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 kyng John of fraunce at Peyters was take
prisonere by Prynce Edward & brouȝt in to Englond.] |
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 | Lydgate's Fall of Princes |  |
[How kyng John of fraunce at Peyters was take prisonere by Prynce Edward & brouȝt in to Englond.]
Next of alle and laste of euerichon,
Cursyng Fortune with al hir variaunce,
Makyng his compleynt to Bochas, cam Kyng Iohn:
Tolde his mischeeff, how he was take in France
Bi Prince Edward, for al his gret puissaunce;
And aftir that, with strong & myhti hond,
He was fro Peiteres brouht into Inglond.
Cursyng Fortune with al hir variaunce,
Makyng his compleynt to Bochas, cam Kyng Iohn:
Tolde his mischeeff, how he was take in France
Bi Prince Edward, for al his gret puissaunce;
And aftir that, with strong & myhti hond,
He was fro Peiteres brouht into Inglond.
Afforn destroied his castellis & his touns,
And ouerthrowen manli in bataile,
His princis slayn, ther baneres nor penouns
Nor brode standardis mihte hem nat auaile;
The tras out souht, spoilled of plate & maile.
Maugre his miht kyng Iohn was prisoneer,
In Inglond aftir abood ful many a yeer,
And ouerthrowen manli in bataile,
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Nor brode standardis mihte hem nat auaile;
The tras out souht, spoilled of plate & maile.
Maugre his miht kyng Iohn was prisoneer,
In Inglond aftir abood ful many a yeer,
Set aftirward onto ful gret raunsoun;
The worthi slay[e]n on the Frenssh partie.
The same tyme in Brutis Albioun
Ther floured in soth noblesse of cheualrie,
Hihe prowesse and prudent pollicie;
Mars and Mercurie aboue ech nacioun
Gouerned that tyme Brutis Albioun.
The worthi slay[e]n on the Frenssh partie.
The same tyme in Brutis Albioun
Ther floured in soth noblesse of cheualrie,
Hihe prowesse and prudent pollicie;
Mars and Mercurie aboue ech nacioun
Gouerned that tyme Brutis Albioun.
Mars for knihthod, ther patroun in bataille,
And Mynerua gaff hem influence,
Meynt with the brihtnesse of shyning plate & maile,
To floure in clergie and in hih prudence,
That Prince Edward be marcial violence,
That day on lyue oon the beste kniht,
Brouht hom King Iohn, maugre al his miht.
And Mynerua gaff hem influence,
Meynt with the brihtnesse of shyning plate & maile,
To floure in clergie and in hih prudence,
That Prince Edward be marcial violence,
That day on lyue oon the beste kniht,
Brouht hom King Iohn, maugre al his miht.
Thouh Bochas yaff hym fauour bi langage,
His herte enclyned onto that partie,
Which onto hym was but smal auauntage:
Woord is but wynd brouht in be envie.
For to hyndre the famous cheualrie
Of Inglissh-men, ful narwe he gan hym thinke,
Lefft spere and sheeld[e], fauht with penne & inke.
His herte enclyned onto that partie,
Which onto hym was but smal auauntage:
Woord is but wynd brouht in be envie.
For to hyndre the famous cheualrie
Of Inglissh-men, ful narwe he gan hym thinke,
Lefft spere and sheeld[e], fauht with penne & inke.
Thouh seide Bochas floured in poetrie,
His parcial writyng gaf no mortal wounde;
Kauht a quarel in his malencolie,
Which to his shame did aftirward rebounde,
In conclusioun, lik as it was founde,
Ageyn King Iohn a quarell gan to make,
Cause that he wolde of Inglissh-men be take.
His parcial writyng gaf no mortal wounde;
Kauht a quarel in his malencolie,
Which to his shame did aftirward rebounde,
In conclusioun, lik as it was founde,
Ageyn King Iohn a quarell gan to make,
Cause that he wolde of Inglissh-men be take.
Heeld hem but smal of reputacioun
In his report, men may his writing see;
His fantasie nor his oppynioun
Stood in that caas of non auctorite:
Ther kyng was take; ther knihtis dide flee;
Wher was Bochas to helpe at such a neede?
Sauff with his penne he made no man to bleede.
In his report, men may his writing see;
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Stood in that caas of non auctorite:
Ther kyng was take; ther knihtis dide flee;
Wher was Bochas to helpe at such a neede?
Sauff with his penne he made no man to bleede.
Of rihtwisnesse euery cronicleer
Sholde in his writyng make non excepcioun;
Indifferentli conueie his mateere;
Nat be parcial of non affeccioun,
But yiue the thank of marcial guerdoun,
His stile in ordre so egali obserued,
To euery parti as thei haue disserued.
Sholde in his writyng make non excepcioun;
Indifferentli conueie his mateere;
Nat be parcial of non affeccioun,
But yiue the thank of marcial guerdoun,
His stile in ordre so egali obserued,
To euery parti as thei haue disserued.
Laude of Kyng Iohn was that he abood,
In that he quit hym lik a manli kniht;
His lordes slay[e]n; somme awey thei rood;
Most of his meyne took hem to the fliht.
This iourne take for Kyng Edwardis riht;
The feeld I-wonne; hath this in memorie:
Treuthis title hath gladli the victorie.
In that he quit hym lik a manli kniht;
His lordes slay[e]n; somme awey thei rood;
Most of his meyne took hem to the fliht.
This iourne take for Kyng Edwardis riht;
The feeld I-wonne; hath this in memorie:
Treuthis title hath gladli the victorie.
Of Kyng Iohn what sholde I write more?
Brouht to this lond with othir prisoneeris,
Vpon which the rewm compleyned sore.
Bi rehersaile of old cronicleeris,
Deied in Inglond; withynne a fewe yeeris
Lad hom ageyn; afftir ther writyngis,
Lyþ at Seyn[t] Denys with othir worthi kingis.
Brouht to this lond with othir prisoneeris,
Vpon which the rewm compleyned sore.
Bi rehersaile of old cronicleeris,
Deied in Inglond; withynne a fewe yeeris
Lad hom ageyn; afftir ther writyngis,
Lyþ at Seyn[t] Denys with othir worthi kingis.
| Lydgate's Fall of Princes | |