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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[Ho[w] xerses kyng of Perce, for his ravyne and couetise was dismembrid in smale pecys.] |
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 | Lydgate's Fall of Princes |  |
[Ho[w] xerses kyng of Perce, for his ravyne and couetise was dismembrid in smale pecys.]
Un-tofor Bochas, ful pitousli wepyng,
For to declare his dedli heuynesse,
Cam Xerses next, that was of Perse kyng,
And gan compleyne his dool and his distresse.
Which in thre thynges, his stori berth witnesse,
And as the cronycle cleerli can vs telle,
All othir pryncis in erthe he dede excelle:
For to declare his dedli heuynesse,
Cam Xerses next, that was of Perse kyng,
And gan compleyne his dool and his distresse.
Which in thre thynges, his stori berth witnesse,
And as the cronycle cleerli can vs telle,
All othir pryncis in erthe he dede excelle:
In hih estat was non so gret as he,
Nouther in richesse nor worldli habundaunce,
Nor non that tyme off so gret dignite;
For as it is iput in remembraunce,
He hadde al Perse vnder his obeisaunce,
Nor neuer prynce, as auctours do conclude,
Hosteied attonys with such a multitude.
Nouther in richesse nor worldli habundaunce,
Nor non that tyme off so gret dignite;
For as it is iput in remembraunce,
He hadde al Perse vnder his obeisaunce,
Nor neuer prynce, as auctours do conclude,
Hosteied attonys with such a multitude.
391
Space off fyue yeer he made his ordenaunce,
Seuene hundred thousand peeple he dede reise;
Dempte off fals pride ageyn his gret puissaunce
Non ertheli power myhte countirpeise.
But summe auctours alowe hym nat nor preise,
Because that he, peeplis to encoumbre,
Set al his trust to conquere with gret noumbre.
Seuene hundred thousand peeple he dede reise;
Dempte off fals pride ageyn his gret puissaunce
Non ertheli power myhte countirpeise.
But summe auctours alowe hym nat nor preise,
Because that he, peeplis to encoumbre,
Set al his trust to conquere with gret noumbre.
But manli pryncis han this opynyoun:
In multitude stondeth nat victorie;
For knyhtli prowesse off eueri champioun,
Which manli cast hem in armys to ha[ue] glorie,
Enprentid hath fix in his memorie,
Marcial tryumphes God ne doth nat shewe
In noumbres grete no rather than in fewe.
In multitude stondeth nat victorie;
For knyhtli prowesse off eueri champioun,
Which manli cast hem in armys to ha[ue] glorie,
Enprentid hath fix in his memorie,
Marcial tryumphes God ne doth nat shewe
In noumbres grete no rather than in fewe.
This said[e] Xerses, be record off auctours,
Had also, in cronycles as I reede,
Thre hundred thousand straunge soudiours,
Withoutyn othir, that wern off Perse & Mede.
Which gan the erthe for to cure and sprede,
Dried ryuers wher thei dede atteyne,
Karff doun hillis and made valis pleyne.
Had also, in cronycles as I reede,
Thre hundred thousand straunge soudiours,
Withoutyn othir, that wern off Perse & Mede.
Which gan the erthe for to cure and sprede,
Dried ryuers wher thei dede atteyne,
Karff doun hillis and made valis pleyne.
This was cheeff conceit off his fantasies,
To haue al erthe vnder subieccioun;
Thouhte his power rauhte aboue the skies,
Off surquedie and fals presumpcioun:
For as he dempte in his opynyoun,
How in his poweer pleynli that it lai,
Fro God aboue the heuene to take awai.
To haue al erthe vnder subieccioun;
Thouhte his power rauhte aboue the skies,
Off surquedie and fals presumpcioun:
For as he dempte in his opynyoun,
How in his poweer pleynli that it lai,
Fro God aboue the heuene to take awai.
But thilke Lord that can the meeke enhaunse,
And from ther sees the proude putte doun,
A[nd] namli them that ha[ue] no remembraunse
To aduertise off wisdam and resoun,
To knowe the Lord, most myhti off renoun,—
The Lord off Lordis, which, pleynli to compile,
Will suffre tirantis to regne but a while.
