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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[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.] |
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 | Lydgate's Fall of Princes |  |
1013
[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.]
Ryght reuerent Prynce, with support of your grace,
By your comaundement as I vndirtook
With dredful herte, pale of cheer and face,
I haue a-complysshed translacioun of your book;
In which labour myn hand ful offte quook,
My penne also troublyd with ygnoraunce
Lyst myn empryse wer nat to your plesaunce.
By your comaundement as I vndirtook
With dredful herte, pale of cheer and face,
I haue a-complysshed translacioun of your book;
In which labour myn hand ful offte quook,
My penne also troublyd with ygnoraunce
Lyst myn empryse wer nat to your plesaunce.
Off ryght considred, of trouthe and equite,
I nat expert nor stuffyd with language,
Seyn howh that Ynglyssh in ryme hath skarsete,
How I also was ronne ferre in age,
Nat quyk, but rude and dul of my corage,
Off no presumpcioun, but atwix hope and drede
To obeye your byddyng took on me to procede.
I nat expert nor stuffyd with language,
Seyn howh that Ynglyssh in ryme hath skarsete,
How I also was ronne ferre in age,
Nat quyk, but rude and dul of my corage,
Off no presumpcioun, but atwix hope and drede
To obeye your byddyng took on me to procede.
Hope with glad chere gaff me greet counfort,
Off trust I shulde agreen your noblesse;
But tho cam dreed, contraryous of repoort,
Gan manace and frowardly expresse,
Geyn me alleggyng vnkonnyng and dulnesse,—
Seyde for his part, by argumentys stronge,
I was not able for to vndirfonge
Off trust I shulde agreen your noblesse;
But tho cam dreed, contraryous of repoort,
Gan manace and frowardly expresse,
Geyn me alleggyng vnkonnyng and dulnesse,—
Seyde for his part, by argumentys stronge,
I was not able for to vndirfonge
This seid empryse to performe & contvne;
The profunde processe was so poetical,
Entirmedlyd with chaunges of fortune
And straunge materys that were hystoryal,
Towchyng estatys that hadde a sodeyn fal;
The Frenssh vnkouth compendyously compyled,
To which language my tounge was nat affyled.
The profunde processe was so poetical,
Entirmedlyd with chaunges of fortune
And straunge materys that were hystoryal,
Towchyng estatys that hadde a sodeyn fal;
The Frenssh vnkouth compendyously compyled,
To which language my tounge was nat affyled.
Dreed and vnkonnyng beeyng of assent
Made ageyn me a daungerous obstacle,
For tacomplysshe your comaundement,
Stondyng fer of fro Tullyvs habitacle:
Myn eyen mystyd, and dirked my spectacle,
Tyl hope ageyn gan make[n] his repeyr;
Me to supporte he putte away dyspeyr.
Made ageyn me a daungerous obstacle,
For tacomplysshe your comaundement,
Stondyng fer of fro Tullyvs habitacle:
1014
Tyl hope ageyn gan make[n] his repeyr;
Me to supporte he putte away dyspeyr.
Yit of Bachus seryd wer the vynes,
Off Mygdas touch the aureat lycour,
And of Iuno wellys crystallynes
Wer dryed vp; ther fond I no favour:
A thrustlewh accesse cause of my langour,
Noon egal peys, herte hevy and purs lyght,
Which causith poetys syhen at mydnyght.
Off Mygdas touch the aureat lycour,
And of Iuno wellys crystallynes
Wer dryed vp; ther fond I no favour:
A thrustlewh accesse cause of my langour,
Noon egal peys, herte hevy and purs lyght,
Which causith poetys syhen at mydnyght.
Trustyng ageynward your liberal largesse,
Off this cotidien shal relevyn me,
Hope hath brought tydyng to recure myn accesse;
Afftir this ebbe of froward skarsete
Shal folwe a spryng flood of gracious plente,
To wasshe a-way be plentevous inffluence
Al ground ebbys of constreyned indigence.
Off this cotidien shal relevyn me,
Hope hath brought tydyng to recure myn accesse;
Afftir this ebbe of froward skarsete
Shal folwe a spryng flood of gracious plente,
To wasshe a-way be plentevous inffluence
Al ground ebbys of constreyned indigence.
