the merchants of such thriftless trade,", "Visit the tower of Vado, and unlearn", "Such bitter faith beside Marenghi's urn.", "", "A massy tower yet overhangs the town,", "A scattered group of ruined dwellings now...", "", "...", "", "Another scene are wise Etruria knew", "Its second ruin through internal strife", "And tyrants through the breach of discord threw", "The chain which binds and kills. As death to life,", "As winter to fair flowers (though some be poison)", "So Monarchy succeeds to Freedom's foison.", "", "In Pisa's church a cup of sculptured gold", "Was brimming with the blood of feuds forsworn:", "A Sacrament more holy ne'er of old", "Etrurians mingled mid the shades forlorn", "Of moon-illumined forests, when...", "", "And reconciling factions wet their lips", "With that dread wine, and swear to keep each spirit", "Undarkened by their country's last eclipse...", "", "...", "", "Was Florence the liberticide? that band", "Of free and glorious brothers who had planted,", "Like a green isle mid Aethiopian sand,", "A nation amid slaveries, disenchanted", "Of many impious faiths--wise, just--do they,", "Does Florence, gorge the sated tyrants' prey?", "", "O foster-nurse of man's abandoned glory,", "Since Athens, its great mother, sunk in splendour;", "Thou shadowest forth that mighty shape in story,", "As ocean its wrecked fanes, severe yet tender:--", "The light-invested angel Poesy", "Was drawn from the dim world to welcome thee.", "", "And thou in painting didst transcribe all taught", "By loftiest meditations; marble knew", "The sculptor's fearless soul--and as he wrought,", "The grace of his own power and freedom grew.", "And more than all, heroic, just, sublime,", "Thou wart among the false...was this thy crime?", "", "Yes; and on Pisa's marble walls the twine", "Of direst weeds hangs garlanded--the snake", "Inhabits its wrecked palaces;--in thine", "A beast of subtler venom now doth make", "Its lair, and sits amid their glories overthrown,", "And thus thy victim's fate is as thine own.", "", "The sweetest flowers are ever frail and rare,", "And love and freedom blossom but to wither;", "And good and ill like vines entangled are,", "So that their grapes may oft be plucked together;--", "Divide the vintage ere thou drink, then make", "Thy heart rejoice for dead Marenghi's sake.", "", "10a.", " Marenghi was a Florentine;", "If he had wealth, or children, or a wife", "Or friends, or cherished thoughts which twine", "The sights and sounds of home with life's own life", "Of these he was despoiled and Florence sent...", "", "...", "", "No record of his crime remains in story,", "But if the morning bright as evening shone,", "It was some high and holy deed, by glory", "Pursued into forgetfulness, which won", "From the blind crowd he made secure and free", "The patriot's meed, toil, death, and infamy.", "", "For when by sound of trumpet was declared", "A price upon his life, and there was set", "A penalty of blood on all who shared", "So much of water with him as might wet", "His lips, which speech divided not--he went", "Alone, as you may guess, to banishment.", "", "Amid the mountains, like a hunted beast,", "He hid himself, and hunger, toil, and cold,", "Month after month endured; it was a feast", "Whene'er he found those globes of deep-red gold", "Which in the woods the strawberry-tree doth bear,", "Suspended in their emerald atmosphere.", "", "And in the roofless huts of vast morasses,", "Deserted by the fever-stricken serf,", "All overgrown with reeds and long rank grasses,", "And hillocks heaped of moss-inwoven turf,", "And where the huge and speckled aloe made,", "Rooted in stones, a broad and pointed shade,--", "", "He housed himself. There is a point of strand", "Near Vado's tower and town; and on one side", "The treacherous marsh divides it from the land,", "Shadowed by pine and ilex forests wide,", "And on the other, creeps eternally,", "Through muddy weeds, the shallow sullen sea.", "", "Here the earth's breath is pestilence, and few", "But things whose nature is at war with life--", "Snakes and ill worms--endure its mortal dew.", "The trophies of the clime's victorious strife--", "And ringed horns which the buffalo did wear,", "And the wolf's dark gray scalp who tracked him there.", "", "And at the utmost point...stood there", "The relics of a reed-inwoven cot,", "Thatched with broad flags. An outlawed murderer", "Had lived seven days there: the pursuit was hot", "When he was cold. The birds that were his grave", "Fell dead after their feast in Vado's wave.", "", "There must have burned within Marenghi's breast", "That fire, more warm and bright than life and hope,", "(Which to the martyr makes his dungeon...", "More joyous than free heaven's majestic cope", "To his oppressor), warring with decay,--", "Or he could ne'er have lived years, day by day.", "", "Nor was his state so lone as you might think.", "He had tamed every newt and snake and toad,", "And every seagull which sailed down to drink", "Those freshes ere the death-mist went abroad.", "And each one, with peculiar talk and play,", "Wiled, not untaught, his silent time away.", "", "And the marsh-meteors, like tame beasts, at night", "Came licking with blue tongues his veined feet;", "And he would watch them, as, like spirits bright,", "In many entangled figures quaint and sweet", "To some enchanted music they would dance--", "Until they vanished at the first moon-glance.", "", "He mocked the stars by grouping on each weed", "The summer dew-globes in the golden dawn;", "And, ere the hoar-frost languished, he could read", "Its pictured path, as on bare spots of lawn", "Its delicate brief touch in silver weaves", "The likeness of the wood's remembered leaves.", "", "And many a fresh Spring morn would he awaken--", "While yet the unrisen sun made glow, like iron", "Quivering in crimson fire, the peaks unshaken", "Of mountains and blue isles which did environ", "With air-clad crags that plain of land and sea,--", "And feel ... liberty.", "", "And in the moonless nights when the dun ocean", "Heaved underneath wide heaven, star-impearled,", "Starting from dreams...", "Communed with the immeasurable world;", "And felt his life beyond his limbs dilated,", "Till his mind grew like that it contemplated.", "", "His food was the wild fig and strawberry;", "The milky pine-nuts which the autumn-blast", "Shakes into the tall grass; or such small fry", "As from the sea by winter-storms are cast;", "And the coarse bulbs of iris-flowers he found", "Knotted in clumps under the spongy ground.", "", "And so were kindled powers and thoughts which made", "His solitude less dark. When memory came", "(For years gone by leave each a deepening shade),", "His spirit basked in its internal flame,--", "As, when the black storm hurries round at night,", "The fisher basks beside his red firelight.", "", "Yet human hopes and cares and faiths and errors,", "Like billows unawakened by the wind,", "Slept in Marenghi still; but that all terrors,", "Weakness, and doubt, had withered in his mind.", "His couch...", "", "...", "", "And, when he saw beneath the sunset's planet", "A black ship walk over the crimson ocean,--", "Its pennon streaming on the blasts that fan it,", "Its sails and ropes all tense and without motion,", "Like the dark ghost of the unburied even", "Striding athwart the orange-coloured heaven,--", "", "The thought of his own kind who made the soul", "Which sped that winged shape through night and day,--", "The thought of his own country...", "", "..." ], "linecount": "239" }, { "title": "Good-Night", "author": "Percy Bysshe Shelley", "lines": [ "Good-night? ah! no; the hour is ill", "Which severs those it should unite;", "Let us remain together still,", "Then it will be GOOD night.", "", "How can I call the lone night good,", "Though thy sweet wishes wing its flight?", "Be it not said, thought, understood--", "Then it will be--GOOD night.", "", "To hearts which near each other move", "From evening close to morning light,", "The night is good; because, my love,", "They never SAY good-night." ], "linecount": "12" }, { "title": "To Night", "author": "Percy Bysshe Shelley", "lines": [ "Swiftly walk o'er the western wave,", "Spirit of Night!", "Out of the misty eastern cave,", "Where, all the long and lone daylight,", "Thou wovest dreams of joy and fear,", "'Which make thee terrible and dear,--", "Swift be thy flight!", "", "Wrap thy form in a mantle gray,", "Star-inwrought!", "Blind with thine hair the eyes of Day;", "Kiss her until she be wearied out,", "Then wander o'er city, and sea, and land,", "Touching all with thine opiate wand--", "Come, long-sought!", "", "When I arose and saw the dawn,", "I sighed for thee;", "When light rode high, and the dew was gone,", "And noon lay heavy on flower and tree,", "And the weary Day turned to his rest,", "Lingering like an unloved guest, I sighed for thee.", "", "Thy brother Death came, and cried,", "Wouldst thou me?", "Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed,", "Murmured like a noontide bee,", "Shall I nestle near thy side?", "Wouldst thou me?--And I replied,", "No, not thee!", "", "Death will come when thou art dead,", "Soon, too soon--", "Sleep will come when thou art fled;", "Of neither would I ask the boon", "I ask of thee, beloved Night--", "Swift be thine approaching flight,", "Come soon, soon!" ], "linecount": "34" }, { "title": "The Canterbury Tales. The Knight's Tale.", "author": "Geoffrey Chaucer", "lines": [ "WHILOM, as olde stories tellen us,", "There was a duke that highte Theseus.", "Of Athens he was lord and governor,", "And in his time such a conqueror", "That greater was there none under the sun.", "Full many a riche country had he won.", "What with his wisdom and his chivalry,", "He conquer'd all the regne of Feminie,", "That whilom was y-cleped Scythia;", "And weddede the Queen Hippolyta", "And brought her home with him to his country", "With muchel glory and great solemnity,", "And eke her younge sister Emily,", "And thus with vict'ry and with melody", "Let I this worthy Duke to Athens ride,", "And all his host, in armes him beside.", "", "And certes, if it n'ere too long to hear,", "I would have told you fully the mannere,", "How wonnen was the regne of Feminie,", "By Theseus, and by his chivalry;", "And of the greate battle for the nonce", "Betwixt Athenes and the Amazons;", "And how assieged was Hippolyta,", "The faire hardy queen of Scythia;", "And of the feast that was at her wedding", "And of the tempest at her homecoming.", "But all these things I must as now forbear.", "I have, God wot, a large field to ear", "And weake be the oxen in my plough;", "The remnant of my tale is long enow.", "I will not letten eke none of this rout.", "Let every fellow tell his tale about,", "And let see now who shall the supper win.", "There as I left, I will again begin.", "", "This Duke, of whom I make mentioun,", "When he was come almost unto the town,", "In all his weal, and in his moste pride,", "He was ware, as he cast his eye aside,", "Where that there kneeled in the highe way", "A company of ladies, tway and tway,", "Each after other, clad in clothes black:", "But such a cry and such a woe they make,", "That in this world n'is creature living,", "That hearde such another waimenting", "And of this crying would they never stenten,", "Till they the reines of his bridle henten.", "\"What folk be ye that at mine homecoming", "Perturben so my feaste with crying?\"", "Quoth Theseus; \"Have ye so great envy", "Of mine honour, that thus complain and cry?", "Or who hath you misboden, or offended?", "Do telle me, if it may be amended;", "And why that ye be clad thus all in black?\"", "", "The oldest lady of them all then spake,", "When she had swooned, with a deadly cheer,", "That it was ruthe for to see or hear.", "She saide; \"Lord, to whom fortune hath given", "Vict'ry, and as a conqueror to liven,", "Nought grieveth us your glory and your honour;", "But we beseechen mercy and succour.", "Have mercy on our woe and our distress;", "Some drop of pity, through thy gentleness,", "Upon us wretched women let now fall.", "For certes, lord, there is none of us all", "That hath not been a duchess or a queen;", "Now be we caitives, as it is well seen:", "Thanked be Fortune, and her false wheel,", "That none estate ensureth to be wele.", "And certes, lord, t'abiden your presence", "Here in this temple of the goddess Clemence", "We have been waiting all this fortenight:", "Now help us, lord, since it lies in thy might.", "", "\"I, wretched wight, that weep and waile thus,", "Was whilom wife to king Capaneus,", "That starf at Thebes, cursed be that day:", "And alle we that be in this array,", "And maken all this lamentatioun,", "We losten all our husbands at that town,", "While that the siege thereabouten lay.", "And yet the olde Creon, wellaway!", "That lord is now of Thebes the city,", "Fulfilled of ire and of iniquity,", "He for despite, and for his tyranny,", "To do the deade bodies villainy,", "Of all our lorde's, which that been y-slaw,", "Hath all the bodies on an heap y-draw,", "And will not suffer them by none assent", "Neither to be y-buried, nor y-brent,", "But maketh houndes eat them in despite.