The Canterbury tales

The Monk's Tale

I wol biwaille, in manere of tragedie, Line 1991 The harm of hem that stoode in heigh degree, Line 1992 And fillen so that ther nas no remedie Line 1993 To brynge hem out of hir adversitee. Line 1994 For certein, whan that fortune list to flee, Line 1995 Ther may no man the cours of hire withholde. Line 1996 Lat no man truste on blynd prosperitee; Line 1997 Be war by thise ensamples trewe and olde. Line 1998

Lucifer

At lucifer, though he an angel were, Line 1999 And nat a man, at hym wol I bigynne. Line 2000 For though fortune may noon angel dere, Line 2001 From heigh degree yet fel he for his synne Line 2002 Doun into helle, where he yet is inne. Line 2003 O lucifer, brightest of angels alle, Line 2004 Now artow sathanas, that mayst nat twynne Line 2005 Out of miserie, in which that thou art falle. Line 2006

Adam

Loo adam, in the feeld of damyssene, Line 2007 With goddes owene fynger wroght was he, Line 2008 And nat bigeten of mannes sperme unclene, Line 2009 And welte al paradys savynge o tree. Line 2010 Hadde nevere worldly man so heigh degree Line 2011 As adam, til he for mysgovernaunce Line 2012 Was dryven out of hys hye prosperitee Line 2013 To labour, and to helle, and to meschaunce. Line 2014

Sampson

Loo sampsoun, which that was annunciat Line 2015 By th' angel, longe er his nativitee, Line 2016 And was to God almyghty consecrat, Line 2017 And stood in noblesse whil he myghte see. Line 2018 Was nevere swich another as was hee, Line 2019 To speke of strengthe, and threwith hardynesse; Line 2020

Line 2020 But to his wyves toolde he his secree, Line 2021 Thurgh which he slow hymself for wrecchednesse. Line 2022 Sampsoun, this noble almyghty champioun, Line 2023 Withouten wepen, save his handes tweye, Line 2024 He slow and al torente the leoun, Line 2025 Toward his weddyng walkynge by the weye. Line 2026 His false wyf koude hym so plese and preye Line 2027 Til she his conseil knew; and she, untrewe, Line 2028 Unto his foos his conseil gan biwreye, Line 2029 And hym forsook, and took another newe. Line 2030 Thre hundred foxes took sampson for ire, Line 2031 And alle hir tayles he togydre bond, Line 2032 And sette the foxes tayles alle on fire, Line 2033 For he on every tayl had knyt a brond; Line 2034 And they brende alle the cornes in that lond, Line 2035 And alle hire olyveres, and vynes eke. Line 2036 A thousand men he slow eek with his hond, Line 2037 And hadde no wepen but an asses cheke. Line 2038 Whan they were slayn, so thursted hym that he Line 2039 Was wel ny lorn, for which he gan to preye Line 2040 That God wolde on his peyne han some pitee, Line 2041 And sende hym drynke, or elles moste he deye; Line 2042 And of this asses cheke, that was dreye, Line 2043 Out of a wang-tooth sprang anon a welle, Line 2044 Of which he drank ynogh, shortly to seye; Line 2045 Thus heelp hym god, as judicum telle. Line 2046 By verray force at gazan, on a nyght, Line 2047 Maugree philistiens of that citee, Line 2048 The gates of the toun he hath up plyght, Line 2049 And on his bak ycaryed hem hath hee Line 2050 Hye on an hill whereas men myghte hem see. Line 2051 O noble, almyghty sampsoun, lief and deere, Line 2052 Had thou nat toold to wommen thy secree, Line 2053 In al this world ne hadde been thy peere! Line 2054 This sampson nevere ciser drank ne wyn, Line 2055 Ne on his heed cam rasour noon ne sheere, Line 2056 By precept of the messager divyn, Line 2057 For alle his strengthes in his heeres weere. Line 2058 And fully twenty wynter, yeer by yeere, Line 2059 He hadde of israel the governaunce. Line 2060 But soone shal he wepe many a teere, Line 2061 For wommen shal hym bryngen to meschaunce! Line 2062 Unto his lemman dalida he tolde Line 2063 That in his heeris al his strengthe lay, Line 2064 And falsly to his foomen she hym solde. Line 2065 And slepynge in hir barm, upon a day, Line 2066 She made to clippe or shere his heres away, Line 2067 And made his foomen al his craft espyen; Line 2068 And whan that they hym foond in this array, Line 2069 They bounde hym faste and putten out his yen. Line 2070 But er his heere were clipped or yshave, Line 2071 Ther was no boond with which men myghte him bynde; Line 2072 But now is he in prison in a cave, Line 2073 Were-as they made hym at the queerne grynde. Line 2074 O noble sampsoun, strongest of mankynde, Line 2075 O whilom juge, in glorie and in richesse! Line 2076 Now maystow wepen with thyne eyen blynde, Line 2077 Sith thou fro wele art falle in wrecchednesse. Line 2078 The ende of this caytyf was as I shal seye. Line 2079 His foomen made a feeste upon a day, Line 2080 And made hym as hire fool biforn hem pleye; Line 2081 And this was in a temple of greet array. Line 2082 But atte laste he made a foul affray; Line 2083 For he two pilers shook and made hem falle, Line 2084 And doun fil temple and al, and ther it lay, -- Line 2085 And slow hymself, and eek his foomen alle. Line 2086 This is to seyn, the prynces everichoon, Line 2087 And eek thre thousand bodyes, were ther slayn Line 2088 With fallynge of the grete temple of stoon. Line 2089 Of sampson now wol I namoore sayn. Line 2090 Beth war by this ensample oold and playn Line 2091 That nomen telle hir conseil til hir wyves Line 2092 Of swich thyng as they wolde han secree fayn, Line 2093 If that it touche hir lymes or hir lyves. Line 2094

