Lydgate's Fall of Princes Edited by Dr. Henry Bergen ... presented to The Early English Text Society by The Carnegie Institution of Washington |
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 | Lydgate's Fall of Princes |  |
Bochas rehersith here be vhom Rome cam to nouȝte.
Off many myscheuys heer afforn rehersid,
Summe drawe along & summe shortli told,
And hou Fortune hath hir wheel reuersid,
Be tragedies remembrid manyfold
Toforn be Bochas, of princis yong & old,
In the eihte book rehersid the processe,
Echon almost eendid in wrechidnesse.
Summe drawe along & summe shortli told,
And hou Fortune hath hir wheel reuersid,
Be tragedies remembrid manyfold
Toforn be Bochas, of princis yong & old,
In the eihte book rehersid the processe,
Echon almost eendid in wrechidnesse.
Namli all tho that dide most desire
Be wrong title themsilff to magnefie,
To haue lordshipe & gouerne the empire,
Thestat imperial proudli to occupie.
Which estat, pleynli to specefie,
As ferr as Pheebus doth in his speere shyne
Among al lordshipe is drawe onto ruyne.
Be wrong title themsilff to magnefie,
To haue lordshipe & gouerne the empire,
Thestat imperial proudli to occupie.
Which estat, pleynli to specefie,
As ferr as Pheebus doth in his speere shyne
Among al lordshipe is drawe onto ruyne.
Fro myn auctour me list[e] nat discorde
To telle the ground whi Roome is com to nouht;
Be an exaumple I cast me to recorde
What was cheef cause, yiff it be weel souht,
Be a stori that cam onto the thouht
Of Iohn Bochas, which, as ye shal lere,
Ful notabli is rehersed heer.
To telle the ground whi Roome is com to nouht;
Be an exaumple I cast me to recorde
What was cheef cause, yiff it be weel souht,
Be a stori that cam onto the thouht
Of Iohn Bochas, which, as ye shal lere,
Ful notabli is rehersed heer.
Which exaumple and stori rehersyng,
Ceriousli folwyng myn auctour,
Odoacer, whilom a famous kyng,—
A kyng be name & a gret gouernour,
But of his lyuyng a rauynous robbour,
Out of whos court wer merci & pite
Banshed for euere with trouthe & equite.
Ceriousli folwyng myn auctour,
Odoacer, whilom a famous kyng,—
A kyng be name & a gret gouernour,
But of his lyuyng a rauynous robbour,
Out of whos court wer merci & pite
Banshed for euere with trouthe & equite.
889
In that regioun wher merci is nat vsid,
And trouthe oppressid is with tirannye,
And rihtwisnesse be poweer is refusid,
Fals extorsioun supporteth robberie,
And sensualite can haue the maistrie
Aboff resoun, be toknes at a preeff,
Which many a lond haue brouht onto myscheeff.
And trouthe oppressid is with tirannye,
And rihtwisnesse be poweer is refusid,
Fals extorsioun supporteth robberie,
And sensualite can haue the maistrie
Aboff resoun, be toknes at a preeff,
Which many a lond haue brouht onto myscheeff.
Ther is no rewm may stond in surete,
Ferme nor stable in verray existence,
Nor contune in long prosperite,
But yif the throne of kyngli excellence
Be supportid with iustise and clemence
In hym that shal as egal iuge stonde
Tween riche & poore, with sceptre & suerd in honde.
Ferme nor stable in verray existence,
Nor contune in long prosperite,
But yif the throne of kyngli excellence
Be supportid with iustise and clemence
In hym that shal as egal iuge stonde
Tween riche & poore, with sceptre & suerd in honde.
A cleer exaumple, this mateer for to grounde,—
So as a fadir that is naturall,
Or lik a moodir which kynd[e]li is bounde
To fostre ther childre in especial,
Riht so a kyng in his estat roiall
Sholde of his offis dilligentli entende
His trewe leeges to cherisshe [hem] & diffende.
So as a fadir that is naturall,
Or lik a moodir which kynd[e]li is bounde
To fostre ther childre in especial,
Riht so a kyng in his estat roiall
Sholde of his offis dilligentli entende
His trewe leeges to cherisshe [hem] & diffende.
