intollerabilem inuentutis concupiscentiam ignorans / nimiaque furoris melancolia preuentus / dictam filiam cum partu delorisissimo casu interfeci diuidicauit ¶ There was a kynge whiche Eolus was hote and it befell hym thus That he two children had fayre The sonne cleped was Machayre The doughter eke Canace hyght By day bothe and eke by nyght whyle they be yonge of coÌ„mon wonne In chambre they to gether wonne And as they shulden pleyd hem ofte Tyll they be growen vp alofte In the yongthe of lusty age whan kynde assaileth the courage with loue and doth hym for to bowe That he no reason can allowe But halte the lawes of nature For whome that loue hath vnder cure As he is blynde hym selfe ryght so He maketh his clyent blynde also In suche maner as I you telle As they all day to gether dwelle This brother myght it not asterte That he with all his hole herte His loue vpon his syster cast And so it felle hem at the laste That this Machayre with Canace whan they were in a preuy place Cupyde baâ— hem fyrst to kysse And after she whiche is maystrysse In kynde and teacheth euery lyfe without lawe positife Of which she taketh no maner charge But kepeth her lawes all at large Nature toke hem in to lore And taught hem so that ouermore She hath hem in suche a wyse daunted That they were as who saith enchaÌ„ted And as the blynde an other ledeth And tyll they falle nothynge dredeth Ryght so they had none in syght But as a byrde whiche woll a lyght And seeth the meate and not the nette whiche in deceyt of hym is sette These yonge folke no peryll sye But all was lykynge in her eye In that they felle vpon the chaunce where wyt hath lore his remembrance So longe they to gether assemble The wombe arose she gan to tremble And helde her in her chambre close For drede it shulde be disclose And come vnto her fathers care wherof the sonne had also fere And feyneth cause for to ryde For longe durst he not abyde In aunter if men woll seyne That he his syster hath forleyne For yet she had it not be knowe whose was the childe at thylke throwe Machayre goth Canace abyt The whiche was not delyuered yet But ryght sone after that she was ¶ Nowe list and herken a wofull cas The soth whiche may not ben hyd was at laste knowe and kydde Vnto the kynge howe that it stode And whan that he it vnderstode Anone into Melancolye As though it were a frenesye He felle as he whiche nothynge couthe Howe maysterfull Loue is in youthe And for he was to loue straunge He wolde not his herte chaunge To be benigne and fauourable To Loue but vnmerciable Betwene the wawe of wode and wroth In to his doughters chambre he gothe And sye the childe was late bore wherof he hath his othe swore That she it shall full sore abye And she beganne mercy to crye Vpon her bare knees and prayde And to her father thus she sayde Haue mercy father thynke I am Thy childe and of thy bloud I cam That I mysdede youth it made And in the flouddes bad me wade where that I sawe no peryll tho But nowe it is befalle so Mercy my father do no wreche And with that worde she loste speche And felle downe swouned at his fote As she for sorowe nedes mote But his horrible crueltie That myght attempte no pitie Out of her chambre forth he wente All full of wrath in his entente And toke the counsayle in his herte That she shall not the deth asterte And he whiche is melancolyen Of pacyence hath not lyen wherof he may his wrath restreyne And in this wylde wode peyne whan all his reason was vntame A knâ—ght he cleped by his name And toke hym as by wey of sonde A naked swerde to beare on honde And sayde hym that he shulde go And telle vnto his doughter so In the maner as he hym bade Howe she that sharpe swerdes blade Receyue shulde and do withall So that she wote where to she shall Forth in message goth this knyght Vnto this wofull yonge wyght This sharpe swerde to her he toke wherof that all her body quoke For well she wyst what it ment And that it was to thylke entent That she her seluen shulde slee And to the knyght she sayde ye Nowe that I wote my fathers wyll That I shall in this wyse spyll I wyll obeye me therto And as he woll it shall be do But now this thing may be none other I woll a letter vnto my brother So as my feble hande may wryte with all my wofull herte endyte She toke a penne on honde tho Fro poynt to poynt and all the wo As ferforth as her selfe it wote Vnto her deadly frende she wrote And tolde howe that her fathers grace She myght for nothynge purchace And ouer that as thou shalt here She wrote and sayd in this manere ¶ O thou my sorowe and my gladnes O thou my hele and my syckenes O thou my wanhope and my trust O thou my disese and all my lust O thou my we le O thou my wo O thou my frende O thou my fo O thou my loue O thou my hate For the mote I be deade algate Thylke ende may I not asterte And yet with all myn holle herte while that there lasteth me any breath I woll the loue vnto my death But of o thynge I shall the preye If that my lytell sonne deye Let hym be buryed in my graue Besyde me so shalte thou haue Vpon vs both remembraunce For thus it stondeth of my greuaunce Nowe at this tyme as thou shalt wite with teares and with inke wryte This letter I haue in cares colde In my right honde my penne I holde And in my lefte my swerde I kepe And in my barme there lyeth to wepe Thy chylde myn whiche sobbeth fast Nowe am I come vnto my last Fare well for I shall sone dye And thynke howe I thy loue abye The pomell of the swerde to grounde She set and with the poynt a wounde Through out her hert anone she made And forth with all pale and fade She felle downe deed fro ther she stode The childe lay bathende in her bloude Out rolled from the mother barme And for the bloud was bote warme He basketh hym about therin Ther was no bote for to wynne For whiche he can no pyte knowe The kynge cam in the same throwe And sawe howe that his doughter died And howe this baby all blody cryed But all that myght hym not suffyse That he ne badde to do Iuyse Vpon the chylde and bere hym out And seche in the forest aboute Som wylde place that it were To cast hym out of honde there So that some beste hym may deuoure where as no man hym shall socure All that he badde was done in dede A who harde euer synge or rede Of
