University of Virginia Library


275

The iijde parte begynneth

.XI. How stilico was lovid for his gode lyfe.

For thise vertues al peopil the lovid ; & with vnfeyned preyers
Were busy for the in every place ; thy name gladly rehercyd
With handis clappyng a solempne Ioie ; a common myrthe was spronge
What stethis were þat hameryd not ; bras platys with thi figurys
What smethis forge was þan vacaunte ; whan al fourneys labouryd
To yete ymagis like vnto the ; of harde and starke metal
What angyl than or region ; was founde in al þe worlde
Which thin ymages sholde not haue worshipped ; or not reuerencid as goddis
But yf thi selfe forfendyd had ; and such honour refusyd
This godly worshippe a tirante takith ; whom yiftes fals deceive.
Of peplis þat fere and love him nought ; & grucchyng him obeyeth
Where he þat worthy is callid therto ; ful ofte it first forsakyth

.XII. How legatis came fro diuers regions to preise & to thanke stilico.

Legatys come forth on euery side ; and vndir thi sonlawys title
Into thi preisyngis wisshid thei had ; voices an hundirfolde
Entierly the . the frensh man thankith ; þat armour he nedith noon
ffor sure he is with soudiour nakid ; and dredith noon aduersary
Vpon high bankys he makith new roovis ; & castith a dam right depe
Yit somdele lesse than tybur watir ; wele howsyng it beforne
Peny also thi preisyngis eekyn ; in þat her feeldis arn free
And not oppressid with tyranny ; as thei had be to forne
Pannonius by the from sege delyuered ; and þe drynker of sauus broke
Where as townys were longe speryd vp ; he dare sette wide þe yates
He whettith ageyn with whetstonys harde ; þe brown blad of his sithe
And shares that were with rust ovirfretyn ; with labour he makith to shyne

277

His cootis he knowith þat arn in þe felde ; & whan he sigh tho hilles.
Vpon the which he duelle was wonte ; for ioye he kisseth hem soone
Aftir his plough he sew his seede ; and loondys which were vntilied
Tymes and daies right many beforne ; aftir his stubbyng staryth
Histirlonde he plantith with vyne ; & glad his tribute paieth
As longe as thi gode helthe lestith ; al peple shal wele knowe
The reghmys body shal spryng with youthe ; which languris many hath had
And what so evir we haue loste toforne ; vndir our princis fele
By thi comforte gode stilico ; may soon be yolden ageyn
A plastir to cure þe wounde of Rome ; thi vertue may best fynde
Whan thou þe tilman hast brought ageyn ; into his owne marchys
Themperours halle shal soon be riche ; with Illeries tribute grete

.XIII. How goddis of heven merueilously doo for stilico.

The doome of heven also yiveth space ; to mannys favour in the
And strengthith thi persone on every side ; with her common assent
Thei wrey thin enemyes to þe as sone ; as þei the see banke touche
Or els thei spere þe see from hem ; whan thei from the wolde flee
Or els these goddis sende wodenes to hem ; & makith eche kille her othir
Or with þe lawe of pentheus ; hem rende with cruel swerdys
Thise goddis the telle þin enemyes sleightes ; and lede to þe couchis of fraude
As blode houndys with her tendir nose ; tel thingis or thei appiere
Or with foulys yive warnyng beforne ; or els by spirites in slepe.

.XIIII. Stilico consentid not to take the dignyte of consulate.

For thise causis al contrees to the ; flockid with her presentis.
And brought the roobys which consulys vsid ; whos councel alþing rulid
Thou thi self withstoodist hem alle ; & woldist not graunte her askyng

279

But than thi soule right fauorable ; and right benygne to othir
A Juge grevous for shamefastnes ; is felt vnto thi selfe.
Puttyng awey this high worshippe ; with lowe and meke excusys.
Wherfore thise regions . desiryng longe ; and frustrate many yeris.
Of her gode hope that thou sholdist be ; her consul to thi worshippe
Her iourney take to the high goddesse ; to the doorys of nobil Rome
So that yf thou woldist nat enclyne ; to her severel preyers
At Romys request thou sholdist not lette ; her wille soone to perfourme
Arraied thei were and come to gider ; to this goddessis house
Which ful clere was bilded vp ; in the mownte palatyne.
Where first spayne comely chevelryed ; with the levis of minerva
In reede clothe powdrid with golde beemys ; such speche bigan to have.

.XV. Spayne compleyneth that stilico wil not rule.

Alle my desires evir vnto me ; stilico til now hath grauntyd
Which to no thyng is envious founde ; but to his own worshippe
His fadirlawe themperour ; from ceptris he myght haue putte
And haue contempnyd his sonne in lawe ; which emperour also was
Yf he nyl take rule of worlde ; which wolde be rulyd by hym
As nere kynnesman yit lete him take ; rule of themperours hous
He shulde not trowe that litel it is ; that he hath halsyd þe kynrede
Of hibrus the worthy and that he kepith ; our cosynes with stedfast lawe
That purpyl him worshippeth by his fadris riȝte ; þat maryes Issue grete
And his . our kyngdam hath plentevous made ; þat he is belefadir namyd
To his sovereyn and to his lorde ; which is honories sonne.

281

.XVI. Gallia compleyneth that stilico wil not be consul

Gallia fers with heere vndressid ; stode with a coler of price.
Holdyng in hande ij. daartys to gider ; & thus with ful breste spake.
Why is not he redde with the worthiest ; þat hath now vndirputte
Vnto my power tho germaynes proude ; and frensh men with high power ;
Why knowith not yit the volume of Rome ; which conscript fadris shewith
A name which is of such vertue ; as worthy is to be nombryd ;
Is his worship of so litel peys ; which peasid hath the Reene ;

.XVII. Engelonde preiseth stilico.

Aftir her Engelonde araied in clooth ; wrouȝte oute of shepis wulle
Which be clepid in Calcedonye ; monstrys of grete mervaile
Whos chekys be coveryd with Iron harde ; whos fete þe watir hideth
Her clothyng feyneth the occian wawys ; and seith ofte me hath defendyd
Nobil stilico . from myn nere enemyes ; which by my marchis duelle
Whan scottis had moevid ayens my pees ; al wilde Irisshe londe.
And the watir brode bigan to foome ; with the oore of aduersaryes.
Thurgh his helpe soone it was doone ; I shulde not fere bataile
Of scotlonde . ne of picardy ; ne fro my see banke
I sholde nevir see me for to noye ; the saxon saile with wyndes

.XVIII. Affrica compleyneth þat stilico wil not be consul.

Than affrica seid whos hede was dight ; with faire eerys of corne.
Whos toothe was white as boone of Ivore ; whos cheke as rody as day.
Som tyme I hopid whan gildo was slayne ; þat tarying noon sholde be
But þat stilico soone sholde haue take ; his consular dieu astate.
He oonly repugnyth now to ws ; & douteth to his triumphe
Thise solempne titles now tascrye ; by whom þe dredeful name.

283

Of maurus the moste vnmanly tiraunte ; was first put fro mynde
Aftir thise regions . enotria ; in broudyng her smothe vynes
With grene Ivye and pooryng wynes ; from bough of vyne right large
O ye chaiers seith she ; which high be made for worthy consulers
With stilicoes presence ye covette sore ; in worship tencrese.
The common opynyon of al the worlde ; me semyth may best helpe
ffor this desire that brennyng is ; corageously me mevith
In hym present to sette my Joie ; to folowe his goyng vp.
Into his tribunal and to salute ; him openyng tymes of helthe.