With hope also cam humble affeccioun,
Made a promys vn-to my dul corage,
Seyde, ye, my lord, shulde haue compassyoun,
Off royal pite supporte me in myn age;
Wherof I caught a maner avauntage,
Thoughte I wolde rather condyscende
To your desir than your byddyng offende.
Made a promys vn-to my dul corage,
Seyde, ye, my lord, shulde haue compassyoun,
Off royal pite supporte me in myn age;
Wherof I caught a maner avauntage,
Thoughte I wolde rather condyscende
To your desir than your byddyng offende.
Tobeye your precept I plukkyd vp myn herte,
Caste in my conceyt though konnyng did[e] faylle;
By good avys I did also adverte,
How in suych caas good wyl myghte moost prevaylle:
Wyl hath more myght than force hath in bataylle;
And with that thought inwardly supprysed,
For to procede I was fully avysed.
Caste in my conceyt though konnyng did[e] faylle;
By good avys I did also adverte,
How in suych caas good wyl myghte moost prevaylle:
Wyl hath more myght than force hath in bataylle;
And with that thought inwardly supprysed,
For to procede I was fully avysed.
But for exskus first of my rudnesse,
To suych as lyst haue of this book dissdeyn,
That ye, my lord, of mercyful goodnesse,
Whan this translacioun ye haue rad and seyn,
Though it be spoke in wordys bare and pleyn,
I axe mercy for my poore hertys ese,
To me best guerdoun, so that it may yow plese.
To suych as lyst haue of this book dissdeyn,
That ye, my lord, of mercyful goodnesse,
Whan this translacioun ye haue rad and seyn,
Though it be spoke in wordys bare and pleyn,
I axe mercy for my poore hertys ese,
To me best guerdoun, so that it may yow plese.
1015
Yiff ought be wryte or seid to your plesaunce,
The thank be yove to your royal noblesse;
And wher I faylle, atwyteth ygnoraunce,
Al the diffautys aret to my rudnesse,
With this annexyd, requeryng of humblesse,
That alle thoo which shal this makyng rede,
For to correcte wher-as they se nede.
The thank be yove to your royal noblesse;
And wher I faylle, atwyteth ygnoraunce,
Al the diffautys aret to my rudnesse,
With this annexyd, requeryng of humblesse,
That alle thoo which shal this makyng rede,
For to correcte wher-as they se nede.
So it be doon with supportacioun
Off ther goodnesse to be favourable,
Nat to pynche of indignacioun,
Which wer to me verray importable.
And ye, my lord, for to be mercyable,
Off your hyh grace my good wyl to considre,
An hors with foure feet may stoumble among and slydre.
Off ther goodnesse to be favourable,
Nat to pynche of indignacioun,
Which wer to me verray importable.
And ye, my lord, for to be mercyable,
Off your hyh grace my good wyl to considre,
An hors with foure feet may stoumble among and slydre.
And semblably though I goo nat vp-ryght,
But stowpe and halte for lak of elloquence,
Though Omerus hold nat the torche lyght
To forthre my penne with colours of cadence,
Nor moral Senek, moost sad of his sentence,
Gaff me no part of his moralytees,
Therfore I seye, thus knelyng on my knees:
But stowpe and halte for lak of elloquence,
Though Omerus hold nat the torche lyght
To forthre my penne with colours of cadence,
Nor moral Senek, moost sad of his sentence,
Gaff me no part of his moralytees,
Therfore I seye, thus knelyng on my knees:
To alle thoo that shal this book be-holde,
I them be-seke to haue compassyoun,
And ther-with-al I prey hem that they wolde
Favoure the metre and do correccyoun;
Off gold nor asewr I hadde no foysoun,
Nor othir colours this processe tenlvmyne,
Sauff whyte and blak; and they but dully shyne.
I them be-seke to haue compassyoun,
And ther-with-al I prey hem that they wolde
Favoure the metre and do correccyoun;
Off gold nor asewr I hadde no foysoun,
Nor othir colours this processe tenlvmyne,
Sauff whyte and blak; and they but dully shyne.
