THE KNIGHT'S TALE
go to and fro so hideously that the least of their blows, it seemeth, would fell an oak. Who they be he knoweth not, but he smiteth his courser with the spurs, and at a bound is betwixt them, and out with his sword and crieth: "Ho! no more, on pain of losing your heads. By mighty Mars, but he shall die at once that smiteth any stroke more. But tell me what sort of men be ye that be so hardy as here to fight without judge or other officer, as if it were a royal lists."
This Palamon answered instantly: "Sire, what need of further words? We have deserved the death, both of us. Two woeful wretches be we, two caitiffs, wearied of our own lives; and as thou art a just lord and judge, grant us neither mercy nor escape; slay me first, for the sake of holy charity, but eke slay my fellow as well. Or slay him first, for, though thou knowest it but little, this is thy mortal foe, this is Arcite, that is banished from thy land on pain of death, for which he hath deserved to die. This is he that came to thy palace-door and said that his name was Philostrate. Thus many a year hath he tricked thee, and thou hast made him thy chief squire. And this is he that loveth Emily. For I make plainly my confession, sith the day of my death is come, that I am that woeful Palamon that broke thy prison wickedly. I am thy mortal foe; and I love so hot the glorious Emily that I would die in her sight. Therefore I ask my sentence and death, but slay my fellow in the same wise, for we both have deserved to be slain."
The worthy duke answered at once, and said: "This is a short conclusion : your own mouth hath condemned you, and I will witness to it. It needeth not to torment you with the cord, ye shall die, by mighty Mars the red!"
The queen, for very womanhood, gan anon for to weep, and
37
