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 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.] |
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 | Lydgate's Fall of Princes |  |
118
[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.]
Athenes whilom, whan it was in his floures,
Was callid norice of philisophres wise,
Princesse off poetis & expert oratoures,
Sonne off all sciences, as clerkis can deuise,
Whens al cunnyng most cleerli dede arise,
Named off Grece the lanterne and the liht,
Which thoruh al erthe shadde his beemys briht.
Was callid norice of philisophres wise,
Princesse off poetis & expert oratoures,
Sonne off all sciences, as clerkis can deuise,
Whens al cunnyng most cleerli dede arise,
Named off Grece the lanterne and the liht,
Which thoruh al erthe shadde his beemys briht.
With noble titles, which been out off noumbre,
In eueri coost his renoun dede shyne,
The fame theroff was clipsed with non oumbre,
All other scooles it dede so enlumyne;
For in that cite, pleynli to termyne,
Off the seuene artis, as doun from on hedspryng,
Ther ran out ryuers and stremys off al cunnyng.
In eueri coost his renoun dede shyne,
The fame theroff was clipsed with non oumbre,
All other scooles it dede so enlumyne;
For in that cite, pleynli to termyne,
Off the seuene artis, as doun from on hedspryng,
Ther ran out ryuers and stremys off al cunnyng.
These sciences were callid liberall,
Onli off fredam, fraunchise and liberte;
For off a stok that were preued thrall,
Ther sholde no braunche studie in that cite,
But thilke blood that were founde fre,
Bothe be discent & lyneal hih noblesse,
Ther to scoleie sholde haue interesse.
Onli off fredam, fraunchise and liberte;
For off a stok that were preued thrall,
Ther sholde no braunche studie in that cite,
But thilke blood that were founde fre,
Bothe be discent & lyneal hih noblesse,
Ther to scoleie sholde haue interesse.
This cite was sacrid to Mynerue,
For ther wisdam and ther sapience;
Off Mercurie the feestis thei obserue,
For rethorik and for eloquence;
And myhti Mars gaff hem influence
With glade aspectis, ther parti to a-mende,
Noblesse off knyhthod ther clergie to diffende.
For ther wisdam and ther sapience;
Off Mercurie the feestis thei obserue,
For rethorik and for eloquence;
And myhti Mars gaff hem influence
With glade aspectis, ther parti to a-mende,
Noblesse off knyhthod ther clergie to diffende.
This toun was nobleied be title of other thynges,
And most glorious reknyd in that age
Be successioun off dukes and off kynges,
A-mong[es] which duk Theseus bi lynage,
Sone off Egistus, ful fressh off his corage,
Excellyng alle of prudence & manheede
That euer dede the crowne ther posseede.
And most glorious reknyd in that age
Be successioun off dukes and off kynges,
119
Sone off Egistus, ful fressh off his corage,
Excellyng alle of prudence & manheede
That euer dede the crowne ther posseede.
For to that cite, thoruh his hih noblesse,
In ther diffencis such trust, such [af]fiaunce
He gaff to hem bi his expert prowesse,
Off his triumphes so gret habundaunce,
And speciali ther renoun to auaunce,
He made hem fre ther truage for to lete
Ageyn Mynos the myhti kyng off Crete.
In ther diffencis such trust, such [af]fiaunce
He gaff to hem bi his expert prowesse,
Off his triumphes so gret habundaunce,
And speciali ther renoun to auaunce,
He made hem fre ther truage for to lete
Ageyn Mynos the myhti kyng off Crete.
For bi his force, the story is weel kouth,
Them to fraunchise and al that regioun,
The Mynotaur he slouh in tendre youth;
And afftirward he off deuocioun,
Taquite hymsilff[e] lik a champioun,
Theroff made solempne sacrefise
To Iubiter in most humble wise;
Them to fraunchise and al that regioun,
The Mynotaur he slouh in tendre youth;
And afftirward he off deuocioun,
Taquite hymsilff[e] lik a champioun,
Theroff made solempne sacrefise
To Iubiter in most humble wise;
And in a theatre callid Maratoun,
Duk Theseus hadde this victorie.