Hercules

Of hercules, the sovereyn conquerour, Line 2095 Syngen his werkes laude and heigh renoun; Line 2096 For in his tyme of strengthe he was the flour. Line 2097 He slow, and frate the skyn of the leoun; Line 2098 He of centauros leyde the boost adoun; Line 2099 He arpies slow, the crueel bryddes felle; Line 2100 He golden apples rafte of the dragoun; Line 2101 He drow out cerberus, the hound of helle; Line 2102 He slow the crueel tyrant busirus, Line 2103 And made his hors to frete hem, flessh and boon; Line 2104 He slow the firy serpent venymus; Line 2105 Of acheloys two hornes he brak oon; Line 2106 And he slow cacus in a cave of stoon; Line 2107 He slow the geant antheus the stronge; Line 2108

Line 2108 He slow the grisly boor, and that anon; Line 2109 And bar the hevene on his nekke longe. Line 2110 Was nevere wight, sith that this world bigan, Line 2111 That slow so manye monstres as dide he. Line 2112 Thurghout this wyde world his name ran, Line 2113 What for his strengthe and for his heigh bountee, Line 2114 And every reawme wente he for to see. Line 2115 He was so stoong that no man myghte hym lette. Line 2116 At bothe the worldes endes, seith trophee, Line 2117 In stide of boundes he a pileer sette. Line 2118 A lemman hadde this noble champioun, Line 2119 That highte dianira, fressh as may; Line 2120 And as thise clerkes maken mencioun, Line 2121 She hath hym sent a sherte, fressh and gay. Line 2122 Allas! this sherte, allas and weylaway! Line 2123 Envenymed was so subtilly withalle, Line 2124 That er that he had wered it half a day, Line 2125 It made his flessh al from his bones falle. Line 2126 But nathelees somme clerkes hire excusen Line 2127 By oon that highte nessus, that it maked. Line 2128 Be as be may, I wol hire noght accusen; Line 2129 But on his bak this sherte he wered naked, Line 2130 Til that his flessh was for the venym blaked. Line 2131 And whan he saugh noon oother remedye, Line 2132 In hoote coles he hath hymselven raked, Line 2133 For with no venym deigned hym to dye. Line 2134 Thus starf this worthy, myghty hercules. Line 2135 Lo, who may truste on fortune and throwe? Line 2136 For hym that folweth al this world of prees, Line 2137 Er he be war, is ofte yleyd ful lowe. Line 2138 Ful wys is he that kan hymselven knowe! Line 2139 Beth war, for whan that fortune list to glose, Line 2140 Thanne wayteth she her man to overthrowe Line 2141 By swich a wey as he wolde leest suppose. Line 2142

Nebchadnezzar

The myghty trone, the precious tresor, Line 2143 The glorious ceptre, and roial magestee Line 2144 That hadde the kyng nabugodonosor Line 2145 With tonge unnethe may discryved bee. Line 2146 He twyes wan jerusalem the citee; Line 2147 The vessel of the temple he with hym ladde. Line 2148 At babiloigne was his sovereyn see, Line 2149 In which his glorie and his delit he hadde. Line 2150 The faireste children of the blood roial Line 2151 Of israel he leet do gelde anoon, Line 2152 And maked ech of hem to been his thral. Line 2153 Amonges othere daniel was oon, Line 2154 That was the wiseste child of everychon; Line 2155 For he the dremes of the kyng expowned, Line 2156 Whereas in chaldeye clerk ne was ther noon Line 2157 That wiste to what fyn his dremes sowned. Line 2158 This proude kyng leet maken a statue of gold, Line 2159 Sixty cubites long and sevene in brede; Line 2160 To which ymage bothe yong and oold Line 2161 Comanded he to loute, and have in drede, Line 2162 Or in a fourneys, ful of flambes rede, Line 2163 He shal be brent that wolde noght obeye. Line 2164 But nevere wolde assente to that dede Line 2165 Daniel, ne his yonge felawes tweye. Line 2166 This kyng of kynges proud was and elaat; Line 2167 He wente that god, that sit in magestee, Line 2168 Ne myghte hym nat bireve of his estaat. Line 2169 But sodeynly he loste his dignytee, Line 2170 And lyk a beest hym semed for to bee, Line 2171 And eet hey as an oxe, and lay theroute Line 2172 In reyn; with wilde beestes walked hee, Line 2173 Til certein tyme was ycome aboute. Line 2174 And lik an egles fetheres wax his heres; Line 2175 His nayles lyk a briddes clawes weere; Line 2176 Til God relessed hym a certeyn yeres, Line 2177 And yaf hym wit, and thanne with many a teere Line 2178 He thanked god, and evere his lyf in feere Line 2179 Was he to doon amys or moore trespace; Line 2180 And til that tyme he leyd was on his beere, Line 2181 He knew that God was ful of myght and grace. Line 2182

