| | Bothe sufficient and mete to darreygne | |
| | The bataylle in the feld betwix hem tweyne | |
| 775 | And on his hors alone as he was born | |
| | He caryed the harneis hym beforn | |
| | And in the groue at tyme and place set | |
| | This arcite and this Palamon been met | |
| | To chaunge gan the colour in her face | |
| 780 | Right as hunters the in regne of trace | |
| | That stondeth at the gappe with a spere | |
| | Whan huntyd is the lioun and the bere | |
| | And herith hym come russhing in the greuys | |
| | And brekith bothe bowes and eke the leuys | |
| 785 | And thinkith here comyth my mortal enemy | |
| | Withoute fayle he muste be ded or I | |
| | For eyther I moste sle hym atte gappe | |
| | Or he muste sle me yf I mys happe | |
| | So ferden they in chaunging of her hue | |
| 790 | As fer as ony of hem other knewe | |
| | Ther nas no good day ne saluynge | |
| | But streyght withoute wordis or rehercyng | |
| | Euerich of hem helpith to arme other | |
| | As frendly as he were his owen brother | |
| 795 | And aftir that with sharpe speris strong | |
| | They foynen eche at other longe | |
| | Thou myghtist wene that this Palamon | |
| | In his fighting were a lioun | |
| | And as a cruel tigre was arcite | |
| 800 | As wilde boris gan they to geder smyte | |
| | That freten whit as foom for ire wood | |