for her best For whan she was to lond brought She which that tyme thought nought But all trouth and toke no kepe Hath layd her soft for to slepe As she whiche longe hath ben forwatched But certes she was euil matched And fer from all loues kynde For more than the best vnkynde Theseus whiche no trouth kept whyle that this yonge lady slept Fulfylled of all vnkyndshyp Hath all forgeten the goodshyp whiche Ariadne hym had do And had vnto the shypmen tho Hale vp the sayle and nought abyde And forth he gothe the same tyde Toward Athenis and her on londe He left whiche lay nygh the stronde Slepend tyl that she awoke But whan that she cast vp her loke Towarde the stronde sygh no wyght Her herte was so sore aflyght That she ne wyst what to thynke But drough her to the water brinke where she behelde the see at large She sigh no shyp she sigh no barge Al 's ferforth as she myght kenne Ha lorde she sayd which a senne As all the worlde shall after here Vpon this wofull woman here This worthye knyghte hath done and wrought I weÌ„d I had his loue bought And so deserued at nede whan that he stode vpon his drede And eke the loue he me behyght It is great wonder howe he might Towardes me nowe ben vnkynde And so to lette out of his mynde Thyng which he sayd his owne mouth But after this whan it is couth And drawe to the worldes fame It shall ben hyndrynge of his name For well he wote and so wote I He yafe his trouthe bodely That he myn honour shulde kepe And with that worde she gan wepe And soroweth more than inough Hyr faire tresses she to drough And with her selfe she toke such a strife That she betwene the deth and life Swounende lay full ofte amonge And all was this on hym alonge whiche was to loue vnkynde so wherof the wronge shall euermo Stonde in cronyke of remembrance And eke it asketh a vengeance To ben vnkynde in loues cas So as Theseus than was All though he were a noble knyght For he the lawe of loues ryght Forfayted hath in all waye That Ariadne he put away whiche was a great vnkynde dede And after that so as I rede Phedra the whiche his syster is He toke in stede of hir and this Fell afterwarde to mekell tene For thilke vyce of whiche I mene Vnkyndshyp where it falleth The trouthe of mannes herte it palleth That he can no good dede acquyte So may be stonde of no meryte Towardes god and eke also Men calle hym the worldes fo For he no more than the fende Vnto none other man is frende But all toward hym selfe alone For thy my sonne in thy persone This vyce aboue all other flee ¶ My fader as ye teche me I thynke to do in this matere But ouer this I wolde fayn here wherof I shall me shryue more ¶ My good sonne as for thy lore After the reule of couetyse I shall the propyrte deuyse Of euery vyce by and by Nowe herken and be wel ware therby 〈◊〉 ex â—lara res tollit luce rapina Floribus et iuncta virgine mella capit ¶ Hâ—c tractat super illa specia cupida que rapina 〈◊〉 â—atur cuius mater extorcio ipsam ad desâ—â—â—â—nduÌ„ magnatuÌ„ curiis specialius coÌ„meÌ„dauit ¶ In the lygnage of auaryce My sonne yet there is a vyce His ryght name it is rauyne whiche hath a route of his couyne Rauyne amonge the maysters dwelleth And with his seruauntes as men telleth Extorcion is nowe witholde Rauyne of other mennes folde Maketh his lardyr and payeth nought For where as euer it may be sought In his hous there shall no thynge lacke And that fulofte abyeth the packe Of powre men that dwelle a boute Thus stant the coÌ„mune people in doute which can do none amendement For whan hym fayleth paiement Rauyne maketh non other skylle But taketh by strength al that he wille So ben there in the same wyse Louers as I the shall deuyse That whan nought elles may auayle Anone with strength they assayle And gette of loue the sesyne when they se tyme by rauyne For thy my sonne shryue the here If thou hast ben a Rauynere Of loue ¶ Certes father no For I my lady loue so For though I were as was Pompey That all the worlde me wolde obey Or els suche as Alisaundre I wolde nought do suche a sclaunder It is no good man whiche so doth ¶ In good feyth sonne thou sayst sothe For he that woll of purueance By suche a wey his luste auaunce He shall it after sore abye But if these olde ensamples lye ¶ Nowe good father telle me one So as ye connen many one Touchende of loue in this matere ¶ Now lyst my son thou shalte here So as it hath be befall er this In loues cause howe that it is A man to take by rauyne The preye whiche is feminyne ¶ Hic ponit exemplum contra istos in amoris causa raptores Et narrat qualiter Pandyon tex Athen .ii. filias vez ProgneÌ„ PhilomenaÌ„ habuit Progne autem regi Tracie Therreo desponsata contigit quod cum Tereus ad instantiam vxoris sue Philomenam de Athen in Traciam sororie visitationis causa secum quadam vice perduceret in concupiscentiam Philomene tanta seneritate in Itinere dilapsus est quod ipse non solum sue violentia rapine virginitatem eius oppressit sed et ipsius linguam ne factum detegeret forcipe mitula nit vnde imperpetue memorie ceonicam tanti raptoris austeritatem miro ordine dii postea vindicarunt ¶ There was a ryall noble kynge A ryche of all worldes thynge whiche of his propre enheritance Athenis had in gouernance And who so thynketh therupon His name was kynge Pandyon Two doughters had he by his wyfe The whiche he loued as his lyfe The fyrst doughter Progne hyght And the seconde as she well myght was cleped faire Philomene To whom fell after mochel tene The father of his purueaunce His doughter Progne wolde auarice And gaâ—e hir vnto mariage A worthy kyng of high lignage A noble knyght eke of his honde So was he kyd in euery londe Of Trace he hyght Thereus The clerke Ouide telleth thus This Thereus his wyfe home lad A lusty lyfe with her he had Tyll it befelle vpon a tyde This Progne as she lay hym besyde Bethought hir howe that it myght be That she hir suster myght se And to hir lorde hir wyll she sayde with goodly wordes and hym preyde That she to hir myght go And if it lyked hym not so That than he wolde hym selfe wende Or els by some other sende whiche myght hir dere suster grete And shap◠〈◊〉 that they myght mete Hir lordâ— anone to that he herde yafe his accorde and thus answerde I wyll saide he for thy sake The wey after thy syster take My selfe and brynge hir if I
if any other thynge But that thou haste of my teachynge Fro deth thy body may respyte I woll the of thy trouth acquite And elles by none other weye Nowe herken me what I shall seye ¶ whan thou art come into the place where nowe they maken great manace And vpon thy commynge abyde They woll anone the same tyde Oppose the of thyne answere I wote thou wolt no thinge forbere Of that thou weneste be thy beste And if thou myghteste so fynde reste wel is for than is ther no more And elles this shall be my lore That thou shalt saye vpon this molde That all women leuest wolde Be souerayne of mannes loue For what woman is so aboue She hath as who sayth all her wyll And elles may she nought fulfylle what thinge were her leuest haue with this answer thou shalt saue Thy selfe and other wyse nought And whan thou hast thy ende wrought Come here ayene thou shalt me fynde And let nothynge out of thy mynde He goth hym forth with heuy chere As he that not in what manere He may this worldes ioy atteyne For if he dye he hath a peyne And if he lyue he mote hym bynde To suche one whiche of all kynde Of women is the vnsemlyeste Thus wote be not what is the beste But be hym lyefe or be hym loth Vnto the castell forth he goth His full answere for to yeue Or for to dye or for to lyue Forth with his coūseyle came the lorde The thynges stoden of recorde He sent vp for the lady soone And forth she came that olde mone In presence of the remenaunt The strengthe of all the couenaunt Tho was rehersed openly And to Florent she bad for thy That he shall tellen his auyse As he that wote what is the pryce Florent sayth all that euer he couth But such word cam