Toward Athenes in his wey rydinge,

And founde I wol in shortly for to bringe

The slye wey of that I gan to wryte,

Of quene Anelida and fals Arcite.

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Mars, which that through his furious course of yre,

The olde wrath of Iuno to fulfille,

Hath set the peples hertes bothe on fyre

Of Thebes and Grece, everich other to kille

With blody speres, ne rested never stille,