Works of John Metham : (Amoryus and Cleopes, &c.) / edited by Hardin Craig

AMORYUS AND CLEOPES

[leaf 17 a.]

THYS ys the story off a knyght, howe he dyd many wurthy dedys be the help off a lady, the qwyche taught hym to ouercome a meruulus dragon, the qwyche was a .c. fotte longe. And this knyght was clepyd Amoryus [The name Amoryus was probably invented by Metham from a somewhat obvious source; the form Amorius occurs in the sidenote on page 76. The name Cleopas occurs in the alliterative romance, King Alysaunder, vi. 4907.] , the lady Cleopes.

Fyrst Boke

Prolog

(1)

The chauns of loue and eke the peyn of Amoryus, the knyght, Line 1 For Cleopes sake, and eke how bothe in fere Line 2 Louyd and aftyr deyd, my purpos ys to endyght. Line 3 And now, O goddes, I the beseche off kunnyng, that Lanyfyca [Lanifica is an epithet of the Parcae; see Juvenal, Sat., xii. 65-6; Martial, vi. 58, 76. Metham can hardly be using the epithet intelligently. Dr. Furnivall, Pol. Rel. and Love Poems, p. 301, prints Lauysica.] hyght! Line 4 Help me to adornne [Dr. Furnivall prints "adorune."] ther chauns in sqwyche manere Line 5 So that, qwere this matere dotht yt reqwyre, Line 6 Bothe ther louys I may compleyne to louerrys [Dr. Furnivall prints "loverys."] dysyre. Line 7

(2)

In May, that modyr ys off monthys glade, [There are possible allusions in lines 8-12 to the opening lines of the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales.] Line 8 Qwan flourys sprede, the qwyche with-in the rote Line 9 In winter were clos, that than with floure and blade, Line 10 For Phebus exaltyng, with sundry hwys smellyd sote; Line 11 And byrdys a-monge leuys grene her myrthys made, Line 12 Qwan Nero [This name is probably used by Metham through a desire to construct a novel setting for his romance. The only ascertainable historical basis that I can find for the passage would be to see in it a vague reference to the wars of Corbulo against Tiridates and his brother Volesgeses, and the establishment of Tigranes, Tiridates himself, and others as kings. Tacitus, Annals, xiv-xvi, passim; also vi. 31-32; Diodorus Siculus, xvii. 10. It will be observed that Metham claims the authorship of a work called Josepus. This, if it means, as seems probable, Josephus, might have made him acquainted with that period of history. As stated in the Introduction, it is my opinion that the events in question are borrowed from the Alexander story.] , Asy gan subdwe to the empyre, Line 13 And besegyd the emperoure off Perse [This word may be used in a general way for Persia; but since the operations of the Romans were against the Parthians, and those of Alexander against the Persians, it is probably taken over from the Alexander story.] , kyng Camsyre. [ Camsyre: a name possibly formed from 'Cam' and 'Cyrus', after the pattern of such words as Cambuscan and Cambyses, the first syllable carrying with it some idea of lordship; or it may be an ignorant imitation. ] Line 14

(3)

For qwan this Romaynys gan to subdw Line 15 The regyon off Perse and off Medys, Line 16 Camsyr, kyng off that cuntre, hys pepyl to rescwe, Line 17 Agens [Dr. Furnivall prints "Aȝens." ] this emperoure in the pleyn off Pansophyrys [ Pansophyrys: a manufactured name, possibly suggested vaguely by Persepolis.] Line 18 Toke batel; qwere he was smet to deth at onys Line 19 With the ston off an engyne, and hys pepyl put to flyght. Line 20 [leaf 17 b.] Thus thise Romaynys became ther lordys with fors off fyght. Line 21

(4)

And for fere, the lordys off that regyon Line 22 Yeldyn the keys to the emperour off this forsayd cyte, Line 23 Yeuyng hym omage and possessyon Line 24 Off alle this forseyd regyon off Perse, Line 25 Besechyng hym vndyr trybute for to be; Line 26 And ther-vppon ther othe thei toke, Line 27 Sqweryng vp-on the tempyl boke. Line 28

(5)

But for that this cuntre was gret and populus Line 29 And feyth in thraldam ys selde seyn, Line 30 Be sad auysement the emperour wrought ryght thus: Line 31 He commaundyd to a counsel in certeyn Line 32 Alle erlys and barounys that to ther oste dyd perteyn; Line 33 In qwyche counsel for surenes to reule the cuntre, Line 34 They promotyd too .ij.expand_less lordys to be resydent in the chef cyte. Line 35

(6)

The qwyche lordys were Romaynys born, Line 36 That afftyr, for prudent port and gouernans, Line 37 Were crounyd kyngys off the remys namyd be-forn. Line 38 And so this emperour, with vyctoryus chauns, Line 39 Returnyd to Rome with hys oste and pysauns, Line 40 Thyse princys dwellyng in pes and rest Line 41 In the cheff cyte off Persys namyd Albynest, [Albynest: fictitious name of the Persian (sic) capital, a name possibly made up from Albania, an ancient district in the eastern Caucasus, or from the 'Albanyen', a race overcome by Alexander; the est is necessary for the rhyme. See Kyng Alisaunder, ed. Weber, Metrical Romances, l. 5270. ] Line 42

(7)

Qwere thei despousyd wyuys [The espousal of wives of the lineage of Darius inevitably suggests the history of Alexander the Great. On Alexander's return to Susa in 324, according to Plutarch's Life of Alexander (ch. 70) and Diodorus Siculus (xvii. 10), he consummated the union of Persians and Macedonians by a great marriage festival, at which all his superior officers, with some ten thousand Macedonians, were wedded to Persian wives. The reflection of this event in the Alexander romance, and its possible effect on Metham, I have discussed at some length in the Introduction. ] off the lynage Line 43 Of Daryus, [Metham here seems to forget that he has just called the Persian monarch 'Camsyre', or possibly he is at the end of his inventive powers, and copies quite openly from the Alexander story. ] sumtyme emperour off that cuntre, Line 44 Multyplying the world, as seyth myn autour, Fyrage; [Fyrage; see also p. 70, l. 1914; see Introduction.] Line 45 Qwere he tellyth the ryalte off ther maryage, Line 46 Remembryng the loue and eke the aduersyte Line 47 Off Amoryus and Cleopes, that were the chyldyr dere Line 48 Off thise lordys, how thei louyd and dyid in fere. Line 49

[leaf 18 a]

(8)

And the sempyl wryter besechyth off supportacion Line 50 For the rude endytyng off this story, Line 51 But euery word ys wrytyn vndyr correcion Line 52 Off them that laboure in this syens contynwally; Line 53 For fulle herd yt ys, I knowe yt veryly, Line 54 To plese the pepyl: but the sqwete frute schewyth the gentil tre, Line 55 And the mowth the hert; yt wyl none odyr be. Line 56

(9)

But cause qwy that I this boke endyght Line 57 Is that noqwere in Latyne, ner Englysch, I coude yt aspye; Line 58 But in Grwe [The device of claiming translation from Greek in order to gain distinction is paralleled in Brit. Mus. MS. Add. 12,195, Wise Book of Philosophy (cf. Sl. 965, fol. 143 b), written by John Leke of Norfolk in the time of Edward IV: 'Here be-gynnys the wyse book of phylysophie and astronmye contenede and made of the wysest philisophere and astronmyr that euer was seyn in the world, syn it was be-gune; that is for to sey, of the Grece, for in that land and Ynglysche-man, ful wyse and wel undyrstondyng of fylosophye and of astronmie, stodyed and completyd the book owt of Grew into Ynglysche graciowsly.' See also Bodl. MS. Ashm. 189, fol. 1, which 'was begun, that is for to say, in the land of Greke'. ] Y had yt wrytyn lymynyd [Dr. Furnivall prints "lymnyd." ] bryght Line 59 With lettyrrys off gold, that gay were wrowght to the ye, Line 60 That [Dr. Furnivall prints "thei."] causyd me to meruel that yt so gloryusly Line 61 Was adornyd, and offten [Dr. Furnivall prints "off yn."] I enqwyryd of letteryd clerkys Line 62 Qwat yt myght be that poyntyd was with so merwulus werkys. Line 63

(10)

But alle thei seyd that yt was, be supposyng, Line 64 Grwe; but qwat yt ment, thei nyst ryght noght at alle. Line 65 And as yt fortunyd, ther come rydyng Line 66 To Norwyche a Greke, to home I schewyd, in specyal, Line 67 Thys forsayd boke; and he iche word, bothe gret and smal, Line 68 In Latyne yt expugnyd; and thus be hys infformacion Line 69 I had the trwe ground and very conclusyon. Line 70

Here endyth the prolog; and begynnyth the fyrst boke.

Book One

(11)

In Albynest, the chef cyte off the regyon of Parse, Line 71 Thyse lordys reulyd, the wyche excellent were off fame, Line 72 Be hos prudens, the cyteceynys were gouernyd in pes and equite [MS. Sign for ri, so often below; also ra for wa.] Line 73 Be longe contynwauns, neuer founde in blame; Line 74 Nout-withstondyng ther charge was, in the emperourys name, Line 75 [leaf 18 b.] Alle maner off trespas to chastyse; but euer with ryghtffulnes, Line 76 Thei coude alle materys reforme and redres. Line 77

(12)

And as myn autour doth in Grwe specyffye, Line 78 Tellyng yt for a specyal rememberauns, Line 79 Seytht that thise lordys dwellyd so nyghe, Line 80 That be-twene ther placys ther was no more dystauns Line 81 Than that a ston wal made the dysseuerauns, Line 82 The qwyche dyuydyd ther courtys and closys, Line 83 And ther delectabyl gardyns in sesun spryngyng with lyliys and rosys. Line 84

(13)

And be ther namys myne autour doth expres, Line 85 Qwyche was the fadyr off Amoryus and off Cleopes eke, Line 86 Seyng off bothe: most had in reputacion of worthynes Line 87 Was Palemedon, [Palamedon: a name possibly suggested by Palamades in the Troy Book.] Amoryus fadyr, the most myghty Greke, Line 88 Alle the regyon off Tessaly, [Tessaly: a name coming possibly from Lydgate's Troy Book. ] thru-owte to seke, Line 89 Hos prudent poyntys off werre wer so dyuulgate, Line 90 That in the chauncys off Mars he stode makeles laureat. Line 91

(14)

Hos sone, as breuely be-fore I dyd expres, Line 92 Was Sir Amoryus, off home this story in especyal Line 93 Makyth mencion, hos beute and stature, bothe more and les, Line 94 Myne autour dothe declare, on this wyse in general: Line 95 Off mene stature [With this passage compare Chaucer's description of the Squire in the Prolog to the Canterbury Tales, whose stature was of 'even length'. With the 'demure and dyscrete' of l. 99, compare not only the 'lowly and servisable' of the Squire, but the description of the Knight, who of his port was 'meke as is a mayde'.] was Amoryus, manful and strong with-alle, Line 96 With coloure bryght and herys broune, fulle of norture and curtesye; Line 97 And be hys wysdam, abyl an hole reme to gye. Line 98

(15)

And in hys gouernauns, so demure and dyscrete was he Line 99 That iche creature he coude reuerens be norturyd ientylnes Line 100 Affter ther degre; that off pore and ryche yn the cyte, Line 101 The fame of hys manhod and off hys loulynes Line 102 Was in ryfe; for as thei seyd alle, he was makeles Line 103 [leaf 19 a.] Hys age consydyrryd, hys byrth and nobyl lynage, Line 104 Be-sechyng Venus hym to fortune with lygkly maryage. Line 105

(16)

The fadyr off Cleopes, as seyth this story, Line 106 Was clepyd Dydas, hos wurchyp and fame Line 107 Was spred ful wyde; so that the cyteceyns for a memory, Line 108 Lete make a pyler off bras, ther-in wrytyn hys name Line 109 And hys beneffetys, more- ouer, hys ymage heldyng a frame, Line 110 In tokyn that be equite he reulyd the towne; Line 111 And eke that the tempyl was off hys fundacion. Line 112

(17)

My boke tellyth the cause off this remembrauns, Line 113 Seyng that qwyl Palemedon with the emperour was in batyle, Line 114 Dydas had off the cyte the hole gouernauns; Line 115 And, sodenly, ther come fro heuyn a thundyr and hayle, Line 116 That yt ouer-thrw the tempyl off Venus, top ouer tayle; Line 117 And Venus, with alle ymagys off gold, syluer, and bras, Line 118 Were smet to poudyr, bothe more and las. Line 119

(18)

Qwan the case off ther ymages were thus be-falle, Line 120 The cyteceynis for fere fled to Dydas palyse, Line 121 Bothe prest and seculerys, women, and alle, Line 122 For socoure and comffort and to here hys avyse; Line 123 For this thundyr rof stone wallys and housys, off meruulus wyse; Line 124 That the pepyl, dysmayd, ferffully on Dydas gan calle, Line 125 For loss off her godys and sauacion off ther lyuys in specyal. Line 126

(19)

They compleynyd that ther gref and pensyffhede Line 127 Was for ther tresour, the qwyche ordeynyd was, be polycye, Line 128 For sundry casys to helpe the communys in ther nede, Line 129 For reperacion off the tempyl eke, and ther lyberteys to fortyfye, Line 130 "The qwyche tresur," qwoth thei, "vndyr this hydus skye, Line 131 [leaf 19 b.] Kofyr and alle, in the tempyl as yt lay, Line 132 Thus brent in-to aschys yt ys this day." Line 133

(20)

