Tragicall Tales translated by Tvrbervile In time of his troubles out of sundrie Italians, with the Argument and Lenuoye to eche Tale |
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 | Tragicall Tales translated by Tvrbervile |  |
[72]
Among
those warlike wights
That earst from Almaine came,
And other northly parts besides
Those men that beare the
Of Lombards chunst to light
In Italy and there
Two hundred yeeres and somewhat more.
The only rule did beare
That earst from Almaine came,
And other northly parts besides
Those men that beare the
Of Lombards chunst to light
In Italy and there
Two hundred yeeres and somewhat more.
The only rule did beare
Throughout that realme which we
Now Lombardie do call:
Untill such time as Charles the Great
Had dispossest them all,
Now Lombardie do call:
Untill such time as Charles the Great
Had dispossest them all,
And draue them theuce by force.
And meane of knightly might?
What time (I say) it was their lot
In Italy to light.
And meane of knightly might?
What time (I say) it was their lot
In Italy to light.
One Alboine was their chiefe,
A man of monstrous wit,
And valiant in the feate of armes
For martiall practise sit.
A man of monstrous wit,
And valiant in the feate of armes
For martiall practise sit.
This Alboin ere his came
To Italy, had slain
King Cunimundus and bereft
Hina of his princely raigne.
To Italy, had slain
King Cunimundus and bereft
Hina of his princely raigne.
And not content with death
Nor hauing belly full
Of noble blood, cut off his head
And of the clouen skull
Nor hauing belly full
Of noble blood, cut off his head
And of the clouen skull
73
Did make a quaffing cup
Wherein he tooke delight
To bouse at boorde, in token of
His pompe, and former fight.
Wherein he tooke delight
To bouse at boorde, in token of
His pompe, and former fight.
This Cunimundus had
A daughter passing faire,
Rosmunda hight, that was his ioy,
And should haue bene his heire,
A daughter passing faire,
Rosmunda hight, that was his ioy,
And should haue bene his heire,
If he had kept his crowne,
And not bene conquered so:
But being slayne, his daughter was
A captiue to his foe,
And not bene conquered so:
But being slayne, his daughter was
A captiue to his foe,
This Captaine kept her thrall,
And ment it all her life:
Till loue at last this Lumbard forst
To take her to his wife.
And ment it all her life:
Till loue at last this Lumbard forst
To take her to his wife.
When marriage day was past,
And he to battell fell,
And conquering of Italie
He loude his wife so well,
And he to battell fell,
And conquering of Italie
He loude his wife so well,
As she might neuer parte:
But like a warlike dame,
She euer logde in open campe,
Where so her husband came:
But like a warlike dame,
She euer logde in open campe,
Where so her husband came:
Who sundrie cities tooke,
And conquerde many a towne,
By force of sworde, and Lyonlike
Went ramping vp and downe.
And conquerde many a towne,
By force of sworde, and Lyonlike
Went ramping vp and downe.
[73]
Untill at length he came
To Pauoy, where of olde,
(As in the chiefest place of all)
The kings their courte did holde.
To Pauoy, where of olde,
(As in the chiefest place of all)
The kings their courte did holde.
When full three yeeres and more,
This Lumbarde there had layne:
Unto Verona he remoude,
With all his princely trayne.
This Lumbarde there had layne:
Unto Verona he remoude,
With all his princely trayne.
And presently preparde
A solemne banket there,
To feast his frendes, and others that
Of his retinue were.
A solemne banket there,
To feast his frendes, and others that
Of his retinue were.
Amids which princely cheere
And royall feast, the king,
Did will the wayter on his cup,
That he to boorde should bring
And royall feast, the king,
Did will the wayter on his cup,
That he to boorde should bring
The mazare that was made
Of Cunimundus head:
And hauing it in presence there,
(Where he with wyne were sped,
Of Cunimundus head:
And hauing it in presence there,
(Where he with wyne were sped,
Or else by malice moude,
I wote neare what to thinke)
But hauing it in place, he gaue
His Queene the cuppe to drinke.
I wote neare what to thinke)
But hauing it in place, he gaue
His Queene the cuppe to drinke.
