So when a tiger sucks the bullock’s blood,
  A famish’d lion issuing from the wood 630
  Roars lordly fierce, and challenges the food: 
  Each claims possession, neither will obey,
  But both their paws are fasten’d on the prey;
  They bite, they tear; and while in vain they strive,
  The swains come arm’d between, and both to distance drive.

    At length, as Fate foredoom’d, and all things tend
  By course of time to their appointed end;
  So when the sun to west was far declined,
  And both afresh in mortal battle join’d,
  The strong Emetrius came in Arcite’s aid, 640
  And Palamon with odds was overlaid: 
  For turning short, he struck with all his might
  Full on the helmet of the unwary knight. 
  Deep was the wound; he stagger’d with the blow,
  And turn’d him to his unexpected foe;
  Whom with such force he struck, he fell’d him down,
  And cleft the circle of his golden crown. 
  But Arcite’s men, who now prevail’d in fight,
  Twice ten at once surround the single knight: 
  O’erpower’d, at length, they force him to the ground, 650
  Unyielded as he was, and to the pillar bound;
  And King Lycurgus, while he fought in vain
  His friend to free, was tumbled on the plain.

    Who now laments but Palamon, compell’d
  No more to try the fortune of the field! 
  And, worse than death, to view with hateful eyes
  His rival’s conquest, and renounce the prize!

    The royal judge, on his tribunal placed,
  Who had beheld the fight from first to last,
  Bade cease the war; pronouncing from on high, 660
  Arcite of Thebes had won the beauteous Emily. 
  The sound of trumpets to the voice replied,
  And round the royal lists the heralds cried,
  Arcite of Thebes has won the beauteous bride!

    The people rend the skies with vast applause;
  All own the chief, when Fortune owns the cause. 
  Arcite is own’d even by the gods above,
  And conquering Mars insults the Queen of Love. 
  So laugh’d he, when the rightful Titan fail’d,
  And Jove’s usurping arms in heaven prevail’d. 670
  Laugh’d all the powers who favour tyranny;
  And all the standing army of the sky. 
  But Venus with dejected eyes appears,
  And, weeping on the lists, distill’d her tears;
  Her will refused, which grieves a woman most,
  And, in her champion foil’d, the cause of Love is lost. 
  Till Saturn said, Fair daughter, now be still,
  The blustering fool has satisfied his will;
  His boon is given; his knight has gain’d the day,
  But lost the prize; the arrears are yet to pay; 680
  Thy hour is come, and mine the care shall be
  To please thy knight, and set thy promise free.