Belshazzar

His sone, which that highte balthasar, Line 2183 That heeld the regne after his fader day, Line 2184 He by his fader koude noght be war, Line 2185 For proud he was of herte and of array; Line 2186 And eek an ydolastre was he ay. Line 2187 His hye estaat assured hym in pryde; Line 2188 But fortune caste hym doun, and ther he lay, Line 2189 And sodeynly his regne gan divide. Line 2190 A feeste he made unto his lordes alle, Line 2191 Upon a tyme, and bad hem blithe bee; Line 2192 And thanne his officeres gan he calle: Line 2193 Gooth, bryngeth forth the vesseles, quod he, Line 2194 Whiche that my fader in his prosperitee Line 2195 Out of the temple of jerusalem birafte; Line 2196 And to oure hye goddes thanke we Line 2197 Of honour that oure eldres with us lafte. Line 2198

Line 2198 Hys wyf, his lordes, and his concubynes Line 2199 Ay dronken, whil hire appetites laste, Line 2200 Out of thise noble vessels sondry wynes. Line 2201 And on a wal this kyng his eyen caste, Line 2202 And saugh an hand, armlees, that wroot ful faste, Line 2203 For feere if which he quook and siked soore. Line 2204 This hand, that balthasar so soore agaste, Line 2205 Wroot mane, techel phares, and namoore. Line 2206 In all that land magicien was noon Line 2207 That koude expoune what this lettre mente; Line 2208 But daniel expowned it anoon, Line 2209 And seyde, kyng, God to thy fader lente Line 2210 Glorie and honour, regne, tresour, rente; Line 2211 And he was proud, and nothyng God ne dradde, Line 2212 And therfore God greet wreche upon hym sente, Line 2213 And hym birafte the regne that he hadde. Line 2214 He was out cast of mannes compaignye; Line 2215 With asses was his habitacioun, Line 2216 And eet hey as a beest in weet and drye, Line 2217 Til that he knew, by grace and by resoun, Line 2218 That God of hevene hath domynacioun Line 2219 Over every regne and every creature; Line 2220 And thanne hadde God of hym compassioun, Line 2221 And hym restored his regne and his figure. Line 2222 Eek thou, that art his sone, art proud also, Line 2223 And knowest alle thise thynges verraily, Line 2224 And art rebel to god, and art his foo. Line 2225 Thou drank eek of his vessels boldely; Line 2226 Thy wyf eek, and thy wenches, synfully Line 2227 Dronke of the same vessels sondry wynys; Line 2228 And heryest false goddes cursedly; Line 2229 Therfore to thee yshapen ful greet pyne ys. Line 2230 This hand was sent from God that on the wal Line 2231 Wroot mane, techel, phares, truste me; Line 2232 Thy regne is doon, thou weyest noght at al. Line 2233 Dyvyded is thy regne, and it shal be Line 2234 To medes and to perses yeven, quod he. Line 2235 And thilke same nyght this kyng was slawe, Line 2236 And darius occupieth his degree, Line 2237 Thogh he therto hadde neither right ne lawe. Line 2238 Lordynges, ensample heerby may ye take Line 2239 How that in lordshipe is no sikernesse; Line 2240 For whan fortune wole a man forsake, Line 2241 She bereth awey his regne and his richesse, Line 2242 And eek his freendes, bothe moore and lesse. Line 2243 For what man that hath freendes thurgh fortune, Line 2244 Mishap wol maken hem enemys, I gesse; Line 2245 This proverbe is ful sooth and ful commune. Line 2246

Zenobia

Cenobia, of palymerie queene, Line 2247 As writen persiens of hir noblesse, Line 2248 So worthy was in armes and so keene, Line 2249 That no wight passed hire in hardynesse, Line 2250 Ne in lynage, ne in oother gentillesse. Line 2251 Of kynges blood of perce is she descended. Line 2252 I seye nat that she hadde moost fairnesse, Line 2253 But of his shap she myghte nat been amended. Line 2254 From hire childhede I fynde that she fledde Line 2255 Office of wommen, and to wode she wente, Line 2256 And many a wolde hertes blood she shedde Line 2257 With arwes brode that she to hem sente. Line 2258 She was so swift that she anon hem hente; Line 2259 And whan that she was elder, she wolde Line 2260 Leouns, leopardes, and beres al torente, Line 2261 And in hire armes weelde hem at hir wille. Line 2262 She dorste wilde beestes dennes seke, Line 2263 And rennen in the montaignes al the nyght, Line 2264 And slepen under a bussh, and she koude eke Line 2265 Wrastlen, by verray force and varray myght, Line 2266 With any yong man, were he never so wight. Line 2267 Ther myghte no thyng in hir armes stonde. Line 2268 She kepte hir maydenhod from every wight; Line 2269 To no man deigned hire for to be bonde. Line 2270 But atte laste hir freendes han hire maried Line 2271 To odenake, a prynce of that contree, Line 2272 Al were it so that she hem longe taried. Line 2273 And ye shul understonde how that he Line 2274 Hadde swiche fantasies as hadde she. Line 2275 But natheless, whan they were knyt in-feere, Line 2276 They lyved in joye and in felicitee; Line 2277 For ech of hem hadde oother lief and deere. Line 2278 Save o thyng, that she wolde nevere assente, Line 2279 By no wey, that he sholde by hire lye Line 2280 But ones, for it was hire pleyn entente Line 2281 To have a child, the world to multiplye; Line 2282 And also soone as that she myghte espye Line 2283 That she was nat with childe with that dede Line 2284 Thanne wolde she suffre hym doon his fantasye Line 2285 Eft-soone, and nat but oones, out of drede. Line 2286