And he ful comfortabylly to them ansqweryd, in this maner: Line 134 "Frendys, be noght abaschyd for this soden case. Line 135 I schal a nwe tempyl re-edyfye to owre goddes dere, Line 136 And yt as rychely aray as the elde tempyl was; Line 137 And eke as myche tresur as ye left, more or las, Line 138 I schal off my fre wyl restore; that ye no los schal haue. Line 139 Thys ys myne entente, so Iubyter my soule saue!" Line 140

(21)

For the qwyche, the pepyl on kneys be-fore hym dyd falle, Line 141 And gaue to hym praysyng, as thei aughte to do; Line 142 And for this beneffet fulfyl the pepyl, in specyal, Line 143 Lete make this pyler to Dydas Iuno; Line 144 And lykghly yt ys to be so, Line 145 Hos doutyr, aftyr myn autour hyght Cleopes; Line 146 And as I wryte, her beute he doth expres: Line 147

(22)

As Phebus in bryghtenes alle planetys excedyth, in general, Line 148 Ryght so in beute Cleopes yche erthly creature Line 149 Precellyd in fayrenes; that yn the reme, in specyal, Line 150 The fame off her beute was spred and off here stature; Line 151 For so womanly was sche, so benygne to yche creature Line 152 That lusty yong knyghtys gret parte wold make Line 153 To breke huge sperys, fersly, for Cleopes sake. Line 154

(23)

And breuely this proces for to trase, Line 155 Qwat that nature myght werke to beute in ony creature Line 156 Was wrought in the persone and in the louely face Line 157 Off this lady; for sche proporcionyd was in sqwyche mesure, Line 158 That sche sempt, be outeward apparens to pase nature, Line 159 [leaf 20 a.] Hos beute thus floryschyng I omyt, as off the douter off Venus, Line 160 Contynwyng here fortunat fate vndyr Mars furyus. Line 161

(24)

But now off descrypcionnys I sese and forth this proces, Line 162 As myn autor dothe wryte, ryght so wul I, Line 163 Word for word, saue only a lenger progres Line 164 Yt nedyth in Englysch; for in Latyne he that wrytyth most schortly, Line 165 Most ys comendyd: qwerfore that myn autour endytyth, in more and les, Line 166 Compendyusly he pasyth; and so I, in termys fewe, Line 167 The entent off myne autour purpos breuely to schewe. Line 168

(25)

For as me semyth, yt were a long dygressyon Line 169 To telle howe the nwe tempyl was jonyd of cementaryis, Line 170 Or to speke off the hythe, or the brede, or off the facion, Line 171 Or the sumpte off goldyn vessellys, as chaudrunnys and fylateryis, Line 172 Or off Venus chaplet, howe yt was enamylyd with grene byris,— Line 173 To long yt were to wryte; for myn autour pasyth schortely, Line 174 And I to prolonge yt were but vanyte and foly. Line 175

(26)

In June, the qwyche the nest month ys aftyr May, Line 176 The yere reuoluyd; fro the tyme the olde tempyl fyl Line 177 The nwe was made and complet be xx^{t i} day Line 178 In alle ornamentys that longe to ther sacrifyce be ony skyl, Line 179 For the qwyche the gentylys alle and eke the commune pepyl Line 180 Be one asent dyd wryte to Palamedon, off hys deuocion, Line 181 Besechyng hym to come to ther nwe templys dedycacion. Line 182

(27)

And eke the bylle dyd specyfye that, yff yt to hys plesauns Line 183 None offens schul be, thei dysyryd to haue a syte Line 184 Off Amoryus, besechyng hys hynes noght to take to greuauns Line 185 That thei bold were on this wyse to wryte, Line 186 To accepte her feythffull entent in hys syte. Line 187

[leaf 20 b.] Off odyr thingys the bylle eke dyd specyffy, Line 188 The qwyche charge noght here to be browte to memory. Line 189

(28)

But this pepyl a masyngere to the emperour, in goodly wyse, Line 190 Sent in hast with this forsayd bylle; Line 191 The qwyche hys masage schewyd with ful sad auyse Line 192 Be mowthe, as he was taught off this pepyl Line 193 And aftyr delyueryd hys letter and held hym stylle, Line 194 Tyl Palamedon had red the ful sentens, Line 195 The qwyche vp-on this wyse he told in opyn audyens. Line 196

(29)

" Lordyis and frendyis," quoth he, "owre cyteceynis of Albynest Line 197 Haue wryt to vs that to owre goddes ys fabryfyid Line 198 A nwe tempyl; to the qwych consecracion, at ther reqwest, Line 199 We muste hye; for in the bylle yt ys specyfyid Line 200 That alle ornamentys be alle redy to the solempnyte puryfyid, Line 201 And noght thei abyde but vs and yong Amoryus,— Line 202 The sentens of this bylle maketh mencion ryght thus." Line 203

(30)

And qwan he had spokyn, the bariunnis that were in hys presens Line 204 Alowyd hys sentens and seyd yt was for the best Line 205 To enclyne that tyme to the pepillys sentens; Line 206 "For sythyn," quoth thei, "oure lege is now in rest Line 207 Fro Marcyan labourys, he hath of werryowris the lesse brest; Line 208 Vs thynke best that ye informe hym, as sone as ye may, Line 209 To puruey yow homeward to-morow or the nest day." Line 210

(31)

And sone a tyme oportune he had found, Line 211 Aspyid qwere the emperour was walkyng in a fresch herber, Line 212 Beforn hym on hys kne he fyl to the ground, Line 213 Schewyd hym the entent off hys comyng in benygn maner; Line 214 And qwan he had spokyn, the emperour, with debonayre chere, Line 215

Sayd to Palemedon: "Do in this matere as ye thinke best; Line 216 [leaf 21 a.] Ye knowe wele how owre empyre ys now in rest. Line 217

(32)

"And for yowre labour in werris that with vs ye haue be, Line 218 We thanke yow; and we wul, if ony case falle, Line 219 That yowre help in alle godely hast redy be." Line 220 And qwan he had thus spokyn, hys styward forth he dyd calle, Line 221 Comaundyng hym to fecche that ryche purpyl palle, Line 222 That hym-selff had vsyd in Mars sacrifyse, Line 223 The qwyche he yaf Palamedon for hys trw seruyse. Line 224

(33)

For the qwyche yifft in parte to make recompens, Line 225 He louyd hym as prynce, Mars knyght most excellent; Line 226 And bothe he and Amoryus ful norturely toke ther lycens Line 227 Off the emperour and the courte; and faste thei be ment Line 228 To hast ther iurney to the forsayd entent; Line 229 For the qwyche knytys and odyr gan fast puruey, Line 230 The nest morow them toward Albynest to conuey. Line 231

(34)

An artyfycer nowe were nede to me Line 232 That coude a straunge style puryfye; Line 233 For my poyntel so rude ys, as ye may opynly se, Line 234 Yt can noght graue, ye may vt wele aspye, Line 235 Be the qwyche my rudenes I mene to endyte this storye; Line 236 But trwth ys seyd, blynd Bayard ["blynd Bayard": a favourite expression of Lydgate's; Troy Book, v. 3506. ] of no dowts doth puruey, Line 237 Tyl he hath fallyn in the myd wey. Line 238

(35)

Qwerfore fully I me excuse, or I ferther procede, Line 239 To yche dyscrete persone most in specyal, Line 240 And to the goddes that Fame hyght, now in this nede, Line 241 I beseche for help,—that qwere this boke in chambyr or halle Line 242 Be herd or red, sche lyst the syluer sqwete pype so smal Line 243 [leaf 21 b.] To sounde; that the brasyn trumpe of obloqui Line 244 For my rudenes mystune noght in no company. Line 245

(36)

And nowe my autour I muste folow in astronomy, Line 246 The qwyche dymme ys to onlernyd folk, I trowe verily. Line 247

(37)

But now I returne to Palamedon, the qwyche lay in rest Line 248 Abydyng sum tokyn, qwan Aurora schuld sprynge; Line 249 And as he lay wakyn, he herd a ruschyng off a chest, Line 250 For qwyche noyse he with-owte taryinge Line 251 Styrt vp to wyte yff ony creature were styryng Line 252 "Ho goth ther?" quoth he; and afftyr stylle he stode for to here, Line 253 Yff ony seruaunt had walkyd ther nere. Line 254

(38)

And to the mortere off wax he yed to aspye the wast, Line 255 To wete yff tyme were fore to ryse, Line 256 To knowe allso how fer the nyght was past; Line 257 And as he the brennyng off the mortere gan deuyse, Line 258 The nyght chauntour (the cok) hys fyrst salme dyd appryse,— Line 259 "A!" thought he, "this sygnyfyith mydnyght; Line 260 The cok none ere crwe; yt wul be long or yt be daylyght." Line 261

(39)

Forth than to the wyndow he yed, to wyt how the day schuld preue; Line 262 And as he kyste vp hys eye to the fyrmament, Line 263 He aspyid Latona, ["Latona." This reference is puzzling. Latona is the Roman name of Leto, mother of Apollo and Artemis. There is not and, so far as I can discover, never has been a Latona among the stars or constellations. It may be by confusion with Leda, but, even then, there is no Leda among the stars; there is only the Swan, in whose form Jupiter visited Leda. ] how sche toke her leue Line 264 Off Jouys her loue, and howe Boetes gan dreue Line 265 Hys bryght plowgh of sterrys, and eke the systyrrys at ther stent, Line 266 The qwyche be namyd the sterrys seuyn .vij., Line 267 Howe thei gan appere in the myddys off heuyn. Line 268

(40)

[leaf 22 a.] And as he hys chere turnyd to be-hold Pegasus, Line 269 The fyry goddes off the fyrmament gan to schew here face; Line 270 And qwan he hys lady aspyid, that namyd ys Venus, Line 271 With deuoute preyyer to beseche her off grace Line 272 On kneys doune hym set, and for this preysyng gan race Line 273 In magnyfying the gloryus chyualry stellygerat Line 274 In qwemyng off Venus and Mars, that than were at debat. Line 275

(41)

"O!" quoth he, "ye inmortal goddyis, alle incorporat, Line 276 The qwyche be pasyng off nature haue trancendyd this mysery, Line 277 Be fortunat fate eternally deyfyid and gloryfycat, Line 278 That ye the heuyn crystallyne illumyne and puryfye Line 279 Off yowre infynyte goodenes! Ye yowre wurchypperys deyfye Line 280 Be a prerogatyfe synguler, that thei that can yow feythfuly plese Line 281 Ye yeff them alle that ys to ther hartys ese. Line 282

(42)

"O hye Saturne! reulyng with the septyr off prudens, Line 283 Alle terrenal accionnys cyrcumscryuyst indeffycyentlye Line 284 Be the progeny deyfyid off thee, hauyng decens Line 285 In fyre, aer, lond, and see, be ther namys them thus to applye: Line 286 As Jouys, fyry; Juno, aery; Neptunus, wattry; Pluto, erthy; Line 287 The qwyche hauyng off thise elementys septrat powere. Line 288 Thy chyld were jheryid be removeyowaddthow and eke thei in fere. Line 289

(43)

"And eke, O Appollo! to hos bryght chere my goddys alle Line 290 Yeue sted; and euery lyuyng erthely creature Line 291 With erbe, floure, and frute the preyse in general; Line 292 And eke I thi seruaunt qwyl my lyfe wul endure. Line 293 In my iurny fyry, and noght wattery, do thi cure, Line 294 To appere, I the beseche. And I, on the most reuerend wyse, Line 295 A blake bole in the yle of Delfos ["yle of Delfos": region of Delphos.] schal to the sacrifyse. Line 296

[leaf 22 b.]

(44)

"And O Mars! cheueteyn off nobyl weryouris, Line 297 With Venus and Lucyna (the mone) pesybyl be; Line 298 For masculyne furyus a-yens femenyn schouris Line 299 Amonge goddys ys ascryuyd but to crwelte. Line 300 And now howe gloryus and how blyssyd yt ys to se Line 301 Yowre deyifyid cherrys, O goddis and goddessys alle! Line 302 Jheryid ye myght be eternally with inffynyte memoryalle! Line 303

(45)

"And O eke ye nobyl deyfyid sygnys! abstracte Line 304 From erthly mancionnis to the asuryd fyrmamente; Line 305 Sum fyx and sum reuoluying to and fro, in maner of the cateracte, Line 306 Be-twene the poolys, bothe the qwyche namys thus represent, Line 307 The poole artyk and the poole antartyk at the goddys entent; Line 308 In sundry fygurys,—as summe stondyng, summe sittyng, Line 309 Sum deffendyng, summe lying, summe water poryng. Line 310

(46)

"And be the hye prouydens off yow, goddys colegyat, Line 311 Eyery sygne dysposyd ys be fatal ordynauns; Line 312 That yche regnyth a tyme, hys cours kepyng and estate, Line 313 Yche affter hys dysposycion reulyng with fortunat chauns Line 314 Them that born be vndyr ther dyuerse demenauns,— Line 315 As summe to prosperyte and ese; summe to trauel and gret vexsacion; Line 316 Sum to be leccherus; and sum onstabyl, affter the sygnys dysposycion. Line 317

(47)

removeAQwerefore, O Alua! wombe off the sagyttary off sterrys lucent, Line 318 My-selff I deprehend that in thyne exorte Line 319 I born was. O blyssyd sygne fortunat appere to myne entent! Line 320 And I thi gloryus fygure off pure gold, to thine apport, Line 321 Amonge my goddys schal fyx; and euer to the resorte Line 322 With sacryfyse and alle sygnys off the fyrmamente because off the, Line 323 With-in my tempyl in ther lykenes made schal be." Line 324

[leaf 23 a.]

