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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[How Nembroth bilt the toure of babilone to saue
him from noyous flodis which for his pride was
put fro his magnificence and his toure with sodeyne levene smyten doun.] |
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 | Lydgate's Fall of Princes |  |
[How Nembroth bilt the toure of babilone to saue him from noyous flodis which for his pride was put fro his magnificence and his toure with sodeyne levene smyten doun.]
Myn auctour Bochas, as he that vndirstood
The vengaunces & myscheuis huge
Which that God took with Noes Flood,
Whan he sente an vniuersel deluge,
Ageyn[e]s which there was no refuge,
Sauf eihte personis in that mortal wo
Withynne a ship were sauyd and no mo.
The vengaunces & myscheuis huge
Which that God took with Noes Flood,
Whan he sente an vniuersel deluge,
Ageyn[e]s which there was no refuge,
Sauf eihte personis in that mortal wo
Withynne a ship were sauyd and no mo.
Wherfore myn auctour lihtli ouergoth,
Makith off that age no special remembraunce,
But passeth ouer from Adam to Nembroth,
Consid[e]ryng how in that dedli chaunce
The Lord for synne took so gret vengaunce,
That be writyng off cronique nor historie,
Off hih nor low was lefft[e] no memorie.
Makith off that age no special remembraunce,
But passeth ouer from Adam to Nembroth,
Consid[e]ryng how in that dedli chaunce
The Lord for synne took so gret vengaunce,
That be writyng off cronique nor historie,
Off hih nor low was lefft[e] no memorie.
For ther was lefft cronicle noon nor book
Afftir the Flood, that made mencioun
Off noon auctour, who-so list to look;
For al was brouht to destruccioun
Bi a deluge, withoute excepcioun,
For which myn auctour transportid hath his stile,
And off that tyme list nothyng compile.
Afftir the Flood, that made mencioun
Off noon auctour, who-so list to look;
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Bi a deluge, withoute excepcioun,
For which myn auctour transportid hath his stile,
And off that tyme list nothyng compile.
He fond no mater wheron he myht founde
Nor sette his foot, bi noon auctorite,
Nor no trouthe his purpos on to grounde
Off old[e] writyng that he coude see;
For which hym thouhte, off necessite
The surplusage off al that tyme lete,
And afftir Adam with Nembroth for to meete.
Nor sette his foot, bi noon auctorite,
Nor no trouthe his purpos on to grounde
Off old[e] writyng that he coude see;
For which hym thouhte, off necessite
The surplusage off al that tyme lete,
And afftir Adam with Nembroth for to meete.
And certis, lich as Bochas in this book
Remembrith first off Adam the storye,
So next in ordre he the story took
To speke off Nembroth and his surquedie,
Which heere in erthe, as bookis specefie,
Afftir the Flood his wawes gan asswage,
Was maad a lord to gouerne in that age.
Remembrith first off Adam the storye,
So next in ordre he the story took
To speke off Nembroth and his surquedie,
Which heere in erthe, as bookis specefie,
Afftir the Flood his wawes gan asswage,
Was maad a lord to gouerne in that age.
For whan the floodis begonne to discrese,
And God his vengaunce gan to modefie,
Withdrouh his hand, the watir tho gan cese,
Vpon the mounteyns hie off Armenye
The shipp gan reste, the Bible can nat lye;
And in that age, callid the secounde,
Lynage off man be-gan a-geyn tabounde.
And God his vengaunce gan to modefie,
Withdrouh his hand, the watir tho gan cese,
Vpon the mounteyns hie off Armenye
The shipp gan reste, the Bible can nat lye;
And in that age, callid the secounde,
Lynage off man be-gan a-geyn tabounde.
Tencrese ageyn and to multeplie,
And bi discent, in bookis ye may see
Specefied the genealogie,
How that oon Chiris, cosyn to Noe,
A man that tyme off gret auctorite,
Onto this Nembroth, the story doth assure,
The fadir was, as bi engendrure.
And bi discent, in bookis ye may see
Specefied the genealogie,
How that oon Chiris, cosyn to Noe,
A man that tyme off gret auctorite,
Onto this Nembroth, the story doth assure,
The fadir was, as bi engendrure.
This Nembroth wex myhti, large and long,
Excellyng othre as off his stature,
Surquedous, hardi and riht strong,
And in his tyme gret labour myht endure,
And in his force so moche he dede assure,
That ther was noon on watir nor on lond
Which durste presume his power to withstond.