Afftir he wente to Colchos with Iasoun,
Cheeff off counseil, as makid is memorie,
And bi processe to augmente his glorie,
With Hercules his brother to conveie,
Geyn Amazones he wente to werreie,—
Duk Theseus hadde this victorie.
Afftir he wente to Colchos with Iasoun,
Cheeff off counseil, as makid is memorie,
And bi processe to augmente his glorie,
With Hercules his brother to conveie,
Geyn Amazones he wente to werreie,—
Conquered hem, his manhod was weel seene,
His force, his noblesse in that mortal stryff.
And afftir that, Ypolita the queene
This Theseus took onto his wiff.
And for his brother he list iuparte his liff,
Duk Pirotheus, whan he dede vndirtake
The centaures to outraie for his sake.
His force, his noblesse in that mortal stryff.
And afftir that, Ypolita the queene
This Theseus took onto his wiff.
And for his brother he list iuparte his liff,
Duk Pirotheus, whan he dede vndirtake
The centaures to outraie for his sake.
This centaures poetis specefie,
And Seruyus maketh mencioun,
How thei were whilom engendrid on a skie,
Whan first ther fadir, callid Yrion,
Was enamourid, ful many day agon,
Vpon Iuno, because she was so fair,
Gouerneresse and goddesse off the hair.
And Seruyus maketh mencioun,
How thei were whilom engendrid on a skie,
Whan first ther fadir, callid Yrion,
Was enamourid, ful many day agon,
120
Gouerneresse and goddesse off the hair.
This Yrion was hir secretarie,
And for hir fairnesse & excellent beute,
Loued hir ful hote, al-be she was contrarie
To his desir, in Bochas ye may see.
Hym to delude, he writith, how that she
Hirsilff transfourmyd, as she [that] myhte & koude,
Into the liknesse off an heuenli cloude,
And for hir fairnesse & excellent beute,
Loued hir ful hote, al-be she was contrarie
To his desir, in Bochas ye may see.
Hym to delude, he writith, how that she
Hirsilff transfourmyd, as she [that] myhte & koude,
Into the liknesse off an heuenli cloude,
This Yrion pleynli supposyng
It was hirsilff, and euene thus he wrouhte,
The cloude enbracyng, withoute mor tarieng,—
Off his foli the goddesse there he souhte;
And with ther medlyng atwen hem foorth thei brouhte
The centauris, these beestis merueilous,
Which off nature be founde monstruous.
It was hirsilff, and euene thus he wrouhte,
The cloude enbracyng, withoute mor tarieng,—
Off his foli the goddesse there he souhte;
And with ther medlyng atwen hem foorth thei brouhte
The centauris, these beestis merueilous,
Which off nature be founde monstruous.
Halff man, halff hors, [de]partid thus on tweyne,
And wonderful bi ther descripcioun,
Off fals[e] malice dede hemselff ordeyne
On Pirotheus to make invasioun,
And hym to putte out off possessioun
Off his wiff, callid Ypodamen,
And hir to rauysshe, maugre all his men.
And wonderful bi ther descripcioun,
Off fals[e] malice dede hemselff ordeyne
On Pirotheus to make invasioun,
And hym to putte out off possessioun
Off his wiff, callid Ypodamen,
And hir to rauysshe, maugre all his men.
Ther were off hem an hundred [as] in noumbre,
Swifft as the wynd in ther cours rennyng,
Which off malice cast hem to encoumbre
Duk Pirotheus the day off his weddyng,
And to rauysshe his wiff at ther comyng,
Yiff for his parti ther were no diffence
Ageyn ther power to make resistence.