The cuppe her fathers skull,
O wilfull witlesse acte,
Which no man well aduisde would do,
But one that were distracte.
O wilfull witlesse acte,
Which no man well aduisde would do,
But one that were distracte.
74
The Queene perceiuing this
In mockage to be ment
Of Alboyne, as it was in deede,
And sawe his lewde entent,
In mockage to be ment
Of Alboyne, as it was in deede,
And sawe his lewde entent,
And how he skofte the king
Her father in the same,
Was stuft with raging rancour streight,
And blusht for verie shame.
Her father in the same,
Was stuft with raging rancour streight,
And blusht for verie shame.
In sorte that all hir loue
Which she had borne before
Unto her husbande, grewe to hate,
She loathde him tenne times more
Which she had borne before
Unto her husbande, grewe to hate,
She loathde him tenne times more
Than euer she had loude
Or fansied any wight:
And thereupon resolude to doe
A mischiefe, if she might,
Or fansied any wight:
And thereupon resolude to doe
A mischiefe, if she might,
And to reuenge by death
Of Alboyne, monstrous man,
Her father Cunimundus bloud,
Loe here the broyle began.
Of Alboyne, monstrous man,
Her father Cunimundus bloud,
Loe here the broyle began.
For Rosmonde all in rage,
Consulted with a peere,
Ermigio calde, a courtly wighte,
This noble man to steere
Consulted with a peere,
Ermigio calde, a courtly wighte,
This noble man to steere
To murther of the Prince,
I leaue her wordes vnpende,
This noble hearing whereunto
Her long discourse did tende,
I leaue her wordes vnpende,
This noble hearing whereunto
Her long discourse did tende,
[74]
Declarde the Queene his mynde,
And vttred his conceite,
And said Parradio was the man
That must dispatche the feate:
And vttred his conceite,
And said Parradio was the man
That must dispatche the feate:
Without whose helpe (quoth he)
I wote neare what to say:
I thinke him such a one as dares
Such ventrous parts to play.
I wote neare what to say:
I thinke him such a one as dares
Such ventrous parts to play.
Your grace were best to proue,
If he consent, you shall
Not fayle of me, but stande assurde
To haue me at a call.
If he consent, you shall
Not fayle of me, but stande assurde
To haue me at a call.
Forthwith the Queene did cause
Parradio to appeare:
Who after sundrie offers made,
And wordes of courtly cheare,
Parradio to appeare:
Who after sundrie offers made,
And wordes of courtly cheare,
To moue him to the spoyle
Of Alboyn, thus replyde:
In vayne your grace doth goe aboute
To haue the king destroyde
Of Alboyn, thus replyde:
In vayne your grace doth goe aboute
To haue the king destroyde
By these my giltlesse handes,
That day shall neuer be,
I truste, the world shall neuer proue
So foule a fact by me,
That day shall neuer be,
I truste, the world shall neuer proue
So foule a fact by me,
As to procure the death
And murther of the king:
Of treason vile, to haue a thought
To practise such a thing.
And murther of the king:
Of treason vile, to haue a thought
To practise such a thing.
75
Leaue off your lewde entente,
Or seeke some other wight
To worke your feate, I neuer yet
In slaughter tooke delight.
Or seeke some other wight
To worke your feate, I neuer yet
In slaughter tooke delight.
The Ladie hearing this,
Hnd hauing earnest zeale
To worke her will, reiecting shame,
Bethought her howe to deale.
Hnd hauing earnest zeale
To worke her will, reiecting shame,
Bethought her howe to deale.
There did at selfe same time,
Upon the Queene awayte,
A proper wenche, of comely grace,
Full fitte to make a bayte
Upon the Queene awayte,
A proper wenche, of comely grace,
Full fitte to make a bayte
To take such louing woormes
And hang them on the hooke,
Whose greatest pleasure is vpon,
A courtly dame to looke,
And hang them on the hooke,
Whose greatest pleasure is vpon,
A courtly dame to looke,
This gallant likte her glee.
Her gesture, and her face,
And by deuice did hape at last
To purchace priuie grace.
Her gesture, and her face,
And by deuice did hape at last
To purchace priuie grace.
