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 chapitle of Bochas discryuyng þe malis of wommen. |
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 | Lydgate's Fall of Princes |  |
A chapitle of Bochas discryuyng þe malis of wommen.
Myn auctour Bochas reioished in his lyue,
(I dar nat seyn, wher it was comendable)
Off these women the malice to descryue
Generali, and writ—it is no fable—
Off ther nature how thei be variable,
And how ther malice best be euidence
Is knowe to hem that haue experience.
(I dar nat seyn, wher it was comendable)
Off these women the malice to descryue
Generali, and writ—it is no fable—
Off ther nature how thei be variable,
And how ther malice best be euidence
Is knowe to hem that haue experience.
Thei can afforce hem, alday men may see,
Be synguler fredam and dominacioun
Ouer men to ha[ue]n souereynte,
And keepe hem lowe vnder subieccioun.
Ful sore laboure in ther opynyoun,
Bi sotil crafft that thyng to recure,
Which is to hem denyed off Nature.
Be synguler fredam and dominacioun
Ouer men to ha[ue]n souereynte,
And keepe hem lowe vnder subieccioun.
Ful sore laboure in ther opynyoun,
Bi sotil crafft that thyng to recure,
Which is to hem denyed off Nature.
Bochas affermeth, & halt it for no tale,
Yiff thei wante fresshnesse off colour,
And han ther face iawne, swart & pale,
Anon thei doon ther dilligent labour
In such a neede to helpe and do socour,
Ther reuelid skyn abrod to drawe & streyne,
Froward frounces to make hem smothe & pleyne.
Yiff thei wante fresshnesse off colour,
And han ther face iawne, swart & pale,
Anon thei doon ther dilligent labour
In such a neede to helpe and do socour,
Ther reuelid skyn abrod to drawe & streyne,
Froward frounces to make hem smothe & pleyne.
Yiff no rednesse in ther chekis be,
Nor no lelies delectable and white,
Than thei take, tencrece ther beute,
Such oynementis as may most delite;
Wher Kynde faileth the surplusage tacquite,
Thei can be crafft so for hemsilff dispose,
Shewe rednesse thouh ther be no rose.
Nor no lelies delectable and white,
Than thei take, tencrece ther beute,
Such oynementis as may most delite;
Wher Kynde faileth the surplusage tacquite,
Thei can be crafft so for hemsilff dispose,
Shewe rednesse thouh ther be no rose.
And for to shewe ther face cleer and briht,
With hoote spices and oynementis soote
Thei can be crafft countirfete a-riht,
Take in such cas many an holsum roote:
Wher Kynde faileth, cunnyng can do boote,—
Yiff ther brestis vp to hie hem dresse,
Thei can ful weel thenbosyng doun represse.
With hoote spices and oynementis soote
Thei can be crafft countirfete a-riht,
185
Wher Kynde faileth, cunnyng can do boote,—
Yiff ther brestis vp to hie hem dresse,
Thei can ful weel thenbosyng doun represse.
And yiff thei been to soffte or to tendre,
Thei ha[ue] cunnyng to make hem hard & rounde.
Ther corsifnesse thei can eek make sclendre
With poynant sausis that been in phesik founde;
Ther sotil wittis in sleihtis so habounde,
Thyng that is courbid or wrong in mennys siht
To make it seeme as it wente vpriht.
Thei ha[ue] cunnyng to make hem hard & rounde.
Ther corsifnesse thei can eek make sclendre
With poynant sausis that been in phesik founde;
Ther sotil wittis in sleihtis so habounde,
Thyng that is courbid or wrong in mennys siht
To make it seeme as it wente vpriht.
Thei han strictories to make ther skyn to shyne,
Wrouht subtili off gommes & off glaire;
Craffti lies to die ther her citryne,
Distillid watres, to make hem seeme faire,
Fumygaciouns to rectefie the aiere,
Stomachers and fressh confecciouns
To represse fals exallaciouns.
Wrouht subtili off gommes & off glaire;
Craffti lies to die ther her citryne,
Distillid watres, to make hem seeme faire,
Fumygaciouns to rectefie the aiere,
Stomachers and fressh confecciouns
To represse fals exallaciouns.