Be good exaumple his sogettis tenlumyne;
For temporal rewmys sholde, as in figure,
Resemble the kyngdam which [that] is dyuyne,
Be lawe of God & lawe eek of nature,
That res publica long tyme may endure,
Void of discord and fals duplicite,
As o bodi in long prosperite.
For temporal rewmys sholde, as in figure,
Resemble the kyngdam which [that] is dyuyne,
Be lawe of God & lawe eek of nature,
That res publica long tyme may endure,
Void of discord and fals duplicite,
As o bodi in long prosperite.
Nouther ther regne nor domynacioun
Haue of themsilff non other assuraunce;
Thestat of kynges gan be permyssioun
Of Goddis grace & of his purueyaunce,
Be vertuous lyff and moral gouernaunce,
Long to contune bothe in pes and werre
Lik her desertis, & punshe hem whan thei erre.
Haue of themsilff non other assuraunce;
Thestat of kynges gan be permyssioun
Of Goddis grace & of his purueyaunce,
Be vertuous lyff and moral gouernaunce,
Long to contune bothe in pes and werre
Lik her desertis, & punshe hem whan thei erre.
Thei sholde be the merour and the liht,
Transcende al othir be vertuous excellence,
As exaumplaires of equite and riht,
So be discrecioun of natural prouidence
To tempre ther rigour with merci & clemence;
What shal falle afforn[e] caste al thynges,
As apparteneth to princis & to kynges.
Transcende al othir be vertuous excellence,
As exaumplaires of equite and riht,
890
To tempre ther rigour with merci & clemence;
What shal falle afforn[e] caste al thynges,
As apparteneth to princis & to kynges.
Thynges passed to haue in remembrance,
Conserue wisli thynges in presence,
For thynges to come afforn mak ordenaunce,
Folwe the tracis of vertuous contynence,
Ageyn all vices to make resistence
Be the vertu of magnanymyte,
Which is approprid to imperial mageste,
Conserue wisli thynges in presence,
For thynges to come afforn mak ordenaunce,
Folwe the tracis of vertuous contynence,
Ageyn all vices to make resistence
Be the vertu of magnanymyte,
Which is approprid to imperial mageste,
Brothir to force, auctours seyn echon,
Which conserueth the roial dignite
In suich a mene stable as eny ston,—
Nat ouer glad for no prosperite,
Nor ouer sad for non aduersite;
For lyff nor deth his corage nat remewe
To God and man to yeld hem that is dewe.
Which conserueth the roial dignite
In suich a mene stable as eny ston,—
Nat ouer glad for no prosperite,
Nor ouer sad for non aduersite;
For lyff nor deth his corage nat remewe
To God and man to yeld hem that is dewe.
Geyn flesshli lustis arme hym in sobirnesse,
Voide al surfetis of froward glotonye,
Gredi appetites be mesure to represse,
Out of his hous auoide al ribaudie,
Rowners, flaterers and such folk as kan lie,
War in his doomys he be nat parciall,
To poore doon almesse, to vertuous liberall.
Voide al surfetis of froward glotonye,
Gredi appetites be mesure to represse,
Out of his hous auoide al ribaudie,
Rowners, flaterers and such folk as kan lie,
War in his doomys he be nat parciall,
To poore doon almesse, to vertuous liberall.
In his array shewe hym lik a kyng
From other princis bamaner difference,
So that men preise his vertuous lyuyng
Mor than his clothing, ferr from his presence;
And let hym thynken in his aduertence,
Truste theron, verraily certeyn,
As he governeth men wil reporte & seyn.
From other princis bamaner difference,
So that men preise his vertuous lyuyng
Mor than his clothing, ferr from his presence;
And let hym thynken in his aduertence,
Truste theron, verraily certeyn,
As he governeth men wil reporte & seyn.
Lat hym also for his gret avail
Haue such aboute hym to be in presence,
Notable princis to be of counsail,
Swich as toforn haue had experience
Tueen good and euel to knowe the difference.
And sixe thynges, hatful of newe & old,
To banshe hem out in hast from his houshold.
Haue such aboute hym to be in presence,
Notable princis to be of counsail,
Swich as toforn haue had experience
Tueen good and euel to knowe the difference.
891
To banshe hem out in hast from his houshold.