\"", "And with that word, withoute more respite", "They fallen groff, and cryden piteously;", "\"Have on us wretched women some mercy,", "And let our sorrow sinken in thine heart.\"", "", "This gentle Duke down from his courser start", "With hearte piteous, when he heard them speak.", "Him thoughte that his heart would all to-break,", "When he saw them so piteous and so mate", "That whilom weren of so great estate.", "And in his armes he them all up hent,", "And them comforted in full good intent,", "And swore his oath, as he was true knight,", "He woulde do so farforthly his might", "Upon the tyrant Creon them to wreak,", "That all the people of Greece shoulde speak,", "How Creon was of Theseus y-served,", "As he that had his death full well deserved.", "And right anon withoute more abode", "His banner he display'd, and forth he rode", "To Thebes-ward, and all his, host beside:", "No ner Athenes would he go nor ride,", "Nor take his ease fully half a day,", "But onward on his way that night he lay:", "And sent anon Hippolyta the queen,", "And Emily her younge sister sheen", "Unto the town of Athens for to dwell:", "And forth he rit; there is no more to tell.", "", "The red statue of Mars with spear and targe", "So shineth in his white banner large", "That all the fieldes glitter up and down:", "And by his banner borne is his pennon", "Of gold full rich, in which there was y-beat", "The Minotaur which that he slew in Crete", "Thus rit this Duke, thus rit this conqueror", "And in his host of chivalry the flower,", "Till that he came to Thebes, and alight", "Fair in a field, there as he thought to fight.", "But shortly for to speaken of this thing,", "With Creon, which that was of Thebes king,", "He fought, and slew him manly as a knight", "In plain bataille, and put his folk to flight:", "And by assault he won the city after,", "And rent adown both wall, and spar, and rafter;", "And to the ladies he restored again", "The bodies of their husbands that were slain,", "To do obsequies, as was then the guise.", "", "But it were all too long for to devise", "The greate clamour, and the waimenting,", "Which that the ladies made at the brenning", "Of the bodies, and the great honour", "That Theseus the noble conqueror", "Did to the ladies, when they from him went:", "But shortly for to tell is mine intent.", "When that this worthy Duke, this Theseus,", "Had Creon slain, and wonnen Thebes thus,", "Still in the field he took all night his rest,", "And did with all the country as him lest.", "To ransack in the tas of bodies dead,", "Them for to strip of harness and of weed,", "The pillers did their business and cure,", "After the battle and discomfiture.", "And so befell, that in the tas they found,", "Through girt with many a grievous bloody wound,", "Two younge knightes ligging by and by", "Both in one armes, wrought full richely:", "Of whiche two, Arcita hight that one,", "And he that other highte Palamon.", "Not fully quick, nor fully dead they were,", "But by their coat-armour, and by their gear,", "The heralds knew them well in special,", "As those that weren of the blood royal", "Of Thebes, and of sistren two y-born.", "Out of the tas the pillers have them torn,", "And have them carried soft unto the tent", "Of Theseus, and he full soon them sent", "To Athens, for to dwellen in prison", "Perpetually, he n'olde no ranson.", "And when this worthy Duke had thus y-done,", "He took his host, and home he rit anon", "With laurel crowned as a conquerour;", "And there he lived in joy and in honour", "Term of his life; what needeth wordes mo'?", "And in a tower, in anguish and in woe,", "Dwellen this Palamon, and eke Arcite,", "For evermore, there may no gold them quite", "", "Thus passed year by year, and day by day,", "Till it fell ones in a morn of May", "That Emily, that fairer was to seen", "Than is the lily upon his stalke green,", "And fresher than the May with flowers new", "(For with the rose colour strove her hue;", "I n'ot which was the finer of them two),", "Ere it was day, as she was wont to do,", "She was arisen, and all ready dight,", "For May will have no sluggardy a-night;", "The season pricketh every gentle heart,", "And maketh him out of his sleep to start,", "And saith, \"Arise, and do thine observance.\"", "", "This maketh Emily have remembrance", "To do honour to May, and for to rise.", "Y-clothed was she fresh for to devise;", "Her yellow hair was braided in a tress,", "Behind her back, a yarde long I guess.", "And in the garden at the sun uprist", "She walketh up and down where as her list.", "She gathereth flowers, party white and red,", "To make a sotel garland for her head,", "And as an angel heavenly she sung.", "The greate tower, that was so thick and strong,", "Which of the castle was the chief dungeon", "(Where as these knightes weren in prison,", "Of which I tolde you, and telle shall),", "Was even joinant to the garden wall,", "There as this Emily had her playing.", "", "Bright was the sun, and clear that morrowning,", "And Palamon, this woful prisoner,", "As was his wont, by leave of his gaoler,", "Was ris'n, and roamed in a chamber on high,", "In which he all the noble city sigh,", "And eke the garden, full of branches green,", "There as this fresh Emelia the sheen", "Was in her walk, and roamed up and down.", "This sorrowful prisoner, this Palamon", "Went in his chamber roaming to and fro,", "And to himself complaining of his woe:", "That he was born, full oft he said, Alas!", "And so befell, by aventure or cas,", "That through a window thick of many a bar", "Of iron great, and square as any spar,", "He cast his eyes upon Emelia,", "And therewithal he blent and cried, Ah!", "As though he stungen were unto the heart.", "And with that cry Arcite anon up start,", "And saide, \"Cousin mine, what aileth thee,", "That art so pale and deadly for to see?", "Why cried'st thou? who hath thee done offence?", "For Godde's love, take all in patience", "Our prison, for it may none other be.", "Fortune hath giv'n us this adversity'.", "Some wick' aspect or disposition", "Of Saturn, by some constellation,", "Hath giv'n us this, although we had it sworn,", "So stood the heaven when that we were born,", "We must endure; this is the short and plain.", "", "This Palamon answer'd, and said again:", "\"Cousin, forsooth of this opinion", "Thou hast a vain imagination.", "This prison caused me not for to cry;", "But I was hurt right now thorough mine eye", "Into mine heart; that will my bane be.", "The fairness of the lady that I see", "Yond in the garden roaming to and fro,", "Is cause of all my crying and my woe.", "I n'ot wher she be woman or goddess,", "But Venus is it, soothly as I guess,", "And therewithal on knees adown he fill,", "And saide: \"Venus, if it be your will", "You in this garden thus to transfigure", "Before me sorrowful wretched creature,", "Out of this prison help that we may scape.", "And if so be our destiny be shape", "By etern word to dien in prison,", "Of our lineage have some compassion,", "That is so low y-brought by tyranny.\"", "", "And with that word Arcita gan espy", "Where as this lady roamed to and fro", "And with that sight her beauty hurt him so,", "That if that Palamon was wounded sore,", "Arcite is hurt as much as he, or more.", "And with a sigh he saide piteously:", "\"The freshe beauty slay'th me suddenly", "Of her that roameth yonder in the place.", "And but I have her mercy and her grace,", "That I may see her at the leaste way,", "I am but dead; there is no more to say.\"", "This Palamon, when he these wordes heard,", "Dispiteously he looked, and answer'd:", "\"Whether say'st thou this in earnest or in play?\"", "\"Nay,\" quoth Arcite, \"in earnest, by my fay.", "God help me so, me lust full ill to play.\"", "This Palamon gan knit his browes tway.", "\"It were,\" quoth he, \"to thee no great honour", "For to be false, nor for to be traitour", "To me, that am thy cousin and thy brother", "Y-sworn full deep, and each of us to other,", "That never for to dien in the pain ,", "Till that the death departen shall us twain,", "Neither of us in love to hinder other,", "Nor in none other case, my leve brother;", "But that thou shouldest truly farther me", "In every case, as I should farther thee.", "This was thine oath, and mine also certain;", "I wot it well, thou dar'st it not withsayn,", "Thus art thou of my counsel out of doubt,", "And now thou wouldest falsely be about", "To love my lady, whom I love and serve,", "And ever shall, until mine hearte sterve", "Now certes, false Arcite, thou shalt not so", "I lov'd her first, and tolde thee my woe", "As to my counsel, and my brother sworn", "To farther me, as I have told beforn.", "For which thou art y-bounden as a knight", "To helpe me, if it lie in thy might,", "Or elles art thou false, I dare well sayn,\"", "", "This Arcita full proudly spake again:", "\"Thou shalt,\" quoth he, \"be rather false than I,", "And thou art false, I tell thee utterly;", "For par amour I lov'd her first ere thou.", "What wilt thou say? thou wist it not right now", "Whether she be a woman or goddess.", "Thine is affection of holiness,", "And mine is love, as to a creature:", "For which I tolde thee mine aventure", "As to my cousin, and my brother sworn", "I pose, that thou loved'st her beforn:", "Wost thou not well the olde clerke's saw,", "That who shall give a lover any law?", "Love is a greater lawe, by my pan,", "Than may be giv'n to any earthly man:", "Therefore positive law, and such decree,", "Is broke alway for love in each degree", "A man must needes love, maugre his head.", "He may not flee it, though he should be dead,", "All be she maid, or widow, or else wife.", "And eke it is not likely all thy life", "To standen in her grace, no more than I", "For well thou wost thyselfe verily,", "That thou and I be damned to prison", "Perpetual, us gaineth no ranson.", "We strive, as did the houndes for the bone;", "They fought all day, and yet their part was none.", "There came a kite, while that they were so wroth,", "And bare away the bone betwixt them both.", "And therefore at the kinge's court, my brother,", "Each man for himselfe, there is no other.", "Love if thee list; for I love and aye shall", "And soothly, leve brother, this is all.", "Here in this prison musten we endure,", "And each of us take his Aventure.\"", "", "Great was the strife and long between these tway,", "If that I hadde leisure for to say;", "But to the effect: it happen'd on a day", "(To tell it you as shortly as I may),", "A worthy duke that hight Perithous", "That fellow was to the Duke Theseus", "Since thilke day that they were children lite", "Was come to Athens, his fellow to visite,", "And for to play, as he was wont to do;", "For in this world he loved no man so;", "And he lov'd him as tenderly again.", "So well they lov'd, as olde bookes sayn,", "That when that one was dead, soothly to sayn,", "His fellow went and sought him down in hell:", "But of that story list me not to write.", "Duke Perithous loved well Arcite,", "And had him known at Thebes year by year:", "And finally at request and prayere", "Of Perithous, withoute ranson", "Duke Theseus him let out of prison,", "Freely to go, where him list over all,", "In such a guise, as I you tellen shall", "This was the forword, plainly to indite,", "Betwixte Theseus and him Arcite:", "That if so were, that Arcite were y-found", "Ever in his life, by day or night, one stound", "In any country of this Theseus,", "And he were caught, it was accorded thus,", "That with a sword he shoulde lose his head;", "There was none other remedy nor rede.", "But took his leave, and homeward he him sped;", "Let him beware, his necke lieth to wed.", "", "How great a sorrow suff'reth now Arcite!", "The death he feeleth through his hearte smite;", "He weepeth, waileth, crieth piteously;", "To slay himself he waiteth privily.", "He said; \"Alas the day that I was born!", "Now is my prison worse than beforn:", "Now is me shape eternally to dwell", "Not in purgatory, but right in hell.", "Alas! that ever I knew Perithous.", "For elles had I dwelt with Theseus", "Y-fettered in his prison evermo'.", "Then had I been in bliss, and not in woe.", "Only the sight of her, whom that I serve,", "Though that I never may her grace deserve,", "Would have sufficed right enough for me.", "O deare cousin Palamon,\" quoth he,", "\"Thine is the vict'ry of this aventure,", "Full blissfully in prison to endure:", "In prison? nay certes, in paradise.", "Well hath fortune y-turned thee the dice,", "That hast the sight of her, and I th' absence.", "For possible is, since thou hast her presence,", "And art a knight, a worthy and an able,", "That by some cas, since fortune is changeable,", "Thou may'st to thy desire sometime attain.", "But I that am exiled, and barren", "Of alle grace, and in so great despair,", "That there n'is earthe, water, fire, nor air,", "Nor creature, that of them maked is,", "That may me helpe nor comfort in this,", "Well ought I sterve in wanhope and distress.", "Farewell my life, my lust, and my gladness.", "Alas, why plainen men so in commune", "Of purveyance of God, or of Fortune,", "That giveth them full oft in many a guise", "Well better than they can themselves devise?", "Some man desireth for to have richess,", "That cause is of his murder or great sickness.", "And some man would out of his prison fain,", "That in his house is of his meinie slain.", "Infinite harmes be in this mattere.", "We wot never what thing we pray for here.", "We fare as he that drunk is as a mouse.", "A drunken man wot well he hath an house,", "But he wot not which is the right way thither,", "And to a drunken man the way is slither.", "And certes in this world so fare we.", "We seeke fast after felicity,", "But we go wrong full often truely.", "Thus we may sayen all, and namely I,", "That ween'd, and had a great opinion,", "That if I might escape from prison", "Then had I been in joy and perfect heal,", "Where now I am exiled from my weal.", "Since that I may not see you, Emily,", "I am but dead; there is no remedy.