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 the ii, brethre, Artaxerses and Cirus/and
Artaxerses slouh his childre and concubynes/and how thei ended.] |
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 | Lydgate's Fall of Princes |  |
465
[Off the ii, brethre, Artaxerses and Cirus/and Artaxerses slouh his childre and concubynes/and how thei ended.]
Afftir the fal of Aman, dout[e]les
Whan he beste wende ha regned in his flours,
Tofor Iohn Bochas cam Artaxerses,
Most renommede his tyme of conquerours,
Which gan declare the sodeyn sharpe shours,
With al the parcellis of his mortal peyne
Which that Fortune ageyn hym gan ordeyne.
Whan he beste wende ha regned in his flours,
Tofor Iohn Bochas cam Artaxerses,
Most renommede his tyme of conquerours,
Which gan declare the sodeyn sharpe shours,
With al the parcellis of his mortal peyne
Which that Fortune ageyn hym gan ordeyne.
This Artaxerses, as put is in memorie,
Al othir pryncis excelled in richesse,
Which in his chaier, famous of worldli glorie,
And with his throne of worldli hih noblesse
Sat in his tyme, the story berth witnesse,
Hiest exaltid that was off eny kyng,—
That he sholde fall, was it an vnkouth thyng!
Al othir pryncis excelled in richesse,
Which in his chaier, famous of worldli glorie,
And with his throne of worldli hih noblesse
Sat in his tyme, the story berth witnesse,
Hiest exaltid that was off eny kyng,—
That he sholde fall, was it an vnkouth thyng!
Kynges he hadde vndir his obeissaunce,
An hundred prouynces, twenti & eek seuene,
Sone onto Darie, prynce of most puissaunce,
His fame drad[de] mor than firy leuene.
Non so myhti vndir the sterrid heuene
Acountid was that tyme, in werre & pes,
As was thys kyng callid Artaxerses.
An hundred prouynces, twenti & eek seuene,
Sone onto Darie, prynce of most puissaunce,
His fame drad[de] mor than firy leuene.
Non so myhti vndir the sterrid heuene
Acountid was that tyme, in werre & pes,
As was thys kyng callid Artaxerses.
He hadde a brother that namyd was Cirus;
Out of o stok cam ther bothe lynes.
But Artaxerses, the story tellith thus,
Was lord of greynes, of oilles & of vynes,
And hadde also bi dyuers concubynes
An hundred children, lik as it is told,
And fiftene ouer, toforn or he wex old.
Out of o stok cam ther bothe lynes.
But Artaxerses, the story tellith thus,
Was lord of greynes, of oilles & of vynes,
And hadde also bi dyuers concubynes
An hundred children, lik as it is told,
And fiftene ouer, toforn or he wex old.
Of bothe brethre the poweer laste ferre,
Duryng ther tyme stood in ful hih estat,
Yet atween hem ther was ful mortal werre,
Ageyn nature an vnkyndli debat;
For thilke werris be most infortunat,
Whan blood with blood, lat no man deemen othir,
List [to] werreie, as brother ageyn brother.
Duryng ther tyme stood in ful hih estat,
Yet atween hem ther was ful mortal werre,
Ageyn nature an vnkyndli debat;
For thilke werris be most infortunat,
Whan blood with blood, lat no man deemen othir,
List [to] werreie, as brother ageyn brother.
466
And fynal cause whi this werre gan
Atween these brethre, as maad is mencioun,
Thoruh which debat ther deied many a man,—
The ground of al and first occasioun
Was onli this: for successioun,—
Aftir kyng Darie, regnyng in Perse & Mede,
Which of them tweyne sholde next succeede.
Atween these brethre, as maad is mencioun,
Thoruh which debat ther deied many a man,—
The ground of al and first occasioun
Was onli this: for successioun,—
Aftir kyng Darie, regnyng in Perse & Mede,
Which of them tweyne sholde next succeede.
But Artaxerses bamaner prouydence
Put pryueli his brother in prisoun,
That he ne sholde make no diffence
Nor gadre peeple to his destruccioun.
This yonge Cirus, as maad is mencioun,
Was faste stokkid, and eek as it is told,
That his stokkis and fetris wer of gold.
Put pryueli his brother in prisoun,
That he ne sholde make no diffence
Nor gadre peeple to his destruccioun.
This yonge Cirus, as maad is mencioun,
Was faste stokkid, and eek as it is told,
That his stokkis and fetris wer of gold.