Meane whyle the subtile Queene
That found this louers haunt,
And knew he daily plyde her mayde,
Thereby to make her graunte
That found this louers haunt,
And knew he daily plyde her mayde,
Thereby to make her graunte
And yelde him his desire,
Thus thought it best to worke,
In selfe same place where they did meete,
In secrete sorte to lurke,
Thus thought it best to worke,
In selfe same place where they did meete,
In secrete sorte to lurke,
[75]
As though it were the wenche
With whome he would debate,
And so perhaps she might both checke
And giue the foole a mate.
With whome he would debate,
And so perhaps she might both checke
And giue the foole a mate.
Which hapned so in deede:
For on a certaine day,
The Queene to compasse this her crafte,
Put on her maydes aray,
For on a certaine day,
The Queene to compasse this her crafte,
Put on her maydes aray,
And in the wonted place,
Where they did vse to talke,
Bestowde her self. When night was come
Forth gan this gallant walke,
Where they did vse to talke,
Bestowde her self. When night was come
Forth gan this gallant walke,
And to the standing came
Where lay this lodged doe,
Whome he had thought to be the mayde,
But it was nothing so.
Where lay this lodged doe,
Whome he had thought to be the mayde,
But it was nothing so.
Streight he in wonted wyse,
As custome was of yore,
Pronounste his painted termes of loue,
And flattred more and more,
As custome was of yore,
Pronounste his painted termes of loue,
And flattred more and more,
Bewraying all his thoughtes,
And ripping vp his harte
Unto the wenche (for so he deemde)
And playde the Louers parte.
And ripping vp his harte
Unto the wenche (for so he deemde)
And playde the Louers parte.
Ten thousande wordes he spake,
And tending all to loue:
Whome after all his long discourse,
The Queene did thus reproue.
And tending all to loue:
Whome after all his long discourse,
The Queene did thus reproue.
76
Parradio doest thou knowe
With whome thou standest here?
Who thus replyde in louing wyse:
Yea that I doe (my deare)
With whome thou standest here?
Who thus replyde in louing wyse:
Yea that I doe (my deare)
And namde the selfe same mayde,
Who was his friende in deede,
With whom he had conferrde of loue,
In great good hope to speede.
Who was his friende in deede,
With whom he had conferrde of loue,
In great good hope to speede.
What sir? you are beguilde,
I am not she you weene:
No seruing mayde assure thy selfe,
I am (quoth she) a Queene.
I am not she you weene:
No seruing mayde assure thy selfe,
I am (quoth she) a Queene.
And Rosmond is my name,
Nowe doe I knowe thy minde,
And priuie am to all thy guyle,
Thou shalt be sure to fynde
Nowe doe I knowe thy minde,
And priuie am to all thy guyle,
Thou shalt be sure to fynde
Of me a mortall foe:
Nowe make thy choyce of twayne,
Where thou wilt spoyle ye king my spouse
Or thou thy selfe be slayne,
Nowe make thy choyce of twayne,
Where thou wilt spoyle ye king my spouse
Or thou thy selfe be slayne,
For this outrage of thine,
Which thou hast done to me:
Leaue off delayes, dispatche with speede,
It may none other be.
Which thou hast done to me:
Leaue off delayes, dispatche with speede,
It may none other be.
Parradio hearing this,
And pondring in his thought
To howe extreme a poynt by wyle
Of Rosmond he was brought:
And pondring in his thought
To howe extreme a poynt by wyle
Of Rosmond he was brought:
[76]
Resolude to slay the Prince,
And ridde him of his lyfe:
And for the better working of
His feate, did vse the wyfe
And ridde him of his lyfe:
And for the better working of
His feate, did vse the wyfe
The diuelish Queenes deuise,
And Don Armigios ayde.
And in this sorte these wicked folkes
The cruel pageant playde:
And Don Armigios ayde.
And in this sorte these wicked folkes
The cruel pageant playde:
The king, as custome was,
Because the day was hotte,
To take a nappe at after noone,
Into his chamber gotte.
Because the day was hotte,
To take a nappe at after noone,
Into his chamber gotte.
Where being softely layde,
The place was voyded strayte,
And eurie groome had leaue to parte
That vsually did wayte.
