Cinyras my Father been What hinder'd Myrrha's Hopes to be his Queen But the Perverseness of my Fate is such That he 's not mine because he 's mine too much Our Kindred-Blood debars a better Tie He might be nearer were he not so nigh Eyes and their Ojects never must unite Some Distance is requir'd to help the Sight Fain wou'd I travel to some Foreign Shore Never to see my Native Country more So might I to my self my self restore So might my Mind these impious Thoughts remove And ceasing to behold might cease to love But stay I must to seed my famish'd Sight To talk to kiss and more if more I might More impious Maid What more canst thou design To make a monstrous Mixture in thy Line And break all Statutes Humane and Divine Canst thou be call'd to save thy wretched Life Thy Mother's Rival and thy Father's Wife Confound so many sacred Names in one Thy Brother's Mother Sister to thy Son And fear'st thou not to see th' Infernal Bands Their Heads with Snakes with Torches arm'd their Hands Full at thy Face th' avenging Brands to bear And shake the Serpents from their hissing Hair But thou in time th' increasing Ill controul Nor first debauch the Body by the Soul Secure the sacred Quiet of thy Mind And keep the Sanctions Nature has design'd Suppose I shou'd attempt th' Attempt were vain No Thoughts like mine his sinless Soul profane Observant of the Right and O that he Cou'd cure my Madness or be mad like me Thus she But Cinyras who daily sees A Crowd of Noble Suitors at his Knees Among so many knew not whom to chuse Irresolute to grant or to refuse But having told their Names enquir'd of her Who pleas'd her best and whom she would prefer The blushing Maid stood silent with Surprize And on her Father fix'd her ardent Eyes And looking sigh'd and as she sigh'd began Round Tears to shed that scalded as they ran The tender Sire who saw her blush and cry Ascrib'd it all to Maiden-modesty And dry'd the falling Drops and yet more kind He stroak'd her Cheeks and holy Kisses join'd She felt a secret Venom fire her Blood And found more Pleasure than a Daughter shou'd And ask'd again what Lover of the Crew She lik'd the best she answer'd One like you Mistaking what she meant her pious Will He prais'd and bad her so continue still The Word of Pious heard she blush'd with shame Of secret Guilt and cou'd not bear the Name 'T was now the mid of Night when Slumbers close Our Eyes and sooth our Cares with soft Repose But no Repose cou'd wretched Myrrha find Her Body rouling as she rould her Mind Mad with Desire she ruminates her Sin And wishes all her Wishes o'er again Now she despairs and now resolves to try Wou'd not and wou'd again she knows not why Stops and returns makes and retracts the Vow Fain wou'd begin but understands not how As when a Pine is hew'd upon the Plains And the last mortal Stroke alone remains Lab'ring in Pangs of Death and threatning all This way and that she nods considring where to fall So Myrrha's Mind impell'd on either Side Takes ev'ry Bent but cannot long abide Irresolute on which she shou'd relie At last unfix'd in all is only fix'd to die On that sad Thought she rests resolv'd on Death She rises and prepares to choak her Breath Then while about the Beam her Zone she ties Dear Cinyras farewell she softly cries For thee I die and only wish to be Not hated when thou know'st I die for thee Pardon the Crime in pity to the Cause This said about her Neck the Noose she draws The Nurse who lay without her faithful Guard Though not the Words the Murmurs overheard And Sighs and hollow Sounds Surpriz'd with Fright She starts and leaves her Bed and springs a Light Unlocks the Door and entring out of Breath The Dying saw and Instruments of Death She shrieks she cuts the Zone with trembling haste And in her Arms her fainting Charge embrac'd Next for she now had leisure for her Tears She weeping ask'd in these her blooming Years What unforeseen Misfortune caus'd her Care To loath her Life and languish in Despair The Maid with down-cast Eyes and mute with Grief For Death unfinish'd and ill-tim'd Relief Stood sullen to her Suit The Beldame press'd The more to know and bar'd her wither'd Breast Adjur'd her by the kindly Food shew drew From those dry Founts her secret Ill to shew Sad Myrrha sigh'd and turn'd her Eyes aside The Nurse still urg'd and wou'd not be deny'd Nor only promis'd Secresie but pray'd She might have leave to give her offer'd Aid Good-will she said my want of Strength supplies And Diligence shall give what Age denies If strong Desires thy Mind to Fury move With Charms and Med'cines I can cure thy Love If envious Eyes their hurtful Rays have cast More pow'rful Verse shall free thee from the Blast If Heav'n offended sends thee this Disease Offended Heav'n with Pray'rs we can appease What then remains that can these Cares procure Thy House is flourishing thy Fortune sure Thy careful Mother yet in Health survives And to thy Comfort thy kind Father lives The Virgin started at her Father's Name And sigh'd profoundly conscious of the Shame Nor yet the Nurse her impious Love divin'd But yet surmis'd that Love disturb'd her Mind Thus thinking she pursu'd her Point and laid And lull'd within her Lap the mourning Maid Then softly sooth'd her thus I guess your Grief You love my Child your Love shall find Relief My long experienc'd Age shall be your Guide Relie on that and lay Distrust aside No Breath of Air shall on the Secret blow Nor shall what most you fear your Father know Struck once again as with a Thunder-clap The guilty Virgin bounded from her Lap And threw her Body prostrate on the Bed And to conctal her Blushes hid her Head There silent lay and warn'd her with her Hand To go But she receiv'd not the Command Remaining still importunate to know Then Myrrha thus Or ask no more or go I prethee go or staying spare my Shame What thou wou'dst hear is impious ev'n to name At this on high the Beldame holds her Hands And trembling both with Age and Terrour stands Adjures and falling at her Feet intreats Sooths her with Blandishments and frights with Threats To tell the Crime intended or disclose What Part of it she knew if she no farther knows And last if conscious to her Counsel made Confirms anew the Promise of her Aid Now Myrrha rais'd her Head but soon oppress'd With Shame reclin'd it on her Nurses Breast Bath'd it with Tears and strove to have confess'd Twice she began and stopp'd again she try'd The falt'ring Tongue its Office still deny'd At last her Veil before her Face she spread And drew a long preluding Sigh and said O happy Mother in thy Marriage-bed Then groan'd and ceas'd the good Old