(48)

And Palamedon thus hys preyur than dyd conclude; Line 325 For off sqwetnes off deuocion half raueschyd was he, Line 326 Foryetyng hym-self: for trwe yt ys that loue dothe exclude Line 327 Bothe hete and cold, and causyth a man foryetful for to be; Line 328 For the sterrys so longe he beheld, descryuyng the mageste, Line 329

That the pepyllyng wynde made hys flesch for to quake; Line 330 That he styrt to hys bed and a-nwe rest be-gan to take. Line 331

(49)

Nowt longe tyme he had layn in the golden slepe, Line 332 That fro vndyr the erthe phyry Phebus Line 333 With hys glymerryng bemys in-to the chambyr gan lepe; Line 334 That thru hys bryghtnes he woke Amoryus; Line 335 And he in hast styrt vp and hys fadyr dyd clepe, Line 336 Seyng that yche man redy was to ryde, Line 337 Chafyng ther hors vp and doune be the court syde. Line 338

(50)

And be that tyme he redy was to take hys palffrey, Line 339 Lusty, fresch knygtys of howsold redy were Line 340 To conuey hym forth in hys iurney. Line 341 And qwan he the entent perseyuyd off hys frendys dere, Line 342 Off ther louyng entente he thankyd hem in benygn manere Line 343 Seying as herttyly, "I thanke yow in euery degre Line 344 As yff ye me conueyid home to owre cyte." Line 345

(51)

But alle hys speche stod for noght, for certenly thei seyd, Line 346 They had sundry erendys in-to hys cuntre Line 347 And eke dyuerse messagys vp-on hem were leyd; Line 348 Also ther dysyre was to se the newe tempyl and the cyte. Line 349 And qwan Palamedon sey yt wold none odyr be Line 350 But forth thei wold, he thankyd them hertyly, Line 351 And toke hys palfray and forth rod myryly. Line 352

(52)

[leaf 23 b.] And qwan thei pasyd had the cyte but mylys thre, Line 353 A losty yonge knyght gan preke hys palfray Line 354 Toward Amorius. "Qwat sorow eylys the now," quoth he, Line 355 "That thow thus sobyrly rydyst alle this day? Line 356 Be myne hed!" quoth he, "I trowe that thow hast lost thi pray Line 357 Off summe ientyl woman that dwellyth with the empres. Line 358 That ys now thi mornyng, as I gesse. Line 359

(53)

"But wotys thow qwat me thynkyth best? Line 360 Lern this lessun, if thow be wyse, off me: Line 361 Lete no fayre loke reue the off thi rest; Line 362 But them that thow knowyst hertyly loue the, Line 363 Loue them a-yen, qwydyr yt be he or sche. Line 364 And euer be-ware off fayre speche, fore many be ontrwe; Line 365 For trost in ontrwe hath made many a man to rwe. Line 366

(54)

"But nowe let alle this musyng matere pase, Line 367 And be auysyd off perellys ayens a-nodyr tyme." Line 368 "Ye, brodyr," quoth Amoryus, "I trowe that ye haue trodyn the trace Line 369 Off louys daunce, for of the kalendys ye muse the prime; Line 370 For he that hyest on that leddere dothe clyme Line 371 Deppest in-to wo fallyth, qwan he hath lost hys pray. Line 372 But troste me, veryly, louyd I so no creature in-to this day." Line 373

(55)

"Wele," quoth this yonge knyght, "this matere longyth to sadnes; Line 374 But lete yt pase; and syng now sum songe for this sesunne." Line 375 "I graunt," quoth Amoryus, " be-gynne now your chauntes; Line 376 But go gete vs more felychyp." "Ye! for God," quoth he, "that ys resun." Line 377 And forth he clepyd foure knytys hos ful deuocion Line 378 Was set in worldly plesauns, that with melydyus chauntyng Line 379 This song off loue with lusty voys thei gan to syng: [The theme of this song is like that of the Squire's Tale. ] Line 380

(56)

[leaf 24 a.] Qwan flourys sprede in May, of monthys myryest, Line 381 And euery byrde hath chosyn hys louely make, Line 382 For joye off the sesun amonge the leuys grene gan rest, Line 383 With myry notys syngyng; as I my walkyng gan take, Line 384 Vndyr a forest syde, I herd one, for hys ladyis sake, Line 385 To the goddes of loue he gan to compleyn, Line 386 And eke to fortune, for los off hys lady souereyn: Line 387

(57)

O fortune, alas! qwy arte thow to me onkend? Line 388 Qwy chongyddyst thow thi qwele causeles? Line 389 Qwy art thow myne enmye and noght my frend, Line 390 And I euer thi seruant in al maner of loulynes? Line 391

(58)

But nowe, off my lyfe, my comfort, and my affyauns, Line 392 Thowe hast me be-rafft, that causyth me thus to compleyn. Line 393 O bryghter than Phebus! O lyly! O ground of plesauns! Line 394 O rose off beute! O most goodely, sumtyme my lady souereyn! Line 395

(59)

But O alas! that thru summe enmye or sum suspycyus coniecte, Line 396 I throwyn am a-syde and owte off my ladiis grace; Line 397 Sumtyme in fauer, but now fro alle creaturys abiecte, Line 398 As offtyn sqwownyng, as if remembyr her bryght face. Line 399 But now adwe for euer; for my ful felycyte Line 400 Ys among thise grene leuys for to be. Line 401

(60)

Thys was the dyte off ther fresch songe and the sentens Line 402 That thise yonge knytys dyd syng in the iurney, Line 403 In specyal for feiner loue and presens Line 404 Off Amoryus. And thus with myry songys and talys, day be day, Line 405 They schortyd the tyme with myrtht and with play; Line 406 And in alle ther myrthys Palamedon rode forth stylly, Line 407 Thynkyng alle but vanyte and foly. Line 408

(61)

[leaf 24 b.] But now I leue thise fresch gallauntys syngyng in ther lay Line 409 With mornyng joy in sqwetnes off songe, compleynyng Line 410 The absens off ther ladyis soueren in the sesun off May, Line 411 To returne to the cyteceynys; the qwych herd off ther comyng, Line 412 Nwe clad in a sute, with ful solen aray, Line 413 On horsbak with Dydas rydyn owte off the cyte, Line 414 Abydyng in a pleyn the dystauns off mylys thre, Line 415

(62)

Tyl off ther spye thei had sum tokynnyng. Line 416 And at hye none thayr masynger come rydyng a-pase, Line 417 Enfformyng Dydas how that thei come fast by. Line 418 Ther comyth myche pepyl; thei ocupy myche spase; Line 419 And than Dydas commaundyd yche man hys dystauns Line 420 To kepe fro odyr; and fast than he gan puruey Line 421 To mete with hym in alle godely hast on the wey. Line 422

(63)

And Dydas, ful norturely, with hys cumpany Line 423 Hym welcomyd as to hys oune cuntre, Line 424 And eke the emperourys knyghts by and by Line 425 Conueyng them forth in-to ther cyte; Line 426 Qwere thei receyuyd were, as thei aucte to be, Line 427 Off hys lady and odyr off the toune, Line 428 Ful solemply conueyid home to hys mancion. Line 429

(64)

The nest day folwyng Dydas and odyr sundry Line 430 Off the cyte come to Palamedon and hym prayd Line 431 To asyngne a day qwan the tempyl most conuenyently Line 432 Myght be dedycat. "Loke ye," quoth Palamedon, "I held me payd, Line 433 Saue I wul se be-fforn how yt ys nwe arayd; Line 434 For yff ony thing schul lak that schuld the tempyl adorne, Line 435 I wold haue konnyng ther-of be-fforn." Line 436

(65)

[leaf 25 a.] And forthwith he dyd clepe the emperourys knyghtys. Line 437 "Wul ye," quoth he, "se the nwe tempyl abought?" Line 438 "Ye, syr," quoth they, "we come hydyr to se nwe sytys." Line 439 And forth thei yede and fast beheld yt, with-in and with-owte. Line 440 Ther was castyng off perellys and meuyng off many a dowghte; Line 441 But at the last this was Palamedonnys sentens Line 442 Among them alle in opyn audyens: Line 443

(66)

"Trwly, brodyr Dydas," quoth he, "this tempyl ys feyre,— Line 444 Venus do yow mede! and I purpose, in specyal, Line 445 For a rememberauns off owre goddys alle, a spere to repeyre Line 446 Off pure gold, to the symylytude as a bal, Line 447 Hauyng ther-in the goddys meuyng natural Line 448 And yche sygnys exort; and be meuyng yt schal represent Line 449 The cours off alle planetys off the fyrmament." Line 451

(67)

And qwan he had thus spokyn, "Qwere ys," quoth he, "Venus secretary, Line 452 The qwyche in crafftys mekanyk hath experyens, Line 453 As off dyuynacionnys, enchauntements, and off sorcery; Line 454 And offtyn in ars magyk hath wrowgt in my presens." Line 455 But off hys woidys, or he had spokyn the full sentens, Line 456 Amonge hem was this forsayd prest off Venus; Line 457 For he knwe alle be-fforn by hys spyryt namyd Incoberus. [Incoberus. Not found; a name possibly suggested by incubus. ] Line 458

(68)

And qwan Palamedon had rehersyd this matere before, Line 459 "Syre," quoth this secretary, "the labour ys cumbrus and grete; Line 460 But yff I haue stuff to performe yt, in lesse and more, Line 461 For my bysynes I purpose noght to lete; Line 462 So that this day ye wul the gold me gete, Line 463 Feythffully I dar promyse that, be this day seuynyght .vij., Line 464 Iche image and cerkyl redy schal be dyght." Line 465

(69)

[leaf 25 b.] "As for that," quoth Palamedon, "schal be made no tarying." Line 466 And he to hys styward anone yaff this commaundmente: Line 467 As myche gold as he wold ax thidyr for to bryng, Line 468 And eke ryche stonys afftyr the secretaryis entent. Line 469 "Anone," quoth he, "thei were delyueryd qwyl I am present." Line 470 And as he commaundyd, ryght so the styward dyd in-dede, Line 471 Preyng this nygromancyer hym in hys werk to spede. Line 472

(70)

And ther Palamedon, in open audyens, Line 473 Them off the cyte chargyd redy for to be, Line 474 On ther legauns and promysyd obedyens, Line 475 Alle present and absent that longe to the cyte Line 476 With-owte sesonabyl cause or gret specyalte, Line 477 Afftyr eght .viij. dayis, be the custummys olde, Line 478 The dedycacion off Venus and the tempyl to hold. Line 479

(71)

And than owte off the tempyl he yede and the knytys also, Line 480 Home to hys palyce to theyr refeccion, Line 481 Qwere I hem leue, carpyng off the tempyl, to and fro, Line 482 To returne to the secretary, the qwyche be coniuracion Line 483 Off spyrytys enchauntyth myghtyly, be dyuynacion Line 484 With spryngys off cydyr, qwyk colys, and encens, Line 485 Introducyng the spyrytys in-to hys cyrcumfferens. Line 486

(72)

And sone an huge pytte he gan mak be-syde, Line 487 Qwere he the gold, syluer, and precyus stonys Line 488 Thrw in to-gydyr; and afftyr gan abyde, Line 489 Tyl he had gadyrryd a multytude off mennys bonys Line 490 And thrwe hem in-to the pytte alle at onys; Line 491 For as clerkys wryte, the damnyd spyrytys haue delectacyon Line 492 Amonge tresur and ded mennys bonys to make ther mancion. Line 493

(73)

[leaf 26 a.] And redy anone he dyght hys sacrifyse, Line 494 Abydyng the oure off hys operacion, Line 495 Arayd in qwyght, hys cerkyl gan dyuyse Line 496 With carectyrs and fygurys, as longe to the dysposycion Line 497 Off tho spyrytys that haue that power in ther iurysdyccion. Line 498 And at hye mydnyght he entryd hys cumpas Line 499 With hys boke and sacrifyse coniuryng apase. Line 500

(74)

And with-in schort tyme, be excellent craft, Line 501 He had introducyd in-to this forsayd pytt Line 502 Seuyn .C. thousand spyrytys, or he lafft, Line 503 And fast ther bond them, that thei myght nogh flytt, Line 504 Thow thei had yt sqworn ther them he schytt; Line 505 And made tho spyrytys so meruulusly werk in fere, Line 506 That with-in thre ourys complet was the spere. Line 507

(75)

And now for to declare the werkyng off this spere Line 508 And eke to name the cerkyllys, fygurys, and sygnys, Line 509 The multytude off sterrys, namyd in panymmys manere, Line 510 Goddys off the fyrmamente, and eke the meruulus mevyngys Line 511 Off the planetys, causyng in thayr regne sundry thyngys Line 512 In werkyng off nature,—alle this this spere dyd represent, Line 513 As in frosty nyghtys ye may be-hold in the fyrmament. Line 513

(76)

In the este ende off this tempyl this spere apperyd alofft, Line 514 Fyue cubytys fro the ground, alwey meuyng; Line 515 Noudyr hangyng ner vndyr born, of herd ner off sofft, Line 516 But alone in the eyar, to euery mannys eye apperyng. Line 517 So meruulus a melody yt causyd to folkys heryng, Line 518 That halff thei raueschyd were be the sqwete armony Line 519 Off the qwyfft glydyng of thise cerkyllys, by and by. Line 520

(77)

