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Ful lik a lord this noble duc gan ryde, |
| Thise two Thebanes upon either syde, |
| And after rood the queene and Emelye, |
| And after that another compaignye, |
| 1715 | Of oon and oother, after hir degree. |
| And thus they passen thurghout the citee |
| And to the lystes come they by tyme. |
| It nas nat of the day yet fully pryme |
| Whan set was Theseus ful riche and hye, |
| 1720 | Ypolita the queene, and Emelye, |
| And othere ladys in degrees aboute. |
| Unto the seettes preesseth al the route, |
| And westward thurgh the gates under Marte, |
| Arcite, and eek the hondred of his parte, |
| 1725 | With baner reed is entred right anon. |
| And in that selve moment Palamon |
| Is under Venus estward in the place, |
| With baner whyt, and hardy chiere and face. |
| In al the world, to seken up and doun |
| 1730 | So evene, withouten variacioun |
| Ther nere swiche compaignyes tweye; |
| For ther was noon so wys, that koude seye |
| That any hadde of oother avauntage, |
| Of worthynesse ne of estaat ne age, |
| 1735 | So evene were they chosen, for to gesse. |
| And in two renges faire they hem dresse, |
| Whan that hir names rad were everichon, |
| That in hir nombre gyle were ther noon. |
| Tho were the gates shet and cried was loude, |
| 1740 | "Do now youre devoir, yonge knyghtes proude!" |
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Fully like a lord this noble duke did ride, |
| With the two Theban knights on either side; |
| And, following, rode the queen and Emily, |
| And, after, came another company |
| 1715 | Of one and other, each in his degree. |
| And thus they went throughout the whole city, |
| And to the lists they came, all in good time. |
| The day was not yet fully come to prime |
| When throned was Theseus full rich and high, |
| 1720 | And Queen Hippolyta and Emily, |
| While other ladies sat in tiers about. |
| Into the seats then pressed the lesser rout. |
| And westward, through the gate of Mars, right hearty, |
| Arcita and the hundred of his party |
| 1725 | With banner red is entering anon; |
| And in that self-same moment, Palamon |
| Is under Venus, eastward in that place, |
| With banner white, and resolute of face. |
| In all the world, searching it up and down, |
| 1730 | So equal were they all, from heel to crown, |
| There were no two such bands in any way. |
| For there was no man wise enough to say |
| How either had of other advantage |
| In high repute, or in estate, or age, |
| 1735 | So even were they chosen, as I guess. |
| And in two goodly ranks, they did then dress. |
| And when the name was called of every one, |
| That cheating in their number might be none, |
| Then were the gates closed, and the cry rang loud: |
| 1740 | "Now do your devoir, all you young knights proud!" |
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