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 processe, of Narcisus, Biblis, Mirra and of othir
ther onfortunys to Bochas compleynyng.] |
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| III. |
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| IV. |
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| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
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| IX. |
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 | Lydgate's Fall of Princes |  |
[A processe, of Narcisus, Biblis, Mirra and of othir ther onfortunys to Bochas compleynyng.]
Narcisus, Biblis & Mirra, alle thre
Tofor Bochas dede pitousli appeere,
Ther infortunyes, ther infelicite
To hym compleynyng with a dedli cheere.
And off ther comyng to telle the manere,
Narcisus first, with sorwe & dool atteynt,
Gan first off alle declaren his compleynt.
Tofor Bochas dede pitousli appeere,
Ther infortunyes, ther infelicite
To hym compleynyng with a dedli cheere.
And off ther comyng to telle the manere,
Narcisus first, with sorwe & dool atteynt,
Gan first off alle declaren his compleynt.
He was [the] sone off Cephesus the flood,
And his mooder callid Liriope,
And bi discent born off gentil blood,
Off creatures fairest on to see;
And, as I fynde, at his natyuite
Tiresias, be sperit off prophesie,
Touchyng his fate thus gan specefie:
And his mooder callid Liriope,
And bi discent born off gentil blood,
Off creatures fairest on to see;
And, as I fynde, at his natyuite
Tiresias, be sperit off prophesie,
Touchyng his fate thus gan specefie:
The goddis han prouydid hym a space
To lyue in erthe, and so longe endure
Til that he knowe & see his owne face;
And for his sake ful many creature,
Bi ordynaunce off God and off Nature,
Whan thei hym seen shal feelyn ful gret peyne,
Yiff thei in loue his grace may nat atteyne.
To lyue in erthe, and so longe endure
Til that he knowe & see his owne face;
And for his sake ful many creature,
Bi ordynaunce off God and off Nature,
Whan thei hym seen shal feelyn ful gret peyne,
Yiff thei in loue his grace may nat atteyne.
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But he shal be contrarie & daungerous,
And off his port ful off straungenesse,
And in his herte [riht] inli surquedous,
Bi thoccasioun off his natif fairnesse;
And, presumyng off his semlynesse,
Shal thynke no woman so fresh nor fair of face,
That able were to stonden in his grace.
And off his port ful off straungenesse,
And in his herte [riht] inli surquedous,
Bi thoccasioun off his natif fairnesse;
And, presumyng off his semlynesse,
Shal thynke no woman so fresh nor fair of face,
That able were to stonden in his grace.
And for thexcellence off his gret beute,
He hym purposid in his tendre age,
Neuer in his liff weddid for to be—
He thouhte hymsilff so fair off his visage.
For which he cast hym, throuh his gret outrage,
Ageyn all lustis off loue to disdeyne,
To hunte at beestis alone and be soleyne.
He hym purposid in his tendre age,
Neuer in his liff weddid for to be—
He thouhte hymsilff so fair off his visage.
For which he cast hym, throuh his gret outrage,
Ageyn all lustis off loue to disdeyne,
To hunte at beestis alone and be soleyne.
And in this while that he kepte hym so
In forestis and in wildirnesse,
A water goddesse, that callid was Echcho,
Loued hym ful hoote for his gret fairnesse;
And secreli dede hir besynesse
To folwe his steppis riht as any lyne,
To hir desirs to make hym to enclyne.
In forestis and in wildirnesse,
A water goddesse, that callid was Echcho,
Loued hym ful hoote for his gret fairnesse;
And secreli dede hir besynesse
To folwe his steppis riht as any lyne,
To hir desirs to make hym to enclyne.
He herde hir weel, but he sauh hir nouht,
Wheroff astonyd, he gan anon tenquere,
As he that was amerueilid in his thouht,
Saide euene thus, “is any wiht now heere?”
And she ansuerde the same, in hir manere,
What-euer he saide, as longeth to Echcho,
Withoute abod she seide the same also.
Wheroff astonyd, he gan anon tenquere,
As he that was amerueilid in his thouht,
Saide euene thus, “is any wiht now heere?”
And she ansuerde the same, in hir manere,
What-euer he saide, as longeth to Echcho,
Withoute abod she seide the same also.
“Come neer,” quod he, and began to calle.
“Come ner,” quod she, “my ioie & my plesaunce.”