[leaf 26 b.] And the ouer cerkyl in-cludying alle this huge werk Line 521 Afftyr astrologerys descripcion applanos hyght, Line 522 The qwyche vndyr heuyn empuror, as Haly [Haly. The list of constellations and planets may very well have come from one of the various works on astronomy and astrology which bore Haly's name during the Middle Ages, or from the picture maps of the starry heavens which accompanied them. The description of the heavens given in the first part of De Judiciis Astrorum is more or less incidental to the questions of pure astrology with which the book deals, but it is a necessary part of it. Metham's mistakes indicate, however, that he is merely quoting an authority, and that his description is from memory.] the gret clerk Line 523 Doth specyfy, qwere he off constellacionnys doth wryght, Line 524 Ys nest; and so vysuually, to yche mannys syte, Line 525 Abouyn this spere enchauntyd apperryd ouer, more and les, Line 526 As liqwyde gold brennyng in a furnes. Line 527

(78)

But the secunde cerkyl, ther ys no lyuyng creature Line 528 That myght yt behold but gretly he schuld wondyr Line 529

Off the operacion and ryches off that meruulus fygure; Line 530 For in that the fyx sterrys were and sygnys meuyng asundyr; Line 531 Sum vprysyng and sum dessendyng vndyr; Line 532 The qwyche multytude in fere, afftyr paynymys opynyon, Line 533 Was clepyd the colege off goddys, afftyr poyyetys denominacion. Line 534

(79)

And in the fyrst fyx sygne the doutyr off Lycaon, Line 535 Clad in sterrys off gold, cumpasyng tweyn berys qwyght Line 536 With a saphyryne serpent, stedffastly stondyng in one, Line 537 The qwyche the north pole ye clepyd or Artos bryght; Line 538 Nest home Artophylax stondyng redy for to fyght Line 539 In the deffens off Arcton, clad in a palle smaragdyne, Line 540 Adornyd with sterrys off gold; to the centyr hys face declyne. Line 541

(80)

Vp-on hos schuldyr the garlond off Adryagne Line 542 Aperyd in the symylytude as a ryche topas; Line 543 Nest home stod kyng Hercules, that alle Asy wanne; Line 544 The skyn off a lyon in ryght arme dyd embras, Line 545 With a gleyue off gold dyuydyng the cerkyl or cumpas Line 546 Off somer; closyd in sterrys flamyng nynetene .xix.; Line 547 The qwyche in hys exorte off astrononerrys hyghly myght be sene. Line 548

(81)

[leaf 27 a.] And be Hercules the Harp musycal off Orphe Line 549 Was joynyd to the pole, off the qwych, as poyetys feyne, Line 550 Orphe with the sqwete melody from Plutoys fyry see. Line 551 As fro helle, hys wyffe he harpyd ayeyne; Line 552 And vndyr this harpe the Sqwan, that to Jouys dyd perteyne, Line 553 Was plumyd with oryent margarytys; and toward the Lesse Bere Line 554 Thyse goddys and goddessys conioynyd were. Line 555

(82)

Cephe and Casyep, fayre Andromece and semly Perse, Line 556 The kyng off Cryse nakyd Opylenk, inuoluyd with a serpent, Line 557 With the goldyn arow off Hercules, that the Egyl dyd sle, Line 558 The Egyl flying by, and the Dolphyn that in the spere ys resydent, Line 559 And wyngyd Pegasus that made in Boyse the welle oryent, [Boyse is Boeotia, and the allusion is to the fountain Hippocrene. ] Line 560 With the Tryangyl; qwyche imagys were made ther in her fygurys Line 561 Off sundry precyus stonys; as of carbunkyllys, dyamaunts, and saphyrys. Line 562

(83)

But for that this matere ys obscure and to onletterryd noght delectabyl, Line 563 I pase schortly; but sythyn I haue begunne to descriue the spere, Line 564 Breuely I schal conclude, omyttyng colourys; as off syluer and sabyl, Line 565 Asure, gold, goulys, and verd, the ennamyllyngys in sundry maner, Line 566 Off the vestyture off goddys, as thei wrowght were in fere Line 567 Be enchauntement; and now the resydu vp to descriue, Line 568 I pray yow off pacyens, I schal a do belyue. Line 569

(84)

And nest thise foresayd Phebus' twelue .xij. dwellyng placys Line 570 Sundryly apperyd, the qwyche be clepyd, in commune langage, Line 571 The twelue syngnys off the yere, kepyng there pacys Line 572 In this forsayd spere, closyd in oryent sterrys, as in a cage; Line 573 As the Ram, the qwyght Bole, the Tweyn Bredyr off Grekys lynage, Line 574 The Crab, the Lyon, the Vyrgyne, and the Weghtys, Line 575 The Scorpyon, the Sagyttary, the Capricorn, the Aqwary, and the Fysschys. Line 576

(85)

[leaf 27 b.] And southe in the spere toward the octyan, ["Octyan." Not found. The context suggests the South Pole or the southern region; the word aimed at is probably 'octant'. ] Line 577 The Qwalle was, hornyd Padus, ["Hornyd Padus." This refers probably to the constellation Eridanus, who was pictured as a river-god with horns; see Hug. Gratii Syntagma Arateorum, Batavii, 1600. ] the Hare, and Oryon Line 578

With the sqwyff Grehound; and fers Prochyon; Line 579 The Schyp off Argus; the Centaure or the monstyr off Chyryon; Line 580 The fygure off the Dorys off the Tempyl off Salomon, Line 581 With the serpent namyd Ydra, the Pese, and the Crow, Line 582 And the fysch clepyd Serus; ["The fysch clepyd Serus." Not found. Metham is enumerating southern constellations; Cetus is accounted for above; so that Piscis Australis suggests itself as the constellation meant.] thus thei namyd were arowe. Line 583

(86)

And as I haue here rehersyd in the spere nygromantyk, Line 584 Ryght so in the fyrmament the same fygurys be, Line 585 As asstrologerys wryte, fygurys to men and bestys lyke; Line 586 To the qwyche paynymys dyd sacrifyse for euery aduersyte, Line 587 Settyng them in charys off gold, that the pepyl myght them se; Line 588 In-to the qwyche wykkyd spyrytys entryd the pepyl to ludyfye, Line 589 To make them forsake God, and to turment her soulys euerlastyngly. Line 590

(87)

And in-to this owre the most part off the world ys so made blynd, Line 591 Thorowgh the sotel falsnes off the fend, that thei beleue, Line 592 To be tranlat in-to heuyn, qwere thei ther God schuld fynd; Line 593 For off euery sekenes thei wene the idol dyd hem releue. Line 594 Offtyn he talkyth to hem in ther langage, bothe morow and eue; Line 595 Qwan thei with sacriffyse beseche hym to be mercyfful, Line 596 He gladyth them with feyre promyssys at the fulle. Line 597

(88)

But ayen to returne to the spere and yt to conclude fynally,— Line 598 The seuyn .vij. planetys to descriue the qwyche be-neth thise odyr Line 599 Were resydent in ther tronys, reulyng bodyis of the erth myghtyly; Line 600 That for ther excellent power sum ys clepyd the fadyr Line 601 To them rehersyd beffore; and so dere and wurthy Line 602 To alle idolatrerys thei be, that huge templys to yche off thise syngulere Line 603 They edyffye to offyr in theyr sacrifyse and muse her prayyer. Line 604

(89)

[leaf 28 a.] And to sum thei sacriffyse for wysdam, as to Saturn, Line 605 The qwyche in the seuynt .vij. spere hath hys domyny; Line 606 To sum for prosperyte and wurchyp, as to Iubyter, that makyth returne Line 607 In the syxt .vj. cerkyl, or trone; and to Mars for vyctory Line 608 Off her aduersaryis, that the fyffte .v. trone reulyth myghtyly; Line 609 And to Phebus for ansqwere off auenturys how thei schul falle Line 610 In tyme foluyng, the qwyche the fourth .iiij. spere reulyth celestyal; Line 611

(90)

And eke to beuteu s Venus, that femenyn ys off nature, Line 612 Lusty fresch galaunts to haue ther lykyng dysyre Line 613 To her beseche for help, qwan thei endure Line 614 Ony inffortune, or qwan thei brenne in louys fyre; Line 615 The qwyche goddes reulyth the empyre Line 616 Off the thryd trone, to home Dydas for pure deuocion Line 617 Bylyd the tempyl qwere the spere had the mocion; Line 618

(91)

And to Mercurry thei that marchaundyse ocupy, Line 619 As to god off fortune thei beseche for prosperus auenture, Line 620 The qwyche the secunde trone possedyth; and nest vs by Line 621 In the fyrst trone, resedyth the goddes of Dyane, that the nyght obscure Line 622 Temperyth with her bryght chere, that femenyne ys off nature, Line 623 The qwyche thise paynymys clepe goddes off the see, Line 624 Preyng her with sacrifyse for the seeys tranquillyte. Line 625

(92)

And thus I ende this rwde descrypcion Line 626 Off goddys and the spere to speke off the secretary, Line 627 That had a fynauns and a fulle conclusyon Line 628 Off this meruulus spere be the spyrytys aery; Line 629 That fast than homeward gan hym hye, Line 630

Speryd the tempyl dorys and to hys chambyr yede; Line 631 Qwere I hym leve aslepe, yff he can, for he hath nede. Line 632

(93)

[leaf 28 b.] Fowre days afftyr that made was this werke, Line 633 This secretary had schewyd alle the spere Line 634 Vp-on a nyght to Palemedon, qwan the wedyr was derke, Line 635 Axyng hym yff ony he wold haue made, in priuy maner, Line 636 Be-syde that, to the reuerens off theyr goddes dere. Line 637 "Qwat," quoth Palamedon, "made ye haue made be myne estymacion, Line 638 That no lyuyng creature but ye myght to this con clusyon. Line 639

(94)

"O Venus dere!" quoth he, "this werk ys so qweynt and meruulus, Line 640 That I am astoynyd to behold yt; meuyth so fast Line 641 Myn eyn dymme off the wundyrfful bryghtnes; yt ys so laboryus, Line 642 That my resun demyth that yt myght noght euer last; Line 643 For be my wytt I haue concludyd and caste, Line 644 That yff yche cerkyl were as thyk as a mylle post, Line 645 The scharp meuyng schul sone cause yt to be lost." Line 646

(95)

"Be lost!" quoth the secretary, "nay, nay," quoth he, "that schal neuer be Line 647 Qwyl the world enduryth, trost that veryly. Line 648 Qwat wene ye that the cerkyllys were off that tresur that ye Line 649 To me delyuerryd? Nay, thynke yt nowt, that ys but a fantesy; Line 650 For one .j. cerkyl takyth more than yowre tresur drw holy. Line 651 But for a matere off counsel," quoth this secretary, "in specyal, Line 652 I browte yow now hydyr; I schal noght gab at alle. Line 653

(96)

"Qwan complet was the spere, as yt ys this owre, Line 654 Sore I dysyryd to knowe how longe yt schuld endure; Line 655

And vp-on a nyght thys weke in my towre, Line 656 I sacriffysyd to Venus, prayng her to do her cure Line 657 To schewe me be reuelacion, to make me sure, Line 658 Yff yt schuld sone be destroyd, or late, or neuer; Line 659 Or yff the tempyl ouertrw, yff the cerkyllys schuld dysseuer. Line 660

(97)

[leaf 29 a.] "And as I lay, I fyl wondyrffully aslepe; Line 661 And sodenly, in a dreme I was and that a meruulus, Line 662 Me-thowt I sey Venus alle mornyng, as thow sche schuld wepe, Line 663 Punchyng me with her fote, to me seyd rygt thus: Line 664 ‘Alas!’ quoth sche, `we goddessys may say, for sone to us Line 665 Is schape an vttyr exile; for here qwere we were wunt to abyde, Line 666 A crucyffyid man schal take possessyon, and vs put asyde. Line 667

(98)

"‘And were noght,’ quoth sche, ‘that this heuy case schuld falle, Line 668 The spere schuld euer endure ueryly; Line 669 But sythyn thus yt schal be, the same nyght breke yt schal, Line 670 That we arn drouyn hens; and thus alas! euerlastyngly Line 671 Owre wurchyp, owre power, and owre memory, Line 672 Owte off this cuntre, that crucyffyid man schal fleme. Line 673 Be-leue this veryly, loke that neuer odyr-wyse yow esteme.’ Line 674

(99)

"No more sche sayd; but ayen sche yede fro thens sche come, Line 675 Wryngyng her handys, sodenly vanyschyd ewey; Line 676 And I with thaat woke and fast yede home Line 677 To my rest; and in my bed as I lay, Line 678 Sche efft apperred to me and on the same wyse dyd say, Line 679 As sche dyd be-ffore, and this ys cause," quoth he, "that I Line 680 In specyal sent for yow thus hastyly." Line 681

(100)

"Trwle," quoth Palamedon, "this I wondyr; but yeff no credens Line 682 That yt schal falle; for we were mad owre god to for-sake Line 683 And to a crucyffyid man to do ony reuerens: Line 684

For that day that I a damnyd man to my god schal take, Line 685 Loke that heuyn schal falle and Venus a-nwe schal make. Line 686 But loke for rumour off the pepyl that yow yt counsel kepe; Line 687 Telle now no more, for I go home to slepe." Line 688

(101)