I nevir was aqueynted with Virgyle,
Nor with [the] sugryd dytees of Omer,
Nor Dares Frygius with his goldene style,
Nor with Ovyde, in poetrye moost entieer,
Nor with the souereyn balladys of Chauceer,
Which among alle that euere wer rad or songe,
Excellyd al othir in our Englyssh tounge.
Nor with [the] sugryd dytees of Omer,
Nor Dares Frygius with his goldene style,
Nor with Ovyde, in poetrye moost entieer,
Nor with the souereyn balladys of Chauceer,
Which among alle that euere wer rad or songe,
Excellyd al othir in our Englyssh tounge.
I can nat been a iuge in this mateer,
As I conceyve folwyng my fantasye,
In moral mateer ful notable was Goweer,
And so was Stroode in his philosophye,
In parfyt lyvyng, which passith poysye,
Richard Hermyte, contemplatyff of sentence,
Drowh in Ynglyssh the Prykke of Conscience.
As I conceyve folwyng my fantasye,
In moral mateer ful notable was Goweer,
1016
In parfyt lyvyng, which passith poysye,
Richard Hermyte, contemplatyff of sentence,
Drowh in Ynglyssh the Prykke of Conscience.
As the gold-tressyd bryght[e] somyr sonne
Passith othir sterrys with his beemys clere,
And as Lvcyna chaseth skyes donne,
The frosty nyghtes whan Esperus doth appere,
Ryght so my mayster had[de] nevir pere,—
I mene Chauceer—in stooryes that he tolde;
And he also wrot tragedyes olde.
Passith othir sterrys with his beemys clere,
And as Lvcyna chaseth skyes donne,
The frosty nyghtes whan Esperus doth appere,
Ryght so my mayster had[de] nevir pere,—
I mene Chauceer—in stooryes that he tolde;
And he also wrot tragedyes olde.
The Fal of Prynces gan pitously compleyne,
As Petrark did, and also Iohn Bochas;
Laureat Fraunceys, poetys bothe tweyne,
Toold how prynces for ther greet trespace
Wer ovirthrowe, rehersyng al the caas,
As Chauceer did[e] in the Monkys Tale.
But I that stonde lowe doun in the vale,
As Petrark did, and also Iohn Bochas;
Laureat Fraunceys, poetys bothe tweyne,
Toold how prynces for ther greet trespace
Wer ovirthrowe, rehersyng al the caas,
As Chauceer did[e] in the Monkys Tale.
But I that stonde lowe doun in the vale,
So greet a book in Ynglyssh to translate,
Did it be constreynt and no presumpcioun.
Born in a vyllage which callyd is Lydgate,
Be old[e] tyme a famous castel toun;
In Danys tyme it was bete doun,
Tyme whan Seynt Edmond, martir, mayde and kyng,
Was slayn at Oxne, be recoord of wrytyng.
Did it be constreynt and no presumpcioun.
Born in a vyllage which callyd is Lydgate,
Be old[e] tyme a famous castel toun;
In Danys tyme it was bete doun,
Tyme whan Seynt Edmond, martir, mayde and kyng,
Was slayn at Oxne, be recoord of wrytyng.
I me excuse, now this book is I-doo,
How I was nevir yit at Cytheroun,
Nor on the mounteyn callyd Pernaso,
Wheer nyne musys haue ther mansyoun.
But to conclude myn entencioun,
I wyl procede forth with whyte and blak;
And where I faylle let Lydgate ber the lak.
How I was nevir yit at Cytheroun,
Nor on the mounteyn callyd Pernaso,
Wheer nyne musys haue ther mansyoun.
But to conclude myn entencioun,
I wyl procede forth with whyte and blak;
And where I faylle let Lydgate ber the lak.
Off this translacyoun considred the matere,
The processe is in party lamentable;
Wooful clausys of custom they requere,
No rethoryques nor florysshynges delyctable:
Lettrys of compleynt requere colour sable,
And tragedyes in especial
Be rad and songe at feestys funeral.