Off alle these thynges Bochas hath most despiht,
Whan these vekkes, ferre Ironne in age,
Withynne hemsilff han veynglori and deliht
For to farce and poppe ther visage,
Lich a[s] peyntour[s] on an old ymage
Leyn ther coloures, riche and fressh off hewe,
Wermfrete stokkes to make hem seeme newe.
Whan these vekkes, ferre Ironne in age,
Withynne hemsilff han veynglori and deliht
For to farce and poppe ther visage,
Lich a[s] peyntour[s] on an old ymage
Leyn ther coloures, riche and fressh off hewe,
Wermfrete stokkes to make hem seeme newe.
Ther slak[ke] skyn be craft abrod is streynyd,
Lik an orenge fro the galei brouht;
Riche relikes aboute ther necckis cheynyd,
Gold vpon gold, with perle & stonys wrouht.
And that ther colour outward appeire nouht
With wynd or sonne, which sholde hem steyne or fade,
For onkynde heetis thei vse citrynade.
Lik an orenge fro the galei brouht;
Riche relikes aboute ther necckis cheynyd,
Gold vpon gold, with perle & stonys wrouht.
And that ther colour outward appeire nouht
With wynd or sonne, which sholde hem steyne or fade,
For onkynde heetis thei vse citrynade.
186
What sholde I write al ther vnkouth desires,
Sumtyme froward, sumtyme debonaire;
Ymagynyng sundry fressh attires,
Contreued off newe many thousand paire;
Dyuers deuyses to make hem seeme faire
In ther apport, be countirfet liknesse
For to rassemble Venus the goddesse.
Sumtyme froward, sumtyme debonaire;
Ymagynyng sundry fressh attires,
Contreued off newe many thousand paire;
Dyuers deuyses to make hem seeme faire
In ther apport, be countirfet liknesse
For to rassemble Venus the goddesse.
Off on deuys thei holde hem nat appaied,
Thei mut ech day han a straunge weede;
Yiff any be than othir bet arraied,
Off froward gruchchyng thei feele ther herte bleede:
For euerich thynkith veraili in deede,
Amorwe prieng withynne a merour briht,
For to be fairest in hir owen siht.
Thei mut ech day han a straunge weede;
Yiff any be than othir bet arraied,
Off froward gruchchyng thei feele ther herte bleede:
For euerich thynkith veraili in deede,
Amorwe prieng withynne a merour briht,
For to be fairest in hir owen siht.
Thei can ther eyen and ther lookis dresse
To drawe folk be sleihtis to ther lure;
And sumwhile bi ther frowardnesse
And feyned daunger, thei can off men recure
What-euer thei list, such is ther auenture.
Ageyn whos sleihtis force nor prudence
May nat auaile to make resistence.
To drawe folk be sleihtis to ther lure;
And sumwhile bi ther frowardnesse
And feyned daunger, thei can off men recure
What-euer thei list, such is ther auenture.
Ageyn whos sleihtis force nor prudence
May nat auaile to make resistence.
With constreynt wepyng & forgid flaterie,
Subtil spech[e] farcid with plesaunce,
And many fals dissemelid maladie—
Thouh in ther hertis thei feele no greuaunce—
And with ther couert sobre daliaunce,
Thouh vndirnethe the double serpent dare,
Ful many a man thei ha[ue] brouht in ther snare.
Subtil spech[e] farcid with plesaunce,
And many fals dissemelid maladie—
Thouh in ther hertis thei feele no greuaunce—
And with ther couert sobre daliaunce,
Thouh vndirnethe the double serpent dare,
Ful many a man thei ha[ue] brouht in ther snare.
O suet[e]nesse ful off mortalite!
Serpentyne with a plesaunt visage!
Onstable ioie ful off aduersite;
O most chaungable off herte & off corage!
In thi desirs hauyng this auauntage,
What-euer thou list to daunten and oppresse,—
Such is thi fraunchise, Bochas berth witnesse.
Serpentyne with a plesaunt visage!
