Egypt A werre whiche that hym beclypt Hath in a marche costeraunt And he whiche was a pursyuaunt Worship of armes to atteyne This Romayn anone lete ordeyne That he was redy euery dele And when he was arrayed wele Of euery thyng which hym bylongeth StrauÈt vnto Kayre his wey he fong geth where he the Sowdan than fond And axeth that within his lond He myght hym for the werre serue As he whiche wol his thank deserue The Soldan was ryght glad with all And wel the more in specyall When that he wyst he was Romayn But what he was elles incertayn That myghte he wyte by no wey And thus the knyght of whome I sey Toward the Soldan he is be left And in the marches now eft Where that the dedely werres were He wrought suche knyghthode there That euery man spak of hym good And thylke tyme so it stood This myghty Soldan by his wyf A doughter hath that in her lyf Men sayd there was none so feyr She shold be hyr fadres heyr And was of yeres rype ynough Hyr beaute many an herte drongh To bowe to that ylke lawe Fro which no lyf may be withdra we And that is loue whos nature Set lyf deth in noo mesure Of hem that knyghthode vndertake This lusty peyne hath ouertake The hâ—rte of this Romayn so sore That to knyghthode more more Pro wesse auaunteth his courage Lyche to the Lyon in his rage Fro whome that al bestes fbe Suche was the knyght in his degre Where he was armed in the felde Ther durst none abyde his shelde Grete pryce vpon the werres he had But she whiche al the chaunce lad Fortune shope the marches so That by thassent of bothe two The Soldan the Calyphe eke Batayll vpon a day they seke Whiche was in suche awey set That lenger shold it not be let They made hem strong on euery syde And when it drough toward the tyde That the bataylle shold be The Soldan in grete prynete A goldryng of his doughter toke And made hyr swere vpon a book And eke vpon the goddes alle That yf fortune so byfalle In the bataylle that he dye That she shal thylk man obeye And take hym to her housbonde Whiche thylk same ryng to honde Hyr shold brynge after his deth This hath she swore forth he geth With al the power of his lond Vnto the marches where he fond His enemy ful enbataylled The Soldan hath the feld assaylled They that ben hardy sone assemblen Wherof the dredeful hertes tremblen That one sleeth that other sterueth But abouen all his pryce deserueth The knyght Romayn where he rode His dedely swerd no man abode Ayene the which was no defence Egypt fled in his presence And they of Perse vpon the chace Pursuen but I not what grace Byfelle on arowe oute of a bowe Al sodenly that ylke throwe The Soldan smote there he lay The chaas is left for thylke day And he was bore in a tent The Souldan syghe how it went And that he sholde algate dyâ— And to this knyaht of Romanye As to hym he most tryst His doughter rynge anone twyst He took hym told hym al the cas Vpon here othe what token it was Of that she shold ben his wyf When this was sayd the hertes lyf Of this Souldan departed sone And therupon as was to done The dede body wel fayre They carye tyl they come at Kayre Where he was worthelyche bygraue The lordes whiche as wolden saue The regne whiche was desolate To brynge it in to good estate A parlement they set anone Now herkne what fel therupon This yong lord this worthy knyght Of Rome vpon the same nyght That they a morowe trete shold Vnto his bachyler he told His counseyll the ryng with â—lle He sheweth thurgh whiche that he shall He seyth the kynges doughter wedde For soo the rynge was leyd to wedde He told in to hyr fadre honde That with that man that she it fonde She shold â—ym toke vnto her lord And thus he seyth stant of record But no man wote who hath this ring This bachyler vpon this thyng His ere his entent lâ—yde And thought more than he seyde And feyneth with aâ—fals vysage That he was glad but his courage Was sâ—t in another wyse These old philosophrâ—s wyse They wryten vpon thylk whyle That he may best a man begyle In whome the man hath most credence And this byfelle in euydence Toward this yong lord of Rome His bachyler whiche he nome When that his lord by nyght slepte This ryng whiche his mayster kepte Oute of his purs awere he dede And put another in the stede A morow when the court is set This yong lady was forth fet To whome the lordes done homage And after that of maryage They treten axen of her wylle But she whiche thought to fulfylle Her fadre hest in this mater Sayd openly that men may here The charge whiche hyr fadre bad Tho was this lord of Rome glad He droughe toward his purs anone But al for nought it was a gone His bachyler hath forth drawe And axeth therupon the lawe That she hym hold couenaunt The tokne was so suffysaunt That it myght not be forsake And netheles his lord hath take Quarelle ayene his owne man But for no thynge that euer he can He myght as than nought be herd So that his clayme is vnansuerd And he hath of his purpos fayled This bachiler was soo counsayled And wedded of thylk empyre He was crouned lord syre And al the lond hym hath receyued Wherof his lord whiche was deceyued A sekenes or the thyrd morowe Conceyued hath of dedely sorowe And as he lay vppon his deth Ther whyle hym lasteth speche breth He sende for the worthyest Of al the londe eke the best And told hem al the soth tho That he was sone heyre also Of themperour of grete Rome And how that they to gyder come This knyght he ryght as it was He told hem al the pleyne cas And for that he his counseyll tolde That other al that he wolde And he hath fayled of his mede And for the good he taketh none hede He sayth but only of the loue Of whiche he wende haue be aboue And therupon by letter wryte He doth his fadre for to wyte Of al this mater how it stood And than with an bertely mood Vnto the lordes he besought To telle his lady how he bought Hyr loue of whiche another gladeth Aud with that word his hewe fadeth And sayd a dieu my lady swete The lyf hath lost his kyndely hete And he lay dede as ony stone Wherof was sory many one But none of al so as she This fals knyght in his degre Arested was put in hold For openly when it was told Of the treson whiche is falle Thorugh oute the lond they sayden alle If it be soth that men suppose His owne vntrouth hym
