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From The Knight's Tale, lines 2169-2208:
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From The Canterbury Tales:
The Knight's Tale
lines 2209-2250: The marriage of Palamon and Emily


      What may I concluden of this longe serye,
2210But after wo I rede us to be merye,
And thanken Juppiter of al his grace?
And er that we departen from this place
I rede that we make, of sorwes two,
O parfit joye lastyng everemo.
2215And looketh now, wher moost sorwe is her inne,
Ther wol we first amenden and bigynne.
      What may I prove by this long argument
2210Except that we all turn to merriment,
After our grief, and give Jupiter thanks for grace.
And so, before we go from out this place,
I counsel that we make, of sorrows two
One perfect joy, lasting for aye, for you;
2215And look you now, where most woe is herein,
There will we first amend it and begin.
      Suster," quod he, "this is my fulle assent,
With all th'avys heere of my parlement,
That gentil Palamon thyn owene knyght,
2220That serveth yow with wille, herte, and myght,
And evere hath doon, syn that ye first hym knewe,
That ye shul of your grace upon hym rewe,
And taken hym for housbonde and for lord.
Lene me youre hond, for this is oure accord.
2225Lat se now of youre wommanly pitee;
He is a kynges brother sone, pardee,
And though he were a povre bacheler,
Syn he hath served yow so many a yeer,
And had for yow so greet adversitee,
2230It moste been considered, leeveth me,
For gentil mercy oghte to passen right."
      Sister," said he, "you have my full consent,
With the advice of this my Parliament,
That gentle Palamon, your own true knight,
2220Who serves you well with will and heart and might,
And so has ever, since you knew him first-
That you shall, of your grace, allay his thirst
By taking him for husband and for lord:
Lend me your hand, for this is our accord.
2225Let now your woman's pity make him glad.
For he is a king's brother's son, by gad;
And though he were a poor knight bachelor,
Since he has served you for so many a year,
And borne for you so great adversity,
2230This ought to weigh with you, it seems to me,
For mercy ought to dominate mere right."
      Thanne seyde he thus to Palamon the knyght:
"I trowe ther nedeth litel sermonyng
To make yow assente to this thyng.
2235Com neer, and taak youre lady by the hond."
Bitwixen hem was maad anon the bond
That highte matrimoigne or mariage,
By al the conseil and the baronage.
And thus with alle blisse and melodye
2240Hath Palamon ywedded Emelye;
And God, that al this wyde world hath wroght,
Sende hym his love that hath it deere aboght,
For now is Palamon in alle wele,
Lyvynge in blisse, in richesse, and in heele,
2245And Emelye hym loveth so tendrely,
And he hir serveth al so gentilly,
That nevere was ther no word hem bitwene,
Of jalousie, or any oother teene.
Thus endeth Palamon and Emelye,
2250And God save al this faire compaignye! Amen.
      Then said he thus to Palamon the knight:
"I think there needs but little sermoning
To make you give consent, now, to this thing.
2235Come near, and take your lady by the hand."
Between them, then, was tied that nuptial band,
Which is called matrimony or marriage,
By all the council and the baronage.
And thus, in all bliss and with melody,
2240Has Palamon now married Emily.
And God who all this universe has wrought,
Send him his love, who has it dearly bought.
For now has Palamon, in all things, wealth,
Living in bliss, in riches, and in health;
2245And Emily loved him so tenderly,
And he served her so well and faithfully,
That never word once marred their happiness,
No jealousy, nor other such distress.
Thus ends now Palamon and Emily;
2250And may God save all this fair company! Amen.



Heere is ended the Knyghtes Tale.



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