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 the proude tiraunt Domytyan Emperour of
Rome, and many other Emperours & nobles for
ther outrages & wrecchidnesse mischeuesly ended.] |
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 | Lydgate's Fall of Princes |  |
[How the proude tiraunt Domytyan Emperour of Rome, and many other Emperours & nobles for ther outrages & wrecchidnesse mischeuesly ended.]
Brother to Titus, sone of Vespasian,
Cam next in ordre, as writ myn auctour,
The proude ambicious callid Domycian,
And was in Roome crownid emperour;—
An extorsioneer and a fals pillour,
Proudli comaundid, in his estat up stallid,
Of al the world he sholde a god be callid.
Cam next in ordre, as writ myn auctour,
The proude ambicious callid Domycian,
And was in Roome crownid emperour;—
An extorsioneer and a fals pillour,
Proudli comaundid, in his estat up stallid,
Of al the world he sholde a god be callid.
Thoruh hih presumpcioun, of hym it is eek told,
Nouther of tymber koruen nor of ston,
Set up images of siluer and of gold,
In tokne ther was no god but he allon.
Into Pathmos he exiled eek Seynt Ihon,
And ageyn Cristene the seconde next Neroun,
That began first the persecucioun.
Nouther of tymber koruen nor of ston,
Set up images of siluer and of gold,
In tokne ther was no god but he allon.
Into Pathmos he exiled eek Seynt Ihon,
And ageyn Cristene the seconde next Neroun,
That began first the persecucioun.
This same tiraunt, regnyng in his estat,
To alle the cite was passyng odious;
Best & most worthi he slouh of the Senat,
And onto all that wer[e] vertuous
Mortal enmy, and most malicious.
And for slauhtre of senatours in the toun
Axed the tryumphe, as maad is mencioun.
To alle the cite was passyng odious;
Best & most worthi he slouh of the Senat,
And onto all that wer[e] vertuous
Mortal enmy, and most malicious.
And for slauhtre of senatours in the toun
Axed the tryumphe, as maad is mencioun.
Made among Iewes be ful gret outrage,
Wher-as he hadde grettest suspecioun,
To slen all tho that wer of the lynage
Off Dauid kynreede or kyng Salamoun,
List he wer put out off domynacioun
Among[es] Iewes; this was his meenyng,—
Slouh all tho that wer born to be kyng.
Wher-as he hadde grettest suspecioun,
To slen all tho that wer of the lynage
Off Dauid kynreede or kyng Salamoun,
List he wer put out off domynacioun
Among[es] Iewes; this was his meenyng,—
Slouh all tho that wer born to be kyng.
830
Amyd his paleis, as God wolde of riht
Punshe a tiraunt & quiten hym his meede,
This Domycian was slayn vpon a niht,
His kareyn aftir vnburied, as I reed.
And Comodus doth aftir hym succeede,
Which was al youe be flesshli appetit
To leue al vertu & folwe his fals delit.
Punshe a tiraunt & quiten hym his meede,
This Domycian was slayn vpon a niht,
His kareyn aftir vnburied, as I reed.
And Comodus doth aftir hym succeede,
Which was al youe be flesshli appetit
To leue al vertu & folwe his fals delit.
Theatre pleyes of custum he did vse,
As was the custum ther & the vsage;
His liff in vices he falsli did abuse,
In lecherous lustis dispente al his young age,
To the Romeyns did ful gret damage:
For of the Senat that wer most vertuous,
Wer falsli slay[e]n bi this Comodus.
As was the custum ther & the vsage;
His liff in vices he falsli did abuse,
In lecherous lustis dispente al his young age,
To the Romeyns did ful gret damage:
For of the Senat that wer most vertuous,
Wer falsli slay[e]n bi this Comodus.
In his tyme be strook of thundirdent
And firy lihtnyng that cam doun from heuene,
The comoun librarye was of the cite brent,
With roial bookis of al the craftis seuene,
Bookis of poetis mo than I can neuene.
And Comodus, breefli to termyne,
Was slayn and stranglid bi his concubyne.
And firy lihtnyng that cam doun from heuene,
The comoun librarye was of the cite brent,
With roial bookis of al the craftis seuene,
Bookis of poetis mo than I can neuene.
And Comodus, breefli to termyne,
Was slayn and stranglid bi his concubyne.
Helmus Pertynax cam next on the ryng,
Ordeyned aftir emperour of that toun,
Old & vnweeldi, slayn in his gynnyng.
Afftir whom, the book makth mencioun,
Be no title of successioun,
But an intrusour, oon callid Iulian,
Thestat vsurpyng to regne ther began.
Ordeyned aftir emperour of that toun,
Old & vnweeldi, slayn in his gynnyng.
Afftir whom, the book makth mencioun,
Be no title of successioun,
But an intrusour, oon callid Iulian,
Thestat vsurpyng to regne ther began.
But of the noble lynage Affrican,
Born in Tripolis, a myhti gret cite,
Oon Seuerus, that was a knihtli man,
Gadred of Romeyns a wonder gret meyne.
Bothe maad strong, Iulian mette & he
At Pount Melyn, a cite of Itaille,
And ther was Iulyan slay[e]n in bataille.
Born in Tripolis, a myhti gret cite,
Oon Seuerus, that was a knihtli man,
Gadred of Romeyns a wonder gret meyne.
Bothe maad strong, Iulian mette & he
At Pount Melyn, a cite of Itaille,
And ther was Iulyan slay[e]n in bataille.
Seuerus aftir entrid the empire
And took upon hym the domynacioun,
Vpon Cristene, of malis sette affire,
Began ageyn hem a persecucioun
Of tirannye and fals ambicioun;
But oon of Egipt callid Poscennyus
Ageyn Seuerus began to werke thus:
And took upon hym the domynacioun,
Vpon Cristene, of malis sette affire,
Began ageyn hem a persecucioun
831
But oon of Egipt callid Poscennyus
Ageyn Seuerus began to werke thus:
Gadred meyne Seuerus for tassaile,
In purpos fulli, & theron dide his peyne,
First with hym to haue a gret bataille,
Next of thempire the crowne for tatteyne.
But ye shal heere what fill of thes tweyne:
On Poscennyus fill the disconfiture,
And Seuerus thempire doth recure.
In purpos fulli, & theron dide his peyne,
First with hym to haue a gret bataille,
Next of thempire the crowne for tatteyne.
But ye shal heere what fill of thes tweyne:
On Poscennyus fill the disconfiture,
And Seuerus thempire doth recure.
In his purpos or he myht auaille,
With oon Albynus, that was a manli kniht,
He hadde [in] Gaule a ful gret bataille;
Ful gret[e] blood shad in that mortal fiht,
Albynus slayn of verray force & myht.
Seuervs aftir entrid in Breteyne,
Kauht[e] seeknesse & deide of the peyne.
With oon Albynus, that was a manli kniht,
He hadde [in] Gaule a ful gret bataille;
Ful gret[e] blood shad in that mortal fiht,
Albynus slayn of verray force & myht.
Seuervs aftir entrid in Breteyne,
Kauht[e] seeknesse & deide of the peyne.
Aftir Seuerus next cam Antonyne,
Of whom the froward disposicioun,
As alle auctours of hym determyne,—
His besynesse and occupacioun
Set hool in flesshli delectacioun,
So fals a lust his corage did assaille,—
Among[es] Parthois slay[e]n in bataille.
Of whom the froward disposicioun,
As alle auctours of hym determyne,—
His besynesse and occupacioun
Set hool in flesshli delectacioun,
So fals a lust his corage did assaille,—
Among[es] Parthois slay[e]n in bataille.
Macrinvs aftir tofor Bochas cam doun,
Whilom a prefect in Roome the cite,
Of the Pretoire, and be invacioun
Cam to the imperial famous dignite,
Ocupied a yeer, sat in his roial see,
Til Fortune list hym to disgrade,
Among his knihtis slayn at Archelade.
Whilom a prefect in Roome the cite,
Of the Pretoire, and be invacioun
Cam to the imperial famous dignite,
Ocupied a yeer, sat in his roial see,
Til Fortune list hym to disgrade,
Among his knihtis slayn at Archelade.
Next cam Aurelius surnamyd Antonyne,
A gret ribaud & passyng lecherous,
Yit was he bisshop, as auctours determyne,
In the temple of Aliogobolus.
And in his tyme was oon Sabellius,
A fals heretik, of whom gan the names
Of a sect callid Sebellianes.
