He hath considered shortly, in a clause, The trespas of hem bothe, and eek the cause, And although that his ire hir gilt accused, Yet in his resoun he hem bothe excused, As thus: he thoghte wel that every man Wol helpe hymself in love, if that he kan, And eek delivere hymself out of prisoun. And eek his herte hadde compassioun Of wommen, for they wepen evere in oon.

He hath considered shortly, in a clause,
The trespas of hem bothe, and eek the cause,
And although that his ire hir gilt accused,
Yet in his resoun he hem bothe excused,
As thus: he thoghte wel that every man
Wol helpe hymself in love, if that he kan,
And eek delivere hymself out of prisoun.
And eek his herte hadde compassioun
Of wommen, for they wepen evere in oon.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Knight’s Tale. Theseus attempts to balance the needs for justice and mercy, after he discovers Palamon and Arcite feuding over Emily. Though he is angry at their trespass, he understands that every man will help himself in love, and he also has compassion for the women. So he decides not to execute the knights and excuses them.

Geoffrey Chaucer Quotes