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 hardy quene Zenobia fauȝt with Aurelian and was take.] |
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 | Lydgate's Fall of Princes |  |
[How the hardy quene Zenobia fauȝt with Aurelian and was take.]
Myn auctour heer no lenger list s[o]iourne
Of these emperours the fallis for to write,
But in al haste he doth his stile tourne
To Zenobia hir stori for to endite.
But for Chauceer dide hym so weel aquite
In his tragedies hir pitous fall tentrete,
I will passe ouer, rehersyng but the grete.
Of these emperours the fallis for to write,
But in al haste he doth his stile tourne
To Zenobia hir stori for to endite.
But for Chauceer dide hym so weel aquite
In his tragedies hir pitous fall tentrete,
I will passe ouer, rehersyng but the grete.
In his book of Cauntirbury Talis
This souereyn poete of Brutis Albioun,
Thoruh pilgrymys told be hillis & be valis,
Wher of Zenobia is maad mencioun,
Of hir noblesse and of hir hih renoun,
In a tragedie compendiousli told all,
Hir marcial prowesse & hir pitous fall.
This souereyn poete of Brutis Albioun,
Thoruh pilgrymys told be hillis & be valis,
Wher of Zenobia is maad mencioun,
Of hir noblesse and of hir hih renoun,
In a tragedie compendiousli told all,
Hir marcial prowesse & hir pitous fall.
Myn auctour first affermeth how that she
Descendid was, to telle of hir lynage,
Born of the stok of worthi Tholome
Kyng of Egipt, ful notable in that age.
And this Zenobia, expert in al langage,
Wis of counsail & of gret prouidence,
Passed al othir in fame of elloquence.
Descendid was, to telle of hir lynage,
Born of the stok of worthi Tholome
Kyng of Egipt, ful notable in that age.
And this Zenobia, expert in al langage,
Wis of counsail & of gret prouidence,
Passed al othir in fame of elloquence.
Among she was armyd in plate & maille,
Of Palmerencys weddid to the kyng
Callid Odenatus, prudent in bataille
She was also, be record of writyng,
Hardi, strong, hir lordship defendyng,
Maugre all tho, with hir cheualrie,
Ageyn[e]s hire that wrongli took partie.
Of Palmerencys weddid to the kyng
Callid Odenatus, prudent in bataille
She was also, be record of writyng,
Hardi, strong, hir lordship defendyng,
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Ageyn[e]s hire that wrongli took partie.
Be Odenatus she hadde sonis tweyne,
Heremanvs callid was the ton,
And Thymolaus, of beute souereyne.
Aftir whos berthe ther fadir gan anon
To occupie the prouynces euerichon
Of Perse and Mede; bi processe made hem fleen,
Of Zenobia, the hardi wise queen.
Heremanvs callid was the ton,
And Thymolaus, of beute souereyne.
Aftir whos berthe ther fadir gan anon
To occupie the prouynces euerichon
Of Perse and Mede; bi processe made hem fleen,
Of Zenobia, the hardi wise queen.
Whil Odenatus wex most glorious
In his conquest thoruhout Perse & Meede,
Slayn he was be oon Meonyus,
Which to the kyng was cosyn, as I reede;
But for because of this horrible deede
And for the moordre of kyng Odenate,
Deide at myscheeff & passed into fate.
In his conquest thoruhout Perse & Meede,
Slayn he was be oon Meonyus,
Which to the kyng was cosyn, as I reede;
But for because of this horrible deede
And for the moordre of kyng Odenate,
Deide at myscheeff & passed into fate.
Be processe aftir, Zenobia the queen
Took hir too sonis and proudli did hem leede
Tofor hir chaar[e], that men myhte hem seen,
How thei wer born as princis to succeede.
Made hem lik kynges be clad in purpil weede;
Them to diffende this myhti creature,
Hardi as leoun, took on hir hir armure.
Took hir too sonis and proudli did hem leede
Tofor hir chaar[e], that men myhte hem seen,
How thei wer born as princis to succeede.
Made hem lik kynges be clad in purpil weede;
Them to diffende this myhti creature,
Hardi as leoun, took on hir hir armure.
For al hir lordis & knihtis she hath sent,
Maugre the Romeyns proudli gan hir speede,
Al the parties of the orient
To occupie & hir host to leede.
Of themperour she stood nothing in dreede,
Callid Aurelian, mette hym in bataille,
With hir meyne hym proudli did assaille.
Maugre the Romeyns proudli gan hir speede,
Al the parties of the orient
To occupie & hir host to leede.
Of themperour she stood nothing in dreede,
Callid Aurelian, mette hym in bataille,
With hir meyne hym proudli did assaille.
