tree;
  Nor how the Dryads, or the woodland train,
  Disherited, ran howling o’er the plain: 
  Nor how the birds to foreign seats repair’d,
  Or beasts, that bolted out, and saw the forest bared:  970
  Nor how the ground, now clear’d, with ghastly fright
  Beheld the sudden sun, a stranger to the light.

    The straw, as first I said, was laid below;
  Of chips and sere-wood was the second row;
  The third of greens, and timber newly fell’d;
  The fourth high stage the fragrant odours held,
  And pearls, and precious stones, and rich array;
  In midst of which, embalm’d, the body lay. 
  The service sung, the maid with mourning eyes
  The stubble fired; the smouldering flames arise:  980
  This office done, she sunk upon the ground;
  But what she spoke, recover’d from her swound,
  I want the wit in moving words to dress;
  But by themselves the tender sex may guess. 
  While the devouring fire was burning fast,
  Rich jewels in the flame the wealthy cast;
  And some their shields, and some their lances threw,
  And gave their warrior’s ghost a warrior’s due. 
  Full bowls of wine, of honey, milk, and blood
  Were pour’d upon the pile of burning wood, 990
  And hissing flames receive, and hungry lick the food. 
  Then thrice the mounted squadrons ride around
  The fire, and Arcite’s name they thrice resound: 
  Hail, and farewell! they shouted thrice amain,
  Thrice facing to the left, and thrice they turn’d again: 
  Still as they turn’d, they beat their clattering shields;
  The women mix their cries; and clamour fills the fields. 
  The warlike wakes continued all the night,
  And funeral games were play’d at new returning light;
  Who naked wrestled best, besmear’d with oil, 1000
  Or who with gauntlets gave or took the foil,
  I will not tell you, nor would you attend;
  But briefly haste to my long story’s end.

    I pass the rest; the year was fully mourn’d,
  And Palamon long since to Thebes returned: 
  When, by the Grecians’ general consent,
  At Athens Theseus held his parliament: 
  Among the laws that pass’d, it was decreed,
  That conquer’d Thebes from bondage should be freed;
  Reserving homage to the Athenian throne, 1010
  To which the sovereign summon’d Palamon. 
  Unknowing of the cause, he took his way,
  Mournful in mind, and still in black array.

    The monarch mounts the throne, and, placed on high,
  Commands into the court the beauteous Emily: 
  So call’d, she came; the senate rose, and paid
  Becoming reverence to the royal maid. 
  And first, soft whispers through the assembly went;
  With silent wonder then they watch’d the event: 
  All hush’d, the king arose with awful grace, 1020
  Deep thought was in his breast, and counsel in his face. 
  At length he sigh’d; and having first prepared
  The attentive audience, thus his will declared: