Skip directly to:Main content Main navigation

University of Virginia Library

Lydgate's Fall of Princes

Edited by Dr. Henry Bergen ... presented to The Early English Text Society by The Carnegie Institution of Washington

Lydgate, John (1370?-1451?)

collapse section

collapse section

THE FALL OF PRINCES

collapse section

I.

collapse section

[How adam and Eue for theire inobedience were putout of paradis lyued in sorowe and woo/thei and theire of spryng.]

[How Adam & Eue stondyng/naked before Bochas desired him to put theire woful fall first in remembraunce.]

The compleynt off Bochas vpon the fall off Adam.

The lenvoye off this tragedie.

[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.]

[An exclamacioun of Bochas ageyn al proude men/ shewyng how god may them and theire pride whan him best list by many dyuers menes and wayes punysshe & chastise.]

[How many yeres was betwixt Adam and Nembroth and betwixt Nembroth and Cadmus and of other kynges.]

[Off Oggigus, kyng of Thebes.]

[Off a grete Flood in Tessalie.]

[Off goodly Isis, Wiff to Apys kyng of Argyue slayn bi his broþer Tyffeus.]

[[O]ff Grisiton þat hes membres ete for hunger.]

[How Iubiter rauisshed Europe, and how Cadmus was sent/to seke hir in diuers Regiouns.]

[A processe of Oetes kyng of Colchos, Iason, Medee, Theseus, Scilla Nisus, and other moo.]

[Of mighty Iabyn Kyng of Canane, of quene Iocasta/ and how Thebes was destroied.]

[How Atreus Kyng of Messene wrouȝt ayenst his brothir Thiestes/slouh his iij. childre dismembrid hem in pecys made Thiestes to ete of ther flessh and drynke of ther blood.]

[How Atreus accusid himsilf of mordre and his brothir vpon auoutry don with Europa the quene.]

[Off Duk Theseus and Adriane þat saued his liff in the Caue/and how he lik a forsworn man forsook hir and weddid faire Phedra/whiche aftirward slouh hirsilf.]

Here Bochas repreuyth all thunstabilnes of Princis & oþir persones þat ȝeve hasti credence to euery report with-out preef.

Heer Bochas makith an exclamacion a-geyn the pride of vommen And thonseurnes of princes.

[Off Quene Althea, and how Hercules by women was brouht to confusioun.]

[A processe, of Narcisus, Biblis, Mirra and of othir ther onfortunys to Bochas compleynyng.]

[Off Priamus kyng of Troye, and how the monke of Bury translatour of this book wroot a boke of the siege of Troye callid Troye book.]

Bochas ageyn þe surquedous pride of hem that trusten in her riches.

The preis of Bochas & suerte that stondith in pouert.

[Off mighty Sampson whiche tolde his counsaile to Dalida wherby he was deceived.]

A chapitle of Bochas discryuyng þe malis of wommen.

Thexcus of Bochas for his vriting ageyn mysgovern[ed] vommen in stede of lenvoye.

[Off mighti pirrus that slouh pollicene which for his pride and auoutrye deied in pouerte/slayn atte last bi Horestes.]

[Off Machaire and his suster Canace.]

The lettre of compleynt of Canace to hir brothir Macharie.

collapse section

II.

collapse section

III.

collapse section

[How Andalus doctor of Astronomye concludith/ how princys sholdenot atwite constellacions nor fortune of theire vnhappy fallyng but theire owne demeritys and vicious lyuyng.]

[A disputacion between fortune & glad pouert.]

[How kyng hostilius worshippyng fals goddis/was consumpt with firy Levene.]

[How Anchus kyng of Rome was moordred by Lucynyo, bi thassent of his wiff.]

[How Lucynyo that mordred Anchus was aftir mordred.]

[How for the offence don to Lucrece by Tarquyn was never aftir crowned kyng in Rome.]

[The greuous compleynt of Lucrece vpon hir oppressioun.]

The Compleynt of Bochas Oppon þe luxurie of Princis by examplis of diuers myschevis.