And thouh it be nat remembred in Bochas,
How that Cirus escaped fro prisoun,
Yit also soone as he delyuered was,
Throuh Perse and Mede ridyng up and doun,
Gadred peeple off entencioun
Thoruh old hatreede his brother to assaile.
The feeld assignede, thei metten in bataile,
How that Cirus escaped fro prisoun,
Yit also soone as he delyuered was,
Throuh Perse and Mede ridyng up and doun,
Gadred peeple off entencioun
Thoruh old hatreede his brother to assaile.
The feeld assignede, thei metten in bataile,
Wher Cirus proudli put hymsilff in pres,
To shewe his manhod in especiall,
Souhte his brother, callid Artaxerses,
And gaf to hym a wounde ful mortall,
Withoute frenshepe or fauour fraternall,
That Artaxerses, his wounde gan so ake,
Constreyned was the feeld[e] to forsake.
To shewe his manhod in especiall,
Souhte his brother, callid Artaxerses,
And gaf to hym a wounde ful mortall,
Withoute frenshepe or fauour fraternall,
That Artaxerses, his wounde gan so ake,
Constreyned was the feeld[e] to forsake.
And Cirus thanne, furious as leoun,
His aduersaries gan mortalli to wake;
But fals Fortune, ful of collusioun,
Vnder feynt smylyng a mowe gan hym make,
Which caused, alas, that day that he was take,
Afforn Iwoundid, it wolde be non othir,
And than presentid to his vnkynde brothir.
His aduersaries gan mortalli to wake;
But fals Fortune, ful of collusioun,
Vnder feynt smylyng a mowe gan hym make,
Which caused, alas, that day that he was take,
Afforn Iwoundid, it wolde be non othir,
And than presentid to his vnkynde brothir.
And thouh this Cirus hadde affor be founde
Yong, fressh and lusti, & manli of his hond,
Bi the constreynt of his mortal wounde
He died anon; for he no socour fonde.
Thanne the two kyngdamys withynne Perse-lond
Fill to the hondis of Artaxerses,
In which aftir he lyued longe in pes.
Yong, fressh and lusti, & manli of his hond,
Bi the constreynt of his mortal wounde
He died anon; for he no socour fonde.
467
Fill to the hondis of Artaxerses,
In which aftir he lyued longe in pes.
Thus a gret space, lik a myhti kyng
Al Perse he heeld vnder his obeissaunce,
Be famous noblesse gloriousli shynyng,
Hauyng of richessis most fulsum habundaunce.
And as it is Iput in remembrance,
To mor encres of his prosperite,
In trewe wedlok he hadde sonys thre.
Al Perse he heeld vnder his obeissaunce,
Be famous noblesse gloriousli shynyng,
Hauyng of richessis most fulsum habundaunce.
And as it is Iput in remembrance,
To mor encres of his prosperite,
In trewe wedlok he hadde sonys thre.
The firste of hem callid Darius;
Arabratus namyd the secounde;
And the thridde namyd was Othus,
Manli pryncis, lik as it is founde.
And of nature as the kyng was bounde,
Vnto Darie, as it is maad mencioun,
Aboue echon he hadde affeccioun.
Arabratus namyd the secounde;
And the thridde namyd was Othus,
Manli pryncis, lik as it is founde.
And of nature as the kyng was bounde,
Vnto Darie, as it is maad mencioun,
Aboue echon he hadde affeccioun.
And for he dempte hym able to the werre,
Be likliheed, of yeeris yonge and greene,
He caste fulli his noblesse to preferre;
Of hih prudence thus he dide meene,
His inpotence to supporte and susteene,
For he was feeble in Perse to regne allone,
He sette up Darie with hym in his throne.
Be likliheed, of yeeris yonge and greene,
He caste fulli his noblesse to preferre;
Of hih prudence thus he dide meene,
His inpotence to supporte and susteene,
For he was feeble in Perse to regne allone,
He sette up Darie with hym in his throne.
Which was a thyng straunge and contrarious,
Ageyn the custum of Persiens and vsance;
But he supposed his sone Darius
Sholde in such caas encrese & avaunce
His fadres parti, of natural attendaunce,
And shewe onto hym trouthe & kyndenesse,
His impotence to cherisshe of gentilesse.
