Ther nas no tygre in the vale of Galgopheye,
Whan that hir whelp is stole whan it is lite,
So crueel on the hunte as is Arcite
For jelous herte upon this Palamon.
Ne in Belmarye ther nys so fel leon,
Ne of his praye desireth so the blood,
As Palamon to sleen his foo Arcite.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Knight’s Tale. There are graphic similes to describe the fierceness of the battle between the two knights in the tournament. Arcite is said to be as fierce as a tiger towards a huntsman if her cub is stolen from her. Palamon is said to be as bloodthirsty towards his rival as a lion that is hunted or maddened with hunger.