And from ther sees the proude putte doun,
A[nd] namli them that ha[ue] no remembraunse
To aduertise off wisdam and resoun,
To knowe the Lord, most myhti off renoun,—
The Lord off Lordis, which, pleynli to compile,
Will suffre tirantis to regne but a while.
And oon the merueile that euer I dede reede,
Grettest and vnkouth pleynli onto me,
Is how Xerses, kyng off Perse and Mede,
For to shewe a special syngulerte,
Out off Asie, ouer the Grete Se,
As seith myn auctour, whom I dar alegge,
Into Europe made a myhti bregge.
Grettest and vnkouth pleynli onto me,
Is how Xerses, kyng off Perse and Mede,
For to shewe a special syngulerte,
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As seith myn auctour, whom I dar alegge,
Into Europe made a myhti bregge.
Sum men paraunter will therat disdeyne,
And seyn it is a merueile nat credible;
Yit crafft in cas to such thyng mai atteyne,
Which bi nature semeth an inpossible:
And, as to me, it is a thyng odible,
Thynges tenpugne, awtentik and olde,
Which notable clerkis in ther daies tolde.
And seyn it is a merueile nat credible;
Yit crafft in cas to such thyng mai atteyne,
Which bi nature semeth an inpossible:
And, as to me, it is a thyng odible,
Thynges tenpugne, awtentik and olde,
Which notable clerkis in ther daies tolde.
These newe men that han but litil seyn,
Nouther expert in crafft nor in nature,
For lak off resoun holde al such thyng veyn,
Thouh that it be remembred in scripture.
For eueri meruail and eueri auenture
Is straunge to hym, as I reherse can,
That lakketh the cause wherof the ground began.
Nouther expert in crafft nor in nature,
For lak off resoun holde al such thyng veyn,
Thouh that it be remembred in scripture.
For eueri meruail and eueri auenture
Is straunge to hym, as I reherse can,
That lakketh the cause wherof the ground began.
This said[e] Xerses hadde eek possessioun,
Be the title off his fader Darie,
Off al Egipt, as maad is mencioun;
But thei off Grece were to hym contrarie:
Wherfor he caste no lenger for to tarie,
This proude prynce, but myhtili werreie
Lacedemonoys, which wolde hym nat obeie.
Be the title off his fader Darie,
Off al Egipt, as maad is mencioun;
But thei off Grece were to hym contrarie:
Wherfor he caste no lenger for to tarie,
This proude prynce, but myhtili werreie
Lacedemonoys, which wolde hym nat obeie.
But oon that was callid Demaratus,
Which off that cuntre hadde aforn be kyng
And was exilid, the stori tellith thus,
That tyme with Xerses in houshold abidyng,
Which loued that lond, for al his exilyng,
Gaff them warnyng, to saue hem fro myschaunce,
Off Xerses poweer and al his ordenaunce.
Which off that cuntre hadde aforn be kyng
And was exilid, the stori tellith thus,
That tyme with Xerses in houshold abidyng,
Which loued that lond, for al his exilyng,
Gaff them warnyng, to saue hem fro myschaunce,
Off Xerses poweer and al his ordenaunce.
He wrot hem lettres grauen in a table,
All themprises off Xerses, out off doute,
Off al his stuff and peeple incomparable,
And off his noumbre and his gret[e] route.
The which[e] table curid was withoute
Ful subtili with wex iplanyd pleyn,
That off his sonde ther was no lettre seyn.
All themprises off Xerses, out off doute,
Off al his stuff and peeple incomparable,
And off his noumbre and his gret[e] route.
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Ful subtili with wex iplanyd pleyn,
That off his sonde ther was no lettre seyn.
Thus was thentent off Xerses first discurid
Onto the Grekis, and al his fel werkyng.
But in o thyng thei gretli wer assurid,
Off trust thei hadde bi expert knowlechyng
In Leonidas, ther noble famous kyng,
Which among Grekis, off prowesse & forsiht,
Was in tho daies holde on the beste knyht.
Onto the Grekis, and al his fel werkyng.