A gret ribaud & passyng lecherous,
Yit was he bisshop, as auctours determyne,
In the temple of Aliogobolus.
And in his tyme was oon Sabellius,
A fals heretik, of whom gan the names
Of a sect callid Sebellianes.
832
This said Aurelius, ageyn[e]s al norture,
Of fals presumpcioun, in bookis it is told,
Wolde nat pourge his womb bi nature,
But in vessellis that wer maad of gold;
And in despiht[e], whan that he wex old,
Slayn off his knihtis, & nat aftir longe
His careyn was throwen in a gonge.
Of fals presumpcioun, in bookis it is told,
Wolde nat pourge his womb bi nature,
But in vessellis that wer maad of gold;
And in despiht[e], whan that he wex old,
Slayn off his knihtis, & nat aftir longe
His careyn was throwen in a gonge.
Aftir this proude forseid Antonyne,
Into thempire be iust eleccioun
Of senatours, as bookis determyne,
Cam Aurelivs, & for his hih renoun
Surnamyd Alisaundre, as maad is mencioun.
Fauht with Persiens lik a manli kniht,
And ther kyng Xerses he put vnto þe fliht.
Into thempire be iust eleccioun
Of senatours, as bookis determyne,
Cam Aurelivs, & for his hih renoun
Surnamyd Alisaundre, as maad is mencioun.
Fauht with Persiens lik a manli kniht,
And ther kyng Xerses he put vnto þe fliht.
This Aurelius, this prudent knihtli man,
Whan he sat iuge in the consistorie,
Ther sat oon with hym callid Vlpian,
A gret cyuylien notable of memorie,
Of whom it is to his encres of glorie
Reported thus, be gret auctorite
He of Digestis made bookis thre.
Whan he sat iuge in the consistorie,
Ther sat oon with hym callid Vlpian,
A gret cyuylien notable of memorie,
Of whom it is to his encres of glorie
Reported thus, be gret auctorite
He of Digestis made bookis thre.
Ful pitousli this emperour lost his lyff,
Casueli, as maad is mencioun,
Among his knihtes bi a sodeyn stryff,
Wher he was slayn in that discencioun.
Aftir whos eende, for short conclusioun,
Tofor Bochas, the book weel telle can,
Cam Maxymynus & with hym Gordian.
Casueli, as maad is mencioun,
Among his knihtes bi a sodeyn stryff,
Wher he was slayn in that discencioun.
Aftir whos eende, for short conclusioun,
Tofor Bochas, the book weel telle can,
Cam Maxymynus & with hym Gordian.
Maxymynus, the cronicle doth expresse,
Chose of his knihtis & his soudiours
For his victorious marcial hih prowesse
Doon in Almaigne, & among emperours
Set up in Roome, maugre the senatours.
Afftir strong enmy, as myn auctour seith,
With al his poweer onto Cristes feith.
Chose of his knihtis & his soudiours
For his victorious marcial hih prowesse
Doon in Almaigne, & among emperours
Set up in Roome, maugre the senatours.
Afftir strong enmy, as myn auctour seith,
With al his poweer onto Cristes feith.
833
He was [eek] enmy, his lyff who list to seen,
To cristen clerkis of gret auctorite,
And specialli to olde Origen.
But in his moste furious cruelte,
In Aquileia, a myhti strong contre,
Of a prefect callid Puppien he was slayn;
Of whos deth [al] Cristen men wer fayn.
To cristen clerkis of gret auctorite,
And specialli to olde Origen.
But in his moste furious cruelte,
In Aquileia, a myhti strong contre,
Of a prefect callid Puppien he was slayn;
Of whos deth [al] Cristen men wer fayn.
Next bi the Senat chose was Gordian.
First ageyn Parthois he cast hym to werreie;
Of Ianvs temple whan the werre gan
He made the gatis been opnid with the keye,
Which was a tokne, as olde bookis seye,—
Tho gatis opnyd, to folkis nih & ferre,
That with ther foon the Romeyns wolde haue werre.
First ageyn Parthois he cast hym to werreie;
Of Ianvs temple whan the werre gan
He made the gatis been opnid with the keye,
Which was a tokne, as olde bookis seye,—
Tho gatis opnyd, to folkis nih & ferre,
That with ther foon the Romeyns wolde haue werre.
