The Cambridge ms (University library, Gg. 4.27) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 256]

Here begynnyth the Monk his tale [folio 352a]

I Wole be-wayle in manere of Tragedie The harm of hem that stood in hey degre And fellyn so that theere nas no remedie To brynge hem out of here aduercitee Line 3184 For certeyn whan that fortune leste to fle Theere may no man the cours of hire withholde Lat not man truste on blynd prosperitee By-war by these exsaumplys trewe & olde Line 3188

[Lucifer.]

At lucyfer thow he an aungel weere And not a man at hym I wele begynne For thow fortune may noon aungel deere From high degre ȝit fel he for his synne Line 3192 Doun in-to helle where as he ȝit is inne O lucifer bryȝteste / of aungellis alle Now art thow satenas that mayst not twynne Out of myserie / in which that thow art falle Line 3196

[Adam.]

Loo Adam in the feeld of damassene With goddys owene fyngyr mad was hee And not begetyn of manys sperme onclene And welte al paradys sauynge on tree Line 3200 Hadde neuere wordely man so heigh degree As adam tyl he for mysgouernaunce Was dreue out of his hye prosperite To labour & to helle & to myschaunce Line 3204

[6-text p 257]

[Sampson.]

Loo Sampson that was annunciat [folio 352b] By aungel longe er his natyuite And was to god almyghty consecrat And stood in noblesse whil he myȝte see Line 3208 Was neuere swich a-nothir as was hee To speke of strenthe & therwyth hardynesse But to hise wiuys tolde he his secree Thorw whiche he slow hym self for wrechedenesse Line 3212

Sampson this noble almyghty champioun With-outyn wepene saue hise handis tweye He slow & al to-rente the lyoun Toward his weddyng walkynge by the weye Line 3216 His false wif coude hym so pleese & preye Til sche his conseyl knew & sche vntrewe Vn-to hise fois his conseyl gan be-wreye And hym forsok & tok a-nothir newe Line 3220

Thre hunderede foxis tok Sampson for yre And alle here taylys he to-gedere bond And sette the foxis taylys alle on feere For he on euery tayl hadde knyt a brond Line 3224 And they brende alle the corn in that lond On alle hire Oliueis & vinys ek A thousent men ek slow he with his hond And hadde non wepene but an assis cheeke Line 3228

Whan they were slayn so trustede hym that he Was wol nygh lorn for which he gan to preye That god wolde on his peyne han sum pete And sende hym drynk / or ellis muste he deye Line 3232 And of this Assis cheke that was dreye Owt of a wange tooth / sprong a-noon a welle Of whiche he drank I-nough schortely to seye Thus helpede hym god as Iudicum can telle Line 3236

[6-text p 258] Line 3236

By verray force at a Gaȝan on a nyght Maugere philistienys of that Citee The ȝatis of the toun he hath vp plyȝt [folio 353a] And on his bak I-karyede hem hath hee Line 3240 Hye on an hil wheere as men myȝte hym se O noble almyghty Sampson leue & deere Haddist thow nat told to women thyn secre In al this world ne hadde be thyn peere Line 3244

This Sampson neythir Sythir drank ne wyn Nor on his heed cam rasor non ne scheere By precept of the massangeer deuyn / For alle hise strenthis in hise heris weere Line 3248 And fully twenty wyntyr ȝeer be ȝeere He hadde of Israel the gouernaunce But soone schal he wepe ful manye a teere For women schal hym brynge to myschaunce Line 3252

Vn-to his leman Dalida he tolde That in hise heris al hise strenthe lay And falsely to hise fomen sche hym solde And slepynge vp in hire barm vp-on a day Line 3256 Sche maade to clippe or schere his heer a-way And made his fomen his craft espyen And whan that they hym fond in this aray They boundyn hym faste & puttyn out hise eyen Line 3260

But er his heed / was clyppid or I-schaue Theere was no bond / with whiche men mygh hym bynde But now is he / in prisoun in a Caue Wheere as they made / hym at the querne to grynde Line 3264 O noble Sampson / strongeste of man kynde O whilom Iuge / in glorye & in rychesse Now mayst thow wepyn / with thynne eyen blynde Sythe thow from wele / art fallyn in wrechedenesse Line 3268

[6-text p 259] Line 3268

The ende of this caytyf was as I schal seye Hise fomen made / a feste vp-on a day And made hym as a fool / by-fore hem pleye And this was in a temple / of greet aray Line 3272 But at the laste he maade a foul affray [folio 353b] For he two pilleris schok / & made hem falle And doun fil temple & al there it lay And slow hym self & ek hise fo-men alle Line 3276

This is to seyne the pryncis euerychon And ek thre hunderede bodyis weere theere slayn With fallynge of the greete temple of stoon Of Sampsoun wele I no moore seyn Line 3280 Beth war bi this ¹exsaummple olde & pleyn¹ That no man telle here conseyl to here wyuys Of swich thyng as they wele haue secre fayn If that it touche / hire / lymys or hire lyuys Line 3284

[Hercules.]