[leaf 29 b.] Erly in the morw Phebus with hys golden chare Line 689 Hys cours toke to the cerkyl that Cherycos ["Cherycos." This is used apparently to designate a circle of the earth. Ptolemaeus, Phaenomena Stellarum, 1537, shows maps of the earth and the winds. At the north-west is a figure with puffed-out cheeks, representing the north-west wind, and labelled Circius. In the Vespasian Glossary, Circius is glossed "uuest-nordwind." Metham, if this is the word, was applying the term to the geographical direction rather than to a particular wind. ] men calle, Line 690 Spredyng hys fyry bemys on hyllys and desertys bare. Line 691 On the heght .viij. day lymyt, qwan the dedycacion schuld falle Line 692 Off this tempyl, qwere iche man and woman, in specyalle, Line 693 For the fest and the sesun, affter ther costummys olde, Line 694 In her best aray yede to the tempyl this fest to hold. Line 695

(102)

Qwere alle this pepyl gadyrryd abydyng Palamedon, Line 696 Wondryng gretly off the sqwet melody Line 697 That owte off the tempyl come; and sone ther come anone Line 698 Thyse lordys; and off alle the cyte, the ryche and wurthy Line 699 In glytyryng gounys, that wrowt were meruulusly Line 700 Off pure gold and stonys; that wondyr yt was to se Line 701 The arayment off lordys in that solempnyte. Line 702

(103)

And qwan this secretary aspyid that thei come nye, Line 703 He lete opyn the dorys, commaundyng the prestys alle Line 704 Them to aray in ther slauennys in hye, Line 705 That no lettyng schuld be qwat case sum-euer falle; Line 706 "But as sone as Palamedon hath take hys stalle Line 707 Owre seruyse we may begynne and owre obseruauns: Line 708 For to spede the tyme to the peppyl ys most plesauns." Line 709

(104)

And with that thise lordys entryd in-to the tempyl, Line 710 And eke the comunnys that sunnest myght; Line 711 But sodenly abaschyd the countenauns off the pepyl Line 712 In the beheldyng the wondyr fygure off the spere bryght, Line 713 Makyng sqwyche a melody, and flamyng with sqwych a lyght; Line 714 That the pepyl dysmayd, as schepe in a thundyr Line 715 Ryght so thei stode, and on the spere gan wondyr. Line 716

(105)

[leaf 30 a.] And qwan the pepyl had longe yt behold, the secretary Line 717 Commaundyd sylens, and to sese of ther jangyllyng; Line 718 And a-none began the holy obseruans and mystery Line 719 Afftyr paynymmys gyse. Thei gan meryly syng; Line 720 Than yche man drwe hym to prayere, with-owte more lettyng; Line 721 And afftyr, ther rammys, kyddys, and bolys, thei gan sacriffyse Line 722 To Venus, afftyr ther ollde abhomynabyl gyse. Line 723

[typgraphic * * * * * * * * * * *]

Second Boke

(106)

Now leue I this introducyng matere in specyal, Line 724 To declare the substauns off the story Line 725 Off Amoryus and Cleopes, beyng at thise mysteryis alle Line 726 In that tempyl, fulle lytyl knowyng qwat fortune was them ny Line 727 Off louys chauns; for thow thei were born fast by, Line 728 Nowdyr off odyr had very knowlech: for as I before told, Line 729 Amoryus was fostyrryd in the emperourys houshold. Line 730

(107)

Thys Amoryus in the tempyl yed vp and downe, Line 731 Conueyd with thise fresch yonge knytys, Line 732 Carpyng off auenturys; for lytyl deuocion Line 733 They had in the seruyse, but alle ther delytys Line 734 Was to se the gentylwomen, kastyng to and fro ther sytys; Line 735 For one thei spake, fyllyng the champ yche to odyr; Line 736 But with ther mowth thei musyd one .j., and with ther hert anodyr. Line 737

(108)

And as syre Amoryus talkyd, he kyst hys ye couertly [With the meeting of Amoryus and Cleopes, compare the first acquaintance of Paris and Helen (Lydgate's Troy Book, E.E.T.S. ed., ii, 3632-45). Paris walks back and forth, observes Helen at her prayers, and draws near her; they love at first sight, but dissemble their love; they part after arranging to meet again. p. 32, ll 849 ff. The tournament. There is a tournament in the fourth book of Lydgate's Troy Book, to which this bears some resemblance. ] Line 738 To beheld thise ladyis, notyng thayre demenauns Line 739 And eke ther beute; hys eye be-gan sodenly Line 740 To be set on one .j. abaschyd in maner off that soden chauns, Line 741 Meruelyng gretly that sche with so goodely countenauns Line 742 Kyste here eye a-syde, qwan he her beheld stedffastly, Line 743 Reuoluyd in hys mende that bothe sche was beuteus and womanly. Line 744

(109)

[leaf 30 b.] But alwey he fyllyd the tale amonge them alle, Line 745 That no creature coude aspye that he was bysy Line 746 About sqwyche materys; but anone he gan calle Line 747 A seruaunt, byddyng hym hys prayur rolle to fecche in hye, Line 748 And a-yen turnyd to the knytys. "Ye ax cause," quoth he, "that I Line 749 Am behynde off my deuocionys." "Deuocionys!" quoth thei, Line 750 "Qwat! pray qwan ye ar elde, and talke now stylle be yowre fey." Line 751

(110)

But at the last this seruant come with this rolle, Line 752 Delyuerryd yt to Amoryus and he wold no lenger lett. Line 753 "Adweȝ;" quoth he to the knytys, "I must grete daune Appolle Line 754 With thise deuocionnys," and on hys kneys doune hym sette; Line 755 And that thei schuld here, loude thus Venus he gret: Line 756 "In thi preysyng, O god Appollo! my vowe recuyue gracyusly Line 757 To my comfort and encrese off thi glory." Line 758

(111)

And vp he rose, for done was hys gret deuocion; Line 759 But with hys rolle a-brod he welk fro the este to the weste; Line 760 And wyse and ware he was that, be no maner off suspycion, Line 761 The starerrys a-boute schul perseyue, but deme for the best Line 762 That he so yede; and nere as he durst euer he yede forby the closet Line 763 Qwer Cleopes sat: but euer fere off tungys hym let, Line 764

(112)

But at the last nere he gan take hys trace, Line 765 And as godely as he coude, he couertly kyst hys ye Line 766 Vp-on this lady; and efft forth gan kepe hys pace, Line 767 As he had done be-ffore; and sche anone gan yt aspye, Line 768 But qwy he so her beheld, sche knwe noght ueryly, Line 769 Saue for because off hys godely chere Line 770 Sche dempt that he her louyd in frendly maner. [Last line nonsense words to fill out page, "Smsmastm mas m m spm may grem." A line is perhaps omitted in stanza 111.] Line 771

(113)

[leaf 31 a.] And with that sche gan remembyr hys manhed and fame Line 772 That in ryffe was, and eke hys amyabyl stature. Line 773 "O!" quoth sche, "this ys Amoryus for certen, this ys the same Line 774 That so manfful ys in bateyl and so louely to yche creature. Line 775 O Venus!" quoth sche, "deme I noght aryte that this wurthy weryour Line 776 Schuld cast a loue to me, that fostryd hath be among most beuteus Line 777 Off alle Rome; for certeyn yt ys noght thus. Line 778

(114)

"But for sum odyr cause he dothe me behold." Line 779 And as sche this gan reuolue in her mende to and fro, Line 780 He come forby at her bak and forth hys cours gan hold; Line 781 And sche anone gan consydyr hys stature as he gan goo, Line 782 Comendyng hys semlynes; and sone the delectabyl woo Line 783 Off louys fyre had percyd here hert, that her ful cure Line 784 Was hym to loue be-ffore yche erthely creature. Line 785

(115)

And efft with hys rolle he come, as he dyd beffore, Line 786 In hope that comffortyd schuld be, yff he myght her behold; Line 787 And stedffastly he gan her behold, but euer lenger the more Line 788 He went to a-be holpyn, the more hys hert gan fold. Line 789 And as he yede, sofftely he syghyd; and so sche supposyd qwat he wold. Line 790 But ho was than joyfful but sche, qwan sche herd that syghyng; Line 791 For more plesauns yt was to here than ony erthly thyng! Line 792

(116)

There was no wytt than to seke, in sotheffastnes, Line 793 To conclude vndyr qwat form thei myght aqweyntyd be. Line 794 A thowsand weys thei kyst thayre loue to expresse; Line 795 But redy womannys wytt ys yn soden casys off necessyte; Line 796 And so Cleopes there schewyd, to make in loue an entry, Line 797

To saue her worchyp, and that Amoryus schuld haue knowyng, Line 798 Be a fygure the entent off her inward menyng. Line 799

(117)

[leaf 31 b.] There was, as seyth the story, a portrature meruulus Line 800 In a boke that Cleopes had to sey on her deuocionys, Line 801 Portrayd with gold and verd; the qwyche conseyt representyd thus: Line 802 There was an hynde lying as yt had bene on stonys Line 803 Holdyng an hert. The portraiture bordyryd was with trw louys, Line 804 Be-fforn qwyche depeyntyd was a knyght knelyng, Line 805 Holdyng in one hand an hart, in the odyr a ryng. Line 806

(118)

But qwy yt was portrayd ne fallyth me to telle; Line 807 But for the conseyt womannys wytt to expres, Line 808 Thys lady had caught an ymagynacion off that meruel, Line 809 That in lyke thingys the dome lyke schuld be, sche gan ges. Line 810 "And yff he wyse be, my menyng he schal perseyue in more and les." Line 811 And as he yede forby, sche held alofft her boke, and bysyly Line 812 Her ymagys beheld, and prince Amoryus yt gan aspye. Line 813

(119)

But that he meruelyd that sche with so sad chere Line 814 Be-held her boke, and with-in hys hert purposyd fully Line 815 To wytt qwat yt schuld be be sum maner, Line 816 That sche with stedffast chere beheld so bysyly. Line 817 And as fortune wold, Venus was born foreby, Line 818 To hos reuerens iche man and woman on knys them set, Line 819 And prince Amoryus doune knelyd by Cleopes closet. Line 820

(120)

Fyrst, he dyd be norture obeychauns that straungely, Line 821 And sche hym rewardyd ayen with wordys sofft; Line 822 But qwat he seyd or sche, my boke makyth no memory, Line 823

Saue qwan that Venus was born alofte Line 824 Hys eye on Cleopes boke, he kyst ful offte, Line 825 And sche a-purpose made with made with her fynger demonstracion Line 826 Askauns. Constrwe now, for off my menyng this ys the entencion. Line 827

(121)

[leaf 32 a.] And he sone yt perseyuid and gan reuolue to and fro Line 828 In hys hert, but lenger than he dyd abyde; Line 829 But vp he rose, and forth in hys walk he gan go, Line 830 Reuoluying in hys mende to and fro. Line 831 The portrature that he had sene on euery syde, Line 832 Noght the imagys only, but off the beholdyng Line 833 That sche with chere and fynger made ther-to tokenyng. Line 834

(122)

But the seruyse endyd, thise knyghtys come in fere Line 835 To Amoryus. "Qwat!" quoth thei, "benedicyte! ye arn wunder holy to-day! Line 836 Ye haue sayd for alle this weke yowr preyyer." Line 837 "Yee, yee!" quoth Amoryus, "sumtyme to sporte, and sumtyme to pray; Line 838 Yt ys expedyent; I-wus yit I haue thingys to say, Line 839 But now for schortnes off tyme, Line 840 Off the resydu I schal abyde tyl tomorgh prime." Line 841

(123)

Nedys he must depart, but lothe was he, Line 842 Fro hys lady; and sche with sqwemfful chere Line 843 Gan hym behold; but qwan sche say yt wold none odyr be, Line 844 But nede thei must depart. "Farewele," quoth sche, "my knyght entere." Line 845 And he, "Farewele, my hole plesauns and lady dere." Line 846 In her hertys thus thei ment, at hos partyng was a priuy peyn; Line 847 But at thayr metyng come myrth ayeyn. Line 848

(124)

Hom iche creature yede afftyr this forsayd solempnyte Line 849 To her reffeccion, and yche man gan hym hye Line 850 To the tornamentys, and most in specyal for to se Line 851 The iustys that proclamyd were, most especyally Line 852 At the reqwest off the emperourys knytys; the qwyche bysyly Line 853 Than gan them harnes, hying hem to the feld Line 854 Qwere the knytys off the cuntre abydyn with spere and scheld. Line 855

(125)

[leaf 32 b.] And Amoryus nas noght be-hynde; but yit or he toke hys stede, Line 856 A portrayer he clepyd, byddyng hym in alle the hast he may, Line 857 Steyn with colourys in a kerchyff off a qwarter brede Line 858 The same conseyt that in Cleopes boke he sey. Line 859 And this portrayer with-owte delay Line 860 Steynyd yt sone; and for he knw Amoryus myght noght abyde, Line 861 For hast ayeyns a fyre he dryid the wrong syde. Line 862

(126)

And Amoryus fast this kerchyf gan wynde Line 863 Aboute hys ryght arme, that men myght yt see; Line 864 And on hys steede he lepe. "Qwer ys my fadyr? ys he behynd?" Line 865 To hys men he sayd. "He abydyth yow," quoth thei, "in the entre." Line 866 "And the knytys eke abyde thei me? Line 867 Wele," quoth he, "here goth ther-fore." And fast he prekyd to the place, Line 868 Ther the seruaunts telde hym hys fadyr was. Line 869

(127)

And as he come, hys fadyr gan yt asspye Line 870 Fro ferre. "Qwat," quoth he, "hath he yondyr? Yt ys sum nysete." Line 871 As he come nere,—"Qwat haue ye ther? qwat maner jape or foly?" Line 872 "Fadyr," quoth he, "this nyght, for a specyal tokyn off vyctory, Line 873 Venus apperyd, schewyng this fygure to me, Line 874