On outher side that day gret blood was shad;
The strook of Fortune withstant no creature:
The queen Zenobia was taken & forth lad;
Fauht first as longe as she myht endure;
With riche stonis frett was hir armvre,
With whom themperour, so entryng Roome toun,
Of tryumphe requeryng the guerdoun.
The strook of Fortune withstant no creature:
The queen Zenobia was taken & forth lad;
Fauht first as longe as she myht endure;
With riche stonis frett was hir armvre,
With whom themperour, so entryng Roome toun,
Of tryumphe requeryng the guerdoun.
He dempte it was couenable & sittyng,
This emperour, this proude Aurelian,
Taxe the tryumphe; it was so gret a thyng
To take Zenobia [that] such a werre gan
Ageyn Romeyns, this marcial woman.
For I suppose of no woman born
Was neuer queen so hardi seyn afforn.
This emperour, this proude Aurelian,
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To take Zenobia [that] such a werre gan
Ageyn Romeyns, this marcial woman.
For I suppose of no woman born
Was neuer queen so hardi seyn afforn.
This hardi princesse, for al hir roialte,
Whos hih renoun thoruh al the world was knowe,
With stokkis of gold was brouht to the cite,
From hih estat in pouert plongid lowe.
A wynde contrarye of Fortune hath so blowe,
That she, alas, hath pitousli made fall
Hir that in prowesse passed women all.
Whos hih renoun thoruh al the world was knowe,
With stokkis of gold was brouht to the cite,
From hih estat in pouert plongid lowe.
A wynde contrarye of Fortune hath so blowe,
That she, alas, hath pitousli made fall
Hir that in prowesse passed women all.
The triumphe youe [un]to Aurelian
For þe conquest he hadde upon þis queen
Callid Zenobia, cam Dioclesian,
Born in Dalmacia, his stori who list seen.
Out of his contre first he dide fleen,
Of garlec lekis, as seith the cronycleer,
Because that he was but a gardener.
For þe conquest he hadde upon þis queen
Callid Zenobia, cam Dioclesian,
Born in Dalmacia, his stori who list seen.
Out of his contre first he dide fleen,
Of garlec lekis, as seith the cronycleer,
Because that he was but a gardener.
Other mencioun is non of his lynage.
Of his berthe forsook the regioun,
Lefft his craff[t] of deluyng and cortilage,
Gaff hym to armys, & be eleccioun
Chose to been emperour & regne in Roome toun.
First into Gaule he sente a gret poweer,
And Maxymyan he made ther his vikeer.
Of his berthe forsook the regioun,
Lefft his craff[t] of deluyng and cortilage,
Gaff hym to armys, & be eleccioun
Chose to been emperour & regne in Roome toun.
First into Gaule he sente a gret poweer,
And Maxymyan he made ther his vikeer.
His viker ther hadde many gret bataille
Vpon swich peeple that be rebellioun
Gan frowardli contrarye & assaille
Tobeye his lordship withynne that regioun,
Til Caransynus be commyssioun,
An hardi kniht vndir Maxymyan,
Them to chastise took on hym lik a man.
Vpon swich peeple that be rebellioun
Gan frowardli contrarye & assaille
Tobeye his lordship withynne that regioun,
Til Caransynus be commyssioun,
An hardi kniht vndir Maxymyan,
Them to chastise took on hym lik a man.
But be processe, the stori doth deuise,
His lordship ther dide gret damage
To comoun proffit; for he be couetise
The contre robbed be ful gret outrage,
And to hymsilff he took al the pillage,
And of presumpcioun wered the colour
Of riche purpil lik an emperour.
His lordship ther dide gret damage
To comoun proffit; for he be couetise
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And to hymsilff he took al the pillage,
And of presumpcioun wered the colour
Of riche purpil lik an emperour.
This Karansynvs of Breteynys tweyne,
Proudli vsurped to be ther gouernour,
Lik a rebel geyn Roome dide his peyne
And besied hym be marcial labour,
With many a straunge foreyn soudiour;
Hauyng no title nor commyssioun,
Contynued longe in his rebellioun.
Proudli vsurped to be ther gouernour,
Lik a rebel geyn Roome dide his peyne
And besied hym be marcial labour,
With many a straunge foreyn soudiour;
Hauyng no title nor commyssioun,
Contynued longe in his rebellioun.
Wherof astonyd was Dioclesian;
Seyng this myscheef dreedful & pereilous,
Ordeyned in haste that Maxymyan
Was surnamyd & callid Herculius;
Made hym emperour, namyd [hym] Augustus,
Which hadde afforn[e] no mor gouernaunce
But of Gaule, which now is callid France.
Seyng this myscheef dreedful & pereilous,
Ordeyned in haste that Maxymyan
Was surnamyd & callid Herculius;
Made hym emperour, namyd [hym] Augustus,
Which hadde afforn[e] no mor gouernaunce
But of Gaule, which now is callid France.
