Page:Tales from Chaucer.djvu/122

 down upon the garden and all its fresh verdure.

The melancholy captive pacing his chamber to and fro, bitterly regretting his fate, by chance caught a sight of Emily through the massy bars of his chamber window, and suddenly started as though stung to the heart. This roused the attention of Arcite, who thinking that he was affected by some recollection of his former fortune, tenderly enquired why he had turned so pale. 'My beloved cousin,' said he, 'for the love of heaven, take in patience our confinement;—it cannot be helped; fortune has laid this adversity upon us, and we must endure it with constancy.'

Palamon replied, 'My dear cousin, you are mistaken in the cause of my grief: the bitter restraint of this prison has not wounded me upon the present occasion, but the beauty of a lady whom I see yonder walking in the garden has so stricken my heart, that it will in all likelihood prove my bane. Whether she be woman or goddess, I know not; but if, O Venus,' said he, (and then he sank passionately on his knees,) 'it hath been thy will to be thus