offendunt WHan Couetyse in poure estate Stondeth with hym self vpon debate Thurgh lack of mysgouernaunce That he vnto his sustenauÌ„ce Ne can none other wey fynde To gete hym good than as the blynde The whiche seeth not what shalle after falle That ylke vyce that which meÌ„ calle Of Robbery he taketh on honde Where thorugh the water the londe Of thyng that other men forswynke He geteth hym clothe mete drynke Hym retcheth not what to do he begyn Though theft soo that he may wyn For thy to make his purchaas He lyeth waytyng on the paas And what thyng that he seeth ther passe He taketh his paas more lasse If it be ought worth for to take He can the pakkes wel rensake So pryncly bereth none about His gold ne be it fyndeth oute Or other â—ewel what it be He taketh it as his propyrte In wodes in feldes eke Thus Robbery goth to seke Where as he may his purpoos fynde And right so in the same kynde My good sone as thou myght here To speke of loue in this matere And make a veray resemblaunce Right as a thefe maketh his cheuesaÌ„ce And robbeth mennes goodes aboute In woode in feld where he goth oute So ben there of these louers some In wylde stedes where they come And fynd there a woman able And therto space couenable Withoute let or that they fare They take a parte of that chaffare Ye though she were a shepeherdesse Yet wold the lord of wantonnesse Assay all though he be vâ—mete For other mennes good is sweâ—â— â–ª But therof wote nothyng the wyf At fâ—me the whiche loueth as hir lyf Hir lord and sytteth alwey wysshyug After hir lordes home comyng But whan he cometh home at eue Anone he maketh his wyf to leue For she not els shold knowe He telleth hir how his huÌ„te gan blowe And how his houndes haue wel ronne And how there shone a mery sonne And how his hawkes flowen wele But â—e wold telle hir neuer a dele How â—e to loue vntrewe was Of that â—e robbed in the pas And tooke his lust vnder the shawe Ageyne loue ageyne his lawe The which thyng my sene I the forbede For it iâ— an vngoodly dede For who that taketh by Robberye His loue â—e may not â—ustyfye His cause so ful oft sythe For onye that he hath ben blythe He shall be after sory thryes Examples for suche robberyes I fynde wryten as thou shalt here Acordynge vnto this matere Hic loquitur contra istos in amoÌ„â—s causa predones qui cum suam furtiue concupiscenciam aspirant fortuna in contraâ—uÌ„ operatur Et narrat quod cum Neptunus quandam virginem no mine Cornicem solam inxta more deaÌ„bulantem opprimere suo furto voluisset superueniens pallas ipsam de manibus eius virginitate seruata gracius lâ— beraâ—it I Rede how whilome wâ—s a mâ—id The fairest as Ouyde said That was in hir tyme tho And she was of the chambre also Of â—allas that is the goddesse Wyfe to mars of whome the prowesse Is gyuen to these worthy knyghtes For he is of so grete myghtes That he gouerneth the bataile Withoute hym may not auayle The strong honde but he it helpe There maye no knyght of armes yelpe But he fyght vnder his banere But now to speke of my matere This faire fresshe lusty may Alone as she went on a day Vpon the stronde for to play There cam Neptunus in the way The whiche hath the see in gouernauÌ„ce And in his herte suche plesaunce He tooke when he this maiden sygh That all his hert aroos on hyghe For he so sodenly vnware Beheld the beaute that she bare And cast anone in his herte That she shall hym no wey asterte But yf he take in auauntage From that mayden some â—â—lâ—ge Not of no broches ne of no thynges But of somme other smale thynges He thought to haue parte or that she weÌ„t And hir in bothe his armes hent And put his hond toward the Cofre Wherfor to robbe he made a profere That lusty tresour for to stele The whiche passeth other goodes feâ—â— That called is the mayâ—enhede The which is the floure of womanhede This mayde that Câ—â—nyx by name Was cleped dredyng al shame Sawe that she myght not debate And wel she wyst he wold algate Fulfylle his lust of Robberye Anone began to wepe cryeâ— And said O pallas noble quene Shewe now thy myght late be sent To kepe and saue myn honoure Help that I lese not my floure The whiche now vnder key is loken That worde was not so soone spoken When pallas shope recouyre After the wylle the desyre Of hir the whiche a mayden wâ—s And sodenly vpon this cas Oute of hir womans kynde In to a byrdes lykenes I fynde She was transformed forth with all So that Neptunus no thyng stall Of thyng that he wold haue stole With federes black as ony cole Oute of his armes in a throwe She flewe before his eyen a crowe The whiche was to hir more delyte To kepe hir maydenhede whyte Vnder the wede of fethers blake Than in perlys whyte to forsake That no lyf may restore ageyne But thus Neptune his hert in veyn Hath vppon robbery set The byrd was flowen he was let The fayr mayde is fro hym scaped So that for euer le was â—eiâ—â—ed And scoâ—â—â—d of that â—e hath â—ore My sone â—e thou ware therfore That thou no maydenhede stele Wherof men see dyseses fele Al day befalle in dyuerse wyse So as I shal the yet deuyse Another tale therupon That felle by old â—â—yes gone Hic ponit exâ—pluÌ„ coÌ„tra istos in causa virginitatis lese predonis et narrat qd cum Calistona Regis Lichoantis mire pulcritudinis filia suam virginitatem Dâ—ane conseruare castissimaâ— voluisset Et in sâ—luam que tegea dicitur inter alias â—hidem Nimphas moraturam se transtulit â–ª â—ubiter virginis castitatem subtili furto surripiens quendam filium qui postea Archas nominatus eÌ„ ex ea genuit vnde Iuno in CalistonaÌ„ semel eius pulcritudinem in vrse tur pissime deformitatem subito transfigurauit KYnâ— Lychaon vpon his wyf A doughter had a goodely lif And cleue mayden of worthy fame Calystona whoo 's right name Was cleped of many a lorde She was besought but hyr acorde To loue myght no man wyn As she that had no lust therin But swore in hyr herte said That she wold euer be a maid Wherfor to kepe hir self pees With suche as amadryades Were clexed were maydens tho And with the Nympâ—es eke also â–ª Vpon the spryng of fresshe welles She shope to dwelle nowhere ellâ—â— And thus cam this Calistona In to the wode to Tegea Where she vyrgynyte behyght Vnto Dyane therto plyghâ— Hir trouthe vpon the bowes gâ—â—ne To kepe hir maydenhede clene The whiche afterward vpon a day Was pryuely stolen away For Iubiter thorugh his queyntyse From hir it toke in suche a
Dysesed courteysly she sayd Do way my lorde I am a mayde And yf ye wyst what I am And out of what lygnage I cam Ye wold not be so saluage With that he sobreth his corage Qualiter sicut deus destinauit patri filiam inuentam recognouit And put aweye his heuy chere But of hem two a man may here What is to be so feble of blood None wyst of other how it stood And yet the fader atte laste His herte vpon this mayde caste That he hir loueth kyndely And yet he wyst neuer why But al was knowe or that they went For god which wote her hole entent Her hertes bothe anone dyscloseth The kyng vnto the mayde opposeth And axeth first what is hir name And where she lerned al this game And of what kyn she was come And she that hath his wordes nome Answereth seith my name is thayse That was somtyme wel at ayse In tharse I was withdrawe fedde There I lernyd tyl I was spedde Of that I can my fader eke I note where I shold hym seke He was a kynge men tolde me My moder dreynte was in the see Fro poynte to poynte to hym tolde That he hath longe in herte holde And neuer durst make hir mone But onely to this lorde allone To whome hir herte can not helâ— Terned to woo torned to wele Torne it to good torne it to harme And he tho took hir in his arme But suche a ioye as she tho made Was neuer seen thus ben they glade That forth hadden be toforne Fro this day forth fortune hath sworn To set hym upward on the whâ—le So