man And asked hym how that it was And bardus told hym all the â—s How that the serpent eke the besâ— Al though they made none biheste His trauaylle had wel quyt But he that had a mannes wyt And made his couenaunt by mouthe And swore therto al that he couthe To parte gyue halue his good Hath now forgeten how that it stood As he that wold no trouthe holde This Emperour al that he tolde Hath herd that vnkyndenesse He seid he wold hym self redressâ— And thus in Courte of Iugement This Adryan was after sent And the quarell in aâ—dyence Declared was in his presence Of the Emperour many moo Wherof was moche speche tho And grete woÌ„dryng among the pâ—â—sâ— But at the last neuerthelese For the party whiche hath pleyned The lawe hath demed ordeyned By hem that were auysed webe That he shall haue the haluendelâ— Thorugh oute of Adryans good And thus of that vnkynde blode Stondeth the memorye vnto this day Where thorugh that euery wyse maÌ„ may Ensamplyn hym took in mynde What shame it is to be vnkynde Ageyne the whiche reson debateth And euery creature it hateth For thy my sone in thy offyce I rede thou flee that ylke vyce For right aâ— the Cronycle sâ—yâ—â— How Adryan he his feyth Forgate for worldes couâ—fysâ— Ful oft in suche a maner wysâ— Of louers now a man may see Ful many that vnkynd â—â— For wel to promyse euyl to lasâ— That is here lyf for at the last Whan that they haue hir â—â—ylle done Hir loue is gone after soone What saist thou soone to this â—as My fader I wol saye allas That euer was suche a man borne That â—hen he hath his trouthe swornâ— And hath of loue what he wold That he ony tyme shold Euer in his berde after fyndâ— To be fals or to be vnkynde But fader as touchend of me I may not stonde in that degre For I took neuer of loue why That I â—e may goo therby And doo my profiâ—e els where For ony spede I fynd there I may wel thynk al aboutâ— But I dare not speke it ouâ—â— And yf I durst I wold pleynâ— That she for whome I suffre peynâ— And loue euer hyr y lyche hotâ— That nother gyft nother byhote In rewardyng of my seruyce Hit lyst hyr in no maner wyse I wylle not sey that she is kynde And for to seye that she is vnkynde That dare I not but god aboue The whiche demeth eâ—â—ry herte of loue He wote that on myn owne side Shall not vnkyndenes abyde If that I shall with my lady dwellâ— Therof dare I no more telle Now good fader as it is Telle me what ye thenke of this My sone of that vnkyndeship The whiche toward thy ladyship Thou pleynest for she wyll the nought Thou arte to blame in that thought For it may be that thy desyre Though it brenne euer as doth the firâ— â—â—r â—as to hir honoure mysset Or els tyme cometh not yet The whiche stondeth vpon thy destyne For thy my sone I rede the Thynke wel what euer the bifalle For no man hath his lustes alle But as thou toldest me biforne That thou to loue art not forsworn And hast do no vnkyndenysse Thou myght therof thy grace blysse And leue not for thy contenannce Forther may be no suche gâ—â—uaunce To loue as it is vnkyndeship Wherfore to kepe thy worship So as the olde bokes tale I shalle the telle a â—â—dy tale Now herâ—en be wel ware therby For I wyl 〈◊〉 it openly Hic ponit exemplum contra istos â—i â—os amoâ— ingratoe Et narrat qualiter Theseus cadani filius consilio suffultus Adriane Regis Mynos filie in domo qd â—aâ—orinthus dicitur Minotaurum vincit vnde Theseus Adriane sponsalia certissime pâ—omittens ipsam vna cum fedra sorore sua a Creta secum nauigio duxit Sâ—d statim postea oblito gratitudinis beneficio Adrianam ipsum saluantem in insula chion spretam post tergum reliquit fedraÌ„ A the nis sibi sponsatam ingratis coronauit in Ynos as telleth the poete The wiche was soÌ„tyme kynge of Crete A sone he had androche He hyght and so befellâ— that he â—nto Athenis for to â—ere Was sent so he bare hym there For that he was of his lygnage Suche pryde he tooke in his courage That 〈◊〉 forgeten hath the scoles And in ryote among fooles He dyd many thynges wrong And vsed that lyf so long Til at the last of that be wrought He fond the meschyef that whiche he souÈt Where thorugh he felle that he was slayn His fader the whiche it herd sayn Was wrothe all that euer he myght Of men of armes he hym dyght A strong power forth he went Vnto Athenis where he brent The pleyne countre al about The Cytees stode of hym in doute As they no defence hadde Ageyne the power that he ladde Egeus that was there kyng His couÌ„ceylle took vppon this thynge For he was than in the Cyte Soo that of pees in to trete Bitwene mynos and Egeus They fele ben acorded thus That kyng mynos fro yere to yere Receyue shal as thou shalt