The crueel Ire, reed as any gleede... The smylere with the knyf under the cloke; The shepne brennynge with the blake smoke; The tresoun of the mordrynge in the bedde; The open werre, with woundes al bibledde; Contek, with blody knyf and sharp manace.

The crueel Ire, reed as any gleede…
The smylere with the knyf under the cloke;
The shepne brennynge with the blake smoke;
The tresoun of the mordrynge in the bedde;
The open werre, with woundes al bibledde;
Contek, with blody knyf and sharp manace.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Knight’s Tale. The Knight is describing the temple of Mars, god of war, built by Theseus in his stadium for the tournament between Arcite and Palamon. The temple portrays a bleak picture of every imaginable form of brutality and bloody conflict, violence and suffering – all caused by Mars. Arcite prays to Mars for victory in the tournament.

Geoffrey Chaucer Quotes