\"", "", "Upon that other side, Palamon,", "When that he wist Arcita was agone,", "Much sorrow maketh, that the greate tower", "Resounded of his yelling and clamour", "The pure fetters on his shinnes great", "Were of his bitter salte teares wet.", "", "\"Alas!\" quoth he, \"Arcita, cousin mine,", "Of all our strife, God wot, the fruit is thine.", "Thou walkest now in Thebes at thy large,", "And of my woe thou givest little charge.", "Thou mayst, since thou hast wisdom and manhead,", "Assemble all the folk of our kindred,", "And make a war so sharp on this country", "That by some aventure, or some treaty,", "Thou mayst have her to lady and to wife,", "For whom that I must needes lose my life.", "For as by way of possibility,", "Since thou art at thy large, of prison free,", "And art a lord, great is thine avantage,", "More than is mine, that sterve here in a cage.", "For I must weep and wail, while that I live,", "With all the woe that prison may me give,", "And eke with pain that love me gives also,", "That doubles all my torment and my woe.\"", "", "Therewith the fire of jealousy upstart", "Within his breast, and hent him by the heart", "So woodly, that he like was to behold", "The box-tree, or the ashes dead and cold.", "Then said; \"O cruel goddess, that govern", "This world with binding of your word etern", "And writen in the table of adamant", "Your parlement and your eternal grant,", "What is mankind more unto you y-hold", "Than is the sheep, that rouketh in the fold!", "For slain is man, right as another beast;", "And dwelleth eke in prison and arrest,", "And hath sickness, and great adversity,", "And oftentimes guilteless, pardie", "What governance is in your prescience,", "That guilteless tormenteth innocence?", "And yet increaseth this all my penance,", "That man is bounden to his observance", "For Godde's sake to letten of his will,", "Whereas a beast may all his lust fulfil.", "And when a beast is dead, he hath no pain;", "But man after his death must weep and plain,", "Though in this worlde he have care and woe:", "Withoute doubt it maye standen so.", "\"The answer of this leave I to divines,", "But well I wot, that in this world great pine is;", "Alas! I see a serpent or a thief", "That many a true man hath done mischief,", "Go at his large, and where him list may turn.", "But I must be in prison through Saturn,", "And eke through Juno, jealous and eke wood,", "That hath well nigh destroyed all the blood", "Of Thebes, with his waste walles wide.", "And Venus slay'th me on that other side", "For jealousy, and fear of him, Arcite.\"", "", "Now will I stent of Palamon a lite,", "And let him in his prison stille dwell,", "And of Arcita forth I will you tell.", "The summer passeth, and the nightes long", "Increase double-wise the paines strong", "Both of the lover and the prisonere.", "I n'ot which hath the wofuller mistere.", "For, shortly for to say, this Palamon", "Perpetually is damned to prison,", "In chaines and in fetters to be dead;", "And Arcite is exiled on his head", "For evermore as out of that country,", "Nor never more he shall his lady see.", "You lovers ask I now this question,", "Who lieth the worse, Arcite or Palamon?", "The one may see his lady day by day,", "But in prison he dwelle must alway.", "The other where him list may ride or go,", "But see his lady shall he never mo'.", "Now deem all as you liste, ye that can,", "For I will tell you forth as I began.", "", "When that Arcite to Thebes comen was,", "Full oft a day he swelt, and said, \"Alas!\"", "For see this lady he shall never mo'.", "And shortly to concluden all his woe,", "So much sorrow had never creature", "That is or shall be while the world may dure.", "His sleep, his meat, his drink is him byraft,", "That lean he wex, and dry as any shaft.", "His eyen hollow, grisly to behold,", "His hue sallow, and pale as ashes cold,", "And solitary he was, ever alone,", "And wailing all the night, making his moan.", "And if he hearde song or instrument,", "Then would he weepen, he might not be stent.", "So feeble were his spirits, and so low,", "And changed so, that no man coulde know", "His speech, neither his voice, though men it heard.", "And in his gear for all the world he far'd", "Not only like the lovers' malady", "Of Eros, but rather y-like manie", "Engender'd of humours melancholic,", "Before his head in his cell fantastic.", "And shortly turned was all upside down,", "Both habit and eke dispositioun,", "Of him, this woful lover Dan Arcite.", "Why should I all day of his woe indite?", "When he endured had a year or two", "This cruel torment, and this pain and woe,", "At Thebes, in his country, as I said,", "Upon a night in sleep as he him laid,", "Him thought how that the winged god Mercury", "Before him stood, and bade him to be merry.", "His sleepy yard in hand he bare upright;", "A hat he wore upon his haires bright.", "Arrayed was this god (as he took keep)", "As he was when that Argus took his sleep;", "And said him thus: \"To Athens shalt thou wend;", "There is thee shapen of thy woe an end.\"", "And with that word Arcite woke and start.", "\"Now truely how sore that e'er me smart,\"", "Quoth he, \"to Athens right now will I fare.", "Nor for no dread of death shall I not spare", "To see my lady that I love and serve;", "In her presence I recke not to sterve.\"", "And with that word he caught a great mirror,", "And saw that changed was all his colour,", "And saw his visage all in other kind.", "And right anon it ran him ill his mind,", "That since his face was so disfigur'd", "Of malady the which he had endur'd,", "He mighte well, if that he bare him low,", "Live in Athenes evermore unknow,", "And see his lady wellnigh day by day.", "And right anon he changed his array,", "And clad him as a poore labourer.", "And all alone, save only a squier,", "That knew his privity and all his cas,", "Which was disguised poorly as he was,", "To Athens is he gone the nexte way.", "And to the court he went upon a day,", "And at the gate he proffer'd his service,", "To drudge and draw, what so men would devise.", "And, shortly of this matter for to sayn,", "He fell in office with a chamberlain,", "The which that dwelling was with Emily.", "For he was wise, and coulde soon espy", "Of every servant which that served her.", "Well could he hewe wood, and water bear,", "For he was young and mighty for the nones,", "And thereto he was strong and big of bones", "To do that any wight can him devise.", "", "A year or two he was in this service,", "Page of the chamber of Emily the bright;", "And Philostrate he saide that he hight.", "But half so well belov'd a man as he", "Ne was there never in court of his degree.", "He was so gentle of conditioun,", "That throughout all the court was his renown.", "They saide that it were a charity", "That Theseus would enhance his degree,", "And put him in some worshipful service,", "There as he might his virtue exercise.", "And thus within a while his name sprung", "Both of his deedes, and of his good tongue,", "That Theseus hath taken him so near,", "That of his chamber he hath made him squire,", "And gave him gold to maintain his degree;", "And eke men brought him out of his country", "From year to year full privily his rent.", "But honestly and slyly he it spent,", "That no man wonder'd how that he it had.", "And three year in this wise his life be lad,", "And bare him so in peace and eke in werre,", "There was no man that Theseus had so derre.", "And in this blisse leave I now Arcite,", "And speak I will of Palamon a lite.", "", "In darkness horrible, and strong prison,", "This seven year hath sitten Palamon,", "Forpined, what for love, and for distress.", "Who feeleth double sorrow and heaviness", "But Palamon? that love distraineth so,", "That wood out of his wits he went for woe,", "And eke thereto he is a prisonere", "Perpetual, not only for a year.", "Who coulde rhyme in English properly", "His martyrdom? forsooth, it is not I;", "Therefore I pass as lightly as I may.", "It fell that in the seventh year, in May", "The thirde night (as olde bookes sayn,", "That all this story tellen more plain),", "Were it by a venture or destiny", "(As when a thing is shapen it shall be),", "That soon after the midnight, Palamon", "By helping of a friend brake his prison,", "And fled the city fast as he might go,", "For he had given drink his gaoler so", "Of a clary , made of a certain wine,", "With narcotise and opie of Thebes fine,", "That all the night, though that men would him shake,", "The gaoler slept, he mighte not awake:", "And thus he fled as fast as ever he may.", "The night was short, and faste by the day", "That needes cast he must himself to hide.", "And to a grove faste there beside", "With dreadful foot then stalked Palamon.", "For shortly this was his opinion,", "That in the grove he would him hide all day,", "And in the night then would he take his way", "To Thebes-ward, his friendes for to pray", "On Theseus to help him to warray.", "And shortly either he would lose his life,", "Or winnen Emily unto his wife.", "This is th' effect, and his intention plain.", "", "Now will I turn to Arcita again,", "That little wist how nighe was his care,", "Till that Fortune had brought him in the snare.", "The busy lark, the messenger of day,", "Saluteth in her song the morning gray;", "And fiery Phoebus riseth up so bright,", "That all the orient laugheth at the sight,", "And with his streames drieth in the greves", "The silver droppes, hanging on the leaves;", "And Arcite, that is in the court royal", "With Theseus, his squier principal,", "Is ris'n, and looketh on the merry day.", "And for to do his observance to May,", "Remembering the point of his desire,", "He on his courser, starting as the fire,", "Is ridden to the fieldes him to play,", "Out of the court, were it a mile or tway.", "And to the grove, of which I have you told,", "By a venture his way began to hold,", "To make him a garland of the greves,", "Were it of woodbine, or of hawthorn leaves,", "And loud he sang against the sun so sheen.", "\"O May, with all thy flowers and thy green,", "Right welcome be thou, faire freshe May,", "I hope that I some green here getten may.\"", "And from his courser, with a lusty heart,", "Into the grove full hastily he start,", "And in a path he roamed up and down,", "There as by aventure this Palamon", "Was in a bush, that no man might him see,", "For sore afeard of his death was he.", "Nothing ne knew he that it was Arcite;", "God wot he would have trowed it full lite.", "But sooth is said, gone since full many years,", "The field hath eyen, and the wood hath ears,", "It is full fair a man to bear him even,", "For all day meeten men at unset steven.", "Full little wot Arcite of his fellaw,", "That was so nigh to hearken of his saw,", "For in the bush he sitteth now full still.", "When that Arcite had roamed all his fill,", "And sungen all the roundel lustily,", "Into a study he fell suddenly,", "As do those lovers in their quainte gears,", "Now in the crop, and now down in the breres,", "Now up, now down, as bucket in a well.", "Right as the Friday, soothly for to tell,", "Now shineth it, and now it raineth fast,", "Right so can geary Venus overcast", "The heartes of her folk, right as her day", "Is gearful, right so changeth she array.", "Seldom is Friday all the weeke like.", "When Arcite had y-sung, he gan to sike,", "And sat him down withouten any more:", "\"Alas!\" quoth he, \"the day that I was bore!", "How longe, Juno, through thy cruelty", "Wilt thou warrayen Thebes the city?", "Alas! y-brought is to confusion", "The blood royal of Cadm' and Amphion:", "Of Cadmus, which that was the firste man,", "That Thebes built, or first the town began,", "And of the city first was crowned king.", "Of his lineage am I, and his offspring", "By very line, as of the stock royal;", "And now I am so caitiff and so thrall,", "That he that is my mortal enemy,", "I serve him as his squier poorely.", "And yet doth Juno me well more shame,", "For I dare not beknow mine owen name,", "But there as I was wont to hight Arcite,", "Now hight I Philostrate, not worth a mite.", "Alas! thou fell Mars, and alas! Juno,", "Thus hath your ire our lineage all fordo", "Save only me, and wretched Palamon,", "That Theseus martyreth in prison.", "And over all this, to slay me utterly,", "Love hath his fiery dart so brenningly", "Y-sticked through my true careful heart,", "That shapen was my death erst than my shert.", "Ye slay me with your eyen, Emily;", "Ye be the cause wherefore that I die.", "Of all the remnant of mine other care", "Ne set I not the mountance of a tare,", "So that I could do aught to your pleasance.