THE KNIGHTES TALE. 1JI
. Joye after woo, and woo after gladnesse : And schewede hem ensamples and liknesse.
* Right as ther deyde nevere man/ quod he, * That he ne lyvede in earth in som degree, Right so ther lyvede nevere man/ he seyde, £ In al this world, that som tyme he ne deyde. This world nys but a thurghfare ful of woo, And we ben pilgryms, passyng to and fro; Deth is an ende of every worldly sore.7 And over al this yit seide he mochel more To this effect, ml wysly to enhorte The peple, that they shulde hem reconforte.
Duk Theseus, with al his busy cure, Cast now wher that the sepulture Of good Arcyte may best y-maked be. And eek most honorable in his degre. And atte laste he took conclusioun, That ther as first Arcite and Palamon Hadden for love the bataille hem betwene, That in that selve grove, swoote and greene, Ther as he hadde his amorouse desires, His compleynte, and for love his hoote fyres, He wolde make a fyr, in which thoffice Of funeral he mighte al accomplice ; And Jeet comaunde anon to hakke and hewe The okes olde, and leye hem on a re we In culpons wel arrayed for to brenne, His officers with swifte feet they renne, And ryde anon at his comaundement. And after this, Theseus hath i-sent After a beer, and it al overspradde With cloth of gold, the richeste that he hadde. And of the same suyte he cladde Arcyte j Upon his hondes hadde he gloves white; Eek on his heed a-coroune of laurer grene, And in his hond a swerd ful bright and kene. He leyde him bare the visage on the beere,