Chaucer's ghoast Or, A Piece of antiquity. Containing twelve pleasant Fables of Ovid penn'd after the ancient manner of writing in England. Which makes them prove Mock-Poems to the present Poetry. With the History of Prince Corniger, and his Champion Sir Crucifrag, that run a tilt likewise at the present Historiographers |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. | [Ut Venere locum conjux & adulter in unum] |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
 | Chaucer's ghoast |  |
[Ut Venere locum conjux & adulter in unum]
Arg. VII.
Mars and Venus caught together, and chained by Vulcan.
Ut Venere locum conjux & adulter in unum,
Arte viri, vinclisq; nova ratione paratis,
In mediss ambo deprensi amplexibus hærent.
Ovid. l. iv.
Arte viri, vinclisq; nova ratione paratis,
In mediss ambo deprensi amplexibus hærent.
Ovid. l. iv.
Upon a certain case of Love
amongst the gods that dwell above,
upon a time it fell out thus.
The god of fire which Vulcanus
is hot, and hath a craft forthwith
assigned for to be a Smith
to Jupiter, to forge his Thunder,
at which all mortal men do wonder.
22
both of visage and of stature,
is loathly and malgracious,
but yet he hath within his house,
as for the liking of his life,
the fair Venus to be his Wife.
But Mars that of all Battails is
the god, an eye had unto this;
and he which was so chivalrous,
it fell him to be amorous;
and thought it was great pity
to see so fair a one as she
be coupled with so foul a Wight:
and she that had so good insight
toward so noble a Knightly Lord,
fell in Love with his accord.
There lacked nought but time & place
for him for to enjoy her Grace.
But when two hearts fall into one,
so wise a wait was never none;
23
and thus this Lady fair and sweet
with Mars had often company;
till at last unkind jealousie,
which evermore the heart opposeth,
maketh Vulcan that he supposeth,
that it is not well over all,
and to himself he said, he shall
espie better, if that he may;
and so it fell upon a day,
that he this thing so slightly led,
that he did find them both a bed,
all warm each one with other naked,
and he with craft had ready maked
strong chains, and therewithall them bound,
as he togyder had them found;
and then he left them lying so,
and 'gan to call and cry, ho, ho,
24
and they assembled in a rout;
and came the matter for to see,
but none amend at all had he,
but was rebuked here and there
of all that Venus Lovers were.
Who said that he was for to blame,
if there befell him any shame,
it was through his misgovernance,
and thus he lost his countenance.
Then they them loosed from the bands,
whereof these earthly hunbands
for ever may ensample take,
I such a chance them overtake.
| Chaucer's ghoast | |