goeth the world now woo now wele Qualiter allenagâ—ras appollinum de nâ—â— in he spiaum henorifice recollegit thaâ—sim patre consenciente in vxorem â—uxit tHis kyng hath founde newe grace So that out of his derke place He gâ—eth hym vp in to the lyght And with hym came that swete wyÈt His doughter thayse forth anone They bothe in to the caban gone Which was ordeyned for the kynge And there he dyd of al his thynge And was arayed ryally And cut he came al openlye Where aâ—â—enagoras he fonde Which was lorde of al the bonde He prayeth the kyng to câ—me see The castel bothe his cytâ— And thus they goon forth al in fere Tâ—ie kyng this bord this mayden dere Thie lord tho made hym ryche feste With euery thynge that was honeste To these with this worthy kynge Ther lacketh hym no manere thynge But yet for al this nolle araye Wyuâ—les he was vnto that day As he that yet was of yonge age So fyl there in to his corage The lusty woo the glad payne Of loue which no maÌ„ may restrayne Yet neuer myght as now tofore This lord thynketh al this world lore But yf the kyng wyl done hym grace He wayteth tyme he wayteth place Hym thouÈt his herte wold to lreke Tyl he may to this mayde speke And to hir fader eke also For maryage it fyl so That al was done right as he thouÈt His purpoos to an ende he brought She wedded hym as for hir lorde Thus ben they al of one accorde Qualiter appolinus vna cum filia eius marito nauim ingrediâ—tes a metilena vsqÈ tharsâ—n ê“posueruÌ„t sÈ appolinus in sompnis amoitus versus â—phesim vt ibid in tâ—plo diane sacrificaret vela per mare diuertit WhnÌ„ al was done riÈt as they wolde The kyng vnto his sone tolde Of tharse thylke trayterye And said how now in his companye His doughter hym seluen eke Shal goo vengeaunce for to seke The shyppes were redy sone And whan they sawe it was to done Without â—ette of ony went With sayle vp drawe forth they went Towarde tharse vpon the tyde But he that wote what shal betyde The hye god which wold hym kepe Whan that this kyng was fast a slepe By nyghtes tyme he hath hym bede To seke vnto another stede To ephesym he bad hym drawe And as it was that tyme lawe He shal do there his sacrefyse And â—ke he bad in al wyse That in the temple emongest alle His fortune as it is befalle To wâ—hyng his doughter his wyf He shal be knowe vpon his lyf The kyng of this auysyon Hath grete ymagynacion What thynge it sygnefye may Ande nethelesse whan it was day He bad cosâ—e anker abode And whyle that he on anker rode The wynde that was to fore straunge Vpon the poynte began to chaunge And torneth thyder as it sholde Tho knewe he wel that god it wolde And â—ud the maister make hym yare Tofore the wynde for he wolde fare To ephesym so he â—ede And whan he came in to the stede Where as he shold londe he londeth With al the haste he may fondeth To shapen hym in suche a wyse That he may by the morowe aryse And done after the commaundement Of hym which hath hym thider sent And in the wyse that he thought Vpon the morowe so he wrought His doughter his sone he nome And forth to the temple he come With a grete rowte in companye His yeftes for to sacrefye The cyteÈeyns tho herden seye Of suche a kyng that came to praye Vnto dyane the goddesse And lefte al other besynesse And camen thyder for to see The kynge and the solempnyte Qualiter appolinê° ephesym in tem plo dyane sacrifiâ—â—ns vxoreÌ„ suam ibid velatam inuenit qua secum assumpta nauim versus tirum regressus est With worthy knyghtes enuyroned The kyng hym setf hath abandoned To the temple in good entente The dore is vp in he wente Where as with grete deuocioh Of holy contemplacion Within his herte he made his shryfte And after that a ryche yefte He offreth with grete renerence And there in open audyence Of hem that stoden al aboute He tolde hem declareth oute His happe suche as is hym byfalle Ther was no thynge foryete of alle His wyf as it was goddes grace Which was professed in the place As she that was abbesse there Vnto his tale hath leyrd hir eere She knewe the voys the vysage For pure ioye as in a rage She straught to hym al at ones And fyl a swowne vpon the stones Wherof the temple flore was paued She was anon with water laued Tyl she came to hir self ageyn And than she began to seyn A blessyd be the hygh sonde That I may see my husbonde Which whylom he I were one The kyng with that knewe hir anone And toke hir in his arme kyste And al the towne this sone wyste Tho was there ioye many folde For euery man this tale hath tolde As for myracle weren glade But neuâ—r man suche ioye made As doth the kyng which hath his wyf And when men herde how that hir lyf By hym saued by whome it was They wondred al of suche a caas Thorugh al the londe aroos the speche Of mayster Cyrymon
the leche And of the cure which he dede The kyng hym self this hath hym bede And eke the quene forth wyth hym That he the towne of ephesym Wyl leue goo where that they be For neuer man of his degre Hath do to hem so mychel good And he his prouffyt vnderstood And grauÌ„teth with hem for to wende And thus they maden there an ende And token leue went to shyp With al the fayre felawshyp Qualiter appolliuus vna cum vxere â—t fiâ—ia sua tirum applicuit This kyng which now hath his desire Sayth he wold holde his coâ—â—rs to tyre They hâ—dden wynde atte wylle tho With topsayle cool forth they goo And stryken neuer tyl they come To tyre where as they haue nome And â—â—nden hem with mochel blysse Thâ—re was many a mowthe to kysse Echone â—â—elcometh other home But whan the quene to londe come And thayse hir deughter by hir syde The â—â—ye was tâ—ylke tyde Ther may no mannes tunge telle They sayden al here cometh the welle Of al womanlye grace The kyng hath take his ryal place The quene is in to chambre goo There was grete feste arayed tho Whan tyme was they goon to mete Al olde sawes ben foryete And gladen hem with ioyes newe The dyscolered peple hewe Is now become a â—â—ddy cheke Ther was no myrthe for to sâ—ke Qualiter appollinus anthenogo â—â—m cum tharse vxore sua super tyrum câ—ronaâ—â— feâ—t But euery man hath what he wolde The kyng as he wel â—â—ude shelde Maketh to his peple right good there And after sone as thou shalt here A parlement he had somoned Where he his doughter hath coroned Forthwyth the lord of metelene That one is kyng that other quene And thus the faders ordenaunce This londe hath sette in gouernaunce And said that he wold wende To tharse for to make an ende Of that his doughter was betrayed Wherof were al men wel payed And said how it was for to done The shyppes weren redy sonâ— Qualiter appollinus a tiro y mare versus tharsim iter axipiens vindictam contra strangulionem et dionisiam vx orem suam pro inuiria quam ipiÌ„ thaysi filie sue intulerâ—nt iudicialiter assecutus est aStronge power with hym he toke Vpon the skye he toke his loke And sawe the wynde was couenable They hale vp ancre with the calle The seyle on hye the stere in honde And seylen tyl they come on londe At tharse nygh to the cyte And whan they wysten