ther none to mouth That he for yefte or for beheste Myght any wyse his deth areste And thus he taryeth longe and late Tyll this lady bad algate That he shall for the dome fynall yeue his answere in specyall Of that she had hym fyrste opposed And than he hath truly supposed That he hym may of nothynge yelpe But if so be tho wordes helpe which as the woman hath hym taught wherof he hath an hope caught That he shall be excused so And tolde out playne his will tho And whan that this matron herde The maner how this knyght answerde She sayde ha treson wo the be That haste thus tolde the priuyte whiche all woman moste desyre I wolde that thou were a fyre But netheles in suche a plyte Florent of his answere is quyte And tho bygan his sorowe newe For he mote gone / or be vntrewe To her whiche his trouthe hadde But he whiche all shame dradde Goth forth in stede of his penaunce And taketh the fortune of his chaunce As he that was with trouth affayted This olde wyght hym hath awayted In place where as he her lefte Florent his wofull heed vp lyfte And sawe this vecke where that she syt whiche was the lothest wyghte That euer man caste on his eye Her nose baas her browes hye Her eyen small and depe sette Her chekes ben with teres wette And ryuelyn as an empty skyn Hangynge downe vnto the chyn Her lyppes shronken ben for age There was no grace in her vysage Her front was narowe her lockes hore She loketh forth as doth a more Her necke is short her shulders courbe That myght a mannes luste distourbe Her body great and no thynge small And shortly to descryue her all She hath no lyth without a lacke But lyke vnto the woll sacke She profereth her vnto this knyght And bad hym as he hath behyght So as she hath bene his warrant That he her held couenaunt And by the brydell she hym seseth But god wot how that she him pleseth Of suche wordes as she speketh Hym thynketh wel ny his hert breketh For sorow that he may not fle But if he wolde vntrewe be Loke howe a sycke man for his hele Taketh baldemoyn with the cancle And with the myrre taketh the sugre Ryght vpon suche a maner lucre Stant Florent as in this dyete He drynketh the bitter with the swete He medleth sorowe with lykenge And lyueth so as who sayeth deynge His youth shall be cast awey Vpon suche one whiche as the wey Is olde and lothely ouerall But nede he mot that nede shall He wolde algate his trouth holde As euery knyght therto is holde what hap so euer hym is be fall Though she be the fouleste of all yet to honour of womanhed Hym thought he shulde taken heed So that for pure gentylnesse As he her couth best adresse In ragges as she was to tore He set her on his hors tofore And forth he taketh his wey softe No wonder though he sygheth ofte But as an oule fleeth by nyght Out of all other byrdes syght Ryght so this knyght on dayes brode In close hym helde and shope his rode On nyghtes tyme tyll the tyde That he come there he wolde abyde And pryuely without noyse He bryngeth this foule great coyse To his castell in suche a wyse That no man myght her shape auyse Tyll she in to the chamer came where he his preuy counseylle name Of suche men as he most truste And told them that he nedes muste This beeste wedde to his wyfe For elles hadd he loste his lyfe The pryue women were assent That shulden ben of his assent Her ragges they anone of drawe And as it was that tyme lawe She hadde bathe she hadde reste And was arrayed to the beste But with no craft of combes brode They myght her hore lockes shode And she ne wolde not be shore For no counsayll and they therfore with suche a tyre as tho was vsed Ordeynen that it was excused And hadde so craftely about That no man myght seen them out But whan she was fully arrayed And her a tyre was all assayed Tho was she fouler vnto se But yet it may none other be They were wedded in the nyght So wo begone was neuer knyght As he was than of mariage And she bygan to playe and rage Is who sayth I am well ynough But he therof nothynge ne lough For she toke than chere on honde And clepeth hym her husbonde And sayth My lorde go we to bedde For I to that entent the wedde That thou shalt be my worldes blesse And profereth hym with that to kysse As she a lusty lady were His body myght well be there But as of thought and of memorye His herte was in purgatory But yet for strengthe of matrimonye He myght make non essonye That he ne mote algates plye To go to bed of companye And when they were a bed naked with oute slepe he was awaked He torneth on that other syde For that he wolde his eyen hyde Fro lokynge of that foull wyght The chamber was all full of lyght The courteyns were of sendall thyn This
layde That to my syster ne to my brother In all this worlde ne to none other ye durst telle a pryuete So well my father as to me For thy my father I you praye Ne casteth nought that hert away For I am she that wolde kepe your honour and with that to wepe Her eie may not be forbore She wyssheth for to ben vnbore Er that her father so mystryst To tellen her of that he wyst And euer amonge mercy she cryed That he ne shulde his counscile hyde From her that so wolde hym good And was so nygh flesshe and bloud So that with wepynge at last His chere vpon his childe he caste And sorowfully to that she prayde He tolde his tale and thus he sayde The sorowe doughter which I make Is not all onely for my sake But for the bothe and for you all For suche a chaunce is me befalle That I shall er this thyrde day Lese all that euer I lese may My lyfe and all my good therto Therfore it is I sorowe so what is the cause alas quod she My father that ye shulden be Dead and distroyed in suche a wise And he began the poyntes deuyse which as the kyng tolde him by mouth And sayd her playnly that he couthe Answere to no poynt of this And she that hereth howe it is Her counsayle yafe and sayd tho My father syn it is so That ye can se none other weye But that ye must nedes deye I wolde pray you of o thynge Lette me go with you to the kynge And ye shall make hym vnderstonde Howe ye my wyttes for to fonde Haue layde your answere vpon me And telleth hym in suche degre Vpon my worde ye wol abyde To lyfe or deth what so betyde For yet perchaunce I may purchace with some good word the kynges grace your lyfe and eke your good to saue For ofte shall a woman haue Thynge whiche a man may not areche The fader herd his doughters speche And thought there was no reason in And sawe his owne lyfe to wynne He couthe done hym selfe no cure So better he thought in auenture To put his lyfe and all his good That in the maner as it stode His lyfe incerteyne for to lese And thus thynkende he gan to chese To do the counseyle of this mayde And toke the purpose whiche she sayd The day was come forth they gone Vnto the courte they come anone where as the kynge in his iugement was sette and hath this knyght assent Arrayed in her beste wyse This mayden with her wordes wyse Her father ledde by the honde In to the place where he fonde The kynge with other which he wolde And to the kynge knelende he tolde As he enfourmed was tofore And prayeth the kyng that he