He lokid aboute [among] the rokkis alle
And sauh nothyng beside nor in distaunce;
But she abraide, declaryng hir greuaunce,
And to hym seide, “myn owyn herte deere,
Ne be nat straunge, but late us duelle ifeere.”
“Come ner,” quod she, “my ioie & my plesaunce.”
He lokid aboute [among] the rokkis alle
And sauh nothyng beside nor in distaunce;
But she abraide, declaryng hir greuaunce,
And to hym seide, “myn owyn herte deere,
Ne be nat straunge, but late us duelle ifeere.”
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“Nay, nay,” quod he, “I will nothyng obeie
To your desirs, for short conclusioun;
For leuere I hadde pleynli for to deie,
Than ye sholde haue off me possessioun;
We be nothyng off on opynyoun,
I heere you weel, thouh I no figure see,
Goth foorth your way & spek no mor to me!”
To your desirs, for short conclusioun;
For leuere I hadde pleynli for to deie,
Than ye sholde haue off me possessioun;
We be nothyng off on opynyoun,
I heere you weel, thouh I no figure see,
Goth foorth your way & spek no mor to me!”
And she ashamed fledde hir way anon,
As she that myhte off hym no socour haue.
But disespeired, this Echcho is foorth gon
And hidde hirsilff in an ougli caue
Among the rokkis, as beried in hir graue.
And thouh so be that men hir vois may heere,
Afftir that tyme she neuer dede appeere.
As she that myhte off hym no socour haue.
But disespeired, this Echcho is foorth gon
And hidde hirsilff in an ougli caue
Among the rokkis, as beried in hir graue.
And thouh so be that men hir vois may heere,
Afftir that tyme she neuer dede appeere.
And thus Narcisus thoruh daunger and disdeyn
Vpon this lady dede crueli vengaunce.
But whan the goddis his cruelte han seyn,
Towardis hym thei fill in gret greuaunce,
Off his vnmerci thei hadden displesaunce;
And riht as he merciles was founde,
So with onmerci he cauhte his dedli wounde.
Vpon this lady dede crueli vengaunce.
But whan the goddis his cruelte han seyn,
Towardis hym thei fill in gret greuaunce,
Off his vnmerci thei hadden displesaunce;
And riht as he merciles was founde,
So with onmerci he cauhte his dedli wounde.
For al daunger displesith to Venus,
And al disdeyn is lothsum to Cupide:
For who to loue is contrarious,
The God of Loue will quite hym on sum side,
His dreedful arwis so mortali deuyde
To hurte & mayme alle that be rech[e]les,
And in his seruise founde merciles.
And al disdeyn is lothsum to Cupide:
For who to loue is contrarious,
The God of Loue will quite hym on sum side,
His dreedful arwis so mortali deuyde
To hurte & mayme alle that be rech[e]les,
And in his seruise founde merciles.
And for Narcisus was nat merciable
Toward Echcho, for his gret beute,
But in his port was founden ontretable,
Cupide thouhte he wolde auengid be,
As he that herde hir praier off pite,
Causyng Narcisus to feele & haue his part
Off Venus brond and off hir firi dart.
Toward Echcho, for his gret beute,
But in his port was founden ontretable,
Cupide thouhte he wolde auengid be,
As he that herde hir praier off pite,
Causyng Narcisus to feele & haue his part
Off Venus brond and off hir firi dart.
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And on a day whan he in wildirnesse
Hadde afftir beestis ronne on huntyng,
And for long labour gan falle in werynesse,
He was desirous to ha[ue] sum refresshyng;
And wonder thrustleuh afftir trauailyng,
Miht nat endure lengere ther to duelle;
And atte laste he fond a cristal welle,
Hadde afftir beestis ronne on huntyng,
And for long labour gan falle in werynesse,
He was desirous to ha[ue] sum refresshyng;
And wonder thrustleuh afftir trauailyng,
Miht nat endure lengere ther to duelle;
And atte laste he fond a cristal welle,
Riht fressh spryngyng & wonder agreable,
The watir lusti and delectable off siht:
And for his thrust was to hym inportable,
Vpon the brynkis he fill doun anon riht,
And be reflexioun, myd off the watir briht
Hym thouhte he sauh a passyng fair ymage
To hym appeere, most aungelik off visage.