it was he The towne hath doo hym reuerence He telleth hem the vyolence Which the traytour strangulyo And dyonyse hym had doo Towâ—lyng his doughter as he herde And whan they wyst how it ferde As he which peâ—s loue sought Vnto the towne thus he bysought To done hym right in jugement Anone they weren bothe assente With strengthe of men cemen sone And as hym thought it was to done Atteynt they were by the lawe And demed to be honged drawe And brent with wynde to blowe That al the world it myght knowe And vpon this condycyon The dome in execucion Was put anone without fayle And euery man hath grete meruayle Which herde telle of this chaunce And thonked goddes purueaunce Which doth mercy with iustyce Slayn is the mordrer the morâ—â—â—â— Thorugh very trouth of rightwysnesse And thorugh mercy saue is symplenesse Of hir whom mercy preserueth Thus hath he wel that wel deserueth Qualiter artestrate pentapolim rege mortuo ipsi de regno epistolas suâ— hoc appolino direxerunt Vnde appolinus vna cum vxore sua ibidem aduenientes ad decus imperij cum magno gaudio coronati sunt When al this thyng is goo ended This kyng which loued was frended A letter hath which came to hym By shyp fro pentapolym In which the londe hath to hym write That he wyl vnderstonde wyte How in good mynde in good pees Deed is kyng arestrates Wherof they al of one accorde Hym prayden as her lyege borde That he the letter wyl conceyue And come his reygne to receyue Which god hath yeue hym fortune And thus besought hym the comune Forth with the grete lordes alle This kyng sawe how it is befalle Fro tharse in prosperyte He toke his lâ—ue of that cyte And goeth hym in to shyp ageyn The wynde was good that see was pleyn Hem nede not a ryff to slake Tyl they pentapolym haue take The londe which herde of that tydyng Was wonder glad of that comyng He resteth hym a day or two And toke his counceyl to hym tho And set a tyme of parlement Where al the londe of one assent Forthwith his wyf hath hym câ—roned Where al good hym was forsoned Lo what it is to be wel grounded For he hath first his loue founded Honestlye as for to wedde Honestly his loue he spedde And had chyldren with his wyf And as hym lyst he ledde his lyf And in ensaumple his lyf was wryte That al louers myghten wyte How atte last it shal be sene Of loue what they wolden mene For see now on that other syde Antyochus with al his lewde pryde Which sette his loue vnkyndely His ende had sodeynly Set ageyn kynde vpon vengeaunce And for his lust hath his penaunce Confessor ad amantem procedendo Lo thus my sone thou myght lere What it is to loue in good manere And what to loue in other wyse The mede aryseth of the seruyse Fortune though she be not stable Yet at somtyme is fauourable To hem that ben of loue trewe But certes it is for to rewe To see loue ageyn kynde falle For that maketh a man sore to falle As thou myght tofore rede For thy my sone I wyl the rede To lete al other loue aweye But yf it be by suche a weye As loue reson wyl accorde For ellis yf that thou discorde And take luste as doeth a leste Thy loue may not be honeste For by no skyl that I fynde Suche luste is not of loues kynde Confessio amantis vnde pro finali conclusione consiliuÌ„ confessoris impetrat mY fader how so that it stonde Your tale is herde vnderstonde As thynge which worthy is to here Of grete ensaumple grete matere Wherof my fader god you quyte But in this poynte my self acquyte I may right wel that neuer yet I was assoted in my wyt But onely in that worthy place Where al luste and al grace Is set that yf daunger ne were But that is al my moste fere I note what the fortune acounte But what thyng daunger may amouÌ„ te I wote wel for I haue assayed For whan my herte is beste arayed And I haue al my wyt thorugh souÈt Of loue to beseche hir ought For al that euer I syke may â— am concluded with a nay That one syllable hath ouerthrowe A thousand wordes in a rowe Of suche as I best speke can â—â—us am I but a lâ—ude man But
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
stonde bothe as semeth me That one wold haue his bagges styl And nought departen with his wyll And dare not for the theues slepe So fayne he wold his tresour kepe That other maye not wel be glad For euermore he is adrad Of these louers that gone aboute In aunter yf they put hym oute So haue they bothe lytel Ioye As wel of loue as of moneye Now hast thou sone at my techyng Of Ielousye a knowlechyng That thou myght vnderstonde this Fro when he cometh what he is And eke to whome that he is lyke Beware for thy thou be not syke Of thylk feuer as I haue spoke For it wol in hym self be wroke For loue hateth no thyng more As men may fynde by the lore Of hem that whylome were wyâ—â— Hou they speke in many wyse My fader sothe is that ye seyn But for to loke there ageyn Byfore this tyme hou it is falle Wherof there myght ensample falle To suche men as ben Ielous In what maner it is greuous Ryght fayn I wold ensample here My good sone at thy prayere Of suche ensamples I fynde Soo as they comen now to mynde Vpon this poynt of tyme gone I thynke for to tellen one hIc ponit Confessor Exemplum contra istos maritos quos Ielousia maâ—â—laâ—â—t Et narrat qualiter vul canus cuins vxor venus extitit suspicionem inter ipsam martem concipieÌ„s eorum gestus diligencius explorabat Vnde contigit ê™ cum ipse quadam vice ambos inter se pariter amplexantes in lecto nudo inuenit et exclamaÌ„s omnem cetum deorum et deatum ad taÌ„tum spectaculum conuocauit super quo tamen derisum pocius quam remedium a tota cohorte consecutus est oVyde wrote of many thynges Among the whiche in his wrytinges He told a tale in poesie Whiche toucheth in to Ielousye Vpon a certeyne caas of loue Among the goddes al aboue It felle that ylke tyme thus The god af fyre whiche Vulcanus Is hote hath a craft forth with Assygned for to be the Smyth Of Iupyter and his fygure Bothe of vysage of stature Is â—othly and malgracyous But yet he hath within his hous As for the lykyng of his lyf The fayre Venus to his wyf But mars whiche of bataylles is The god an eye had vnto this As he whiche was chyualrous It felle hym to ben amerous And thought it was grete pyte To see soo lusty one as she Be coupled with so hard a wyght So that his peyne day nyght He dyd yf he her wynne myght And she that had a good insyght Toward so noble a knyghtly lord In loue fel of his acord There lakketh nouÈt but tyme place That he nyâ— syker of her grace But when two hertes fallen in one So wyse a wayte was neuer none That at somtyme they ne mete And thus this fayre lusty swete With Mars hath ofte companye But thylk vnkynde Ielousye Whiche euermore the herte opposeth Maketh Vulcanus that he supposeth That it is not wel ouerall And to hym self he sayde he shal A sâ—yâ— better yf that he may And so it felle vpon a day That he this thyng so slyghly ledde He fond hem bothe a â—edde Al warme echone with other naked And he with craft al redy maked Of strong cheynes hath hem bounde As he to geder hem had founde And