\"", "", "And with that word he fell down in a trance", "A longe time; and afterward upstart", "This Palamon, that thought thorough his heart", "He felt a cold sword suddenly to glide:", "For ire he quoke, no longer would he hide.", "And when that he had heard Arcite's tale,", "As he were wood, with face dead and pale,", "He start him up out of the bushes thick,", "And said: \"False Arcita, false traitor wick',", "Now art thou hent, that lov'st my lady so,", "For whom that I have all this pain and woe,", "And art my blood, and to my counsel sworn,", "As I full oft have told thee herebeforn,", "And hast bejaped here Duke Theseus,", "And falsely changed hast thy name thus;", "I will be dead, or elles thou shalt die.", "Thou shalt not love my lady Emily,", "But I will love her only and no mo';", "For I am Palamon thy mortal foe.", "And though I have no weapon in this place,", "But out of prison am astart by grace,", "I dreade not that either thou shalt die,", "Or else thou shalt not loven Emily.", "Choose which thou wilt, for thou shalt not astart.\"", "", "This Arcite then, with full dispiteous heart,", "When he him knew, and had his tale heard,", "As fierce as lion pulled out a swerd,", "And saide thus; \"By God that sitt'th above,", "N'ere it that thou art sick, and wood for love,", "And eke that thou no weap'n hast in this place,", "Thou should'st never out of this grove pace,", "That thou ne shouldest dien of mine hand.", "For I defy the surety and the band,", "Which that thou sayest I have made to thee.", "What? very fool, think well that love is free;", "And I will love her maugre all thy might.", "But, for thou art a worthy gentle knight,", "And wilnest to darraine her by bataille,", "Have here my troth, to-morrow I will not fail,", "Without weeting of any other wight,", "That here I will be founden as a knight,", "And bringe harness right enough for thee;", "And choose the best, and leave the worst for me.", "And meat and drinke this night will I bring", "Enough for thee, and clothes for thy bedding.", "And if so be that thou my lady win,", "And slay me in this wood that I am in,", "Thou may'st well have thy lady as for me.\"", "This Palamon answer'd, \"I grant it thee.\"", "And thus they be departed till the morrow,", "When each of them hath laid his faith to borrow.", "", "O Cupid, out of alle charity!", "O Regne that wilt no fellow have with thee!", "Full sooth is said, that love nor lordeship", "Will not, his thanks, have any fellowship.", "Well finden that Arcite and Palamon.", "Arcite is ridd anon unto the town,", "And on the morrow, ere it were daylight,", "Full privily two harness hath he dight,", "Both suffisant and meete to darraine", "The battle in the field betwixt them twain.", "And on his horse, alone as he was born,", "He carrieth all this harness him beforn;", "And in the grove, at time and place y-set,", "This Arcite and this Palamon be met.", "Then change gan the colour of their face;", "Right as the hunter in the regne of Thrace", "That standeth at a gappe with a spear", "When hunted is the lion or the bear,", "And heareth him come rushing in the greves,", "And breaking both the boughes and the leaves,", "Thinketh, \"Here comes my mortal enemy,", "Withoute fail, he must be dead or I;", "For either I must slay him at the gap;", "Or he must slay me, if that me mishap:\"", "So fared they, in changing of their hue", "As far as either of them other knew.", "There was no good day, and no saluting,", "But straight, withoute wordes rehearsing,", "Evereach of them holp to arm the other,", "As friendly, as he were his owen brother.", "And after that, with sharpe speares strong", "They foined each at other wonder long.", "Thou mightest weene, that this Palamon", "In fighting were as a wood lion,", "And as a cruel tiger was Arcite:", "As wilde boars gan they together smite,", "That froth as white as foam, for ire wood.", "Up to the ancle fought they in their blood.", "And in this wise I let them fighting dwell,", "And forth I will of Theseus you tell.", "", "The Destiny, minister general,", "That executeth in the world o'er all", "The purveyance, that God hath seen beforn;", "So strong it is, that though the world had sworn", "The contrary of a thing by yea or nay,", "Yet some time it shall fallen on a day", "That falleth not eft in a thousand year.", "For certainly our appetites here,", "Be it of war, or peace, or hate, or love,", "All is this ruled by the sight above.", "This mean I now by mighty Theseus,", "That for to hunten is so desirous --", "And namely the greate hart in May --", "That in his bed there dawneth him no day", "That he n'is clad, and ready for to ride", "With hunt and horn, and houndes him beside.", "For in his hunting hath he such delight,", "That it is all his joy and appetite", "To be himself the greate harte's bane", "For after Mars he serveth now Diane.", "Clear was the day, as I have told ere this,", "And Theseus, with alle joy and bliss,", "With his Hippolyta, the faire queen,", "And Emily, y-clothed all in green,", "On hunting be they ridden royally.", "And to the grove, that stood there faste by,", "In which there was an hart, as men him told,", "Duke Theseus the straighte way doth hold,", "And to the laund he rideth him full right,", "There was the hart y-wont to have his flight,", "And over a brook, and so forth on his way.", "This Duke will have a course at him or tway", "With houndes, such as him lust to command.", "And when this Duke was come to the laund,", "Under the sun he looked, and anon", "He was ware of Arcite and Palamon,", "That foughte breme, as it were bulles two.", "The brighte swordes wente to and fro", "So hideously, that with the leaste stroke", "It seemed that it woulde fell an oak,", "But what they were, nothing yet he wote.", "This Duke his courser with his spurres smote,", "And at a start he was betwixt them two,", "And pulled out a sword and cried, \"Ho!", "No more, on pain of losing of your head.", "By mighty Mars, he shall anon be dead", "That smiteth any stroke, that I may see!", "But tell to me what mister men ye be,", "That be so hardy for to fighte here", "Withoute judge or other officer,", "As though it were in listes royally.", "This Palamon answered hastily,", "And saide: \"Sir, what needeth wordes mo'?", "We have the death deserved bothe two,", "Two woful wretches be we, and caitives,", "That be accumbered of our own lives,", "And as thou art a rightful lord and judge,", "So give us neither mercy nor refuge.", "And slay me first, for sainte charity,", "But slay my fellow eke as well as me.", "Or slay him first; for, though thou know it lite,", "This is thy mortal foe, this is Arcite", "That from thy land is banisht on his head,", "For which he hath deserved to be dead.", "For this is he that came unto thy gate", "And saide, that he highte Philostrate.", "Thus hath he japed thee full many year,", "And thou hast made of him thy chief esquier;", "And this is he, that loveth Emily.", "For since the day is come that I shall die", "I make pleinly my confession,", "That I am thilke woful Palamon,", "That hath thy prison broken wickedly.", "I am thy mortal foe, and it am I", "That so hot loveth Emily the bright,", "That I would die here present in her sight.", "Therefore I aske death and my jewise.", "But slay my fellow eke in the same wise,", "For both we have deserved to be slain.\"", "", "This worthy Duke answer'd anon again,", "And said, \"This is a short conclusion.", "Your own mouth, by your own confession", "Hath damned you, and I will it record;", "It needeth not to pain you with the cord;", "Ye shall be dead, by mighty Mars the Red.", "", "The queen anon for very womanhead", "Began to weep, and so did Emily,", "And all the ladies in the company.", "Great pity was it as it thought them all,", "That ever such a chance should befall,", "For gentle men they were, of great estate,", "And nothing but for love was this debate", "They saw their bloody woundes wide and sore,", "And cried all at once, both less and more,", "\"Have mercy, Lord, upon us women all.\"", "And on their bare knees adown they fall", "And would have kissed his feet there as he stood,", "Till at the last aslaked was his mood", "(For pity runneth soon in gentle heart);", "And though at first for ire he quoke and start", "He hath consider'd shortly in a clause", "The trespass of them both, and eke the cause:", "And although that his ire their guilt accused", "Yet in his reason he them both excused;", "As thus; he thoughte well that every man", "Will help himself in love if that he can,", "And eke deliver himself out of prison.", "Of women, for they wepten ever-in-one:", "And eke his hearte had compassion", "And in his gentle heart he thought anon,", "And soft unto himself he saide: \"Fie", "Upon a lord that will have no mercy,", "But be a lion both in word and deed,", "To them that be in repentance and dread,", "As well as-to a proud dispiteous man", "That will maintaine what he first began.", "That lord hath little of discretion,", "That in such case can no division:", "But weigheth pride and humbless after one.\"", "And shortly, when his ire is thus agone,", "He gan to look on them with eyen light,", "And spake these same wordes all on height.", "", "\"The god of love, ah! benedicite,", "How mighty and how great a lord is he!", "Against his might there gaine none obstacles,", "He may be called a god for his miracles", "For he can maken at his owen guise", "Of every heart, as that him list devise.", "Lo here this Arcite, and this Palamon,", "That quietly were out of my prison,", "And might have lived in Thebes royally,", "And weet I am their mortal enemy,", "And that their death li'th in my might also,", "And yet hath love, maugre their eyen two,", "Y-brought them hither bothe for to die.", "Now look ye, is not this an high folly?", "Who may not be a fool, if but he love?", "Behold, for Godde's sake that sits above,", "See how they bleed! be they not well array'd?", "Thus hath their lord, the god of love, them paid", "Their wages and their fees for their service;", "And yet they weene for to be full wise,", "That serve love, for aught that may befall.", "But this is yet the beste game of all,", "That she, for whom they have this jealousy,", "Can them therefor as muchel thank as me.", "She wot no more of all this hote fare,", "By God, than wot a cuckoo or an hare.", "But all must be assayed hot or cold;", "A man must be a fool, or young or old;", "I wot it by myself full yore agone:", "For in my time a servant was I one.", "And therefore since I know of love's pain,", "And wot how sore it can a man distrain,", "As he that oft hath been caught in his last,", "I you forgive wholly this trespass,", "At request of the queen that kneeleth here,", "And eke of Emily, my sister dear.", "And ye shall both anon unto me swear,", "That never more ye shall my country dere", "Nor make war upon me night nor day,", "But be my friends in alle that ye may.", "I you forgive this trespass every deal.", "And they him sware his asking fair and well,", "And him of lordship and of mercy pray'd,", "And he them granted grace, and thus he said:", "", "\"To speak of royal lineage and richess,", "Though that she were a queen or a princess,", "Each of you both is worthy doubteless", "To wedde when time is; but natheless", "I speak as for my sister Emily,", "For whom ye have this strife and jealousy,", "Ye wot yourselves, she may not wed the two", "At once, although ye fight for evermo:", "But one of you, all be him loth or lief,", "He must go pipe into an ivy leaf:", "This is to say, she may not have you both,", "All be ye never so jealous, nor so wroth.", "And therefore I you put in this degree,", "That each of you shall have his destiny", "As him is shape; and hearken in what wise", "Lo hear your end of that I shall devise.", "My will is this, for plain conclusion", "Withouten any replication,", "If that you liketh, take it for the best,", "That evereach of you shall go where him lest,", "Freely without ransom or danger;", "And this day fifty weekes, farre ne nerre,", "Evereach of you shall bring an hundred knights,", "Armed for listes up at alle rights", "All ready to darraine her by bataille,", "And this behete I you withoute fail", "Upon my troth, and as I am a knight,", "That whether of you bothe that hath might,", "That is to say, that whether he or thou", "May with his hundred, as I spake of now,", "Slay his contrary, or out of listes drive,", "Him shall I given Emily to wive,", "To whom that fortune gives so fair a grace.", "The listes shall I make here in this place.", "And God so wisly on my soule rue,", "As I shall even judge be and true.", "Ye shall none other ende with me maken", "Than one of you shalle be dead or taken.", "And if you thinketh this is well y-said,", "Say your advice, and hold yourselves apaid.", "This is your end, and your conclusion.