The watir lusti and delectable off siht:
And for his thrust was to hym inportable,
Vpon the brynkis he fill doun anon riht,
And be reflexioun, myd off the watir briht
Hym thouhte he sauh a passyng fair ymage
To hym appeere, most aungelik off visage.
He was enamoured with the semlynesse,
And desirous theroff to stonde in grace;
And yit it was nat but a likenesse,
And but a shadwe reflectyng off his face,
The which off feruence amerousli tenbrace,
This Narcisus with a pitous compleynt
Sterte into the welle & hymseluen dreynt.
And desirous theroff to stonde in grace;
And yit it was nat but a likenesse,
And but a shadwe reflectyng off his face,
The which off feruence amerousli tenbrace,
This Narcisus with a pitous compleynt
Sterte into the welle & hymseluen dreynt.
And thus his beute, allas, was leid ful lowe,
His semlynesse put ful ferre a-bak;
Thus whan that he gan first hymsilff to knowe
And seen his visage, in which ther was no lak,
Presumptuous pride causid al to gon to wrak:
For who to moch doth off hymsilff presume,
His owne vsurpyng will sonest hym consume.
His semlynesse put ful ferre a-bak;
Thus whan that he gan first hymsilff to knowe
And seen his visage, in which ther was no lak,
Presumptuous pride causid al to gon to wrak:
For who to moch doth off hymsilff presume,
His owne vsurpyng will sonest hym consume.
And fynali, as poetis telle,
This Narcisus, withoute mor socour,
Afftir that he was drowned atte welle,
The heuenli goddis dede hym this fauour,
Thei turned hym into a fressh[e] flour,
A watir-lelie, which doth remedie
In hote accessis, as bookis specefie.
This Narcisus, withoute mor socour,
Afftir that he was drowned atte welle,
The heuenli goddis dede hym this fauour,
Thei turned hym into a fressh[e] flour,
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In hote accessis, as bookis specefie.
Afftir Narcisus was at the well[e] dreynt,
And to Iohn Bochas declared hadd his wo,
Biblis appered, with teris al bespreynt,
And toward hym a gret pas she gan go;
And hir brother Caunus cam also,
And off o wombe as gemellis tweyne;
But she toforn hir fate gan compleyne.
And to Iohn Bochas declared hadd his wo,
Biblis appered, with teris al bespreynt,
And toward hym a gret pas she gan go;
And hir brother Caunus cam also,
And off o wombe as gemellis tweyne;
But she toforn hir fate gan compleyne.
She in hir loue was nat vertuous,
For ageyn God and Kyndis ordynaunce,
She loued hir brother that callid was Caunus;
And whan he sauh hir froward gouernaunce,
He onto hire gaff non attendaunce,
Thouh she off sleihte tacomplisshe hir entent,
In secre wise a pistil to hym sent.
For ageyn God and Kyndis ordynaunce,
She loued hir brother that callid was Caunus;
And whan he sauh hir froward gouernaunce,
He onto hire gaff non attendaunce,
Thouh she off sleihte tacomplisshe hir entent,
In secre wise a pistil to hym sent.
She seide it was an inpossible thyng
Withoute his grace hirseluen for to saue,
[And] but he were to hire assentyng,
She ellis pleynli may non helthe haue
But onli deth, and afftirward hir graue.
Thus in hir writyng, to hym she dede attame;
And to be couert she ne wrot no name.
Withoute his grace hirseluen for to saue,
[And] but he were to hire assentyng,
She ellis pleynli may non helthe haue
But onli deth, and afftirward hir graue.
Thus in hir writyng, to hym she dede attame;
And to be couert she ne wrot no name.
But whan this pistil cam to his presence,
Vertuousli therat he gan disdeyne,
And gaff therto no maner aduertence,
Nor took non heed off hir furious peyne,
But suffred hir eternali to pleyne
Til that she was, as Ouide can weel telle,
With offte wepyngis transformed to a welle.
Vertuousli therat he gan disdeyne,
And gaff therto no maner aduertence,
Nor took non heed off hir furious peyne,
But suffred hir eternali to pleyne
Til that she was, as Ouide can weel telle,
With offte wepyngis transformed to a welle.
Next cam Mirra with face ful pitous,
Which that whilom loued ageyn nature
Hir owne fadir callid Cinarus,
For whos sake gret peyne she dede endure.
But she ne durste hir sorwe nat discure,
Til hir norice be signes dede espie
The hertli constreynt off hir maladie.
