Ther was a duke that highte[[2]] Theseus;

Of Athenes he was lord and governour,

And in his tyme swich a conquerour,

That gretter was ther noon under the sonne.

Ful many a riche contree hadde he wonne;

What with his wisdom and his chivalrye,

He conquered al the regne[[3]] of Femenye,

That whylom was y-cleped[[4]] Scithia;

And weddede the quene Ipolita,

And broghte hir hoom with him in his contree