Delphi Poetry Anthology: The World's Greatest Poems (Delphi Poets Series Book 50)

by Homer

  The shieldes bright, the testers1, and trappures2 1helmets

  Gold-hewen helmets, hauberks, coat-armures; 2trappings

  Lordes in parements1 on their coursers, 1ornamental garb ;

  Knightes of retinue, and eke squiers,

  Nailing the spears, and helmes buckeling,

  Gniding1 of shieldes, with lainers2 lacing; 1polishing

  There as need is, they were nothing idle: 2lanyards

  The foamy steeds upon the golden bridle

  Gnawing, and fast the armourers also

  With file and hammer pricking to and fro;

  Yeomen on foot, and knaves1 many one 1servants

  With shorte staves, thick1 as they may gon2; 1close 2walk

  Pipes, trumpets, nakeres1, and clariouns, 1drums

  That in the battle blowe bloody souns;

  The palace full of people up and down,

  There three, there ten, holding their questioun1, 1conversation

  Divining1 of these Theban knightes two. 1conjecturing

  Some saiden thus, some said it shall he so;

  Some helden with him with the blacke beard,

  Some with the bald, some with the thick-hair’d;

  Some said he looked grim, and woulde fight:

  He had a sparth1 of twenty pound of weight. 1double-headed axe

  Thus was the halle full of divining1 1conjecturing

  Long after that the sunne gan up spring.

  The great Theseus that of his sleep is waked

  With minstrelsy, and noise that was maked,

  Held yet the chamber of his palace rich,

  Till that the Theban knightes both y-lich1 1alike

  Honoured were, and to the palace fet1. 1fetched

  Duke Theseus is at a window set,

  Array’d right as he were a god in throne:

  The people presseth thitherward full soon

  Him for to see, and do him reverence,

  And eke to hearken his hest1 and his sentence2. 1command 2speech

  An herald on a scaffold made an O,

  Till the noise of the people was y-do1: 1done

  And when he saw the people of noise all still,

  Thus shewed he the mighty Duke’s will.

  “The lord hath of his high discretion

  Considered that it were destruction

  To gentle blood, to fighten in the guise

  Of mortal battle now in this emprise:

  Wherefore to shape1 that they shall not die, 1arrange, contrive

  He will his firste purpose modify.

  No man therefore, on pain of loss of life,

  No manner1 shot, nor poleaxe, nor short knife 1kind of

  Into the lists shall send, or thither bring.

  Nor short sword for to stick with point biting

  No man shall draw, nor bear it by his side.

  And no man shall unto his fellow ride

  But one course, with a sharp y-grounden spear:

  1Foin if him list on foot, himself to wear. 1He who wishes can

  And he that is at mischief shall be take1, fence on foot to defend

  And not slain, but be brought unto the stake, himself, and he that

  That shall be ordained on either side; is in peril shall be taken1

  Thither he shall by force, and there abide.

  And if 1so fall1 the chiefetain be take 1should happen1

  On either side, or elles slay his make1, 1equal, match

  No longer then the tourneying shall last.

  God speede you; go forth and lay on fast.

  With long sword and with mace fight your fill.

  Go now your way; this is the lordes will.

  The voice of the people touched the heaven,

  So loude cried they with merry steven1: 1sound

  God save such a lord that is so good,

  He willeth no destruction of blood.

  Up go the trumpets and the melody,

  And to the listes rode the company

  1By ordinance1, throughout the city large, 1in orderly array1

  Hanged with cloth of gold, and not with sarge1. 1serge

  Full like a lord this noble Duke gan ride,

  And these two Thebans upon either side:

  And after rode the queen and Emily,

  And after them another company

  Of one and other, after their degree.

  And thus they passed thorough that city

  And to the listes came they by time:

  It was not of the day yet fully prime1. 1between 6 & 9 a.m.

  When set was Theseus full rich and high,

  Hippolyta the queen and Emily,

  And other ladies in their degrees about,

  Unto the seates presseth all the rout.

  And westward, through the gates under Mart,

  Arcite, and eke the hundred of his part,

  With banner red, is enter’d right anon;

  And in the selve1 moment Palamon 1self-same

  Is, under Venus, eastward in the place,

  With banner white, and hardy cheer1 and face 1expression

  In all the world, to seeken up and down

  So even1 without variatioun 1equal

  There were such companies never tway.

  For there was none so wise that coulde say

  That any had of other avantage

  Of worthiness, nor of estate, nor age,

  So even were they chosen for to guess.

  And 1in two ranges faire they them dress1. 1they arranged themselves

  When that their names read were every one, in two rows1

  That in their number guile1 were there none, 1fraud

  Then were the gates shut, and cried was loud;

  “Do now your devoir, younge knights proud

  The heralds left their pricking1 up and down 1spurring their horses

  Now ring the trumpet loud and clarioun.

  There is no more to say, but east and west

  In go the speares sadly1 in the rest; 1steadily

  In go the sharpe spurs into the side.

  There see me who can joust, and who can ride.

  There shiver shaftes upon shieldes thick;

  He feeleth through the hearte-spoon the prick.