lefte hem bothe lygge so And gan than to crye tho Vnto the goddes al aboute And they assembled in a route Come al at ones for to see But none amendes had he Bat was rebuked here there Of hem that loues frendes were And sayd that he was to blame For yf ther felle hym ony shame It was thorugh his mysgouernauÌ„ce And thus he lost contenaunce This god lete his cause falle And they to scorneâ—â—owen â—â—â—e And loâ—en mars oute of his hondes Wherof these erthely husbondes For euer myght ensample take In suche a chaunce hem ouertake For Vulcanus his wyf bewrayd The blame vpon hym self ho laydâ— Wherof his shame was the more Whiche ought for to be a lore For euery man that leueth here To reulen hym in this matere Though suche an hap of loue asterte Yet shold he not apoynte his herte Of Ielousye of that is wrought But feyne as though he wyst it nouÈt For yf he â—ete it ouerpasse The sklaunder shal be wel the lasse And he the more in ese stonde For this thou myght wel vnderstonde That where a man shal nedes leâ—â— The lasse harme is for to chese But Ielousye of his vntryst Maketh that ful many an harme aryst Whiche elles shold not aryse And yf a man wold hym auyse Of that byfelle â–ª to Vulcanus Hym ought of reson thynke thus That syth a god was therof shamed Wel shold an erthely man be blamed To take vpon hym suchâ— a vyce For thy my sone in thyne offyce Beware that thou be nought Ielous Whiche oftyme hath shent the hous My fadre this ensample is bard Hou suche thyng to the heuen ward Among the goddes myght falle For there is one god of alle Whiche is the lord of heueneâ—â— helle But yf it lyke you to telle Hou suche goddes come a place Ye myght mochel thank purchace For I shal be wel taught with alle Confessor My sonne it is soo ouerallâ— With hem that stonden mysbyleuâ—d That suche goddes â—en byleued In sondry place in sondey wyse Among hem whiche be vnwyst There is bytaken of credence Wherof that I the dyfference In the maner as it is wryte Shal do the pleynly for to wyte Gentiâ—us illusis signantur templade oruâ—â— Vnde deos â—â—os nacio cecacolit nulla creaturi racio facit esse creatum Equipaâ—ans quam ad huc Iura pagana so nant â–ª Quia secundum poetarum fabuâ—aâ— in huiusmodi likelli locis quampluribus nomina et gestus deorum falsorum intitulantur quozum infidelitas vt Cristianis clarius innotescat â—nten dit de ipsorum origine secundum barias paganorum sectas â—cribere consequeter Et primo de secta Ealdeâ—â—um trac tare proponit oRcrist was â—ore amoÌ„g bâ— here Of the byleues that tho were In four formes thus it was They of chaldee as in this cas Had a byleue of hem selue Whiche stood vpon the sygnes twelue And eke with the planetes seuene Whiche as they saw vpon the henenâ— Of sondry constellacyon In her Imagyuacyon With sonâ—ry â—rerf portrature They made of goddes the fygure In Elementes eke also They hadden a byleue tho And al was that vnresonable For the elementes ben seruysable To man for ofte of accydence As men may see the experyence They ben corrupt by sondry weye So may no mans reson seye That they ben god in ony wyse And eke yf men hem wel auyse The sonne mone eclypsen bothe Or be hem leef or be hem to the They suffre what thynge is passyble To ben a god is inpossyble Et ê™ Nembroth quartus a Noe ignem
whyle suche tydyng The whiche shall make vs bothe gaâ—â— But for he wold kepe hyr name When that he wyst it was nyhe day He said adyeu my swete may And forth with hym he took his geâ—â— The whiche she bad take hym there And streyght vnto his chambre he weÌ„t And gothe to â—ed a slepe hym henâ— And lay that no man hym awoke For Hercules hede of hym toke Tyl it was vnder of the day more And than he ganne to syke sore And sodenly abrayed of slepe And than they took of hym kepe His chamberleyns â—en soone there And make redy al his gere And he awos and vnto the kyng He went and said how to that thyng For whiche he cam he wold go The kyng therfore was wonder woo And for he wold hym fayn withdraw He told hym many a dredeful saw But Iason wold it not recorde And at the last they were accorde When that he wold not abyde A â—ote was redy at the â—yde In that which this worthy knyÈt of greâ—â— Ful armed vp at euery pece To his batayle that belongeth Toke other on hond sore him longeth Till he the water passid were And whan he cam to that yâ—â— there He set hym on his knee doun strauÈl And his carecte as he was taught He rad made his sacryfyce And sythen anoynced hym mâ— wysâ— As Medea hym hath â—ede And than he arose hym fro the 〈◊〉 And with the glewe the fiâ—e he quâ—ynt He anone after gan ateynt The grete serpent and hym slough But erst he had sorowe ynough For that serpent made hym to trauaile So hard and sore of his batayle That now he stood now he felle For long tyme soâ— it be felle Thâ—t with his swerd ne with his spere He myght not that serpent dere It was so shelled al aboute It spyld al edge tole withoute He was soo rude and hard of skyn There myght no thyng goo ther in Venym and fire to geder he cast That he â—ason greued sore with blast And yf it had not ben his oynement His rynge his enchauntement The whiche Medea took hym beforn He had with that worm be lorn But thurgh the vertu that therof caâ— Iason the dragon ouercam And he anone the tethe oute drowe And set his oxen in a plowe With the whiche he brake a pece of â—ond And sewe hem with his owne â—ond Than myght he grete merueyle see Of euery tooth in his degre SpraÌ„g vp a knyÈt with spere sheld Of the whiche ryght anon 〈◊〉 the feld Echone slough other with that Iason not Medea forgat On bothe his knees he gan doune fall And gaâ— thankyng to the goddes all The flees he took gothe to the bote The sonne shyneth bryght hote The flees of gold shone forth with all The water glystered oueralle Medea weped and syghed ofte And stode vppon a to wre aloft Al pryuely within hir self There herd it not ten or twelf She prayd and said god hym spede The knyght that hath my maidenhede And dy she loked toward the yle And when she sawe within a whyle The flees glisteryng â—geyn the sonne She said O lord al is wonne My knyght the feld hath ouereomen Now wold god that he were comen O lord god I wold he were in londe But I dare take this on honde If that she had wynges two She wold haue flowen to hym tho Streyte there he was vnto the â—ote The day wâ—s clere the sonne was hote The grekes were in grete doute The whyle that hyr lord was oute They wise not what shold betyde But waited vpon the tyde To see what ende shold falle There stood also the nobles alle Footh with the comyn of the Towne And as they loked vp doune They were ware within a throwe Where as cam the bote as they wel know And saw how â—ason brought his prey And than they gan al to sey And â—â—yden of with one sreuen O where was euer vnder heuen So noble a knyght as Iason is And wel nyâ—e al saiden this That Iason was a fayre knyght 〈…〉 t was neuer of mans myght The â—â—â—es of gold so for to wynne And thus to talk they begynne 〈…〉 that the kyng forth anone 〈◊〉 