But in o thyng thei gretli wer assurid,
Off trust thei hadde bi expert knowlechyng
In Leonidas, ther noble famous kyng,
Which among Grekis, off prowesse & forsiht,
Was in tho daies holde on the beste knyht.
Off cheualrie callid the lode-sterre,
The sunne off knyhthod, that shon so briht & sheene,
The berere up, bothe in pes and werre,
And strengest piler his parti to meynteene,
The Grekis riht hand ther noblesse to susteene,
Charboncle off armys, merour off policie,
And surest capteyn a feeld to reule & guie.
The sunne off knyhthod, that shon so briht & sheene,
The berere up, bothe in pes and werre,
And strengest piler his parti to meynteene,
The Grekis riht hand ther noblesse to susteene,
Charboncle off armys, merour off policie,
And surest capteyn a feeld to reule & guie.
And as myn auctour remembreth in his book,
How in this cas he was nat rech[e]les,
But in al haste foure thousand men he took,
To lette the weies and comyng off Xerses.
And bi an hill callid Termophiles,
Wher Persiens began first ther viage,
He knyhtli caste to stoppe ther passage.
How in this cas he was nat rech[e]les,
But in al haste foure thousand men he took,
To lette the weies and comyng off Xerses.
And bi an hill callid Termophiles,
Wher Persiens began first ther viage,
He knyhtli caste to stoppe ther passage.
And secreli espieng the comyng
Off kyng Xerses with strong apparaile,
He, lik a knyht, made no tarieng,
Ches out sexe hundred, armed in plate & maile,
Which in such cas myhte most auaile,
And in diffence and helpe off ther cuntre
Wolde rather deie than from the feeld to fle.
Off kyng Xerses with strong apparaile,
He, lik a knyht, made no tarieng,
Ches out sexe hundred, armed in plate & maile,
Which in such cas myhte most auaile,
And in diffence and helpe off ther cuntre
Wolde rather deie than from the feeld to fle.
And couertli thei took[e] ther loggyng,
And kept hem cloos, till it drouh to nyht.
And at ther dyner themsilff refresshyng,
So as thei sat, in steel armed briht,
The kyng abraide lik a manli knyht,
Into the feeld aforn thei shulde gon,
Riht thus he saide among hem euerichon:
And kept hem cloos, till it drouh to nyht.
And at ther dyner themsilff refresshyng,
So as thei sat, in steel armed briht,
The kyng abraide lik a manli knyht,
394
Riht thus he saide among hem euerichon:
“Sires,” quod he, “now dyneth merili,
And with good wyn afforceth your corage,
Lik goode knyhtis in purpos fynali,
For liff nor deth nat turnyng your visage,
But off assent, cast in your passage,
As ye heer dyne now in especiall,
To suppe at nyht with goddis infernall.
And with good wyn afforceth your corage,
Lik goode knyhtis in purpos fynali,
For liff nor deth nat turnyng your visage,
But off assent, cast in your passage,
As ye heer dyne now in especiall,
To suppe at nyht with goddis infernall.
This is to meene, ye shul your liff iuparte,
As hardi knyhtis, proudli to prouide
Withynne the feeld assonder nat departe,
But keep you cloos, & for no dreed deuide.
Desir off worshepe make to be your guide,
Your expert noblesse eternali tauaunce
Be quyk report off newe remembraunce.
As hardi knyhtis, proudli to prouide
Withynne the feeld assonder nat departe,
But keep you cloos, & for no dreed deuide.
Desir off worshepe make to be your guide,
Your expert noblesse eternali tauaunce
Be quyk report off newe remembraunce.
And hath this dai nothyng in memori[e],
Nouther your richesse, your blood nor your kenreede,
Sauff onli hope and good trust off victorie,
And hardi prowesse you to conducte and leede.
And thynkith knyhtli what shal be your meede,
With marcial palmys your renoun & your name
In the hiest place set in the Hous off Fame.
Nouther your richesse, your blood nor your kenreede,
Sauff onli hope and good trust off victorie,
And hardi prowesse you to conducte and leede.
And thynkith knyhtli what shal be your meede,
With marcial palmys your renoun & your name
In the hiest place set in the Hous off Fame.