The place was voyded strayte,
And eurie groome had leaue to parte
That vsually did wayte.
To yelde the king his ease,
Thus dealte the suttle dame.
And to be sure to haue her will,
She shifted thence with shame
Thus dealte the suttle dame.
And to be sure to haue her will,
She shifted thence with shame
Her sleepie husbandes sworde,
Who then in slumber lay,
For that he should by no deuise
Haue powre to scape away,
Who then in slumber lay,
For that he should by no deuise
Haue powre to scape away,
This done, the cruel wightes
(Of whome I spake before)
With bloudie mindes, and armed hands
Approched to the doore:
(Of whome I spake before)
With bloudie mindes, and armed hands
Approched to the doore:
77
And vp they thrust the same,
And softly entred in:
And stole vpon the heauie prince,
That slumbring long had byn.
And softly entred in:
And stole vpon the heauie prince,
That slumbring long had byn.
Yet wrought it not so well,
For all their theeuish pace,
But that king perceiude them when
They came vnto the place:
For all their theeuish pace,
But that king perceiude them when
They came vnto the place:
Who mazed in his midde,
And chargde with sodaine feare,
To see these two suspected wights
To prease in presence there:
And chargde with sodaine feare,
To see these two suspected wights
To prease in presence there:
Gate him vp with Lions rage,
From Cabbin where he slept,
And to his sworde, for safegarde of
His life and honour, leapt.
From Cabbin where he slept,
And to his sworde, for safegarde of
His life and honour, leapt.
But out, alas, the Queene
Had reft the weapon thence,
Which earst the Prince was wont to vse.
And weare for his defence.
Had reft the weapon thence,
Which earst the Prince was wont to vse.
And weare for his defence.
The Ruffians that in rage
For blood and mischiefe sought.
Bestowde their blowes vpon the kyng.
That no such practise thought:
For blood and mischiefe sought.
Bestowde their blowes vpon the kyng.
That no such practise thought:
And so bestirde themselues
His weapons being bad,
As in a while they slue him there,
And so their purpose had,
His weapons being bad,
As in a while they slue him there,
And so their purpose had,
[77]
Unwist of any wight,
The murther was vnseene,
And knowne of none, but of the two,
And of the cursed Queene,
The murther was vnseene,
And knowne of none, but of the two,
And of the cursed Queene,
When this deuise was wrought,
Ermigio out of hande
Did seyze vpon the Pallace, with
Intent to rule the land.
Ermigio out of hande
Did seyze vpon the Pallace, with
Intent to rule the land.
And thought to wed the Queene,
And so he did indeede:
Whereto the Queene and all the rest,
That fauourde her, agreede.
And so he did indeede:
Whereto the Queene and all the rest,
That fauourde her, agreede.
Imagine of their ioyes,
Whom filthie sinne did linke,
What pleasure they in kingdome tooke,
I leaue for you to thinke.
Whom filthie sinne did linke,
What pleasure they in kingdome tooke,
I leaue for you to thinke.
But sure in my conceite,
Where murther brings the wife,
There wealth is woe, lust turnes to loath,
And liking growes to strife,
Where murther brings the wife,
There wealth is woe, lust turnes to loath,
And liking growes to strife,
But turne I to my tale,
That plainly may appeare,
What hap befell, and whether they
Did buie their marriage deare:
That plainly may appeare,
What hap befell, and whether they
Did buie their marriage deare:
The Lumbards priuie that
Their king was fouly slaine,
And that by meane thereof they might
Their purpose not attaine:
Their king was fouly slaine,
And that by meane thereof they might
Their purpose not attaine:
78
But should bee forst to flee,
Or worser hap to haue
By longer stay, their chiefest goods
And iewels for to saue,
Or worser hap to haue
By longer stay, their chiefest goods
And iewels for to saue,
Trusst vp in fardell wise,
And so conueide by stealth
The Ladie Aluisenda thence,
(And eke good store of wealth.)
And so conueide by stealth
The Ladie Aluisenda thence,
(And eke good store of wealth.)