Woman Warriour and a Man The Boar is domm'd nor though Diana lend Her Aid Diana can her Beast defend Thus boasted he then stretch'd on Tiptoe stood Secure to make his empty Promise good But the more wary Beast prevents the Blow And upward rips the Groin of his audacious Foe Ancaeus falls his Bowels from the Wound Rush out and clotter'd Blood distains the Ground Perithous no small Portion of the War Press'd on and shook his Lance To whom from far Thus Theseus cry'd O stay my better Part My more than Mistress of my Heart the Heart The Strong may fight aloof Anceus try'd His Force too near and by presuming dy'd He said and while he spake his Javelin threw Hissing in Air th' unerring Weapon flew But on an Arm of Oak that stood betwixt The Marks-man and the Mark his Lance he fixt Once more bold Jason threw but fail'd to wound The Boar and slew an undeserving Hound And through the Dog the Dart was nail'd to Ground Two Spears from Meleager's Hand were sent With equal Force but various in th' Event The first was fix'd in Earth the second stood On the Boars bristled Back and deeply drank his Blood Now while the tortur'd Salvage turns around And flings about his Foam impatient of the Wound The Wounds great Author close at Hand provokes His Rage and plyes him with redoubled Strokes Wheels as he wheels and with his pointed Dart Explores the nearest Passage to his Heart Quick and more quick he spins in giddy Gires Then falls and in much Foam his Soul expires This Act with Shouts Heav'n high the friendly Band Applaud and strain in theirs the Victour Hand Then all approach the Slain with vast Surprize Admire on what a Breadth of Earth he lies And scarce secure reach out their Spears afar And blood their Points to prove their Partnership of War But he the conqu'ring Chief his Foot impress'd On the strong Neck of that destructive Beast And gazing on the Nymph with ardent Eyes Accept said he fair Nonacrine my Prize And though inferiour suffer me to join My Labours and my Part of Praise with thine At this presents her with the Tusky Head And Chine with rising Bristles roughly spread Glad she receiv'd the Gift and seem'd to take With double Pleasure for the Giver's sake The rest were seiz'd with sullen Discontent And a deaf Murmur through the Squadron went All envy'd but the Thestyan Brethren show'd The least Respect and thus they vent their Spleen aloud Lay down those honour'd Spoils nor think to share Weak Woman as thou art the Prize of War Ours is the Title thine a foreign Claim Since Meleagros from our Lineage came Trust not thy Beauty but restore the Prize Which he besotted on that Face and Eyes Would rend from us At this inflam'd with Spite From her they snatch the Gift from him the Givers Right But soon th' impatient Prince his Fauchion drew And cry'd Ye Robbers of another's Due Now learn the Diff'rence at your proper Cost Betwixt true Valour and an empty Boast At this advanc'd and sudden as the Word In proud Ploxippus Bosom plung'd the Sword Toxeus amaz'd and with Amazement slow Or to revenge or ward the coming Blow Stood doubting and while doubting thus he stood Receiv'd the Steel bath'd in his Brother's Blood Pleas'd with the first unknown the second News Althea to the Temples pays their Dues For her Son's Conquest when at length appear Her griesly Brethren stretch'd upon the Bier Pale at the sudden Sight she chang'd her Cheer And with her Cheer her Robes but hearing tell The Cause the Manner and by whom they fell 'T was Grief no more or Grief and Rage were one Within her Soul at last 't was Rage alone Which burning upwards in succession dries The Tears that stood consid'ring in her Eyes There lay a Log unlighted on the Hearth When she was lab'ring in the Throws of Birth For th' unborn Chief the Fatal Sisters came And rais'd it up and toss'd it on the Flame Then on the Rock a scanty Measure place Of Vital Flax and turn'd the Wheel apace And turning sung To this red Brand and thee O new-born Babe we give an equal Destiny So vanish'd out of View The frighted Dame Sprung hasty from her Bed and quench'd the Flame The Log in secret lock'd she kept with Care And that while thus preserv'd preserv'd her Heir This Brand she now produc'd and first she strows The Hearth with Heaps of Chips and after blows Thrice heav'd her Hand and heav'd she thrice repress'd The Sister and the Mother long contest Two doubtful Titles in one tender Breast And now her Eyes and Cheeks with Fury glow Now pale her Cheeks her Eyes with Pity flow Now lowring Looks presage approaching Storms And now prevailing Love her Face reforms Resolv'd she doubts again the Tears she dry'd With burning Rage are by new Tears supply'd And as a Ship which Winds and Waves assail Now with the Current drives now with the Gale Both opposite and neither long prevail She feels a double Force by Turns obeys Th' imperious Tempest and th' impetuous Seas So fares Althoea's Mind she first relents With Pity of that Pity then repents Sister and Mother long the Scales divide But the Beam nodded on the Sisters side Sometimes she softly sigh'd then roar'd aloud But Sighs were stifl'd in the Cries of Blood The pious impious Wretch at length decreed To please her Brother's Ghost her Son shou'd bleed And when the Fun'ral Flames began to rise Receive she said a Sisters Sacrifice A Mothers Bowels burn High in her Hand Thus while she spoke she held the fatal Brand Then thrice before the kindled Pyle she bow'd And the three Furies thrice invok'd aloud Come come revenging Sisters come and view A Sister paying her dead Brothers Due A Crime I punish and a Crime commit But Blood for Blood and Death for Death is fit Great Crimes must be with greater Crimes repaid And second Funerals on the former laid Let the whole Houshold in one Ruine fall And may Diana's Curse o'ertake us all Shall Fate to happy Oeneus still allow One Son while Thestius stands depriv'd of two Better three lost than one unpunish'd go Take then dear Ghosts while yet admitted new In Hell you wait my Duty take your Due A costly Off'ring on your Tomb is laid When with my Blood the Price of yours is paid Ah! Whither am I hurried Ah! forgive Ye Shades and let your Sisters Issue live A Mother cannot give him Death though he Deserves it he deserves it not from me Then shall th' unpunish'd Wretch insult the Slain Triumphant live nor only live but reign While you thin Shades the Sport of Winds are toss'd O'er dreery Plains or tread the burning Coast. I cannot cannot bear t is past 't is done Perish this impious this detested Son Perish his Sire and perish I withal And let the Houses Heir and the hop'd Kingdom fall Where is the Mother fled her
ev'n the Gods the Queen of Night Fir'd with Disdain and jealous of her Right Unhonour'd though I am at least said she Not unreveng'd that impious Act shall be Swift as the Word she sped the Boar away With Charge on those devoted Fields to prey No larger Bulls th' AEgyptian Pastures feed And none so large Sicilian Meadows breed His Eye-balls glare with Fire suffus'd with Blood His Neck shoots up a thick-set thorny Wood His bristled Back a Trench impal'd appears And stands erected like a Field of Spears Froth fills his Chaps he sends a grunting Sound And part he churns and part befoams the Ground For Tusks with Indian Elephants he strove And Jove's own Thunder from his Mouth he drove He burns the Leaves the scorching Blast invades The tender Corn and shrivels up the Blades Or suff'ring not their yellow Beards to rear He tramples down the Spikes and intercepts the Year In vain the Barns expect their promis'd Load Nor Barns at home nor Reeks are heap'd abroad In vain the Hinds the Threshing-Floor prepare And exercise their Flails in empty Air. With Olives ever-green the Ground is strow'd And Grapes ungather'd shed their gen'rous Blood Amid the Fold he rages nor the Sheep Their Shepherds nor the Grooms their Bulls can keep From Fields to Walls the frighted Rabble run Nor think themselves secure within the Town Till Meleagros and his chosen Crew Contemn the Danger and the Praise pursue Fair Leda's Twins in time to Stars decreed One fought on Foot one curb'd the