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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[Off Philip Cathenoise born of lowe birthe cam to grete
estat / & aftir she hir son & doughtir were brent.] |
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 | Lydgate's Fall of Princes |  |
[Off Philip Cathenoise born of lowe birthe cam to grete estat / & aftir she hir son & doughtir were brent.]
Bespreynt with teres, & [with] a woful noise,
Tofor Bochas quakyng in sorwe & dred,
Next in ordre cam Phelipp Cathenoise,
Poore of degre, born of louh kynreede,
Which roos aftir to gret estat in deede.
Gan with gret sorwe a compleynt ful mortall,
Ceriousli to telle hir woful fall.
Tofor Bochas quakyng in sorwe & dred,
Next in ordre cam Phelipp Cathenoise,
Poore of degre, born of louh kynreede,
Which roos aftir to gret estat in deede.
Gan with gret sorwe a compleynt ful mortall,
Ceriousli to telle hir woful fall.
Touchyng hir berthe, dirk was hir lynage,
Of poore bed[de] born on outher side;
Bochas was loth to spende gret langage
On hir historie, long theron tabide,
Purposed hym nothyng for to hide
Of the substaunce, but telle al the grete,
And superfluite of the remnant lete.
Of poore bed[de] born on outher side;
Bochas was loth to spende gret langage
On hir historie, long theron tabide,
Purposed hym nothyng for to hide
Of the substaunce, but telle al the grete,
And superfluite of the remnant lete.
999
Which was rehersed to hym in his youthe
Whan he was toward Robert of Cicile,
Kyng of Iherusalem, the stori is nat kouth;
Yit in his book he list it to compile
And it reherse be ful souereyn stile,
Lik in that court as it was [to] hym told
Bi oon Bulgar clad in a slaueyn old.
Whan he was toward Robert of Cicile,
Kyng of Iherusalem, the stori is nat kouth;
Yit in his book he list it to compile
And it reherse be ful souereyn stile,
Lik in that court as it was [to] hym told
Bi oon Bulgar clad in a slaueyn old.
The saide Bulgar was a maryneer,
With whom also was a Calabrien
Callid Constantyn, which ful many a yeer
Trauailled hadde & sondry thynges seen
In dyuers contres ther he hadde been.
Mong other thinges seyn in ther daies olde,
This was a stori which[e] Bulgar tolde.
With whom also was a Calabrien
Callid Constantyn, which ful many a yeer
Trauailled hadde & sondry thynges seen
In dyuers contres ther he hadde been.
Mong other thinges seyn in ther daies olde,
This was a stori which[e] Bulgar tolde.
Duk of Calabre, Robert be his name,
Bi his fadir Charlis, the myhti kyng,
Hadde in comaundement, his stori seith þe same,
Geyn Frederik to make a strong ridyng;
Which be force proudli vsurping,
Took upon hym to be lord of that ile,
Which callid was the kyngdam of Cicile.
Bi his fadir Charlis, the myhti kyng,
Hadde in comaundement, his stori seith þe same,
Geyn Frederik to make a strong ridyng;
Which be force proudli vsurping,
Took upon hym to be lord of that ile,
Which callid was the kyngdam of Cicile.
Drepanne in soth[e] callid was the toun
Wher Duk Robert his pauylouns pihte,
Redi armyd, thoruh his hih renoun
Geyn Frederik for that lond to fihte
And withstonde hym pleynli yif he myhte.
And so befill, the morwe tofor prime
The dukis wiff of childyng bood hir tyme.
Wher Duk Robert his pauylouns pihte,
Redi armyd, thoruh his hih renoun
Geyn Frederik for that lond to fihte
And withstonde hym pleynli yif he myhte.
And so befill, the morwe tofor prime
The dukis wiff of childyng bood hir tyme.
Violaunt men dide that ladi call,
In hir tyme a famous gret duchesse;
Destitut of other women all,
Whan hir child was born in that distresse,
To yiue it souke, the stori doth expresse,
Saue fro myscheeff Philipot was brouht neer,
Of Cathenoise, the dukis cheef lauendeer.
In hir tyme a famous gret duchesse;
Destitut of other women all,
Whan hir child was born in that distresse,
To yiue it souke, the stori doth expresse,
Saue fro myscheeff Philipot was brouht neer,
Of Cathenoise, the dukis cheef lauendeer.
Bi a fisshere, which was hir husbonde,
A child she hadde, lyuyng be ther trauaile,
Which fro the se onto the court be londe
Day be day caried vitaile.