here Oute of Athenys for truage Of men that were of myghty age Persones nyne of whiche he shall His wyll doo in special For vengeaunce of his sonnes deth None other grace there ne geth But for to take the Iuyse And for that was done in suche a wyse The whiche stood in a wonder ca as For that tyme so it was Wherof that men yet rede and synge Kyng mynos had in his kepyng A cruel monstre as seith the geste For he was half man half beeste And mynotaurus he was hote The whiche was bigoten in a ryote Vppon Phasyfe his owne wyf Whiles he was oute vpon the strif Of that greete syege of Troye But she that lost hath al ioye When that she sawe this moustre bore Bad men ordeyne another fore And it felle that same tyme thus There was a Clerk one Dedalus That had ben of hir assent Of that hir world hath myswent As he that made of his owne wyt Wherof the remembraunce is yet For mynotaure suche a how 's That was so strong merueylous That what man within went There was soo many a dyuerse went That he ne shall come oute But go amasyd al aboute And in this how 's to loke warde Was mynotaurus put in warde That what lyf that therm cam Man or beest he ouercam And slewe and fedde hym therupon And in this wise many one Of Athenys for truage Deuoured were in that rage For euery yere they shopen hem so They of Athenys or they go Toward thylke woful channce As it was set in ordynaunce Vpon fortune her lot they caste Til that Theseus at the last The whiche was the kynges sonne there Amonges other that there were In that there as it be felle The lot vppon his chaunce felle He
Nay sayd Florent that may not be Ryde then forth thy wey quod she And yf thou go forth withoute rede Thou shalt be sekerlyche dede Florent behyght good ynough Of lond of rent of parke of plough But al that she compteth nought Tho felle this knyÈt in mochel thouÈt Now goth heâ— forth now cometh ayene He not what is best to seyne And thought as he rode to fro That chose he mote one of the two Or for to take hyr to his wyf Or elles to lese his lyf And than he cast his auauntage That she was of so grete an age That she may lyue but a whyle And thought to put her in an I le Where that noman her shold knowe Tyl she with deth were ouerthrowe And thus this yong lusty â–ª knyght Vnto this old lothely wyght Tho sayd yf that none other chaunce May make my delyueraunce But only thylke same speche Whiche as thou â—eyst thou shalt me teche Haue here myn hoÌ„d I shal the Wedde And thus his trouth he leid to Weddeâ— With that she frouÌ„ceth vp that browe This couenaunt wol I alowe She sayth yf ony other thyng But that thou hast of my techyng Fro deth thy body may respyte I wol the of thy trouthe acquyte And elles by none other weye Now herken me what I shal seye Whan thou art come in to the place Where now they maken grete manace And vpon thy comyng abyde They wol anone the same tyde Oppose the of thyne ansuere I wote thou wolt no thyng forbere Of that thou wenest be thy best And yf thou myght so fynde rest Wel is for than is ther more And elles this shal be my lore That thou shalt say vpon this molde That al women leuest wolde Be souerayne of mannes loue For what woman is so aboue She sayth as who sayth al her wylle And elles may she nought fulfylle What thyng were here leuest haue With this ansuer thou shalt saue Thy self otherwyse nought And whan thou hast thy ende wrouÈt Come here ayene thou shalt me fynde And lete nothyng oute of thy mynde He goth hym forth with heuy chere As â—e that not in what manere He may this worldes Ioye atteyne For yf he dye he hath a peyne And yf he lyue he mote hym bynde To suche a wytche of old kynde Of women the vnsemelyest Thus wote he not what is the best But be hym lyef or be hym â–ª loth Vnto the Castel forth he goth His ful ansuere for to yeue Or for to dye or for to lyue Forth with his counseyll cam the lord The thynges stonden of record He send vp for the lady sone And forth she cam that old mone In presence of the remenaunt The strengthe of al the couenaunt Tho was reherced openly And to Florent she bad par dy That shal tellen his auys As he that wote what is the prys Florent sayth al that euer he couthe But suche word cam none to mouthe That he for yefte or for byheste Myght ony wyse his deth areste And thus he taryeth long late Tyl this lady bad algate That shal for the dome fynal Yeue his ansuere in specyal Of that she had fyrst opposed And than he hath truly supposed That he hym may of nothyng yelpe But yf so be tho wordes helpe Whiche as the woman hath hym tauÈt Wherof he hath an hope caught That he shal be excused so And told oute pleyne his wylle tho And whan this matrone herd