fiery Steed Then issu'd forth fam'd Jason after These Who mann'd the foremost Ship that sail'd the Seas Then Theseus join'd with bold Perithous came A single Concord in a double Name The Thestian Sons Idas who swiftly ran And Ceneus once a Woman now a Man Lynceus with Eagles Eyes and Lions Heart Leucippus with his never-erring Dart Acastus Phileus Phoenix Telamon Echion Lelex and Eurytion Achilles Father and Great Phocus Son Dryas the Fierce and Hippasus the Strong With twice old Iolas and Nestor then but young Laertes active and Ancaeus bold Mopsus the Sage who future Things foretold And t' other Seer yet by his Wife * Amphiaraus unfold A thousand others of immortal Fame Among the rest fair Atalanta came Grace of the Woods A Diamond Buckle bound Her Vest behind that else had flow'd upon the Ground And shew'd her buskin'd Legs her Head was bare But for her Native Ornament of Hair Which in a simple Knot was ty'd above Sweet Negligence unheeded Bait of Love Her sounding Quiver on her Shoulder ty'd One Hand a Dart and one a Bow supply'd Such was her Face as in a Nymph display'd A fair fierce Boy or in a Boy betray'd The blushing Beauties of a modest Maid The Caledonian Chief at once the Dame Beheld at once his Heart receiv'd the Flame With Heav'ns averse O happy Youth he cry'd For whom thy Fates reserve so fair a Bride He sigh'd and had no leisure more to say His Honour call'd his Eyes another way And forc'd him to pursue the now neglected Prey There stood a Forest on a Mountains Brow Which over-look'd the shaded Plains below No sounding Ax presum'd those Trees to bite Coeval with the World a venerable Sight The Heroes there arriv'd some spread around The Toils some search the Footsteps on the Ground Some from the Chains the faithful Dogs unbound Of Action eager and intent in Thought The Chiefs their honourable Danger sought A Valley stood below the common Drain Of Waters from above and falling Rain The Bottom was a moist and marshy Ground Whose Edges were with bending Oziers crown'd The knotty Bulrush next in Order stood And all within of Reeds a trembling Wood. From hence the Boar was rows'd and sprung amain Like Lightning sudden on the Warriour-Train Beats down the Trees before him shakes the Ground The Forest echoes to the crackling Sound Shout the fierce Youth and Clamours ring around All stood with their protended Spears prepar'd With broad Steel Heads the brandish'd Weapons glar'd The Beast impetuous with his Tusks aside Deals glancing Wounds the fearful Dogs divide All spend their Mouth aloof but none abide Echion threw the first but miss'd his Mark And stuck his Boar-spear on a Maples Bark Then Fason and his Javelin seem'd to take But fail'd with over-force and whiz'd above his Back Mopsus was next but e'er he threw address'd To Phoebus thus O Patron help thy Priest If I adore and ever have ador'd Thy Pow'r Divine thy present Aid afford That I may reach the Beast The God allow'd His Pray'r and smiling gave him what he cou'd He reach'd the Savage but no Blood he drew Dian unarm'd the Javelin as it flew This chaf'd the Boar his Nostrils Flames expire And his red Eye-balls roll with living Fire Whirl'd from a Sling or from an Engine thrown Amid the Foes so flies a mighty Stone As flew the Beast The Left Wing put to flight The Chiefs o'er-born he rushes on the Right Empalamos and Pelagon he laid In Dust and next to Death but for their Fellows Aid Onesimus far'd worse prepar'd to fly The fatal Fang drove deep within his Thigh And cut the Nerves The Nerves no more sustain The Bulk the Bulk unprop'd falls headlong on the Plain Nestor had fail'd the Fall of Troy to see But leaning on his Lance he vaulted on a Tree Then gath'ring up his Feet look'd down with Fear And thought his monstrous Foe was still too near Against a Stump his Tusk the Monster grinds And in the sharpen'd Edge new Vigour finds Then trusting to his Arms young Othrys found And ranch'd his Hips with one continu'd Wound Now Leda's Twins the future Stars appear White were their Habits white their Horses were Conspicuous both and both in act to throw Their trembling Lances brandish'd at the Foe Nor had they miss'd but he to Thickets fled Conceal'd from aiming Spears not pervious to the Steed But Telamon rush'd in and happ'd to meet A rising Root that held his fastned Feet So down he fell whom sprawling on the Ground His Brother from the Wooden Gyves unbound Mean time the Virgin-Huntress was not slow T' expel the Shaft from her contracted Bow Beneath his Ear the fastned Arrow stood And from the Wound appear'd the trickling Blood She blush'd for Joy But Meleagros rais'd His voice with loud Applause and the fair Archer prais'd He was the first to see and first to show His Friends the Marks of the successful Blow Nor shall thy Valour want the Praises due He said a vertuous Envy seiz'd the Crew They shout the Shouting animates their Hearts And all at once employ their thronging Darts But out of Order thrown in Air they joyn And Multitude makes frustrate the Design With both his Hands the proud Anceus takes And flourishes his double-biting Ax Then forward to his Fate he took a Stride Before the rest and to his Fellows cry'd Give place and mark the diff'rence if you can Between a
pious Love And where the Pains with which ten Months I strove Ah! hadst thou dy'd my Son in Infant-years Thy little Herse had been bedew'd with Tears Thou liv'st by me to me thy Breath resign Mine is the Merit the Demerit thine Thy Life by double Title I require Once giv'n at Birth and once preserv'd from Fire One Murder pay or add one Murder more And me to them who fell by thee restore I wou'd but cannot My Son's Image stands Before my Sight and now their angry Hands My Brothers hold and Vengeance these exact This pleads Compassion and repents the Fact He pleads in vain and I pronounce his Doom My Brothers though unjustly shall o'ercome But having paid their injur'd Ghosts their Due My Son requires my Death and mine shall his pursue At this for the last time she lifts her Hand Averts her Eyes and half unwilling drops the Brand. The Brand amid the flaming Fewel thrown Or drew or seem'd to draw a dying Groan The Fires themselves but faintly lick'd their Prey Then loath'd their impious Food and wou'd have shrunk away Just then the Heroe cast a doleful Cry And in those absent Flames began to fry The blind Contagion rag'd within his Veins But he with manly Patience bore his Pains He fear'd not Fate but only griev'd to die Without an honest Wound and by a Death so dry Happy Ancaeus thrice aloud he cry'd With what becoming Fate in Arms he dy'd Then call'd his Brothers Sisters Sire around And her to whom his Nuptial Vows were bound Perhaps his Mother a long Sigh he drew And his Voice failing took his last Adieu For as the Flames augment and as they stay At their full Height then languish to decay They rise and sink by Fits at last they soar In one bright Blaze and then descend no more Just so his inward Heats at height impair Till the last burning Breath shoots out the Soul in Air. Now lofty Calidon in Ruines lies All Ages all Degrees unsluice their Eyes And Heav'n Earth resound with Murmurs Groans Cries Matrons and Maidens beat their Breasts and tear Their Habits and root up their scatter'd Hair The wretched Father Father now no more With Sorrow sunk lies prostrate on the Floor Deforms his hoary Locks with Dust