With Parthois first this saide Gordian
To holde werre faste he gan hym speede;
And upon hem alwey the feeld he wan.
Afftir he spedde hym into Perse & Meede,
Alwey victorious in bataille, as I reede;
Vpon Eufrates slay[e]n, as I fynde,
Be fals tresoun, the cronicle maketh mynde.
To holde werre faste he gan hym speede;
And upon hem alwey the feeld he wan.
Afftir he spedde hym into Perse & Meede,
Alwey victorious in bataille, as I reede;
Vpon Eufrates slay[e]n, as I fynde,
Be fals tresoun, the cronicle maketh mynde.
Next in ordre cam Phelipp be his name,
His sone eek Phelipp cam with hym also,
Myn auctour Bochas reherseth eek the same,
The fadir, the sone baptised bothe too,
Riht sad & wis in what thei hadde to doo,
And wer the firste Cristene of echon
Emperours reknid; for ther toforn was non.
His sone eek Phelipp cam with hym also,
Myn auctour Bochas reherseth eek the same,
The fadir, the sone baptised bothe too,
Riht sad & wis in what thei hadde to doo,
And wer the firste Cristene of echon
Emperours reknid; for ther toforn was non.
Be Poncivs the martir, as I reede,
In Nicea, a famous gret cite,
Thei wer baptised, and aftir that in deede
Slayn in bataille, for thei list nat flee.
Tofor ther deth, both of assent, parde,
Ther tresours hool, that wer imperiall,
To Cristis cherch, I fynde, thei gaff it all.
In Nicea, a famous gret cite,
Thei wer baptised, and aftir that in deede
Slayn in bataille, for thei list nat flee.
Tofor ther deth, both of assent, parde,
Ther tresours hool, that wer imperiall,
To Cristis cherch, I fynde, thei gaff it all.
834
The bisshop Sixtus took pocessioun,
Vertuousli assigned it to Laurence
Therof to make distribucioun
To poore folk in ther indigence;
For which[e] deede be cruel violence
The tiraunt Decius ageyn hym took a striff,
Made hooli Laurence be bren[n]yng lese his lyf.
Vertuousli assigned it to Laurence
Therof to make distribucioun
To poore folk in ther indigence;
For which[e] deede be cruel violence
The tiraunt Decius ageyn hym took a striff,
Made hooli Laurence be bren[n]yng lese his lyf.
This same Decius, cursid & cruell,
Caused the slauhtre of thes Philippis tweyne;
And for he was sotil, fals & fell,
Be sleihte and falsheed he dide his besi peyne
To thempire be force for to atteyne,
The seuente tiraunt be persecucioun
Which ageyn Cristene took first occasioun.
Caused the slauhtre of thes Philippis tweyne;
And for he was sotil, fals & fell,
Be sleihte and falsheed he dide his besi peyne
To thempire be force for to atteyne,
The seuente tiraunt be persecucioun
Which ageyn Cristene took first occasioun.
Myn auctour writ, tyme of this Decivs,
The hooli hermyte, exaumple of parfitnesse,
Be daies olde callid Antonivs,
Lyued in desert ferr out in wildirnesse,
As an hermyte despisyng al richesse,—
Lyued be frut & rootis, as men tell,
And of perfeccioun drank watir of þe well.
The hooli hermyte, exaumple of parfitnesse,
Be daies olde callid Antonivs,
Lyued in desert ferr out in wildirnesse,
As an hermyte despisyng al richesse,—
Lyued be frut & rootis, as men tell,
And of perfeccioun drank watir of þe well.
Vpon Decius for his cursidnesse,
Ageyn Cristene which gaf so hard sentence,
Thoruh Roome and Itaille, myn auctour berþ witnesse,
In eueri cite was so gret pestilence,
That be the sodeyn dedli violence,
The hertis of men, dependyng in a traunce,
To saue ther lyues coude no cheuisaunce.
Ageyn Cristene which gaf so hard sentence,
Thoruh Roome and Itaille, myn auctour berþ witnesse,
In eueri cite was so gret pestilence,
That be the sodeyn dedli violence,
The hertis of men, dependyng in a traunce,
To saue ther lyues coude no cheuisaunce.
Of this mateer write no mor I can;
To this emperour I nil resorte ageyn.