Line 2286 And if she were with childe at thilke cast, Line 2287 Namoore sholde he pleyen thilke game Line 2288 Til fully fourty wikes weren past; Line 2289 Thanne wolde she ones suffre hym do the same. Line 2290 Al were this odenake wolde or tame, Line 2291 He gat namoore of hire, for thus she seyde, Line 2292 It was to wyves lecherie and shame, Line 2293 In oother caas, if that men with hem pleyde. Line 2294 Two sones by this odenake hadde she, Line 2295 The whiche she kepte in verty and lettrure; Line 2296 But now unto oure tale turne we. Line 2297 I seye, so worshipful a creature, Line 2298 And wys therwith, and large with mesure, Line 2299 So penyble in the werre, and curteis eke, Line 2300 Ne moore laboure myghte in werre endure, Line 2301 Was noon, though al this world men sholde seke. Line 2302 Hir riche array ne myghte nat be told, Line 2303 As wel in vessel as in hire clothyng. Line 2304 She was al clad in perree and in gold, Line 2305 And eek she lafte noght, for noon huntyng, Line 2306 To have of sondry tonges ful knowyng, Line 2307 Whan that she leyser hadde; and for to entende Line 2308 To lerne bookes was al hire likyng, Line 2309 How she in vertu myghte hir lyf dispende. Line 2310 And shortly of this storie for to trete, Line 2311 So doghty was hir housbonde and eek she, Line 2312 That they conquered manye regnes grete Line 2313 In the orient, with many a fair citee Line 2314 Apertanaunt unto the magestee Line 2315 Of rome, and with strong hond held hem ful faste, Line 2316 Ne nevere myghte hir foomen doon hem flee, Line 2317 Ay whil that odenakes dayes laste. Line 2318 Hir batailles, whoso list hem for to rede, Line 2319 Agayn spor the kyng and othere mo, Line 2320 And how that al this proces fil in dede, Line 2321 Why she conquered, and what title had therto, Line 2322 And after, of hir meschief and hire wo, Line 2323 How that she was biseged and ytake, -- Line 2324 Lat hym unto my maister petrak go, Line 2325 That writ ynough of this, I undertake. Line 2326 Whan odenake was deed, she myghtily Line 2327 The regnes heeld, and with hire propre hond Line 2328 Agayn hir foos she faught so cruelly Line 2329 That ther nas kyng ne prynce in al that lond Line 2330 That he nas glad, if he that grace fond, Line 2331 That she ne wolde upon his lond werreye. Line 2332 With hire they maden alliance by bond Line 2333 To been in pees, and lete hire ride and pleye. Line 2334 The emperour of rome, claudius Line 2335 Ne hym bifore, the romayn galien, Line 2336 Ne dorste nevere been so corageus, Line 2337 Ne noon ermyn, ne noon egipcien, Line 2338 Ne surrien, ne noon arabyen, Line 2339 Withinne the feeld that dorste with hire fighte, Line 2340 Lest that she wolde hem with hir handes slen, Line 2341 Or with hir meignee putten hem to flighte. Line 2342 In kynges habit wente hir sones two, Line 2343 As heires of hir fadres regnes alle, Line 2344 And hermanno and thymalao Line 2345 Hir names were, as persiens hem calle. Line 2346 But ay fortune hath in hire hony galle; Line 2347 This myghty queene may no while endure. Line 2348 Fortune out of hir regne made hire falle Line 2349 To wrecchednesse and to mysaventure. Line 2350 Aurelian, whan that the governaunce Line 2351 Of rome cam into his handes tweye, Line 2352 He shoop upon this queene to doon vengeaunce. Line 2353 And with his legions he took his weye Line 2354 Toward cenobie, and shortly for to seye, Line 2355 He made hire flee, and atte laste hire hente, Line 2356 And fettred hire, and eek hire children tweye, Line 2357 And wan the land, and hoom to rome he wente. Line 2358 Amonges othere thynges that he wan, Line 2359 Hir chaar, that was with gold wroght and perree, Line 2360 This grete romayn, this aurelian, Line 2361 Hath with hym lad, for that men sholde it see. Line 2362 Biforen his triumphe walketh shee, Line 2363 With gilte cheynes on hire nekke hangynge. Line 2364 Coroned was she, as after hir degree, Line 2365 And ful of perree charged hire clothynge. Line 2366 Allas, fortune! she that whilom was Line 2367 Dredeful to kynges and to emperoures, Line 2368 Now gaureth al the peple on hire, allas! Line 2369 And she that helmed was in starke stoures, Line 2370 And wan by force townes stronge and toures, Line 2371 Shal on hir heed now were a vitremyte; Line 2372 And she that bar the ceptre ful of floures Line 2373 Shal bere a distaf, hire cost for to quyte Line 2374