\"", "Who looketh lightly now but Palamon?", "Who springeth up for joye but Arcite?", "Who could it tell, or who could it indite,", "The joye that is maked in the place", "When Theseus hath done so fair a grace?", "But down on knees went every manner wight,", "And thanked him with all their heartes' might,", "And namely these Thebans ofte sithe.", "And thus with good hope and with hearte blithe", "They take their leave, and homeward gan they ride", "To Thebes-ward, with his old walles wide.", "", "I trow men woulde deem it negligence,", "If I forgot to telle the dispence", "Of Theseus, that went so busily", "To maken up the listes royally,", "That such a noble theatre as it was,", "I dare well say, in all this world there n'as.", "The circuit a mile was about,", "Walled of stone, and ditched all without.", "Round was the shape, in manner of compass,", "Full of degrees, the height of sixty pas", "That when a man was set on one degree", "He letted not his fellow for to see.", "Eastward there stood a gate of marble white,", "Westward right such another opposite.", "And, shortly to conclude, such a place", "Was never on earth made in so little space,", "For in the land there was no craftes-man,", "That geometry or arsmetrike can,", "Nor pourtrayor, nor carver of images,", "That Theseus ne gave him meat and wages", "The theatre to make and to devise.", "And for to do his rite and sacrifice", "He eastward hath upon the gate above,", "In worship of Venus, goddess of love,", "Done make an altar and an oratory;", "And westward, in the mind and in memory", "Of Mars, he maked hath right such another,", "That coste largely of gold a fother.", "And northward, in a turret on the wall,", "Of alabaster white and red coral", "An oratory riche for to see,", "In worship of Diane of chastity,", "Hath Theseus done work in noble wise.", "But yet had I forgotten to devise", "The noble carving, and the portraitures,", "The shape, the countenance of the figures", "That weren in there oratories three.", "", "First in the temple of Venus may'st thou see", "Wrought on the wall, full piteous to behold,", "The broken sleepes, and the sikes cold,", "The sacred teares, and the waimentings,", "The fiery strokes of the desirings,", "That Love's servants in this life endure;", "The oathes, that their covenants assure.", "Pleasance and Hope, Desire, Foolhardiness,", "Beauty and Youth, and Bawdry and Richess,", "Charms and Sorc'ry, Leasings and Flattery,", "Dispence, Business, and Jealousy,", "That wore of yellow goldes a garland,", "And had a cuckoo sitting on her hand,", "Feasts, instruments, and caroles and dances,", "Lust and array, and all the circumstances", "Of Love, which I reckon'd and reckon shall", "In order, were painted on the wall,", "And more than I can make of mention.", "For soothly all the mount of Citheron,", "Where Venus hath her principal dwelling,", "Was showed on the wall in pourtraying,", "With all the garden, and the lustiness.", "Nor was forgot the porter Idleness,", "Nor Narcissus the fair of yore agone,", "Nor yet the folly of King Solomon,", "Nor yet the greate strength of Hercules,", "Th' enchantments of Medea and Circes,", "Nor of Turnus the hardy fierce courage,", "The rich Croesus caitif in servage.", "Thus may ye see, that wisdom nor richess,", "Beauty, nor sleight, nor strength, nor hardiness", "Ne may with Venus holde champartie,", "For as her liste the world may she gie.", "Lo, all these folk so caught were in her las", "Till they for woe full often said, Alas!", "Suffice these ensamples one or two,", "Although I could reckon a thousand mo'.", "", "The statue of Venus, glorious to see", "Was naked floating in the large sea,", "And from the navel down all cover'd was", "With waves green, and bright as any glass.", "A citole in her right hand hadde she,", "And on her head, full seemly for to see,", "A rose garland fresh, and well smelling,", "Above her head her doves flickering", "Before her stood her sone Cupido,", "Upon his shoulders winges had he two;", "And blind he was, as it is often seen;", "A bow he bare, and arrows bright and keen.", "", "Why should I not as well eke tell you all", "The portraiture, that was upon the wall", "Within the temple of mighty Mars the Red?", "All painted was the wall in length and brede", "Like to the estres of the grisly place", "That hight the great temple of Mars in Thrace,", "In thilke cold and frosty region,", "There as Mars hath his sovereign mansion.", "In which there dwelled neither man nor beast,", "With knotty gnarry barren trees old", "Of stubbes sharp and hideous to behold;", "In which there ran a rumble and a sough,", "As though a storm should bursten every bough:", "And downward from an hill under a bent", "There stood the temple of Mars Armipotent,", "Wrought all of burnish'd steel, of which th' entry", "Was long and strait, and ghastly for to see.", "And thereout came a rage and such a vise,", "That it made all the gates for to rise.", "The northern light in at the doore shone,", "For window on the walle was there none", "Through which men mighten any light discern.", "The doors were all of adamant etern,", "Y-clenched overthwart and ende-long", "With iron tough, and, for to make it strong,", "Every pillar the temple to sustain", "Was tunne-great, of iron bright and sheen.", "There saw I first the dark imagining", "Of felony, and all the compassing;", "The cruel ire, as red as any glede,", "The picke-purse, and eke the pale dread;", "The smiler with the knife under the cloak,", "The shepen burning with the blacke smoke", "The treason of the murd'ring in the bed,", "The open war, with woundes all be-bled;", "Conteke with bloody knife, and sharp menace.", "All full of chirking was that sorry place.", "The slayer of himself eke saw I there,", "His hearte-blood had bathed all his hair:", "The nail y-driven in the shode at night,", "The colde death, with mouth gaping upright.", "Amiddes of the temple sat Mischance,", "With discomfort and sorry countenance;", "Eke saw I Woodness laughing in his rage,", "Armed Complaint, Outhees, and fierce Outrage;", "The carrain in the bush, with throat y-corve,", "A thousand slain, and not of qualm y-storve;", "The tyrant, with the prey by force y-reft;", "The town destroy'd, that there was nothing left.", "Yet saw I brent the shippes hoppesteres,", "The hunter strangled with the wilde bears:", "The sow freting the child right in the cradle;", "The cook scalded, for all his longe ladle.", "Nor was forgot, by th'infortune of Mart", "The carter overridden with his cart;", "Under the wheel full low he lay adown.", "There were also of Mars' division,", "The armourer, the bowyer, and the smith,", "That forgeth sharp swordes on his stith.", "And all above depainted in a tower", "Saw I Conquest, sitting in great honour,", "With thilke sharpe sword over his head", "Hanging by a subtle y-twined thread.", "Painted the slaughter was of Julius,", "Of cruel Nero, and Antonius:", "Although at that time they were yet unborn,", "Yet was their death depainted there beforn,", "By menacing of Mars, right by figure,", "So was it showed in that portraiture,", "As is depainted in the stars above,", "Who shall be slain, or elles dead for love.", "Sufficeth one ensample in stories old,", "I may not reckon them all, though I wo'ld.", "", "The statue of Mars upon a carte stood", "Armed, and looked grim as he were wood,", "And over his head there shone two figures", "Of starres, that be cleped in scriptures,", "That one Puella, that other Rubeus.", "This god of armes was arrayed thus:", "A wolf there stood before him at his feet", "With eyen red, and of a man he eat:", "With subtle pencil painted was this story,", "In redouting of Mars and of his glory.", "", "Now to the temple of Dian the chaste", "As shortly as I can I will me haste,", "To telle you all the descriptioun.", "Depainted be the walles up and down", "Of hunting and of shamefast chastity.", "There saw I how woful Calistope,", "When that Dian aggrieved was with her,", "Was turned from a woman to a bear,", "And after was she made the lodestar:", "Thus was it painted, I can say no far;", "Her son is eke a star as men may see.", "There saw I Dane turn'd into a tree,", "I meane not the goddess Diane,", "But Peneus' daughter, which that hight Dane.", "There saw I Actaeon an hart y-maked,", "For vengeance that he saw Dian all naked:", "I saw how that his houndes have him caught,", "And freten him, for that they knew him not.", "Yet painted was, a little farthermore", "How Atalanta hunted the wild boar;", "And Meleager, and many other mo',", "For which Diana wrought them care and woe.", "There saw I many another wondrous story,", "The which me list not drawen to memory.", "This goddess on an hart full high was set,", "With smalle houndes all about her feet,", "And underneath her feet she had a moon,", "Waxing it was, and shoulde wane soon.", "In gaudy green her statue clothed was,", "With bow in hand, and arrows in a case.", "Her eyen caste she full low adown,", "Where Pluto hath his darke regioun.", "A woman travailing was her beforn,", "But, for her child so longe was unborn,", "Full piteously Lucina gan she call,", "And saide; \"Help, for thou may'st best of all.\"", "Well could he painte lifelike that it wrought;", "With many a florin he the hues had bought.", "Now be these listes made, and Theseus,", "That at his greate cost arrayed thus", "The temples, and the theatre every deal,", "When it was done, him liked wonder well.", "", "But stint I will of Theseus a lite,", "And speak of Palamon and of Arcite.", "The day approacheth of their returning,", "That evereach an hundred knights should bring,", "The battle to darraine as I you told;", "And to Athens, their covenant to hold,", "Hath ev'reach of them brought an hundred knights,", "Well-armed for the war at alle rights.", "And sickerly there trowed many a man,", "That never, sithen that the world began,", "For to speaken of knighthood of their hand,", "As far as God hath maked sea and land,", "Was, of so few, so noble a company.", "For every wight that loved chivalry,", "And would, his thankes, have a passant name,", "Had prayed, that he might be of that game,", "And well was him, that thereto chosen was.", "For if there fell to-morrow such a case,", "Ye knowe well, that every lusty knight,", "That loveth par amour, and hath his might", "Were it in Engleland, or elleswhere,", "They would, their thankes, willen to be there,", "T' fight for a lady; Benedicite,", "It were a lusty sighte for to see.", "And right so fared they with Palamon;", "With him there wente knightes many one.", "Some will be armed in an habergeon,", "And in a breast-plate, and in a gipon;", "And some will have a pair of plates large;", "And some will have a Prusse shield, or targe;", "Some will be armed on their legges weel;", "Some have an axe, and some a mace of steel.", "There is no newe guise, but it was old.", "Armed they weren, as I have you told,", "Evereach after his opinion.", "There may'st thou see coming with Palamon", "Licurgus himself, the great king of Thrace:", "Black was his beard, and manly was his face.", "The circles of his eyen in his head", "They glowed betwixte yellow and red,", "And like a griffin looked he about,", "With kemped haires on his browes stout;", "His limbs were great, his brawns were hard and strong,", "His shoulders broad, his armes round and long.", "And as the guise was in his country,", "Full high upon a car of gold stood he,", "With foure white bulles in the trace.", "Instead of coat-armour on his harness,", "With yellow nails, and bright as any gold,", "He had a beare's skin, coal-black for old.", "His long hair was y-kempt behind his back,", "As any raven's feather it shone for black.", "A wreath of gold arm-great, of huge weight,", "Upon his head sate, full of stones bright,", "Of fine rubies and clear diamants.", "About his car there wente white alauns,", "Twenty and more, as great as any steer,", "To hunt the lion or the wilde bear,", "And follow'd him, with muzzle fast y-bound,", "Collars of gold, and torettes filed round.", "An hundred lordes had he in his rout", "Armed full well, with heartes stern and stout.", "", "With Arcita, in stories as men find,", "The great Emetrius the king of Ind,", "Upon a steede bay trapped in steel,", "Cover'd with cloth of gold diapred well,", "Came riding like the god of armes, Mars.", "His coat-armour was of a cloth of Tars,", "Couched with pearls white and round and great", "His saddle was of burnish'd gold new beat;", "A mantelet on his shoulders hanging,", "Bretful of rubies red, as fire sparkling.", "His crispe hair like ringes was y-run,", "And that was yellow, glittering as the sun.", "His nose was high, his eyen bright citrine,", "His lips were round, his colour was sanguine,", "A fewe fracknes in his face y-sprent,", "Betwixte yellow and black somedeal y-ment", "And as a lion he his looking cast", "Of five and twenty year his age I cast", "His beard was well begunnen for to spring;", "His voice was as a trumpet thundering.", "Upon his head he wore of laurel green", "A garland fresh and lusty to be seen;", "Upon his hand he bare, for his delight,", "An eagle tame, as any lily white.", "An hundred lordes had he with him there,", "All armed, save their heads, in all their gear,", "Full richely in alle manner things.", "For trust ye well, that