Byddyng me the symylytude to forme; with the qwyche with-owte fayl Line 875 I schuld haue vyctory in euery tornyament and bateyl." Line 876

(128)

"God yeue grace," quoth he, "yt be so." And forth thei gan ryde Line 877 To this place, qwere the knytys abydyn armyd bryght, Line 878 Houyng on horsbak, perand aboute on euery syde, Line 879 Qwan Amoryus schuld come; and anone ryght Line 880 The pepyl gan crye, that come to be-hold that syght: Line 881 "Make rome fast; for he comyth, owre lord Palamedon; Line 882 Hys sone eke, and the emperourys knytys euery-chon." Line 883

(129)

[leaf 33 a.] Sone as the statys had takyn her stagys, Line 884 Eke the ladyis off the toune her setys had take, Line 885 In-to the place come rydyng the emperourys knytys, makyng chalengys Line 886 Ayens alle that wold come party in iustys to make Line 887 That day in the feld, for here soueren ladyis sake; Line 888 And Amoryus this mowthyd to plese Cleopes, Line 889 For sone he had her aspyid among alle the pres. Line 890

(130)

None erthly creature than gladder was than sche, Line 891 Qwan sche sey this conseyt aboute hys armour; Line 892 Kastyng alle doughtys asyde, full joyfful sche gan be, Line 893 Blyssyng fortune off that owre Line 894 Abydyn; but more glad, qwan that he Line 895 Qwyt hym as a champyon that day in the feld. Line 896 "Mars," quoth sche, "fro alle aduersyteys Amoryus scheld!" Line 897

(131)

And as myn autour dothe wryte, thise iustys contunyed Line 898 Heght .viij. days; qwere to conclude, thise knytys imperyal Line 899 In tho iustys offtyn were onhorsyd Line 900 Off knytys off the cuntre; for many a falle Line 901 They had and eke yowyn; but be lykenes the vyctory specyal Line 902

They off the regyon schuld an-had at the conclusyon, Line 903 Had noght Amoryus hym qwyt as a fers lyon. Line 904

(132)

But off alle thise .viij. dayis, knyght for knyght, non so manly Line 905 Hym qwyt as Amoryus; for noght onys he was reysyd Line 906 Owte off hys sadyl, and yit yche day he had the vyctory Line 907 Off alle that ayens hym rydyn: for off the cuntre the knygtys nomberyd Line 908 Seuyn .vij. skore, that notabyl werryourys offtyn had be preuyd; Line 909 And off the emperourys knytys, with alle odyr off the toune, Line 910 But to and fourty, be ful computacion. Line 911

(133)

[leaf 33 b.] Erly on the eght .viij. day qwan endyd was the solempnyte Line 912 Off Venus and the tempyl, Amoryus lete cry among the pepyl alle, Line 913 Ayens as many as wold come, he redy schuld be Line 914 For hys lady sake to iuste, ayens yche knyght in general, Line 915 In hys owne persone; and qwat he were myght yeue hym a falle, Line 916 Schuld ryghtly hys coursere and trappere possede, Line 917 And hys harnes haue for hys mede. Line 918

(134)

Thys was the cry off Amoryus in opyn audyens, Line 919 The qwyche ful sore to her hertys yede that enuyus were, Line 920 But nowght ther grucchyng myght help; for or he yede thens, Line 921 In justys a nwe skole he gan hem lere. Line 922 For nas ther non so strong, but he dyd hym bere Line 923 Owte off hys sadyl, or hors and man yede both to ground; Line 924 That hys manhod hys aduersaryis abaschyd and confound. Line 925

(135)

And casually yt happyd, there come rydyng for-by Line 926 A knyght auenterus, ["A knyght auenterus." Alexander's combat with Porus in the Alexander romance has some features in common with the combat of Amoryus with the knight adventurous. With the knight's determination to fight (l. 963), compare that of Polyneices in Lydgate's Siege of Thebes, 1323-52.] that for hys lady souereyn Line 927 Had foughtyn in kyngys londys sundry. Line 928 He off thise iustys had gret dysdeyn, Line 929

Qwan he beheld one .i. ouercome so many. Line 930 Sone off the pepil he enqwiryd, that stod hym by, Line 931 "Qwat ys he yon," quoth he, "that thus fersly iustyth to-day; Line 932 That no knyght hym onhors may?" Line 933

(136)

"Syr," quoth thei, "yt ys Amoryus, the lordys sunne off this cyte. Line 934 A more manful man off hys age we trowe, liuyth noght." Line 935 "A!" quoth this knyght, "ys this Amoryus? Ys yt he? Line 936 Wele," quoth he, "hys pride this day ful sore schal be bowght." Line 937 And with-owte wordys moo he rode in-to the place, Line 938 And to Amorys thise wordys spake with sterne face: Line 939

(137)

[leaf 34 a.] "I chaleng the," quoth the knyght, "qwat-sum-euer thow be, Line 940 To fyght with-in the lyst for thi lady sake, Line 941 At alle poyntys off armys, and yff yow dar mete with me, Line 942 Geue an ansqwer, for I none odyr day wul take." Line 943 And Amoryus ful norturely sayd, "I," quoth he, "for my lady sake Line 944 Redy am; but as ye may be resun consydyr, Line 945 To fyght on fote,—I am noght now arayd ther-affter. Line 946

(138)

But fyrst with scharp sperys one .j. cours let vs asay Line 947 And affter I schal chonge myne harnes to yowre entent." Line 948 "I graunt in feyth," quoth this knyght, "I schal neuer say nay; Line 949 But ho ys lord," quoth he, "off this tornament?" Line 950 "My lord, my fader," quoth Amoryus; "he syttys here present." Line 951 "With hym wold I speke," seyd the knyght. And with-owte more Line 952 He browt hym syre Palamedon be-fore. Line 953

(139)

To home, as knyghthod askyth, he yaf informacion Line 954 Qwat he was, and qwy he come, and off the chalenge Line 955 Made to Amoryus; and qwan he herd hys conclusyon, Line 956 Sumqwat asstoynyd; for hym thowt straunge and alenge Line 957 Off hys aray, for the colourys and qweynt facion; Line 958 But at the last he welcummyd hym goodely, Line 959 Grauntyng the effecte off hys dysyre fully; Line 960

(140)

Comaundyd eke to be led to hys palyce, Line 961 And with alle humanyte to be reffreschyd beffore hys labour; Line 962 But the knyght noght wold, for crwel hert and malyce, Line 963 Seyng, "I dysyre no reward off toune nere towre." Line 964 "Wele," quoth Palamedon, "begynne yowr fyght this same owre; Line 965 I held me payd." But trwe that prouerbe than preuyd so, Line 966 That ouer-hasty man wantyd neuer woo. Line 967

(141)

But qwy I rehersyd be-ffore that Palamedon gan wondyr Line 968 [leaf 34 b.] Off this knytys aray, this was cause in specyal, Line 969 For a tokyn yt dyd schew; that men schuld knowe asundyr Line 970 The feld off tho kyngys armys alle Line 971 In hos kyngdams he had foutyn, bothe gret and smal: Line 972 For off yche regyon he bare the cheff coloure in hys harnes, Line 973 To notyffye the manhod off hys scharp iurneys. Line 974

(142)

For the kyngdam off Ethyop, hos kyng beryth a lyon rampand Line 975 Off goulys in a feld off sabyl, this forsayd knyght Line 976 Blak sabatouns weryd; and for Arge, hos kyng a lebard passaund Line 977 Off syluer in uerd bare, he vsyd greuys that with grene were dyght; Line 978 And for the regyon off Ynde, that in the este hat the syght, Line 979 That asure and gold gerundy bare, hys one cuschew blwe, Line 980 Hys odyr alle depeyntyd with yelwe; Line 981

(143)

And for the kyngdam off Arabe, hos gouernour Line 982 A gryffyn off golde in goulys dyd bere, Line 983 Thys knyghtys vambracys in coloure Line 984 Alle depeyntyd with red were; Line 985 And for the kyngdam off Lyby the qwyche a toure Line 986 Off syluer in asure bare, hys rerebracys Line 987 Were depeyntyd with blwe, hangyng ful of lacys. Line 988

(144)

And alle hys odyr harnes off bryght stele Line 989 With-owte depeyntyng; as hys rerebracys and hys gorget, Line 990 Hys basenet and hys gauntelettys; for he purposyd that cele Line 991 To a colouryd hys odyr harnes euery dele Line 992 With the armys off Perse; and so yt was qwan Amoryus with hym met. Line 993 He clad hym alle in goulys as I ges Line 994 Qwan ouerron with blod was alle hys harnes. Line 995

(145)

[leaf 35 a.] But schortly to conclude, Amoryus and this knyght Line 996 Her cours begunne, on courserys huge and mayn; Line 997 And at the fyrst metyng Amoryus this odyr gan smyght Line 998 Vp-on hys vmbrere; that the spere-hed lefft in hys brayn, Line 999 And so schet hym ouer hys hors on the pleynne Line 1000 Dede,—as he must nedys, hos seruaunts thus pride doth reward, Line 1001 That for hynes off hert at none odyr hath regard. Line 1002

(146)

Thus endyd were the iustys and eke the solempnyte Line 1003 Off the dedycacion and the laure off marcyan vyctory Line 1004 Youyn was to Amoryus; and eke my boke tellyth, that qwan he Line 1005 Had slayne this knyght, he rode for-by Line 1006 Qwere Cleopes sate and odyr ladyis, salutyng them godely, Line 1007 Seyng, "This iuberte haue I abydyn for my lady souereyn, Line 1008 And yit nowdyr off vs knowyth odyr, I dar sauely seyn." Line 1009

(147)

And thei alle rysyn, thankyng hym norturely Line 1010 That he hym so manly dyd qwyght; Line 1011 And most in specyal Cleopes gan hym preyse, that he so honourly Line 1012 Had hym born, besechyng Venus hym to deyfy in heuyn bryght,— Line 1013 "For gret pyte yt were, that owght but goode schul on yow lyght." Line 1014 And Amoryus hys hed gan enclyne, seyng with goodely chere, Line 1015 "God do yow mede, madame, for yowre goode prayere." Line 1016

(148)

And sone this tornament brake vp, and yche man yed ther wey Line 1017 Thydyr fro thens he come; and the nest morw be pryme Line 1018 The emperourys knyghtys homeward fast schop ther jurney, Line 1019 Thankyng Palemedon off hys gret chere offtyn tyme, Line 1020 And eke off the ryche yifftys with the qwych he hem dyd lyme, Line 1021 That to the emperour come sone with tydyng off Perse; Line 1022 Qwere I them leue, floryschyng in prosperyte. Line 1023 [typographic . . . . . . . . . .] [leaf 35 b.]

The Thyrd Boke

The prolog in the thyrd boke. [In margin in MS.]

(149)

O blynd sky off oncunnyng! onys withdrawe, Line 1024 Agytat off the, precyus modyr, synderesys Line 1025 Fro the eyn off the endyter! Longe to soth-sawe Line 1026 In this boke hath schadwyd the qwyght herys Line 1027 Off sapyens; but Aqwilo nyl noght blow with hys syluer terys; Line 1028 And neuer-the-les, I must procede to declare Uenus obseruauns,— Line 1029 Qwereffore, O Lanyffyca! yit onys help me in this chauns. Line 1030

Book Two

(150)

Afftyr thise forsayd iustys and eke the solempnyte, Line 1031 The desteny off inffortune drwe to the conclusyon; Line 1032 For with-in Amoryus the sparkyl off loue so rootyd gan be, Line 1033 That he sekynnyd and pale gan wax in parte. Line 1034 But lothe he was to be aspyid, qwerefore be symylacion Line 1035 Be-fforn folke, he peynyd hym to bere myry countenauns; Line 1036 But none erthly myrth myght lesse hys penauns. Line 1037

(151)

For euer the remembrauns off Cleopes so sore dyd hym inquiete, Line 1038 That qwan he yede to rest and began to slepe, Line 1039 He dremyd he sey her, or ellys that he with here schuld mete, Line 1040 And with that abrayd owte off hys slepe and wepe. Line 1041 As yff he had lost hys pray; and afftyr toke hym a cold or an hete Line 1042 Off louys fevyr; that nowdyr mete, drynke, ner play Line 1043 Myght ony maner hys pensyff-hed withdrawe awey. Line 1044

(152)

And vndyr the lyke forme, Cleopes gan remembyr Line 1045 A thosand tymys Amoryus, qwan sche was alone, Line 1046 Syghyng offtyn for hys sake; for euer louys feuyr Line 1047 Here so scharply held, that offt sche made her mone Line 1048 For hys absens, and be herselff bothe syghe and grone, Line 1049 Seyng offtyn: "O Amoryus, alas! that I euer sey the; Line 1050 Thy goodelynes my deth sone schal be." Line 1051

(153)

[leaf 36 a.] Thus day be day, her greuans thei dyd compleyn Line 1052 Alone, but morwgh and euyn specyally; Line 1053 For than theyr vse yt was, qwedyr yt dyd blowe or reyne, Line 1054 Pryuyly to stele owte, that no man schuld them aspye Line 1055 In-to the orteyerdys that to thayr fadyrrys placys dyd perteyne; Line 1056 And ther her mone yche off odyr wold make pitusly Line 1057 Vndyr a walle that dysseueryd bothe placys couertly. Line 1058

(154)