therfore His doughters wordes wolde take And sayth that he woll vndertake Vpon her wordes for to stende Tho was ther great meruaile on hoÌ„de That he whiche was so wyse a knyght His lyfe vpon so yonge a wyght Besette wolde in ieopardye And many it helden for folye But at laste neuertheles The kynge commaundeth ben in peace And to this mayde he cast his chere And sayde he wolde her tale here And badde her speke and she began My lyege lorde so as I can Quod she the poyntes which I herde They shall of reason ben answerde The fyrst I vnderstonde is this what thynge of all the worlde it is which men most helpe hath lest nede My lyege lorde this wolde I rede The erthe it is whiche euermo with mannes labour is bego As well in wynter as in Maye The mannes honde doth what he may To helpe it forth and make it ryche And for thy men it delue and dyche And eren it with strength of plough where it hath of hym selfe inough So that his nede is at leste For euery man byrde and beast Of floure and grasse and rote rynde And euery thynge by wey of kynde Shall sterue and erthe it shall become As it was out of erthe nome It shall to erthe tourne ageyne And thus I may by reason seyne That therthe is most nedeles And most men helpe it netheles So that my lorde touchande of this I haue answerde howe that it is ¶ That other poynt I vnderstode whiche most is worth and most is good And costeth leest a man to kepe My lorde if ye woll take kepe I saye it is Humilite Through whiche the hygh Trinite As for deserte of pure loue Vnto Marye from aboue Of that he knewe her humble entent His owne sonne adowne he sent Aboue all other and her he chese For that vertu which that bodeth pes So that I may by reason calle Humilite moost worthe of all And lest it costeth to maynteyne In all the worlde as it is seyne For who that hath huÌ„blesse on honde He bryngeth no werres in to londe For he desyreth for the best To serten euery man in reste ¶ Thus with your hygh reuerence Me thynketh that this euydence As to this poynt is suffisaunt And touchende of the remenaunt whiche is the thyrde of your askynges what lest is worth of all thynges And costeth most I telle it Pryde whiche may not in the heuen abyde For Lucifer with them that felle Bare Pryde with hym in to helle There was pryde of to great cost whan he for pryde hath heuen loste And after that in Paradyse Adam for pryde lost his pryce In myddell erth And eke also Pryde is the cause of all wo That all the worlde ne may suffise To stanche of pride the reprise Pryde is the heed of all synne whiche wasteth all and may not wynne Pryde is of euery mysse the prycke Pryde is the worste of all wycke And costeth moost and lest is worth In place where he hath his forth Thus haue I sayde that I woll say Of myn answere and to you pray My lyege lorde of your offyce That ye suche grace and suche iustice Ordeyne for my father here That after this when men it here The worlde therof may speake good ¶ The kyng which reason vnderstode And hath all herde howe she hath said was inly gladde and so well payde That all his wrath is ouer go And he beganne to loke tho Vpon this mayden in the face In whiche he fonde so mochell grace That all his price on her he leyde In audience and thus he sayde My fayre mayden well ye be Of thyn answere and eke of the Me lyketh well and as thou wylte Forâ—eue be thy father gylte And if thou were of suche lygnage That thou to me were of parage And that thy father were a pere As he is nowe a bachylere So syker as I haue a lyfe Thou shuldest than be my wyfe But this I saye netheles That I woll shape thyn encrease what worldes good that thou wolte craue Axe of mi yeft thou shalt haue And she the kynge with wordes wise Knelynge thanketh in this wyse My lyege lorde god mote
〈…〉 Rome Imperatoris Filia omnui 〈…〉 famâ—â—issima / obâ—â—us amorem Solda◠〈…〉 vt eam in vxorem ducere posset 〈…〉 promisit / enius accepta cauci◠〈…〉 â—â—â—â—gâ— tunc pape dicta fifta vna cum 〈…〉 dinalibus alus que Rome proceribus 〈…〉 mariâ—agu causa nauigio honorifice 〈…〉 que lamen â—oÌ„loquentium postea 〈…〉 â—â—us varus modis absque sui culpa doso 〈◊〉 fata multiplicâ—ter passa est A worthy knyght in Christes lawe Of great Rome as is the sawe The ceptre hadde for to ryght Tybery Constantyn he hyght whos wyfe was cleped Italye But they to geder of progenye No childre hadde but a mayde And she the god so wel apayde That al the wyde worldes fame Spake worship of her good name Constance as the Cronyke sayth She hyght and was so full of fayth That the greatest of Barbarye Of hem whiche vse marchandye She hath conuerted as they come To her vpon a tyme in Rome To shewen such thing as they brought whiche worthely of hem she bought And ouer that in suche a wyse She hath hem with her wordes wyse Of Christes feyth so full enformed That they therto ben all conformed So that baptysme they receyuen And all her fals goddes weyuen ¶ whan they ben of the feyth certayne They gone to Barbarye ayene And there the Soudan for hem sent And axeth hem to what entent They haue her fyrste feyth forsake And they whiche hadde vndertake The ryght feyth to kepe and holde The matter of her tale tolde with all the hole circumstaunce And when the Soudan of Constaunce Vpon the poynt that they answerde The beaute and the grace herde As he whiche than was to wedde In all hast his cause spedde To sende for the mariage And ferthermore with good courage He sayth be so he may her haue That Christe that came this worlde to saue He woll byleue thus recorded They ben on either syde accorded And there vpon to make an ende The Sowdan his hostage sende To Rome of prynces sonnes twelue wherof the fader in hym selue was gladde and with the Pope auysed Two Cardinalles he hath assised with other lordes many mo That with his doughter they shuld go To se the soudan be conuerted ¶ Qualiter adueniente Constantia in BarbariaÌ„ mater soldani huiusmodi nuptias perturbare volens filium suum vna cum dicta Constantia / cardinalibus que et alus Romanie prima die ad conuinium inuitauit Et conuescentibus illis in mensa ipsum soldanum omnes que ibidem preter Constantiam Romanos ab insidus latitantibus subdole detractione interfeci procurauit ipsamque Constantiam in quadaÌ„ nani absque gubernaculo positam per altum mare ventoruÌ„ flatibus agitandam in exisium dirigi solum constituit But that which neuer was wel herted Enuye tho beganne to trauayle In disturbaunce of this spousayle So priuely that none was ware The mother whiche the souldan bare was than alyue and thought this Vnto her selfe If it so is My sonne hym wedde in this manere Than haue I lost my ioyes here For myn estate shall so be lassed Thynkend thus she hath compassed By sleyght howe that she maye begyle Her sonne and fylle within a whyle Betwene hem two whaÌ„ that they were She feyned wordes in his eare And in this wyse gan to saye My sonne I am by double way with all myn herte gladde and blythe For that my selfe haue ofte sythe Desyred thou wolte as men sayth Receyue and take a newe feyth whiche shall be forthrynge of thy lyfe And eke so worshypfull a wyfe The doughter