Which that whilom loued ageyn nature
Hir owne fadir callid Cinarus,
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But she ne durste hir sorwe nat discure,
Til hir norice be signes dede espie
The hertli constreynt off hir maladie.
For hir norice, off which that I ha[ue] told,
Conceyued hath, bi open euidence,
As she that koude bothe off newe and old
In such materis al hool thexperience,
That thoruh long labour & sleihti diligence,
Dyuers meenes & weies out she souhte,
To hir fadres bed that she Mirra brouhte.
Conceyued hath, bi open euidence,
As she that koude bothe off newe and old
In such materis al hool thexperience,
That thoruh long labour & sleihti diligence,
Dyuers meenes & weies out she souhte,
To hir fadres bed that she Mirra brouhte.
With whom she hadde hir lust & hir plesaunce;
For she onknowe lay with hym al nyht:
He was deceyued bi drunkleuh ignoraunce,
And on the morwe, longe or any liht,
She stal awey and went out off his siht.
With hir norice kepte hir longe cloos,
Til onto tyme that hir wombe aroos.
For she onknowe lay with hym al nyht:
He was deceyued bi drunkleuh ignoraunce,
And on the morwe, longe or any liht,
She stal awey and went out off his siht.
With hir norice kepte hir longe cloos,
Til onto tyme that hir wombe aroos.
But hir fadir, that was off Cipre kyng,
Which, as I tolde, was callid Cinarus,
Whan he the trouthe espied off this thyng:
That bi his douhter he was deceyued thus,
She wex to hym lothsum and odious,
Fledde from his face, so sore she was afferd,
And he pursued afftir with his suerd.
Which, as I tolde, was callid Cinarus,
Whan he the trouthe espied off this thyng:
That bi his douhter he was deceyued thus,
She wex to hym lothsum and odious,
Fledde from his face, so sore she was afferd,
And he pursued afftir with his suerd.
In Arabie, the hoote myhti lond,
Kyng Cinarus hath his douhter founde,
And crueli he gan enhaunse his hond,
With his suerd tayouen hir a wounde;
But the goddis, off merci most habounde,
Han fro the deth[e] maad hire [to] go fre,
And thoruh ther power transfourmed to a tre.
Kyng Cinarus hath his douhter founde,
And crueli he gan enhaunse his hond,
With his suerd tayouen hir a wounde;
But the goddis, off merci most habounde,
Han fro the deth[e] maad hire [to] go fre,
And thoruh ther power transfourmed to a tre.
Whiche afftir hire berith yit the name,
Callid Mirra, as she was in hir liff.
Out off which, as auctours sey the same,
Distillith a gomme, a gret preseruatiff,
And off nature a ful good defensiff,
To keepe bodies from putrefaccioun
And hem fraunchise from al corrupcioun.
Callid Mirra, as she was in hir liff.
Out off which, as auctours sey the same,
Distillith a gomme, a gret preseruatiff,
And off nature a ful good defensiff,
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And hem fraunchise from al corrupcioun.
Bi influence off the sonne-bemys
Mirre is engendrid, distillyng off his kynde
With rounde dropis ageyn[es] Phebus stremys,
And doun descendith thoruh the harde rynde.
And thoruh the rifftis, also as I fynde,
The said[e] Mirra hath a child foorth brouht,
In al this world, that yiff it be weel souht,
Mirre is engendrid, distillyng off his kynde
With rounde dropis ageyn[es] Phebus stremys,
And doun descendith thoruh the harde rynde.
And thoruh the rifftis, also as I fynde,
The said[e] Mirra hath a child foorth brouht,
In al this world, that yiff it be weel souht,
Was non so fair[e] fourmed bi nature;
For off his beute he was pereles.
And as poetis recorden bi scripture,
He callid was the faire Adonydes;
And to his worshep and his gret encres—
For he off fairnesse bar awei the flour—
Venus hym ches to been hir paramour.
For off his beute he was pereles.
And as poetis recorden bi scripture,
He callid was the faire Adonydes;
And to his worshep and his gret encres—
For he off fairnesse bar awei the flour—
Venus hym ches to been hir paramour.