Swifft as the wynd in ther cours rennyng,
Which off malice cast hem to encoumbre
Duk Pirotheus the day off his weddyng,
And to rauysshe his wiff at ther comyng,
Yiff for his parti ther were no diffence
Ageyn ther power to make resistence.
But Theseus list nat to delaie
Pirotheus his brother to diffende.
First the centaures he knyhtli dede outraie
So mortalli, thei durste hym nat offende;
Afftir this conquest to helle thei descende,
Duk Pirothe and worthi Theseus,
Maugre the daunger off cruel Cerberus.
Pirotheus his brother to diffende.
First the centaures he knyhtli dede outraie
So mortalli, thei durste hym nat offende;
Afftir this conquest to helle thei descende,
121
Maugre the daunger off cruel Cerberus.
There thei rauysshe in ther mortal teene,
Thoruh ther knyhthod, yiff ye list to lere,
Despiht off Pluto, Proserpyna the queene,
Which off Iubiter was the douhter deere.
And Pirotheus fond first the manere
Off wilful force, thoruh his hih renoun,
Rewmys to conquere and holde possessioun.
Thoruh ther knyhthod, yiff ye list to lere,
Despiht off Pluto, Proserpyna the queene,
Which off Iubiter was the douhter deere.
And Pirotheus fond first the manere
Off wilful force, thoruh his hih renoun,
Rewmys to conquere and holde possessioun.
But bi writyng sothli off Ouyde,
He pleynli tellith how duk Theseus
Arested was in hell, and muste abide,
Bi the force off cruel Cerberus;
And Pluto was to hym contrarious,
Til Pirotheus, to fynden a reles,
The cas declared onto Hercules.
He pleynli tellith how duk Theseus
Arested was in hell, and muste abide,
Bi the force off cruel Cerberus;
And Pluto was to hym contrarious,
Til Pirotheus, to fynden a reles,
The cas declared onto Hercules.
Which off his knyhthod a remedi fond,
To helpe his freend [he] dede his besi peyne;
First bi his prowesse Cerberus he bond
At helle gatis with a treble cheyne,
And off his manhod he dede so ordeyne,
Duk Theseus from daunger to discharge,
Maugre Pluto for to gon at large.
To helpe his freend [he] dede his besi peyne;
First bi his prowesse Cerberus he bond
At helle gatis with a treble cheyne,
And off his manhod he dede so ordeyne,
Duk Theseus from daunger to discharge,
Maugre Pluto for to gon at large.
Thei were in armys brethre bothe tweyne,
Louede as brethre bothe in werre and pes,
That nouther koude onto other feyne,
Ther liff to iuparte & putte hemsilff in pres.
And bothe as brethre wer callid Hercules,
To signefie, poetis can weel tell,
This name in conquest all other doth excell.
Louede as brethre bothe in werre and pes,
That nouther koude onto other feyne,
Ther liff to iuparte & putte hemsilff in pres.
And bothe as brethre wer callid Hercules,
To signefie, poetis can weel tell,
This name in conquest all other doth excell.
Bi old[e] tyme thei that were pereles
For ther noblesse in dyuers regiouns,
All thei for manhod wer namyd Hercules,
Such as were noised for famous champiouns,
Tigres to daunte, boores and leouns,
And renommed among hem euerichon,
Bookis afferme, that Theseus was on.
For ther noblesse in dyuers regiouns,
All thei for manhod wer namyd Hercules,
Such as were noised for famous champiouns,
Tigres to daunte, boores and leouns,
And renommed among hem euerichon,
Bookis afferme, that Theseus was on.