Pedro of Castille

O noble, o worthy petro, glorie of spayne, Line 2375 Whom fortune heeld so hye in magestee, Line 2376 Wel oghten men thy pitous deeth complayne! Line 2377 Out of thy land thy brother made thee flee, Line 2378 And after, at a seege, by subtiltee, Line 2379 Thou were bitraysed and lad unto his tente, Line 2380 Where as he with his owene hand slow thee, Line 2381 Succedynge in thy regne and in thy rente. Line 2382 The feeld of snow, with th' egle of blak therinne, Line 2383 Caught with the lymrod coloured as the gleede, Line 2384 He brew this cursednesse and al this synne. Line 2385 The wikked nest was werker of this nede. Line 2386 Noght charles olyver, that took ay heede Line 2387 Of trouthe and honoure, but of armorike Line 2388 Genylon-olyver, corrupt for meede, Line 2389 Broghte this worthy kyng in swich a brike. Line 2390

De Petro Rege de Cipro

O worthy petro, kyng of cipre, also, Line 2391 That alisandre wan by heigh maistrie, Line 2392 Ful many an hethen wroghtestow ful wo, Line 2393 Of which thyne owene liges hadde envie, Line 2394 And for no thyng but for thy chivalrie Line 2395 They in thy bed han slayn thee by the morwe. Line 2396 Thus kan fortune hir wheel governe and gye, Line 2397 And out of joye brynge men to sorwe. Line 2398

De Barnabo de Lumbardia

Off melan grete barnabo viscounte, Line 2399 God of delit, and scourge of lumbardye, Line 2400 Why sholde I nat thyn infortune acounte, Line 2401 Sith in estaat thow cloumbe were so hye? Line 2402 Thy brother sone, that was thy double allye, Line 2403 For he thy nevew was, and sone-in-lawe, Line 2404 Withinne his prisoun made thee to dye, -- Line 2405 But why, ne how, noot I that thou were slawe. Line 2406

De Hugelino Comite de Pize

Off the erl hugelyn of pyze the langour Line 2407 Ther may no tonge telle for pitee. Line 2408 But litel out of pize stant a tour, Line 2409 In which tour in prisoun put was he, Line 2410 And with hym been his litel children thre; Line 2411 The eldest scarsly fyf yeer was of age. Line 2412 Allas, fortune! it was greet crueltee Line 2413 Swiche briddes for to putte in swich a cage! Line 2414 Dampned was he to dyen in that prisoun, Line 2415 For roger, which that bisshop was of pize, Line 2416 Hadde on hym maad a fals suggestioun, Line 2417 Thurgh which the peple gan upon hym rise, Line 2418 And putten hym to prisoun, in swich wise Line 2419 As ye han herd, and mete and drynke he hadde Line 2420 So smal, that wel unnethe it may suffise, Line 2421 And therwithal it was ful povre and badde. Line 2422 And on a day bifil that in that hour Line 2423 Whan that his mete wont was to be broght, Line 2424 The gayler shette the dores of the tour. Line 2425 He herde it wel, but he spak right noght, Line 2426 And in his herte anon ther fil a thoght Line 2427 That they for hunger wolde doon hym dyen. Line 2428 Allas! quod he, allas, that I was wroght! Line 2429 Therwith the teeris fillen from his yen. Line 2430 His yonge sone, that thre yeer was of age, Line 2431 Unto hym seyde, fader, why do ye wepe? Line 2432 Whanne wol the gayler bryngen oure potage? Line 2433 Is ther no morsel breed that ye do kepe? Line 2434 I am so hungry that I may nat slepe. Line 2435 Now wolde God that I myghte slepen evere! Line 2436 Thanne sholde nat hunger in my wombe crepe; Line 2437 Ther is no thyng, save breed, that me were levere. Line 2438 Thus day by day this child bigan to crye, Line 2439 Til in his fadres barm adoun it lay, Line 2440 And seyde, farewel, fader, I moot dye! Line 2441 And kiste his fader, and dyde the same day. Line 2442 And whan the woful fader deed it say, Line 2443 For wo his armes two he gan to byte, Line 2444 And seyde, allas, fortune, and weylaway! Line 2445 Thy false wheel my wo al may I wyte. Line 2446 His children wende that it for hunger was Line 2447 That he his armes gnow, and nat for wo, Line 2448 And seyde, fader, do nat so, allas! Line 2449 But rather ete the flessh upon us two. Line 2450 Oure flessh thou yaf us, take oure flessh us fro, Line 2451 And ete ynogh, -- right thus they to hym seyde, Line 2452 And after that, withinne a day or two, Line 2453 They leyde hem in his lappe adoun and deyde. Line 2454 Hymself, despeired, eek for hunger starf; Line 2455 Thus ended is this myghty erl of pize. Line 2456 From heigh estaat fortune awey hym carf. Line 2457 Of this tragedie it oghte ynough suffise; Line 2458 Whoso wol here it in a lenger wise, Line 2459 Redeth the grete poete of ytaille Line 2460 That highte dant, for he kan al devyse Line 2461 Fro point to point, nat o word wol he faille. Line 2462