[How Cambises assentyng to the moordre of his brothir Mergus at last slouh himsilf.]

[Oropastes occupyeng the crowne of Perce bi iniust title was moordred.]

[How Dary obteynyng the kyngdam of perce be sleiht eended with shame.]

[How Corolian bi Romayns exilid gan werre ayenst hem and how aftir thei sent out his moder with othir for pees, which had, thei eft him exilid & aftir was slayn.]

[How Melciades duk of Athenys with smal noumbre venquysshed vjc. Ml. perciens, and aftir bi his comonte that ay of custum desireth a chaunge of princes newe he was cheyned in prisoun and so deied.]

[Ho[w] xerses kyng of Perce, for his ravyne and couetise was dismembrid in smale pecys.]

[How Artabanus moordred kyng xerses and how aftir himsilf was moordred.]

[Off duk Palantus, and Spartenois werred them of Missene for rauysshing theire maidenes.]

[[H]ow Spartenois lay ten yere atte sege and how their wyves displesid with their longe absence sent hem a message vt infra.]

[Off Ceson Quincius exiled and Graccus take prisonere.]

[Here Bochas rehercith the tirannye of Apius and falsnesse of Iuges.]

Bochas ageyn thontrowith of Iugis.

An exclamacioun of Bochas ageyn thextorsions & oppressions of þe poraill of Rome.

[Off Alcibiades exiled and aftir brent in his bedde.]

An exclamacion of þe deth of Alcibiades.

A Chapitle of wordly folk wich desire to be magnified.

A Chapitle of men doing Such thing as þey be dispo[s]ed to.

A chapitle of þe gouernance of Poetis.

[How Malleus Duk of Cartage for oppressioun tirannye was hewen in to pecys.]

[How the substaunce of the host of himilcho duke of Cartage goyng to conquere Cicile died of pestilens & aftir himsilf slayn.]

[How heynon duc of Cartage was dismembrid.]

Thauctour a-geyn couetous Peple.

[How Enagora kyng of Cipre was bi Artaxerses outraied/and put from his kyngdam.]

[How Theo kyng of Egipt bi Artaxerses was dryven from his kyngdam and fledde in to Arabie.]

[How Amynta of Macedoyne kyng had by Erudice his wif, Alisaundre, Perdica, & Philip, that were slayn.]

[Ho[w] the proude tirant Aman was honged and the Innocent preserued.]

[Off the ii, brethre, Artaxerses and Cirus/and Artaxerses slouh his childre and concubynes/and how thei ended.]

collapse section

IV.

Incipit prohemium libri quarti.

collapse section

collapse section

V.

[Here Bochas writeth ayenst hem þat delite in beute & semlynesse, calling to purpos how, A man, born in Tuscan which excellid in beute and fairenesse, and for his beute sholdenot geve othir occasioun to synne he disfigured his visage with many a grete wounde and spotte.]

[How the too brethern, Seleuchus and Anthiochus eche desirous to excellen other fel at discord ended in mischeff.]

[How the noble quene Leodomia was in the temple slayn, and vengeaunce taken/vpon him that slouh hir.]

[How Cleomens ky[ng] of Macedoyne was slayn with his wif and childre.]

[Of kyng Yero, Cornelie, and Hanybal.]

[Off the Duk zantipus/cast in to see.]

[How Marchus Regulus, of his fre wil deied for the comon wele.]

[How Tholome kyng of Egipt callid Philopater slouh fader & moder & his wif in lechery spende his lif & mischeuesly ended.]

[How Abithomarus & viridomarus dukis of Fraunce, aftir grete batailes bi Romayns were slayn.]

[How Siphax of Munedie kyng was take & deied in prisoun.]

[How Nabyn hauyng no title but bi tirannye took on him to be kyng of Macedoyne was slayne.]

[Here Bochas reherceth the mortal werrys betwix Romayns & Affricanys.]

[How kyng Perseus bi Romayns was outraied & after taken.]

[How the peple of Achaia, with ther cheef Cite Corynthe by Romayns was destroied.]