122
First, as I saide, bi his knyhtli trauaile,
Whan Athenes stood in dyuysioun
A-mong hemsilff bi werre and bi bataile,
Bi his wisdam and his discrecioun,
He sette accord withynne that noble toun:
Them that were exilid & stood in nouncerteyn,
He off his knyhthod made hem resorte ageyn;
Whan Athenes stood in dyuysioun
A-mong hemsilff bi werre and bi bataile,
Bi his wisdam and his discrecioun,
He sette accord withynne that noble toun:
Them that were exilid & stood in nouncerteyn,
He off his knyhthod made hem resorte ageyn;
He gaff hem lawes wherbi thei sholde hem gie,
Noble statutis foundid on resoun,
Sette among hem so prudent policie,
In ther lyuyng that no discencioun
Sholde arise bi non occasioun
A-mong hemsilff, in hih or low estat,
Prouydyng euere that there were no debat.
Noble statutis foundid on resoun,
Sette among hem so prudent policie,
In ther lyuyng that no discencioun
Sholde arise bi non occasioun
A-mong hemsilff, in hih or low estat,
Prouydyng euere that there were no debat.
Thus gan the cite encrece and multeplie,
To wexe famous off wisdam and richesse;
Ther sprang the welle first off philosophie;
Ther first off knyhthod ros the hih noblesse,
Bi Theseus, Bochas bereth witnesse:
Thus thynges too, lik as it is founde,
Clergie and knyhthod dede there habounde.
To wexe famous off wisdam and richesse;
Ther sprang the welle first off philosophie;
Ther first off knyhthod ros the hih noblesse,
Bi Theseus, Bochas bereth witnesse:
Thus thynges too, lik as it is founde,
Clergie and knyhthod dede there habounde.
And for to sette the cite in quieete,
He made pes thoruh al that regioun;
And off knyhthod he manli dede meete
The cruel tiraunt that callid was Creoun,
Maugre hym made restitucioun
Off lordis bonys, that were at Thebes slayn,
To the ladies, wheroff thei were ful fayn.
He made pes thoruh al that regioun;
And off knyhthod he manli dede meete
The cruel tiraunt that callid was Creoun,
Maugre hym made restitucioun
Off lordis bonys, that were at Thebes slayn,
To the ladies, wheroff thei were ful fayn.
Thus thoruh Grece abrod his renoun spradde;
His knyhtli fame gan gretli multeplie,
And longe in ioie thus his liff he ladde,
Whil that Fortune list hym magnefie:
But ay hir gladnesse is meynt with sum envie,
For she, froward, list no mor soiourne
With Theseus, but gan hir face tourne
His knyhtli fame gan gretli multeplie,
And longe in ioie thus his liff he ladde,
Whil that Fortune list hym magnefie:
But ay hir gladnesse is meynt with sum envie,
For she, froward, list no mor soiourne
With Theseus, but gan hir face tourne
123
Awey from hym, wex peruers and froward,
Off his glorie ongoodli gan to dulle,
Doun from hir wheel she made [him] go bakward,
Off his good fame she gan the fethres pulle;
Whan his noblesse was hiest at the fulle—
I meene the fulle off his felicite—
Ther folwed an ebbe off gret aduersite.
Off his glorie ongoodli gan to dulle,
Doun from hir wheel she made [him] go bakward,
Off his good fame she gan the fethres pulle;
Whan his noblesse was hiest at the fulle—
I meene the fulle off his felicite—
Ther folwed an ebbe off gret aduersite.
And, morouer, hir frowardli to quite,
His onhappis rehersyng on bi on,
On the firste, as Bochas list endite,
Was whan he lay in Crete among his fon,
And out off prisoun sholde into Grece gon,
Repeiryng homward & hymsilff withdrawe,
The Mynotaur whan he hadde slawe.
His onhappis rehersyng on bi on,
On the firste, as Bochas list endite,
Was whan he lay in Crete among his fon,
And out off prisoun sholde into Grece gon,
Repeiryng homward & hymsilff withdrawe,
The Mynotaur whan he hadde slawe.
The firste emprise that he vndirtook,
Was whan he scaped thymportable peyne
Off Mynotaurus, lik as seith my book,
And with hym ladde the kyngis douhtren tweyne,
That he off malice falsli list disdeyne
Geyn Adriane, which that dede hym saue
From the deth, whan he lay in the caue.