Speke of Gallus and Volusian,
That besi wern, ther labour was in veyn,
Ther tyme but short, as summe bookis seyn;
For Martyn writ, an old[e] cronicleer,
In thempire thei regned but too yeer.
To this emperour I nil resorte ageyn.
Speke of Gallus and Volusian,
That besi wern, ther labour was in veyn,
Ther tyme but short, as summe bookis seyn;
For Martyn writ, an old[e] cronicleer,
In thempire thei regned but too yeer.
835
Bothe wer slay[e]n bi the procuryng
And bi the purchace of oon Emylian,
A Romeyn kniht, [the] which be slih werkyng
To occupie thempire tho began.
Be tirannye the lordshipe ther he wan,
Whos lordship, for lak of happ & grace,
No lenger laste than too monethes space.
And bi the purchace of oon Emylian,
A Romeyn kniht, [the] which be slih werkyng
To occupie thempire tho began.
Be tirannye the lordshipe ther he wan,
Whos lordship, for lak of happ & grace,
No lenger laste than too monethes space.
This litil chapitle, as toforn is seene,
Rehersid hath & toold in woordis pleyn
Of emperour[e]s almost ful fourteene;
And of alle wer good[e] non but tweyne.
Which to reherse I haue do my peyne,
And to proceede ferther, as I gan,
I mvt now write of oon Valerian.
Rehersid hath & toold in woordis pleyn
Of emperour[e]s almost ful fourteene;
And of alle wer good[e] non but tweyne.
Which to reherse I haue do my peyne,
And to proceede ferther, as I gan,
I mvt now write of oon Valerian.
His sone and he, callid Gallien,
To al Cristene bar gret enmyte,
Slouh all tho, ther legende men may seen,
That seruede Crist in trouthe & equite.
Whos persecucioun & hatful cruelte
Abatid was, as I can weel reherse,
Bi oon Sapor that was kyng of Perse.
To al Cristene bar gret enmyte,
Slouh all tho, ther legende men may seen,
That seruede Crist in trouthe & equite.
Whos persecucioun & hatful cruelte
Abatid was, as I can weel reherse,
Bi oon Sapor that was kyng of Perse.
Bi force of armys Sapor, this myhti kyng,
Gan in Asia, & with his host cam doun
Be Tigre, Eufrates, &, knihtli so ridyng
Toward the parties of Septemptrioun,
To Kaukasus nat ferr, fro Babiloun;
And al Surrye he proudli did assaille,
And Capadoce he wan eek be bataille.
Gan in Asia, & with his host cam doun
Be Tigre, Eufrates, &, knihtli so ridyng
Toward the parties of Septemptrioun,
To Kaukasus nat ferr, fro Babiloun;
And al Surrye he proudli did assaille,
And Capadoce he wan eek be bataille.
Whom for to meete cam doun Valerian
To Mesopotayn with many legiouns.
The werre was strong; but this knihtli man,
This hardi Sapor, with his champiouns
The feeld hath wonne with al the regiouns
Affor rehersid; & thoruh Perse he ladde
Valerian bounde with che[y]nys round & sadde.
To Mesopotayn with many legiouns.
The werre was strong; but this knihtli man,
This hardi Sapor, with his champiouns
The feeld hath wonne with al the regiouns
Affor rehersid; & thoruh Perse he ladde
Valerian bounde with che[y]nys round & sadde.
He was be Sapor, maugre his visage,
This Valerian, so streihtli brouht to wrak,
Lik a prisoneer bounde to this seruage
Be obeissaunce, that founde wer no lak,
To knele on foure & to profre his bak
Vnto Sapor whan hym list to ride,
Therbi to mounte, for al his gret[e] pride.
This Valerian, so streihtli brouht to wrak,
Lik a prisoneer bounde to this seruage
Be obeissaunce, that founde wer no lak,
836
Vnto Sapor whan hym list to ride,
Therbi to mounte, for al his gret[e] pride.
This was thoffise of Valerian,
Be seruytute duryng many [a] yeer;
Wherfor he was callid of many man
Thassendyng stok into the sadil neer,
Which is in Frensh callid a mountweer.
This was his offis, to bowe doun his corps
Whan that kyng Sapor sholde worþe upon his hors.
