| | Not fully quyk ne fully ded they were | |
| | But by hir cotearmur and by hir gere | |
| | The herowdes knew hem best in special | |
| 160 | Alas that they were of the blood ryal | |
| | Of Thebes and of sustryn two ybore | |
| | Out of the taas the pilours haue hem tore | |
| | And haue hem caried in to the tent | |
| | Of Theseus and he ful sone hem sent | |
| 165 | To Athenes to dwelle there in prison | |
| | Perpetuel he nolde no raunson | |
| | And whan this worthy duke hadde thus don | |
| | He took his ost and hom he goth anon | |
| | With laurer crowned as a conquerour | |
| 170 | And there he lyueth in ioye and in honour | |
| | Terme of his lif what nedith wordis moo | |
| | And in a tour with anguysh and with woo | |
| | Dwellith Palamon and arcite | |
| | For euermore ther may no man hem quyte | |
| | T | Hus passed yeer be yeer day be day | |
| | Tyl it fyl oues in a mornynge of may | |
| | That Emely that fairer was to se | |
| | Than is the lily vp on the stalk tree | |
| | And fressher than may with flouris newe | |
| 180 | For with the rose colour stroof hir hewe | |
| | I not whiche was the feirer of hem two | |
| | Er it was day as was her wont to doo | |
| | She was arysen and al redy dight | |
| | For may wol haue no slogard a nyght | |
| 185 | The seson pricketh euery gentyl herte | |