Was whan he scaped thymportable peyne
Off Mynotaurus, lik as seith my book,
And with hym ladde the kyngis douhtren tweyne,
That he off malice falsli list disdeyne
Geyn Adriane, which that dede hym saue
From the deth, whan he lay in the caue.
Sholde ha be slayn, hadde nat hir socour be,—
In his repair he took theroff non heed;
He leffte hir sool in gret aduersite
Withynne an yle, in myscheeff, sorwe & dreed.
And fair[e] Phedra with hym he dede leed,
Weddid hir, lik a forswore man:
Thus with ontrouthe his myscheeff first began.
In his repair he took theroff non heed;
He leffte hir sool in gret aduersite
Withynne an yle, in myscheeff, sorwe & dreed.
And fair[e] Phedra with hym he dede leed,
Weddid hir, lik a forswore man:
Thus with ontrouthe his myscheeff first began.
How Phedra quit hir,—the story is weel knowe—
In his absence, Bochas writith thus,
Whan that she, withynne a litil throwe,
Loued ageyn kynde his sone Ypolitus;
But he to hire was contrarious,
Nolde [not] assente to so foul a deede;
For shame he fledde, & parcel eek for dreede,
In his absence, Bochas writith thus,
Whan that she, withynne a litil throwe,
Loued ageyn kynde his sone Ypolitus;
But he to hire was contrarious,
124
For shame he fledde, & parcel eek for dreede,
To his fader for she hym dede accuse,
As ye toforn ha[ue] the story sayn.
And for he dede hir cumpany refuse,
He wente his way & cam neuer agayn;
For ye haue herd[e] how that he was slayn
Withynne a char, thoruh his vnhappi chaunce,
And how Phedra throuh myscheeff & vengaunce
As ye toforn ha[ue] the story sayn.
And for he dede hir cumpany refuse,
He wente his way & cam neuer agayn;
For ye haue herd[e] how that he was slayn
Withynne a char, thoruh his vnhappi chaunce,
And how Phedra throuh myscheeff & vengaunce
Slouh hirselff, ageyn al womanheed—
Heer in this book toforn as I you tolde.
Of which[e] thyng, whan Theseus took heed,
Thouhte it was vengaunce for his offencis olde;
For he nat quit hym lik as he was holde
To Adriane, which sholde ha been his wiff,
Bi whos socour he scaped with the liff.
Heer in this book toforn as I you tolde.
Of which[e] thyng, whan Theseus took heed,
Thouhte it was vengaunce for his offencis olde;
For he nat quit hym lik as he was holde
To Adriane, which sholde ha been his wiff,
Bi whos socour he scaped with the liff.
This infortune and this vnhappi chaunce
Was to his noblesse ful contrarious.
The deth also was to hym a vengaunce
Off his sone callid Ypolitus,
For sorwe off whom, this duk Theseus
With salte teris sore gan compleyne
At the exequies off these ilke tweyne.
Was to his noblesse ful contrarious.
The deth also was to hym a vengaunce
Off his sone callid Ypolitus,
For sorwe off whom, this duk Theseus
With salte teris sore gan compleyne
At the exequies off these ilke tweyne.
I trowe also it dede hym sore greue,
Duk Pirotheus whan he sauh li ded,
Slayn with a beeste, & myht[e] nat releue,—
Kyng Orchus hound, which hadde a treble hed,
Whos teth horrible off his blood were red.
Which infortunye, whan he gan beholde,
Onto the deth he felte his herte colde.
Duk Pirotheus whan he sauh li ded,
Slayn with a beeste, & myht[e] nat releue,—
Kyng Orchus hound, which hadde a treble hed,
Whos teth horrible off his blood were red.
Which infortunye, whan he gan beholde,
Onto the deth he felte his herte colde.
