But, if it were any person obstinate,
Whatso he were, of high or low estate,
Him would he snibben sharply for the nonès.2
A better priest I trow there nowhere none is.
He waited after no pomp ne reverence,
Ne maked him a spicèd conscience;
But Christès lore and his apostles twelve
He taught, but first he followed it himselve.
WITH him3 there was a Plowman, was his brother, That had y-laid of dong full many a fother ;4
And a true swinker" and a good was he,
Living in peace and perfit charity.
God loved he best with all his whole heart
At allè timès, were it gain or smart;
And then his neighèbour right as himselve.
He wolde thresh and thereto dike" and delve,7
For Christès sake, for every poorè wight,
Withouten hire, if it lay in his might.
His tithès payed he full fair and well,
Both of his proper swink and his catel.9
In a tabard 10 he rode upon a mare.
EMILIE IN THE PRISON-GARDEN.
And in a tower, in anguish and in woe,
Dwellen this Palamon and eke Arcite
For evermore there may no gold them quite."
This passeth year by year and day by day,
Till it fell onès 12 in a morrow
13 of May
That Emilie, that fairer was to seen
Than is the lily upon his14 stalkè green,
And fresher than the May with flowers new ;-
For with the rosè-colour strove her hue,
I n'ot15 which was the finer of them two;—
Ere it was day, as she was wont to do,
6 To make ditches.
10 Loose frock.
She was arisen and already dight ;1
For May will have no sluggardy a-night.
The season pricketh every gentle heart,
And maketh it out of his sleep to start,
And saith 'Arise, and do thine observance.'
This maketh Emilie have remembrance
To done 2 honour to May, and for to rise.
Y-clothed was she fresh for to devise ;
Her yellow hair was broided in a tress
Behind her back, a yardè long I guess.
And in the garden at the sun uprist
She walketh up and down, and as her list
She gathereth flowers party white and red,
To make a subtle garland for her head;
And as an angel heavenly she song.
The greatè tower that was so thick and strong,
Which of the castle was the chief dongeon,
Was even joinant3 to the garden wall
There-as this Emilie had her playing.
Bright was the sun and clear in that morning ;
And Palamon, this woeful prisoner,
As was his wont, by leave of his gaoler,
Was risen, and roamèd in a chambre on high,
In which he all the noble city sey,1
And eke the garden full of branches green
There-as this fresh Emilia the sheen5
Was in her walk and roamèd up and down.
This sorrowful prisoner, this Palamon,
Goeth in the 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,7
He cast his eyen upon Emilia.
There stood the Temple of Mars armipotent,
Wrought all of burned steel; of which the entree
Was long and strait, and ghastly for to see.
And thereout came a rage, in such a wise
That it made all the gates for to rise.
But, if it were any person obstinate,
Whatso he were, of high or low estate,
Him would he snibben sharply for the nonès.2
A better priest I trow there nowhere none is.
He waited after no pomp ne reverence,
Ne makèd him a spiced conscience;
But Christès lore and his apostles twelve
He taught, but first he followed it himselve.
WITH him3 there was a Plowman, was his brother,
That had y-laid of dong full many a fother ;*
And a true swinker5 and a good was he,
Living in peace and perfit charity.
God loved he best with all his whole heart
At allè timès, were it gain or smart ;
And then his neighèbour right as himselve.
He wolde thresh and thereto dike" and delve,7
For Christès sake, for every poorè wight,
Withouten hire, if it lay in his might.
His tithès payed he full fair and well,
Both of his proper swink and his catel.9
In a tabard 10 he rode upon a mare.
EMILIE IN THE PRISON-GARDEN.
And in a tower, in anguish and in woe,
Dwellen this Palamon and eke Arcite
For evermore there may no gold them quite.11
This passeth year by year and day by day,
13 of May
Till it fell onès 12 in a morrow
That Emilie, that fairer was to seen
Than is the lily upon his11 stalkè green,
And fresher than the May with flowers new ;-
For with the rosè-colour strove her hue,
I n'ot15 which was the finer of them two ;-
Ere it was day, as she was wont to do,
5 Labourer.
9 Chattels, goods.
6 To make ditches.
10 Loose frock.
She was arisen and already dight ;1
For May will have no sluggardy a-night.
The season pricketh every gentle heart,
And maketh it out of his sleep to start,
And saith ‘Arise, and do thine observance.'
This maketh Emilie have remembrance
To done 2 honour to May, and for to rise.
Y-clothed was she fresh for to devise;
Her yellow hair was broided in a tress
Behind her back, a yardè long I guess.
And in the garden at the sun uprist
She walketh up and down, and as her list
She gathereth flowers party white and red,
To make a subtle garland for her head;
And as an angel heavenly she song.
The greatè tower that was so thick and strong,
Which of the castle was the chief dongeon,
Was even joinant3 to the garden wall
There-as this Emilie had her playing.
Bright was the sun and clear in that morning;
And Palamon, this woeful prisoner,
As was his wont, by leave of his gaoler,
Was risen, and roamèd in a chambre on high,
In which he all the noble city sey, 4
And eke the garden full of branches green
There-as this fresh Emilia the sheen
Was in her walk and roamèd up and down.
This sorrowful prisoner, this Palamon,
Goeth in the 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,7
He cast his eyen upon Emilia.
There stood the Temple of Mars armipotent,
Wrought all of burned steel; of which the entree
Was long and strait, and ghastly for to see.
And thereout came a rage, in such a wise
That it made all the gates for to rise.
But,1 if it were any person obstinate,
Whatso he were, of high or low estate,
Him would he snibben sharply for the nonès.2
A better priest I trow there nowhere none is.
He waited after no pomp ne reverence,
Ne makèd him a spiced conscience;
But Christès lore and his apostles twelve
He taught, but first he followed it himselve.
WITH him3 there was a Plowman, was his brother,
That had y-laid of dong full many a fother ;4
And a true swinker5 and a good was he,
Living in peace and perfit charity.
God loved he best with all his wholè heart
At allè timès, were it gain or smart ;
And then his neighèbour right as himselve.
He wolde thresh and thereto dike® and delve,7
For Christès sake, for every poorè wight,
Withouten hire, if it lay in his might.
His tithès payed he full fair and well,
Both of his proper swink and his catel. 9
In a tabard 10 he rode upon a mare.
EMILIE IN THE PRISON-GARDEN.
And in a tower, in anguish and in woe,
Dwellen this Palamon and eke Arcite
For evermore: there may no gold them quite.11
This passeth year by year and day by day,
Till it fell onès 12 in a morrow 13 of May
That Emilie, that fairer was to seen
Than is the lily upon his14 stalkè green,
And fresher than the May with flowers new ;-
For with the rosè-colour strove her hue,
I n'ot15 which was the finer of them two ;-
Ere it was day, as she was wont to do,
6 To make ditches.
10 Loose frock.
|