*Whilom* as olde stories tellen us

once

and in his time swich a conqueror

such

That whilom was ycleped Scythia

called

That gretter was there noon under the sonne

sun

And broghte hire hoom with him in his contree

her home

with muchel glorye and greet solempnitee

ceremony

and eek hir gorge suster Emelye

also

and certes, if it were too long to heere

were not

how wonnen was the regne of Femenye

won

by Theseus and by his Chivalrye

knights

And of the great bataile for the nones

on the occasion

and how aseged was Ipolyta,

besieged

and of the tempest at hir hom-cominge

gnarly weather

and of the tempest at hir hom-cominge

arrival home

But al that thing I moot as now forbere:

must

I have, God woot a large field to ere

knows

I have, god woot, a large field to ere

plow

And waike been the oxen in my plough

weak

I wol nat letten eek noon of this route

hinder

I wol nat letten eek noon of this route

group

lat every felawe telle his tale aboute

in turn

in al his wele and in his moste pride,

pomp

He was war as he caste his eye aside

aware

wher that thar kneeled in the hye waye

highway

a compaigne of ladies, twaye and twaye

two

That herde swich another waymentinge

lamentation

and of this cry they nolde never stenten

cease

til thy the reines of his bridel henten

grasped

perterben so my feeste with cryinge?

disturb

or who hath you misboden or offended??

injured

whan she had swouned with a deedly cheere

swooned with a deadly expression

that it was routhe for to seen and heere

pity

But we biseeken mercy & socour

beseech, beg for

But we biseeken mercy & socour

help

som drope of pitee, thurghe thy gentilesse

gentility

upon us wrecched wommen lat thou falle

fall, descend

now we be caitives, as it wel seene,

captives

now certes, lord, to abiden your presence

wait for

Here in this temple of the Goddesse, Clemence

Clemency, mercy

That starf at Thebes — cursed the day!

perished

And yet now the old Creon, wailaway

alas

fulfild of ire and of iniquitee

fulled fill

He for despit and for his tyrannye,

malice

to doon the dede bodies vileinye

dishonor

of all oure lordes which that been slawe

slain

Hath alle the bodies on heep ydrawe

dragged

and wol nat suffren hem by noon assent

allow

neither to been yburned nor ybrent

burned

But maketh houndes ete hem in despit

spite

and with that word, withouten more respit

delay

they fillen gruf and criden pitously,

fell prone

This gentil Duc down from his courser sterte

horse

This gentil Duc down from his courser sterte

leaped

Him thoughte that his herte wolde breke

it seemed to him

and his armes he hem alle up hente

took

He wolde doon so ferforthly his might

to such an extent

Upon the tyrant Creon was of Theseus yserved

treated

and right anon withouten more abood

delay

His baner desplayeth and forth rood

unfolds

and emelye, hir yonge suster sheene

beautiful

and forth he rit there nis namore to telle

rides

the rede statue of Mars with spere and targe

shield

So shineth in his white banner large

broad

And by his baner born was his penoun

pennon

Of gold ful riche, in which there was ybete

inlaid

The Minotaur, which that he wan in Crete

won

Faire in a feeld theras he thoughte fight

intended to

He fought, and slow him manly as a knight

slew

In plain bataile, and put the folk to flight,

open

and rente adoun bothe walle and sparre and rafter

tore

and rente adoun bothe walle and sparre and rafter

beam

To doon obsequies as was tho the gise

then

to doon obsequies as was tho the gise

custom

But it were al too long for to devise

would be

That the ladies made at the brenninge

burning

and dide with al the contree as him leste

it pleased him

To ransake in the taas of bodies dede

piles

heme for to strepe of harneis and of wede

armor

heme for to strepe of harneis and of wede

clothing

the pilows diden bisnesse and cure

scavengers exerted themselves

after the bataile and disconfiture

defeat

and so bifel that in the taas they founde

happened

thurgh-girt with many a grevous bloody wounde

pierced

two yonge knightes ligging by and by

lying side by side

both in oon armes wrought ful richely

coat of arms

of which two arcita highte that oon

was called

nat fully quik me fully deed they were

quick (alive)

but by hir cote-armure and by hir gere

coat of arms

but by hir cote-armure and by hir gere

gear (armor)

the heraudes knew hem best in special

heralds

the heraudes knew hem best in special

particular

and han hem caried softe unto the tente

gently

perpetually: he holde no ransoun

refused ransom

and whan this worthy Duc hath thus ydon

done

he took his host and hoom he rit anon

rides

with laurer crowned as a conqueror

laurel

terme of his life what needeth wordes mo?

for the rest of his life?

and in a tour in anguish and in wo

tower

for evermore: there may no gold hem quite

redeem

til it fil ones in a morwe of May

morning

for with the rose colour stroof hir hewe;

for her complexion vied with the color of the rose