earles, dukes, and kings", "Were gather'd in this noble company,", "For love, and for increase of chivalry.", "About this king there ran on every part", "Full many a tame lion and leopart.", "And in this wise these lordes all and some", "Be on the Sunday to the city come", "Aboute prime, and in the town alight.", "", "This Theseus, this Duke, this worthy knight", "When he had brought them into his city,", "And inned them, ev'reach at his degree,", "He feasteth them, and doth so great labour", "To easen them, and do them all honour,", "That yet men weene that no mannes wit", "Of none estate could amenden it.", "The minstrelsy, the service at the feast,", "The greate giftes to the most and least,", "The rich array of Theseus' palace,", "Nor who sate first or last upon the dais.", "What ladies fairest be, or best dancing", "Or which of them can carol best or sing,", "Or who most feelingly speaketh of love;", "What hawkes sitten on the perch above,", "What houndes liggen on the floor adown,", "Of all this now make I no mentioun", "But of th'effect; that thinketh me the best", "Now comes the point, and hearken if you lest.", "", "The Sunday night, ere day began to spring,", "When Palamon the larke hearde sing,", "Although it were not day by houres two,", "Yet sang the lark, and Palamon right tho", "With holy heart, and with an high courage,", "Arose, to wenden on his pilgrimage", "Unto the blissful Cithera benign,", "I meane Venus, honourable and digne.", "And in her hour he walketh forth a pace", "Unto the listes, where her temple was,", "And down he kneeleth, and with humble cheer", "And hearte sore, he said as ye shall hear.", "", "\"Fairest of fair, O lady mine Venus,", "Daughter to Jove, and spouse of Vulcanus,", "Thou gladder of the mount of Citheron!", "For thilke love thou haddest to Adon", "Have pity on my bitter teares smart,", "And take mine humble prayer to thine heart.", "Alas! I have no language to tell", "Th'effecte, nor the torment of mine hell;", "Mine hearte may mine harmes not betray;", "I am so confused, that I cannot say.", "But mercy, lady bright, that knowest well", "My thought, and seest what harm that I feel.", "Consider all this, and rue upon my sore,", "As wisly as I shall for evermore", "Enforce my might, thy true servant to be,", "And holde war alway with chastity:", "That make I mine avow, so ye me help.", "I keepe not of armes for to yelp,", "Nor ask I not to-morrow to have victory,", "Nor renown in this case, nor vaine glory", "Of prize of armes, blowing up and down,", "But I would have fully possessioun", "Of Emily, and die in her service;", "Find thou the manner how, and in what wise.", "I recke not but it may better be", "To have vict'ry of them, or they of me,", "So that I have my lady in mine arms.", "For though so be that Mars is god of arms,", "Your virtue is so great in heaven above,", "That, if you list, I shall well have my love.", "Thy temple will I worship evermo',", "And on thine altar, where I ride or go,", "I will do sacrifice, and fires bete.", "And if ye will not so, my lady sweet,", "Then pray I you, to-morrow with a spear", "That Arcita me through the hearte bear", "Then reck I not, when I have lost my life,", "Though that Arcita win her to his wife.", "This is th' effect and end of my prayere, --", "Give me my love, thou blissful lady dear.\"", "When th' orison was done of Palamon,", "His sacrifice he did, and that anon,", "Full piteously, with alle circumstances,", "All tell I not as now his observances.", "But at the last the statue of Venus shook,", "And made a signe, whereby that he took", "That his prayer accepted was that day.", "For though the signe shewed a delay,", "Yet wist he well that granted was his boon;", "And with glad heart he went him home full soon.", "", "The third hour unequal that Palamon", "Began to Venus' temple for to gon,", "Up rose the sun, and up rose Emily,", "And to the temple of Dian gan hie.", "Her maidens, that she thither with her lad,", "Th' incense, the clothes, and the remnant all", "That to the sacrifice belonge shall,", "The hornes full of mead, as was the guise;", "There lacked nought to do her sacrifice.", "Smoking the temple full of clothes fair,", "This Emily with hearte debonnair", "Her body wash'd with water of a well.", "But how she did her rite I dare not tell;", "But it be any thing in general;", "And yet it were a game to hearen all", "To him that meaneth well it were no charge:", "But it is good a man to be at large.", "Her bright hair combed was, untressed all.", "A coronet of green oak cerriall", "Upon her head was set full fair and meet.", "Two fires on the altar gan she bete,", "And did her thinges, as men may behold", "In Stace of Thebes , and these bookes old.", "When kindled was the fire, with piteous cheer", "Unto Dian she spake as ye may hear.", "", "\"O chaste goddess of the woodes green,", "To whom both heav'n and earth and sea is seen,", "Queen of the realm of Pluto dark and low,", "Goddess of maidens, that mine heart hast know", "Full many a year, and wost what I desire,", "To keep me from the vengeance of thine ire,", "That Actaeon aboughte cruelly:", "Chaste goddess, well wottest thou that I", "Desire to be a maiden all my life,", "Nor never will I be no love nor wife.", "I am, thou wost, yet of thy company,", "A maid, and love hunting and venery,", "And for to walken in the woodes wild,", "And not to be a wife, and be with child.", "Nought will I know the company of man.", "Now help me, lady, since ye may and can,", "For those three formes that thou hast in thee.", "And Palamon, that hath such love to me,", "And eke Arcite, that loveth me so sore,", "This grace I pray thee withoute more,", "As sende love and peace betwixt them two:", "And from me turn away their heartes so,", "That all their hote love, and their desire,", "And all their busy torment, and their fire,", "Be queint, or turn'd into another place.", "And if so be thou wilt do me no grace,", "Or if my destiny be shapen so", "That I shall needes have one of them two,", "So send me him that most desireth me.", "Behold, goddess of cleane chastity,", "The bitter tears that on my cheekes fall.", "Since thou art maid, and keeper of us all,", "My maidenhead thou keep and well conserve,", "And, while I live, a maid I will thee serve.", "", "The fires burn upon the altar clear,", "While Emily was thus in her prayere:", "But suddenly she saw a sighte quaint.", "For right anon one of the fire's queint", "And quick'd again, and after that anon", "That other fire was queint, and all agone:", "And as it queint, it made a whisteling,", "As doth a brande wet in its burning.", "And at the brandes end outran anon", "As it were bloody droppes many one:", "For which so sore aghast was Emily,", "That she was well-nigh mad, and gan to cry,", "For she ne wiste what it signified;", "But onely for feare thus she cried,", "And wept, that it was pity for to hear.", "And therewithal Diana gan appear", "With bow in hand, right as an hunteress,", "And saide; \"Daughter, stint thine heaviness.", "Among the goddes high it is affirm'd,", "And by eternal word writ and confirm'd,", "Thou shalt be wedded unto one of tho", "That have for thee so muche care and woe:", "But unto which of them I may not tell.", "Farewell, for here I may no longer dwell.", "The fires which that on mine altar brenn,", "Shall thee declaren, ere that thou go henne,", "Thine aventure of love, as in this case.\"", "And with that word, the arrows in the case", "Of the goddess did clatter fast and ring,", "And forth she went, and made a vanishing,", "For which this Emily astonied was,", "And saide; \"What amounteth this, alas!", "I put me under thy protection,", "Diane, and in thy disposition.\"", "And home she went anon the nexte way.", "This is th' effect, there is no more to say.", "", "The nexte hour of Mars following this", "Arcite to the temple walked is", "Of fierce Mars, to do his sacrifice", "With all the rites of his pagan guise.", "With piteous heart and high devotion", "Right thus to Mars he said his orison", "\"O stronge god, that in the regnes old", "Of Thrace honoured art, and lord y-hold", "And hast in every regne, and every land", "Of armes all the bridle in thine hand,", "And them fortunest as thee list devise,", "Accept of me my piteous sacrifice.", "If so be that my youthe may deserve,", "And that my might be worthy for to serve", "Thy godhead, that I may be one of thine,", "Then pray I thee to rue upon my pine,", "For thilke pain, and thilke hote fire,", "In which thou whilom burned'st for desire", "Whenne that thou usedest the beauty", "Of faire young Venus, fresh and free,", "And haddest her in armes at thy will:", "And though thee ones on a time misfill,", "When Vulcanus had caught thee in his las,", "And found thee ligging by his wife, alas!", "For thilke sorrow that was in thine heart,", "Have ruth as well upon my paine's smart.", "I am young and unconning, as thou know'st,", "And, as I trow, with love offended most", "That e'er was any living creature:", "For she, that doth me all this woe endure,", "Ne recketh ne'er whether I sink or fleet", "And well I wot, ere she me mercy hete,", "I must with strengthe win her in the place:", "And well I wot, withoute help or grace", "Of thee, ne may my strengthe not avail:", "Then help me, lord, to-morr'w in my bataille,", "For thilke fire that whilom burned thee,", "As well as this fire that now burneth me;", "And do that I to-morr'w may have victory.", "Mine be the travail, all thine be the glory.", "Thy sovereign temple will I most honour", "Of any place, and alway most labour", "In thy pleasance and in thy craftes strong.", "And in thy temple I will my banner hong,", "And all the armes of my company,", "And evermore, until that day I die,", "Eternal fire I will before thee find", "And eke to this my vow I will me bind:", "My beard, my hair that hangeth long adown,", "That never yet hath felt offension", "Of razor nor of shears, I will thee give,", "And be thy true servant while I live.", "Now, lord, have ruth upon my sorrows sore,", "Give me the victory, I ask no more.\"", "", "The prayer stint of Arcita the strong,", "The ringes on the temple door that hong,", "And eke the doores, clattered full fast,", "Of which Arcita somewhat was aghast.", "The fires burn'd upon the altar bright,", "That it gan all the temple for to light;", "A sweete smell anon the ground up gaf,", "And Arcita anon his hand up haf,", "And more incense into the fire he cast,", "With other rites more and at the last", "The statue of Mars began his hauberk ring;", "And with that sound he heard a murmuring", "Full low and dim, that saide thus, \"Victory.\"", "For which he gave to Mars honour and glory.", "And thus with joy, and hope well to fare,", "Arcite anon unto his inn doth fare.", "As fain as fowl is of the brighte sun.", "", "And right anon such strife there is begun", "For thilke granting, in the heav'n above,", "Betwixte Venus the goddess of love,", "And Mars the sterne god armipotent,", "That Jupiter was busy it to stent:", "Till that the pale Saturnus the cold,", "That knew so many of adventures old,", "Found in his old experience such an art,", "That he full soon hath pleased every part.", "As sooth is said, eld hath great advantage,", "In eld is bothe wisdom and usage:", "Men may the old out-run, but not out-rede.", "Saturn anon, to stint the strife and drede,", "Albeit that it is against his kind,", "Of all this strife gan a remedy find.", "\"My deare daughter Venus,\" quoth Saturn,", "\"My course, that hath so wide for to turn,", "Hath more power than wot any man.", "Mine is the drowning in the sea so wan;", "Mine is the prison in the darke cote,", "Mine the strangling and hanging by the throat,", "The murmur, and the churlish rebelling,", "The groyning, and the privy poisoning.", "I do vengeance and plein correction,", "I dwell in the sign of the lion.", "Mine is the ruin of the highe halls,", "The falling of the towers and the walls", "Upon the miner or the carpenter:", "I slew Samson in shaking the pillar:", "Mine also be the maladies cold,", "The darke treasons, and the castes old:", "My looking is the father of pestilence.", "Now weep no more, I shall do diligence", "That Palamon, that is thine owen knight,", "Shall have his lady, as thou hast him hight.", "Though Mars shall help his knight, yet natheless", "Betwixte you there must sometime be peace:", "All be ye not of one complexion,", "That each day causeth such division,", "I am thine ayel, ready at thy will;", "Weep now no more, I shall thy lust fulfil.