|
And with that word he caughte a greet mirour, |
| And saugh that chaunged was al his colour, |
| And saugh his visage al in another kynde. |
| And right anon it ran hym in his mynde, |
| 545 | That sith his face was so disfigured |
| Of maladye, the which he hadde endured, |
| He myghte wel, if that he bar hym lowe, |
| Lyve in Atthenes, everemoore unknowe, |
| And seen his lady wel ny day by day. |
| 550 | And right anon he chaunged his array, |
| And cladde hym as a povre laborer, |
| And al allone, save oonly a squier |
| That knew his privetee and al his cas, |
| Which was disgised povrely, as he was, |
| 555 | To Atthenes is he goon, the nexte way. |
| And to the court he wente, upon a day, |
| And at the gate he profreth his servyse, |
| To drugge and drawe, what so men wol devyse. |
| And shortly of this matere for to seyn, |
| 560 | He fil in office with a chamberleyn, |
| The which that dwellynge was with Emelye, |
| For he was wys and koude soone espye |
| Of every servant which that serveth here. |
| Wel koude he hewen wode, and water bere, |
| 565 | For he was yong and myghty for the nones, |
| And therto he was strong and big of bones |
| To doon that any wight kan hym devyse. |
| A yeer or two he was in this servyse |
| Page of the chambre of Emelye the brighte; |
| 570 | And Philostrate he seyde that he highte. |
| But half so wel biloved a man as he |
| Ne was ther nevere in court, of his degree; |
| He was so gentil of condicioun |
| That thurghout al the court was his renoun. |
| 575 | They seyden, that it were a charitee, |
| That Theseus wolde enhauncen his degree, |
| And putten hym in worshipful servyse |
| Ther as he myghte his vertu exercise. |
| And thus withinne a while his name is spronge |
| 580 | Bothe of hise dedes and his goode tonge, |
| That Theseus hath taken hym so neer, |
| That of his chambre he made hym a squier, |
| And gaf hym gold to mayntene his degree. |
| And eek men broghte hym out of his contree |
| 585 | From yeer to yeer, ful pryvely, his rente. |
| But honestly and slyly he it spente, |
| That no man wondred how that he it hadde. |
| And thre yeer in this wise his lif he ladde, |
| And bar hym so in pees, and eek in werre, |
| 590 | Ther was no man that Theseus hath derre. |
| And in this blisse lete I now Arcite, |
| And speke I wole of Palamon a lite. |
|
| And with that word he caught a great mirror, |
| And saw how changed was all his old colour, |
| And saw his visage altered from its kind. |
| And straightway it ran into his mind |
| 545 | That since his face was now disfigured so, |
| By suffering endured (as well we know), |
| He might, if he should bear him low in town, |
| Live there in Athens evermore, unknown, |
| Seeing his lady well-nigh every day. |
| 550 | And at once he altered his array, |
| Like a poor labourer in mean attire, |
| And all alone, except only for a squire, |
| Who knew his secret heart and all his case, |
| And who was dressed as poorly as he was, |
| 555 | To Athens was he gone the nearest way. |
| And to the court he went upon a day, |
| And at the gate he proffered services |
| To drudge and drag, as any one devises. |
| And to be brief herein, and to be plain, |
| 560 | He found employment with a chamberlain |
| Was serving in the house of Emily; |
| For he was sharp and very soon could see |
| What every servant did who served her there. |
| Right well could he hew wood and water bear, |
| 565 | For he was young and mighty, let me own, |
| And big of muscle, aye and big of bone, |
| To do what any man asked, in a trice. |
| A year or two he was in this service, |
| Page of the chamber of Emily the bright; |
| 570 | He said "Philostrates" would name him right. |
| But half so well beloved a man as he |
| Was never in that court, of his degree; |
| His gentle nature was so clearly shown, |
| That throughout all the court spread his renown. |
| 575 | They said it were but kindly courtesy |
| If Theseus should heighten his degree |
| And put him in more honourable service |
| Wherein he might his virtue exercise. |
| And thus, at once, his name was so up-sprung, |
| 580 | Both for his deeds and sayings of his tongue, |
| That Theseus had brought him nigh and nigher |
| And of the chamber he had made him squire, |
| And given him gold to maintain dignity. |
| Besides, men brought him, from his own country, |
| 585 | From year to year, clandestinely, his rent; |
| But honestly and slyly it was spent, |
| And no man wondered how he came by it. |
| And three years thus he lived, with much profit, |
| And bore him so in peace and so in war |
| 590 | There was no man that Theseus loved more. |
| And in such bliss I leave Arcita now, |
| And upon Palamon some words bestow. |
|