And in this caas, because it myhte auaile,
Philipot was brouht, in this gret streihtnesse,
To be norice onto the duchesse.
A child she hadde, lyuyng be ther trauaile,
1000
Day be day caried vitaile.
And in this caas, because it myhte auaile,
Philipot was brouht, in this gret streihtnesse,
To be norice onto the duchesse.
Wher she was cherisshed aftir hir desirs,
Ech thyng reedi whan that euer she sente.
With the duchesse mong other chaumberers
Into Naples I fynde that she wente,
Til Antropos, froward of entente,
Made of this child, ther is no mor to seyne,
The lyues threed[e] for to breke in tweyne.
Ech thyng reedi whan that euer she sente.
With the duchesse mong other chaumberers
Into Naples I fynde that she wente,
Til Antropos, froward of entente,
Made of this child, ther is no mor to seyne,
The lyues threed[e] for to breke in tweyne.
With kyng Charlis, of whom I spak toforn,
As myn auctour remembrith in his book,
Was oon Raymond of Chaumpayne born,
Which with the kyng was callid maister cook.
And on a day his iourne he took
Toward the se; a pirat, as I fynde,
Sold hym a child which was born in Ynde.
As myn auctour remembrith in his book,
Was oon Raymond of Chaumpayne born,
Which with the kyng was callid maister cook.
And on a day his iourne he took
Toward the se; a pirat, as I fynde,
Sold hym a child which was born in Ynde.
Lik Ethiopiens was his colour;
For whom this cook Raymond hath deuysed,
Be his notable [&] dilligent labour,
Made hym cristene; & so he was baptised;
Gaff hym his name, & hath also practised
Hym to promoote, that he vpon hym took
Bi his doctryne to be maister cook;
For whom this cook Raymond hath deuysed,
Be his notable [&] dilligent labour,
Made hym cristene; & so he was baptised;
Gaff hym his name, & hath also practised
Hym to promoote, that he vpon hym took
Bi his doctryne to be maister cook;
For he soone afftir took the ordre of kniht.
The Ethiopien wex a good officeer,
Gat suich grace in the kyngis siht,
To be aboute hym [was brouht up] mor neer;
Be processe he was maad wardropeer;
And thouh he was blak of his visage,
To Cathenoise was ioyned in mariage.
The Ethiopien wex a good officeer,
Gat suich grace in the kyngis siht,
To be aboute hym [was brouht up] mor neer;
Be processe he was maad wardropeer;
And thouh he was blak of his visage,
To Cathenoise was ioyned in mariage.
Wex malapert, and of presumpcioun
To be maad kniht the kyng he gan requeere,
Which of fredam and gret affeccioun
Is condescendid to graunten his praieere.
But to declare pleynli the maneere,
In this tyme Violaunt the duchesse,
Affor remembred, deide of seeknesse.
To be maad kniht the kyng he gan requeere,
Which of fredam and gret affeccioun
Is condescendid to graunten his praieere.
But to declare pleynli the maneere,
1001
Affor remembred, deide of seeknesse.
Aftir whos deth, the book doth certefie,
How Duk Robert of Naples the cite
Weddid a ladi that callid was Sansie,
To whom Philipot, as fill to hir degre,
With dilligence and gret humylite
To plesen hire did so hir deueer,
That of hir counsail ther was non so neer.
How Duk Robert of Naples the cite
Weddid a ladi that callid was Sansie,
To whom Philipot, as fill to hir degre,
With dilligence and gret humylite
To plesen hire did so hir deueer,
That of hir counsail ther was non so neer.
Euere redi at hir comaundement,
Wrouhte atires plesaunt of deliht,
With holsum watres that wer redolent
To make hir skyn bi wasshyng soote & whiht,
Made confecciouns to serue hir appetiht.
Bi hir husbonde, the stori who list see,
The same Philipot hadde childre thre.
Wrouhte atires plesaunt of deliht,
With holsum watres that wer redolent
To make hir skyn bi wasshyng soote & whiht,
Made confecciouns to serue hir appetiht.
Bi hir husbonde, the stori who list see,
The same Philipot hadde childre thre.
She was kunnyng & of hir port prudent;
Chose be fauour for to be maistresse
To faire Iane, yong and innocent,
Which douhtir was to the gret duchesse
Of Calabre; and ferthermor texpresse,
Hir husbonde Thethiopien with-al
Of Charlis houshold was maad senescall.