sawe the flees how that shone And when Iason cam to the londe The kyng hym self took his honde And kyssed hym â–ª and greete ioyr made â—he grekes were wonder glade And of the thyng right mery thought And forth with hym that flees they broÈt And euery man gan prece in For well was hym that myght wyn To see there of the propyrte And thus they passen the Cyte And gone vnto the place straught Medea the whiche forgate hyr naught Was redy there and saiâ— anone Welcome O worthy knyght Iason She wold haue kyst hym woÌ„der fayne But shame borned hyr agayne It was not the maner as tho For thy she durst not do so She took hyr leue and Iason wenâ—e In to his chambre she hym sente Hyr maide to see how he ferd The whiche whan she sawe and herdâ— How that he had faren oute And that it stood wel al aboute She told hyr lady what she wist And she for ioye hyr mayden kyst The bathes were than arrayd With herbes tempred and assayd And Iason was vnarmed soonâ— And dyde as it befelle to done In to his bathe he went anone And wysshe hym clene as ony â—one He took a soppe and oute he came And on his best array he name And kempt his hede when he was glad And goth hym forth al mery glad Ryght streyght in to the kynges hallâ— Aâ—pmg the grete lordes alle And made hym glad welcomyng And he hem told the tythyng Of this that how it befelle When that he wan the shepes felle Medea when she was after sent Came soone to that parlement And when she myght Iason see Was none so glad of al as she There was no ioye for to seche Of hym made euery ma n a speche Som men said one somme saide other But though he were goddes broder And myght make fire and thonder There myght be no more wonder Then was of hym in that Cyde Eche man taught other this is he That hath in his power within That al the world myght not wyn Lo here the best of al goode Thus seid they that there stood And also that walked vp and doune Bothe of the Court of the towne The tyme of souper cam anone They wysshen therto they gone Medea was with Iason set Tho was there many a deynte fet And set to â—ore hem on the boord But none soo lykyng as the word Which was ther spoke amoÌ„g hem two Soâ— as they dorst speke tho But though they â—adden lytyl space Yet they acorden in that place How Iason shold come at nyght When euery torche euery lyght Were oute than of other thynges They speken a loude for supposynges Of hem that stoden there aboute For loue is
that is falle And fonnd a crafte amonges alle Thurgh which he hath a sefoul dasited With his magyke so enchaunted That he flewe forth when it was nyÈt Vnto the kynges tent ryght Where that he lay amyddes his hoost And when he was a slepe moost With that the sefoull to hym brought Another charme whiche he wrought At home within his chambre stylle The kyng he turneth at his wylle And maketh hym for to dreme see The dragon and the pryuete Whiche was bytwene hym the quene And ouer that he made hym wene In sweuen how that the god Amoo Whan he from the quene aroos Toke forth a rynge wherin a stone Was set graue therupon A sone in whiche whan he cam nyght A lyon with a swerd he syght With a prente as he tho mette Vpon the quenes womhe he sette A seall goth hym forth his way With that the sweuen went his waye And tho bygon the kyng a wake And sighed for his wyues sake With that he lay within his tent And hath a greete woÌ„der what it ment With that he hasted hym to ryse Anone and sent after the wyse Among the whiche there was one A Clerk his name is Amphyone When he the kynges sweuen herd What it bytokeneth he answerd And said as sykerly as the lyf A god hath leyn by thy wyf And gete a sone whiche shall wynne The world al that was withynne As the lyon is kyng of beestes So shalle the world obeye his heestes Which with his swerd shal all be woÌ„ne As ferre as shyneth ony sonne The kyng was doutif of this dome But netheles when that he come Ageyne in to his owne londe His wyf with child grete he founde He myght not hym self stere That he ne made hir heuy chere But he whiche couthe of all sorowe Nectanabus vpon the morow Thorugh the deceyte of Nygromaunce Toke of a dragon the semblaunce And where the kyng sat in his halle Came in rampyng among hem alle With suche a noyse and suche a rore That they agast were all so sore As though they shold deye anone And netheles he greueth none But goth toward the deyse on hye And when he quene nyghe He stynt his noyse and his wyse To hir he profered his seruyce And leyd his honde vpon hir barme And she with goodly chere hir arme Aboute his neck ayeneward leyde And thus the quene with hym pleyde In sight of al men aboute And at the last he gan to loute And obeysaunce vnto hir make And he that wold his leue take And sodenly his lothely forme In to an egle he gan transforme And flewe and set hym on a rayle Wherof the kyng had grete meruayle For there he plumeth hym pyketh As doeth an hawke when hym wel liketh And after that him self he shoke Wherof that all the halle quoke As it a terremote were They saiden alle god was there In suche a rees and forth he flygh The kyng whiche al this wonder sighe When he cam to his chambre alone Vnto the quene he made his mone And of foryeuenes he hir prayd For than he knewe wel as he said She was with child than with a god Than was the kyng withoute rod Chastysed the quene excused Of that she had ben accused And for the gretter euydence Yet after that in the presence Of kyng philip and of other mo Whan they roode in the feldes tho A fesaunte came before her cye The whiche anone as they hir seye Fleyng lete an egge doune falle And it to brake among hem alle And as they token therof kepe They sawe oute of the shelle crepe A lytel serpent oute of the ground Whiche rampeth al aboute round And in ayene it wol haue wonne But for the brennyng of the sonne It myght not so he deyde And therupon the clerkes seide As the serpent when it was oute Went enuyroun the shelle aboute And myght not torne in ageyne So shall it falle in certeyne This child the world shal enuyroune And aboue all to bere the Crowne Hym shalle befalle in his yong age He shall desire in his courage When all the world is in his honde To turne ageyne in to the londe Where he was bore and in his weye Home ward he shalle with poyson deye The kyng whiche al this sawe herd Fro that day forth how so it ferd His Ielousye hath all foryete But he whiche hath the child begÌ„ete Nectanabus in pryuete The tyme of his natyuyte Vpon the constellacion A wayteth and relacion Maketh to the quene how she shalle dâ— And euery houre appoynteth so That no mynute therof was lore So that in due tyme is bore This child forth with therupon There fell wondres many one Of terremote vnyuersell The sonne took coloure of the stele And left his lyght the wyndes blewe And many strengthes ouerthrewe The see his propre kynde chaunged And al the world his forme chauÌ„ged The thonder with his fyry beuen So cruel was vpon the heuen That euery erthely creature Tho thought his lyf in auenture The tempest at the last seceth The