And thouh ye been but a fewe in noumbre,
Lat in your hertis o thyng be fantasied:
Whil dyuysioun doth you nat encoumbre,
Victorie in armys mai you nat be denyed;
For nothyng is to conquest mor applied
Than trewe accord among your-silff to shewe,
Thouh ye in noumbre be [founde] but a fewe.”
Lat in your hertis o thyng be fantasied:
Whil dyuysioun doth you nat encoumbre,
Victorie in armys mai you nat be denyed;
For nothyng is to conquest mor applied
Than trewe accord among your-silff to shewe,
Thouh ye in noumbre be [founde] but a fewe.”
By this counseil syngulerli notable,
And be this kynges knyhtli good language,
Thei reconforted heeld themsiluen able
Ageyn ther fomen to holden ther passage.
And first off all, off hertli proud corage,
The Perciens mor mortali to greue,
Withynne ther tentis thei fill on hem at eue.
And be this kynges knyhtli good language,
Thei reconforted heeld themsiluen able
Ageyn ther fomen to holden ther passage.
And first off all, off hertli proud corage,
395
Withynne ther tentis thei fill on hem at eue.
Thei off Perce idrownyd were with wyn;
This to seyen, thoruh ther gret excesse
Thei lai and slepte lik as dronke swyn,
Ther wach nat kept: loo, how that dronkenesse
Causeth offte, off verrai reklesnesse,
Ful many a man, that wil nat take keep,
For to be moordred anyhtis in ther sleep.
This to seyen, thoruh ther gret excesse
Thei lai and slepte lik as dronke swyn,
Ther wach nat kept: loo, how that dronkenesse
Causeth offte, off verrai reklesnesse,
Ful many a man, that wil nat take keep,
For to be moordred anyhtis in ther sleep.
And as this kyng dede his knyhtis leede,
The Percien tentis assailyng sodenli,
Or thei wer war or token any heede,
Them for taffraie thei made an hidous cri.
Diffence was noon vpon ther parti;
For men mai knowe bi olde experience,
In folkis dronke mai be no resistence.
The Percien tentis assailyng sodenli,
Or thei wer war or token any heede,
Them for taffraie thei made an hidous cri.
Diffence was noon vpon ther parti;
For men mai knowe bi olde experience,
In folkis dronke mai be no resistence.
Out off noumbre thei slowen off ther foon,
And cesed nat off al the longe nyht,
Till on the morwe that the sunne shoon,
That to beholde it was an ougli siht.
And proude Xerses put anon to fliht—
Euer the laste that wolde his foon assaile,
And ay the firste that fledde in bataile!
And cesed nat off al the longe nyht,
Till on the morwe that the sunne shoon,
That to beholde it was an ougli siht.
And proude Xerses put anon to fliht—
Euer the laste that wolde his foon assaile,
And ay the firste that fledde in bataile!
In his fliht so faste awei he ran,
For theryn was hooli al his trust!—
And off gret trauaile anon this Xerses gan
Off coward dreed to han so gret a thrust,
So drie he was, off salt sond and off dust.
And bi the weie serchyng ferr nor neer,
He nouther fond welle nor reuer.
For theryn was hooli al his trust!—
And off gret trauaile anon this Xerses gan
Off coward dreed to han so gret a thrust,
So drie he was, off salt sond and off dust.
And bi the weie serchyng ferr nor neer,
He nouther fond welle nor reuer.
Off auenture a meri ground he fond,
The water trouble and bloodi off colour;
And Xerses ther drank water with his hond,
Hym to refresshe in his dedli labour.
And, as he thouhte, he neuer drank licour
To hym mor holsom, so streiht[e] stood the caas,
Confect with spices, pyment nor ypocras.
The water trouble and bloodi off colour;
And Xerses ther drank water with his hond,
Hym to refresshe in his dedli labour.
And, as he thouhte, he neuer drank licour
To hym mor holsom, so streiht[e] stood the caas,
Confect with spices, pyment nor ypocras.
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This was the firste myscheeff and the dreed
In which that Xerses, the myhti prynce, stood.
Heer men mai see, such as list take heed,
How geri Fortune, furious and wood,
Wil nat spare, for richesse nor for good,
Mihti pryncis, which list nat God to knowe,
From ther estatis to brynge hem doun ful lowe.