Excellyng othre as off his stature,
Surquedous, hardi and riht strong,
And in his tyme gret labour myht endure,
And in his force so moche he dede assure,
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Which durste presume his power to withstond.
And his noblesse mor to magnefie
In worldli worshepe, bi report off his glorie,
He was callid cheeff prynce off venerie,
Desirous euer for to han victorie
Off beestis wilde, to be put in memorie
And haue a pris amongis these champiouns,
Tigres to daunte, bores and leouns.
In worldli worshepe, bi report off his glorie,
He was callid cheeff prynce off venerie,
Desirous euer for to han victorie
Off beestis wilde, to be put in memorie
And haue a pris amongis these champiouns,
Tigres to daunte, bores and leouns.
Ther was no beeste in wodes so sauage
That durste ageyn hym make resistence;
His furious ire so mortal was and rage,
The erthe quook for feer off his presence,
Til atte laste in his aduertence,
As a prynce deuoidid off al grace,
Ageyn[e]s God he gan for to compace.
That durste ageyn hym make resistence;
His furious ire so mortal was and rage,
The erthe quook for feer off his presence,
Til atte laste in his aduertence,
As a prynce deuoidid off al grace,
Ageyn[e]s God he gan for to compace.
He made a maner coniuracioun,
This froward geant, and a conspiracie,
Took his counseil bi fals collusioun,
His myht, his power for to magnefye,
And his estat for to glorefie,
Thouhte he wolde off his entent nat faile
God and the heuene proudli to assaile.
This froward geant, and a conspiracie,
Took his counseil bi fals collusioun,
His myht, his power for to magnefye,
And his estat for to glorefie,
Thouhte he wolde off his entent nat faile
God and the heuene proudli to assaile.
That maugre God, which [that] gouernyth all,
He thouhte he wolde proudli take on honde,
Ageyn deluges, yiff any falle shall,
Off prouidence pleynli hem withstonde,
Hymsilff tassure & make a place on londe
That sholde hym keepe & been to hym diffence
Bothe a-geyn God and watris violence.
He thouhte he wolde proudli take on honde,
Ageyn deluges, yiff any falle shall,
Off prouidence pleynli hem withstonde,
Hymsilff tassure & make a place on londe
That sholde hym keepe & been to hym diffence
Bothe a-geyn God and watris violence.
And that thei myhte acomplisshe ther entent
Lich ther desir, thei dedyn ther labour,
Took ther counseil al be oon assent,
Chose Nembroth ther duc, ther gouernour
Hem to conveie and doon to hem socour,
To been ther guide, afforn as thei were war,
Toward a contre which callid is Sennar,
Lich ther desir, thei dedyn ther labour,
Took ther counseil al be oon assent,
Chose Nembroth ther duc, ther gouernour
Hem to conveie and doon to hem socour,
To been ther guide, afforn as thei were war,
Toward a contre which callid is Sennar,
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In compas wise round a-boute closid
With a gret flood namyd Eufrates.
Ther straunge foli which thei han purposid,
For to fulfille thei wer nat rek[e]les:
This to seyne, thei put hemsilff in pres,
So hih a tour for to edefie,
Which that sholde surmounte a-boue the skie,
With a gret flood namyd Eufrates.
Ther straunge foli which thei han purposid,
For to fulfille thei wer nat rek[e]les:
This to seyne, thei put hemsilff in pres,
So hih a tour for to edefie,
Which that sholde surmounte a-boue the skie,
That thei sholde greued be no more,
With no deluge brouht to destruccioun,
Nor that watres may nat greue hem sore,
This was the fyn off ther entencioun.
And off that tour & myhti strong dongoun,
Geyn God and floodis hemsiluen to assure,
The heihte and largesse were off o mesure.
With no deluge brouht to destruccioun,
Nor that watres may nat greue hem sore,
This was the fyn off ther entencioun.
And off that tour & myhti strong dongoun,
Geyn God and floodis hemsiluen to assure,
The heihte and largesse were off o mesure.
Thus off Nembroth encresen gan the name;
And in the peeplis reputacioun,
Off gold and richesse he hadde so gret a fame,
Thei callid hym god in ther opynyoun,
Most eurous, most myhti off renoun,
The world al hool vndir his obeissaunce,
As god and lord he took the gouernaunce.