Ageyn the custum of Persiens and vsance;
But he supposed his sone Darius
Sholde in such caas encrese & avaunce
His fadres parti, of natural attendaunce,
And shewe onto hym trouthe & kyndenesse,
His impotence to cherisshe of gentilesse.
But in estatis ofte it doth thus fall,
Whan that princis be ronne ferr in age,
Ther childres loue ageyn hem doth appall,
Shewyng no frenshipe sauf for auauntage,
How that thei may reioise ther heritage,
And in swich cas whan thei wexe stronge,
Thynken ther fadris lyuen al to longe.
Whan that princis be ronne ferr in age,
Ther childres loue ageyn hem doth appall,
Shewyng no frenshipe sauf for auauntage,
How that thei may reioise ther heritage,
And in swich cas whan thei wexe stronge,
Thynken ther fadris lyuen al to longe.
468
And Artaxerses stood in the same caas,
As in his stori pleynli ye shal fynde
Be rehersaile and writyng of Bochas,
How this Darie was fals & eek vnkynde,
Foryetilful, & hadde nothyng in mynde,
How his fader, the trouthe to reherse,
Hath maad hym egal with hym to regne in Perse.
As in his stori pleynli ye shal fynde
Be rehersaile and writyng of Bochas,
How this Darie was fals & eek vnkynde,
Foryetilful, & hadde nothyng in mynde,
How his fader, the trouthe to reherse,
Hath maad hym egal with hym to regne in Perse.
And to declare the firste occasioun,
To his fader how the said[e] Darie,
Bi a fals maner of rebellioun,
Gan in his werkyng for to be contrarie,
Which to discure I wil no lenger tarie,
But with my penne in al haste proceede
Heer to descryue how it fill in deede.
To his fader how the said[e] Darie,
Bi a fals maner of rebellioun,
Gan in his werkyng for to be contrarie,
Which to discure I wil no lenger tarie,
But with my penne in al haste proceede
Heer to descryue how it fill in deede.
Artaxerses, among his concubynes,
It is remembrid how that he hadde oon
Which, for to rekne wyues and virgynes,
Was fairest holde of them euerichon,
Callid Artasia, of ful yore agon,
And was that tyme, hir beaute to descryue,
Among Persiens the fairest holde a-lyue.
It is remembrid how that he hadde oon
Which, for to rekne wyues and virgynes,
Was fairest holde of them euerichon,
Callid Artasia, of ful yore agon,
And was that tyme, hir beaute to descryue,
Among Persiens the fairest holde a-lyue.
And thouh she were Ironne ferr in age,
Lik as bookis list of hire expresse,
Bothe of colour and also of visage
She kept hir beaute & hir natiff fresshnesse.
Which was aforn[e] for hir semlynesse,
To said[e] Cirus, breeffli to termyne,
Chose long afforn to been his concubyne.
Lik as bookis list of hire expresse,
Bothe of colour and also of visage
She kept hir beaute & hir natiff fresshnesse.
Which was aforn[e] for hir semlynesse,
To said[e] Cirus, breeffli to termyne,
Chose long afforn to been his concubyne.
But whan this Cirus was passid into fate,
Which for his brother myht nat lyue in pes,
Anon upon, withoute lenger date,
She was take up for kyng Artaxerses,
Because she was of beute pereles.
Aftir long tyme, whan he fill in age,
She cleymed was bi title of heritage
Which for his brother myht nat lyue in pes,
Anon upon, withoute lenger date,
She was take up for kyng Artaxerses,
Because she was of beute pereles.
Aftir long tyme, whan he fill in age,
She cleymed was bi title of heritage
Of kyng Darie bi his fader lyue,
Feynyng his cleym[e] bi successioun,
Al-thouh his fadir ageyn it dide stryve.
And thus began, as maad is mencioun,
Of ther debat the firste occasioun;
For Darie caste, al-be he bar it still,
Hir to reioysshe ageyn his fadris will.
Feynyng his cleym[e] bi successioun,
Al-thouh his fadir ageyn it dide stryve.
469
Of ther debat the firste occasioun;
For Darie caste, al-be he bar it still,
Hir to reioysshe ageyn his fadris will.
And tacomplisshe falsli his entent
Of hir to haue ful pocessioun,
Taforce his parti he made this argument:
“Cirus,” quod he, as maad is mencioun,
Regnyng in Perse the myhti regioun,
And this story doth pleynli determyne,
“For hir beute made hir his concvbyne.”