Of Hercules the souereyn conquerour Syngyn his laude his werkis & his renoun For in his tyme of strenthe he was the flour He slow & rafte the skyn from the lyoun He of Centauros leyde the beste a-doun He arpijs slow the crewel briddys felle He goldene appillis / rafte of the dragoun He drow out Cerberus out of helle Line 3292

He slow the crewel tyraunt Busirus And made his hors to frete hym flesch & boon He slow the fery serpent venymous Of Achilois hornys ³too / he brak on³ Line 3296 And he slow Cakus in a Caue of stoon. He slow the geaunt Antheus the stronge He slow the gresely boor & that a-noon And bar the heed vp-on his spere longe Line 3300

[6-text p 260] Line 3300

Was neuere wight swich sithe that this world be-gan That slow so manye monstris as dede he Thourw out this wide world his name ran What for his strenthe & for his hye bounte Line 3304 And euery reume wente he for to se He was so strong that no man myghte hym lette At boothe the wordys endis seyth trophee [folio 354a] In-stede of boundis / he a piller sette Line 3308

A lemman hadde this noble Champioun That highte dianira / frosch as may And as these clerkis makyn mencyoun Sche hath hym sent a scherte frosch & gay Line 3312 Allas this scherte allas & weyleaway Enuenymyd was so subtyl with alle That er that he hadde wered it half a day It made his flesch al from hise bonys falle Line 3316

But natheles summe clerkis hire excusyn By on that hyghte Nessius that it makid Be as be may I wele hire not excusyn But on his bak this scherte he werede al nakid Line 3320 Til that the scherte was for the venym blakid And whan he saw noon othir remedye In hoote colys he hath hym self I-rakyd For with no venym deynede hym to deye Line 3324

Thus starf this myghti Hercules Lo ho may truste on fortune ony throwe ffor hym that folwith al this world of prees Er he be war is ofte I-leyd ful lowe Line 3328 fful wis Is he that can hym seluyn knowe Beeth war for whanne that fortune leste to glose Thanne waytith sche hire man to ouerthrowe By swich a weye as he wolde lest suppoose Line 3332

[6-text p 261]

[Nebuchadnezzar.]

¶ The myȝty trone the precious tresor The gloriouse Ceptre & royal mageste That hadde the kyng Nabegodonosor With tunge onethe may discryuede be Line 3336 He twijs wan Ierusalem Cete The vessel of the temple he with hym ladde At babiloine was his souereyn see In whiche his glorye & his delyt he ladde Line 3340

The fayreste childeryn of the blod royal [folio 354b] Of Israel he leet do gilde a-noon And makede eche of hem to been his thral A-mongis othere Danyel was oon Line 3344 That was the wiseste child of euerichon For he the dremys of the child expoungnede Where-as in chaldeye clerk was theere noon That wiste to what fyn hise dremys sounede Line 3348

The proude kyng leet make a statute of gold Syxti Cubitis longe & seuene in breede To whiche ymage he bothe ȝonge & olde Comaunded to loute & haue in dreede Line 3352 Or in a furneys ful of flaumbis reede He schal been brend that wolde not obeye But neuere wolde assente to that deede Danyel ne hise ȝonge felawys tweye Line 3356

This kyng of kyngis proud was & elayt He wende that god that sit in Mageste Ne myghte hym not byreue of his estat And sodeynly he loste his dygnetee Line 3360 And lik a beste hym semede for to bee And eet hey as an oxe & lay there oute In reyn with wilde bestis walkede he Tyl certeyn tyme was I-comyn a-boute Line 3364

[6-text p 262] Line 3364

And lyk an egellis federis wexsyn his erys Hise naylis lyk a briddis clawis weere Til god relesede hym a certeyn ȝerys And ȝaf hym wit & thanne with manye a teere Line 3368 He thankede god & euere his lyf in feere Was he to doon a-mys or moore trespace And tyl that tyme / he leyd was on his beere He knew that god was ful of myȝt & graace Line 3372

[Belshazzar.]

