The Third Ode of the First Book of Horace, r This Appendix contains the Original Tales of Chaucer, which Dryden has modernized. The Novels of Boccacio are subjoined to the several Poetical English Versions. THE KNIGHTES TALE, BY GEOFFREY CHAUCER WHILOM, as old stories tellen us, And eke hire yonge suster Emelie. And thus with victorie and with melodie And certes, if it n'ere to long to here, How wonnen was the regne of Feminie The faire hardie quene of Scythia; This duk, of whom I made mentioun, What folk be ye that at mine home coming Perturben so my feste with crying? Quod Theseus; have ye so grete envie Of min honour, that thus complaine and crie? Or who hath you misboden, or offended? Do telle me, if that it may be amended, And why ye be thus clothed all in blake? The oldest lady of hem all than spake, Whan she had swouned with a dedly chere, That it was reuthe for to seen and here. She sayde, Lord, to whom Fortune hath yeven Victorie, and as a conqueror to liven, Nought greveth us your glorie and your honour, But we beseke you of mercie and socour: Have mercie on our wo and our distresse : Some drope of pitee thrugh thy gentillesse Upon us wretched wimmen let now fall; For certes, lord, there n'is non of us alle |