obscene And curses Age and Ioaths a Life prolong'd with Pain By Steel her stubborn Soul his Mother freed And punish'd on her self her impious Deed. Had I a hundred Tongues a Wit so large As cou'd their hundred Offices discharge Had Phoebus all his Helicon bestow'd In all the Streams inspiring all the God Those Tongues that Wit those Streams that God in vain Wou'd offer to describe his Sisters pain They beat their Breasts with many a bruizing Blow Till they turn'd livid and corrupt the Snow The Corps they cherish while the Corps remains And exercise and rub with fruitless Pains And when to Fun'ral Flames 't is born away They kiss the Bed on which the Body lay And when those Fun'ral Flames no longer burn The Dust compos'd within a pious Urn Ev'n in that Urn their Brother they confess And hug it in their Arms and to their Bosoms press His Tomb is rais'd then stretch'd along the Ground Those living Monuments his Tomb surround Ev'n to his Name inscrib'd their Tears they pay Till Tears and Kisses wear his Name away But Cynthia now had all her Fury spent Not with less Ruine than a Race content Excepting Gorge perish'd all the Seed And * Dejanira Her whom Heav'n for Hercules decreed Satiate at last no longer she pursu'd The weeping Sisters but with Wings endu'd And Horny Beaks and sent to flit in Air Who yearly round the Tomb in Feather'd Flocks repair SIGISMONDA AND GUISCARDO FROM BOCCACE SIGISMONDA AND GUISCARDO FROM BOCCACE WHile Norman Tancred in Salerno reign'd The Title of a Gracious Prince he gain'd Till turn'd a Tyrant in his latter Days He lost the Lustre of his former Praise And from the bright Meridian where he stood Descending dipp'd his Hands in Lovers Blood This Prince of Fortunes Favour long possess'd Yet was with one fair Daughter only bless'd And bless'd he might have been with her alone But oh how much more happy had he none She was his Care his Hope and his Delight Most in his Thought and ever in his Sight Next nay beyond his Life he held her dear She liv'd by him and now he liv'd in her For this when ripe for Marriage he delay'd Her Nuptial Bands and kept her long a Maid As envying any else should share a Part Of what was his and claiming all her Heart At length as Publick Decency requir'd And all his Vassals eagerly desir'd With Mind averse he rather underwent His Peoples Will than gave his own Consent So was she torn as from a Lover's Side And made almost in his despite a Bride Short were her Marriage-Joys for in the Prime Of Youth her Lord expir'd before his time And to her Father's Court in little space Restor'd anew she held a higher Place More lov'd and more exalted into Grace This Princess fresh and young and fair and wise The worshipp'd Idol of her Father's Eyes Did all her Sex in ev'ry Grace exceed And had more Wit beside than Women need Youth Health and Ease and most an amorous Mind To second Nuptials had her Thoughts inclin'd And former Joys had left a secret Sting behind But prodigal in ev'ry other Grant Her Sire left unsupply'd her only Want And she betwixt her Modesty and Pride Her Wishes which she could not help would hide Resolv'd at last to lose no longer Time And yet to please her self without a Crime She cast her Eyes around the Court to find A worthy Subject suiting to her Mind To him in holy Nuptials to be ty'd A seeming Widow and a secret Bride Among the Train of Courtiers one she found With all the Gifts of bounteous Nature crown'd Of gentle Blood but one whose niggard Fate Had set him far below her high Estate Guiscard his Name was call'd of blooming Age Now Squire to Tancred and before his Page To him the Choice of all the shining Crowd Her Heart the noble Sigismonda vow'd Yet hitherto she kept her Love conceal'd And with close Glances ev'ry Day beheld The graceful Youth and ev'ry Day increas'd The raging Fire that burn'd within her Breast Some secret Charm did all his Acts attend And what his Fortune wanted hers could mend Till as the Fire will force its outward way Or in the Prison pent consume the Prey So long her earnest Eyes on his were set At length their twisted Rays together met And he surpriz'd with humble Joy survey'd One sweet Regard shot by the Royal Maid Not well assur'd while doubtful Hopes he nurs'd A second Glance came gliding like the first And he who saw the Sharpness of the Dart Without Defence receiv'd it in his Heart In Publick though their Passion wanted Speech Yet mutual Looks interpreted for each Time Ways and Means
the dawning Day arise Take to the Western Gate thy ready way For by that Passage they my Corps convey My Corpse is in a Tumbril laid among The Filth and Ordure and enclos'd with Dung That Cart arrest and raise a common Cry For sacred hunger of my Gold I die Then shew'd his grisly Wounds and last he drew A piteous Sigh and took a long Adieu The frighted Friend arose by break of Day And found the Stall where late his Fellow lay Then of his impious Host enquiring more Was answer'd that his Guest was gone before Muttring he went said he by Morning-light And much complain'd of his ill Rest by Night This rais'd Suspicion in the Pilgrim's Mind Because all Hosts are of an evil Kind And oft to share the Spoil with Robbers join'd His Dream confirm'd his Thought with troubled Look Straight to the Western-Gate his way he took There as his Dream foretold a Cart he found That carry'd Composs forth to dung the Ground This when the Pilgrim saw he stretch'd his Throat And cry'd out Murther with a yelling Note My murther'd Fellow in this Cart lies dead Vengeance and Justice on the Villain 's Head You Magistrates who sacred Laws dispense On you I call to punish this Offence The Word thus giv'n within a little space The Mob came roaring out 〈◊〉 throng'd the Place All in a trice they cast the Cart to Ground And in the Dung the murther'd Body bound Though breathless warm and reeking from the Wound Good Heav'n whose darling Attribute we find Is boundless Grace and Mercy to Mankind Abhors the Cruel and the Deeds of Night By wond'rous Ways reveals in open Light Murther may pass unpunished for a time But tardy Justice will o'ertake the Crime And oft a speedier Pain the Guilty feels The Hue and Cry of Heav'n pursues him at the Heels Fresh from the Fact as in the present Case The Criminals are seiz'd upon the Place Carter and Host confronted Face to Face Stiff in denial as the Law appoints On Engins they distend their tortur'd Joints So was Confession forc'd th' Offence was known And publick Justice on th' Offenders done Here may you see that Visions are to dread And in the Page that follows this I read Of two young Merchants whom the hope of Gain Induc'd in Partnership to cross the Main Waiting till willing Winds their Sails supply'd Within a Trading-Town they long abide Full fairly situate on a Haven's side One Evening it befel that looking out The Wind they long had 〈◊〉 was borne about Well pleas'd they went to Rest and if the Gale 'Till Morn continu'd both resolv'd to fail But as together in a Bed they lay The younger had a Dream at break of Day A Man he thought stood frowning at his side Who warn'd him for his Safety to provide Not put to Sea but safe on Shore abide I come thy Genius to command thy stay Trust not the Winds for fatal is the Day And Death unhop'd attends the watry way The Vision said And vanish'd from his sight The Dreamer waken'd in a mortal Fright Then pull'd his