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This Palamon answerde, and seyde ageyn, ‘Cosyn, for sothe, of this opinioun Thou hast a veyn imaginacioun. This prison caused me nat for to crye. But I was hurt right now thurgh-out myn yë In-to myn herte, that wol my bane be. The fairnesse of that lady that I see Yond in the gardin romen to and fro, Is cause of al my crying and my wo. I noot wher she be womman or goddesse; But Venus is it, soothly, as I gesse.’ And ther-with-al on kneës doun he fil, And seyde: ‘Venus, if it be thy wil Yow in this gardin thus to transfigure Bifore me, sorweful wrecche creature, Out of this prisoun help that we may scapen. And if so be my destinee be shapen By eterne word to dyen in prisoun, Of our linage have som compassioun, That is so lowe y-broght by tirannye.’ And with that word Arcite gan espye Wher-as this lady romed to and fro. And with that sighte hir beautee hurte him so, That, if that Palamon was wounded sore, Arcite is hurt as muche as he, or more. And with a sigh he seyde pitously: ‘The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly Of hir that rometh in the yonder place; And, but I have hir mercy and hir grace, That I may seen hir atte leeste weye, I nam but deed; ther nis namore to seye.’ This Palamon answerde, and seyde ageyn, ‘Cosyn, for sothe, of this opinioun Thou hast a veyn imaginacioun. This prison caused me nat for to crye. But I was hurt right now thurgh-out myn yë In-to myn herte, that wol my bane be. The fairnesse of that lady that I see Yond in the gardin romen to and fro, Is cause of al my crying and my wo. I noot wher she be womman or goddesse; But Venus is it, soothly, as I gesse.’ And ther-with-al on kneës doun he fil, And seyde: ‘Venus, if it be thy wil Yow in this gardin thus to transfigure Bifore me, sorweful wrecche creature, Out of this prisoun help that we may scapen. And if so be my destinee be shapen By eterne word to dyen in prisoun, Of our linage have som compassioun, That is so lowe y-broght by tirannye.’ And with that word Arcite gan espye Wher-as this lady romed to and fro. And with that sighte hir beautee hurte him so, That, if that Palamon was wounded sore, Arcite is hurt as muche as he, or more. And with a sigh he seyde pitously: ‘The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly Of hir that rometh in the yonder place; And, but I have hir mercy and hir grace, That I may seen hir atte leeste weye, I nam but deed; ther nis namore to seye.’

Original Text

Modern Text

This Palamon answerde, and seyde ageyn, ‘Cosyn, for sothe, of this opinioun Thou hast a veyn imaginacioun. This prison caused me nat for to crye. But I was hurt right now thurgh-out myn yë In-to myn herte, that wol my bane be. The fairnesse of that lady that I see Yond in the gardin romen to and fro, Is cause of al my crying and my wo. I noot wher she be womman or goddesse; But Venus is it, soothly, as I gesse.’ And ther-with-al on kneës doun he fil, And seyde: ‘Venus, if it be thy wil Yow in this gardin thus to transfigure Bifore me, sorweful wrecche creature, Out of this prisoun help that we may scapen. And if so be my destinee be shapen By eterne word to dyen in prisoun, Of our linage have som compassioun, That is so lowe y-broght by tirannye.’ And with that word Arcite gan espye Wher-as this lady romed to and fro. And with that sighte hir beautee hurte him so, That, if that Palamon was wounded sore, Arcite is hurt as muche as he, or more. And with a sigh he seyde pitously: ‘The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly Of hir that rometh in the yonder place; And, but I have hir mercy and hir grace, That I may seen hir atte leeste weye, I nam but deed; ther nis namore to seye.’ This Palamon answerde, and seyde ageyn, ‘Cosyn, for sothe, of this opinioun Thou hast a veyn imaginacioun. This prison caused me nat for to crye. But I was hurt right now thurgh-out myn yë In-to myn herte, that wol my bane be. The fairnesse of that lady that I see Yond in the gardin romen to and fro, Is cause of al my crying and my wo. I noot wher she be womman or goddesse; But Venus is it, soothly, as I gesse.’ And ther-with-al on kneës doun he fil, And seyde: ‘Venus, if it be thy wil Yow in this gardin thus to transfigure Bifore me, sorweful wrecche creature, Out of this prisoun help that we may scapen. And if so be my destinee be shapen By eterne word to dyen in prisoun, Of our linage have som compassioun, That is so lowe y-broght by tirannye.’ And with that word Arcite gan espye Wher-as this lady romed to and fro. And with that sighte hir beautee hurte him so, That, if that Palamon was wounded sore, Arcite is hurt as muche as he, or more. And with a sigh he seyde pitously: ‘The fresshe beautee sleeth me sodeynly Of hir that rometh in the yonder place; And, but I have hir mercy and hir grace, That I may seen hir atte leeste weye, I nam but deed; ther nis namore to seye.’
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