The which[e] goddesse gaff to hym in charge,
That he sholde in his tendre age,
In forestis whil he wente at large,
Hunte at no beestis which that were sauage;
But he contrary, to his disauauntage,
Thoruh wilfulnesse—I can sey you no mor—
Was slayn onwarli off a tusshi bor,
That he sholde in his tendre age,
In forestis whil he wente at large,
Hunte at no beestis which that were sauage;
But he contrary, to his disauauntage,
Thoruh wilfulnesse—I can sey you no mor—
Was slayn onwarli off a tusshi bor,
At the whiche he felli dede enchace,
But off foli in veyn was his labour;
For he lay slayn, ful pale off cheer & face,
Whom Venus turned to a ful fressh[e] flour
Which was as blood, lich purpil off colour,
A budde off gold with goodli leuys glade
Set in the myddis, whos beute may nat fade.
But off foli in veyn was his labour;
For he lay slayn, ful pale off cheer & face,
Whom Venus turned to a ful fressh[e] flour
Which was as blood, lich purpil off colour,
A budde off gold with goodli leuys glade
Set in the myddis, whos beute may nat fade.
And whan [that] Mirra fro Bochas was withdrawe,
And hadde declarid hir gret aduersite,
And off hir fate told the mortal lawe,
Cam Orpheus, ful ougli on to see,
Sone off Appollo and off Calliope,
And appered with a ful doolful face,
Whilom brouht foorth and iborn in Trace.
And hadde declarid hir gret aduersite,
And off hir fate told the mortal lawe,
Cam Orpheus, ful ougli on to see,
Sone off Appollo and off Calliope,
163
Whilom brouht foorth and iborn in Trace.
Ful renommed in armys and science,
Famous in musik and in melodie,
And ful notable also in eloquence.
And for his soote sugred armonie,
Beestis, foulis, poetis specefie,
Wodes, flodes off ther cours most strong,
Stynt of ther cours to herkne his soote song.
Famous in musik and in melodie,
And ful notable also in eloquence.
And for his soote sugred armonie,
Beestis, foulis, poetis specefie,
Wodes, flodes off ther cours most strong,
Stynt of ther cours to herkne his soote song.
An harpe he hadde off Mercurius,
With the which Erudice he wan;
And to Bachus, as writ Ouidius,
Sacrifises ful solempne he began,
And onto helle for his wiff he ran,
Hir to recure with soote touchis sharpe
Which that he made vpon his heuenli harpe.
With the which Erudice he wan;
And to Bachus, as writ Ouidius,
Sacrifises ful solempne he began,
And onto helle for his wiff he ran,
Hir to recure with soote touchis sharpe
Which that he made vpon his heuenli harpe.
But whan that he this labour on hym took,
A lawe was maad[e] which that bond hym sore,
That yiff that he bakward caste his look,
He sholde hire lese & seen his wiff no more:
But it is seid[e] sithen gon ful yore,
Ther may no lawe louers weel constreyne,
So inportable is ther dedli peyne.
A lawe was maad[e] which that bond hym sore,
That yiff that he bakward caste his look,
He sholde hire lese & seen his wiff no more:
But it is seid[e] sithen gon ful yore,
Ther may no lawe louers weel constreyne,
So inportable is ther dedli peyne.
Yiff summe husbondis hadde stonden in the cas
Ta lost her wyues for a look sodeyne,
Thei wolde ha[ue] suffred and nat seid allas,
But pacientli endured al ther peyne,
And thanked God, that broken was the cheyne
Which hath so longe hem in prisoun bounde,
That thei be grace han such a fredam founde.
Ta lost her wyues for a look sodeyne,
Thei wolde ha[ue] suffred and nat seid allas,
But pacientli endured al ther peyne,
And thanked God, that broken was the cheyne
Which hath so longe hem in prisoun bounde,
That thei be grace han such a fredam founde.
To lyn in prisoun, it is a ful gret charge,
And to be stokked vndir keie and lok;
It were weel meriere a man to gon at large,
Than with irenes be nailed to a blok:
And there is o bond, which callid is wedlok,
Fretyng husbondis so sore, that it is wonder,
Which with no file may nat be broke assonder.
And to be stokked vndir keie and lok;
It were weel meriere a man to gon at large,
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And there is o bond, which callid is wedlok,
Fretyng husbondis so sore, that it is wonder,
Which with no file may nat be broke assonder.
But Orpheus, fadir off armonye,
Thouhte Erudice, which was his wiff, so fair,
For hir sake he felte he muste deie,
Because that he, whan he made his repair,
Off hir [in] trouthe enbracid nothyng but hair.