And for to rekne the grete wrechidnessis,
Thunhappi chaunces that fill hym in his liff,
Amongis alle his other gret distressis,
Was non so mortal nor so ful off striff
As whan that he gaff credence to his wiff,
Phedra callid, which off entencioun
Compassid ontreuli an accusacioun
Thunhappi chaunces that fill hym in his liff,
Amongis alle his other gret distressis,
Was non so mortal nor so ful off striff
As whan that he gaff credence to his wiff,
125
Compassid ontreuli an accusacioun
Vpon Ypolitus, off hatreed and envie,
Because he nolde do so gret offence
As for tassente to hir lecherie;
Therfore off deth he felte the violence.
And for his fader to soone gaff credence,
Bochas forbit husbondis al ther lyues,
Withoute preeff, nat leeue to soone her wyues,
Because he nolde do so gret offence
As for tassente to hir lecherie;
Therfore off deth he felte the violence.
And for his fader to soone gaff credence,
Bochas forbit husbondis al ther lyues,
Withoute preeff, nat leeue to soone her wyues,
Nor be [to] hasti talis for to leeue
Off flaterers in chaumbre nor at table;
Forgers of lesyngis, myn auctour doth weel preeue,
Tabide with lordis that thei be nat able.
Heeron he maketh a chapitle ful notable,
And off his writyng, this was the cause whi:
That pryncis sholde examyne ech parti,
Off flaterers in chaumbre nor at table;
Forgers of lesyngis, myn auctour doth weel preeue,
Tabide with lordis that thei be nat able.
Heeron he maketh a chapitle ful notable,
And off his writyng, this was the cause whi:
That pryncis sholde examyne ech parti,
Off wisdam also and off discrecioun,
Withoute a preeff nat be parciall;
For to a prynce it is confusioun,
Yiff atween parties he be nat founde egall,
Causid many on for to haue a fall;
God suffred such nat longe to contune,
Withdrouh ther grace & hyndred ther fortune.
Withoute a preeff nat be parciall;
For to a prynce it is confusioun,
Yiff atween parties he be nat founde egall,
Causid many on for to haue a fall;
God suffred such nat longe to contune,
Withdrouh ther grace & hyndred ther fortune.
Thus Theseus for his hastynesse,
His happ, his grace discrecid day be day,
The fame appallid off his worthynesse,
And froward Fortune in a-wait eek lay,
For his diffautis to hyndre hym yiff she may;
Caste she wolde his noblesse disauaunce.
And thanne his kyngdam bi disobeisaunce
His happ, his grace discrecid day be day,
The fame appallid off his worthynesse,
And froward Fortune in a-wait eek lay,
For his diffautis to hyndre hym yiff she may;
Caste she wolde his noblesse disauaunce.
And thanne his kyngdam bi disobeisaunce
From hym withdrouh honour and reuerence,
Ful frowardli thoruh al his regioun.
Thei off Athenys, bi cruel violence,
Fill ageyn hym in rebellioun,
That he was fayn to fleen out off the toun:
Thus hath Fortune dirked the brihtnesse
Off al his nobley, and cast hym in distresse.
Ful frowardli thoruh al his regioun.
Thei off Athenys, bi cruel violence,
Fill ageyn hym in rebellioun,
That he was fayn to fleen out off the toun:
126
Off al his nobley, and cast hym in distresse.
This was the eende bi gret contrariouste
Off Theseus, afftir his daies glade,
Whan the fressh floures off old felicite,
Fortune aduerse made hem for to fade;
Ech thyng mut bowwe whan it is ouer-lade,
Worshepis & honouris, whan thei brihtest shyne,
With vnwar chaunges than rathest doun declyne.
Off Theseus, afftir his daies glade,
Whan the fressh floures off old felicite,
Fortune aduerse made hem for to fade;
Ech thyng mut bowwe whan it is ouer-lade,
Worshepis & honouris, whan thei brihtest shyne,
With vnwar chaunges than rathest doun declyne.
| Lydgate's Fall of Princes | |