Be seruytute duryng many [a] yeer;
Wherfor he was callid of many man
Thassendyng stok into the sadil neer,
Which is in Frensh callid a mountweer.
This was his offis, to bowe doun his corps
Whan that kyng Sapor sholde worþe upon his hors.
This is the guerdoun & fauour of Fortune,
Hir olde maneer to princis & to kyngis,
Hir double custum vsid in comune
Be sodeyn chaung[e] of al worldli thynges.
Aftir tryumphes and ther uprisinges,
What folwith aftir, hir wheel [weel] telle can,
I take record of Valeryan:
Hir olde maneer to princis & to kyngis,
Hir double custum vsid in comune
Be sodeyn chaung[e] of al worldli thynges.
Aftir tryumphes and ther uprisinges,
What folwith aftir, hir wheel [weel] telle can,
I take record of Valeryan:
This ladi Fortune, þe blynde fell goddesse,
To Valerian shewed hirsilf vnstable,
Tauhte hym a lessoun of hir doubilnesse;
To kyng Sapor she was fauourable.
But yit he was to cruelli vengable,
With his feet, deuoid of al fauour,
To soille the bak of an emperour.
To Valerian shewed hirsilf vnstable,
Tauhte hym a lessoun of hir doubilnesse;
To kyng Sapor she was fauourable.
But yit he was to cruelli vengable,
With his feet, deuoid of al fauour,
To soille the bak of an emperour.
Of olde it hath be songe & cried loude,—
Record on Cirus & many othir mo,—
Kynges of Perse of custum ha[ue] be proude,
Aftir punshid an[d] chastised eek also.
Princis of merci sholde tak heed herto,
Aftir victorie in ther estat notable
To ther prisoneres for to be merciable.
Record on Cirus & many othir mo,—
Kynges of Perse of custum ha[ue] be proude,
Aftir punshid an[d] chastised eek also.
Princis of merci sholde tak heed herto,
Aftir victorie in ther estat notable
To ther prisoneres for to be merciable.
Myn auctour Bochas in this mateer weel can
Rebuke tirauntes, that wer be daies olde;
Turneth his stile, speketh to Valerian:
“Wher be the rubies & saphirs set in golde,
The riche perle & rynges manyfolde
That thou were wont [to] were upon thyn hondis?
Now as a wrech art bounde in foreyn bondis.
Rebuke tirauntes, that wer be daies olde;
Turneth his stile, speketh to Valerian:
“Wher be the rubies & saphirs set in golde,
The riche perle & rynges manyfolde
837
Now as a wrech art bounde in foreyn bondis.
Wher thou wer wont of furious cruelte,
Clad in purple withynne Roome toun,
To Crist contrayre in thyn imperial see,
Yaff doom on martirs to suffre passioun,—
Now listow bounde [&] fetrid in prisoun,
To kyng Sapor constreyned to enclyne,
Whan he list ride, bowe nek & chyne.
Clad in purple withynne Roome toun,
To Crist contrayre in thyn imperial see,
Yaff doom on martirs to suffre passioun,—
Now listow bounde [&] fetrid in prisoun,
To kyng Sapor constreyned to enclyne,
Whan he list ride, bowe nek & chyne.
Thus artow falle from thyn imperial stage!
Think on Fortune and haue hir in memorie:
She hath the cast in thraldam & seruage
And eclipsed al thyn olde glorie.
Wher thou sat whilom in the consistorie
As an emperour & a myhti iuge,
List bounde in cheynys and knowest no refuge.
Think on Fortune and haue hir in memorie:
She hath the cast in thraldam & seruage
And eclipsed al thyn olde glorie.
Wher thou sat whilom in the consistorie
As an emperour & a myhti iuge,
List bounde in cheynys and knowest no refuge.
It is ful ferr fall out of thi mynde
The knihtli deede of worthi Publius,
Of Roome a capteyn, ordeyned, as I fynde,
To fihte ageyn[es] Aristomochus,
Kyng of Asie; of fortune it fill thus:
Whan the Romeyns dide the feeld forsake,
This Publius among his foon was take.
The knihtli deede of worthi Publius,
Of Roome a capteyn, ordeyned, as I fynde,
To fihte ageyn[es] Aristomochus,
Kyng of Asie; of fortune it fill thus:
Whan the Romeyns dide the feeld forsake,
This Publius among his foon was take.