The maner how this knyght ansuerd She sayd treson wo the be That hast thus told the pryuyte Whiche al women most desyre I wold that thou were on fyre But netheles in suche a plyght Florent of his ausuer is quyt And tho bygan his soro we newe For he mote gone or be vntrewe To her whiche his trouthe had But he whiche al shame drad Goth forth in stede of his penaunce And taketh the fortune of his chauÌ„ce As he that was with trouth affayted This olde wyght hym hath awayted In place where â–ª as he her in â–ª lefte Florent his woful hede vp lyfte And sawe this where that she sytte Which was the lothest wyghte That euer man cast on his eye Here noseâ—baas â–ª her browes hyghe Hyr eyen smal depe sett Hyr chekes ben with teres weet And ryuelyn as in an empty skyn Hangyng doune vnto the chyn Her lyppes ben shronken for age Ther â–ª was no grace in her vysage Hyr front was narwe hir lockes hore She loketh forth as doth a more Her neck is short her shulders courbe That myght a mannes lust distourbe Here body grete no thyng small And shortly for to descryue hyr all She hath no lyth withoute a lak But lyche vnto the wolle sak She profereth hyr vnto this knyght And bad hym as he behyght So as she bath by his warrant That he hyr helde couenaunt And by the brydel she hym seseth But god wote how that she hym pleseth Of suche wordes as she speketh Hym thynketh wel nyghe his hert bre keth â–ª For sorowe that he may fle But yf he wold vntrewe be Loke how a seke man for his hele Taketh baldemony with canele And with the myrre the sucre Ryght on suche maner lucre Stant Florent in this dyete He drynketh the bitter with the swete He medleth sorowe with lykyng And lyueth as who sayth deyng His thought shal be cast awey Vpon suche one as that the wey Is old lothly oueralle But nede he mote that nede shalle He wold algate his trouthe holde As euery knyght therto is holde What hap so euer to hym is falle Though she be foulest of alle The honour of womanhede Hym thought he shold take heede So that for pure gentilnesse As he couthe hyr best adresse In ragges as she was to tore He set hir on his hors to fore And forth he taketh his weye softe No wonder though he sygheth ofte But as an oule fleeth by nyght Out of al other byrdes syght Ryght so this knyght on dayes brode In close hym helde shope his rode On nyghtes tyme tyll the tyde That he come ther he wold abyde And pryuely withoute noyse He bryngeth this foule grete coyse To his Castel in suche a wyse That noman myght her shap auyse Tyl she in to chambre came Where he his preuy counseylle name Of suche men as he most trust And told hem that he nedes must This beste wedde vnto his wyf For elles he had lost his lyf The pryue women were assent That shold be of his assent Her ragges they anone of drawe And as it was that tyme lawe She had bath she had rest And was arrayed to the best But with no craft of combes brode They myght dâ—esse her lockes shode And she ne wold not be shore For no counseyl therfore With suche a tyre as tho was vsed Ordeynen that it was excused And had so crafte lyche aboute That noman myght seen hem oute But whan she was fully
ended Al redy was the bord cloth The kyng vnto his souper goth Among the lordes to the halle And when they had souped alle They when leue forth they go The kyng bythought hym seluen tho Hou he his broder may chastye That he thought his surquedrye Took vpon hond to dispreyse Humylyte whiche is to preyse And therupon yaf suche counseylle Toward his kyng that was vnheyle Wherof to be the better lered Hym thynketh to make hym afered It felle so that in thylke dawe Ther was ordeyned by the lawe A Trompe with a sterne breth Whiche was cleped the Trompe of deth And in the Court where the kyng was A certeyne man a Trompe of bras Hath in kepyng therof serueth That whan a lord his deth deserueth He shall this dredefull Trompe blowe To fore his gate make it knowe How that the jugement is yeue Of deth whiche shal not be foryeue The kyng when it was nyght anone This man assent bad hym gone To trompen at his broders gate And he whiche mote done algate Goth forth doth the kynges heste This lord whiche herd this tempeste That he to fore his gate blewe Tho wyst he by the lawe knewe That he was sekerlyche dede And as of helpe he wyst no rede But sende for his frendes alle And told hem how it is byfalle And they hym axe cause why But he the soth not for thy Ne wyst ther was sow we tho For it stode thylk tyme so This Trompe was of suche sentence That ther ayene no resystence They coude ordeyne by no weye That he ne mote algate deye But yf so be he may purchace To gete his lyege lordes grace Here wyttes