[How grete Anthiocus vsyng riot and viciuos lyuyng/ bi marchus Actilius was outraied & deied sodenly.]

[How Ieronimus of Ciracuse kyng was slayn, and how Scipio Affrican that labored for common wele of Romayns was exilid bi them and so deied.]

[How Scipio Asian lord of Asie þat labored euer for the comon wele was mordred.]

[How the Duk philopomones was take, put in prisoun, aftir drank poison and so deied.]

[Off the thirde Scipion Nasica that euer wrouht moche for the comonte.]

[How Duk Hanyball aftir many victorious dedes moordred himsilf with poison.]

[How Prusias kyng of Bethenye betraied Hanybal and wolde haue disherite his sone & heir went a beggyng in straunge landys.]

[Ho[w] Persa of Macedoyne kyng that enpoisoned his brothir/was bi Emylyus outraied & deied in prisoun.]

[How Amonyus a prince of Antioche delityng in pillage and robbery, with other vicious lyuyng, fledde in womannes wede aftir taken and slayn.]

[How Andriscus of lowe birth born hauyng no title of Macedoyne kyng was taken and deied in prisoun.]

[How Alisaundre ballas kyng of Surre for extorcioun pride and vnkyndenesse deied atte mischeef.]

[Here Bochas writeth of the rebellions and sedicions in Rome, betwixt Tribunys and comouns.]

[How the wif of Hastrubal brent hirsilf & hir childre.]

[Off Machabeus Ioathas taken bi the kyng of Surre.]

[How Demetrius the secounde lost at last his hede.]

[How zebenna kyng of Surre bi intrusioun entryng had mischeuys endyng.]

[How Bitynctus kyng of Auergnatis bi the Romayns was taken and deied in prisoun.]

[How the tiraunt Euergetes weddid queen Cleopatras slouh hir eldist son, exilid his wif, weddid hir douhter.]

[How Iugurta by intrusioun of Munedy Kyng slouh rightful heires and aftir himsilf was drowned.]

VI.

collapse section

VII.

[Off Antonye son and heire to grete Antonye, and of Cesarius, Iulia, Agrippa, Cassius, and Galbus.]

[How the tiraunt herodes slouh wiff and children and deied atte mischeff.]

[Off Antipas exilid bi Octavian and of Achelaus son of herodes the secounde.]

[Off the striff / betwene, Calligula, Tiberius & messalyne.]

[Off the most vicious tiraunt Nero that slouh Petir and Paule and atte laste himself.]

[How Eleazerus a Iewe born / for extorcioun and robbery / was brouht in prisoun and there ended.]

[How the hede of Galba was smyten of filled full of gold / and offred atte the Sepulcre of Nero.]

[How Ottho and Vitellius / for glotony lechery ribaudrie and cruelte / ended in mischeef.]

Bochas dampnyth þe Vice of Glotonye.

[A Chapitle descryuyng the golden worlde, that is to say whan attemperaunce had hooly the gouernaunce.]

[How the kynrede of Iacob was destroied / Crist born and deied / Ierusalem destroied, & xjc. Ml. slayn bi suerde, hunger, fire & pestilence.]

collapse section

VIII.

Incipit Prologus libri octaui.

collapse section

[How the proude tiraunt Domytyan Emperour of Rome, and many other Emperours & nobles for ther outrages & wrecchidnesse mischeuesly ended.]

[How Gallien sone of valerian was slayn]

[How Quyntylyus was moordred by women.]

[Off Aurelian in Denmark born.]

[How Probus disconfited Romayns and aftir was slayn.]

[How Clarus and his ij. sones were myscheuyd.]

[How the hardy quene Zenobia fauȝt with Aurelian and was take.]

[How Galeryus oppressid martirs & cristys feith and mischeuesly ended.]

[How maxence the Emperour enmy to cristys feith myscheuesly ended.]

[How Lucynyus enmy to cristes feith was slayn.]

[Off Constantyne and Crispus & how Dalmacyus was slayn.]

[Off the brethre Constaunce & Constancyus & how Magnencyus & decyus moordred hem self.]

