f. 34v

This false Arcite/ of his new fanglesse
for she to him/ so lovly was and trewe
toke lesse deynte/ for her stidfastnesse
and saw a nother lady proude and new
and ryght anon/ he clad him in her hewe
wot I not whethir/ in white. rede. or grene
And falsed fair Anelida / the quene

But nev[er] the lesse/ grete wonder was hit noon
thogh he/ wer fals / for hit is the kynde of man
sith lamek was / that os so longe agoon
to ben in love as fals/ es ev[er] he can
he was the first fader/ that began
to loven two/ and was in bigamye
And he founde tentes first but yf men lye

This fals Arcite / sumwhat most he feyne
when he wex fals / to coveren his traitorie
ryght as an hors / that can both bite and pleyn
for he bar her on honde of trecherie
And swore he coude /her doublenesse espie
and all was falsnes / that she to him ment
thus swore this thefe / and forthe his way he went

Alas what hert/ myght endure hit
for ruthe or wo / her sorow for to telle
or what man hath the cunyng / or the wit
Or what man / with in the chambre duelle
Yf I to him / rehersen shal the helle
that suffreth fair Anelida / the quene
for fals Arcite / that did her al this tene

She wepith/ waileth /swoneth pitously
to ground dede she falleth as a ston
craumpyssh her lymes / crokedly
she speketh as her wit / wer al agon
other colour then asshen / hath she noon
Ne non[e] other worde / speketh she moche or lyte
but mercie cruel hert /myn arcite