therupon cast And len appoynted at last This lord a worthy lady had Vnto his wyf whiche also drad Her lordes deth childre fyue Bytwene hem two they had on lyne That weren yong tendre of age And of stature of vysage Ryght fayr lusty to see Tho casten they that he she Forth with her childre on the morowe As they that were full of sorowe Al naked but of smok shyrte To tendre with the kynges herte His grace shold go to seche And pardon of deth biseche Thus passen they that wofull nyght And erly when it was lyght They gone hem forth in suche a wyse As thou to fore hast herd deuyse All naked but hyr shyrtes one They wepte made mochel mone Hyr here hanged aboute hyr ere 's With sobbyng with sory terys This lord goth then an humble pas That whylome proud noble was Wherof the Cyte sore a flyght Of hem that sawen that ylke syght And netheles al openly With suche wepyng suche cry Forth with his children his wyf He goth to pray for his lyf Vnto the court whan thry be come And men therin hath hyed nome There was no wyght yf he hem syghe From water myght kepe his eye For sow we they maden tho The kyng supposyth of this wo And feyneth as he nought ne wyst But netheles at his vpryst Men told hym how it ferde And whan that he this wonder herde In hast he goth in to the halle And al attones doune they falle If ony pyte may be founde The kyng which seth hem fell to grouÌ„de Hath axed hem what is the fere Why be ye so dispoylled there His broder sayd A lord mercy I wote none other cause why But only that this nyght ful late The Trompe of deth was at my gate In tokene that I shold dye Thus we be come for to preye That ye my worldes deth respyte Ha foole thou thou art for to wyte The kyng vnto his broder seyde That thou art of so lytel freyd That only for a Trompes soune Hath gone dispoilled thorugh the toune Thou thy wyf in suche manere Forth with thy children that ben here In syght of all men aboute For that thou sayst thou art in doute Of deth whiche stant vnder the lawe Of man man may it withdrawe So that it may per chaunce faylle Now shalt thou not for thy meruaylle That I doune from my chare alyght When I behelde to fore my syght In hem that were of so grete age Myn owne deth thorugh her ymage Which god hath set by lawe of kynde Wherof I may no bote fynde For well I wote suche as they be Ryght suche am I in my degre Of flesshe blood so shal deye And thus though I that lawe obeye Of whiche that kynges be put vnder It ought be wel the lesse wonder Then thou whiche art withoute nede For lawe of lond in suche a drede Whiche for to accompt is but a iape As thyng which thou myÈt ouerscape For thy my broder after this I rede that sethyn that so is That thou canst drede a man so sore Drede god with al thyne hert more For al shal dye al shal passe As wel a lyon as an asse As wel a begger as a lord Toward deth in one acord That shal stonde in this wyse The kyng with his wordes wyse His broder taught al foryeue Confessor For thy my sone yf thou lyue In vertu thou must vyce eschewe And with lowe hert huÌ„blesse sewe So that thou be not Surquedous Amans My fadre I am amerous Wherof I wold you beseche That ye me ensample teche Whiche myÈt in loues cause stonde Confessor My sene thou shalt vnderstonde In loue other thynges alle If that Surquedrye falle It may to hym not wel be tyde Whiche vseth thylk vyce pryde Whiche torneth wysedome to wenyng And sothfastnesse in to lesyng Though foule ymagynacyon And for thyn enformacyon That thou thre vyce as I the rede Esche we shalt a tale I rede Whiche felle whilome by dayes olde So that the clerk Ouyde tolde hIc in specyaali tractat Confessor aâ— in Amante contra illos qui de propri a formositate presumeÌ„te amorem Mu hens dedignantur Et narrat Exemplum qualiter cuiusdam principis filiê° Nomine Narcizus estiuo tempore cum ipse venacionis causa quendam ceruuÌ„ selue cuÌ„ suis canibus exagitaret in gra uem sitim incurrens necessitate coÌ„pulsus ad bibendum de quodam fonte pro mis incâ—nauit vbi Ipse faciem suam pulchirrimam in aqua percipieÌ„s putabat se per hoc illam Nimpham quam Poete Ekko woont in flumine coram suis oculis conspeyisse de cuius amore confestim laqucatus vt Ipse ad se de fente extra haberet pluriâ—ê° blandicijs adâ—sabatur sed cum illud nullatenus perfiâ—ere poit pre nimio languore deficiens coÌ„tra lapides ibidem adiacentre caput exuerferans cerebruÌ„ effudit â— He was whilom a lords soÌ„ne Which of his pride a vice woÌ„ne Hath caught that worthy to his lyche To sechen al the worldes riche 〈◊〉 was no woman for to loue So â—â—ghe he set hym self aboue Of stature of beaute bothe That hym thought