\"", "Now will I stenten of the gods above,", "Of Mars, and of Venus, goddess of love,", "And telle you as plainly as I can", "The great effect, for which that I began.", "", "Great was the feast in Athens thilke day;", "And eke the lusty season of that May", "Made every wight to be in such pleasance,", "That all that Monday jousten they and dance,", "And spenden it in Venus' high service.", "But by the cause that they shoulde rise", "Early a-morrow for to see that fight,", "Unto their reste wente they at night.", "And on the morrow, when the day gan spring,", "Of horse and harness noise and clattering", "There was in the hostelries all about:", "And to the palace rode there many a rout", "Of lordes, upon steedes and palfreys.", "There mayst thou see devising of harness", "So uncouth and so rich, and wrought so weel", "Of goldsmithry, of brouding, and of steel;", "The shieldes bright, the testers, and trappures", "Gold-hewen helmets, hauberks, coat-armures;", "Lordes in parements on their coursers,", "Knightes of retinue, and eke squiers,", "Nailing the spears, and helmes buckeling,", "Gniding of shieldes, with lainers lacing;", "There as need is, they were nothing idle:", "The foamy steeds upon the golden bridle", "Gnawing, and fast the armourers also", "With file and hammer pricking to and fro;", "Yeomen on foot, and knaves many one", "With shorte staves, thick as they may gon;", "Pipes, trumpets, nakeres, and clariouns,", "That in the battle blowe bloody souns;", "The palace full of people up and down,", "There three, there ten, holding their questioun,", "Divining of these Theban knightes two.", "Some saiden thus, some said it shall he so;", "Some helden with him with the blacke beard,", "Some with the bald, some with the thick-hair'd;", "Some said he looked grim, and woulde fight:", "He had a sparth of twenty pound of weight.", "Thus was the halle full of divining", "Long after that the sunne gan up spring.", "The great Theseus that of his sleep is waked", "With minstrelsy, and noise that was maked,", "Held yet the chamber of his palace rich,", "Till that the Theban knightes both y-lich", "Honoured were, and to the palace fet.", "Duke Theseus is at a window set,", "Array'd right as he were a god in throne:", "The people presseth thitherward full soon", "Him for to see, and do him reverence,", "And eke to hearken his hest and his sentence.", "An herald on a scaffold made an O,", "Till the noise of the people was y-do:", "And when he saw the people of noise all still,", "Thus shewed he the mighty Duke's will.", "\"The lord hath of his high discretion", "Considered that it were destruction", "To gentle blood, to fighten in the guise", "Of mortal battle now in this emprise:", "Wherefore to shape that they shall not die,", "He will his firste purpose modify.", "No man therefore, on pain of loss of life,", "No manner shot, nor poleaxe, nor short knife", "Into the lists shall send, or thither bring.", "Nor short sword for to stick with point biting", "No man shall draw, nor bear it by his side.", "And no man shall unto his fellow ride", "But one course, with a sharp y-grounden spear:", "Foin if him list on foot, himself to wear.", "And he that is at mischief shall be take,", "And not slain, but be brought unto the stake,", "That shall be ordained on either side;", "Thither he shall by force, and there abide.", "And if so fall the chiefetain be take", "On either side, or elles slay his make,", "No longer then the tourneying shall last.", "God speede you; go forth and lay on fast.", "With long sword and with mace fight your fill.", "Go now your way; this is the lordes will.", "The voice of the people touched the heaven,", "So loude cried they with merry steven:", "God save such a lord that is so good,", "He willeth no destruction of blood.", "", "Up go the trumpets and the melody,", "And to the listes rode the company", "By ordinance, throughout the city large,", "Hanged with cloth of gold, and not with sarge.", "Full like a lord this noble Duke gan ride,", "And these two Thebans upon either side:", "", "And after rode the queen and Emily,", "And after them another company", "Of one and other, after their degree.", "And thus they passed thorough that city", "And to the listes came they by time:", "It was not of the day yet fully prime.", "When set was Theseus full rich and high,", "Hippolyta the queen and Emily,", "And other ladies in their degrees about,", "Unto the seates presseth all the rout.", "And westward, through the gates under Mart,", "Arcite, and eke the hundred of his part,", "With banner red, is enter'd right anon;", "And in the selve moment Palamon", "Is, under Venus, eastward in the place,", "With banner white, and hardy cheer and face", "In all the world, to seeken up and down", "So even without variatioun", "There were such companies never tway.", "For there was none so wise that coulde say", "That any had of other avantage", "Of worthiness, nor of estate, nor age,", "So even were they chosen for to guess.", "And in two ranges faire they them dress.", "When that their names read were every one,", "That in their number guile were there none,", "Then were the gates shut, and cried was loud;", "\"Do now your devoir, younge knights proud", "The heralds left their pricking up and down", "Now ring the trumpet loud and clarioun.", "There is no more to say, but east and west", "In go the speares sadly in the rest;", "In go the sharpe spurs into the side.", "There see me who can joust, and who can ride.", "There shiver shaftes upon shieldes thick;", "He feeleth through the hearte-spoon the prick.", "Up spring the speares twenty foot on height;", "Out go the swordes as the silver bright.", "The helmes they to-hewen, and to-shred;", "Out burst the blood, with sterne streames red.", "With mighty maces the bones they to-brest.", "He through the thickest of the throng gan threst.", "There stumble steedes strong, and down go all.", "He rolleth under foot as doth a ball.", "He foineth on his foe with a trunchoun,", "And he him hurtleth with his horse adown.", "He through the body hurt is, and sith take,", "Maugre his head, and brought unto the stake,", "As forword was, right there he must abide.", "Another led is on that other side.", "And sometime doth them Theseus to rest,", "Them to refresh, and drinken if them lest.", "Full oft a day have thilke Thebans two", "Together met and wrought each other woe:", "Unhorsed hath each other of them tway", "There is no tiger in the vale of Galaphay,", "When that her whelp is stole, when it is lite", "So cruel on the hunter, as Arcite", "For jealous heart upon this Palamon:", "Nor in Belmarie there is no fell lion,", "That hunted is, or for his hunger wood", "Or for his prey desireth so the blood,", "As Palamon to slay his foe Arcite.", "The jealous strokes upon their helmets bite;", "Out runneth blood on both their sides red,", "Sometime an end there is of every deed", "For ere the sun unto the reste went,", "The stronge king Emetrius gan hent", "This Palamon, as he fought with Arcite,", "And made his sword deep in his flesh to bite,", "And by the force of twenty is he take,", "Unyielding, and is drawn unto the stake.", "And in the rescue of this Palamon", "The stronge king Licurgus is borne down:", "And king Emetrius, for all his strength", "Is borne out of his saddle a sword's length,", "So hit him Palamon ere he were take:", "But all for nought; he was brought to the stake:", "His hardy hearte might him helpe naught,", "He must abide when that he was caught,", "By force, and eke by composition.", "Who sorroweth now but woful Palamon", "That must no more go again to fight?", "And when that Theseus had seen that sight", "Unto the folk that foughte thus each one,", "He cried, Ho! no more, for it is done!", "I will be true judge, and not party.", "Arcite of Thebes shall have Emily,", "That by his fortune hath her fairly won.\"", "Anon there is a noise of people gone,", "For joy of this, so loud and high withal,", "It seemed that the listes shoulde fall.", "", "What can now faire Venus do above?", "What saith she now? what doth this queen of love?", "But weepeth so, for wanting of her will,", "Till that her teares in the listes fill", "She said: \"I am ashamed doubteless.\"", "Saturnus saide: \"Daughter, hold thy peace.", "Mars hath his will, his knight hath all his boon,", "And by mine head thou shalt be eased soon.\"", " The trumpeters with the loud minstrelsy,", "The heralds, that full loude yell and cry,", "Be in their joy for weal of Dan Arcite.", "But hearken me, and stinte noise a lite,", "What a miracle there befell anon", "This fierce Arcite hath off his helm y-done,", "And on a courser for to shew his face", "He pricketh endelong the large place,", "Looking upward upon this Emily;", "And she again him cast a friendly eye", "(For women, as to speaken in commune,", "They follow all the favour of fortune),", "And was all his in cheer, as his in heart.", "Out of the ground a fire infernal start,", "From Pluto sent, at request of Saturn", "For which his horse for fear began to turn,", "And leap aside, and founder as he leap", "And ere that Arcite may take any keep,", "He pight him on the pummel of his head.", "That in the place he lay as he were dead.", "His breast to-bursten with his saddle-bow.", "As black he lay as any coal or crow,", "So was the blood y-run into his face.", "Anon he was y-borne out of the place", "With hearte sore, to Theseus' palace.", "Then was he carven out of his harness.", "And in a bed y-brought full fair and blive", "For he was yet in mem'ry and alive,", "And always crying after Emily.", "", "Duke Theseus, with all his company,", "Is come home to Athens his city,", "With alle bliss and great solemnity.", "Albeit that this aventure was fall,", "He woulde not discomforte them all", "Then said eke, that Arcite should not die,", "He should be healed of his malady.", "And of another thing they were as fain.", "That of them alle was there no one slain,", "All were they sorely hurt, and namely one,", "That with a spear was thirled his breast-bone.", "To other woundes, and to broken arms,", "Some hadden salves, and some hadden charms:", "And pharmacies of herbs, and eke save", "They dranken, for they would their lives have.", "For which this noble Duke, as he well can,", "Comforteth and honoureth every man,", "And made revel all the longe night,", "Unto the strange lordes, as was right.", "Nor there was holden no discomforting,", "But as at jousts or at a tourneying;", "For soothly there was no discomfiture,", "For falling is not but an aventure.", "Nor to be led by force unto a stake", "Unyielding, and with twenty knights y-take", "One person all alone, withouten mo',", "And harried forth by armes, foot, and toe,", "And eke his steede driven forth with staves,", "With footmen, bothe yeomen and eke knaves,", "It was aretted him no villainy:", "There may no man clepen it cowardy.", "For which anon Duke Theseus let cry, --", "To stenten alle rancour and envy, --", "The gree as well on one side as the other,", "And either side alike as other's brother:", "And gave them giftes after their degree,", "And held a feaste fully dayes three:", "And conveyed the kinges worthily", "Out of his town a journee largely", "And home went every man the righte way,", "There was no more but \"Farewell, Have good day.\"", "Of this bataille I will no more indite", "But speak of Palamon and of Arcite.", "", "Swelleth the breast of Arcite and the sore", "Increaseth at his hearte more and more.", "The clotted blood, for any leache-craft", "Corrupteth and is in his bouk y-laft", "That neither veine blood nor ventousing,", "Nor drink of herbes may be his helping.", "The virtue expulsive or animal,", "From thilke virtue called natural,", "Nor may the venom voide, nor expel", "The pipes of his lungs began to swell", "And every lacert in his breast adown", "Is shent with venom and corruption.", "Him gaineth neither, for to get his life,", "Vomit upward, nor downward laxative;", "All is to-bursten thilke region;", "Nature hath now no domination.", "And certainly where nature will not wirch,", "Farewell physic: go bear the man to chirch.", "This all and some is, Arcite must die.", "For which he sendeth after Emily,", "And Palamon, that was his cousin dear,", "Then said he thus, as ye shall after hear.", "", "\"Nought may the woful spirit in mine heart", "Declare one point of all my sorrows' smart", "To you, my lady, that I love the most:", "But I bequeath the service of my ghost", "To you aboven every creature,", "Since that my life ne may no longer dure.", "Alas the woe! alas, the paines strong", "That I for you have suffered and so long!", "Alas the death, alas, mine Emily!", "Alas departing of our company!", "Alas, mine hearte's queen! alas, my wife!", "Mine hearte's lady, ender of my life!", "What is this world? what aske men to have?", "Now with his love, now in his colde grave", "Al one, withouten any company.", "Farewell, my sweet, farewell, mine Emily,", "And softly take me in your armes tway,", "For love of God, and hearken what I say.", "I have here with my cousin Palamon", "Had strife and rancour many a day agone,", "For love of you, and for my jealousy.", "And Jupiter so wis my soule gie,", "To speaken of a servant properly,", "With alle circumstances truely,", "That is to say, truth, honour, and knighthead,", "Wisdom, humbless, estate, and high kindred,", "Freedom, and all that longeth to that art,", "So Jupiter have of my soul part,", "As in this world right now I know not one,", "So worthy to be lov'd as Palamon,", "That serveth you, and will do all his life.", "And if that you shall ever be a wife,", "Forget not Palamon, the gentle man.