of an emperour To wedde it shall be great honour For thy my sonne I you beseche That I suche grace myght areche whan that my doughter come shall That I may than in especyall So as me thynketh honeste Be thylke whiche the fyrste feste Shall make vnto her welcommynge The Souldan graunteth her askynge And she therof was gladde inough For vnder that anone she drough with false wordes that she spake Couyn of deathe behynde his backe And thervpon her ordynaunce She made so that whan Constance was comen forth with the Romaynes Of clerkes and of citezeins A ryche feaste she hem made And moste whan they weren glade with false couyn whiche she hadde Her close enuye tho she sprad And all tho that hadden be Or in apperte or in priue Of counseyle to the mariage She slough them in a sodeyne rage Endelonge the borde as they ben set So that it myght not be lette Her owne sonne was not quyte But dyed vpon the same plyte But what the hygh god woll spare It may not for the peryll mysfare This worthy mayden which was ther Stode than as who sayth deed for fere To se the feast how that it stode whiche all was tourned in to bloud The dyss he forth with the cuppe all Be bled they weren ouer all She sawe hem dye on euery syde No wonder though she wepte cryde Makynge many a wofull mone whan all was slayn but she al onne This olde fende this Sarazyn Let take anone this constantyn with all the good she theder brought And hath ordayned as she thought A naked ship witout stere In whiche the good and her in fere Vytaled full for yeres fyue where that the wynde it wolde dayue She put vpon the wawes wylde ¶ Qualiter nauis cuÌ„ Constancia in partes Anglie que tuÌ„c pagana fuit prope Humber sub quo dam Castello regis qui tunc Allee vocabatur post triennium applicuit quam quidam miles no mine Elda dicti castelli tunc custos et naui lete suscipiens vxori sue Hermyngylde in enstodiam honorifice commendauit But he which all thinges may shilde Thre yere tyl that she cometh to londe Her shyppe to stere hath take on honde And in Northumberlonde arryueth And happeth than that she dryueth Vnder a castell with the floode whiche vpon Humber banke stode And was the kynges owne also The whiche Allee was cleped tho A Saxon and a worthy knyght But he beleueth not aryght Of this castell was castelleyne Elda the kynges chamberlayne A knyghtly man after his lawe And whan he sawe vpon the wawe The ship driuend alone so He hadde anone men shulden go â—â—se what it be token may â—his was vpon a sommer daye â—he shyppe was loked and she founde Eâ—da within a lyttell stounde Iâ— wyst and with his wyfe anone â—â—warde this yonge lady gone where that they fonde great ryches Bâ—â— she her wolde not confesse wâ—â—n they her asken what she was 〈◊〉 netheles vpon the cas 〈◊〉 of the shyp with great worshyp They toke her in to felaushyp As they that weren of her glade Bâ—â— she no maner ioye made But soroweth sore of that she fonde No christendome in thylke londe But els she hath all her wylle And thus with them she dwelleth styll Dame Hermegyld which was the wife Of Elda lyche her owne lyfe Constance loueth and it felle
and iewe whiche neuer man yet myght eschewe And that was loue as it is happed whiche hath her bertes so betrapped That they by all weyes seche Howe that they might wynne a speche Her wofull peyne for to lysse who loueth wel it maye not mysse And namely whan thereben two Of one accord howe so it go But if that they some weye finde For loue is euer of suche a kynde And hath his folke so wel affayted That howe so that it be awayted There may no man the purpos let And thus betwene hem two they set An hoole vpon a wal to make Through whiche they haue her couÌ„seil take At all times whan they might This faire Mayde T is be hight And he whome she loued hote was Piramus by name hote So longe her lesson they recorden Tyl at the laste they acorden By nyghtes tyme for to wende Alone out fro the Townes ende where was a welle vnder a tree And who cam fyrst or she or he He shulde stille there abyde So it befelle the nyghtes tyde This mayde whiche desguysed was All pryuely the softe paas Goth through the larg town vnknowe Tyll that she cam within athrowe where that she lyked for to dwelle At thylke vnhappy fresshe welle whiche was also the forest nyghe where she comend a lyon syghe In to the felde to take his pray In haste and she tho fledde away So as fortune shuld falle For fere and lete her wympell falle Nyghe to the wel vpon therbage This wylde lyon in his rage A beste whiche he founde there out Hath slayn and with his blody snowte whan he hath eten what he wolde To drynke of thylke stremes colde Come vnto the welle where he sonde The wympill whiche out of her honde was falle and he it hath to drawe Be bledde aboute and all forgnawe And than he straught him for to drynke Vpon the fress he welles brynke And after that out of the playne He torneth to the wode agayne And Tisbe durste not remewe But as a byrde whiche were en mewe within a buss he she kepte her close So styll that she not arose Vnto her selfe and playneth ay And fell whyle that she there lay This Piramus cam after sone Vnto the welle and by the mone He fonde her wympyl blody there Cam neuer yet to mannes ere Tydynge ne to mannes syght Meruaylle whiche so sore a flyght A mans herte as it tho dede To hym whiche in the same stede with many a wofull complaynynge Bygan his handes for to wrynge As he whiche demeth sykerly That she be dede and sodeynly His swerde all naked oute he breyde In his fool hast and thus he sayde I am cause of this felonye So it is reason that I dye And she is dede by cause of me And with that worde vpon his kâ—e He felle and to the goddes all Vnto the heuen he gan to call And prayd syn it was so That he may not his loue as tho Haue in this worlde that of her grace He might her haue in other place For here wolde he not abyde He sayth but as it shall betyde The pomel of his swerd to ground He set and through his hert a wound He made vp to the bare hylte And in this wyse hym selfe spylte with his foolhaste and deth he nam For she within a whyle cam where he lay dede vpon his knyfe So woful yet was neuer lyfe As Tysbe was whan she hym sygh She myght not one worde on hygh Speke for her hert shette That of her lyfe no prys she sette But dede swonynge downe she felle Tyll afterward it so befell That she out of her trauns awoke with many a wofull pytous loke Her eye alwey amonge she caste Vpon her loue and at the laste She caught breth and sayde thus O thou which art cleped venus Goddesse of loue and thou Cupyde whiche loues cause haste for to guyde I wote nowe wel that ye be blynde Oâ— thylke vnhap whiche I now finde Onely betwene my loue and me This Piramus whiche here I se â—â—â—â—end what hath he deserued Yoâ— he thyn hest hath kept and serued And was yonge and I both also All is why do ye with vs so Ye set our hertes both a fyre And made vs suche thynge desyre wherof that we no skyl couthe But thus our fresshe lusty youthe without ioy is all despended whiche thynge may neuer be amended For as for me this woll I seye That me