drowzy Neighbour and declar'd What in his Slumber he had seen and heard His Friend smil'd scornful and with proud contempt Rejects as idle what his Fellow dreamt Stay who will stay For me no Fears restrain Who follow Mercury the God of Gain Let each Man do as to his Fancy seems I wait not I till you have better Dreams Dreams are but Interludes which Fancy makes When Monarch-Reason sleeps this Mimick wakes Compounds a Medley of disjointed Things A Mob of Coblers and a Court of Kings Light Fumes are merry grosser Fumes are sad Both are the reasonable Soul run mad And many monstrous Forms in sleep we see That neither were nor are nor e'er can be Sometimes forgotten Things long cast behind Rush forward in the Brain and come to mind The Nurses Legends are for Truths receiv'd And the Man dreams but what the Boy believ'd Sometimes we but rehearse a former Play The Night restores our Actions done by Day As Hounds in sleep will open for their Prey In short the Farce of Dreams is of a piece Chimera's all and more absurd or less You who believe in Tales abide alone What e'er I get this Voyage is my own Thus while he spoke he heard the shouting Crew That call'd aboard and took his last adieu The Vessel went before a merry Gale And for quick Passage put on ev'ry Sail But when least fear'd and ev'n in open Day The Mischief overtook her in the way Whether she sprung a Leak I cannot find Or whether she was overset with Wind Or that some Rock below her bottom rent But down at once with all her Crew she went Her Fellow Ships from far her Loss descry'd But only she was sunk and all were safe beside By this Example you are taught again That Dreams and Visions are not always vain But if dear Partlet you are yet in doubt Another Tale shall make the former out Kenelm the Son of Kenulph Mercia's King Whose holy Life the Legends loudly sing Warn'd in a Dream his Murther did foretel From Point to Point as after it befel All Circumstances to his Nurse he told A Wonder from a Child of sev'n Years old The Dream with Horror heard the good old Wife From Treason counsell'd him to guard his Life But close to keep the Secret in his Mind For a Boy 's Vision small Belief would find The pious Child by Promise bound obey'd Nor was the fatal Murther long delay'd By Quenda slain he fell before his time Made a young Martyr by his Sister's Crime The Tale is told by venerable Bede Which at your better leisure you may read Macrobius too relates the Vision sent To the great Scipio with the fam'd event Objections makes but after makes Replies And adds that Dreams are often Prophecies Of Daniel you may read in Holy Writ Who when the King his Vision did forget Cou'd Word for Word the wond'rous Dream repeat Nor less of Patriarch Joseph understand Who by a Dream inslav'd th' Egyptian Land The Years of Plenty and of Dearth foretold When for their Bread their Liberty they sold. Nor must th' exalted Buttler be forgot Nor he whose Dream presag'd his hanging Lot And did not Craesus the same Death foresee Rais'd in his Vision on a lofty Tree The Wife of Hector in his utmost Pride Dreamt of his Death the Night before he dy'd Well was he warn'd from Battle to refrain But Men to Death decreed are warn'd in vain He dar'd the Dream and by his fatal Foe was slain Much more I know which I forbear to speak For see the ruddy Day begins to break Let this suffice that plainly I foresee My Dream was bad and bodes Adversity But neither Pills nor Laxatives I like They only serve to make a well-man sick Of these his Gain the sharp Phisician makes And often gives a Purge but seldom takes They not correct but poyson all
Knight was present to her Mind And anxious oft she started on the way And thought the Horseman-Ghost came thundring for his Prey Return'd she took her Bed with little Rest But in short Slumbers dreamt the Funeral Feast Awak'd she turn'd her Side and slept again The same black Vapors mounted in her Brain And the same Dreams return'd with double Pain Now forc'd to wake because afraid to sleep Her Blood all Fever'd with a furious Leap She sprung from Bed distracted in her Mind And fear'd at ev'ry Step a twitching Spright behind Darkling and desp'rate with a stagg'ring pace Of Death afraid and conscious of Disgrace Fear Pride Remorse at once her Heart assail'd Pride put Remorse to flight but Fear prevail'd Friday the fatal Day when next it came Her Soul forethought the Fiend would change his Game And her pursue or Theodore be slain And two Ghosts join their Packs to hunt her o'er the Plain This dreadful Image so possess'd her Mind That desp'rate any Succour else to find She ceas'd all farther hope and now began To make reflection on th' unhappy Man Rich Brave and Young who past expression lov'd Proof to Disdain and not to be remov'd Of all the Men respected and admir'd Of all the Dames except her self desir'd Why not of her Preferr'd above the rest By him with Knightly Deeds and open Love profess'd So had another been where he his Vows address'd This quell'd her Pride yet other Doubts remain'd That once disdaining she might be disdain'd The Fear was just but greater Fear prevail'd Fear of her Life by hellish Hounds assail'd He took a low'ring leave but who can tell What outward Hate might inward Love conceal Her Sexes Arts she knew and why not then Might deep dissembling have a place in Men Here Hope began to dawn resolv'd to try She fix'd on this her utmost Remedy Death was behind but hard it was to die T was time enough at last on Death to call The Precipice in sight A Shrub was all That kindly stood betwixt to break the fatal fall One Maid she had belov'd above the rest Secure of her the Secret she confess'd And now the chearful Light her Fears dispell'd She with no winding turns the Truth conceal'd But put the Woman off and stood reveal'd With Faults confess'd commission'd her to go If Pity yet had place and reconcile her Foe The welcom Message made was soon receiv'd 'T was what he wish'd and hop'd but scarce believ'd Fate seem'd a fair occasion to present He knew the Sex and fear'd she might repent Should he delay the moment of Consent There yet remain'd to gain her Friends a Care The modesty of Maidens well might spare But she with such a Zeal the Cause embrac'd As Women where they will are all in hast That Father Mother and the Kin beside Were overborn by fury of the Tide With full consent of all she chang'd her State Resistless in her Love as in her Hate By her Example warn'd the rest beware More Easy less Imperious were the Fair And that one Hunting which the Devil design'd For one fair Female lost him half the Kind CEYX AND ALCYONE Connection of this Fable with the former Ceyx the Son of Lucifer the Morning Star and King of Trachin in Thessaly was married to Alcyone Daughter to AEolus God of the Winds Both the Husband and the Wife lov'd each other with an entire Affection Daedalion the Elder Brother of Ceyx whom he succeeded having been turn'd into a Falcon by Apollo and Chione Daedalion's Daughter slain by Diana Ceyx prepares a Ship to sail to Claros there to consult the Oracle of Apollo and as Ovid seems to intimate to enquire how the Anger of the Gods might be atton'd THESE Prodigies afflict the pious Prince But more perplex'd with those that happen'd since He purposes to seek the Clarian God Avoiding Delphos his more fam'd Abode Since Phlegyan Robbers made unsafe the Road. Yet