\"", "", "And with that word his speech to fail began.", "For from his feet up to his breast was come", "The cold of death, that had him overnome.", "And yet moreover in his armes two", "The vital strength is lost, and all ago.", "Only the intellect, withoute more,", "That dwelled in his hearte sick and sore,", "Gan faile, when the hearte felte death;", "Dusked his eyen two, and fail'd his breath.", "But on his lady yet he cast his eye;", "His laste word was; \"Mercy, Emily!\"", "His spirit changed house, and wente there,", "As I came never I cannot telle where.", "Therefore I stent, I am no divinister;", "Of soules find I nought in this register.", "Ne me list not th' opinions to tell", "Of them, though that they writen where they dwell;", "Arcite is cold, there Mars his soule gie.", "Now will I speake forth of Emily.", "", "Shriek'd Emily, and howled Palamon,", "And Theseus his sister took anon", "Swooning, and bare her from the corpse away.", "What helpeth it to tarry forth the day,", "To telle how she wept both eve and morrow?", "For in such cases women have such sorrow,", "When that their husbands be from them y-go,", "That for the more part they sorrow so,", "Or elles fall into such malady,", "That at the laste certainly they die.", "Infinite be the sorrows and the tears", "Of olde folk, and folk of tender years,", "In all the town, for death of this Theban:", "For him there weepeth bothe child and man.", "So great a weeping was there none certain,", "When Hector was y-brought, all fresh y-slain,", "To Troy: alas! the pity that was there,", "Scratching of cheeks, and rending eke of hair.", "\"Why wouldest thou be dead?\" these women cry,", "\"And haddest gold enough, and Emily.\"", "No manner man might gladden Theseus,", "Saving his olde father Egeus,", "That knew this worlde's transmutatioun,", "As he had seen it changen up and down,", "Joy after woe, and woe after gladness;", "And shewed him example and likeness.", "\"Right as there died never man,\" quoth he,", "\"That he ne liv'd in earth in some degree,", "Right so there lived never man,\" he said,", "\"In all this world, that sometime be not died.", "This world is but a throughfare full of woe,", "And we be pilgrims, passing to and fro:", "Death is an end of every worldly sore.\"", "And over all this said he yet much more", "To this effect, full wisely to exhort", "The people, that they should them recomfort.", "Duke Theseus, with all his busy cure,", "Casteth about, where that the sepulture", "Of good Arcite may best y-maked be,", "And eke most honourable in his degree.", "And at the last he took conclusion,", "That there as first Arcite and Palamon", "Hadde for love the battle them between,", "That in that selve grove, sweet and green,", "There as he had his amorous desires,", "His complaint, and for love his hote fires,", "He woulde make a fire, in which th' office", "Of funeral he might all accomplice;", "And let anon command to hack and hew", "The oakes old, and lay them on a rew", "In culpons, well arrayed for to brenne.", "His officers with swifte feet they renne", "And ride anon at his commandement.", "And after this, Duke Theseus hath sent", "After a bier, and it all oversprad", "With cloth of gold, the richest that he had;", "And of the same suit he clad Arcite.", "Upon his handes were his gloves white,", "Eke on his head a crown of laurel green,", "And in his hand a sword full bright and keen.", "He laid him bare the visage on the bier,", "Therewith he wept, that pity was to hear.", "And, for the people shoulde see him all,", "When it was day he brought them to the hall,", "That roareth of the crying and the soun'.", "Then came this woful Theban, Palamon,", "With sluttery beard, and ruggy ashy hairs,", "In clothes black, y-dropped all with tears,", "And (passing over weeping Emily)", "The ruefullest of all the company.", "And inasmuch as the service should be", "The more noble and rich in its degree,", "Duke Theseus let forth three steedes bring,", "That trapped were in steel all glittering.", "And covered with the arms of Dan Arcite.", "Upon these steedes, that were great and white,", "There satte folk, of whom one bare his shield,", "Another his spear in his handes held;", "The thirde bare with him his bow Turkeis,", "Of brent gold was the case and the harness:", "And ride forth a pace with sorrowful cheer", "Toward the grove, as ye shall after hear.", "", "The noblest of the Greekes that there were", "Upon their shoulders carried the bier,", "With slacke pace, and eyen red and wet,", "Throughout the city, by the master street,", "That spread was all with black, and wondrous high", "Right of the same is all the street y-wrie.", "Upon the right hand went old Egeus,", "And on the other side Duke Theseus,", "With vessels in their hand of gold full fine,", "All full of honey, milk, and blood, and wine;", "Eke Palamon, with a great company;", "And after that came woful Emily,", "With fire in hand, as was that time the guise,", "To do th' office of funeral service.", "", "High labour, and full great appareling", "Was at the service, and the pyre-making,", "That with its greene top the heaven raught,", "And twenty fathom broad its armes straught:", "This is to say, the boughes were so broad.", "Of straw first there was laid many a load.", "But how the pyre was maked up on height,", "And eke the names how the trees hight,", "As oak, fir, birch, asp, alder, holm, poplere,", "Willow, elm, plane, ash, box, chestnut, lind, laurere,", "Maple, thorn, beech, hazel, yew, whipul tree,", "How they were fell'd, shall not be told for me;", "Nor how the goddes rannen up and down", "Disinherited of their habitatioun,", "In which they wonned had in rest and peace,", "Nymphes, Faunes, and Hamadryades;", "Nor how the beastes and the birdes all", "Fledden for feare, when the wood gan fall;", "Nor how the ground aghast was of the light,", "That was not wont to see the sunne bright;", "Nor how the fire was couched first with stre,", "And then with dry stickes cloven in three,", "And then with greene wood and spicery,", "And then with cloth of gold and with pierrie,", "And garlands hanging with full many a flower,", "The myrrh, the incense with so sweet odour;", "Nor how Arcita lay among all this,", "Nor what richess about his body is;", "Nor how that Emily, as was the guise,", "Put in the fire of funeral service;", "Nor how she swooned when she made the fire,", "Nor what she spake, nor what was her desire;", "Nor what jewels men in the fire then cast", "When that the fire was great and burned fast;", "", "Nor how some cast their shield, and some their spear,", "And of their vestiments, which that they wear,", "And cuppes full of wine, and milk, and blood,", "Into the fire, that burnt as it were wood;", "Nor how the Greekes with a huge rout", "Three times riden all the fire about", "Upon the left hand, with a loud shouting,", "And thries with their speares clattering;", "And thries how the ladies gan to cry;", "Nor how that led was homeward Emily;", "Nor how Arcite is burnt to ashes cold;", "Nor how the lyke-wake was y-hold", "All thilke night, nor how the Greekes play", "The wake-plays, ne keep I not to say:", "Who wrestled best naked, with oil anoint,", "Nor who that bare him best in no disjoint.", "I will not tell eke how they all are gone", "Home to Athenes when the play is done;", "But shortly to the point now will I wend,", "And maken of my longe tale an end.", "", "By process and by length of certain years", "All stinted is the mourning and the tears", "Of Greekes, by one general assent.", "Then seemed me there was a parlement", "At Athens, upon certain points and cas:", "Amonge the which points y-spoken was", "To have with certain countries alliance,", "And have of Thebans full obeisance.", "For which this noble Theseus anon", "Let send after the gentle Palamon,", "Unwist of him what was the cause and why:", "But in his blacke clothes sorrowfully", "He came at his commandment on hie;", "Then sente Theseus for Emily.", "When they were set, and hush'd was all the place", "And Theseus abided had a space", "Ere any word came from his wise breast", "His eyen set he there as was his lest,", "And with a sad visage he sighed still,", "And after that right thus he said his will.", "\"The firste mover of the cause above", "When he first made the faire chain of love,", "Great was th' effect, and high was his intent;", "Well wist he why, and what thereof he meant:", "For with that faire chain of love he bond", "The fire, the air, the water, and the lond", "In certain bondes, that they may not flee:", "That same prince and mover eke,\" quoth he,", "\"Hath stablish'd, in this wretched world adown,", "Certain of dayes and duration", "To all that are engender'd in this place,", "Over the whiche day they may not pace,", "All may they yet their dayes well abridge.", "There needeth no authority to allege", "For it is proved by experience;", "But that me list declare my sentence.", "Then may men by this order well discern,", "That thilke mover stable is and etern.", "Well may men know, but that it be a fool,", "That every part deriveth from its whole.", "For nature hath not ta'en its beginning", "Of no partie nor cantle of a thing,", "But of a thing that perfect is and stable,", "Descending so, till it be corruptable.", "And therefore of His wise purveyance", "He hath so well beset his ordinance,", "That species of things and progressions", "Shallen endure by successions,", "And not etern, withouten any lie:", "This mayst thou understand and see at eye.", "Lo th' oak, that hath so long a nourishing", "From the time that it 'ginneth first to spring,", "And hath so long a life, as ye may see,", "Yet at the last y-wasted is the tree.", "Consider eke, how that the harde stone", "Under our feet, on which we tread and gon,", "Yet wasteth, as it lieth by the way.", "The broade river some time waxeth drey.", "The greate townes see we wane and wend.", "Then may ye see that all things have an end.", "Of man and woman see we well also, --", "That needes in one of the termes two, --", "That is to say, in youth or else in age,-", "He must be dead, the king as shall a page;", "Some in his bed, some in the deepe sea,", "Some in the large field, as ye may see:", "There helpeth nought, all go that ilke way:", "Then may I say that alle thing must die.", "What maketh this but Jupiter the king?", "The which is prince, and cause of alle thing,", "Converting all unto his proper will,", "From which it is derived, sooth to tell", "And hereagainst no creature alive,", "Of no degree, availeth for to strive.", "Then is it wisdom, as it thinketh me,", "To make a virtue of necessity,", "And take it well, that we may not eschew,", "And namely what to us all is due.", "And whoso grudgeth ought, he doth folly,", "And rebel is to him that all may gie.", "And certainly a man hath most honour", "To dien in his excellence and flower,", "When he is sicker of his goode name.", "Then hath he done his friend, nor him, no shame", "And gladder ought his friend be of his death,", "When with honour is yielded up his breath,", "Than when his name appalled is for age;", "For all forgotten is his vassalage.", "Then is it best, as for a worthy fame,", "To dien when a man is best of name.", "The contrary of all this is wilfulness.", "Why grudge we, why have we heaviness,", "That good Arcite, of chivalry the flower,", "Departed is, with duty and honour,", "Out of this foule prison of this life?", "Why grudge here his cousin and his wife", "Of his welfare, that loved him so well?", "Can he them thank? nay, God wot, neverdeal, --", "That both his soul and eke themselves offend,", "And yet they may their lustes not amend.", "What may I conclude of this longe serie,", "But after sorrow I rede us to be merry,", "And thanke Jupiter for all his grace?", "And ere that we departe from this place,", "I rede that we make of sorrows two", "One perfect joye lasting evermo':", "And look now where most sorrow is herein,", "There will I first amenden and begin.", "\"Sister,\" quoth he, \"this is my full assent,", "With all th' advice here of my parlement,", "That gentle Palamon, your owen knight,", "That serveth you with will, and heart, and might,", "And ever hath, since first time ye him knew,", "That ye shall of your grace upon him rue,", "And take him for your husband and your lord:", "Lend me your hand, for this is our accord.", "Let see now of your womanly pity.", "He is a kinge's brother's son, pardie.", "And though he were a poore bachelere,", "Since he hath served you so many a year,", "And had for you so great adversity,", "It muste be considered, 'lieveth me.", "For gentle mercy oweth to passen right.\"", "Then said he thus to Palamon the knight;", "\"I trow there needeth little sermoning", "To make you assente to this thing.", "Come near, and take your lady by the hand.\"", "Betwixte them was made anon the band,", "That hight matrimony or marriage,", "By all the counsel of the baronage.", "And thus with alle bliss and melody", "Hath Palamon y-wedded Emily.", "And God, that all this wide world hath wrought,", "Send him his love, that hath it dearly bought.", "For now is Palamon in all his weal,", "Living in bliss, in riches, and in heal.", "And Emily him loves so tenderly,", "And he her serveth all so gentilly,", "That never was there worde them between", "Of jealousy, nor of none other teen.", "Thus endeth Palamon and Emily", "And God save all this faire company." ], "linecount": "2248" } ]