First them that loue to lyue in idilnesse,
As such as nouther loue God nor dreede,
Coueitous peeple that poore folk oppresse,
And them also that doon al thyng for meede,
And symulacioun, clad in a double weede,
And suich as can for ther auauntages
Out of oon hood[e] shewe too visages.
As such as nouther loue God nor dreede,
Coueitous peeple that poore folk oppresse,
And them also that doon al thyng for meede,
And symulacioun, clad in a double weede,
And suich as can for ther auauntages
Out of oon hood[e] shewe too visages.
Lat hym also uoid out at his gate
Riotous peeple that loue to wachche al niht,
And them also that vse to drynke late,
Ly longe abedde til ther dyner be diht,
And such as list nat of God to haue a siht,
And rekles folk that list nat heere masse,
Tauoide his court, & let hem lihtli passe.
Riotous peeple that loue to wachche al niht,
And them also that vse to drynke late,
Ly longe abedde til ther dyner be diht,
And such as list nat of God to haue a siht,
And rekles folk that list nat heere masse,
Tauoide his court, & let hem lihtli passe.
For suich defautis, rehersed heer toforn,
Nat onli Roome, but many gret contre
Hath be destroied & many kyndam lorn,
In olde cronicles as ye may reed & see.
Fals ambicioun, froward duplicite
Hath many a rewm & many a lond encloied,
And been in cause whi thei haue be destroied.
Nat onli Roome, but many gret contre
Hath be destroied & many kyndam lorn,
In olde cronicles as ye may reed & see.
Fals ambicioun, froward duplicite
Hath many a rewm & many a lond encloied,
And been in cause whi thei haue be destroied.
Iherusalem was whilom transmygrat,
Ther trewe prophetis for thei hadde in despiht;
And Baltazar was eek infortunat,
For he in Babiloun folwed al his deliht.
Darye in Perse had but smal respiht,
Sodenly slayn and moordred be tresoun,
The same of Alisaundre whan he drank poisoun.
Ther trewe prophetis for thei hadde in despiht;
And Baltazar was eek infortunat,
For he in Babiloun folwed al his deliht.
Darye in Perse had but smal respiht,
Sodenly slayn and moordred be tresoun,
The same of Alisaundre whan he drank poisoun.
Discord in Troye groundid on couetise,
Whan be fals tresoun sold was Palladioun;
Roome and Cartage in the same wise
Destroied wern, for short conclusioun,
Among hemsilff for ther dyuisioun.
Rekne othir rewmys that been of latter date,
As of dyuisiouns in France that fill but late.
Whan be fals tresoun sold was Palladioun;
Roome and Cartage in the same wise
Destroied wern, for short conclusioun,
Among hemsilff for ther dyuisioun.
Rekne othir rewmys that been of latter date,
As of dyuisiouns in France that fill but late.
892
Al thes defautis rehersid heer breeffli,
Outsouht the roote & weied in balaunce,
Cheeff occasioun, to telle bi and bi,
Hath been in princis that haue had gouernaunce.
And specialli to putte in remembraunce,
For an exaumple telle as kometh to mynde
Of Odoacer the stori, as I fynde.
Outsouht the roote & weied in balaunce,
Cheeff occasioun, to telle bi and bi,
Hath been in princis that haue had gouernaunce.
And specialli to putte in remembraunce,
For an exaumple telle as kometh to mynde
Of Odoacer the stori, as I fynde.
Born in Prevs and hardi of corage,
At his begynyng hymsilf to magnefie,
Thouh no mencioun be maad of [his] lynage,
Hauyng no title of blood nor auncetrie,
His conquest gan of theffte and robberye,
Gadred peeple of sondri regiouns,
Entred Itaille with many naciouns.
At his begynyng hymsilf to magnefie,
Thouh no mencioun be maad of [his] lynage,
Hauyng no title of blood nor auncetrie,
His conquest gan of theffte and robberye,
Gadred peeple of sondri regiouns,
Entred Itaille with many naciouns.
With his soudiours first he gan assaille,
With multitude entryng anon riht,
Kyndames of Hungry & contres of Itaille;
Mette in his passage with a Romeyn kniht
Callid Horestes, in steel armyd briht:
The feeld was take and put in iupartie;
Horestes fledde for socour to Pauye.
With multitude entryng anon riht,
Kyndames of Hungry & contres of Itaille;
Mette in his passage with a Romeyn kniht
Callid Horestes, in steel armyd briht:
The feeld was take and put in iupartie;
Horestes fledde for socour to Pauye.
