Emʹelye

The sister-in-law of “Duke Theseus,” beloved by the two knights, Palʹamon and Arʹcyte, the former of whom had her to wife. It is of this lady the poet says, “Up roos the sun, and up roos Emelye” (v. 2275).

“This passeth yeer by yeer, and day and day,

Till it fel oonës in a morne of May,

That Emelie, that fairer was to scene

Than is the lilie on hire stalkës grene,

And fresscher than the May with flourës newe …

Er it was day, as sche was wont to do,

Sche was arisen.”

Chaucer: Canterbury Tales (The Knighte’s Tale).

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.