In which that Xerses, the myhti prynce, stood.
Heer men mai see, such as list take heed,
How geri Fortune, furious and wood,
Wil nat spare, for richesse nor for good,
Mihti pryncis, which list nat God to knowe,
From ther estatis to brynge hem doun ful lowe.
O hatful serpent of hih presumpcioun,
Ay onstaunchable with gredi vsurpyng,
Be newe trouble, off fals sedicioun,
Which list off pride receyue no warnyng:
For now Xerses, off Perse & Mede kyng,
Purposid hath with odious apparaile
The temple off goddis contagiousli tassaile.
Ay onstaunchable with gredi vsurpyng,
Be newe trouble, off fals sedicioun,
Which list off pride receyue no warnyng:
For now Xerses, off Perse & Mede kyng,
Purposid hath with odious apparaile
The temple off goddis contagiousli tassaile.
For as hym thouhte, it myhte nat suffise,
To gret exaumple off his outraious pride,
How heer-toforn God dede hym chastise
Bi manys hand, to sette his pompe a-side.
But now off newe he gan ageyn prouide,
Bi sacrilege his myhti hand to dresse,
To spoile Appollo and reue hym his richesse.
To gret exaumple off his outraious pride,
How heer-toforn God dede hym chastise
Bi manys hand, to sette his pompe a-side.
But now off newe he gan ageyn prouide,
Bi sacrilege his myhti hand to dresse,
To spoile Appollo and reue hym his richesse.
Ther was in Delos a temple thilk[e] dai,
Most statli bilt and set up be masouns,
Gret ymages, reliques, riche arai
Off gold and stonys in sundri mansiouns;
And ther Appollo to sundri questiouns
Gaff redi answere, the stori tellith thus,
And he was callid Appollo Delphicus.
Most statli bilt and set up be masouns,
Gret ymages, reliques, riche arai
Off gold and stonys in sundri mansiouns;
And ther Appollo to sundri questiouns
Gaff redi answere, the stori tellith thus,
And he was callid Appollo Delphicus.
Foure thousand men Xerses thedir sente,
Bi his auys chose out for the nonys,
Ful clenli armed; & as thei thedir wente
To spoile the temple off gold and riche stonys,
With sodeyn leuene thei wer brent, flessh & bonys,
With tempest, thunder, hail & hidous reyn
Consumpt echon and neuer afftir seyn.
Bi his auys chose out for the nonys,
Ful clenli armed; & as thei thedir wente
To spoile the temple off gold and riche stonys,
With sodeyn leuene thei wer brent, flessh & bonys,
With tempest, thunder, hail & hidous reyn
Consumpt echon and neuer afftir seyn.
The grete Appollo, which shyneth briht in heuene,
Hadde off this Xerses gret indignacioun,
Which made his peeple be consumpt with leuene,
In cruel punshyng off his presumpcioun.
Yit he purposed, to his confusioun,
Sithe on the lond he nothyng myhte wynne,
Vpon the se a werre to begynne.
Hadde off this Xerses gret indignacioun,
Which made his peeple be consumpt with leuene,
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Yit he purposed, to his confusioun,
Sithe on the lond he nothyng myhte wynne,
Vpon the se a werre to begynne.
Gan to make so gret an ordenaunce,
That his naueie couered al the se:
Yit Neptunus thouhte hym nat tenhaunce,
Withynne his boundis to ha[ue] no liberte;
For Themystodes with a smal meyne,
Beside a cite callid Salamyne,
Hym & his shippis brouhte onto ruyne.
That his naueie couered al the se:
Yit Neptunus thouhte hym nat tenhaunce,
Withynne his boundis to ha[ue] no liberte;
For Themystodes with a smal meyne,
Beside a cite callid Salamyne,
Hym & his shippis brouhte onto ruyne.
Yit, as I fynde, this proude kyng Xerses
Hadde on his parti Themydora, the queene
Off Halcarnois, which put hirselff in pres,
Armed in platis that shon ful briht and sheene.
And thenarme off Xerses to susteene,
This womman fauht[e] lik a fell woluesse,
And many Greek that dai she dede oppresse.
