Page:Tales from Chaucer.djvu/127

 barren of her sweet favour. Farewell, dear lady! my life, my comfort, my gladness!'

Palamon, on the other hand, when he found his companion in durance gone from him—his cousin, brother, counsellor, and friend—grievously lamented his own fate, and made the great tower resound with lamentation: the very fetters on his legs were wet with bitter tears. 'Alas!' said he, 'Arcite, heaven knows that you are now reaping the fruit of our contention. You are now wandering at large in your native Thebes, little heeding my distress. You may, in your wisdom and manhood, assemble all our kindred, and make so fierce an attack upon this country, that either by chance or treaty, you may be able to win my lady to wife. For, since you are now from bondage free, and a lord again, all the advantage is yours; while I am pining away in captivity.'

With this the fire of jealousy burst forth, and so maddened his brain, that his hue became pale as dead ashes: and he cried aloud, 'ye implacable gods! that govern this world by the bond of your eternal word, and whose will and ordinances are graven on tables of