And in the peeplis reputacioun,
Off gold and richesse he hadde so gret a fame,
Thei callid hym god in ther opynyoun,
Most eurous, most myhti off renoun,
The world al hool vndir his obeissaunce,
As god and lord he took the gouernaunce.
Vndir whos myht the peeple gan proceede,
He as a lord hauyng inspeccioun,
Pershyng the bowell[s] off the erthe in deede
To make myhti ther fundacioun;
And off fals glory and veyn ambicioun,
This proude Nembroth in his appetit,
To seen hem werke hadde ful gret delit.
He as a lord hauyng inspeccioun,
Pershyng the bowell[s] off the erthe in deede
To make myhti ther fundacioun;
And off fals glory and veyn ambicioun,
This proude Nembroth in his appetit,
To seen hem werke hadde ful gret delit.
His ioie was and his inward gladnesse
To beholde so gret a cumpanye
Percen the erthe bi so gret depnesse,
To make the ground[e] strong bi masounrye,
The werk vpward for to fortefie,
With many a ston, huge & large off weihte,
Thei han it reisid vp in the heir off heihte.
To beholde so gret a cumpanye
Percen the erthe bi so gret depnesse,
To make the ground[e] strong bi masounrye,
The werk vpward for to fortefie,
With many a ston, huge & large off weihte,
Thei han it reisid vp in the heir off heihte.
And fynali bi mediacioun
Off this gret werk Nembroth wex famous,
Takyng in herte gret consolacioun,
That be report he was so glorious,
Off so gret myht & off port so pompous,
That he was so myhti, riche and strong
To reise a tour, so wid, so large, so long.
Off this gret werk Nembroth wex famous,
Takyng in herte gret consolacioun,
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Off so gret myht & off port so pompous,
That he was so myhti, riche and strong
To reise a tour, so wid, so large, so long.
For to this day touchyng the grete myht
Off this tour, which Babel yit men call,
Men fro ful ferr may han therof a syht,
For it surmountith othir touris all.
Off which[e] werk thus it is befall,
Off serpentis and many a gret dragoun
It is now callid cheeff habitacioun,
Off this tour, which Babel yit men call,
Men fro ful ferr may han therof a syht,
For it surmountith othir touris all.
Off which[e] werk thus it is befall,
Off serpentis and many a gret dragoun
It is now callid cheeff habitacioun,
That no man dar, as ferr as thei it see,
For wikkid heir and for corrupcioun,
Bi a gret space and bi a gret contre
Approche no neer that merueilous dongoun,
So venymous is that mansioun
And so horrible, no man dar approche,
Lik to a mounteyn bilt off a craggi roche.
For wikkid heir and for corrupcioun,
Bi a gret space and bi a gret contre
Approche no neer that merueilous dongoun,
So venymous is that mansioun
And so horrible, no man dar approche,
Lik to a mounteyn bilt off a craggi roche.
And as men seyn that haue had ther repair,
This tour atteynyth onto the sterris cleer,
And transcendith the regioun off the hair.
The ston, the syment wer maad off such mateer,
And the ioynyng so stedfast and enteer,
Thouh fir and watir bothe it dede assaile,
Ful lite or nouht ther power sholde auaile.
This tour atteynyth onto the sterris cleer,
And transcendith the regioun off the hair.
The ston, the syment wer maad off such mateer,
And the ioynyng so stedfast and enteer,
Thouh fir and watir bothe it dede assaile,
Ful lite or nouht ther power sholde auaile.
It was maad so myhti to endure,
So weel assurid be disposicioun,
That in this world no lyuyng creature
Sauh neuer noon lik in comparisoun;
Whos reryng up was cheeff occasioun,
And the richesse off the masounrye,
Wherthoruh Nembroth off pride and surquedie
So weel assurid be disposicioun,
That in this world no lyuyng creature
Sauh neuer noon lik in comparisoun;
Whos reryng up was cheeff occasioun,
And the richesse off the masounrye,
Wherthoruh Nembroth off pride and surquedie
Dempte proudli, as in his auys,
He transcendid all othre in noblesse,
Thouhte hymsilff most myhti & most wis,
Felawe to God, as be liklynesse.
But God, that can al worldli pride oppresse,
And make pryncis eclipsen in ther glory,
Such as truste in thyngis transitory—
He transcendid all othre in noblesse,
Thouhte hymsilff most myhti & most wis,
Felawe to God, as be liklynesse.