  Up spring the speares twenty foot on height;

  Out go the swordes as the silver bright.

  The helmes they to-hewen, and to-shred1; 1strike in pieces

  Out burst the blood, with sterne streames red.

  With mighty maces the bones they to-brest1. 1burst

  He through the thickest of the throng gan threst1. 1thrust

  There stumble steedes strong, and down go all.

  He rolleth under foot as doth a ball.

  He foineth1 on his foe with a trunchoun, 1forces himself

  And he him hurtleth with his horse adown.

  He through the body hurt is, and 1sith take1, 1afterwards captured1

  Maugre his head, and brought unto the stake,

  As forword1 was, right there he must abide. 1covenant

  Another led is on that other side.

  And sometime doth1 them Theseus to rest, 1caused

  Them to refresh, and drinken if them lest1. 1pleased

  Full oft a day have thilke Thebans two 1these

  Together met and wrought each other woe:

  Unhorsed hath each other of them tway1 1twice

  There is no tiger in the vale of Galaphay,

  When that her whelp is stole, when it is lite1 1little

  So cruel on the hunter, as Arcite

  For jealous heart upon this Palamon:

  Nor in Belmarie there is no fell lion,

  That hunted is, or for his hunger wood1 1mad

  Or for his prey desireth so the blood,

  As Palamon to slay his foe Arcite.

  The jealous strokes upon their helmets bite;

  Out runneth blood on both their sides red,

  Sometime an end there is of every deed

  For ere the sun unto the reste
went,

  The stronge king Emetrius gan hent1 1sieze, assail

  This Palamon, as he fought with Arcite,

  And made his sword deep in his flesh to bite,

  And by the force of twenty is he take,

  Unyielding, and is drawn unto the stake.

  And in the rescue of this Palamon

  The stronge king Licurgus is borne down:

  And king Emetrius, for all his strength

  Is borne out of his saddle a sword’s length,

  So hit him Palamon ere he were take:

  But all for nought; he was brought to the stake:

  His hardy hearte might him helpe naught,

  He must abide when that he was caught,

  By force, and eke by composition1. 1the bargain

  Who sorroweth now but woful Palamon

  That must no more go again to fight?

  And when that Theseus had seen that sight

  Unto the folk that foughte thus each one,

  He cried, Ho! no more, for it is done!

  I will be true judge, and not party.

  Arcite of Thebes shall have Emily,

  That by his fortune hath her fairly won.”

  Anon there is a noise of people gone,

  For joy of this, so loud and high withal,

  It seemed that the listes shoulde fall.

  What can now faire Venus do above?

  What saith she now? what doth this queen of love?

  But weepeth so, for wanting of her will,

  Till that her teares in the listes fill1 1fall

  She said: “I am ashamed doubteless.”

  Saturnus saide: “Daughter, hold thy peace.

  Mars hath his will, his knight hath all his boon,

  And by mine head thou shalt be eased soon.”

  The trumpeters with the loud minstrelsy,

  The heralds, that full loude yell and cry,

  Be in their joy for weal of Dan1 Arcite. 1Lord

  But hearken me, and stinte noise a lite,

  What a miracle there befell anon

  This fierce Arcite hath off his helm y-done,

  And on a courser for to shew his face

  He 1pricketh endelong1 the large place, 1rides from end to end1

  Looking upward upon this Emily;

  And she again him cast a friendly eye

  (For women, as to speaken 1in commune1, 1generally1

  They follow all the favour of fortune),

  And was all his in cheer1, as his in heart. 1countenance

  Out of the ground a fire infernal start,

  From Pluto sent, at request of Saturn

  For which his horse for fear began to turn,

  And leap aside, and founder1 as he leap 1stumble

  And ere that Arcite may take any keep1, 1care

  He pight1 him on the pummel2 of his head. 1pitched 2top

  That in the place he lay as he were dead.

  His breast to-bursten with his saddle-bow.

  As black he lay as any coal or crow,

  So was the blood y-run into his face.

  Anon he was y-borne out of the place

  With hearte sore, to Theseus’ palace.

  Then was he carven1 out of his harness. 1cut

  And in a bed y-brought full fair and blive1 1quickly

  For he was yet in mem’ry and alive,

  And always crying after Emily.

  Duke Theseus, with all his company,

  Is come home to Athens his city,

  With alle bliss and great solemnity.

  Albeit that this aventure was fall1, 1befallen

  He woulde not discomforte1 them all 1discourage

  Then said eke, that Arcite should not die,

  He should be healed of his malady.

  And of another thing they were as fain1. 1glad

  That of them alle was there no one slain,

  All1 were they sorely hurt, and namely2 one, 1although 2especially

  That with a spear was thirled1 his breast-bone. 1pierced

  To other woundes, and to broken arms,

  Some hadden salves, and some hadden charms:

  And pharmacies of herbs, and eke save1 1sage, Salvia officinalis

  They dranken, for they would their lives have.

  For which this noble Duke, as he well can,

  Comforteth and honoureth every man,

  And made revel all the longe night,

  Unto the strange lordes, as was right.