Also mor-ouer this Dioclesian
Made in this while gouernour[e]s tweyne,
Constancius & oon Maxymyan
Surnamyd Galerius. Constancius in certeyne,
In this while to wedde dide his peyne
Douhtir of Maxymyan callid Herculius,
Named Theodora, myn auctour writeth thus.
Made in this while gouernour[e]s tweyne,
Constancius & oon Maxymyan
Surnamyd Galerius. Constancius in certeyne,
In this while to wedde dide his peyne
Douhtir of Maxymyan callid Herculius,
Named Theodora, myn auctour writeth thus.
Be Theodora this Constancius
Hadde sexe childre in trewe mariage,
Brethre to Constantyn, the story tellith þus,
Which aftirward, whan he cam to age,
For his manhod and marcial corage,
Was chose & maad[e] lord & gouernour
Of al the world, and crownid emperour.
Hadde sexe childre in trewe mariage,
Brethre to Constantyn, the story tellith þus,
Which aftirward, whan he cam to age,
For his manhod and marcial corage,
Was chose & maad[e] lord & gouernour
Of al the world, and crownid emperour.
Caransynvs, which hadde ful seuene yeer,
Lich as I tolde, rebellid in Breteyne
Ageyn the Romeyns, a gret extorsioneer,—
A kniht Alletus that dede at hym disdeyne
Moordrid hym, & aftir ded his peyne
Be force onli and extort tirannye
Fulli thre yeer his place to occupie.
Lich as I tolde, rebellid in Breteyne
Ageyn the Romeyns, a gret extorsioneer,—
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Moordrid hym, & aftir ded his peyne
Be force onli and extort tirannye
Fulli thre yeer his place to occupie.
Til Asclepio was sent fro Roome doun,
Slouh this Alletus, maugre al his myht,
Brouht al Breteyne to subieccioun
Of the Romeyns, lik as it was riht.
And in this while, lik a manli kniht—
For Italliens gan Romeyns disobeye—
Constancius gan proudli hem werreie.
Slouh this Alletus, maugre al his myht,
Brouht al Breteyne to subieccioun
Of the Romeyns, lik as it was riht.
And in this while, lik a manli kniht—
For Italliens gan Romeyns disobeye—
Constancius gan proudli hem werreie.
He firste with hem had a strong bataille,
His meyne slayn & he put to the fliht.
Trustyng on Fortune, he gan hem eft assaille,
And sexti thousand wer slay[e]n in þat fiht;
The feeld was his thoruh Fortunis myht,
As she that koude dissymule for a while,
And aftirward falsli hym begile.
His meyne slayn & he put to the fliht.
Trustyng on Fortune, he gan hem eft assaille,
And sexti thousand wer slay[e]n in þat fiht;
The feeld was his thoruh Fortunis myht,
As she that koude dissymule for a while,
And aftirward falsli hym begile.
I will passe ouer as breeffli as I can,
Set aside al foreyn incidentis,
Resorte ageyn to Dioclesian,
Which at Alisaundre proudli pihte his tentes,
The capteyn slouh, gaff in comaundementes
To his knihtis to do ther auauntage
Withynne the cite be robbyng & pillage.
Set aside al foreyn incidentis,
Resorte ageyn to Dioclesian,
Which at Alisaundre proudli pihte his tentes,
The capteyn slouh, gaff in comaundementes
To his knihtis to do ther auauntage
Withynne the cite be robbyng & pillage.
Gan ageyn Cristene gret persecucioun,
Vsed his tirannye in the orient;
Bi his biddyng Maxymyan cam doun
Toward the parties of the occident.
Bothe these tirauntis wrouhte be assent,
Vndir whos swerd many [a] martire deies,
Slayn in Octodorun the legeoun of Thebeies.
Vsed his tirannye in the orient;
Bi his biddyng Maxymyan cam doun
Toward the parties of the occident.
Bothe these tirauntis wrouhte be assent,
Vndir whos swerd many [a] martire deies,
Slayn in Octodorun the legeoun of Thebeies.
At Verolamye, a famous old cite,
Seynt Albon slayn; his legende doth so telle.
And in Roome be furious cruelte
The pope slayn, which callid was Marcelle.
Be ther statutis & be ther doomys felle
Cherches wer brent, & tounes & citees
Loste ther franchise & al ther libertees.
Seynt Albon slayn; his legende doth so telle.
And in Roome be furious cruelte
The pope slayn, which callid was Marcelle.
Be ther statutis & be ther doomys felle
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Loste ther franchise & al ther libertees.
Froward enmy he was to Cristis lawe,
Made many a martir deie for his sake,
Wex feeble & old & gan hym [to] withdrawe
From occupacioun, his reste for to take;
His atturne Maxymyan he doth make.