Onstable ioie ful off aduersite;
O most chaungable off herte & off corage!
In thi desirs hauyng this auauntage,
What-euer thou list to daunten and oppresse,—
Such is thi fraunchise, Bochas berth witnesse.
187
Off nature thei can in many wise
Off myhti geauntis the power weel aslake:
What wit off man can compass or deuise,
Ther sleihti wilis dar it vndertake,
And, yiff hem list, theroff an eende make.
Fro this conceit, who-so that discorde,
A thousand stories the reuers can recorde.
Off myhti geauntis the power weel aslake:
What wit off man can compass or deuise,
Ther sleihti wilis dar it vndertake,
And, yiff hem list, theroff an eende make.
Fro this conceit, who-so that discorde,
A thousand stories the reuers can recorde.
Remembre first, how Hercules most strong
Was brouht be women to his destruccioun;
The queen Clymestra dede also gret wrong
To moordre hir lord kyng Agamenoun.
Dalida betraished also Sampsoun;
Amphiorax sanc doun deepe into hell,
Because his wiff his counsail dede out tell.
Was brouht be women to his destruccioun;
The queen Clymestra dede also gret wrong
To moordre hir lord kyng Agamenoun.
Dalida betraished also Sampsoun;
Amphiorax sanc doun deepe into hell,
Because his wiff his counsail dede out tell.
It nedith nat to make mencioun,
Thouh Phillis deide thoruh inpacience
Off longe abidyng off hir Demephoun,
Nor how that Nisus, kyng off Magarence,
Was bi his douhtres cursid violence
Onwarli moordred, in Ouide it is told,
Whan from his hed she stal the her off gold.
Thouh Phillis deide thoruh inpacience
Off longe abidyng off hir Demephoun,
Nor how that Nisus, kyng off Magarence,
Was bi his douhtres cursid violence
Onwarli moordred, in Ouide it is told,
Whan from his hed she stal the her off gold.
Bochas rehersith off wyues many on,
Which in ther werkyng wer ful contrarious;
But among all, he writith ther was on,
Queen off Assirie and wiff to kyng Nynus,
And be discent douhter to Neptunus,
Semiramis callid in hir daies,
Which off all men wolde make assaies.
Which in ther werkyng wer ful contrarious;
But among all, he writith ther was on,
Queen off Assirie and wiff to kyng Nynus,
And be discent douhter to Neptunus,
Semiramis callid in hir daies,
Which off all men wolde make assaies.
She nouther spared straunger nor kynreede;
Hir owne sone was nat set a-side,
But with hym hadde knowlechyng in deede,
Off which the sclaundre wente abrod ful wide.
For with on man she koude nat a-bide,
Such a fals lust was vpon hir fall,
In hir corage to haue a-do with all.
Hir owne sone was nat set a-side,
But with hym hadde knowlechyng in deede,
Off which the sclaundre wente abrod ful wide.
For with on man she koude nat a-bide,
Such a fals lust was vpon hir fall,
In hir corage to haue a-do with all.
188
And treu[e]li it doth my witt appall
Off this mateer to make rehersaile;
It is no resoun tatwiten women all,
Thouh on or too whilom dede faile.
It sittith nat, nor it may nat auaile,
Hem to rebuke that parfit been & goode,
Ferr out off ioynt thouh sum other stoode.
Off this mateer to make rehersaile;
It is no resoun tatwiten women all,
Thouh on or too whilom dede faile.
It sittith nat, nor it may nat auaile,
Hem to rebuke that parfit been & goode,
Ferr out off ioynt thouh sum other stoode.
The riche rube nor the saphir ynde
Be nat appeired off ther fressh beute,
Thouh among stonys men countirfetis fynde;
And semblabli, thouh summe women be
Nat weel gouerned afftir ther degre,
It nat diffaceth nor doth no violence
To hem that neuer dede in ther liff offence.
Be nat appeired off ther fressh beute,
Thouh among stonys men countirfetis fynde;
And semblabli, thouh summe women be
Nat weel gouerned afftir ther degre,
It nat diffaceth nor doth no violence
To hem that neuer dede in ther liff offence.