cou'd he not from her he lov'd so well The fatal Voyage he resolv'd conceal But when she saw her Lord prepar'd to part A deadly Cold ran shiv'ring to her Heart Her faded Cheeks are chang'd to Boxen Hue And in her Eyes the Tears are ever new She thrice assay'd to Speak her Accents hung And faltring dy'd unfinish'd on her Tongue Or vanish'd into Sighs With long delay Her Voice return'd and found the wonted way Tell me my Lord she said what Fault unknown Thy once belov'd Alcyone has done Whether ah whether is thy Kindness gone Can Ceyx then sustain to leave his Wife And unconcern'd forsake the Sweets of Life What can thy Mind to this long Journey move Or need'st thou absence to renew thy Love Yet if thou go'st by Land tho' Grief possess My Soul ev'n then my Fears will be the less But ah be warn'd to shun the Watry Way The Face is frightful of the stormy Sea For late I saw a-drift disjointed Planks And empty Tombs erected on the Banks Nor let false Hopes to trust betray thy Mind Because my Sire in Caves constrains the Wind Can with a Breath their clam'rous Rage appease They fear his Whistle and forsake the Seas Not so for once indulg'd they sweep the Main Deaf to the Call or hearing hear in vain But bent on Mischief bear the Waves before And not content with Seas insult the Shoar When Ocean Air and Earth at once ingage And rooted Forrests fly before their Rage At once the clashing Clouds to Battle move And Lightnings run across the Fields above I know them well and mark'd their rude Comport While yet a Child within my Father's Court In times of Tempest they command alone And he but sits precarious on the Throne The more I know the more my Fears augment And Fears are oft prophetick of th' event But if not Fears or Reasons will prevail If Fate has fix'd thee obstinate to sail Go not without thy Wife but let me bear My part of Danger with an equal share And present what I suffer only fear Then o'er the bounding Billows shall we fly Secure to live together or to die These Reasons mov'd her starlike Husband's Heart But still he held his Purpose to depart For as he lov'd her equal to his Life He wou'd not to the Seas expose his Wife Nor cou'd be wrought his Voyage to refrain But sought by Arguments to sooth her Pain Nor these avail'd at length he lights on one With which so difficult a Cause he won My Love so short an absence cease to fear For by my Father's holy Flame I swear Before two Moons their Orb with Light adorn If Heav'n allow me Life I will return This Promise of so short a stay prevails He soon equips the Ship supplies the Sails And gives the Word to launch she trembling views This pomp of Death and parting Tears renews Last with a Kiss she took a long farewel Sigh'd with a sad Presage and swooning fell While Ceyx seeks Delays the lusty Crew Rais'd on their Banks their Oars
the Blade in Shivers broke Th' Impassive Knight stood Idle to deride His Rage and offer'd oft his naked Side At length Now Monster in thy turn he cry'd Try thou the Strength of Caeneus At the Word He thrust and in his Shoulder plung'd the Sword Then writh'd his Hand and as he drove it down Deep in his Breast made many Wounds in one The Centaurs saw inrag'd th' unhop'd Success And rushing on in Crowds together press At him and him alone their Darts they threw Repuls'd they from his fated Body flew Amaz'd they stood till Monychus began O Shame a Nation conquer'd by a Man A Woman-Man yet more a Man is He Than all our Race and what He was are We. Now what avail our Nerves The united Force Of two the strongest Creatures Man and Horse Nor Goddess-born nor of Ixion's Seed We seem a Lover built for Juno's Bed Master'd by this half Man Whole Mountains throw With Woods at once and bury him below This only way remains Nor need we doubt To choak the Soul within though not to force it out Heap Weights instead of Wounds He chanc'd to see Where Southern Storms had rooted up a Tree This rais'd from Earth against the Foe he threw Th' Example shewn his Fellow-Brutes pursue With Forest-loads the Warrior they invade Othrys and Pelion soon were void of Shade And spreading Groves were naked Mountains made Press'd with the Burden Caeneus pants for Breath And on his Shoulders bears the Wooden Death To heave th' intolerable Weight he tries At length it rose above his Mouth and Eyes Yet still he heaves And strugling with Despair Shakes all aside and gains a gulp of Air A short Relief which but prolongs his Pain He faints by Fits and then respires again At last the Burden only nods above As when an Earthquake stirs th' Idaean Grove Doubtful his Death He suffocated seem'd To most but otherwise our Mopsus deem'd Who said he saw a yellow Bird arise From out the Pile and cleave the liquid Skies I saw it too With golden Feathers bright Nor e're before beheld so strange a Sight Whom Mopsus viewing as it soar'd around Our Troop and heard the Pinions rattling Sound All hail he cry'd thy Countries Grace and Love Once first of Men below now first of Birds above It s Author to the Story gave Belief For us our Courage was increas'd by Grief Asham'd to see a single Man pursu'd With Odds to sink beneath a Multitude We push'd the Foe and forc'd to shameful Flight Part fell and part escap'd by favour of the Night This Tale by Nestor told did much displease Tlepolemus the Seed of Hercules For often he had heard his Father say That he himself was present at the Fray And more than shar'd the Glories of the Day Old Chronicle he said among the rest You might have nam'd Alcides at the least Is he not worth your Praise The Pylian Prince Sigh'd e'er he spoke then made this proud Defence My former Woes in long Oblivion drown'd I wou'd have lost but you renew the Wound Better to pass him o'er than to relate The Cause I have your mighty Sire to hate His Fame has fill'd the World and reach'd the Sky Which Oh I wish with Truth I cou'd deny We praise not Hector though his Name we know Is great in Arms 't is hard to praise a Foe He your Great Father levell'd to the Ground Messenia's Tow'rs Nor better Fortune found Elis and Pylos that a neighb'ring State And this my own Both guiltless of their Fate To pass the rest twelve wanting one he slew My Brethren who their Birth from Neleus drew All Youths of early Promise had they liv'd By him they perish'd I alone surviv'd The rest were easy Conquest But the Fate Of Periclymenos is wondrous to relate To him our common Grandsire of the Main Had giv'n to change his Form and chang'd resume again Vary'd at Pleasure every Shape he try'd And in all Beasts Alcides still defy'd Vanquish'd on Earth at length he soar'd above Chang'd to the Bird that bears the Bolt of Jove The new-dislembled Eagle now endu'd With Beak and Pounces Hercules pursu'd And cuff'd his manly Cheeks and tore his Face Then safe retir'd and tour'd in empty space Alcides bore not long his flying Foe But bending his inevitable Bow Reach'd him in Air suspended as he stood And in his Pinion fix'd the feather'd Wood. Light was the Wound but in the Sinew hung The Point and his disabled Wing unstrung He wheel'd in Air and stretch'd his Vans in vain His Vans no longer cou'd his Flight sustain For while one gather'd Wind one unsupply'd Hung drooping down nor pois'd his other Side He fell The Shaft that slightly was impress'd Now from his heavy Fall with weight increas'd Drove through his Neck aslant he spurns the Ground