Off this walle I spake in the fyrst boke, Line 1059 That qwan the tempyl off Venus dyd falle Line 1060 With the erthqwaue, in the myddys asundyr yt schoke, Line 1061 That yn at a crany a man myght loke; Line 1062 Saue that yt ouerschadwyd was ouer alle Line 1063 With yuy and bowys, that thow a man had gone forby, Line 1064 For thyknes off leuys, he myght noght yt aspye. Line 1065

(155)

So yt beffyl on a mornyng, qwan Phebus schone bryght Line 1066 Cleopes, as sche had done be-ffore, sche toke her wey Line 1067 In-to this ortyerd, qwan aslepe was jche wyght Line 1068 Off here fadyrrys howsold; and as sche gan pray Line 1069 To Venus for help, sodenly a glymyrryng lyght Line 1070 Off the sunne yn the leuys on her face gan glyde, Line 1071 That yt her astoynyd and made here abyde. Line 1072

(156)

"Benedycyte, quoth sche, "fro qwens comyth this lyght?" Line 1073 And fast the walle sche beheld; but long yt was Line 1074 Or sche yt aspyid, thow sche applyid alle her myght, Line 1075 That yn the buschys and brerys sche gan trace, Line 1076 Wenyng that the goddes off Venus bryght Line 1077 In sum yuy tre had apperyd for sum mystery; Line 1078 That causyd her the faster thidir to hye. Line 1079

(157)

[leaf 36 b.] But at the last with gret labour and bysynes, Line 1080 Sche perseyuyd the crany, and than ful bysyly Line 1081 Sche gan in loke; but the bowys and thykke gres Line 1082 So full on the odyr halue grwe, that thru sche say noght veryly, Line 1083 But wele the schadow off one sche gan asspye, Line 1084 Offtyn wandryng to and fro, mornyng and syghyng; Line 1085 And afftyr with pitous voyse hys greuauns compleynyng. Line 1086

(158)

And more and more, sche gan lyst to wyt qwat he sayd, Line 1087 And with the wynde sche herd a compleynt Line 1088 That one off her made, as on the ground hym layde, Line 1089 Seyng, "O Venus dere! how I am now feynt Line 1090 For Cleopes sake!" The qwyche wordys causyd her to abrayd Line 1091 Thorw the buschys; and to wyt be hys voys ho yt was, Line 1092 Sche thrwe ouer the bottum off a brokyn glas. Line 1093

(159)

And he ther-with astoynyd, "Ho strowyth ther-in thus homely? Line 1094 Be Venus he ys noght taught, qwat-sum-euer he be!" Line 1095 And Cleopes hys voyse knw in hye, Line 1096 Ansqweryd, "Mercy, dere hert, Amoryus!" quoth sche. Line 1097 "Ho ys that? Cleopes," quoth he, "ys yt ye?" Line 1098 "Ye for serteyn," sche sayd, "and none but I lone, Line 1099 I meruyllyd ho so ther nowe made hys mone." Line 1100

(160)

"Alas!" quoth Amoryus, "myne hert wul breke a-too .ij., Line 1101 But yff I may speke with yowe, or ye hens wend. Line 1102 Thys wal ys so thyk and so hye bothe too .ij., Line 1103 That I may noght. Alas! how schal I doo?" Line 1104 "Here yow noght?" quoth sche, "nowdyr troubyl yowr mend Line 1105 But come to the ryuyng off this same walleexpand_less; Line 1106 For here no man schal aspye yow at alle." Line 1107

(161)

[leaf 37 a.] "The ryuyng?" quoth he, "qwere ys that?" and forth thru thyk and thyn Line 1108 He gan lepe; that nowdyr nettyl, busche, ner thorn Line 1109 Myght hym let, tyl he was entryd in. Line 1110 And qwan he had founde yt, he blyssyd that he was born, [line omitted?] Line 1111 Off that owre abydyn; and at ther fyrst beholdyng Line 1112 Bothe to .ij. thei fyl on owdyr syde on sqwounyng. Line 1113

(162)

And afftyr thei rose, and yche to odyr gan compleyn Line 1114 With pytus voys her hertys greuauns; Line 1115 And Amoryus thus fyrst gan to seyn, Line 1116 "Myne hole hert, my lyfe, and my lady souereyn! Line 1117 To serue yow be-ffore alle odyr with-owte repentauns Line 1118 Is my hole entent; and euer to do yowre hertys plesauns, Line 1119 Euery owre bothe day and nyght, Line 1120 To serue yow be-ffore alle odyr my trwth I plyght. Line 1121

(163)

"And ther ye say onys yeaexpand_less, schal I neuer say nay; Line 1122 But euer do my bysynes, qwyl my lyfe wul endure,— Line 1123 To be yowre trwe seruant qwat schul I more say?" Line 1124 "Truly," quoth Cleopes, "and I be-ffore euery creature Line 1125 Yeue yow holy myn hert, myne owne knyght, be ye sure, Line 1126 And to loue yow best only as myne owne hert dere; Line 1127 With-owte repentauns I take yow fully for my fere. Line 1128

(164)

"And he that an hows fyllyd with gold had youyn me Line 1129 So joyfful schuld noght me a made, trost yt veryly, Line 1130 As yowre wordys haue done; but sythyn that ye Line 1131 Purpose to be trwe, I sqwere to yow feythffully, Line 1132 That euer as trw and as stedffast to yow I schal be, Line 1133 As ys possybyl, bothe in weltht and eke aduersyte." Line 1134

(165)

[leaf 37 b.] And Amoryus than so joyfful he myght noght speke, Line 1135 But wepyng stylle for this nwe aqweyntauns, Line 1136 Saue at the last thus he sayd, "Lady, and my hert schuld brek, Line 1137 I must nede wepe for yowre trwe and feythfful plesauns; Line 1138 But wold to Venus," quoth he, "that nowe in this happy chauns Line 1139 Thys owre the lenght off an hundryd .C. owrys myght be, Line 1140 For to be with yow euer js my fulle felycyte." Line 1141

(166)

"Myne owne knyght," quoth sche, "eke yt were myn entent Line 1142 Euer with yow to dwelle; but be yowre prouydens Line 1143 Ordeyn a tyme nowe be yowre fulle asent, Line 1144 Qwan we may haue leyser, for the tyme ys now spent, Line 1145 To speke anowremovegh: for ful grete sqweme for yowre absens Line 1146 I schal haue, tyl we may mete a-yen. Line 1147 Set ye an owre and I schal kepe yt serteyn." Line 1148

(167)

"Alas!" quoth Amoryus, "and must we nedys depart cumpany Line 1149 So sone? qwy nyl noght fortune vs now socoure? Line 1150 But trwtht yt ys, that euyl tungys be euer redy; Line 1151 And qwat men wold sey, yf thei aspyid vs in this owre, Line 1152 It ys oncerteyn: ther-ffore betyr yt ys, I knowe yt veryly, Line 1153 Penauns to soffyr for a tyme, than ony maner off suspycion Line 1154 Schuld ryse off owre asstray walkyng or communycacion." Line 1155

(168)

Thus afftyr, as tellyth the proces off this story, Line 1156 They endyd thayre delytfful communyng Line 1157 Off ther nwe aqweyntauns, as I haue teld by and by, Line 1158 And Amoryus prefyryd an owre off ther metyng Line 1159 In the same place, and at her sqwemfful departyng, Line 1160 Iche to odyr put thru the crany for a remembrauns Line 1161 A ryng of gold, for trw louys euerlastyng contyuauns. Line 1162

(169)

[leaf 38 a.] And than Amoryus thus sayd, "Madame, for yowre sake Line 1163 To this walle I do my obseruauns, Line 1164 And off yow, my lady, my leue I take." Line 1165 And than he kyssyd the walle, seyng, "For yowre remembrauns Line 1166 And very tokyn of loue with-owte varyauns, Line 1167 Thys insensybyl thyng I kysse in-sted of yowr persone." Line 1168 And Cleopes dyd the same, ful sqwemffully makyng her mone. Line 1169

(170)

Thus thei departyd, for afftyr ther nwe aqweyntauns Line 1170 Yede to her beddys joyfful off that mery morughtyde, Line 1171 Kastyng in her mendys to and fro thar louely dalyauns; Line 1172 But the more thei musyd yt, the more scharply yt gan glyde, Line 1173 Thys sperkyl off loue to throwe alle odyr thyng asyde, Line 1174 For only that yt causyd. But affter this metyng Line 1175 To Palamedon come this meruulus tydyng: Line 1176

(171)

Masyngerys were sent fro the cyte off Dorestere, [The dragon combat. There are dragon combats in many romances. That in Bevis of Hampton is on the same general lines as this. Such contests also occur in Sir Eglamour of Artoys, Guy of Warwick, and Torrent of Portugal. It is, however, obvious that for many of his details Metham is following Lydgate's Troy Book, particularly the descriptions of the ram and serpent (i. 281-317), and the bulls and Jason's fight with them (i. 3260-3303). He uses a magic phial against the bulls, as Amoryus does against the dragon, and a magic ring against the dragon (i. 3319-73) as Amoryus does. See note on 'Cleopes and Medea', p. 46, l. 1229. Observe also that Alexander slays a dragon, and that there are other features in common between Amoryus and Cleopes and the Alexander romance, such as a free use of amulets and talismans, astrological wonders, and strange monsters. See E. A. W. Budge, Life and Exploits of Alexander the Great, pp. xlii ff.; Zimmen, Schöpfung und Chaos, 441; Smith. Chaldean Genesis, London, 1876; Kyng Alisaunder, in Weber, loc. cit., pt. i, chs. 1 and 2 et passim, also iii. 313. ] Line 1177 The qwyche marchyth vp-on Medys the regyon, Line 1178 Bryngyng tydyngys that ferefful were to here, Line 1179 Off an huge and an orybyl dragon; Line 1180 The qwyche, as thei made relacion, Line 1181 Had destroyd her catel; and eke an .C. men off the cyte Line 1182 He had etyn, be-syde odyr harmys don in the cuntre. Line 1183

(172)

"The qwyche dragan serra men calle, Line 1184 That with hys breth hath enffectyd with sekenes Line 1185 Nere off alle yowre cyte, bothe gret and smal; Line 1186 That nowe yowre pepyl, for thought and heuynes, Line 1187 So dyscumffortyd be; that but ye wul her nede redres, Line 1188 They wul alle flee, and leue yowre cyte desolate,— Line 1189 Ther stauys stond euyn at the yate." Line 1190

(173)

[leaf 38 b.] And Amoryus alle this wordys off ther talkyng Line 1191 Perseyuid wele; but noght he sayd, tyl hys fader had spokyn. Line 1192 "Qwat sey ye?" quoth Palemedon, "dare ye take this thyng? Line 1193 Be wele auysud, for yt ys no chyldys pleyng Line 1194 To fyght with sqwyche a deuyl; for yff yowre wepyn brokyn Line 1195 Were in fyght, ye were but ded, thowe ye had for certeyn Line 1196 As myche strenght, as to an .C. men myght perteyn." Line 1197

(174)

"Fadyr," quoth Amoryus, "yff ye wul I schal asay Line 1198 In specyal for yowre wurchyp and saluacion off the cyte, Line 1199 I fere noght to fyght ther-with, ner neuer schal say nay, Line 1200 To assay my-selff; for yff yt posybyl be Line 1201 Me to ouercome yt, the wurchyp schal be to me Line 1202 And to yow eke; for off Amoryus men wryte schal, Line 1203 That he a dragon dyd sle be hys manhed in specyal. Line 1204

(175)

"And yff yt fortune that he sle me in owre fyght, Line 1205 The pepyl schal say, that Amoryus Line 1206 Qwyt hym ‘for owre saluacion as a manful knyght, Line 1207 That so manful was to fyght for vs.’ Line 1208 Qwerffore, by myn owne conseyt, I deme yt thus, Line 1209 That bettyr I myght noght dye to haue remembrauns Line 1210 Than in sqwyche a case, or sqwyche a chauns." Line 1211

(176)

"Welle," quoth Palamedon, "ye wul do yt, yt semyth veryly. Line 1212 Spede yow in hast, sythyn ye wul asay, Line 1213 And puruey yow off sure harnes in hy; Line 1214 It stondyth yow an-hand wysely yow to aray." Line 1215 "Myn harnes," quoth Amoryus, "redy ys this day; Line 1216 And the sunner that y be forward, the soner thei comfortyd schal be, Line 1217 Than now in gret fere abyde in yowre cyte." Line 1218

(177)

[leaf 39 a.] Anone in the courte was proclamyd that Amoryus Line 1219 Had takyn on hand to fyght with a dragoun, Line 1220 For in hast Palamedon had comaundyd thus, Line 1221 That the most manfful off housold to this forsayd town Line 1222 Schul Amoryus conuey; and thus with a ful conclusyon Line 1223 Thyse masyngerys yede to rest, glad off this promys, Line 1224 And thus deseuerryd and endyd this entrete ys. Line 1225

(178)

