Swelleth the brest of Arcite, and the soore Encreesseth at his herte moore and moore. The clothered blood, for any lechecraft, Corrupteth, and is in his bouk ylaft... The pipes of his longes gonne to swelle, And every lacerte in his brest adoun Is shent with venym and corrupcioun.

Swelleth the brest of Arcite, and the soore
Encreesseth at his herte moore and moore.
The clothered blood, for any lechecraft,
Corrupteth, and is in his bouk ylaft…
The pipes of his longes gonne to swelle,
And every lacerte in his brest adoun
Is shent with venym and corrupcioun.

– Geoffrey Chaucer

The Canterbury Tales, The Knight’s Tale. After Arcite defeats Palamon he is thrown from his horse while taking a victory lap, when the earth is shaken by a Fury from the underworld sent by Saturn. He is mortally wounded, his chest crushed. Physicians unsuccessfully try to remove the clotted blood from around his heart with leeches.

Geoffrey Chaucer Quotes