he nedes mote To geten his lyues fode Tho thought hym cold gras goode That whilome ete the hotâ— spyces Thus was he torned from delyces The wyn was wonte to drynke He took thenne of the welles brynke Or of the pyt or of the slough It thought hym then good ynough In stede of chambres wel arayed He was than of a busshe wel payed The hard ground he lay vpon For other pylowes had he non The stormes the raynes falle The wyndes blowe vpon hym alle He tormented day nyght Suche was the hyghe goddes myght Tyl seuen yere an ende toke Vpon hym self tho gan he loke In stede of mete grâ—s treys In stede of handes long cleys In stede of man a beste lyke He sawe than he gan to syke For cloth of gold of perrye Whiche hym was wonte to magnyâ—ye When he byheld his cote of here 's He wepte with woful teres Vp to the heuen he cast his chere Wepend thought in this manere Though he no wordes may wynne Thus sayd his hert spak withynne O myghty god that al hast wrought And al myÈt brynge ageyne to nouÈt Now knowe I but al of the This world hath no prosperyte In thyn aspect ben al alyche The poure man eke the ryche Withoute the ther may no wyght And thou aboue al other myght O myghty lord to ward my vyce Thy mercy medle with Iustyce And I wol make a couenaunt That of my lyf the remenaunt I shal it by the grace amende And in thy lawe so dispende That veyn glorye I shal eschewe And bowe vnto thyn heste sewe Humylyte that I vowe And so thenkend he gan doune bowe And though hym lacke boys speehe He gan with his fete areche And wenend in his beestly steuene He made his pleynt vnto the heuene He kneleth in his wyse brayeth To seche mercy assayeth His god whiche made hym nothyng strauÌ„ge When that he saw his pride chaÌ„ge Anone as he was huÌ„ble tame He fond toward his god the same And in a twynkelyng of a look His mannes forme ageyne he took And was reformed to the Reygne In which that he was wont to reygne So that the pryde of veyn glorye Euer afterward oute of memorye He lete it passe thus it shewed What is to ben of pryde vnthe wed Ageyne the hyghe goddes lawe To whome no man may be felawe For thy my sone take good hede So for to lede thy manhede That thou be not lyke a beste But yf thy lyf shal be honeste Thou must humblesse take on honde For than myght thou syker stonde And for to speke in other wyse A proud man can not assise For thouÈ a womaÌ„ wold hym please His pryde can not ben at ease Ther may noman to mochel blame A vyce whiche is for to blame For thy men shulden nothyng hyde That myght falle in blame of pryde Whiche is the worst vyce of alle Wherof so as it was byfalle The tale I thynke of a Cronyque To telle yf it may the lyke So that thou myght humblesse sewe And eke the vyce of pryde eschewe Wherof the glorye is fals veyne Which god hym self hath in dysdeyne That though it mounte for athrowe It shall falle doune ouerthrowe Est virtê° humilis per quam deus altus ad yma Sed tulit nostre viscera carnis habet Sic humibis superest et amâ—â— sibi subditur omnis Cuius habet nulla sorte superbus opem Odit eum tetra celum defecit et ipsum Sedibus interm stat que receptus ibi hIc narrat Confessor ExeÌ„plum contra superbiam Et dicit ê™ nuper quidam Rex famose prudencie cuidam Militi suo super questionibus vt inde certitudinis responsioneÌ„ daret subpena capitalis seutencie terminum pre fixit Primo quid minoris indigencie ab inhabitantibê° orbem auxilium maius obtinuit Secundo quid maioris valencie meritum continens minoris expense reprisas exiguÌ„t Tercio qid oiÌ„a bona diminuens ex sui proprietate nichil penitus valuit Quarum vero questionnm quedam virgo dicti militis filia nomine patris solucionem aggredi ens taliter Regi respondit Ad primaÌ„ dixit quod terra nullius indiget quaÌ„ tnÌ„ adiuuare cotidianis laboribê° omnes intendunt Ad secundam dixit ê™ humi litas omnibus virtutibus preualet qÌ„ tamen nullius prodegalitatis expensis meÌ„suram excedit Ad terciam dixit ê™ suê‘bia omnia tam corporis qmÌ„ anime bona deuastans maiorum expensarum excessus inducit aKing was whilom yoÌ„g wise The which of his wit set grete pryce Of depe ymagynacyoÌ„s And straunge Interpretacions Problemes demauÌ„des eke His wysedom was to fynde seke Wherof he wold in sondry wyse Opposen hem that were wyse But none of hem it myght vere Vpon his word to yeue ansuere Out taken one whiche was a knyght To hym was euery thyng so lyght That also sone as he hem herde The kynges wordes ansuerde What thyng the kynge axe wolde Ther anone the trouthe he tolde The kyng somdele had an enuye And thouÈt he wold his wyttes plye To set som conclusyon Whiche shold be confusyon Vnto this knyght so that the name And of wysedome the hyghe fame To ward