But God, that can al worldli pride oppresse,
And make pryncis eclipsen in ther glory,
Such as truste in thyngis transitory—
The same Lord off his eternal myht,
This tour which Nembroth list to edefie,
He made with thondir & with leuene liht
Theroff to falle a ful gret partie;
The boistous wyndis and the rage skie,
And Goddis power on the tother side,
Gan thus a-bate a parcel off his pride.
This tour which Nembroth list to edefie,
He made with thondir & with leuene liht
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The boistous wyndis and the rage skie,
And Goddis power on the tother side,
Gan thus a-bate a parcel off his pride.
And in discence and fallyng off the stonys,
Off the werkmen ful many a man was ded,
And oppressid, ther bak Ibroke and bonys,
The masounry with ther blood was red:
Yit proude Nembroth, that of this werk was hed,
With al these signes his Lord ne list nat knowe,
For which his pompe was afftir brouht ful lowe.
Off the werkmen ful many a man was ded,
And oppressid, ther bak Ibroke and bonys,
The masounry with ther blood was red:
Yit proude Nembroth, that of this werk was hed,
With al these signes his Lord ne list nat knowe,
For which his pompe was afftir brouht ful lowe.
But in his errour procedith forth off newe,
Thouhte he wolde gete hymselff a name,
Off malencolie gan chaunge look and hewe,
And gan also attempten and attame,
For to encrece and magnefie his fame,
A newe tour to edefie a-geyn,
Lik as God hadde be blynd & nothyng seyn.
Thouhte he wolde gete hymselff a name,
Off malencolie gan chaunge look and hewe,
And gan also attempten and attame,
For to encrece and magnefie his fame,
A newe tour to edefie a-geyn,
Lik as God hadde be blynd & nothyng seyn.
He wolde haue rauht up to the sterris seuene
Bassent off hem that gan hym first counsaile,
Robbid God, & from hym rauht the heuene;
But who presumeth the Lord aboue tassaile,
It were no resoun that he sholde auaile:
Pryncis may weel ageyn hym crie loude,
But his power may clipse with no cloude.
Bassent off hem that gan hym first counsaile,
Robbid God, & from hym rauht the heuene;
But who presumeth the Lord aboue tassaile,
It were no resoun that he sholde auaile:
Pryncis may weel ageyn hym crie loude,
But his power may clipse with no cloude.
For in the middis off his grete emprises,
This proude Nembroth makyng his masouns
For to compasse and castyn there deuises,
Gemetriens in ther dyuysiouns,—
But God that hath his inspecciouns,
Seyng thentent off eueri ertheli man,
As he that is most myhti and best can
This proude Nembroth makyng his masouns
For to compasse and castyn there deuises,
Gemetriens in ther dyuysiouns,—
But God that hath his inspecciouns,
Seyng thentent off eueri ertheli man,
As he that is most myhti and best can
Ageyn ther malis make resistence,
Ther worldli power, ther domynacioun
Off his onchaungable & most magnificence
He can chastise and ouerwhelme doun—
The pride off pryncis in eueri regioun,
Bexaumple off Nembroth, a-noon as ye shal heer,
Whos pompe rauhte a-boue the sterris cleer.
Ther worldli power, ther domynacioun
Off his onchaungable & most magnificence
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The pride off pryncis in eueri regioun,
Bexaumple off Nembroth, a-noon as ye shal heer,
Whos pompe rauhte a-boue the sterris cleer.
For whan his werkmen stood at auauntage,
And most were besi to his entencioun,
And to-fortyme spak al o language,
Al sodenli be transmutacioun
Ther was off tunges maad a dyuysioun,
That in ther werkyng as thei gan abraide,
No man wiste what that othir saide.
And most were besi to his entencioun,
And to-fortyme spak al o language,
Al sodenli be transmutacioun
Ther was off tunges maad a dyuysioun,
That in ther werkyng as thei gan abraide,
No man wiste what that othir saide.
And it is likli accordyng with resoun,
So as the chaung was maad off ther languages,
So off ther hertis was maad dyuysioun,
Bothe off ther will, and off ther corages;
And in descendyng off ther werkyng stages,
Ther was such chaung off brother onto brother,
Lik straungers noon knew thentent off other.
So as the chaung was maad off ther languages,
So off ther hertis was maad dyuysioun,
Bothe off ther will, and off ther corages;
And in descendyng off ther werkyng stages,
Ther was such chaung off brother onto brother,
Lik straungers noon knew thentent off other.