In his laste age, it is rehersid thus,
Stood in gret dreed[e] of Constancivs,—
Made many a martir deie for his sake,
Wex feeble & old & gan hym [to] withdrawe
From occupacioun, his reste for to take;
His atturne Maxymyan he doth make.
In his laste age, it is rehersid thus,
Stood in gret dreed[e] of Constancivs,—
The dreed[e] of hym sat so nih his herte,—
And therupon took swich a fantasie,
Imagynyng he myht[e] nat asterte,
Be fraude of hym but that he sholde deie.
Almost for feer fill in a frenesie,
And of swich dreed, the book makth mencioun,
He slouh hymsilff be drynkyng of poisoun.
And therupon took swich a fantasie,
Imagynyng he myht[e] nat asterte,
Be fraude of hym but that he sholde deie.
Almost for feer fill in a frenesie,
And of swich dreed, the book makth mencioun,
He slouh hymsilff be drynkyng of poisoun.
As I told erst, in the occident
Maxymyan, callid Herculius,
Regned as emperour; & euere in his entent
To pursue martirs he did ay his labours.
Of whos berthe Bochas fond non auctours;
This to seyne, he coude neuer reede
Wher he was bor[e]n, nor of what kynreede.
Maxymyan, callid Herculius,
Regned as emperour; & euere in his entent
To pursue martirs he did ay his labours.
Of whos berthe Bochas fond non auctours;
This to seyne, he coude neuer reede
Wher he was bor[e]n, nor of what kynreede.
He fynt no mor of this Maxymyan,
Of his uprisyng in especiall,
But that he was bi Dioclesian
Set in dignite callid imperial,
Famous in armys, prudent & marciall,
Daunted all tho that dide ageyn hym stryue,
Slouh Geneyans callid, in noumbre fyue.
Of his uprisyng in especiall,
But that he was bi Dioclesian
Set in dignite callid imperial,
Famous in armys, prudent & marciall,
Daunted all tho that dide ageyn hym stryue,
Slouh Geneyans callid, in noumbre fyue.
Rood in Affrik lik a conquerour,
Brouht to subieccioun thre sturdi naciouns—
Fortune that tyme did hym such fauour—
Gat Sarmatois with othir regiouns,
Many cites & many riche touns
Bi his conquest of newe that he hath wonne;
Thoruh the world his name shon lik a sunne.
Brouht to subieccioun thre sturdi naciouns—
Fortune that tyme did hym such fauour—
Gat Sarmatois with othir regiouns,
Many cites & many riche touns
Bi his conquest of newe that he hath wonne;
Thoruh the world his name shon lik a sunne.
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He was cherisshed in armys from his youthe,
Dide gret emprises for Roome the cite;
Yit Dioclesian, as it is weel kouthe,
Counsailled hym resigne his dignite.
But he was loth to forsake his see,
Sith he was lord & gouerned all,
For to renounce his stat imperiall.
Dide gret emprises for Roome the cite;
Yit Dioclesian, as it is weel kouthe,
Counsailled hym resigne his dignite.
But he was loth to forsake his see,
Sith he was lord & gouerned all,
For to renounce his stat imperiall.
But be assent of Dioclesian,
As he hymsilff had left al gouernaunce,
So eeuene lik this Maxymyan
Dischargid hymsilf of his roial puissaunce.
But aftirward he fill in repentaunce
And besi was, as dyuers bookis seyn,
Thestat of emperour to recure ageyn,
As he hymsilff had left al gouernaunce,
So eeuene lik this Maxymyan
Dischargid hymsilf of his roial puissaunce.
But aftirward he fill in repentaunce
And besi was, as dyuers bookis seyn,
Thestat of emperour to recure ageyn,
Which for to acheue he dede his dilligence.
He was distourbid be Galerius,
For his sone, that callid was Maxence,
Put in pocessioun, myn auctour writeth þus;
To which[e] thyng he gan wex envious
And gan ordeyne menys in his thouht
To trouble hym; but it auailled nouht.
He was distourbid be Galerius,
For his sone, that callid was Maxence,
Put in pocessioun, myn auctour writeth þus;
To which[e] thyng he gan wex envious
And gan ordeyne menys in his thouht
To trouble hym; but it auailled nouht.
Whan his purpos myhte take non auail
Ageyn Maxence, as Bochas doth descryue,
His douhtir Fausta, þat knew al his counsail,
Discurid his purpos; for which he fled[de] blyue
Into Gaule & durste no lenger stryue;
And bi Co[n]stancius in Marcile the cite
Slayn sodeynli, lost al his dignite.
Ageyn Maxence, as Bochas doth descryue,
His douhtir Fausta, þat knew al his counsail,
Discurid his purpos; for which he fled[de] blyue
Into Gaule & durste no lenger stryue;
And bi Co[n]stancius in Marcile the cite
Slayn sodeynli, lost al his dignite.
| Lydgate's Fall of Princes | |