Of hir to haue ful pocessioun,
Taforce his parti he made this argument:
“Cirus,” quod he, as maad is mencioun,
Regnyng in Perse the myhti regioun,
And this story doth pleynli determyne,
“For hir beute made hir his concvbyne.”
And aftir tyme, whan Cirus was ded,
Artaxerses, his fader, ye may see,
Next hym succeedyng in Perse, it is no dreed,
List hir to cleyme eek for hir gret beaute.
“And so,” quod Darie, “she longeth now to me,
Because she is so plesaunt to my siht,
Bi successioun I wil hir cleyme of riht.”
Artaxerses, his fader, ye may see,
Next hym succeedyng in Perse, it is no dreed,
List hir to cleyme eek for hir gret beaute.
“And so,” quod Darie, “she longeth now to me,
Because she is so plesaunt to my siht,
Bi successioun I wil hir cleyme of riht.”
Thus kyng Darie to his fader saide
He wolde haue Artasia the faire.
And therwithal Artaxerses gan abraide,
And ansuerde with face debonaire,
“My sone,” quod he, “I wil nat be contraire
To thi desir, but of affeccioun
Delyueren hir to thi pocessioun.”
He wolde haue Artasia the faire.
And therwithal Artaxerses gan abraide,
And ansuerde with face debonaire,
“My sone,” quod he, “I wil nat be contraire
To thi desir, but of affeccioun
Delyueren hir to thi pocessioun.”
Of his promys he aftir gan repente,
Cast hym to make another cheuisaunce;
And secreli his concubyn he sente,
Callid Artasia, as maad is remembraunce,
And thoruh his sleihti vnkouþ purueiaunce,
Vnto the temple, swich menys he hath souht,
Of gret Appollo that she in haste was brouht.
Cast hym to make another cheuisaunce;
And secreli his concubyn he sente,
Callid Artasia, as maad is remembraunce,
And thoruh his sleihti vnkouþ purueiaunce,
Vnto the temple, swich menys he hath souht,
Of gret Appollo that she in haste was brouht.
Wher she was veilled & maad a preesteresse
Aftir the rihtis, pleynli, and the guise
Of old paynemes bamaner hoolynesse,
And ther professid for to doon seruise,
As ther statutis constreynen and deuise.
Duryng hir liff, it myhte non other be,
She bounde was to lyue in chastite.
Aftir the rihtis, pleynli, and the guise
Of old paynemes bamaner hoolynesse,
And ther professid for to doon seruise,
As ther statutis constreynen and deuise.
470
She bounde was to lyue in chastite.
This thyng was wrouhte bi the compassyng
Of Artaxerses, be froward ialousie.
Wherof Darie, the yonge lusti kyng,
Wex almost wood whan he it dide espie,
And gan compassen of malencolie,
Furious rancour & hasti cruelte
Vpon his fader auengid for to be.
Of Artaxerses, be froward ialousie.
Wherof Darie, the yonge lusti kyng,
Wex almost wood whan he it dide espie,
And gan compassen of malencolie,
Furious rancour & hasti cruelte
Vpon his fader auengid for to be.
And his parti of force to susteene,
With hym he hadde, the story maketh mynde,
His brethre in bast, an hundred & fifteene,
Which to ther fader wer fals & vnkynde.
Of al this noumbre ther lefft non behynde
That fro this purpos onys list dissente,
His deth of o will all did assente.
With hym he hadde, the story maketh mynde,
His brethre in bast, an hundred & fifteene,
Which to ther fader wer fals & vnkynde.
Of al this noumbre ther lefft non behynde
That fro this purpos onys list dissente,
His deth of o will all did assente.
Yit of this straunge fals conspiracie
Artaxerses hadde a knowlechyng,
Al-thouh the stori doth nat specefie
How, ne be whom, he hadde therof wetyng.
For which in haste, he made no tarieng
To gadre meyne & make hymsilue strong,
Hymsilff tauenge of this disnaturel wrong.
Artaxerses hadde a knowlechyng,
Al-thouh the stori doth nat specefie
How, ne be whom, he hadde therof wetyng.
For which in haste, he made no tarieng
To gadre meyne & make hymsilue strong,
Hymsilff tauenge of this disnaturel wrong.
For Artaxerses, lik as the caas tho stood,
Thouhte it sat weel to his hih noblesse,
To be venged upon vnkynde blood;
For lawe, nature decres rihtwisnesse,
And alle statutis dampne vnkyndenesse,
Wherbi this kyng occasioun dide fynde
Ageyn his childre, because thei wer vnkynde.