  Nor there was holden no discomforting,

  But as at jousts or at a tourneying;

  For soothly there was no discomfiture,

  For falling is not but an aventure1. 1chance, accident

  Nor to be led by force unto a stake

  Unyielding, and with twenty knights y-take

  One person all alone, withouten mo’,

  And harried1 forth by armes, foot, and toe, 1dragged, hurried

  And eke his steede driven forth with staves,

  With footmen, bothe yeomen and eke knaves1, 1servants

  It was 1aretted him no villainy:1 1counted no disgrace to him1

  There may no man 1clepen it cowardy1. 1call it cowardice1

  For which anon Duke Theseus 1let cry1, — 1caused to be proclaimed1

  To stenten1 alle rancour and envy, — 1stop

  The gree1 as well on one side as the other, 1prize, merit

  And either side alike as other’s brother:

  And gave them giftes after their degree,

  And held a feaste fully dayes three:

  And conveyed the kinges worthily

  Out of his town a journee1 largely 1day’s journey

  And home went every man the righte way,

  There was no more but “Farewell, Have good day.”

  Of this bataille I will no more indite

  But speak of Palamon and of Arcite.

  Swelleth the breast of Arcite and the sore

  Increaseth at his hearte more and more.

  The clotted blood, for any leache-craft1 1surgical skill

  Corrupteth and is 1in his bouk y-laft1 1left in his body1

  That neither 1veine blood nor ventousing1, 1blood-letting or cupping1

  Nor drink of herbes may be his helping.

  The virtue expulsive or animal,

  From thilke virtue called natural,

  Nor may the venom voide, nor expel

  The pipes of his lungs began to swell

  And every lacert1 in his breast adown 1sinew, muscle

  Is shent1 with venom and corruption. 1destroyed

  Him gaineth1 neither, for to get his life, 1availeth

  Vomit upward, nor downward laxative;

  All is to-bursten thilke region;

  Nature hath now no domination.

  And certainly where nature will not wirch,1 1work

  Farewell physic: go bear the man to chirch.1 1church

  This all and some is, Arcite must die.

  For which he sendeth after Emily,

  And Palamon, that was his cousin dear,

  Then said he thus, as ye shall after hear.

  “Nought may the woful spirit in mine heart

  Declare one point of all my sorrows’ smart

  To you, my lady, that I love the most:

  But I bequeath the service of my ghost

  To you aboven every creature,

  Since that my life ne may no longer dure.

  Alas the woe! alas, the paines strong

  That I for you have suffered and so long!

  Alas the death, alas, mine Emily!

  Alas departing1 of our company! 1the severance

  Alas, mine hearte’s queen! alas, my wife!

  Mine hearte’s lady, ender of my life!

  What is this world? what aske men to have?

  Now with his love, now in his colde grave

  Al one, withouten any company.

  Farewell, my sweet, farewell, mine Emily,

  And softly take me in your armes tway,

  For love o
f God, and hearken what I say.

  I have here with my cousin Palamon

  Had strife and rancour many a day agone,

  For love of you, and for my jealousy.

  And Jupiter so 1wis my soule gie1, 1surely guides my soul1

  To speaken of a servant properly,

  With alle circumstances truely,

  That is to say, truth, honour, and knighthead,

  Wisdom, humbless1, estate, and high kindred, 1humility

  Freedom, and all that longeth to that art,

  So Jupiter have of my soul part,

  As in this world right now I know not one,

  So worthy to be lov’d as Palamon,

  That serveth you, and will do all his life.

  And if that you shall ever be a wife,

  Forget not Palamon, the gentle man.”

  And with that word his speech to fail began.

  For from his feet up to his breast was come

  The cold of death, that had him overnome1. 1overcome

  And yet moreover in his armes two

  The vital strength is lost, and all ago1. 1gone

  Only the intellect, withoute more,

  That dwelled in his hearte sick and sore,

  Gan faile, when the hearte felte death;

  Dusked1 his eyen two, and fail’d his breath. 1grew dim

  But on his lady yet he cast his eye;

  His laste word was; “Mercy, Emily!”

  His spirit changed house, and wente there,

  As I came never I cannot telle where.

  Therefore I stent1, I am no divinister2; 1refrain 2diviner

  Of soules find I nought in this register.

  Ne me list not th’ opinions to tell

  Of them, though that they writen where they dwell;

  Arcite is cold, there Mars his soule gie.1 1guide

  Now will I speake forth of Emily.

  Shriek’d Emily, and howled Palamon,

  And Theseus his sister took anon

  Swooning, and bare her from the corpse away.

  What helpeth it to tarry forth the day,

  To telle how she wept both eve and morrow?

  For in such cases women have such sorrow,

  When that their husbands be from them y-go1, 1gone

  That for the more part they sorrow so,

  Or elles fall into such malady,

  That at the laste certainly they die.

  Infinite be the sorrows and the tears

  Of olde folk, and folk of tender years,

  In all the town, for death of this Theban:

  For him there weepeth bothe child and man.

  So great a weeping was there none certain,

  When Hector was y-brought, all fresh y-slain,

  To Troy: alas! the pity that was there,

  Scratching of cheeks, and rending eke of hair.