But love’s a malady without a cure:  110
  Fierce love has pierced me with his fiery dart;
  He fires within, and hisses at my heart. 
  Your eyes, fair Emily, my fate pursue;
  I suffer for the rest, I die for you! 
  Of such a goddess no time leaves record,
  Who burn’d the temple where she was adored: 
  And let it burn, I never will complain,
  Pleased with my sufferings, if you knew my pain.

    At this a sickly qualm his heart assail’d,
  His ears ring inward, and his senses fail’d. 120
  No word miss’d Palamon of all he spoke,
  But soon to deadly pale he changed his look: 
  He trembled every limb, and felt a smart,
  As if cold steel had glided through his heart;
  No longer staid, but starting from his place,
  Discover’d stood, and show’d his hostile face: 
  False traitor, Arcite! traitor to thy blood! 
  Bound by thy sacred oath to seek my good,
  Now art thou found forsworn, for Emily;
  And darest attempt her love, for whom I die. 130
  So hast thou cheated Theseus with a wile,
  Against thy vow, returning to beguile
  Under a borrow’d name:  as false to me,
  So false thou art to him who set thee free. 
  But rest assured, that either thou shalt die,
  Or else renounce thy claim in Emily: 
  For though unarm’d I am, and (freed by chance)
  Am here without my sword, or pointed lance,
  Hope not, base man, unquestioned hence to go,
  For I am Palamon, thy mortal foe. 140

    Arcite, who heard his tale, and knew the man,
  His sword unsheath’d, and fiercely thus began: 
  Now by the gods who govern heaven above,
  Wert thou not weak with hunger, mad with love,
  That word had been thy last, or in this grove
  This hand should force thee to renounce thy love. 
  The surety which I gave thee, I defy: 
  Fool, not to know that love endures no tie,
  And Jove but laughs at lovers’ perjury. 
  Know I will serve the fair in thy despite; 150
  But since thou art my kinsman, and a knight,
  Here, have my faith, to-morrow in this grove
  Our arms shall plead the titles of our love: 
  And Heaven so help my right, as I alone
  Will come, and keep the cause and quarrel both unknown;
  With arms of proof both for myself and thee;
  Choose thou the best, and leave the worst to me. 
  And, that at better ease thou may’st abide,
  Bedding and clothes I will this night provide,
  And needful sustenance, that thou may’st be 160
  A conquest better won, and worthy me. 
  His promise Palamon accepts; but pray’d
  To keep it better than the first he made. 
  Thus fair they parted till the morrow’s dawn,
  For each had laid his plighted faith to pawn.