Streihtli beseged and the toun Iwonne,
Fond for the tyme non othir cheuisaunce,
The nexte morwe at risyng of the sunne,
Bounde in cheynis tencres of his greuaunce,
Sent to a cite that callid was Plesaunce,
Ageyn[e]s whom Odoacer was so fell,
Leet hym be slayn be iugement ful cruel.
Fond for the tyme non othir cheuisaunce,
The nexte morwe at risyng of the sunne,
Bounde in cheynis tencres of his greuaunce,
Sent to a cite that callid was Plesaunce,
Ageyn[e]s whom Odoacer was so fell,
Leet hym be slayn be iugement ful cruel.
Aftir whos deth, be sodeyn violence
Odoacer is passid thoruh Itaille,
Entred Roome, fond no resistence;
For ther was non to yiue hym bataille.
Zeno themperour durste hym nat assaille,
So that be force and rauynous werkyng
Of al Itaille he was crownid kyng.
Odoacer is passid thoruh Itaille,
Entred Roome, fond no resistence;
For ther was non to yiue hym bataille.
Zeno themperour durste hym nat assaille,
So that be force and rauynous werkyng
Of al Itaille he was crownid kyng.
893
Hadde al Roome vndir subieccioun,
Fortune a while list [hym] nat [to] faille,
Zeno therof hadde indignacioun,
Gan werke ageyn hym, in hope it sholde [a]uaile.
And therupon the lordship of Itaille
He gaf of purpos, his poweer committyng,
To Theodorik, that was of Gothes kyng.
Fortune a while list [hym] nat [to] faille,
Zeno therof hadde indignacioun,
Gan werke ageyn hym, in hope it sholde [a]uaile.
And therupon the lordship of Itaille
He gaf of purpos, his poweer committyng,
To Theodorik, that was of Gothes kyng.
So that Theodorik in hope to haue victorie,
Ageyn Odoacer gan make resistence;
And his name to putte[n] in memorie,
Took vpon hym be knihtli excellence
For the Romeyns to stonde[n] in diffence.
Mette hym proudli with his cheualrie
Beside a ryueer that callid was Sowcye.
Ageyn Odoacer gan make resistence;
And his name to putte[n] in memorie,
Took vpon hym be knihtli excellence
For the Romeyns to stonde[n] in diffence.
Mette hym proudli with his cheualrie
Beside a ryueer that callid was Sowcye.
With ther batailles togidre whan thei mette,
Beside Leglere that stant in Lumbardie,
With round[e] speres & sharp swerdis whette,
Odoacer, for al his tirannye,
Was put to fliht, discounfited his partie.
And Fortune than, [which] can best chaunge & varie,
At vnset hour was to hym contrarie.
Beside Leglere that stant in Lumbardie,
With round[e] speres & sharp swerdis whette,
Odoacer, for al his tirannye,
Was put to fliht, discounfited his partie.
And Fortune than, [which] can best chaunge & varie,
At vnset hour was to hym contrarie.
Hym & his poweer the Romeyns haue defied;
He brente her vynes and tour[e]s enviroun,
Because the entre was to hym denyed,
And to Rauenne he is descendid doun.
But maugre hym he was take in that toun
Be Theodorik; lat ech tiraunt tak heed,
Odoacer comaundid to be ded.
He brente her vynes and tour[e]s enviroun,
Because the entre was to hym denyed,
And to Rauenne he is descendid doun.
But maugre hym he was take in that toun
Be Theodorik; lat ech tiraunt tak heed,
Odoacer comaundid to be ded.
Myn auctour Bochas of entencioun,
For the tyme, as kam to remembraunce,
Toward Romeyns maketh a digressioun,
To them recordyng the gret[e] variaunce,
The vnwar chaunges, the gery contenaunce
Of Fortunis fals transmutacioun,
Thes same woordis rehersyng to the toun.
For the tyme, as kam to remembraunce,
Toward Romeyns maketh a digressioun,
To them recordyng the gret[e] variaunce,
The vnwar chaunges, the gery contenaunce
Of Fortunis fals transmutacioun,
Thes same woordis rehersyng to the toun.
| Lydgate's Fall of Princes | |