hym self he wold wynne And thus of al his wyt to wynne The kyng bygan to study muse What straunge mater be myght vse The knyghtes wyttes to confounde And at last he hath it founde And for the knyght anone he sent That he shal telle what he ment Vpon the poyntes of the mater Of questions as thou shalt here The fyrst poynt of al thre Was this What thyng in al degre Of al this World hath nede lest And yet men helpe it alther mest The second What most is worth And of costage is lest put forth The thyrd is whiche is of most coste And lest is worth goth to loste The kyng these thre demauÌ„des axeth To the knyght this lawe he taxeth That he shal gone come ageyne The thyrd weke telle hym pleyne To euery poynt what it amounteth And yf so be that he myscounteth To make in his ansuere a faylle Ther shal none other thyng faylle The kyng sayth that he shal be dede And lese his goodes his hede The knyght was sory of this thynge And wold excuse hym to the kyng But he ne wold hym not forbere And thus this knyght of his ansuere Goth home to take auyfement But after his entendement The more he cast his wytte aboute Therof he stant the more in doute Tho wyst he wel the kynges hert That he the deth ne shold astert And suche a sow we has to hym take That gladship he hath forsake He thought fyrst vpon his lyf And after that vpon his wyf Vpon his childee eke also Of whiche he had doughters two The yongest of hem had in age Fourtene yere of vysage She was ryght
Rex Allee sciâ—â—sset vna cum vniuersa RomanoruÌ„ multitudine inestimabili gaudio admirances cuuctipotentem laudarunt tHis Emperour oute of the toune Within a ten myle eâ—uyroune Where as it thought hym for the best Hath sondry places for to rest And as fortune wold tho He was duellend at one of tho The kyng Allee forth with thassent Of Cust his wyf hath thyder sent Moryce his sone as he was taught To Themperour he goth straught And in his fadre halue he sought As he whiche his lordship sought Tht he of his hyghe worthynes He wold do so grete mekenes His owne Towne to come see And yeue a tyme in the Cyte So that his fadre myght hym gete That be wosd ones with hym ete This ford hath graunted his request And when the day was of the fest An worship of the Emperour The kyng este the Senatour Forth with her wyues bothe two With many a lord lady mo On hors ryden hym ageyne Tyl it byfell vpon a pleyne They syghe where he was comend With that Constaunce anone preyend Spak to her lord that he abyde So that I may to fore ryde To ben vpon his bien benu The fyrst whiche shal hym salu And thus after hyr lordes graunt Upon a mule whyte amblaunt Forth with a fewe rood his quâ—ne They wondred what she wold mene But ryden after a softe pas But when this lady comen was To themperour in his presence She sayd aloude in audyence My lord my fadre wel you be And of this tyme that I se Your honour your good he le Whiche is the helpe of my quarele I thanke vnto the goddes myght For tâ—ye his â—â—rt was aflyght Of that she told in remembraunce And when he wyst it was ConstauÌ„ce Was neuer fadre half so blythe Wepend he kyst hyr ofte sythe So was his hert al ouercome For though his modre were come Fro deth to lyf out of the graue He myght no more wonder haue Than he hath when he hyr syght With that hyr owne lord come nyght And is to themperour obeyed And when that comfort is be wâ—eyed How that Constaunce is come aboute So hard an hert was none oute That he for pyte tho ne wepte Arcenius which hyr fonde kepte Was than glad of that is falle So that with ioye among hem alle They ryden in at Rome gate This Emperour thought al to late Tyl that the pope were come And of tho lordes sende some To pray hym that he wol hast And he cam forth in al hast And when he the tale herd How wonderly his chaunce ferd He thanked god of his myracle To whome may be none obstable The kyng a noble feste hem made And thuo they were al glade A parlement or that they went They setten vnto this entent To put Rome in ful espeyre That morys was apparent heyre And shold abyde with hym stylle For suche was al the londes wylle Qualiter Mauricius cum Impera to â—e vt heres imperij remansit Et Rex Allee et Constancia in angâ—â—am regres si sunt wHen euery thing was fully spoke Of soro we queynt was al that smoke Tho toke his leue allee that kyng And with ful many a ryche thyng Whiche themperour hym had yeue He hath a glad lyf for to lyue For he Constance hath in his hond Whiche was the comfort of his lond For when that he come home ageyne There is no tong that myght seyne What ioye was that ylke stouÌ„de Whiche â—rst was sent of goddes sound By whome the mysbileue of synne Was