Myn auctour trowith that this dyuersite
Was for ther gilt causid be vengaunce,
And ellis God off riht and equite
Disposid hath in his ordenaunce
To been a-mong hem so gret a variaunce,
That thoruh the world thei sholde hemself deuyde,
And from Nembroth disseuere & nat a-bide.
Was for ther gilt causid be vengaunce,
And ellis God off riht and equite
Disposid hath in his ordenaunce
To been a-mong hem so gret a variaunce,
That thoruh the world thei sholde hemself deuyde,
And from Nembroth disseuere & nat a-bide.
Thei gan a-noon a-mong hemsilff disdeyne
To accepte this Nembroth for ther kyng;
Yit a-mong hem, in soth ther wer nat tweyne
Oon off a-nother that hadde cleer knowyng,
Nor off ther speche that knew the pleyn menyng:
For which the contre off Sennar thei forsook,
And ech off hem a sondri contre took.
To accepte this Nembroth for ther kyng;
Yit a-mong hem, in soth ther wer nat tweyne
Oon off a-nother that hadde cleer knowyng,
Nor off ther speche that knew the pleyn menyng:
For which the contre off Sennar thei forsook,
And ech off hem a sondri contre took.
Thei departid, made no lengere spacis,
Folwyng the fortune off ther dyuysioun,
And gan to chese hem newe duellyng placis
In the parties off many a regioun;
And thus Nembroth was pryued & put doun,
And off Babel, the myhti famous tour,
He was no lengere callid possessour:
Folwyng the fortune off ther dyuysioun,
And gan to chese hem newe duellyng placis
In the parties off many a regioun;
And thus Nembroth was pryued & put doun,
And off Babel, the myhti famous tour,
He was no lengere callid possessour:
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For a-geyn the pride off this Nembroth
Froward Fortune gan hir cours to varie,
And God also was in maner wroth,
Off surquedie that he was so contrarie;
And for the place was wilde and solitarie
Off this Sennar, furious and sauage,
Nembroth gan feeble & falle into gret age.
Froward Fortune gan hir cours to varie,
And God also was in maner wroth,
Off surquedie that he was so contrarie;
And for the place was wilde and solitarie
Off this Sennar, furious and sauage,
Nembroth gan feeble & falle into gret age.
And yit summe bookis off hym specefie,
He wix froward off his condicioun,
And was first ground off ydolatrie
And fyndere up off fals relegioun,
Causyng peeplis to haue openyoun
Goddis to worshepe in paganysme wise,
Foundour off rihtis and off fals sacrefise.
He wix froward off his condicioun,
And was first ground off ydolatrie
And fyndere up off fals relegioun,
Causyng peeplis to haue openyoun
Goddis to worshepe in paganysme wise,
Foundour off rihtis and off fals sacrefise.
Toward Perce he ches his duellyng-place,
Which contre is in the orient;
That his lordship sholde strecch a gret[e] space,
He bounded hym into the occident:
For Perce-lond haueth his extent
Toward the parties of the Rede Se;
And this land Perce, who-so list [to] see,
Which contre is in the orient;
That his lordship sholde strecch a gret[e] space,
He bounded hym into the occident:
For Perce-lond haueth his extent
Toward the parties of the Rede Se;
And this land Perce, who-so list [to] see,
As bookis olde remembre and put in mynde—
How that Perce costeieth enviroun
Septemtrion and the grettere Inde
And many a-nothir myhti regioun,
Wher Nembroth first hadde domynacioun,
Which extendith, as bookis specefie,
Out off Mede into Germanye.
How that Perce costeieth enviroun
Septemtrion and the grettere Inde
And many a-nothir myhti regioun,
Wher Nembroth first hadde domynacioun,
Which extendith, as bookis specefie,
Out off Mede into Germanye.
But in lordshipes, as myn auctour seith,
Withoute that vertu be ther trewe guide,
In hem ther is suraunce noon nor feith—
Thyng that passith, which may no while abide;
Wherfore Bochas, in despit off pride
And in rebukyng off all folkis proude,
Makyng his compleynt crieth to hem ful loude:
Withoute that vertu be ther trewe guide,
In hem ther is suraunce noon nor feith—
Thyng that passith, which may no while abide;
Wherfore Bochas, in despit off pride
And in rebukyng off all folkis proude,
Makyng his compleynt crieth to hem ful loude:
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The mater ageyn þe pride of princis.
| Lydgate's Fall of Princes | |