John Gower's Confessio amantis

Lines 701 through 800

Bot for the time thus it laste, Line P.701 Til it befell that ate laste Line P.702 This king, whan that his day was come, Line P.703 With strengthe of deth was overcome. Line P.704 And natheles yet er he dyde, Line P.705 He schop his Regnes to divide Line P.706 To knyhtes whiche him hadde served, Line P.707 And after that thei have deserved Line P.708 Yaf the conquestes that he wan; Line P.709 Wherof gret werre tho began Line P.710 Among hem that the Regnes hadde, Line P.711 Thurgh proud Envie which hem ladde, Line P.712 Til it befell ayein hem thus: Line P.713 The noble Cesar Julius, Line P.714 Which tho was king of Rome lond, Line P.715 With gret bataille and with strong hond Line P.716 Al Grece, Perse and ek Caldee Line P.717 Wan and put under, so that he Line P.718 Noght al only of thorient Line P.719 Bot al the Marche of thoccident Line P.720 Governeth under his empire, Line P.721 As he that was hol lord and Sire, Line P.722 And hield thurgh his chivalerie Line P.723 Of al this world the Monarchie, Line P.724 And was the ferste of that honour Line P.725 Which tok the name of Emperour. Line P.726

Line P.726 Wher Rome thanne wolde assaille, Line P.727 Ther myhte nothing contrevaille, Line P.728 Bot every contre moste obeie: Line P.729 Tho goth the Regne of Bras aweie, Line P.730 And comen is the world of Stiel, Line P.731 And stod above upon the whiel. Line P.732 As Stiel is hardest in his kynde Line P.733 Above alle othre that men finde Line P.734 Of Metals, such was Rome tho Line P.735 The myhtieste, and laste so Line P.736 Long time amonges the Romeins Line P.737 Til thei become so vileins, Line P.738 That the fals Emperour Leo Line P.739 With Constantin his Sone also Line P.740 The patrimoine and the richesse, Line P.741 Which to Silvestre in pure almesse Line P.742 The ferste Constantinus lefte, Line P.743 Fro holy cherche thei berefte. Line P.744 Bot Adrian, which Pope was, Line P.745 And syh the meschief of this cas, Line P.746 Goth in to France forto pleigne, Line P.747 And preith the grete Charlemeine, Line P.748 For Cristes sake and Soule hele Line P.749 That he wol take the querele Line P.750 Of holy cherche in his defence. Line P.751 And Charles for the reverence Line P.752 Of god the cause hath undertake, Line P.753 And with his host the weie take Line P.754 Over the Montz of Lombardie; Line P.755 Of Rome and al the tirandie Line P.756 With blodi swerd he overcom, Line P.757 And the Cite with strengthe nom; Line P.758 In such a wise and there he wroghte, Line P.759 That holy cherche ayein he broghte Line P.760 Into franchise, and doth restore Line P.761 The Popes lost, and yaf him more: Line P.762

Line P.762 And thus whan he his god hath served, Line P.763 He tok, as he wel hath deserved, Line P.764 The Diademe and was coroned. Line P.765 Of Rome and thus was abandoned Line P.766 Thempire, which cam nevere ayein Line P.767 Into the hond of no Romein; Line P.768 Bot a long time it stod so stille Line P.769 Under the Frensche kynges wille, Line P.770 Til that fortune hir whiel so ladde, Line P.771 That afterward Lombardz it hadde, Line P.772 Noght be the swerd, bot be soffrance Line P.773 Of him that tho was kyng of France, Line P.774 Which Karle Calvus cleped was; Line P.775 And he resigneth in this cas Line P.776 Thempire of Rome unto Lowis Line P.777 His Cousin, which a Lombard is. Line P.778 And so hit laste into the yeer Line P.779 Of Albert and of Berenger; Line P.780 Bot thanne upon dissencioun Line P.781 Thei felle, and in divisioun Line P.782 Among hemself that were grete, Line P.783 So that thei loste the beyete Line P.784 Of worschipe and of worldes pes. Line P.785 Bot in proverbe natheles Line P.786 Men sein, ful selden is that welthe Line P.787 Can soffre his oghne astat in helthe; Line P.788 And that was on the Lombardz sene, Line P.789 Such comun strif was hem betwene Line P.790 Thurgh coveitise and thurgh Envie, Line P.791 That every man drowh his partie, Line P.792 Which myhte leden eny route, Line P.793 Withinne Burgh and ek withoute: Line P.794 The comun ryht hath no felawe, Line P.795 So that the governance of lawe Line P.796 Was lost, and for necessite, Line P.797 Of that thei stode in such degre Line P.798 Al only thurgh divisioun, Line P.799

Line P.799 Hem nedeth in conclusioun Line P.800