His sone which that hyȝte Balthasar That held the regne aftyr hire fadyris day He by his fader coude not be war [folio 355a] ffor proud he was of herte & of aray Line 3376 And ek an ydolastre was he ay Hise hye estat assurede hym in pryde But fortune caste hym doun & there he lay And sodeynly his regne he gan deuyde Line 3380

A feste he made vnto hise lordis alle Vp-on a day & bad hem blythe bee And thanne hise offiseris gan he calle Goth bryngith forth the vessell quod he Line 3384 Which that myn fadyr in his prosperite Out of the temple of ¹Ierusalem¹ berafte And to oure hye goddis thanke we Of honour that oure olderis with vs lafte Line 3388

His wif hise lordis & hise concubynys Ay dronkyn whil here apetitis laste Out of these noble vessellis sundery wynys And on a wal this kyng his eyen caste Line 3392 And saw an hand armles that wrot ful faste ffor ¹feere¹ of whiche he quok & sykede soore This hand that balthasar so soore a-gaste Wroot Mane ¹techel¹ phares & na moore Line 3396

[6-text p 263] Line 3396

In al that land magicien was non That coude expoungne what these letterys mente But danyel expoungnede it a-noon And seyde kyng god to thyn fadyr sente Line 3400 Glorie & honour / regne tresor rente And he was proud / & no thyng god ne dradde And therfore god greet ¹wreche¹ on hym sente And hym berafte / the regne that he hadde Line 3404

He was out cast of manny cumpaynye With assis was his habytacioun And eet hay as a beste / in weet & drye Tyl that he knew by grace & by resoun Line 3408 That god of heuene hath domynacioun [folio 355b] Of euery regne / & euery creature And thanne hadde god of hym compascioun And hym restorede his regne & his figure Line 3412

Ek thow that art his sone art proud also And knowist alle these sygnys verrayly And art rebel to god & art his foo Thow drank ek of hise wellys boldely Line 3416 Thyn wyf ek & thynne wenchis synfully Dronke of the same vessel sundery wynys And heryist false goddis cursedely Therfore to the I-schapyn ful greet pyne is Line 3420

This hand was sent from god that on the wal Wroot mane techel phares trust to me Thyn regne is doon thow weyest noght at al Deuidit is thyn regne / & it schal bee Line 3424 To Medes & to perses ȝeuyn quod he And tilke same nyȝt this kyng was slawe And Daryus ocupied his degree Thow he thereto hadde neythir ryȝt ne lawe Line 3428

[6-text p 264] Line 3428

Lordyngis ensaumple hereby may ȝe take. How that in lordschepe is no sekyrnesse. For whan fortune wele a man forsake. Sche beryth a-wey his regne & hys rychesse. Line 3432 And ek hise frendis bothe moore & lasse. For what that hath frendis thourr fortune. Mishap wele make hem enemyis I gesse. This prouerbe is ful soth & ful comune. Line 3436

[Zenobia.]

¶ Cenobia of palimerye queene As wrytyn percyens of hire noblesse So worthi was in armys & so keene That no whit passede hire in hardynesse Line 3440 Ne in lynage nor othir gentillesse Of kyngis blod of perse is sche dessendid I seye that sche hadde not mooste fayrenesse [folio 356a] But of hire schap sche myȝte nat been a-mendid. Line 3444

From hire childhod / I fynde that sche fledde Offise of wemen & to wode sche wente And manye a wylde hertis blood sche schedde With arwis broode that sche to hym sente Line 3448 Sche was so swift that sche anoon hem hente And whan that sche was eldere sche wolde kylle Leonys lebardis & beris al to-rente And in hire armys wilde hem at hire wille Line 3452

Sche durste wilde beestis denys seeke And rennyn in the mounteigny[s] al be nyght And slepyn vndyr the busch / & sche coude ek Wrastellyn by verray forse & verray myght Line 3456 With any ȝong man were he neuere so wight There myghte no thyng in hire armys stonde Sche kepte hire maydynheed from euery wyght To no man degnede hire for to been bonde Line 3460

[6-text p 265] Line 3460

But at the laste hire frendys haddyn hire maryed To onedake a prynce of that cuntree Al weere it so that sche hem longe taryed And ȝe schal vndyrstonde how that he Line 3464 Hadde swiche fantasyis as hadde sche But nathelees whan they weere knyt in feere They leuede in Ioye & in felycite For eche of hem hadde othir leef & deere Line 3468

Saue on thyng that sche wolde neuere assente By no wey. that he schulde by hire lye But ones: for it was hire pleyn entente To haue a child the world to multyplye Line 3472 And also sone as sche myghe espye That sche was nat with childe with that deede Thanne wolde sche suffere hym don his fantasye Eft sonys & not but onys out of dreede Line 3476

And If sche were with childe at tylke cast [folio 356b] Namore schulde he pleyen tylke game Tyl fynally fourty dayis weere past Thanne wolde sche onys suffere hym the same Line 3480 Al weere this Onedake wilde or tame He gat na moore of hire for thus sche sayde It was to wyuys lecherye & schame In othir cas ȝif men with hem playede Line 3484

Two sonys bi this Onedake hadde sche The whiche sche kepte / in vertu & lettyrure But now vn-to oure tale turne we I seye so worschepeful a criature Line 3488 And wis therewith & large with mesure So peynyble in the werre & curteys ek Ne moore labour myghte in werre endure Was noon thow al this world men schulde seeke Line 3492