is leuer for to deye Than lyue after this sorowfull daye And with this worde where as he laye Her loue in armes she embraseth Her owne deth and so purchaseth That nowe she wepte nowe she kyste Tyll at the laste or she it wyste So great a sorowe is to her falle whiche ouergoth her wyttes all And she whiche myght not asterte The swerdes poynte ayenste her hert She set and fell downe therupon wherof that she was dede anone And thus both on a swerd bledend They were found dede lyggend ¶ Nowe thou my sonne hast herd this tale Beware that of thyn owne bale Thou be not cause in thy foolhaste And kepe that thou thy wytte ne waste Vpon thy thought in auenture wherof thy lyues forfeture May falle and if thou haue so thought Er this tell on and hyde it nought ¶ My fader vpon loues syde My conscyence I wol not hyde Howe that for loue of pure wo I haue ben ofte be moued so That with my wysshes if I myght A thousand tymes I yow plyght I hadde storuen in a day And therof I me shryue may Though loue fully me ne slowe My wyll to deye was ynowe So am I of my wyl culpable And yet she is not mercyable whiche may me yeue lyfe and bele But that her lyst not with me dele I wote by whos counsayl it is And hym wolde I longe tyme er this And yet I wolde and euer shall Sleen and destroye in especyall The golde of nyne kynges londes Ne shulde hym saue fro myn bondes In my power if that he were But yet hym stant of me no fere For nought that euer I can manace He is the hinderer of my grace Tyl he be dede I may not spede So mote I nedes taken bede And shape howe that he were awey If I therto may fynde a weye ¶ My sonne telle me nowe for thy whiche is that mortall enemy That thou manacest to be dede ¶ My fader it is suche a quede That where I come he is tofore And doth so that my cause is lore ¶ what is his name Hit is Daunger whiche is my ladis counseyler For I was neuer yet so slygh To come in any place nygh where as she was by nyght or day That Daunger ne was redy ay with whome for speche ne for mede yet myght I neuer of loue spede For euer this fynde I soth All that my lady sayth or doth To me Daunger shall make an ende And that maketh al mi world misweÌ„de And euer I aske
and of fals enuye Full ofte medled with disease But thylke loue is well at ease whiche sette is vpon mariage For that dare shewen the vysage In alle places openly A great meruayle it is for thy Howe that a mayde woll lette That she her tyme ne besette To haste vnto thylke feste wherof the loue is all honeste Men may recouer losse of good But so wyse a man yet neuer stode whiche may recouer tyme ylore So may a mayden well therfore Ensample take of that she straungeth Her loue longe or that she chaungeth Her herte vpon her lustes grene To mariage as it is sene For thus a yere two or thre She lefte er that she wedded be whyle she the charge myght beare Of children whiche the worlde forbere Ne may but if it shulde fayle But what mayden that in her spousaile wolde tarie whan she take may She shall perchaunce an other day Be let whan that her leuest were wherof a tale vnto thyn eare whiche is culpable vpon this dede I thynke telle of that I rede ☞ Hic ponit exemplum super eodem Et narrat de filia Iepte / que cum ex sui patris voio in holocaustum deo occidi et offerri deberet ipsa pro eo / quod virgo fuit et prolem ad augmentationem populi dei nondum genuisset .xl. dierum spacium vt cum suis sodalibus virginibus suam defleret virginitatem priusquam moreretur / in exemplum asiorum a patre postulauit ¶ Amonge the iewes as men tolde There was whylom by dayes olde A noble duke whiche Iepte hyght And felle he shulde go to fyght Agayne Amon the cruell kynge And for to speke vpon this thynge within his herte he made a vowe To god and sayd A lorde if thou wolte graunt vnto thy man victorie I shall in token of thy memorie The fyrste lyfe that I may se Of man or woman where it be Anone as I come home ageyne To the whiche arte god souereyne Sleen in thy name and sacrifie And thus with his chiualrie He goth hym forth so as he shulde And wanne all that he wynne wolde And ouercame his fomen alle May no man knowe that shall falle This duke a lusty doughter had And fame whiche the worldes sprad Hath brought vnto this ladyes eare Howe that her father hath do there She wayteth vpon his comynge with daunsynge and with carolynge As she that wolde be tofore All other and so she was therfore In masphat at her fathers gate The fyrst and whan he cometh ther at And sygh his doughter he to brayde His clothes and wepende he sayde * O myghty god amonge vs here Nowe wote I that in no manere This worldes ioy may be playne I had all that I couth sayne Ayene my fomen by thy grace So whan I came towarde this place There was no gladder man than I But nowe my lorde all sodeynly My ioye is tourned in to sorowe For I my doughter shall to morowe To hewe and brenne in thy seruice To louynge of thy sacrifice Through myn auowe so as it is The mayden whan she wyst of this And sawe the sorowe her fatheer made So as she may with wordes glade Comforted hym and had hym holde His couenant as he was beholde Towardes god as he behyght But netheles his herte aflyght Of that she sawe her deathe comende And than vnto the grounde knelende Tofore her father she is falle And sayth so as it is falle Vpon this poynt that she shall deye Of one thinge fyrst she wolde hym prey That forty dayes of respyte He wolde hir graunt vpon this plyght That she the whyle may bewepe Her maydenhode whiche she to kepe So longe hath kept and not be set wherof her lusty youth is lette That she no children hath forth drawe In mariage after the lawe So that the people is not encreased But that it myght be released That she her tyme hath lore so She wolde by his leue go with other maydens to complayne And afterwarde vnto the payne Of death she wolde come ageyne The father herde his doughter seyne And thervpon of one assent The maydens were anone assent That shulden with this mayden wende So for to speake vnto this ende They gone the downes and the dales with wepynge and with wofull tales And euery wyght her maydenhede Complayneth vpon thilke nede That she no children hadde bore wherof she hath her youth lore whiche neuer she recouer maye For so felle that her laste daye was come in whiche she shulde take Her dethe whiche she may not forsake Lo thus she deyde a wofull mayde For thylke cause whiche I sayde As thou hast vnderstonde aboue ¶ My father as towarde the loue Of maydens for to telle trouthe ye haue thylke vice of slouthe Me thinketh ryght woÌ„der wel declared That ye the women haue not spared Of hem that taryen so behynde But yet it falleth in my mynde Towarde the men howe that ye speke Of hem that woll no trauayle seke In cause of loue vpon deserte To speke in wordes so couerte I not what trauayle that ye ment ¶ My sonne and after myn entent I woll the telle what I thought Howe whylom men her loues boughte Through great trauaile in strange loÌ„des where that they wrought with her hondes Of armes many a worthy dede In sondry places as men may rede QueÌ„ ê“bat armoruÌ„ ê“bitas Venus