|
This Arcite ful proudly spak ageyn, |
| 295 | "Thow shalt," quod he, "be rather fals than I. |
| But thou art fals, I telle thee outrely, |
| For paramour I loved hir first er thow. |
| What, wiltow seyn thou wistest nat yet now |
| Wheither she be a womman or goddesse? |
| 300 | Thyn is affeccioun of hoolynesse, |
| And myn is love, as to a creature; |
| For which I tolde thee myn aventure |
| As to my cosyn and my brother sworn. |
| I pose, that thow lovedest hir biforn; |
| 305 | Wostow nat wel the olde clerkes sawe |
| That `who shal yeve a lovere any lawe?' |
| Love is a gretter lawe, by my pan, |
| Than may be yeve of any erthely man. |
| And therfore positif lawe and swich decree |
| 310 | Is broken al day for love in ech degree. |
| A man moot nedes love, maugree his heed, |
| He may nat fleen it, thogh he sholde be deed, |
| Al be she mayde, or wydwe, or elles wyf. |
| And eek it is nat likly, al thy lyf, |
| 315 | To stonden in hir grace, namoore shal I, |
| For wel thou woost thyselven, verraily, |
| That thou and I be dampned to prisoun |
| Perpetuelly, us gayneth no raunsoun. |
| We stryven as dide the houndes for the boon, |
| 320 | They foughte al day, and yet hir part was noon. |
| Ther cam a kyte, whil they weren so wrothe, |
| And baar awey the boon bitwixe hem bothe. |
| And therfore at the kynges court, my brother, |
| Ech man for hymself, ther is noon oother. |
| 325 | Love if thee list, for I love, and ay shal; |
| And soothly, leeve brother, this is al. |
| Heere in this prisoun moote we endure, |
| And everich of us take his aventure." |
|
|
Then this Arcita proudly spoke again: |
| 295 | "You shall," he said, "be rather false than I; |
| And that you're so, I tell you utterly; |
| For par amour I loved her first, you know. |
| What can you say? You know not, even now, |
| Whether she is a woman or goddess! |
| 300 | Yours is a worship as of holiness, |
| While mine is love, as of a mortal maid; |
| Wherefore I told you of it, unafraid, |
| As to my cousin and my brother sworn. |
| Let us assume you loved her first, this morn; |
| 305 | Know you not well the ancient writer's saw |
| Of 'Who shall give a lover any law?' |
| Love is a greater law, aye by my pan, |
| Than man has ever given to earthly man. |
| And therefore statute law and such decrees |
| 310 | Are broken daily and in all degrees. |
| A man needs love, despit thoughts in his head. |
| He cannot flee it though he should be dead, |
| And be she maid, or widow, or a wife. |
| And yet it is not likely that, in life, |
| 315 | You'll stand within her graces; nor shall I; |
| For you are well aware, always truly, |
| That you and I are doomed to prison drear |
| Perpetually; we gain no ransom here. |
| We strive but as those dogs did for the bone; |
| 320 | They fought all day, and yet their gain was none. |
| Till came a kite while they were still so wroth |
| And bore the bone away between them both. |
| And therefore, at the king's court, O my brother, |
| It's each man for himself and not for other. |
| 325 | Love if you like; for I love and aye shall; |
| And certainly, dear brother, that is all. |
| Here in this prison cell must we remain |
| And each endure whatever fate ordain." |
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