[6-text p 266] Line 3492

Hyre ryche aray myghte not be told As wel in vessel as in hyre clothynge Sche was al clad in perre & in golde And ek sche lafte not for noon huntynge Line 3496 To haue of sundery tungis ful knowynge Whan that sche leyseer hadde / & for to entende To lerne bokys was hire lykynge How sche myghte in wertu hire lyf dyspende Line 3500

And schortely of this story for to trete So doughty was hire husbonde & ek sche That they conquerede manye regnys greete In the oryent with manye a fayr cete Line 3504 Apertenaunt vn-to the mageste Of rome & with strong hand held hem faste Ne neuere myghte hire fomen don hem fle Ay whil ¹that Onadakys dayis laste¹ Line 3508

Hyre bataylis who so lyste hem for to reede A-gayn soper the kyng & othere moo And how that al this proces fyl in deede [folio 357a] Why sche conquerede & what tytle therto Line 3512 And aftyr of hire myschif & hire wo Hov that sche was be-segit & I-take Let hym vn-to myn maystir Petraik go That writ I-nough of this I vndyrtake Line 3516

Whan Onedake was deed sche myghtyly The regnys held & with hire propre hond A-gayns hire fois sche faught so crewelly That theere nas kyng nor prynce in al that lond Line 3520 That he nas glad ȝif he that grace fond That sche ne wolde vp-on his lond werreye With hire they made allyaunce by bond To been in pees & leete hire ryde & pleye Line 3524

[6-text p 267] Line 3524

The Emperour of rome Claudius Ne hym be-forn the Romen Galyeen Ne durste neuere been so corageous Ne noon Ermyn ne non Egipcien Line 3528 Ne Surreyn ne non Arabieen With-inne the feeldys that durste with hire fyȝt Lest that sche wolde hem wit hire handis sleen Or with hire meyne puttyn hem to flyght Line 3532

In kyngis habite wente hire sonys two As heyris of hire faderys regnes alle And hermanno / & thimalao Hire namys were as .persiens. hem calle Line 3536 But ay fortune hath in hire hony galle This myghty queen may no while endure Fortune out of hire regne / made hire falle To wrechedenesse & to mysauenture Line 3540

Aurelyan whan that the gouernaunce Of Rome cam In-to hire handis tweye He schop vp-on his queen to doon vengeaunce And with hise legiounnys he tok his weye Line 3544 Toward Senobie & schortely for to seye [folio 357b] He made hire fle / & at the laste hire hente And feterede hire & ek hire chyldere tweye And wan the lond & hom to rome he wente Line 3548

A-mongis othere thyngis that he wan Hire chaar that was with gold wrought & perre This greete roman this aurelian Hath with hym lad for that men schulde it se Line 3552 By-forn his triumphe walkyth sche With gilte cheynys ¹vp-on here nekke hangynge¹ Corounede was sche as aftyr hyre degree And ful of perre chargit hire clothynge Line 3556

[6-text p 268] [6-text p 271] Line 3556

Allas fortune sche that whilom was Dredeful to kyngis & to emperourys Now gauryth al the peple on hire allas And sche that helmede was in starke stourys Line 3560 And wan by force tounnys stronge & tourvs Schal on hire heed now were a vitremyte And sche that bar the Ceptre ful of flour Schal bere a distaf hire cost forto quyte Line 3564

[Nero.]

Al-thow that Nero were vicious As ony feend that lyth ful lowe a-doun Line 3654 Ȝit as tellyth vs Switonyus This wide world hadde in subieccioun Line 3656 Bothe est & west / North & Septemptrioun Of Rubees Safferys / & of perlys whyte Weere alle hise clothis broudede vp & doun For he in gemmys gretly gan delyte Line 3660

More delicat / more pompous of aray Moore proud was neuere emperour than hee That ilke cloth that he hadde wered a day Aftyr that tyme he wolde it neuere se Line 3664 Nettis of gold thred hadde he greet plente To fysche in tibre whan hym lyste to pleye His lustis were alle lawe in his decree [folio 358a] For fortune as his frend / hym wolde obeye Line 3668

He Rome brende for his delicasie The Senatouris he slow vp-on a day To heere how that men schulde weepe & crye And slow his brothir & by his sistyr lay Line 3672 His modyr made he in pytous array ffor he hyre wombe slytte to byholde Wheere he conseyuede was so weyle-awey That he so lytyl of his modyr tolde Line 3676

[6-text p 271] [6-text p 272] Line 3676

No teer out of hise eyen for that syght Ne cam but seyde a fayr woman was sche Greet wondyr is how that he coude or myghte Be domysman of hire deede beaute Line 3680 The wyn to bryngyn hym comaundede he And drank a-noon / non othyr wo he made Whan myght is Ioyned on to creweltee Allas to deepe wil the venym wade Line 3684