The processe is in party lamentable;
Wooful clausys of custom they requere,
No rethoryques nor florysshynges delyctable:
Lettrys of compleynt requere colour sable,
1017
Be rad and songe at feestys funeral.
This book remembryng of the sodeyn fallys
Off famous prynces and surquedous pryncessys,
That wer vnwarly cast from ther royal stallys,
Which wer in erthe worshepyd as goddessys,
Ynde stonys vpon ther goldene tressys,—
What was ther ende? Rede Bochas, ye shal se,
By fatal spynnyng of Parchas sustryn thre.
Off famous prynces and surquedous pryncessys,
That wer vnwarly cast from ther royal stallys,
Which wer in erthe worshepyd as goddessys,
Ynde stonys vpon ther goldene tressys,—
What was ther ende? Rede Bochas, ye shal se,
By fatal spynnyng of Parchas sustryn thre.
Off this matere ther be bookys nyne,
Alle of Fortunys transmutaciouns;
This blynde lady, how she made hem declyne
From ther moost famous exaltaciouns:
Somme ploungyd doun to the infernal dongouns,
With cruel Pluto depe doun in helle,
With Proserpyna perpetuelly to dwelle.
Alle of Fortunys transmutaciouns;
This blynde lady, how she made hem declyne
From ther moost famous exaltaciouns:
Somme ploungyd doun to the infernal dongouns,
With cruel Pluto depe doun in helle,
With Proserpyna perpetuelly to dwelle.
For ther demerytes and lakkyng of vertu,
That they lyst nat ther Souereyn Lord to knowe:
For whoo is rekkelees to serve our Lord Iesu,
Fortvnys wheel shal soone hym ovir-throwe,
Though Famys trompet of gold [a]lowde blowe
His victoryes, his marcial renouns,
Rad and remembryd in dyvers regiouns.
That they lyst nat ther Souereyn Lord to knowe:
For whoo is rekkelees to serve our Lord Iesu,
Fortvnys wheel shal soone hym ovir-throwe,
Though Famys trompet of gold [a]lowde blowe
His victoryes, his marcial renouns,
Rad and remembryd in dyvers regiouns.
Whoo knoweth nat God is falle fer in slouthe;
Be-war ye Prynces euere of thynges tweyne:
In euery quarel that your ground be trouthe;
Next in ordre, doth your besy peyne
To love Iesu, your Lord moost sovereyne,
Truste hym of herte, and he shal nat faylle
To be your socour in pees and in bataylle.
Be-war ye Prynces euere of thynges tweyne:
In euery quarel that your ground be trouthe;
Next in ordre, doth your besy peyne
To love Iesu, your Lord moost sovereyne,
Truste hym of herte, and he shal nat faylle
To be your socour in pees and in bataylle.
For lak of trust twyes I sey, allas,
And make her-oon an exclamacioun:
Alle the myschevys remembryd in Bochas,
Fro tyme of Crystes in-carnacioun,
Haue been for lakkyng of devocioun,
That ye Prynces, of wylful necligence,
Lyst nat to God do dewe reuerence.
And make her-oon an exclamacioun:
Alle the myschevys remembryd in Bochas,
Fro tyme of Crystes in-carnacioun,
Haue been for lakkyng of devocioun,
That ye Prynces, of wylful necligence,
Lyst nat to God do dewe reuerence.
1018
Dysdeyneth nat to haue in remembraunce,
Ye be no goddys, ye be but men mortal;
Stonde vndir daungeer of Fortunys chaunce,
More lyk to towmble and more neer to fal,
Than doth a beggere in this lyff mortal:
Off vertuous poore the fal is nat vnsoffte;
Moost grevous fal, of them that sitte aloffte.
Ye be no goddys, ye be but men mortal;
Stonde vndir daungeer of Fortunys chaunce,
More lyk to towmble and more neer to fal,
Than doth a beggere in this lyff mortal:
Off vertuous poore the fal is nat vnsoffte;
Moost grevous fal, of them that sitte aloffte.
Ye Prynces quake, stond not in suych[e] caas;
Yit whan deth comyth, ye can no bet socour
Than can the pore, record of Iohn Bochas;
Hath mynde heron and make yow a merour
Off suych as regnyd in glorye and [gret] honour,
As ryche Cyrus and Sardanapalle,
How fro the wheel of Fortune they wer falle.