Thouhte it sat weel to his hih noblesse,
To be venged upon vnkynde blood;
For lawe, nature decres rihtwisnesse,
And alle statutis dampne vnkyndenesse,
Wherbi this kyng occasioun dide fynde
Ageyn his childre, because thei wer vnkynde.
Somme men deeme how gret[e] multitude
Of many childre maketh a fader strong;
But therupon, pleynli to conclude,
Vertu is cause, yif she duelle hem among.
But yif ther corage enclyneth onto wrong,
And vicious lyff do ther bridil leede,
The gretter noumbre, the wers thei must[e] speede.
Of many childre maketh a fader strong;
But therupon, pleynli to conclude,
Vertu is cause, yif she duelle hem among.
But yif ther corage enclyneth onto wrong,
And vicious lyff do ther bridil leede,
The gretter noumbre, the wers thei must[e] speede.
A progenie born of a cursid lyne
May thoruh his froward fals infeccioun,
Outward be colour of trouthe thouh he shyne,
Vnder apparence and symulacioun
Infecte and corupte al a regeoun;
For, it is seid of ful old langage,
Frut of sour trees take a sour tarage.
May thoruh his froward fals infeccioun,
471
Vnder apparence and symulacioun
Infecte and corupte al a regeoun;
For, it is seid of ful old langage,
Frut of sour trees take a sour tarage.
This was weel shewed in Artaxerses,
That suffred his brother deien at myscheeff,
Bledyng his wounde, left hym help[e]les,
Which to his name shal euer been repreeff.
Thus blood vnkynde vnkyndli makth his preeff;
For al the childre fro his stok descendid
Wer cursid echon, as heer is comprehendid.
That suffred his brother deien at myscheeff,
Bledyng his wounde, left hym help[e]les,
Which to his name shal euer been repreeff.
Thus blood vnkynde vnkyndli makth his preeff;
For al the childre fro his stok descendid
Wer cursid echon, as heer is comprehendid.
Ther stock was first contagious of nature,
The griffes froward, thouh thei wer gret in noumbre,
Which of assent dide ther besi cure
Bi fals tresoun ther fader to encoumbre.
But ther is no shade nor no couert oumbre
So closli kept, namli of fals[e] guile,
But the venym wil shewen oute sum while.
The griffes froward, thouh thei wer gret in noumbre,
Which of assent dide ther besi cure
Bi fals tresoun ther fader to encoumbre.
But ther is no shade nor no couert oumbre
So closli kept, namli of fals[e] guile,
But the venym wil shewen oute sum while.
And thus the deth contagiousli conspired
Of Artaxerses sithe go ful yore,
Wheron tauenge, hys herte was so fired
Of furious ire & Ibrent so sore,
That he nat koude differre it ferthermore,
But with his meyne fill on hem anon
Or thei wer war, and slouh hem euerichon.
Of Artaxerses sithe go ful yore,
Wheron tauenge, hys herte was so fired
Of furious ire & Ibrent so sore,
That he nat koude differre it ferthermore,
But with his meyne fill on hem anon
Or thei wer war, and slouh hem euerichon.
He slouh also al his concubynes,
That wer ther moodres, of whom I told toforn,
Suffred non to lyue of [al] ther lynes;
So of that lynage he hath the weed upshorn,
Fond among alle no greyn of good[e] corn:
Convict bi doom, whan thei wer presentid,
How to his deth echon thei wer assentid.
That wer ther moodres, of whom I told toforn,
Suffred non to lyue of [al] ther lynes;
So of that lynage he hath the weed upshorn,
Fond among alle no greyn of good[e] corn:
Convict bi doom, whan thei wer presentid,
How to his deth echon thei wer assentid.
His clothes spreynt with the vnkynde blood
Of his childre, which he dide sheede,
Aftir whos deth in gret myscheeff he stood;
And so in sorwe his lyff he dide leede,—
Deied aftir in myscheef & in dreede.
Deth quit with deth, & rage with rage:
Loo, heer the fyn of his vnweeldi age!
Of his childre, which he dide sheede,
Aftir whos deth in gret myscheeff he stood;
And so in sorwe his lyff he dide leede,—
Deied aftir in myscheef & in dreede.
Deth quit with deth, & rage with rage:
Loo, heer the fyn of his vnweeldi age!
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