[How Constantyne baptized bi Siluester was cured of his lepre.]

[How Iulian Apostata enmy to cristys bi fals Illusions was chose Emperour and aftir slayn.]

[How the Emperour Valence / slouh heremytes shad cristen blood destroied chirches & after was brent.]

[Off kyng Amarycyus / and how Gracyan and Theodosie destroied temples of fals goddis / & how gracyan was put to flight.]

[A good processe how Theodosie with praiere and smal noumbre gat the victory.]

[How knightys and gentylmen chese Aleryk kyng / and comouns chese Radagasus whiche ended in myschef.]

[How Ruffyne chamberleyn with Theodosie vsurped to be Emperour and therfore by honoryus dampned & his heed smet of.]

[How Stillicon and othir of lik condicion ended in myscheff.]

Bochas rehersith here be vhom Rome cam to nouȝte.

The wordes of Bochas a-geyne Rome.

[How the kynges Trabstila and Busarus were brouht to subieccioun and made tributaryes to Theoderyk.]

[How Philitee lost his kyngdom.]

[How Symak and Boys his son in lawe were banysshed and aftir Iuged to die.]

[Off kyng Arthure and his conquestes / of the commoditees of Englond / and he was destroied by his Cosyn Mordrede.]

An exclamacion a-geyn men þat been vnkynde to þeir kynrede.

[Off Gesevye kyng of venandre and of iij. othre kynges / and how they were destroyed.]

[Trusimond kyng of Gepedois.]

[How Albonyus was moordred by his wif / and how she aftir most vicious was moordred also.]

collapse section

IX.

[How the Emperoure Maurycyus his wif and his childre wer slayne atte Calcedonye.]

[Off Machomet the fals prophete and how he beyng dronke was deuoured among swyn.]

[How Brounchild / queene of Fraunce slouh hir kyn / brought the londe in diuisioun, and aftir was honged / and hewen in pecys smale.]

Here Bochas in maner excusith the vorrching of Brunnechild.

[How Eraclyus the Emperour sustened heresye fill in to dropesy and sikenesse incurabl and so died.]

[How Constantyne the sone of Eraclyus supportyng errour and heresye was moordred in a stewe.]

[How Gisulphus was slayn, and his wif ended mischeuesly in lecherye.]

[Off Iustynyan the fals extorcioner exiled by Patrycyan / after bothe nose & eien kut from his hede.]

[How Philip the Emperour died at myschef.]

Bochas in maner compleynyth of þingis deuidid in too.

[How the hede of Lupus kyng of Lumbardie was smet of by Grymaldus.]

[How the hede of Alexyus was smet of by Compertoun.]

[How Arypertoun was drowned with his rychesse.]

[How Dediere by pope Adryan and Charles of Fraunce was put to flight & died at mischef.]

[Off pope Iohn a woman with child and put doun.]

[How arnold son to Charles of Fraunce was eten with lys and so died.]

Thauctour geyn the pride of Princis.

[Howe pope Iohn the xijthe for lechery & vicious lif was put doun.]

[Off Charles of Loreyn confounded with hunger.]

[How kyng Salamon whilom kynge of Hungery was put to flight.]

[How Petro kyng of Hungery was slayn.]

[How Diogenes the emperour was take and eiene put out.]

[How Robert duk of Normandie fauht with turkes was named to the crowne of Ierusalem & died at mischef.]

[How Iocelyne prince of Rage for pride slouthe & lecherie died in pouert.]

[How the Emperour Andronycus slouh all that were of the blood Roial cherysshed vicious peple and aftir was honget.]

[Off Isacyus made blynde & taken at mischeff.]

[Off Herry the eldest sone of Frederyk the secounde myscheued by his Fadir.]

Bochas makith a comendacion of trewe love a-tween kynrede.

[How Manfroy kyng of Poyle was slayn.]

[How Encys kyng of Sardany died in prisoun.]

[a water makith theves blynde & trewe men to see.]

[An erbe who tastith it shal die lauhyng.]