Yit whan deth comyth, ye can no bet socour
Than can the pore, record of Iohn Bochas;
Hath mynde heron and make yow a merour
Off suych as regnyd in glorye and [gret] honour,
As ryche Cyrus and Sardanapalle,
How fro the wheel of Fortune they wer falle.
Set nat your trust, beth war of fals Fortune;
For al this book tretith of suych matere,
Gynneth his processe, and so forth doth contvne
Lamentable and doolful for to here,
How Adam first, with a ful hevy chere,
From a place moost souereyn of delys
Whylom departyd, out of Paradys,
For al this book tretith of suych matere,
Gynneth his processe, and so forth doth contvne
Lamentable and doolful for to here,
How Adam first, with a ful hevy chere,
From a place moost souereyn of delys
Whylom departyd, out of Paradys,
Cherubyn kepyng the gate of Paradys
With brennyng swerd that ther shulde entre noon.
This book conveyed by ful greet avys,
Ceryously from Adam to Kyng Iohn,
Regnyng in Fraunce; of whoom nat yoore agoon
I sawh remembryd the date of thylk[e] yeerys,
Whan he was take prysowneer at Peyterys,
With brennyng swerd that ther shulde entre noon.
This book conveyed by ful greet avys,
Ceryously from Adam to Kyng Iohn,
Regnyng in Fraunce; of whoom nat yoore agoon
I sawh remembryd the date of thylk[e] yeerys,
Whan he was take prysowneer at Peyterys,
A thousand toold by computacioun,
Thre hundryd ovir, fyffty and sex yeer,
Trewly reknyd fro the Incarnacioun,
Whan seid[e] Iohn was take prysowneer,
Toold and remembryd by the cronycleer.
As Adam was first that did[e] falle,
So in this book Kyng Iohn was last of alle.
Thre hundryd ovir, fyffty and sex yeer,
Trewly reknyd fro the Incarnacioun,
Whan seid[e] Iohn was take prysowneer,
Toold and remembryd by the cronycleer.
As Adam was first that did[e] falle,
So in this book Kyng Iohn was last of alle.
We hadde nevir stondyn in daungeer
Off worldly stryff nor perellys ful mortal,
Nor dreed of deth, nat in a thousand yeer,
Nor of Fortune that tournyth as a bal,
Yiff Adam hadde in Paradys had no fal;
Touch of an appyl and inobedyence,—
Cause that Fortune is had in suych reuerence.
Off worldly stryff nor perellys ful mortal,
1019
Nor of Fortune that tournyth as a bal,
Yiff Adam hadde in Paradys had no fal;
Touch of an appyl and inobedyence,—
Cause that Fortune is had in suych reuerence.
But for to telle and speke in wordys pleyn,
How Fortune kaught first an interesse
To be callyd, nat trewly but in veyn,
Off worldly peple a fals froward goddesse,—
This errour gan of bestial rudnesse,
Demyng them-sylff they wern assuryd wel,
Whan they sat hyh on hire vntrusty wheel.
How Fortune kaught first an interesse
To be callyd, nat trewly but in veyn,
Off worldly peple a fals froward goddesse,—
This errour gan of bestial rudnesse,
Demyng them-sylff they wern assuryd wel,
Whan they sat hyh on hire vntrusty wheel.
Rekne vp alle thoo that haue doon hire seruice
And folwyd on in ther oppynyoun,
Lyk as this book in ordre doth devyse;
Peyse in ballaunce: what was ther guerdoun?
A sodeyn reys, an vnwar toumblyng doun;
Yit, for al this, thorugh hire flaterye,
Al worldly peple doth hire magneffye!
And folwyd on in ther oppynyoun,
Lyk as this book in ordre doth devyse;
Peyse in ballaunce: what was ther guerdoun?
A sodeyn reys, an vnwar toumblyng doun;
Yit, for al this, thorugh hire flaterye,
Al worldly peple doth hire magneffye!
| Lydgate's Fall of Princes | |