Nero

Although that nero were as vicius Line 2463 As any feend that lith ful lowe adoun, Line 2464 Yet he, as telleth us swetonius, Line 2465 This wyde world hadde in subjeccioun, Line 2466 Bothe est and west, (south), and septemtrioun. Line 2467 Of rubies, saphires, and of peerles white Line 2468 Were alle his clothes brouded up and doun; Line 2469 For he in gemmes greetly gan delite. Line 2470 Moore delicaat, moore pompous of array, Line 2471 Moore proud was nevere emperour than he; Line 2472 That like clooth that he hadde wered o day, Line 2473 After that tyme he nolde it nevere see. Line 2474 Nettes of gold threed hadde he greet plentee Line 2475 To fisshe in tybre, whan hym liste pleye. Line 2476 His lustes were al lawe in his decree, Line 2477 For fortune as his freend hym wolde obeye. Line 2478 He rome brende for his delicasie; Line 2479 The senatours he slow upon a day Line 2480 To heere how that men wolde wepe and crie; Line 2481 And slow his brother, and by his suster lay. Line 2482 His mooder made he in pitous array, Line 2483 For he hire wombe slitte to biholde Line 2484 Where he conceyved was; so weilaway! Line 2485 That he so litel of his mooder tolde. Line 2486 No teere out of his eyen for that sighte Line 2487 Ne cam, but seyde, a fair womman was she! Line 2488 Greet wonder is how that he koude or myghte Line 2489 Be domesman of hire dede beautee. Line 2490 The wyn to bryngen hym comanded he, Line 2491 And drank anon, -- noon oother wo he made. Line 2492 Whan myght is joyned unto crueltee, Line 2493 Allas, to depe wol the venym wade! Line 2494 In yowthe a maister hadde this emperour Line 2495 To teche hym letterure and curteisye, Line 2496 For of moralitee he was the flour, Line 2497 As in his tyme, but if bookes lye; Line 2498 And whil this maister hadde of hym maistrye, Line 2499 He maked hym so konnyng and so sowple Line 2500 That longe tyme it was er tirannye Line 2501 Or any vice dorste on hym uncowple. Line 2502 This seneca, of which that I devyse, Line 2503 By cause nero hadde of hym swich drede, Line 2504 For he fro vices wolde hym ay chastise Line 2505 Discreetly, as by word and nat by dede, -- Line 2506 Sire, wolde he seyn, an emperour moot nede Line 2507 Be vertuous and hate tirannye -- Line 2508 For which he in a bath made hym to blede Line 2509 On bothe his armes, til he moste dye. Line 2510 This nero hadde eek of acustumaunce Line 2511 In youthe agayns his maister for to ryse, Line 2512 Which afterward hym thoughte a greet grevaunce; Line 2513 Therefore he made hym dyen in this wise. Line 2514 But natheless this seneca the wise Line 2515 Chees in a bath to dye in this manere Line 2516 Rather than han another tormentise; Line 2517 And thus hath nero slayn his maister deere. Line 2518 Now fil it so that fortune liste no lenger Line 2519 The ye pryde of nero to cherice, Line 2520 For though that he were strong, yet was she strenger. Line 2521 She thoughte thus, by god! I am to nyce Line 2522 To sette a man that is fulfild of vice Line 2523 In heigh degree, and emperour hym calle. Line 2524 By god! out of his sete I wol hym trice; Line 2525 Whan he leest weneth, sonnest shal he falle. Line 2526 The peple roos upon hym on a nyght Line 2527 For his defaute, and whan he it espied, Line 2528 Out of his dores anon he hath hym dight Line 2529 Allone, and ther he wende han been allied, Line 2530 He knokked faste, and ay the moore he cried, Line 2531 The fastere shette they the dores alle. Line 2532 Tho wiste he wel, he hadde himself mysgyed, Line 2533 And wente his wey; no lenger dorste he calle. Line 2534 The peple cried and rombled up and doun, Line 2535 That with his erys herde he how they seyde, Line 2536 Shere is this false tiraunt, this neroun? Line 2537 For fere almoost out of his wit he breyde, Line 2538 And to his goddes pitously he preyde Line 2539 For socour, but it myghte nat bityde. Line 2540 For drede of this, hym thoughte that he deyde, Line 2541 And ran into a gardyn hym to hyde. Line 2542 And in this gardyn foond he cherles tweye Line 2543 That seten by a fyr full greet and reed. Line 2544 And to thise cherles two he gan to preye Line 2545 To sleen hym, and to girden of his heed, Line 2546 That to his body, whan that he were deed, Line 2547 Were no despit ydoon for his defame. Line 2548 Hymself he slow, he koude no bettre reed, Line 2549 Of which fortune lough, and hadde a game. Line 2550

De Oloferno

Was nevere capitayn under a kyng Line 2551 That regnes mo putte in subjeccioun, Line 2552 Ne strenger was in feeld of alle thyng, Line 2553 As in his tyme, ne gretter of renoun, Line 2554 Ne moore pompous in heigh presumpcioun Line 2555 Than oloferne, which fortune ay kiste Line 2556 So likerously, and ladde hym up and doun, Line 2557 Til that his heed was of, er that he wiste. Line 2558 Nat oonly that this world hadde hym in awe Line 2559 For lesynge of richesse or libertee, Line 2560 But he made every man reneyen his lawe. Line 2561 Nabugodonosor was god, seyde hee; Line 2562 Noon oother God sholde adoured bee. Line 2563 Agayns his heeste no wight dar trespace, Line 2564 Save in bethulia, a strong citee, Line 2565 Where eliachim a preest was of that place. Line 2566 But taak kep of the deth of oloferne: Line 2567 Amydde his hoost he dronke lay a-nyght, Line 2568 Withinne his tente, large as is a berne, Line 2569 And yet, for al his pompe and al his myght, Line 2570 Judith, a womman, as he lay upright Line 2571 Slepynge, his heed of smoot, and from his tente Line 2572 Ful pryvely she stal from every wight, Line 2573 And with his heed unto hir toun she wente. Line 2574

