The duke gave beautiful gifts to all the foreign knights, and there were ever so many more shows and feasts for the next three days, and the two mighty kings had the greatest honour paid them, till all men had gone home to their houses.
So there was an end of the great battle.
But Arcite did not get well so soon as they thought he would. His wound swelled up, and the sore increased at his heart more and more. He was so injured that the balms and the salves gave him no ease, and nature could not do her part. And when nature cannot work, farewell physic! there is no more to be done but carry the man to the churchyard.
In short, Arcite was evidently dying, and he sent for Emelye, who held herself his wife, and for Palamon, his cousin, and they both came to his bedside.
Then he told Emelye all the sorrow that was in his heart, at losing her whom he had loved so dearly; and how he still loved her, and wanted her to pray for him when he was dead.
Allas, the woo! allas, the peynes strongepains
That I for you have suffred, and so longe!suffered
Allas, the deth! allas, myn Emelye!death
Allas, departyng of our compainye!separating
Allas, myn hertes queen! allas, my wyf!
Myn hertes lady, endere of my lyf!
What is this world? what asken men to have?ask
Now with his love, now in his colde grave
Allone, withouten eny compainye!any
Farwel, my swete foo! myn Emelye![110]foe
And softe tak me in youre armes tweye,two
For love of God, and herkneth what I seye.hearken
“Alas, the woe! alas, the trials strong
That I for you have borne—and, ah, so long!
Alas, to die! alas, mine Emelye!
Alas, that we so soon part company!
Alas, my heart’s one queen! alas, my wife!
Ah, my heart’s lady, ender of my life!
What is life worth? what do men yearn to have?
Now with his darling—now in his cold grave,
Alone, alone, and with no company!
Farewell, my sweet foe—farewell, Emelye,
And softly take me in your arms to-day
For love of God, and listen what I say.”
Then Arcite pointed to Palamon, and said—
I have heer with my cosyn Palamon
Had stryf and rancour many a day agon
For love of yow, and for my jelousie.
·······
So Jupiter have of my soule part,
As in this world right now ne knowe I non
So worthy to be loved as Palamon,
That serveth you, and wol don al his lyf.
And if that evere ye schul ben a wyf,shall
Foryet not Palamon, the gentil man.forget
And with that word his speche faille gan,began to fail
For fro his feete up to his brest was come
The cold of deth, that hadde him overnome.[111]
And yet moreover in his armes twoalready
The vital strengthe is lost, and al ago.gone
Only the intellect, withouten more,without
That dwellede in his herte sik and sore,
Gan fayllen, when the herte felte deth;began to fail
Dusked his eyen two, and failled his breth.darkened, failed
But on his lady yit caste he his eye;
His laste word was—Mercy, Emelye.
“I have here with my cousin Palamon
Had strife and hatred days and years agone
For love of you, and for my jealousy.
········
So Jupiter have of my soul a part,
As in the whole wide world now know I none
So worthy to be loved as Palamon,
Who served you well, and will do all his life.
Therefore, if ever you shall be a wife,
Forget not Palamon, that noble 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 hath him overcome.
And now moreover, in his arms at last
The vital strength is lost, and all is past.
Only the intellect, all clear before,
That lingered in his heart so sick and sore,
Began to falter when the heart felt death,
Then his two eyes grew dark, and faint his breath,
But on his lady yet cast he his eye;
And his last word was—“Mercy, Emelye.”
He was dead.
Emelye was carried away from Arcite, fainting; and the sorrow she felt is more than I can tell. Day and night she wept, for she had learned to love Arcite as much as if he had been already her husband, so that she was nigh to dying.