Who daughter to the king,
But lately murthred was,
Not by this wife, but by the first:
Away the Lumbards passe,
But lately murthred was,
Not by this wife, but by the first:
Away the Lumbards passe,
Unto Rauenna, where
As God and fortune woulde,
Longinus tho Lieuetenant to
Tyberius, courte did holde:
As God and fortune woulde,
Longinus tho Lieuetenant to
Tyberius, courte did holde:
Great Constantine his sonne,
Whose Empire stretched wide,
And vnder whom Longinus had
In trust those Realmes to guide.
This Captaine entertainde
Them in good louing wise
And did the greatest friendship vse,
That he mought well deuise.
Whose Empire stretched wide,
And vnder whom Longinus had
In trust those Realmes to guide.
This Captaine entertainde
Them in good louing wise
And did the greatest friendship vse,
That he mought well deuise.
It fortunde so at last,
(The cause I vote not well)
Longinus to good liking of
The Ladie Rosmonde fell,
(The cause I vote not well)
Longinus to good liking of
The Ladie Rosmonde fell,
[78]
Whose fansie grew so great
Unto the featurde wight,
As marrie out of hand he would
To further his delight.
Unto the featurde wight,
As marrie out of hand he would
To further his delight.
To bring this match about,
He practisde with the dame,
And gaue aduise that she shoulde take
In hand a deede of shame.
He practisde with the dame,
And gaue aduise that she shoulde take
In hand a deede of shame.
The murther of the man
That vsde her as his wife:
There was no choyce, but shee must reaue
Ermigio of his life.
That vsde her as his wife:
There was no choyce, but shee must reaue
Ermigio of his life.
The Queene that cleane had cast
The feare of God away,
And awe of men, not weying what
The world of her might say:
The feare of God away,
And awe of men, not weying what
The world of her might say:
And thirsting for estate,
Whereto she hoapte to clime:
Preparde a poysoned drinke for him
Against his bathing time,
Whereto she hoapte to clime:
Preparde a poysoned drinke for him
Against his bathing time,
And made in wise, she gaue
A holesome Gossups cup.
Which he should finde exceeding good,
If he would drinke it vp.
A holesome Gossups cup.
Which he should finde exceeding good,
If he would drinke it vp.
Who hauing no distrust
Of wife, or diuelish drift,
With willing hands vnto his mouth
The poysoned pot did lift:
Of wife, or diuelish drift,
With willing hands vnto his mouth
The poysoned pot did lift:
79
And drank a greedie draught
His former heat to quell:
It was not long before the drinke
Unto his working fell:
His former heat to quell:
It was not long before the drinke
Unto his working fell:
Which when he felt to rage
And boyle within his breast,
And knew himselfe vnto the death
With venim vile possest.
And boyle within his breast,
And knew himselfe vnto the death
With venim vile possest.
He drew his desperate sworde,
In choler and despite,
And draue the Queene to quaffe the rest,
And empt the vessell quite.
In choler and despite,
And draue the Queene to quaffe the rest,
And empt the vessell quite.
Which done, at one selfe time,
Both he and eke his Queene,
Did end their liues, that hastners of
King Albyons bane had beene
Both he and eke his Queene,
Did end their liues, that hastners of
King Albyons bane had beene
One poysoned syrrupe slue,
This cursed couple tho,
Whose beastly liues deserude so vile
A death for lyuing so.
This cursed couple tho,
Whose beastly liues deserude so vile
A death for lyuing so.
Which when Longinus heard,
And how that matters went:
The Ladie Aluisinda streight
Unto Tyberius sent,
And how that matters went:
The Ladie Aluisinda streight
Unto Tyberius sent,
And all her treasure eke
That earst her fathers was.
Withall, Parradio who did ayde
To bring these feates to passe.
That earst her fathers was.
Withall, Parradio who did ayde
To bring these feates to passe.
[79]
Who being there in place,
In cruell sort was slaine,
And ere he dyde, was reft his eyes,
To put him more to paine.
In cruell sort was slaine,
And ere he dyde, was reft his eyes,
To put him more to paine.
Nullum peccatum impunitum.
Ogni peccato a morte a'l fin lhuom mena.
| Tragicall Tales translated by Tvrbervile | |