Hadde on his parti Themydora, the queene
Off Halcarnois, which put hirselff in pres,
Armed in platis that shon ful briht and sheene.
And thenarme off Xerses to susteene,
This womman fauht[e] lik a fell woluesse,
And many Greek that dai she dede oppresse.
It was a straunge merueil for to heere,
To seen a woman so sturdi off visage;
Yit men expert aldai may seen and lere,
Thei be bi nature ful cruel off corage,
And no cowardis founde off ther language.
Sett at assai, and thanne it shal be seene,
Wher thei be feerful ther quarel to susteene!
To seen a woman so sturdi off visage;
Yit men expert aldai may seen and lere,
Thei be bi nature ful cruel off corage,
And no cowardis founde off ther language.
Sett at assai, and thanne it shal be seene,
Wher thei be feerful ther quarel to susteene!
Thei mai off meeknesse shewe a fair pretense,—
Sum serpent is off colour siluer sheene,
And summe floures, ful fressh off apparense,
Growe on thistles rouh[e], sharp and keene,
And summe that been angelic to seene,
And verai heuenli, with ther golden tressis,
Been at a preeff[e] verrai leonessis.
Sum serpent is off colour siluer sheene,
And summe floures, ful fressh off apparense,
Growe on thistles rouh[e], sharp and keene,
And summe that been angelic to seene,
And verai heuenli, with ther golden tressis,
Been at a preeff[e] verrai leonessis.
To seyn the sothe, a poore man mai be shent,—
I dar no mor[e] speke off this mateere. . . .
But kyng Xerses, for al his proude entent,
Al his naueie and his peeple ifeere
Wer put to fliht & outraied off ther cheere.
Ther shippis drownyd among the wawes rude,
That non abod off al that multitude.
I dar no mor[e] speke off this mateere. . . .
But kyng Xerses, for al his proude entent,
Al his naueie and his peeple ifeere
Wer put to fliht & outraied off ther cheere.
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That non abod off al that multitude.
Kyng Xerses hurt and woundid mortali,
Onnethe he myhte the grete peyne endure;
His quakyng herte quit hym so cowardli,—
On se and lond such was his auenture.
And yit ageyn his damages to recure,
Thre hundred thousand off fihteres he gan call,
Vpon Grekis off newe for to fall.
Onnethe he myhte the grete peyne endure;
His quakyng herte quit hym so cowardli,—
On se and lond such was his auenture.
And yit ageyn his damages to recure,
Thre hundred thousand off fihteres he gan call,
Vpon Grekis off newe for to fall.
A myhti duc callid Mardonyus
Was capteyn maad his peeple for to leede;
But Themystodes, myn auctour tellith thus,
Knowyng off Xerses the cowardise & dreede,
A lettre made for to be sent in deede,
Enfourmyng hym, bi Grekis gret outrage
How off his bregge was broken the passage.
Was capteyn maad his peeple for to leede;
But Themystodes, myn auctour tellith thus,
Knowyng off Xerses the cowardise & dreede,
A lettre made for to be sent in deede,
Enfourmyng hym, bi Grekis gret outrage
How off his bregge was broken the passage.
Off which[e] merueil whan ther cam tidyng
To kyng Xerses, he afftir anon riht,
As he that was aferd[e] off ech thyng,
Ful lik a coward took hym to the fliht.
Fledde in a boot, lik a coward knyht,
Off al his peeple ther wer no mo iseyn
Tawaite vpon hym, sauff a chaumberleyn.
To kyng Xerses, he afftir anon riht,
As he that was aferd[e] off ech thyng,
Ful lik a coward took hym to the fliht.
Fledde in a boot, lik a coward knyht,
Off al his peeple ther wer no mo iseyn
Tawaite vpon hym, sauff a chaumberleyn.
Al his peeple departed heer and yonder,
Stondyng in myscheeff and gret indigence;
To many a coost thei wente and rood asonder,
Pyned with hunger, lakked ther dispence,
Punshed also with onwar pestilence,
Feeble off trauaile myhte nat endure
For impotence to karien ther armure.