child is kepte his age encreceth And Alysaunder his name is hote To whome Calystre and Arystote To techen hym philosophye Endenden and Astronomye With other thynges whiche he couthe Also to teche hym in his youthe Nectanabus took vpon honde But euery man may vnderstonde Of sorcerye how that it wende It wylle hym self proue at the ende And namely for to begyle A lady whiche withoute gyle Supposeth all that she hereth But often he that euyll stereth His ship is dreynte therin a mydde And in this caas ryght so betydde Nectauabus vpon a nyght When it was fayre sterre bryght This yong lord lad vpon hyghe Aboue a towre where as he syghe The sterres suche as he acounteth He seeth what eche of hem amounteth And though he knewe of al thynge Yet hath he no knowlechyng That shall vnto hym self befalle When he hath told his wordes alle This yong lord than hym opposeth And asketh yf that he supposeth What deth he shall hym self 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 Alysandre in pryuyte Herof this old dotard lyeth And or that other ought aspyeth Al sodenlyche his old bones He shoof ouer the wal for the nones And seyth hym lye doune there a part Wherof now serueth al thyn art Thou knowest al other mennes chauÌ„ce And of thy self hast ygnoraunce That thou hast said amonges alle Of thy persone it is not befalle Neccanabus whiche hath his deth Yet whyles hym lasteth lyf or brethe To Alysander he spak and seyd That he wâ—th wroÌ„g blame on hym leid Fro poynt to poynt al che cas He told how he hie sonne was Tho he whiche sory was ynough Oute of the dyche his fader drough And told his moder how it ferde In counceyl
pluriê° famulialiter intendebat Vnde placata puella in amorem appolini exazdescens infirmabâ—tur tHey toke lette as for that nyght And whan it was on morow right Vnto this yonge man of tyre Of clothes and of good attyre With golde syluer for to spende This worthy yonge lady sende And thus she made hym wel at ease And he with al that he can plese Hir serueth wel fayr ageyn He taughte hir tyl she thas certeyn Of harpe of cytole of rote With many a tewne many a note Vpon musyque vpon mesure And of hir harpe the temprure He taughte hir wel as he roel couthe But as men sayn that frele is youthe With leâ—â—er contynuaunce This mayde fyl vpon a chaunce That loue hath mad hym a quarele Ageynst yongthe fressh frele That mangre wheder she wyl or nouÈt She mote with al her hertes thought To loue to his loue obeye And that she shal ful sore obeye For the wote not what it is But euer emonge she feleth this Towchyug this man of tyre Hir herte is hote as ony fyre And other whyle it is a cale Now is she reed now is she pale Right after the condycyon Of hir ymagynacyon But euer emonge her thoughtes alle Hir thought what may befalle Or that she laughe or that she wepe She wold hir good name kepe For fere of womannysshe shame But what in ernest in game She stante for loue in suche a plyte That she hath loste al appetyte Of mete of drynke of nyghtes reste As she that note what is the beste But for to thynke al hir fylle She holde hir ofte tymes stylle Within hir chambre goeth not oute The kyng was of hir lyf in doute Which wyst no thynge what it mente But fyl a tyme as he out wente tO walke of prynces sones thre There came fyl to his knee Qualiter tres filij principum filiam regis singillatim in vxorem suis supplicacionibus postularent And eche of hem in sondry wâ—se Bysought proferith his seruyse So that he myght his doughter haue The kyng which wold hir honour saue Saith she is seek of that speche Tho was no tyme to beseche But eche of hem do make a bylle He bad wrytc his owne wylle His name his fader his good And whan she wyst how that it stood And had hyr lylles ouer seyn They shold haue answer ageyn Of this counceyl they were glad And wrote as the kyng hem bad And euery man his owne bock In to the kynges honde bytook And he it to his doughter sende And prayed hir for to make an ende And wrote ageyn hir owne honde Right as she in her herte fonde Qualiter fitia regis omnibus alijs retictis appollinum in maritu 〈…〉 preclegit tHe bylles were wel receyued But she hath al hir loues weyued And thouÈt that thaÌ„ was tyme space To put hir in her faders grace And wrote ageyn thus she sayd The shame which is in a mayde With speche dare noâ— be vnloke But in wryfyng it may be spoke So wryte I fader to you thus But yf I haue apollynus Of al this world what so besyde I wyl none other man abyde And certes yf I of hym fayle I wote right wel without fayle Ye shal for me be faderles This lettre came there was prese Tofore the kyng there as he stode And whan that he it vnderstode He yaue hem auswer by by But that was do pryuelye That â—â—â—e â—f other counceyl wyste They toke her leue where hem lyste And wente forth vpon theyr weys The kyng wold not bewreye The counceyl for no maner hye But suffreth tyl he tyme sye Qualiter rex regina in maritagium filie sue cum appolino consencierunt And whan that he to chambre is come His counceyl therto hym nome This man of tyre lete hym see The lettre al the pryuyte The which his doughter to hym sente And he his knee to grounde bente And thonked hym and hyr also And or they wente thenne a two With good herte good corage Of ful loue and ful mariage The kyng he be hole accorded And after whan it was recorded Vnto the doughter how it stode The yefte of al the worldes good Ne shold haue made hir halfe so blythe And forth with al the kyng asswithe For he wyl haue hir good assent Hath for the quene hir moder sente The quene is comen when she herde Of this matere how that is ferde She sawe debate she sawe dysese But yf she wold hir doughter plese And is therto assented ful Which is a dede wonderful For no man knewe the soth â—â—as But he hym self what man he was And nethelesse so as hym thought His dedes to the sothe wrought That he was come of gentyl blood Hym lacketh but worldes good And as therof is no dyspeyre For she shal be hir faderes heyre And he was able to gouerne Thus wyl they not the loue werne Of hym hyr in no wyse But al accorded they deuyse Qualiter appollinus filie regies nup â— sit et primo nocte cum ea concubiens ipsam inpregnauit tHe day of tyme of mariage Where loue is lorde of corage Hym thynketh longe or that he spede But atte laste vnto the dede The tyme is come in her wyse With grete offryng sacrefyse They wedde make a grete feste And euery thynge was right he neste Within how 's eke without It was so done that al aboute Of grete worshyp grete noblesse There cryed many a man a largesse Vnto the lordes hygh loude The knyghtes that be yonge prowde They Iuste fyrst after daunce The day is goo the nyghtes chaunce Hath derked al the bright sonne The lord which hath his loue wonne Is goo to bed with his wyf Where as they lede a lusty lyf And that was after somdele sene For as they pleyden hem bytwene They gete a chylde betwene hem two To whom fyl after mochel woo Qualiter amtassiatores a tiro in quodam naui pentapolim venieÌ„tes mortem regis antiochi Appollino nuÌ„ciaueruÌ„t Now haue I tolde of the spousayles But for to speke of the meruayles Which afterward to hem byfelle It iâ— a wonder for to telle It fyl a day they rode out Kyng quene al the route To pleye hem vpon the seconde Where as they seen toward the londe A shyp saylyng of grete araye To knowe what it mene may Tyl it be come they abyde Than sawe they stonde on euery syde Endlong the shyppes borde to shewe Of the penonnes a ryche rewe They axâ—d whan the shyp is come Fro tyre anone answerd somme And ouer this they sayden more The cause is they comen fore Was for to seche for to fynde Appollynus which of kynde Hir lyege lord he appereth And of the tale which he hereth He was riÈt glad for they hym tolde That