And the Soul issues through the Weazon's Wound Now brave Commander of the Rhodian Seas What Praise is due from me to Hercules Silence is all the Vengeance I decree For my slain Brothers but 't is Peace with thee Thus with a flowing Tongue old Nestor spoke Then to full Bowls each other they provoke At length with Weariness and Wine oppress'd They rise from Table and withdraw to Rest. The Sire of Cygnus Monarch of the Main Mean time laments his Son in Battle slain And vows the Victor's Death nor vows in vain For nine long Years the smoother'd Pain he bore Achilles was not ripe for Fate before Then when he saw the promis'd Hour was near He thus bespoke the God that guides the Year Immortal Offspring of my Brother Jove My brightest Nephew and whom best I love Whose Hands were join'd with mine to raise the Wall Of tottring Troy now nodding to her fall Dost thou not mourn our Pow'r employ'd in vain And the Defenders of our City slain To pass the rest cou'd noble Hector lie Unpity'd drag'd around his Native Troy And yet the Murd'rer lives Himself by far A greater Plague than all the wastful War He lives the proud Pelides lives to boast Our Town destroy'd our common Labour lost O cou'd I meet him But I wish too late To prove my Trident is not in his Fate But let him try for that 's allow'd thy Dart And pierce his only penetrable Part. Apollo bows to the superiour Throne And to his Uncle's Anger adds his own Then in a Cloud involv'd he takes his Flight Where Greeks aud Trojans mix'd in mortal Fight And found out Paris lurking where he stood And stain'd his Arrows with Plebeyan Blood Phoebus to him alone the God confess'd Then to the recreant Knight he thus address'd Dost thou not blush to spend thy Shafts in vain On a degenerate and ignoble Train If Fame or better Vengeance be thy Care There aim And with one Arrow end the War He said and shew'd from far the blazing Shield And Sword which but Achilles none cou'd weild And how he mov'd a God and mow'd the standing Field The Deity himself directs
pious Grief And ran in vain alas to his Relief For the brave Soul was fled Full of my Friend I rush'd amid the War his Relicks to defend Nor ceas'd my Toil till I redeem'd the Prey And loaded with Achilles march'd away Those Arms which on these Shoulders then I bore 'T is just you to these Shoulders should restore You see I want not Nerves who cou'd sustain The pond'rous Ruins of so great a Man Or if in others equal Force you find None is endu'd with a more grateful Mind Did Thetis then ambitious in her Care These Arms thus labour'd for her Son prepare That Ajax after him the heav'nly Gift shou'd wear For that dull Soul to stare with stupid Eyes On the learn'd unintelligible Prize What are to him the Sculptures of the Shield Heav'ns Planets Earth and Oceans watry Field The Pleiads Hyads less and greater Bear Undipp'd in Seas Orion's angry Star Two diff'ring Cities grav'd on either Hand Would he wear Arms he cannot understand Beside what wise Objections he prepares Against my late accession to the Wars Does not the Fool perceive his Argument Is with more force against Achilles bent For if Dissembling be so great a Crime The Fault is common and the same in him And if he taxes both of long delay My Guilt is less who sooner came away His pious Mother anxious for his Life Detain'd her Son and me my pious Wife To them the Blossoms of our Youth were due Our riper Manhood we reserv'd for you But grant me guilty 't is not much my care When with so great a Man my Guilt I share My Wit to War the matchless Hero brought But by this Fool I never had been caught Nor need I wonder that on me he threw Such foul Aspersions when he spares not you If Palamede unjustly fell by me Your Honour suffer'd in th' unjust Decree I but accus'd you doom'd And yet he dy'd Convinc'd of Treason and was fairly try'd You heard not he was false your Eyes beheld The Traytor manifest the Bribe reveal'd That Philoctetes is on Lemnos left Wounded forlorn of human Aid bereft Is not my Crime or not my Crime alone Defend your Justice for the Fact 's your own 'T is true 〈◊〉 ' Advice was mine that staying there He might his weary Limbs with rest repair From a long Voyage free and from a longer War He took the Counsel and he lives at least Th' event declares I counsell'd for the best Though Faith is all in Ministers of State For who can promise to be fortunate Now since his Arrows are the Fate of Troy Do not my Wit or weak Address employ Send Ajax there with his persuasive Sense To mollify the Man and draw him thence But Xanthus shall run backward Ida stand A leafless Mountain and the Grecian Band Shall fight for Troy if when my Counsel fail The Wit of heavy Ajax can prevail Hard Philoctetes exercise thy Spleen Against thy Fellows and the King of Men Curse my devoted Head above the rest And wish in Arms to meet me Breast to Breast Yet I the dang'rous Task will undertake And either die my self or bring thee back Nor doubt the same Success as when before The Phrygian Prophet to these Tents I bore Surpriz'd by Night and forc'd him to declare In what was plac'd the fortune of the War Heav'ns dark Decrees and Answers to display And how to take the Town and where the Secret lay Yet this I compass'd and from Troy convey'd The fatal Image of their Guardian-Maid That Work was mine for Pallas though our Friend Yet while she was in Troy did Troy defend Now what has Ajax done or what design'd A noisy Nothing and an empty Wind If he be what he promises in Show Why was I sent and why fear'd he to go Our boasting Champion thought the Task not light To pass the Guards commit himself to Night Not only through a hostile Town to pass But scale with steep ascent the sacred Place With wand'ring Steps to search the Cittadel And from the Priests their Patroness to steal Then through surrounding Foes to force my way And bear in Triumph home the heav'nly Prey Which had I not Ajax in vain had held Before that monst'rous Bulk his sev'nfold Shield That Night to conquer Troy I might be said When Troy was liable to Conquest made Why point'st thou to my Partner of the War Tydides had indeed a worthy share In all my Toil and Praise but when thy Might Our Ships protected did'st thou singly fight All join'd and thou of many wert but one I ask'd no Friend nor had but him alone Who had he not been well assur'd that Art And Conduct were of War the better part And more avail'd than Strength my valiant Friend Had urg'd a better Right than Ajax can pretend As good at least Euripylus may claim And the more moderate Ajax of the Name The Cretan King and his brave Charioteer And Menelaus bold with Sword and Spear All these had been my Rivals in the Shield And yet all these to my Pretensions yield Thy boist'rous Hands are then of use when I With this directing Head those Hands apply Brawn without Brain is thine My prudent Care Foresees provides administers the War Thy Province is to Fight but when shall be The time to Fight the King consults with me No dram of Judgment with thy Force is join'd Thy Body is of Profit and my Mind But how much more the Ship her Safety owes To him who steers than him that only rows By how much more the Captain merits Praise Than he who Fights and Fighting but obeys By so much greater is my Worth than thine Who can'st but execute what I design What gain'st thou brutal Man if I confess Thy Strength superiour when