Stondyng in myscheeff and gret indigence;
To many a coost thei wente and rood asonder,
Pyned with hunger, lakked ther dispence,
Punshed also with onwar pestilence,
Feeble off trauaile myhte nat endure
For impotence to karien ther armure.
Alas ech wai[e] lai ful off careynes;
The soil with blood[e] steyned & the greene;
The hair terrible off pathes & off pleynes,
That no man myhte endure it nor susteene,
The sauour was so odious and oncleene.
Raueynous foulis, ful homli in ther siht,
Themsilff to feede vpon the corps aliht.
The soil with blood[e] steyned & the greene;
The hair terrible off pathes & off pleynes,
That no man myhte endure it nor susteene,
The sauour was so odious and oncleene.
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Themsilff to feede vpon the corps aliht.
Thre hundred thousand off Perciens wer slayn,
Which Mardonyus aforn ful proudli ladde.
Off which[e] tidyng kyng Xerses was nat fayn,
But for distresse and sorwe gan to madde.
An[d] oon the laste myscheeff that he hadde,
Was whan Thymon, a noble Grekissh knyht,
Xerses disconfited & put his men to fliht.
Which Mardonyus aforn ful proudli ladde.
Off which[e] tidyng kyng Xerses was nat fayn,
But for distresse and sorwe gan to madde.
An[d] oon the laste myscheeff that he hadde,
Was whan Thymon, a noble Grekissh knyht,
Xerses disconfited & put his men to fliht.
This Thymon was sone to Meltiades,
His fadir whilom off Athenes kyng,
Which last off all outraied hath Xerses,—
Sauff off his eende ther fill a-nother thyng:
Artabanus, ful sleihti in werkyng,
Which to Xerses was nat suspect in deede,
Compassid his deth, in Bochas as I reede.
His fadir whilom off Athenes kyng,
Which last off all outraied hath Xerses,—
Sauff off his eende ther fill a-nother thyng:
Artabanus, ful sleihti in werkyng,
Which to Xerses was nat suspect in deede,
Compassid his deth, in Bochas as I reede.
This Artaban was prouost off his hous
And an officer most especial,—
With his seuene sonys strong & despitous,
Vpon a nyht furious and fatal,
Fill vpon Xerses in his paleis roial.
And in his stori as it is remembrid,
On pecis smale thei han hym al dismembrid.
And an officer most especial,—
With his seuene sonys strong & despitous,
Vpon a nyht furious and fatal,
Fill vpon Xerses in his paleis roial.
And in his stori as it is remembrid,
On pecis smale thei han hym al dismembrid.
This was off Xerses the laste fynal meede,
Off his hih pride the funeral guerdoun;
From his too kyngdamys off Perse & [eek] Mede
Froward Fortune hath hym plukked doun.
What mai auaile the dominacioun
Off such pryncis as holde hemseluen evene
For to been egal with goddis hih in hevene?
Off his hih pride the funeral guerdoun;
From his too kyngdamys off Perse & [eek] Mede
Froward Fortune hath hym plukked doun.
What mai auaile the dominacioun
Off such pryncis as holde hemseluen evene
For to been egal with goddis hih in hevene?
Men list nat knowe such chaunges for no preeff,
A[nd] namli pryncis in ther gret puissaunces.
Geyn ertheli pereiles & al worldli myscheeff
Thei can prouide hem & set ordynaunces,
As thei that dreede Fortunis variaunces;
But to Godward thei take litil heede,
For the gret richesse which thei do possede.
A[nd] namli pryncis in ther gret puissaunces.
Geyn ertheli pereiles & al worldli myscheeff
Thei can prouide hem & set ordynaunces,
As thei that dreede Fortunis variaunces;
But to Godward thei take litil heede,
For the gret richesse which thei do possede.
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Yiff thei mai heren off an erthe-quaue
Toforn it falle, or any tokne see,
Than will thei gon anon themsilff to saue
Out off ther houses, & from ther toun[e]s flee,
To putte ther liff the mor in surete,
List ther beeldyng, maad off gret costage,
Fill vpon hem in that mortal rage.