This noble prince stondyng in dreedful caas,
His lyf, his worshep dependyng atwen tweyne,
In his hond holdyng a sturdi maas,
Smet out oon of his eyen tweyne
Of hym that ladde hym; the tothir for þe peyne
That he felte and the gret[e] smerte
Took a dagger, rooff Publius to the herte.
His lyf, his worshep dependyng atwen tweyne,
In his hond holdyng a sturdi maas,
Smet out oon of his eyen tweyne
Of hym that ladde hym; the tothir for þe peyne
That he felte and the gret[e] smerte
Took a dagger, rooff Publius to the herte.
Which loued more his worshep than his lyff,
Ches rather deie than lyuen in seruage;
This conceit hadde in his imagynatyff,
And considred, sith he was in age,
To saue his honour it was moor auauntage
So to be slayn, his worshep to conserue,
Than lich a beeste in prisoun for to sterue.
Ches rather deie than lyuen in seruage;
This conceit hadde in his imagynatyff,
And considred, sith he was in age,
To saue his honour it was moor auauntage
So to be slayn, his worshep to conserue,
Than lich a beeste in prisoun for to sterue.
838
Fortunis chapitle of hym ne was nat rad;
Of which Valerius maketh mencioun,
Aftir whos conceit, no man in vertu sad
Sholde nat longe langwissh in prisoun,
But rather cheese, lik his oppynyoun,
Of manli force & knihtli excellence
The deth endure of long abstynence,
Of which Valerius maketh mencioun,
Aftir whos conceit, no man in vertu sad
Sholde nat longe langwissh in prisoun,
But rather cheese, lik his oppynyoun,
Of manli force & knihtli excellence
The deth endure of long abstynence,
As whilom dide the princesse Aggripyne,
Whan she in prisoun lay fetrid and Ibounde;
Of hir fre chois she felte so gret pyne
Of hungir, thrust, in stori it is founde,
That she lay pale & gruff upon the grounde,
Maugre Tiberye, & leet hir gost so weende
Out of hir bodi; this was hir fatal eende.
Whan she in prisoun lay fetrid and Ibounde;
Of hir fre chois she felte so gret pyne
Of hungir, thrust, in stori it is founde,
That she lay pale & gruff upon the grounde,
Maugre Tiberye, & leet hir gost so weende
Out of hir bodi; this was hir fatal eende.
Thou stood ferr of of al such fantasie,
I speke to the, o thou Valeryan!
Thi cruel herte of fals malencolie
Made whilom deie many Cristen man;
And [many] martir, sith Cristis feith began,
Which for mankynde starff upon the rood,—
Thei for taquite hym list to sheede her blood.
I speke to the, o thou Valeryan!
Thi cruel herte of fals malencolie
Made whilom deie many Cristen man;
And [many] martir, sith Cristis feith began,
Which for mankynde starff upon the rood,—
Thei for taquite hym list to sheede her blood.
Ageyn his lawe thou wer impacient
And importune be persecucioun;
Thou dist fauoure & suffre in thyn entent
That Egipciens dide ther oblacioun,
Ther sacrefises & rihtes up-so-doun
Vnto Isis, of froward wilfulnesse,
That was of Egipt callid cheef goddesse.
And importune be persecucioun;
Thou dist fauoure & suffre in thyn entent
That Egipciens dide ther oblacioun,
Ther sacrefises & rihtes up-so-doun
Vnto Isis, of froward wilfulnesse,
That was of Egipt callid cheef goddesse.
Fauourable thou wer in thi desir
To suffre Iewes ther Sabat to obserue,
And Caldeis to worshepe[n] the fyr,
And folk of Crete Saturn for to serue.
And Cristene men thou madist falsli sterue,
Of whos lawe for thou dist nat rechche,
Thou dei[d]est in prisoun at myscheef lik a wrechche.”
To suffre Iewes ther Sabat to obserue,
And Caldeis to worshepe[n] the fyr,
And folk of Crete Saturn for to serue.
And Cristene men thou madist falsli sterue,
Of whos lawe for thou dist nat rechche,
Thou dei[d]est in prisoun at myscheef lik a wrechche.”
| Lydgate's Fall of Princes | |