Walter William Skeat

“ Than fro the deeth, for I wol go with thee!
⁠'And now, ye wrecched Ielous fadres oure, 900
We, that weren whylom children youre,
We prayen yow, withouten more envye,
That in o grave y-fere we moten lye,
Sin love hath brought us to this pitous ende!
And rightwis god to every lover sende, 905
That loveth trewely, more prosperitee (201)
Than ever hadde Piramus and Tisbe!
And lat no gentil woman her assure
To putten her in swiche an aventure.
But god forbede but a woman can 910
Been as trewe and loving as a man! ”

“ And eek his swerd, that him hath doon to dethe;
Than spak she thus: 'My woful hand,' quod she, 890
'Is strong y-nogh in swiche a werk to me;
For love shal yive me strengthe and hardinesse
To make my wounde large y-nogh, I gesse. ”

“ And, with that worde, his swerd she took as swythe,
That warm was of her loves blood and hoot,
And to the herte she her-selven smoot. 915
⁠And thus ar Tisbe and Piramus ago. (211)
Of trewe men I finde but fewe mo
In alle my bokes, save this Piramus,
And therfor have I spoken of him thus.
For hit is deyntee to us men to finde 920
A man that can in love be trewe and kinde.
Heer may ye seen, what lover so he be,
A woman dar and can as wel as he.
Explicit legenda Tesbe.
707. tovne; queene. 710. tovne. 711. grete. 712. C. nygh; F. neigh. 714. grette. 715. C. hadde ”