Chose be fauour for to be maistresse
To faire Iane, yong and innocent,
Which douhtir was to the gret duchesse
Of Calabre; and ferthermor texpresse,
Hir husbonde Thethiopien with-al
Of Charlis houshold was maad senescall.
“O Lord!” quod Bochas, spak of hih disdeyn,
“What meueth this Fortune for to make cheere,
With hir fauour to reise up a foreyn
Vpon hir wheel, with brihte fethres cleere;
But of custum it is ay hir maneere
Fairest tappeere with cheer and contenaunce,
Whan she wil brynge a man vnto myschaunce.
“What meueth this Fortune for to make cheere,
With hir fauour to reise up a foreyn
Vpon hir wheel, with brihte fethres cleere;
But of custum it is ay hir maneere
Fairest tappeere with cheer and contenaunce,
Whan she wil brynge a man vnto myschaunce.
For he that was a boy the laste day,
An Ethiopien broun and horrible of siht,
And afor-tyme in the kechyn lay
Among the pottis with baudi cote aniht,
Now [he] of neue hath take the ordre of kniht,
With kyng Charlis now is he senescall:
Swich sodeyn clymbyng axeth a sodeyn fall.”
An Ethiopien broun and horrible of siht,
And afor-tyme in the kechyn lay
Among the pottis with baudi cote aniht,
Now [he] of neue hath take the ordre of kniht,
With kyng Charlis now is he senescall:
Swich sodeyn clymbyng axeth a sodeyn fall.”
1002
He and Philipot, his wiff, fro pouerte
Been enhaunsid and rise to gret richesse;
Tweyne of ther sonis statli maried bee;
And for fauour mor than worthynesse
Took ordre of kniht; & in his most hihnesse
Ther fader deide, whos feeste funerall
Was solempnised and holde ful roiall.
Been enhaunsid and rise to gret richesse;
Tweyne of ther sonis statli maried bee;
And for fauour mor than worthynesse
Took ordre of kniht; & in his most hihnesse
Ther fader deide, whos feeste funerall
Was solempnised and holde ful roiall.
Thus can Fortune chaungen as the moone,
Hir brihte face dirked with a skie:
His eldest sone deide aftir soone;
The secounde lefft up his clergie,
To be maad kniht gan hymsilf applie,
Stede of his fader, pleynli as I reede,
In his offis be fauour to succeede.
Hir brihte face dirked with a skie:
His eldest sone deide aftir soone;
The secounde lefft up his clergie,
To be maad kniht gan hymsilf applie,
Stede of his fader, pleynli as I reede,
In his offis be fauour to succeede.
Thus be processe fro Philipot anon riht,
Deth of hir husbonde & [of] hir sonis tweyne,
Fortune in parti eclipsed hath the liht
Of hir weelfare & gan at hir disdeyne.
Yit euene lik, as whan that it doth reyne,
Phebus aftir sheweth mor cleernesse,
So she fro trouble roos to mor noblesse.
Deth of hir husbonde & [of] hir sonis tweyne,
Fortune in parti eclipsed hath the liht
Of hir weelfare & gan at hir disdeyne.
Yit euene lik, as whan that it doth reyne,
Phebus aftir sheweth mor cleernesse,
So she fro trouble roos to mor noblesse.
I meene as thus, rehersing no vertu
In hir persone that men koude espie,
But onli this, be title of this issu:
Whan Charlis douhtir Iane on that partie
Was to the kyng weddid of Hungrie,
Callid Andree, a man of gret corage,
His saide wiff but riht tendre of age,
In hir persone that men koude espie,
But onli this, be title of this issu:
Whan Charlis douhtir Iane on that partie
Was to the kyng weddid of Hungrie,
Callid Andree, a man of gret corage,
His saide wiff but riht tendre of age,
The same Iane, nat al withoute vice,
As is rehersed sumwhat be myn auctour,
To whom Philipot whilom was norice,
As ye haue herd, and be ful gret labour
Of saide Iane, Robert made gouernour,
Sone of Philipot, for a gret reward,
Made of Scicile & of that lond stiward.
As is rehersed sumwhat be myn auctour,
To whom Philipot whilom was norice,
As ye haue herd, and be ful gret labour
Of saide Iane, Robert made gouernour,
Sone of Philipot, for a gret reward,
Made of Scicile & of that lond stiward.