In ȝouthe a maystyr hadde this Emperour To teche hym letterure & curteysye For of moralite he was the floure As in his tyme but ȝif bokis lye Line 3688 And whil this Maystyr hadde of hym maystrye He makede hym so cunning & so souple That long tyme it was er tyranye Or ony vice durste on hym oncouple Line 3692

This Seneca / of which that I deuyse By cause that Nero hadde of hym swich dreede For he from vicis wolde hym ay chastyse Discretly by word & not by deede Line 3696 Syre wolde he seyn an emperour mot neede Been vertyuous & hatyn tyrannye For which he in a bath made hym to bleede On bothe hise armys tyl he muste deye Line 3700

This Nero hadde ek of a custumance [folio 358b] In ȝouthe a-geyn his maystyr for to ryse Which aftyrward hym thoughte a greet greuaunce Therfore he made hym deye in this wyse Line 3704 But natheles this Seneca the wise Ches in a bath to deye in this ²manere² Rathere than han a-nothir ³turmantrise³ And thus hath Nero slayn his maystir deere Line 3708

[6-text p 272] [6-text p 273] Line 3708

Now fil it so that fortune leste no lengere The hyghe pryde of nero to cheryce For thow that he were strong ȝit was sche strengere Sche thouȝte thus bi god I am to nyce Line 3712 To sette a man that is fulfyld of vice In high degre & emperour hym calle By god out of his seete I wele hym tryce Whan he lest wenyth / sonest schal he falle Line 3716

The peple ros vp on hym on a nygh[t] For his defaute & whan he it espyed Out of his doris he hath a-non hym dygh[t] A-loone & theere he wende a been alyed Line 3720 He knokkede faste & ay the more he cryede The fastere schettyn they the dorys alle Tho wiste he weel he hadde hym self mys gyede And wente his wey no lengere durste he calle Line 3724

The peple cryede / & rumblede vp & doun That with hise eris herde he how they seyde Wheere is this false tyraunt this neroun For fer almost out of his wit he broyde Line 3728 And to hise goddis pitously he preyede For socour but it myghte not be-tyde For dreed of this hym thoughte he deyede And ran in-to a gardyn hym to hyde Line 3732

And in this gardyn fond he cherlys tweye That seetyn by a fyr / greet & reed And to these cherlys two he gan to preye [folio 359a] To sleen hym & to gyrdyn of his heed Line 3736 That to his body whan that he was deed Weere no dispyt doon / for his defame Hym selue he slow be coude no betere red Of whiche fortune lough & hadde game Line 3740

[6-text p 273] [6-text p 274]

[Holofernes.]

¶ Was neuere a capitayn vndyr a kyng That regnys mo pute in subieccioun Ne strongere was in feeld of alle thyng As in his tyme ne grettere of renoun Line 3744 Ne moore pompous in high presumpcioun Than oloferne whiche fortune ay kyste So licorously & ladde hym vp & doun Til that his hed was of or that he wyste Line 3748

Nat only that this world hadde hym in awe For lesynge of rychesse or liberte But made euery man reneye his lawe Nabugodonosor was god seyde hee Line 3752 Noon othir god schulde adowred bee A-geyn this heste no whigh dar trespace Saue in Bethulia a strong cete Where Eliachym a prest was of that place Line 3756

But tak keep of the deth of Oloferne A-mydde his ost / he dronke lay a nyght With-inne his tente / as large as is a berne And ȝit for al his pompe & al his myght Line 3760 Iudith a woman as he lay vp-right Slepynge his heed of smot / & from his tente Ful priuyly sche stal from euery wight And with his heed / vn-to hire towr sche wente Line 3764

[Antiochus.]

What nedyth it of kyng antiochus To telle his hyghe royal magestee His hyghe pride hise werkys venymous For swich a-nothyr was theere non as he Line 3768 Reede which that he was in machabee [folio 359b] And reede the proude wordis that he seyde And whi he fyl from high prosperite And in an hil how wrechedely he deyede Line 3772

[6-text p 274] [6-text p 275] Line 3772

Fortune hadde hym enchauntede so in pride That verrayly he wende he myghte attayne On-to the sterris vp-on euery syde And in a balaunce weyn eche mountayne Line 3776 And alle the flodys of the see restrayne And goddis peple hadde he most in hate Hem wolde he slen in turnement & in peyne Wenynge that god ne myghte his pride a-bate Line 3780

And for that nychanore & thymothee With Iewis were venquischid myghtily Vn-to the Iewis swich an hate hadde he That he bad ordeyne his char ful hastily Line 3784 And swoor & seyde ful dispitously Vn-to Ierusalem he wolde eft soone To wreeke his yre on it ful crewelly But of his purpos he was let ful soone Line 3788