De Rege Antiocho illustri

What nedeth it of kyng anthiochus Line 2575 To telle his hye roial magestee, Line 2576 His hye pride, his werkes venymus? Line 2577 For swich another was ther noon as he. Line 2578 Rede which that he was in machabee, Line 2579 And rede the proude wordes that he seyde, Line 2580 And why he fil fro heigh prosperitee, Line 2581 And in an hill how wrecchedly he deyde. Line 2582 Fortune hym hadde enhaunced so in pride Line 2583 That verraily he wende he myghte attayne Line 2584 Unto the sterres upon every syde, Line 2585 And in balance weyen ech montayne, Line 2586 And alle the floodes of the see restrayne. Line 2587 And goddes peple hadde he moost in hate; Line 2588 Hem wolde he sleen in torment and in payne, Line 2589 Wenynge that God ne myghte his pride abate. Line 2590 And for that nichanore and thymothee Line 2591 Of jewes weren venquysshed myghtily, Line 2592 Unto the jewes swich an hate hadde he Line 2593 That he bad greithen his chaar ful hastily, Line 2594 And swoor, and seyde ful despitously Line 2595 Unto jerusalem he wolde eftsoone, Line 2596 To wreken his ire on it ful cruelly; Line 2597 But of his purpos he was let ful soone. Line 2598 God for his manace hym so soore smoot Line 2599 With invisible wounde, ay incurable, Line 2600 That in his guttes carf it so and boot Line 2601 That his peynes weren importable. Line 2602 And certeinly the wreche was resonable, Line 2603 For many a mannes guttes dide he peyne. Line 2604 But from his purpos cursed and dampnable, Line 2605 For al his smert, he wolde hym nat restreyne, Line 2606 But bad anon apparaillen his hoost; Line 2607 And sodeynly, er he was of it war, Line 2608 God daunted al his pride and al his boost. Line 2609 For he so soore fil out of his char Line 2610 That it his limes and his skyn totar, Line 2611 So that he neyther myghte go ne ryde, Line 2612 But in a chayer men aboute hym bar, Line 2613 Al forbrused, bothe bak and syde. Line 2614 The wreche of God hym smoot so cruelly Line 2615 That thurgh his body wikked wormes crepte, Line 2616 And therwithal he stank so horribly Line 2617 That noon of al his meynee that hym kepte, Line 2618 Theither so he wook, or ellis slepte, Line 2619 Ne myghte noght the stynk of hym endure. Line 2620 In this meschief he wayled and eek wepte, Line 2621 And knew God lord of every creature. Line 2622 To al his hoost and to hymself also Line 2623 Ful wlatsom was the stynk of his careyne; Line 2624 No man ne myghte hym bere to ne fro. Line 2625 And in this stynk and this horrible peyne, Line 2626 He starf ful wrecchedly in a monteyne. Line 2627 Thus hath this robbour and this homycide, Line 2628 That many a man made to wepe and pleyne, Line 2629 Swich gerdoun as bilongeth unto pryde. Line 2630

De Alexandro

The storie of alisaundre is so commune Line 2631 That every wight that hath discrecioun Line 2632 Hath herd somwhat or al of his fortune. Line 2633 This wyde world, as in conclusioun, Line 2634 He wan by strengthe, or for his hye renoun Line 2635 They weren glad for pees unto hym sende. Line 2636 The pride of man and beest he leyde adoun, Line 2637 Wherso he cam, unto the worldes ende. Line 2638

Line 2638 Comparisoun myghte nevere yet maked Line 2639 Bitwixe hym and another conquerour; Line 2640 For al this world for drede of hym hath quaked. Line 2641 He was of knyghthod and of fredom flour; Line 2642 Fortune hym made the heir of hire honour. Line 2643 Save wyn and wommen, no thing myghte aswage Line 2644 His hye entente in armes and labour, Line 2645 So was he ful of leonyn corage. Line 2646 What pris were it to hym, though I yow tolde Line 2647 Of darius, and an hundred thousand mo Line 2648 Of kynges, prices, dukes, erles bolde Line 2649 Whiche he conquered, and broghte hem into wo? Line 2650 I seye, as fer as man may ryde or go, Line 2651 The world was his, -- what sholde I moore devyse? Line 2652 For though I write or tolde yow everemo Line 2653 Of his knyghthod, it myghte nat suffise. Line 2654 Twelf yeer he regned, as seith machabee. Line 2655 Philippes sone of macidoyne he was, Line 2656 That first was kyng in grece the contree. Line 2657 O worthy, gentil alisandre, allas, Line 2658 That evere sholde fallen swich a cas! Line 2659 Empoysoned of thyn owene folk thou weere; Line 2660 Thy sys fortune hath turned into aas, Line 2661 And yet for thee ne weep she never a teere. Line 2662 Who shal me yeven teeris to compleyne Line 2663 The deeth of gentillesse and of franchise, Line 2664 That al the world weelded in his demeyne, Line 2665 And yet hym thoughte it myghte nat suffise? Line 2666 So ful was his corage of heigh emprise. Line 2667 Allas! who shal me helpe to endite Line 2668 False fortune, and poyson to despise, Line 2669 The whiche two of al this wo I wyte? Line 2670