The white lelie nor the holsum rose,
Nor violettis spred on bankis thikke,
Ther suet[e]nesse, which outward thei onclose,
Is nat appeired with no weedis wikke;
And thouh that breris, and many crokid stykke
Growe in gardyns among the floures faire,
Thei may the vertu off herbis nat appaire.
Nor violettis spred on bankis thikke,
Ther suet[e]nesse, which outward thei onclose,
Is nat appeired with no weedis wikke;
And thouh that breris, and many crokid stykke
Growe in gardyns among the floures faire,
Thei may the vertu off herbis nat appaire.
And I dar seyn, that women vertuous
Been in the[r] vertu off price mor comendable,
That ther be summe reknyd vicious,
And off ther lyuyng founde also onstable.
Goode women auhte nat be partable
Off ther trespas nor ther wikked deede,
But mor comendid for ther womanheede.
Been in the[r] vertu off price mor comendable,
That ther be summe reknyd vicious,
And off ther lyuyng founde also onstable.
Goode women auhte nat be partable
Off ther trespas nor ther wikked deede,
But mor comendid for ther womanheede.
What is appeired off Hester the meeknesse,
Thouh that Scilla was sturdi & vengable?
Nor off Alceste the parfit stedfastnesse
Is nat eclipsed, but mor acceptable,
Thouh Clymestra was founde variable;—
Lik as whan cloudis ther blaknesse doun declyne,
Phebus mor cleer doth with his bemys shyne.
Thouh that Scilla was sturdi & vengable?
Nor off Alceste the parfit stedfastnesse
Is nat eclipsed, but mor acceptable,
Thouh Clymestra was founde variable;—
Lik as whan cloudis ther blaknesse doun declyne,
Phebus mor cleer doth with his bemys shyne.
189
Ful many on ha[ue] cleene been al ther lyue,
Ondefouled kept ther virgynyte;
And summe coude ageyn alle vices stryue
Hem to conserue in parfit chastite,
Deuoid off chaung and mutabilite:
Thouh sum other ha[ue] therageyn trespacid,
The laude off hem is therwith nat diffacid.
Ondefouled kept ther virgynyte;
And summe coude ageyn alle vices stryue
Hem to conserue in parfit chastite,
Deuoid off chaung and mutabilite:
Thouh sum other ha[ue] therageyn trespacid,
The laude off hem is therwith nat diffacid.
And who that euer off malice list accuse
These celi women touchyng variaunce,
Lat hem remembre, and in ther wittis muse,
Men be nat ay stable in ther constaunce.
In this world heer is no perseueraunce;
Chaung is ay founde in men & women bothe,
On outher parti, be thei neuer so wrothe.
These celi women touchyng variaunce,
Lat hem remembre, and in ther wittis muse,
Men be nat ay stable in ther constaunce.
In this world heer is no perseueraunce;
Chaung is ay founde in men & women bothe,
On outher parti, be thei neuer so wrothe.
No man sholde the vertuous atwite
In stede off hym that dede the trespace;
Nor for a theeff a trewe man endite,
Nor for the gilti an innocent manace.
Goode and wikked abide in eueri place;
Ther price, ther lak, lat hem be reseruyd
To outher parti as thei han disseruyd.
In stede off hym that dede the trespace;
Nor for a theeff a trewe man endite,
Nor for the gilti an innocent manace.
Goode and wikked abide in eueri place;
Ther price, ther lak, lat hem be reseruyd
To outher parti as thei han disseruyd.
Thouh Iohn Bochas in his opynyoun
Ageyn[es] women list a processe make,
Thei that be goode off condicioun
Sholde ageyn hym no maner quarel take,
But lihtli passe, and ther sleuys shake;
For ageyn goode myn auctour nothyng made,
Who can conceyue theffect off this balade.
Ageyn[es] women list a processe make,
Thei that be goode off condicioun
Sholde ageyn hym no maner quarel take,
But lihtli passe, and ther sleuys shake;
For ageyn goode myn auctour nothyng made,
Who can conceyue theffect off this balade.
| Lydgate's Fall of Princes | |