God for his manace hym so soore smot With inuisible wounde ay incurable That in hise guttis carveit so & bot That hise peynys were Importable Line 3792 And certeynly the wreche was resonable For manye a manys guttis dede he peyne But from his purpos cursede & dampnable For al his smert he wolde hym nat restrayne Line 3796

But bad a-noon aparaylyn his host And sodeynly er he was of it war God dauntede al his pryde & al his bost For he so sore fil out of his Chaar Line 3800 That ²it hese² lymys & his skyn to-tar So that he neythir myghte go ne ryde But in a chaar men a-boute hym bar [folio 360a] Al forbrosed bothe bak & syde Line 3804

[6-text p 275] [6-text p 276] Line 3804

The wreche of god hym smoot so crewelly That thurgh his body wikkede wermys crepte And therwythal he stank so horybely That noon of al his meyne that hym kepte Line 3808 Whethir so he a-wok or ellis sleepte Ne myghte not the stynk of hym endure In this myschef he waylede & ek wepte And knew god lord of euery cryature Line 3812

To al his host & to hym self also Ful wlatsom was the stynk of his carayne No man myghte hym beryn to ne fro And in this stynk & in this horible peyne Line 3816 He starf ful wrechedely in a mounteyne Thus hath this robbour & this homycyde That manye a man made to weepe & pleyne Swich gwerdoun as bylongith on-to pryde Line 3820

[Alexander the Great.]

¶ The storye of alysaundir is so comune That euery wight that hath discrecioun Hath herd al or sumwhat of his fortune This wyde world as in conclusioun Line 3824 He wan by strenthe / & for his highe renoun They weere glad for pees vn-to hym sende The pride of man & beste he leyde a-doun Wheere so he cam vn-to the worldis ende Line 3828

Comparisoun myghte neuere ȝit been makyd By-twixen hym & a-nothir conquerour For al this world for dreed of hym hath quakyd He of knyghthod & of fredom flour Line 3832 Fortune hym made the heyere of hire honour Save wyn & wemen no thyng myȝte aswage His hye entente in armys & labour So ful he was of lyonyn corage Line 3836

[6-text p 276] [6-text p 277] Line 3836

What preys weere it for hym thow that I tolde [folio 360b] Of daryus & an hunderede thousent mo Of Kyngis Dukis. Erlys. pryncis bolde Whiche he conquerede & broughte in-to woo Line 3840 I seye as fer as men may ryde or go The world was his what schulde I moore deuyse For thow I wryte or tolde ȝow euere mo Of his knyghthod it myghte not suffyse Line 3844

Twelue ȝeer he regnede / as seyth Machabee Philippis sone of Macidonye he was That fyrst was kyng of grece the cuntre O worthi gentile Alisaundere allas Line 3848 That euere schulde fallyn swich a cas Enpoisounnede of thynne owene folk thow weere Thyn sys fortune hath turnede in-to aas And for the ne wepe sche neuere a teere Line 3852

Who schal me ȝeuyn teerys to compleyne The deth of gentilesse & of fraunchise That al this world weldede in his demeigne And ȝit hym thoughte it myghte nat suffyse Line 3856 So ful was his corage / of high empryse Allas ho schal me helpe to endyte ffals fortune & poysoun to dispise The whiche two of al this wo I wyte Line 3860

[Julius Cæsar.]

¶ By wisdam manhod & by greet labour From homble bed to royal mageste Vp ros he Iulius the conquerour That wan al th occydent bothe lond & se Line 3864 By strenthe of hand or ellys by tretee And vn-to Roome made hem trybutarye And sithe the Emperour of rome was he Tyl that fortune wex his Aduersarye Line 3868

[6-text p 277] [6-text p 278] Line 3868

¶ O myghty Cesar that in Thessalye A-geyns Pompeynys fadyr thyn in lawe That of thorient hadde al the Chiualrye [folio 361a] As fer as that the day be-gynnyth dawe Line 3872 Thow thour thyn kynghod hast hem take & slawe Saue fewe folk that with Pompeious fledde Thorw which thow puttist al the oryent in awe Thanke fortune that so weel the spedde Line 3876

But now a lytyl while I wele bewayle / This Pompeyous this nobele gouernour Of Rome whiche that fleigh at this batayle I seye on of his men a fals traytour Line 3880 His hed of smot to wynnyn hym fauour Of Iulius & hym the hed he broughte Allas Pompeye of thorient Conquerour That ffortune vn-to swich a fyn the broughte Line 3884

To Rome a-gayn repayrith Iulius With his tryumphe lauryat ful hye But on a tyme Brutus Cassius That euere hadde of his estaat enuye Line 3888 Ful pryuyly hath mad conspiracye A-geyns this Iulius in subtyl wise And caste the place in whiche he schulde deye With boydekynys / as I schal ȝow deuyse Line 3892