ap ê“bat er queÌ„ Torpor habet reprobum reprobat illa uiruÌ„ Vecors segnicies insignia nescit amoris Nam piger ad brauium tardius ipse uenit ☞ Hic loquitur quod in amoris causa militie probitas ad armorum laboris exercitium nullatenus torpescat ¶ That euery loue of pure kynde Is fyrst forth drawe well I fynde But nethelesse yet ouer this Deserte dothe so that it is The rather had in many place For thy who secheth loues grace where that these worthy women are He may not than hym selue spare Vpon his trauayle for to serue wherof that he may thanke deserue where as these men of armes be Sometyme ouer the great see So that by londe and eke by ship He mote trauayle for worshyp And make many hasty rodes Somtime in Pruys somtyme in Rodes And some tyme in to Tartarye So that these herauldes on hym crie Vaylant vaylant lo where he goth And than he yeueth hem golde cloth So that his fame myght sprynge And to his ladyes eare brynge Some tydynge of his worthynesse So that she myght of his prowesse Of that she herde men recorde The better vnto his loue accorde And daunger put out of her mood whan all men recorden good And that she wote well for her sake That be no trauayle woll forsake My â—â—â—ne of this trauayle I mene Now shryue the for it shall be sene If thou arte ydell in this cas ¶ My father ye and euer was For as me thynketh truely That euery man doth more than I As of this poynt
therof was lore So that in due tyme is bore This childe and forthwith therupon There fell wonders many one Of teremote vniuersele The sonne toke colloure of stele And lost his lyght the windes blewe And many strengthes ouerthrewe These his propre kynde chaungeth And all the worlde his forme strangeth The thonder with his fyry leuen So cruel was vpon the heuen That euery erthely creature Tho thought his lyfe in auenture The tempest at last sesseth The childe is kepte his age encreceth And Alisaunder his name is hote To whome Calystre and Arystote To techen him philosophye Entenden and Astronomye with other thinges whiche he couth Also to teche him in his youth Nectanabus toke vpon honde But euery man may vnderstonde Of sorcery howe that it wende It wolle him selfe proue at ende And namely for to begyle A lady / whiche withoute gyle Supposeth trouthe all that she hereth But often he that euyll stereth His ship is dreint therin a mydde And in this cas right so betydde Nectanabus vpon a nyght whan it was fayre and sterre lyght This yonge lorde lad vpon highe A boue a towre where as he syghe The sterres suche as he acounteth And saith what eche of hem amounteth As though he knewe of all thinge yet hath he no knowlechinge what shal vnto him selfe befall whan he hath tolde his wordes all This yonge lorde than him apposeth And asketh if that he supposeth what deth he shule him selfe deye He seith or fortune is aweye And euery sterre hath lost his wonne Or els of myn owne sonne I shall be slayn I may not fle Thought Alysaunder in priuete Herof this olde dotarde lyeth Ander that other ought aspyeth All sodeinlyche his olde bones He shofe ouer the walle at ones And saith hym Lye downe there a part wherof nowe serueth all thyn art Thou knewe all other mens chaunce And of thy selfe hast ignoraunce That thou hast sayd amonges all Of thy persone is not befall ¶ Nectanabus whiche hath his death yet whyles hym lasteth lyfe and brethe To Alysaunder he spake and seyd That he with wrong blame on him leid Fro poynt to poynt and all the cas He tolde howe he his sonne was Tho be whiche sory was inough Out of the dyche his father drough And tolde his mother howe it ferde In counsayle and when she it herde And knewe the tokens whiche he tolde She nyst what she say shulde But stode abasshed as for the whyle Of this magike and all the gyle She thought how that she was deceyued That she hath of a maÌ„ conceiued And wende a god it had he But netheles in suche degree So as she myght her honour saue She shope the body was begraue And thus Nectanabus abought The sorcery whiche he wrought Though he vpon the creatures Through his caretes and fygures The maystry and the power had His creatour to nought hym lad Ageyne whose lawe his crafte he vseth when he for lust his god refuseth And toke hym to the deuyls crafte Lo what profyte is hym belafte That thing through which he weÌ„d haue stonde First him exiled out of londe which was his owne and from a kynge Made hym to be an vnderlynge And sythen to deceyue a quene That torneth hym to mochel tene Through lust of loue he gat hym hate That ende couth he nought abate His olde sleyghtes whiche he cast yonge Alisandre hym ouercast His father whiche hym mysbegat He sloughe a great myshappe was that But for omys an other mys was yolde and so full ofte it is Nectanabus his crafte myswent And so it mysfell hym er he went I not what helpeth that clergy whiche maketh a man to do foly And namelyche of Nygromance whiche stont vpon the myscreance ¶ Nota qualiter rex Zorastes statim cum ab vtero matris sue nasceretur gaudâ—o magno risit in quo pronosticum doloris subsequentis signum figurabatur Nam et ipse detestabilis artis magice primus fuit inuentor queÌ„ postea rex Surrie dira morte trucidauit et sic opus operariuÌ„ coÌ„sumpsit ¶ And for to se more euidence Zorastes whiche thexperience Of art magike ferst forth drough Anone as he was bore he lough whiche token was of wo suinge For of his owne controuinge He fond magik and taught it forth But all that was him lytel worth For of Surry a worthy kynge Him slewe and that was his endinge But yet through him this crafte is vsed And he through all the worlde excused For it shall neuer well acheue That stont not ryght with the beleue But liche to wolle is euil sponne who leseth him selfe hath litell wonne And ende proueth euery thyng ¶ Saul whiche was of iewes kynge Vp peyne of deth forbad this arte And yet he toke therof his parte The phitonysse in Samary yafe hym counsayle by sorcery whiche after felle to moche sorowe For he was slayne vpon the morowe To conne mochell thynge it helpeth But of to moche no man yelpeth So for to loke on euery syde Magyke may not well betyde For thy my sonne I woll the rede That thou of these ensamples drede That for no lust of erthly loue Thou seche so to come aboue wherof as in the worldes wonder Thou shalt for euer be put vnder ¶ My good fader graunt mercy For euer I shall beware therby Of loue what me so befalle Suche sorcery abouen all Fro this day forth I shall eschewe That so ne wylle I not pursewe My lust of loue for to seche But this I wolde you beseche Beside that me stant of loue As I you herd speke aboue Howe Alysandre was betaught Of Arystotle and so well taught Of all that to a kynge belongeth wherof my herte sore longeth To wyte what it wolde mene For by reason I wolde wene But if I herde of thinges straunge Yet for a tyme it shulde chaunge My peyne and lisse me somdele ¶ My good sonne thou sayest wele For wisdome howe that euer it stonde To him that can it vnderstonde Doth great profite in sondry wyse But touchend of so hyghe a pryse whiche is not vnto Venus knowe 〈◊〉 may it not my selfe knowe whiche of her courte am all forth drawe And can no thinge but of her lawe But netheles to knowe more As wel as thou me longeth sore And for it helpeth to commune All be they nought to me coÌ„mune The scholes of philosophye Yet thinke I for to specyfye In bokes as it is comprehended wherof thou mightest ben amended For though I be not all counninge Vpon the forme of this wrytinge Some part therof yet I haue herde In this mater howe it hath ferd ☞ Explicit liber sextus ⧠QVIA OMNIS DOCTRIna bona humano regimini saluteÌ„ confert / In hoc septimo libro ad instantiam amantis languidi intendit Genius illam ex qua philosophi et Astrologi philosophie doctrinam regem Alexandrum imbuerunt secundum aliquid declarare Diuidit enim philosophiam in tres partes /