thy Wit is less Mind is the Man I claim my whole Desert From the Mind's Vigour and th' immortal part But you O Grecian Chiefs reward my Care Be grateful to your Watchman of the War For all my Labours in so long a space Sure I may plead a Title to your Grace Enter the Town I then unbarr'd the Gates When I remov'd their tutelary Fates By all our common hopes if hopes they be Which I have now reduc'd to Certainty By falling Troy by yonder tott'ring Tow'rs And by their taken Gods which now are ours Or if there yet a farther Task remains To be perform'd by Prudence or by Pains If yet some desperate Action rests behind That asks high Conduct and a dauntless Mind If ought be wanting to the Trojan Doom Which none but I can manage and o'ercome Award those Arms I ask by your Decree Or give to this what you refuse to me He ceas'd And ceasing with Respect he bow'd And with his Hand at once the fatal Statue show'd Heav'n Air and Ocean rung witth loud Applause And by the general Vote he gain'd his Cause Thus Conduct won the Prize when Courage fail'd And Eloquence o'er brutal Force prevail'd The Death of Ajax
serueth you with wil hert and might And euer hath done sith ye first him knew That ye shal of your grace vpon him rew And take him for husbonde and for lord Lene me your hand for this is our accord Let see now of your womanly pite He is a king's brother's sonne parde And though he were a poore bachelere Sin he hath serued you so many a yere And had for you so great aduersite It must been considered leueth me For gentle mercie ought to passen right Than said he thus to Palamon the knight I trow ther need little sarmoning To make you assenten to this thing Cometh nere and taketh your lady by the hond Betwixt hem was maked anon the bond That hight Matrimonie or Marriage By al the counsail of the baronage And thus with al blisse and melodie Hath Palamon iwedded Emelye And God that al this world hath wrought Send him his loue that it hath so dere bought For now is Palamon in al we le Liuing in blisse in riches and in hele And Emelye him loueth so tenderly And he her serueth so gentelly That neuer was ther no word hem bitween Of ielousie or of any other tene Thus endeth Palamon and Emelye And God saue al this faire company THE TALE OF THE Nun's Priest As it was written by GEFFREY CHAUCER The COCK and the FOX The Moral whereof is To embrace True Friends and to beware of Flatterers A Pore wedowe somedele istept in age War whilom dwelling in a poore cotage Beside a groue stonding in a dale This wedowe of which I tell you my tale Sens the day that she was last a wife In pacience led a full simple life For litell was her catell and her rent By husbondry of such as God her sent She fond her self and eke her daughters two Thre large sowes had she and no mo Thre kine and eke a shepe that hight Mall Well sooty was her boure and eke her hall In which she ete many a slender mole Of poinant sauce ne knew she never a dole Ne deinty morcell passed through her throte Her diet was accordaunt to her cote Replection ne made her never fike A temperate diete was her Phisike And exercise and hertes suffisaunce The gout let her nothing for to daunce Ne apoplexy shent nat her heed No wine ne dranke she white ne reed Her bord was most serued with white and black Milk and brounbreed in which she found no lack Seind bakon and somtime an eye or twey For she was as it were a maner dey A yerde she had enclosed all about With stickes and dry diched without In which she had a cocke hight Chaunteclere In all the land of crowing nas his pere His voice was merier than the mery orgon On masse daies that in the churches gon Well sikerer was his crowing in his loge Than is a clocke or in an abbey an orloge By nature he knew ech assencion Of the equinoctiall in the toun For when degrees xv were assended Than crew he that it might not be amended His come was redder than the fine corall And battelled as it had be a castell wall His bill was blacke as any iet it shone Like asure were his legges and his tone His nailes whiter than the lilly floure And like the burned gold was his colour This gentel cocke had in governaunce Seuen hennes to done his plesaunce Which were his susters and his paramours And wonder like to him as of colours Of which the fayrest hewed in the throte Was called faire Damosell Pertelote He fethered her a hundred times a day And she him pleseth all that euer she may Curteis she was discrete and debonaire And compeneable and bare her self so faire Sens the time that she was seuenight old That truelich she hath the hert in hold Of Chaunteclere looking in euery lith He loueth her so that well was him therwith But such a joy it was to here him sing Whan the bright sunne gan to spring In swete acord my lefe is ferre in lond For that time as I haue vnderstond Beestes and birdes could speke and sing And it so fell that in the dawning As Chaunteclere among his wiues all Sat on his perch that was in the hall And next him sat his faire Pertelote This Chaunteclere gan to grone in his throte As a man in his dreme is drenched sore And whan that Pertelote thus herd him rore She was agast and said hert dere What eyleth you to grone in this manere Ye be a very sleper sie for shame And he answered thus by God madame I pray you that ye take it not in grefe By God I mette I was in such mischiefe Right now that yet mine hert is sore afright Now God qd he my sweuen retch aright And kepe my body out of foule prisoun Me mette that I romed vp and doun Within our yerd where I saw a beest Was like an hound and would haue made areest Vpon my body and would haue had me deed His colour was betwixt yelow and reed And tipped was his taile and both his eeres With black vnlike the remnant of his heere 's His snout small with glowing eyen twey Yet for his loke almost for feare I dey This causeth me my groning doutlesse Away qd she sie for shame hertlesse Alas qd she for by God aboue Now haue ye lost my hert and all my loue I cannot loue a coward by my faith For certes what so any woman saith We all desire if that it might be To haue husbondes hardie wise and fre And secrete and no nigard ne no fole Ne him that is agast of euery tole Ne none auantour by that God aboue How durst ye say for shame vnto your loue That any sweuen might make you aferd Haue you no mannes hert and haue a berd Alas and con ye be aferd of sweuenis Nothing but vanite God wotte in sweuen is Swens ben engendred of repleccions And of fume and of commpleccions When humours ben to habundant in a wight Certes this dreme which ye haue met to night I tell you trouth ye may trust me Cometh of superfluite and reed colour parde Which cause folke to drede in her dremes Of arowes and of fire with reed lemes Of reed bestes that woll hem bite Of conteke and of waspes great and lite Right as the humour of melancoly Causeth many a man in slepe to cry For sere of great bulles and beres blake Or els that blake diuels wol hem take Of other humours could I tell also That werke a man in slepe much wo But I wol passe as lightly as I can Lo Caton which that was so wise a man Said he not thus do not force of dremes Now sir qd she when we flie fro the bemes For Goddes loue as taketh some laxatine Vp perill of my soule and of my life I counsaile you the best I woll not lye That both of colour and of melancolie Ye purge you and for ye shul not tary Though