This Iulius to the capitolye wente Vp-on a day as he was wone to goon And in the Capitolye a-non hym hente This false Brutus & ¹hese othere ffoon¹ Line 3896 And stikede hym with Boydekynys a-noon With manye a wounde & thus they leete hym lye But neuere gront he at no strok but oon Or ellis at two / but if his storye lye Line 3900

[6-text p 278] [6-text p 279] Line 3900

So manly was this Iulyus at herte And so weel louyd estatly honeste That thow hise dedly woundis soore smerte His mental ouer his hepis castyth he Line 3904 For non man schulde seen his priuyte [folio 361b] And as he lay on deyinge in a traunce And wiste verrayly that deed he muste bee Of honeste ȝit hadde he remembraunce Line 3908

Lucan to this storye I recomende And to Swetoun & to valerius also That of the storye wrytyn word & ende How that these greete Conquerourys two Line 3912 Fortune was fyrst freend & sithe a foo No man ne truste vp-on hire fauour longe But haue hire in a-wayte for euere mo Witnesse on alle these conquerourys stronge Line 3916

[Cresus.]

¶ This ryche crysus whilom kyng of lyde Of whiche Cresus / Cirus soore hym dradde Ȝit was he caught a-mydde al his pryde And to be brent men to the fuyr hym ladde Line 3920 But swich a reyn doun from the walkyn shadde That slow the fuyr & made hym to escape But to be war no grace ȝit he hadde Til fortune on the galwis made hym gape Line 3924

Whan he escapid was ¹he can nat stente¹ For to begynne a newe werre a-gayn He wende weel for that fortune hym sente Swich hap that he escapid thour the rayn Line 3928 That of hise fois he myghte nat been slayn And ek a sweuene vp-on a nyght he mette Of which he was so proud & ek so fayn That in vengeaunce he al his herte sette Line 3932

[6-text p 279] [6-text p 280] [6-text p 268] Line 3932

Vp-on a tre he was as that hym thouȝte Where Iubiter hym wesch bothe bak & syde And phebus ek a fayr towayle hym broughte To dreye hym with & therfore wex his pryde Line 3936 And to his doughtyr which that stod hym besyde Which that he knew in high science habounde He bad hire telle hym what it signefye [folio 362a] And sche his dreem bygan ryght thus expoungne Line 3940

The tre quod sche the galwis is to meene. And Iubiter bitokenyth snow & reyn. And Phebus with his towayle so cleene. Tho been the sunnys stremys for to seyn. Line 3944 Thow schat an hangede been fadyr certayn. Reyn schal the wasche & sounne schal the dreye. Thus warnede hym ful plat & ful pleyn. His doughtyr which that callede was Phanye. Line 3948

An hangede was Cresus the proude kyng His royal trone myghte hym not a-vayle Tragedy is noon othir manere thyng Ne can in syngynge crye ne bewayle Line 3952 But for that fortune al day wele assayle With vn-war strok the regnys that been proude For whan men trustyth hire thanne wele sche fayle And couere hire brighte face with a cloude Line 3956

[Peter the Cruel, of Spain.]

.O. noble .O. worthy Petro glorie of Spayne Whom fortune heeld so highe in mageste Weel oughtyn men thyn petous deth to compleyne Out of thyn land thyn brothir made the fle Line 3568 And aftyr at a sege by subtyletee Thow were betraysed & lad vn-to his tente Wheere as he with his owene hand slow the Succedynge in thy regne & in thyn rente Line 3572

[6-text p 268] [6-text p 269] Line 3572

The feld of snow / with the egel of blak therin Caugh with the lymerod colourede al with glede. He brew this cursedenesse & al this synne The wekede nest was werkere of this neede Line 3576 Nought Charles / Olyuer that tok ay hede Of trouthe & honour but of armoryke Genyloun Olyuer corrupt for meede Broughte this worthi kyng to swich a bryke Line 3580

[Peter of Cyprus.]

O worthy Petro Kyng of Cipre also [folio 362b] That Alisaundere wan by high maystrye fful manye an hethene wroughtist thow ful wo Of whiche tweyne oune lyges hadde envie Line 3584 And for no thyng but for thy chiualrye They in thyn bed han slayn the by the morwe Thus can fortune / hire wheel gouerne & gye And out of Ioye brynge men to sorwe Line 3588

[Bernabo Visconti, of Milan.]

¶ Of Melan grete Bernabo Viscounte God of delyt & schorge of lumbardye Whi schulde I nough thyn Infortune acounte Syn in estat thow clombyn weere so hye Line 3592 Thyn brotherys sone that was thyn double allye ffor he thyn nevew was & sone in lawe With-inne his prysoun made the to deye But why he how not I that thow weere slawe Line 3596

[Ugolino, Count of Pisa.]