for vengeaunce as god it wolde Antyochus as men may wyte With fire lyghtenyng is al to smyte His doughter hath the same chaunce So ben they bothe in one balaunce For thy our lyege lord we the seye In name of al the londe and preye That lefte al other thynge to done It lyke you to come sone And see your owne lyege men With other that ben of your ken That lyuen in longyng desyre Tyl ye be come ageyn to tyre This tole after the kyng it had Pentapolyn al ouer it sprad There was no ioye for to seche For euery man it had in speche And sayden al of one acoorde A worthy kyng shal ben our lorde That thouÈt vs first an heuynesse Is shape vs now to grete gladnesse Qualiter appollino cum vxore sua imprignata a pentapoli versus tyrum nauigantiê° contigit vxorem mortis artiaâ—â— angustiatam in naui filiam que postea thaysies vocabatur patere tThus goeth the tydyng ouer al But nede he must that nede shal Appollynus his leue took To god he al that bonde bytook With al the peple longe brode That he no lenger there abode The kyng quene sorow made But yet somdele they were glade Of suche thynge as they herde tho And thus bytwene the we le woo To shyp he goeth his wyf with childe The which was euer meke mylde And wold not departe hym fro Suche loue was bytwene hem two Lycho rida for hir offyce Was take which was a norice To wende with this yonge wyf To whom was shape a wooful lyf Within a tyme as it betyd When they were in the see amyd Out of the northe they see a cloude The storme awos the wyndes loud They blewen many a dredesul blaste The welken was al ouer caste The derke nyght the sonne hath vnder Ther was a grete tempest of thondre The mone eke the sterres bothe In blacke clowdes they hem clothe Wherof their bright loke they hyde This yonge lady wepte cryde To whom no comforte myght auayle Of chylde she began to trauayle Where she laye in a caban choos This wooful lord fro hir awos And that was longe or ony morowe So that in anguysshe in sorowe She was delyuerd al by nyght And dede in euery mannes syght But nethelesse for al this woo A mayde chylde was boren tho Qualiter appollinus mortem vxoris sue planxit Appollynus when he thys kuewe A swowne he hym self ouerthrewe That no man wyst in hym no lyf And when he woke he said a wyf My ioye my lust my desyre My welth my recoueryre Why shal I lyue thou shalt dye Ha thou fortune I the defye Now hast thou do to me thy werste A herte why ne wyl thou breste That forth with hir I myght passe My paynes were moche the lasse In suche wepyng suche crye His dede wyf which laye hym bye A thousand sythes he hir kyste Was neuer man that sawe ne wyste A sorowe to his sorowe lyche Was euer emonge vpon the lyche He fyl swownyng as he that thouÈt His owne deth which he besought Vnto the goddes al aboue With many a pytous worde of loue But suche wordes as tho were Herde neuer no mannes eere But onely thylke which he sayed The mayster shypman came prayed With other suche as ben therin And sayn that he may no thyng wyn Ageyn the deth but they hym rede He be wel ware take hede The see by weye of his nature Receyue may no creature Within hym self as for to holde The which is dede for thy they wolde As they counceyllen al aboute The deed body casten oute For better it is they sayden alle That it of hir so byfalle Than yf they sholden al spylle The kyng which vnderstode her wylle And knewe her counceyl was trewe Began ageyn his sorowe newe With pytous herte thus to seye It is al reson that ye preye Qualiter suadentibuâ— nautis corpus vxoris sue mortue in quadam cista plumbo et ferro obtusa circumligata apoolinus cum magno thesauro vna cuÌ„ quadam littera sub eius capite scripta reludi in mari proiti fecit IAm ad he but one allone So wold I not for my persone There fel suche aduersite But whan it may no better be Doth than thus vpon my worde â—ete make a coofere stronge of borde That it be fyrme with lede pytche Anone was made his coofre suche Al redy brought vnto his honde And whan he sawe redy fonde This cooffre made wel englued The deed body was besewed In cloth of golde leyed therin And for he wold vnto hir wyn Vpon somme coste a sepulture Vnder hir heed in aduenture Of golde he leyed sommes grete And of Iuels stronge byyete Copia littere capiti vxoris sue supposite Forthwith a lettre said thus Kyng of tyre Appollynus Doeth al men to wyte That heereth seeth this lettre wryte That helpeles without rede Here lâ—eth a kynges doughter dede And who that happeth hir to fynde For charite take in his mynde And do so that she begraue With that tresour that she haue Thus whan the lettre was ful spoke A none they haue the coofre sâ—oke And bounden it with yron faste So that it may with wawes laste And stoppen it by suche a weyâ— That it shal be within dreye So that no water myght it greue And thus in hope good beleue Of that the corps sâ—â—l nâ—l aryâ—e They caste it ouer borde as blyue Qualiter appoâ—â—â—ê° vxoris sue corâ—e in â—â—are proiecto Tirum reâ—â—nguens cursuÌ„â—â—um versus tharsim nauigio dolens arripuit The shippes forth on the wawes went The prynce hath chaunged his entent And saith he wyl not come at tyre As thenne but al his desyre Is first to saylen vnto tharse The wyndy storme began to scarse The sonne aryseth the weder clereth The shâ—â—man which behynde stereth Whan that he sawe the wyndes softe Toward tharse his cours he sought Qualiter corâ—us predicte deffun â—â—e super â—â—ttus apud ephesim quidem medicus nomine Cerimon cum aâ—â—auâ—â—us suis dscipulâ—s inuenit quod in hospicium â—ortans et extra cistam 〈◊〉 â— neÌ„s spirâ— cuâ—o vite in ca inuento ipsam plene sanitati restituit bâ—t now to my matere agâ—yn To telle as olde bookes seyn This dede corps of which ye knowe With wynde water was forthrowe Now here now there tyl atte laste At ephesym the see vp caste The cooffre al that was therin Of grete meruayle now begyn May hâ—re who that sâ—te stylle That god wyl saue may not spylle Right as the corps was throwe on loÌ„de There came walkyng by the stronde A worthy clerke surgyen And eke a grâ—te physycien Of that londe the wysest one Which hyght mayster Ciâ—â—mone Ther was of his dysaples somme This maistre is to the â—â—offre come He poyseth ther was somwhat in And bade hym bere it
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