This fauour doon to Philipot Cathenoise
Caused in that lond gret indignacioun,
Whos douhtres weddyng caused eek gret noise,
Maried to Charlis the gret erl of Marchoun,
Which gaff to folk gret occasioun
To deeme amys aboute in ech contre,
That al that lond was gouerned be tho thre,
Caused in that lond gret indignacioun,
Whos douhtres weddyng caused eek gret noise,
1003
Which gaff to folk gret occasioun
To deeme amys aboute in ech contre,
That al that lond was gouerned be tho thre,
Be queen Iane and Philipot Cathenoise
And saide Robert, stiward of Cicile,
Sone to Philipot; this was the comoun voise:—
The queen and Robert be ther sotil wile
Hadde of assent vsed a long[e] while
The hatful synne of auout[e]rie,—
Roos in Cicile & went up to Hungrie.
And saide Robert, stiward of Cicile,
Sone to Philipot; this was the comoun voise:—
The queen and Robert be ther sotil wile
Hadde of assent vsed a long[e] while
The hatful synne of auout[e]rie,—
Roos in Cicile & went up to Hungrie.
For queen Iane began no maner thing
But Cathenoise assentid wer therto;
Thexecucioun and fulli the werking
Brouht to conclusioun, be Robert al was do.
And in this title roos a stryf also,
A disclaundrous and a froward discord
Atween the queen & hym that was hir lord.
But Cathenoise assentid wer therto;
Thexecucioun and fulli the werking
Brouht to conclusioun, be Robert al was do.
And in this title roos a stryf also,
A disclaundrous and a froward discord
Atween the queen & hym that was hir lord.
Hard to proceede upon suspecioun,
Sclaundre is swifft, lihtli taketh his fliht;
For which men sholde eschewe thoccasioun
Of fame and noise, & euery maner wiht
Bi prouidence remembre in his forsiht,
Whan the report is thoruh a lond Ironne,
Hard is to stynte it whan it is begonne.
Sclaundre is swifft, lihtli taketh his fliht;
For which men sholde eschewe thoccasioun
Of fame and noise, & euery maner wiht
Bi prouidence remembre in his forsiht,
Whan the report is thoruh a lond Ironne,
Hard is to stynte it whan it is begonne.
Withstonde principles, occasiouns to declyne,
List vnwarli ther folwe gret damage;
To late kometh the salue and medecyne
To festrid soris whan thei be incurable.
And in caas verray resemblable,
Teschewe slaundre list nat for to spare,
May nat faillen to fallen in the snare.
List vnwarli ther folwe gret damage;
To late kometh the salue and medecyne
To festrid soris whan thei be incurable.
And in caas verray resemblable,
Teschewe slaundre list nat for to spare,
May nat faillen to fallen in the snare.
Thus for a tyme the sclaundre was kept cloos,
Al-be-it so it did a while abide,
Another mischeef than pitousli aroos,
Which afftirward spradde abrood ful wide:
Auoutrye to moordre is a guide,—
Set at a preeff, myn auctour doth recorde,
The kyng Andree was stranglid with a corde.
Al-be-it so it did a while abide,
Another mischeef than pitousli aroos,
Which afftirward spradde abrood ful wide:
Auoutrye to moordre is a guide,—
Set at a preeff, myn auctour doth recorde,
The kyng Andree was stranglid with a corde.
1004
Out of his chaumbre reised a gret heihte
Bi a coniected fals conspiracioun,
He was entreted, brouht doun be a sleihte,
Afftir stranglid, as maad is mencioun.
Whos deth to pun[i]she be commyssioun,
Huhe Erl of Auelyn be a patent large
To be iuge took on hym the charge.
Bi a coniected fals conspiracioun,
He was entreted, brouht doun be a sleihte,
Afftir stranglid, as maad is mencioun.
Whos deth to pun[i]she be commyssioun,
Huhe Erl of Auelyn be a patent large
To be iuge took on hym the charge.
Of this moordre roos up a gret noise,
Be euidencis ful abhomynable,
Philipot [I]callid Cathenoise,
Hir sone, hir douhtir, that thei wer coupable;
Doom was youe be iuges ful notable;
And to conclude shortli ther iugement,
With cheynis bounde to stakis thei wer brent.
Be euidencis ful abhomynable,
Philipot [I]callid Cathenoise,
Hir sone, hir douhtir, that thei wer coupable;
Doom was youe be iuges ful notable;
And to conclude shortli ther iugement,
With cheynis bounde to stakis thei wer brent.
| Lydgate's Fall of Princes | |