¶ Of the Erl hugelyn of Pyre the langour Theere may no tunge telle for pite But lytyl out of Pize stant a tour In which tour in prysoun put was he Line 3600 And with hym been hise lyte childere thre The oldeste skarsely fyue ȝeer was of age Allas fortune it was greet crewelte Swiche bryddis to putte in swich a cage Line 3604

[6-text p 269] [6-text p 270] Line 3604

Dampnede was he to deye in that prysoun For Roger which that bischop was of Pyze Hadde on hym mad a fals suggestioun Thour the peple gan vp-on hym ryse Line 3608 And puttyn hym in prysoun in swich wyse As ȝe han herd & mete & drynk he hadde So smal that wel anethe it may suffyse And there withal it was fful poore & badde Line 3612

And on a day by-fel that in that hour Whan that his meete / wont was to been brought [The Ieylour shet þe dores of þe toure [Sloane MS 1685 folio 209a] he herd it wele but he sawe it nouȝt Line 3616 As in hys herte a-none þere felle a þouȝt þat þei for hungre wolde done hem dye Alas. quod he Alas þat I was wrouȝt þere-with þe teeres felle fro þe eye Line 3620

His ȝonge sonne þre ȝeere was of age Vnto hym said fader why do ȝe wepe Whan wille þe Gaylour brynge our potage Is þere no morselle brede þat ȝe do kepe Line 3624 I am so hongerye þat I may not slepe Nowe wolde god þat I myȝte slepen euere [Than schulde non hungre in my wombe crepe. Ther/ is/ nothyng saue breed that me were leuyr/. [Harl. 1758 folio 188b] ] Line 3628

Thys day by day þe childe gan to crye [Sloane MS 1685 folio 209a] Tyll in hys ffadere barme a doune hit lay And said fadir/ fare wele I mot deye And kyste hys fader and deyde þe same daye Line 3632 And whan hys woofulle fadere did hym saye ffor. woo hys armes too he gan to byte And sayde fortune Alas and weylaway þi. false wyles my woo I may wyte Line 3636

[6-text p 270] Line 3636

His children þat fortune hungry was þat he hys armes gnewe and not for woo And said fader do not so Alas. But rathere ete þe flesshe vpon vs twoo Line 3640 Oure. flessh þou yaveste vs take oure flesshe vs fro. And ete y-nouȝe riȝt þus to hym þei saide [Sloane MS 1685 folio 209b] And after þat with-In a day or two þei leyde hem doune in his lappe & dyed Line 3644

Hym selfe dispeyred eke for honger starfe Thus endid ys þe myȝti Erle of pyse ffro hyeȝe estate fortune fro hym carf Of þis Tregedye hit ouȝt ynouȝe suffice Line 3648 ho · so wylle here hit/ in a lenger wyse Redeth þe grete poete of Itayle þat/ hyȝt/ Daunte for he can hit deuyse Line 3651 ffro poynte to poynte not oo worde wille he fayle]

Notes

• [Painting of the Monk on horseback.]
• [This initial I is carried down to line 3198, in MS.]
• Lucifer
• Adam
• Samson
• [is corrected]
• [nd,
• en, corrected]
• [^1_1 later]
• ¶ Hercules
• [of corrected]
• [^3_3 corrected]
• [ith corrected]
• ¶ Nabegodonosor
• Baltasar
• [^1_1 corrected]
• [^1_1 corrected]
• [^1_1 corrected]
• [^1_1 corrected]
• ¶ Cenobia
• [he corrected]
• [childe, more, corrected]
• [childe, more, corrected]
• [^1_1 later correction]
• [Hov corrected]
• [R corrected]
• [first calde]
• Aurelian
• [^1_1, later corrections]
• [later corrections]
• [The modern instances which should come here, are at the end of the Tale in this MS]
• Nero
• [ing corrected]
• [^2_2 corrected]
• [^3_3 tur, ise corrected]
• Olifern
• [d later]
• Antiochus
• [? MS byn]
• [^2_2 corrected]
• Alisaundyr
• Iulius
• [o corrected]
• Cesar
• [^1_1 corrected]
• Crisus
• [^1_1 corrected]
• [m corrected]
• [These 4 modern instances should follow 'Zenobia,' p. 486 (6-T. 268).]
• Petro
• [d late]
• [d, g, ak, corrected]
• [d, g, ak, corrected]
• [d, g, ak, corrected]
• [Bertrand du Guesclin.]
• [Oliver de Mauny of Britanny.]
• Petro
• [? MS.?G]
• [Leaves 363-4, Camb. MS, are cut out; till l. 3653.]
• [Sloane MS 1685]
• [Sloane ex|tract ends.]