left Crystes feyth cam ynne To hem that whilome were blynde Qualiter Rex Allâ—â— in Angâ—a post bicnnium humane carnis resolucionem subiens nature debitum persoluit post cuius obitum CoÌ„stancia cum patre suo Rome se transtulit moraturam â—t he which hyndreth euery kind And for no gold may be forlouÈt The deth comyng or he besought Toke with this kyng suche acqueyntauÌ„ce That he with al his retenauÌ„ce Ne myght not defende his lyf And thus he parteth from his wyf Whiche than made sorowe ynoughe And therupon hir herte droughe To leue Englond for euer And go where that she had leuer To Rome whens that she cam And thus of al the lond she nam Hyr leue goth to Rome ageyne And after that the bokes seyne She was not there but a thro we When deth of kynde hath ouerthrowe Hir worthy fadre whiche men seyde That bytwene hyr armes deyde And after ward the yere suend The god of her hath made an end And fro this worldes fayrye Hath take hyr in to companye Moryce hyr sone was coroned Whiche so ferforth was abandoned To Crystes feyth that men hym calle Morys the Crystnest of alle And thus the whele meuyng of loue Was at the last set aboue And so as thou hast herd to fore The fals tunges were lore Whiche vpon loue wold lye For thy touchend of this enuye Whiche longeth vnto bakbytyngr Be ware thou make no lesyng In hyndryng of another wyght And yf thou wold be taught aryght What meschyef bakbytyng doth By other weye a tale soth Now myght thou here anone sewend Whiche to this vyce is acordend hIc ponit Confessoâ— exempluÌ„ coÌ„ tra istos detractores qui in afterius bitupeaum mendacia confingentes diffamacomÌ„ fieri procurauit Et natrat qualiter Perseus Philippi Regis Macedonij filius Demetrio fratri suo ob eius provitatem inuidens composito detractionis mendacio ipsum apud patrem suum mortaliter accusauit dicens ê™ ipse non solum patrem sed totum Macedonij regnuÌ„ Romanis hostibus proditurie vendidisset quem super hoc in iudicinm producens testibê° que judicibns auro subornatis quamuis falsissime morte condempnatum eâ—â—cit quo defuncto eciam et pater infea breue postea mortuus est Et Persio successiue regnante deê° huius detractionis iuuidiam abhorrens Ipsum cum bniuersa suorum pugnatorum multitudine extra Dauubij fluuium ab emilio tunc Romanorum Consule euen tu bellico interfeci fortunauit ita ê™ ab illo die Macedonij potestas penitus des tructa Romano Imperio subiugata de seruiuit eius detractio quam contra aâ—â—um conspirauerat in sui ipsius diffamacionem pro perpetuo diuulgata consistit IN'a Cronyque as thou shalt wyte A grete ensample I fynd wryte Whiche I shal telle vpon this thyng Phelyp of Macedonye the kyng Two sones had he by his wyf Who 's fame is yet in grece ryf Demetrius the fyrst broder Was hote Perseus that other Demetrius they sayden tho The better knyght was of tho To whome the lond was attendanut As he whiche heyre was apparaunt To regne after his fadre day But that thyng whiche no water may Quenche in this world but euer brenneth In to his broder hert renneth The proud enuye of that he syghâ— His broder shold clynne on hygâ—â— And he to hym than
seyth And for to yeue a more feyth Hir husbond eke she bothe In blacke clothes they hem clothe And made a grete enterement And for the peple shal be blente Of thayse as for the remembraunce After the ryal olde vsaunce A tombe of laton noble ryche With an ymage vnto hyr lyche Lyggyng aboue therupon They made aud sette it vp anon Hir epytaffe good assyse Was wryte aboue in this wyse It spake â— ye that this beholde Lo here lyeth she which was holde The fayrest the floure of alle Who 's name thayse men calle The kyng of tyre appollynus Hir fader was now she lyeth thus Fourtene yere she was of age Whan deth hir toke to hir vyage Qualiter appolinus in regno suo apud tirum existens parliamentum fieri constituit Thus was this false treson hyd Which afterward was wyde kyd As by the tale a man shal here But to declare my matere To tyre I thynke to torne ageyn And telle as the cronycles seyn Whan that the kyng was comen home And hath lefte in the salte fome His wyf which he may not foryete For he somme comforte wold gete He lete sommone a parlement To which the lordes weren assent That of the tyme he hath ben ou â—e He seeth the thynges al aboute And tolde hem eke how he hath fare Whyle he was out of bonde fare And prayed al to abyde For he wold atte same tyde Do shape for his wyues mynde As he that wold not be vnkynde Solempne was that ylke offyce And ryche was the sacrefyce The feest ryally was holde And therto was he wel beholde For suche a wyf as he had one In thylke dayes ther were none Oualiter appolinus post