De Julio Cesare

By wisedom, manhede, and by greet labour, Line 2671 From humble bed to roial magestee Line 2672 Up roos he julius, the conquerour, Line 2673 That wan al th' occident by land and see, Line 2674 By strengthe of hand, or elles by tretee, Line 2675 And unto rome made hem tributarie; Line 2676 And sitthe of rome the emperour was he, Line 2677 Til that fortune weex his adversarie. Line 2678 O myghty cesar, that in thessalie Line 2679 Agayn pompeus, fader thyn in lawe, Line 2680 That of the orient hadde al the chivalrie Line 2681 As fer as that the day bigynneth dawe, Line 2682 Thou thurgh thy knyghthod hast hem take and slawe, Line 2683 Save fewe folk that with pompeus fledde, Line 2684 Thurgh which thou puttest al th' orient in awe. Line 2685 Thanke fortune, that so wel thee spedde! Line 2686 But now a litel while I wol biwaille Line 2687 This pompeus, this noble governour Line 2688 Of rome, which that fleigh at this bataille. Line 2689 I seye, oon of his men, a fals traitour, Line 2690 His heed of smoot, to wynnen hym favour Line 2691 Of julius, and hym the heed he broghte. Line 2692 Allas, pompeye, of th' orient conquerour, Line 2693 That fortune unto swich a fyn thee broghte! Line 2694 To rome agayn repaireth julius Line 2695 With his triumphe, lauriat ful hey; Line 2696 But on a tyme brutus cassius, Line 2697 That evere hadde of his hye estaat envye, Line 2698 Ful prively hath maad conspiracye Line 2699 Agayns this julius in subtil wise, Line 2700 And caste the place in which he sholde dye Line 2701 With boydekyns, as I shal yow devyse. Line 2702 This julius to the capitolie wente Line 2703 Upon a day, as he was wont to goon, Line 2704 And in the capitolie anon hym hente Line 2705 This false brutus and his othere foon, Line 2706 And stiked hym with boydekyns anoon Line 2707 With many a wounde, and thus they lete hym lye; Line 2708 But nevere gronte he at no strook but oon, Line 2709 Or elles at two, but if his storie lye. Line 2710 So manly was this julius of herte, Line 2711 And so wel lovede estaatly honestee, Line 2712 That though his deedly woundes soore smerte, Line 2713 His mantel over his hypes caste he, Line 2714 For no man sholde seen his privetee; Line 2715 And he lay of diyng in a traunce, Line 2716 And wiste verraily that deed was hee, Line 2717 Of honestee yet hadde he remembraunce. Line 2718 Lucan, to thee this storie I recomende, Line 2719 And to swetoun, and to valerie also, Line 2720 That of this storie writen word and ende, Line 2721 How that to thise grete conqueroures two Line 2722 Fortune was first freend, and sitthe foo. Line 2723 No man ne truste upon hire favour longe, Line 2724 But have hire in awayt for everemoo; Line 2725 Witnesse on alle thise conqueroures stronge. Line 2726

Croesus

This riche cresus, whilom kyng of lyde, Line 2727 Of which cresus cirus soore hym dradde, Line 2728 Yet was he caught amyddes al his pryde, Line 2729 And to be brent men to the fyr hym ladde. Line 2730 But swich a reyn doun fro the welkne shadde Line 2731 That slow the fyr, and made hym to escape; Line 2732 But to be war no grace yet he hadde, Line 2733 Til fortune on the galwes made hym gape. Line 2734 Whanne he escaped was, he kan nat stente Line 2735 For to bigynne a newe werre agayn. Line 2736 He wende wel, for that fortune hym sente Line 2737 Swich hap that he escaped thurgh the rayn, Line 2738 That of his foos he myghte nat be slayn; Line 2739 And eek a sweven upon a nyght he mette, Line 2740 Of which he was so proud and eek so fayn Line 2741 That in vengeance he al his herte sette. Line 2742 Upon a tree he was, as that hym thoughte, Line 2743 Ther juppiter hym wessh, bothe bak and syde, Line 2744 And phebus eek a fair towaille hym broughte Line 2745 To dryen hym with; and therfore was his pryde, Line 2746 And to his doghter, that stood hym bisyde, Line 2747 Which that he knew in heigh sentence habounde, Line 2748 He bad hire telle hym what it signyfyde, Line 2749 And she his dreem bigan right thus expounde: Line 2750 The tree, quod she, the galwes is to meene, Line 2751 And juppiter bitokneth snow and reyn, Line 2752 And phebus, with his towaille so clene, Line 2753 Tho been the sonne stremes for to seyn. Line 2754 Thou shalt anhanged be, fader, certeyn; Line 2755 Reyn shal thee wasshe, and sonne shal thee drye. Line 2756 Thus warned hym ful plat and eek ful pleyn Line 2757 His doghter, which that called was phanye. Line 2758 Anhanged was cresus, the proude kyng; Line 2759 His roial trone myghte hym nat availle. Line 2760 Tragedies noon oother maner thyng Line 2761 Ne kan in syngyng crie ne biwaille Line 2762 But that fortune alwey wole assaille Line 2763 With unwar strook the regnes that been proude; Line 2764 For whan men trusteth hire, thanne wol she faille, Line 2765 And covere hire brighte face with a clowde. Line 2766