The day is go the nightes chaunce Hath derked all the bright sonne This lord which hath his loue wonne Is go to bed with his wyfe where as they lede a lusty lyfe And that was after somdele sene For as they pleyden hem betwene They gete a chylde betwene hem two To whom fyl after mochel wo. ¶ Qualiter ambassiatores a Tyro in quadam naui Pentapolim venientes mortem regis Antiochi Appolino nunciauerunt ¶ Now haue I tolde of the spousayles â–ª But for to speke of the meruayles whiche afterwarde to hem befelle It is a wonder for to telle ¶ It fel a day they ryden oute The kinge and quene and all the route To pleyen hem vpon the stronde where as they seen towarde the londe A ship saylynge of great arraye To knowe what it mene may Til it be come they abyde Than se they stonde on euery syde Endlonge the shippes borde to shewe Of penounceals a ryche rewe They asken whens the ship is come Fro Tyre anone answerde some And ouer this they sayden more The cause why they comen fore was for to seche and for to fynde Appollynus whiche is of kynde Her lyege lorde â–ª and he appereth And of the tale whiche he hereth He was righte glad for they hym tolde That for vengeaunce as god it wolde Antiochus as men may wyte with thonder and lyghtning is forsmite His doughter hath the same chaunce So ben they both in o balaunce For thy our lyege lorde we seye In name of all the londe and preye That lefte all other thynge to done It lyke you to come sone And se your owne lyege men with other that ben of your ken That lyuen in longynge and desyre Tyll ye be com ageyne to Tyre This tale after the kynge it had Pentapolyn all ouersprad There was no ioye for to seche For euery man it had in speche And sayden all of one accorde A worthy kynge shall ben our lorde That thought vs fyrst an beuynes Is shape vs nowe to great gladnes Thus goth the tydynge ouer all ¶ Qualiter Appolino cuÌ„ vxore sua imprlgnata 〈◊〉 veâ—sus Tirum nauigantibus contigit 〈…〉 mortis articulo angustiatam in naui filiaÌ„ 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ta Thaâ—sis vocabatur parere ¶ But nede he mote that nede shall Appolynus his leue toke â—o god and all the londe betoke with all the people longe and brode That he no lenger there abode â–ª ¶ The kynge and quene sorowe made But yet somdele they were glade Oâ— suche thynge as they herde tho And thus betwene the we le and wo To shyp he goth his wyfe with chylde The whiche was euer meke and mylde And wolde not departe hym fro Suche loue was betwene hem two Lichorida for hir offyce was take whiche was a norice To wende with this yonge wyfe To whom was shape a wofull lyfe within a tyme as it betyd whan they were in the see amyd Out of the north they se a cloude The storme arose the wyndes loude They blewen many a dredefull blaste The welken was all ouercaste The derke nyght the sonne hath vnder There was a great tempest of thonder The mone and eke the sterres both In blacke cloudes they hem clothe wherof theyr bryght loke they hyde This yonge lady wepte and cryde To whom no comforte myght auayle Of chylde she began trauayle where she lay in a caban close Her wofull lorde fro hir arose And that was longe or any morowe So that in anguysshe and in sorowe She was delyuered all by nyght And deyde in euery mannes syght ¶ But nethelesse for all this wo A mayde chylde was bore tho Qualiter Appolinus mortem vxoris sue planxit ¶ Appolynus when he this knewe For sorowe a swoune he ouerthrewe That no man wyst in hym no lyfe And whan he woke be said a wyfe My ioye my lust and my desyre My welth and my recouerire why shall I lyue and thou shalt dye Ha thou fortune I the defye Now hast thou do to me thy werst A berte / why ne wylt thou berst That forth with hir I myght passe My paynes were well the lasse In suche wepynge and suche crye His deed wyfe whiche lay hym bye A thousande sithes he hir kyste was neuer man that sawe ne wyst A sorow to his sorowe lyche was euer amonge vpon the lyche He fyll swounynge as he that thought His owne deth whiche he sought Vnto the goddes all aboue with many a pitous worde of loue But suche wordes as tho were Herde neuer no mannes eare But onely thilke whiche he sayde The maister shypman came and prayde with other suche as ben therin And sayne that he may nothyng wyn Ageyne the deth but they hym rede He be well ware and take hede The see by wey of his nature Receyue may no creature within hym selfe as for to holde The whiche is deed For thy they wolde As they counseylen all about The deed body casten out For better it is they sayden all That it of her so befalle Than if they shulden all spylle ¶ Qualiter suadentibus nautis corpus vxoris sue mortue in quadam cista plumbo et ferro obtusa / que circumligata Appolinus cum magno thesauro vna cum quadam littera sub eius capite scripta recludi in marâ—proici fecit ¶ The kyng which vnderstode her wyll And knew her counsaile that was trewe Began ageyne his sorowe newe with pytous herte and thus to seye It is all reason that ye preye I am qd be but one alone So wolde I not for my persone There fell suche aduersite But whan it may no better be Doth than thus vpon my worde Let make a coffre stronge of borde That it be fyrme with leed and pytche Anone was made a coffer suche All redy brought vnto his honde And whan he sawe and redy fonde This coffre made and well englued The deed body was besewed In cloth of golde and leyde therin And for he wolde vnto her wyn Vpon some coste a sepulture Vnder her heed in aduenture Of golde he leyde sommes great And of iewels stronge beyete Forth with a letter and sayd thus ¶ Copia littere capiti vxoris sue supposite ¶ I kynge of Tyre Appolynus Doth all men for to wyte That here se this letter wryte That helpeles without rede Here lyeth a kynges doughter deede And who that happeth hir to fynde For charite take in his mynde And do so that she be begraue with this treasour whiche he shal haue Thus whan the letter was full spoke They haue anone the coffre stoke And bounden it with yron faste That it may with the wawes last And stoppen it by suche a weye That it shall be within dreye So that no water myght it greue And thus in hope and good beleue Of that the corps shall well aryue They cast it ouer borde as blyue ¶ Qualiter Appolinus vxoris sue corpore in mare proiecto Tyrum relinquens cursum suum versus Tharsim