[Another Frederyk was slayn bi Iugement of his brothir.]

[How Manymettus and Argones died at mischef.]

[How Charles kyng of Jerusalem and of Cecile for Auaryce and avoutrie died at mischef.]

[Off Hugolyne erle of Pyse slayn in prisoun.]

[Athon kyng of Ar[me]nye / put from his ri[ght] by his brothire.]

[How pope Boneface the viijthe. was take by the Lynage de Columpnys / ete his hondes & died in prisoun.]

[How the ordre of Templers was founded and [Iaques] with other of the ordre brent.]

Here Bochas makith a comendacion of thre Philisophris for their pacience.

A Comendacion of pacience in stede of a Lenvoy.

[How Philip la Bele kyng of Fraunce was slayn with a wilde boor and of his thre sones and theire weddyng.]

[How Duk Gaultere of Florence for his tyrannye Lecherye and couetise ended in mischef.]

[Off Philip Cathenoise born of lowe birthe cam to grete estat / & aftir she hir son & doughtir were brent.]

[How kyng Sausys was slayn by his Cosyn whiche was brothir to the kyng of Arrogon.]

[How Lowes kyng of Jerusalem & Cecile was put doun.]

[How kyng John of fraunce at Peyters was take prisonere by Prynce Edward & brouȝt in to Englond.]

A chapitle of Fortune compilid howe she hath hir quytt to al wordly pepill.

[A lenvoye compyled vpon the book wryten by the translatour specially direct to hym that causyd the translacioun & secundely to alle othir it shal seen.]

[The laste lenvoye direct vn to my lord.]

Woordis of the translatur vn to his book atte ende.

[Greneacres A Lenvoye vpon John Bochas.]

collapse section

collapse section

The Daunce of Machabree wherin is liuely expressed and shewed the state of manne, and howe he is called at vncertaine tymes by death, and when he thinketh least thereon

The Wordes of the Translatour.

The Daunce of Machabree.

Machabree the Doctoure.

Lenuoye of the Translatoure.

collapse section

Collapse All | Expand All expand section

An exclamacion a-geyn men þat been vnkynde to þeir kynrede.

Ageyn kynreedis & vnkynde alliaunces,
Bochas makth heer an exclamacioun
Vpon Modred, which with his ordenaunces
Caused of Arthour fynal destruccioun,
The sunne eclipsyng of Brutis Albioun,

912

Natwithstondyng, pleynli to descryue,
He trusted hym abof al men on lyue.

It is a merueile & vnkouth to deuise,
Be what occasioun or be what corage,
That a man sholde in any maner wise
Be founde vnkynde vnto his lynage.
Hatful to God, that in any age
Blood ageyn blood born of o kynreede
Conspire sholde of malis or hatreede.

In this mateer it wer but veyn to tarie,
The stori knowe of Arthour & Modrede,
Be blood allied, in werkyng most contrarie,
Which made many Bretoun kniht to bleede;
For be vsurping, conspiryng and falsheede
Of seide Modred, most infortunat,
Caused al Breteyne to stond[e] desolat.

First desolat be absence of ther kyng,
Callid in his tyme of kynges most notable,
The desolacioun of knihtis abidyng,
Whilom in Breteyne famous & honourable,
Brethre echon of the Rounde Table,
The which be Moodred, the false forswor kniht,
Stod longe eclipsed & dirked of his lyht.

The liht of noblesse þat shon thoruh al Breteyne
Be fals Modred was dirkid off his bemys;
The monarchie departid was on tweyne,
That stood first oon with his marcial stremys.
But aftirward the brihtnesse of his lemys
Drouh to declyn be fals deuisioun,
Which hath destroied ful many a regioun.

Al this processe vpon duplicite
Pleynli concludeth, & blood that is vnkynde.
A-dieu weelfare and al prosperite,
Wher pes & concord been Ilefft behynde:
Trees may nat thryue departid fro þe rynde,—

913

A pleyn exaumple in Arthure & Modrede,
Who can conceyue, & list ther stori reede.