Thus he lost hire, there is no mor to seyne;
And for the constreynt off his greuous peyne,
Thouhte Erudice, which was his wiff, so fair,
For hir sake he felte he muste deie,
Because that he, whan he made his repair,
Off hir [in] trouthe enbracid nothyng but hair.
Thus he lost hire, there is no mor to seyne;
And for the constreynt off his greuous peyne,
At his herte hir partyng sat so sore,
The greene memorie, the tendre remembraunce,
That he neuer wolde wyuen more,
So faire he was escapid his penaunce;
For wedlok is a liff off most plesaunce.
But who hath onys infernal peynys seyn,
Will neuer his thankis come in the snare ageyn.
The greene memorie, the tendre remembraunce,
That he neuer wolde wyuen more,
So faire he was escapid his penaunce;
For wedlok is a liff off most plesaunce.
But who hath onys infernal peynys seyn,
Will neuer his thankis come in the snare ageyn.
This Orpheus gaff counseil ful notable
To husbondis that han endurid peyne,
To such as been prudent and tretable:
Oon hell is dreedful, mor pereilous be tweyne;
And who is onys boundyn in a cheyne,
And may escapen out off daunger blyue—
Yiff he resorte, God let hym neuer thryue!
To husbondis that han endurid peyne,
To such as been prudent and tretable:
Oon hell is dreedful, mor pereilous be tweyne;
And who is onys boundyn in a cheyne,
And may escapen out off daunger blyue—
Yiff he resorte, God let hym neuer thryue!
On this sentence women wer vengable,
And to his writyng ful contrarious,
Seide his counseil was nat comendable.
At the feste thei halwed to Bachus,
Thei fill echon vpon this Orpheus;
And, for alle his rethoriques suete,
Thei slouh, allas, this laureat poete.
And to his writyng ful contrarious,
Seide his counseil was nat comendable.
At the feste thei halwed to Bachus,
Thei fill echon vpon this Orpheus;
And, for alle his rethoriques suete,
Thei slouh, allas, this laureat poete.
165
And off his harpe yiff ye list to lere,
The god Appollo maad a translacioun
Among the ymages off the sterris cleere,
Wheroff men may haue yit inspeccioun.
But Fortune, to his confusioun,
Denyed hym, froward off hir nature,
Whan he was slayn fredam off sepulture.
The god Appollo maad a translacioun
Among the ymages off the sterris cleere,
Wheroff men may haue yit inspeccioun.
But Fortune, to his confusioun,
Denyed hym, froward off hir nature,
Whan he was slayn fredam off sepulture.
Next Orpheus, ther dede appeere also
Off Amazones worthi queenys tweyne,
Marpesia and hir suster Lampedo,
Which in conquest dede ther besi peyne,
And gret worship in armys dede atteyne,
Namyng hemsilff, be writyng nyh and ferr,
Douhtren to Mars, which is the God off Werr.
Off Amazones worthi queenys tweyne,
Marpesia and hir suster Lampedo,
Which in conquest dede ther besi peyne,
And gret worship in armys dede atteyne,
Namyng hemsilff, be writyng nyh and ferr,
Douhtren to Mars, which is the God off Werr.
Marpesia rood out in regiouns
And conquered ful many a gret cite,
For couetise off gret possessiouns,
Tencrece hir lordshepe, yiff it wolde be.
And hir suster kepte surli ther contre
From alle enmyes, that ther was no doute,
Whil Marpesia rood with hir host aboute.
And conquered ful many a gret cite,
For couetise off gret possessiouns,
Tencrece hir lordshepe, yiff it wolde be.
And hir suster kepte surli ther contre
From alle enmyes, that ther was no doute,
Whil Marpesia rood with hir host aboute.
But whil she was in conquest most famous
And hir enmyes proudli dede assaile,
Fortune anon wex contrarious,
And causid she was slay[e]n in bataile.
Loo, what conquest or victory may auaile,
Whan that Fortune doth at hem disdeyne;
Seeth heer exaumple bi these queenys tweyne.
And hir enmyes proudli dede assaile,
Fortune anon wex contrarious,
And causid she was slay[e]n in bataile.
Loo, what conquest or victory may auaile,
Whan that Fortune doth at hem disdeyne;
Seeth heer exaumple bi these queenys tweyne.
| Lydgate's Fall of Princes | |