Toforn it falle, or any tokne see,
Than will thei gon anon themsilff to saue
Out off ther houses, & from ther toun[e]s flee,
To putte ther liff the mor in surete,
List ther beeldyng, maad off gret costage,
Fill vpon hem in that mortal rage.
Or yiff an hors ronne out off his stable,
Breke his coleer thikke, double & long,
Men will ordeyne a lok off iren able
To keepe hym in, be he neuer so strong.
And thus men can redressyn eueri wrong
Touchyng the bodi, bi gret avisynesse;
Sauff for the soule thei will nothyng redresse.
Breke his coleer thikke, double & long,
Men will ordeyne a lok off iren able
To keepe hym in, be he neuer so strong.
And thus men can redressyn eueri wrong
Touchyng the bodi, bi gret avisynesse;
Sauff for the soule thei will nothyng redresse.
Whan a ryuer passeth ferr his boundis,
Boilith vpward, fynt no resistence,
Wynneth land & ouerfloweth groundis,
Drowneth toun[e]s with his violence,—
Yit men will trauaile to fynden a diffence;
To turne his cours sum weie shal be souht,
But toward God men thynke lite or nouht.
Boilith vpward, fynt no resistence,
Wynneth land & ouerfloweth groundis,
Drowneth toun[e]s with his violence,—
Yit men will trauaile to fynden a diffence;
To turne his cours sum weie shal be souht,
But toward God men thynke lite or nouht.
Ageyn siknesse men seeke medicynes,
Letuaries and dyuers pociouns,
Serche in phesik sundri disciplynes
Them to diete in ther transgressiouns,
Restoratyves and eek confecciouns,
But onto Godward, in this present liff,
Men nat trauaile for no confortatiff.
Letuaries and dyuers pociouns,
Serche in phesik sundri disciplynes
Them to diete in ther transgressiouns,
Restoratyves and eek confecciouns,
But onto Godward, in this present liff,
Men nat trauaile for no confortatiff.
Men ther bodies will putten in distresse
Off fals desir and coueitous feruence,
Onli tacroche and wynne gret richesse,
Suffre cold, labour and violence,
And nouther spare for gold nor for dispence
To vndirfonge pereilles off veynglorie,
Onli for thynges that be transitorie.
Off fals desir and coueitous feruence,
Onli tacroche and wynne gret richesse,
Suffre cold, labour and violence,
And nouther spare for gold nor for dispence
To vndirfonge pereilles off veynglorie,
Onli for thynges that be transitorie.
Thei passe mounteyns & many hidous roche,
In hope it sholde to ther entent auaile,
To many mortal monstre thei approche,
And be many vnkouth se thei saile,
Iuparte ther liff in werre and in bataile,
Be many daunger & many streiht thei ride
For worldli tresour, which shal no while abide.
In hope it sholde to ther entent auaile,
To many mortal monstre thei approche,
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Iuparte ther liff in werre and in bataile,
Be many daunger & many streiht thei ride
For worldli tresour, which shal no while abide.
But toward goodis that be perdurable,
Ful lite or nouht ther hertis thei enclyne;
Nor to the heuenli cuntre most notable,
Thei wil nat lefft up nouther hed nor chyne,—
Toward the speeris off Phebus & Lucyne,
Castyng ther stremys to vs fro so ferre,
Which to considre all worldli men doon erre.
Ful lite or nouht ther hertis thei enclyne;
Nor to the heuenli cuntre most notable,
Thei wil nat lefft up nouther hed nor chyne,—
Toward the speeris off Phebus & Lucyne,
Castyng ther stremys to vs fro so ferre,
Which to considre all worldli men doon erre.
What myhte auaile the grete couetise
Off kyng Xerses in [his] estaat roial?
Or the gret peeple, which ye han herd deuise,—
Ten hundred thousand;—the peeple was nat smal.
But, for al that, he hadde an hidous fal,
Whan that he was, as is toforn remembrid,
On pecis smale pitousli dismembrid.
Off kyng Xerses in [his] estaat roial?
Or the gret peeple, which ye han herd deuise,—
Ten hundred thousand;—the peeple was nat smal.
But, for al that, he hadde an hidous fal,
Whan that he was, as is toforn remembrid,
On pecis smale pitousli dismembrid.
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