ê‘liamentuÌ„ tharsim ê“ thaise filia sua quereda adiit qua ibid non inuenta abinde nauigio recessit WhaÌ„ this was done thaÌ„ he hym thouÈt Vpon his doughter bysought Suche of his lordes as he wolde That they with hym to tharse sholde To fette his doughter thayse there And they anone al redy were To shyp they gone forth they went Tyl they the hauen of tharse hente They bonde fayle of that they seche By couertour sleyght of speche This false man strangulyo And dyonyse his wyf also That he the better trowe myght They ladde hym to hane a syght Where that hir tombe was arayed The lasse yet he was myspayed And nethelesse so as he durste He curseth saith al the worste Vnto fortuue as to the blynde Which can no syker weye fynde For hym she neweth euer emouge And medleth sorowe with his songe But sythe it may no better be He thonketh god forth goeth he Saylyng toward tyre ageyn But sodeynly the wynde reyn Began vpon the see debate So that he suffre mote algate Qualiter nauis appollini ventis agi taâ—â— pertum vâ—bis metelene in die quo feâ—â—a neptuni â—elebrari coÌ„suâ—uÌ„t applicu it sz â—pse pre dolore thaisis fike sue quaÌ„ mortuam reputabat in fundo nauis obsâ—uro â—aâ—â—ns lumen videre noluit The lawe which neptune ordyneth Wherof â—ul ofte tyme he pleyneth And helde hym wel the more esmayed Of that he hath tofore assayed So that for pure sorowe care Of that he seeth this world so fare The reste he leueth of his caban That for the counceyl of no man Ageyn therin he nolde come But hath bynethe his place nome There he wepyng allone lay There as he sawe no lyght of day And thus tofore the wynde they dryue Tyl longe late they arryue With grete distresse as it was sene Vpon this towne of mytelene Which was a noble cite tho And happeneth thylke tyme so The lordes bothe the commune The hygh festes of neptune Vpon the stronde atte ryuage As it was custome vsage Sole pnely they he syghe When they this straunge vessel syghe Comen hath his sayle aualed That one therof hath spoke talâ—d Qualiter athana goras vrbis metelene princeps nauim appolini iÌ„uestigans ipsuÌ„ sic contrâ—statum nichil que respoÌ„dente consolaâ—â— satageâ—at tHe lorde which of that cyte was Who 's name is atâ—nagoras Was there said he wold see What shyp it is who they be That ben therin after sone Whan that he sawe it was to done His large was for hym arayed And he goeth forth he assayed He founde the shyp of grete aray But what thyng that it mownte may He sawe they maden heuy chere But wel hym thynketh by the manere That they ben worthy men of blood And axeth of hem how it stood And they hym tellen al the caas How that her lord fordryue was And which a sorowe that he made Of which ther may no maÌ„ hym glade He prayeth that he hir lord may see But they hym tolde it may not be For he lyeth in so dâ—rkâ— a place That there may no wyght see his face But for al that though hym be lothe He fonde the ladder doun he gothe And to hym spake but none answere Agâ—yn of hym ne myght he here For ought that he can do or seyne And thus he goeth hym vp ageyn Qualiter precepto principis ut appollnuÌ„ consolaretur thaisis cuÌ„ citheâ— sua ad ipsum in obscuro nauis vbi iacebat producta est Thus was spoke in many a wyse Emongest hem that weren wyse Now this now that but atte laste The wysdom of the towne thus caste That yonge thayse was assent For yf ther be a mendement To glad with this wooful kynge Whiche can so moche of euery thynge That she shal glade hym anone A messager for hir is gone And she came with hir harpe in honde And said hem that she wold fonde By al the weyes that she can To glad wyth this sory man Bur what he was she wyst nought But al the shyp hir hath bysought That she hir wytte on hym dyspende In aunter yf he myght amende And sayn it shal be wel aquyt Whan he hath vnderstonden it She goeth hir doun there as he laye Wher that she harpeth many a laye And lyke an aungel songe with alle But he nomore than the walle Toke hede of ony thynge he herde And whan she sawe that he so ferde She falleth with hym vnto wordes And telleth hym of sondry lordes And axeth hym demaundes straunge Wherof she made his herte chaunge And to hir speche his erre he leyde And hath meruayle of that she seyde For in the prouerbe in probleme She spake bad he shold deme An many a subtyl questyon But he for no subiestyon Which toward hym she coude sterr He wold not one word answere But as a mad man otte laste His heed wepyng aweye he caste And halfe in wrath he bad hir goo But yet she wold not do so And in the derke forth she goeth Tyl she hym towcheth thaÌ„ he wroeth And after hir with his honde He smote thus whan she hym fonde