Qwan nyght come, and jche man was in rest, Line 1226 Amorius wele had in mend, that this nyght Line 1227 He muste with hys lady mete, for fulle ernest; Line 1228 And to the crany he yede, and fond ther Cleopes bryght, [Cleopes and Medea. There are many points of likeness between Cleopes and the Medea of the Troy Book. Compare the learning of Medea (i. 1611-72) with that of Cleopes; her warning of Jason of the dangers of his quest (i. 2297-2552) with that of Cleopes to Amoryus. Her gifts to Jason are also almost the same as those of Cleopes to Amoryus; namely, fireproof ointment, the agate ring, and the phial of liquor (i. 2988-3092), and their use is practically the same. Compare also Medea's anxiety before the meeting with Jason at night (i. 2708-97), and her uneasiness while Jason is at the combat (i. 3220-57), with the similar qualms of Cleopes. Note also that the practice of forecasting and the use of images in the Troy Book recall the magic sphere of Palamedon. There are doubtless other parallels in mediaeval romance to Cleopes and her position with reference to the exploits of her lover; for example, Fair Sidone (King Pontus and Fair Sidone, Publ. of M. L. A., v. 1 ff.) to a certain degree, and the various romance heroines of Malory. (See Marie Walther, Malory's Einfluss auf Spensers 'Faerie Queene'.) Knowledge of medicine belonged to the education of a young lady in the Middle Ages, and it is not surprising that it extended itself to all sorts of magic and sorcery. Canace in Chaucer's Squire's Tale is in this respect a natural comparison with Metham's heroine Cleopes. ] Line 1229 Abydyng hym, meruelyng as he had trowth plyght, Line 1230 Come noght: but at the last ther thei met in fere, Line 1231 And afftyr ther comunyng off loue, he told her this matere; Line 1232

(179)

Howe he had take on hand to fyght with a dragoun, Line 1233 And nedys he must erly take hys iurney, Line 1234 And howe the masyngerys wyre sent fro that regyon Line 1235 To hym in specyal. "Alas!" quoth Cleopes, "for sorow Line 1236 Ye are but dede, for bettyr ye were to fyght with a lyon Line 1237 Than with a serpent; for plate ner haburgun Line 1238 May auayle; yff he onys hys venym on yow throw, Line 1239 Ye schal dey, neuer odyrwyse, trow. Line 1240

(180)

"But qwat serpent ys yt? qwat do thei yt calle? Line 1241 For sum more esy be than sum as in fyght, Line 1242 And less hurtyth the uenym off one in specyal Line 1243 Than off anodyr; and wysdam wul that ye schuld be dyght Line 1244 In sure harnes ther-afftyr, for clerkys wryte, off gret and smal, Line 1245 Her namys and naturys, and qwere-in thei noy be kend natural, Line 1246 [leaf 39 b.] And eke remedyis ayens ther dedly noyauns, Line 1247 Yff the case dyd yt reqwire to make wyse purueyauns. Line 1248

(181)

"For off summe off thise serpentys, the eyn so venymmus be Line 1249 That with her loke thei slee yche erthly creature; Line 1250 As thise cokatrycys,—and yit remedyi ys ther perde; Line 1251 For with a wesyl men yt destroy, be kendly nature. Line 1252 And the serpent clepyd draconia, ["draconia": probably the dragon. Trevisa, Bartholomaeus De Prop. Rerum, London, 1535, xviii, 38, describes the dragon, as distinguished from the serpent, as of large size and slight venom, mentioning, as Metham does, the traditional combat between the dragon and the elephant. See an extensive note on dragons, Dunlop, Hist. of Prose Fiction, i. 449-56; also i. 125.] that more ys in qwantyte Line 1253 Than ony best on erthe, thow he be noght venymmus, Line 1254 The myght off hys tayl the grete eleuant sleth most meruulus; Line 1255

(182)

"Ayens hos powere men for an effectual remedy, Line 1256 A panterys skin bere; and yff thei ther-with schuld fyght, Line 1257 With the uenym of a tode or off arany, Line 1258 They sone yt sle. And the serpent namyd jaculus, in hys flyght, Line 1259 Qwat that he vppon fallyth, so venymusly he doth yt smyght, Line 1260 That forth-with yt deyth, and yit a ston ys ther, Line 1261 That the serpent may noght hym noght dere, Line 1262

(183)

"The name off home serpentyne ys. And eke odyr sundry Line 1263 Off odyr serpentys, so contraryus be to owre nature, Line 1264 That affter summys bytyng or styngyn, men sodenly Line 1265 Falle starke dede; but thei that fere thise chauncys to endure, Line 1266 That in desertys must walke, thei puruey wysely Line 1267 Remedyis off erbys and stonys; as I schal telle yow in hy. Line 1268

(184)

"And be-syde thise, ther ys a dragon huge and cumbrus Line 1269 Namyd aspys, most to be feryd for hys sotelte; Line 1270 For enchauntement ner sleyght most ingenyus Line 1271 Can noght bryng hym fro hys den for no neccessyte,— Line 1272 For wele he knoweth hys blode ys medycynabyl; Line 1273 He lyith in hys den a-day-lyght euer onmeuabyl. Line 1274

(185)

[leaf 40 a.] "But at euyn yff he hap to mete with ony creature, Line 1275 The venym owte off hys tayle in-to hys mowth Line 1276 He drawyth anone, be kendly nature; Line 1277 Thow yt gretly be meruulus and oncowth, Line 1278 He, or a man be ware, throwyth yt fourty fote, Line 1279 Ayens the qwyche plate off stele may noght bote. Line 1280

(186)

"For as wax ayens the fyre meltyth, on the same wyse Line 1281 Steele and yryn be dyssoluyd at the touchyng of that corrupcion; Line 1282 Qwerffore men this proffytabyl gyse Line 1283 Vse, a drynk of jacynctys and orygaun; Line 1284 The qwyche thei drynk for ther saluacion, Line 1285 And anoynte ther skyn, to the qwyche this uenym hurtyth no more, Line 1286 Than dothe leuke watyr or the fome off a bore. Line 1287

(187)

"And be-syde thise rehersyd, ther be in the see Line 1288 Meruulus dragonnys and monstrys also; Line 1289 As thise chyldrynys, ydrys, and ypotamys ["ypotamys": mentioned in K. Alis., 5166, 5184, 6554; also in Alex. and Dindimus, and other Alexandrian romances. ] ther be, Line 1290 Hos bytyng be cured with the egestyon off bolys; and odyr mo Line 1291 Dragunnys on erth ther be, but one in specyal most foo Line 1292 To alle lyuyng thing; but to man most in specyal; Line 1293 The qwyche an .C. fote ys longe, tayle and alle. Line 1294

(188)

And serra cornuta ["serra cornuta." This exact form is not found, but the reference is evidently to "serastes." Trevisa, Barth. D. P. R. xviii. 9: 'Horned serpent serastes hides in the sand, and catches its prey unawares.' See also Vincent. Bellovac., Spec. Nat. xx. 27, De Ceraste, where the serpent is said to have eight horns. ] yt ys namyd be clerkys." Line 1295 "O!" quoth Amoryus, "lady, that same dragun yt ys, Line 1296 That I schuld fyght with, orybyl and furyus in werkys." Line 1297 "In gode feyth," quoth Cleopes, "and so hye Jouys me wyss, Line 1298 I schal noght gab at alle; but telle yow the trwthys. Line 1299 Strenght off man alone may noght preuayl with-owte charmys Line 1300 Ayen this serpent; qwer-ffore but ye be reulyd be me, Line 1301 Thow ye were as myghty as Sampson, ded ye schuld be." Line 1302

(189)

[leaf 40 b.] "Yys, lady," quoth he, "noght only in thyngys prosperus, Line 1303 Redy y am to obey; but eke thow they were to me contrary, Line 1304 At yowre commaundement in chauncys ryght auenturus Line 1305 My lyfe for yow in iuberte to put, qwy schuld I vary?" Line 1306 "Wele," quoth sche, "vndyr this forme than do ryght thus, Line 1307 As I schal teche yow, and for no fere fere yt forgete; Line 1308 For yff ye do, ye schal ther yowre lyffe lete: Line 1309

(190)

"In the begynnyng loke that yowre harnes be sure for ony thing, Line 1310 And abouyn alle curyd with rede; Line 1311 And insted off yowr helme, set a bugyl gapyng. Line 1312 A bryght carbunkyl loke ther be set in the forhed, Line 1313 And in yowr hand halde that yche ryng Line 1314 With the smaragd, that I here deliuerryd yow this odyr day; Line 1315 Loke that the stone be toward hys eyn alwey. Line 1316

(191)

"And at the begynnyng off your bateyl, loke that ye drynk Line 1317 Thyse erbys with wyne and the poudyr off thise stonys; Line 1318 Thus thei be namyd; loke that ye vp-on them thynke: Line 1319 The fyrst ston, orytes namyd ys; Line 1320 The secunde, lyguryus ["lyguryus": ligure (?), a stone frequently referred to; see references in N. E. D. and Trevisa, Barth. D. P. R. xvi. 60. ] ; the iij, demonius; the .iiij., agapys; Line 1321 The .v., acates. And that ye schal noght fayl off thise same, Line 1322 Send to Walter iwellere be this tokyn in my name. Line 1323

(192)

"And thise be the erbys be schort conclusyon: Line 1324 Modyrwort, rwe, red malwys, and calamynt mownteyn, Line 1325 Oryganum, fenel, and dragauns; thus be opyn demonstracion Line 1326 This confeccion off erbys and stonys for certyn Line 1327 So sure maketh a man, as thei that haue preuyd yt seyn, Line 1328 That alle venymmus thyng fleyth fro her breth; Line 1329 In so mych that the watyr off ther mowth scorpyonnys sleth. Line 1330

(193)

[leaf 41 a.] "And yff a man were bytyn so that he schuld dye Line 1331 Off dragon or serpent, or poysunnyd yff he were, Line 1332 And onys a sponfful off this confeccion he myght ocupy, Line 1333 Yt schuld porge hym, that neuer yt schuld hym dere, Line 1334 Therffore loke that ye vse this, and I dar sey sauely, Line 1335 That ye schal come hole and sound with victory; Line 1336 And afftyr qwyl ye lyue, be had the more in reputacion Line 1337 Thys ys the fulle sentens off my counsel and conclusyon." Line 1338

(194)

And than Amoryus her thankyd a thousand-fold, Line 1339 Be-sechyng her to telle qwy hys harnes red schuld be, Line 1340 Supposyng that the coloure schuld make the serpent more bold. Line 1341 "Yowre mocion ys ryght goode, trwly," quoth sche, Line 1342 "For sum bestys, as the sey, more wod thei be, Line 1343 Qwan thei se rede; as thise eleffantys and odyr many; Line 1344 But trwly serra that serpent red ferytht naturally. Line 1345

(195)

"And qwy yt ys that ye the bugyl schuld bere, Line 1346 Thys ys the cause; in fewe wordys I schal yow lere: Line 1347

(196)

"The bugyl ys to the dragun serra specyal pray, Line 1348 And qwan the bugyl sethe the serpent, he cryith with alle hys myght, Line 1349 Knowyng wele he may noght skape awey; Line 1350 And qwyl he cryith, the serpent a-sundyr the bak dotht byte, Line 1351 And afftyr sqwolwyth yt in: and ther-ffore qwan ye Line 1352 On the same wyse he wul asayl yowr portrayd bugyl; Line 1353 But ther helpyth gretly in the forhed the carbunkyl, Line 1354

(197)

"The nyght," quoth sche, "pasyth, and to-morw ye must ryse erly. Line 1355 It ys tyme now to go to yowre rest, Line 1356 For ellys faylyng off slep wul make yow heuy." Line 1357 And Amoryus than ansqweryd: "Madame, ye say for the best; Line 1358 [leaf 41 b.] But euer my desyre ys to be with yow trwly." Line 1359 "Veryly," quoth Cleopes, "my dysyre ys the same; for trowe ye noght that I Line 1360 Ful heuy am to departe fro yow yff yt myght odyr be? Line 1361 Yis, truly; but wysdam wul to be ware, or ther come necessyte." Line 1362

(198)

Thus departyd they, as her vse was be-fforn; Line 1363 Iche toke leue off odyr, kyssyng on oudyr syde the wal,— Line 1364 Yede to ther rest. And Amoryus erly on the morn Line 1365 Wysely purueys thise precyus stonys, and dyd hem brek smal Line 1366 In a mortere off bras, and with iuse of the erbys alle Line 1367 Made a drynk; and afftyr clad hys harnes in red velwet, Line 1368 And a bugyl off blak corbe dyd set on hys helmet. Line 1369

(199)

And hys fadyr had purueyd hym to conuey Line 1370 XX^{i t} manfful men, besechyng Mars tham spede. Line 1371 And Amoryus hath taken hys leue and on hys jurney Line 1372 He rydyth; and thise masyngerys with alle myrth dyd hym leede, Line 1373 Conffortyng hym noght to dreede. Line 1374 "Truly," quoth Amoryus, "I fere yt noght; for yff I had, Line 1375 Owte off the cyte ye coude noght me a lad." Line 1376

(200)

Thus at the last they entryd the cyte of Dorestere, Line 1377 Receyuyd off the mayer and the communnys with alle solempnyte Line 1378 Possybyl for the tyme, and with alle maner off chere Line 1379 They hym conffortyd; that the day he entryd the cyte Line 1380 Fesstful was off the mayre commaundid to be, Line 1381 And euery man that he coude off myrth or pley Line 1382 Schuld schewe yt honeste, this solempny day. Line 1383

(201)

Qwan pasyd was the tyme off mete, Amoryus the knyght Line 1384 A seruaunt commaundyd to the mayer to go in hy, Line 1385 Enfformyng hym how he purposyd that same nyght Line 1386 [leaf 42 a.] To take hys vyage, with the dragoun fyght fully; Line 1387 Owdyr manffuly to bryng home the vyctory, Line 1388 Or afftyr fortune for the pepyllys sauacion Line 1389 Be manhod to dye, as ther altherys champyon. Line 1390

(202)

And qwyl this masynger yede on this masage, Line 1391 Alone in hys chambyr, fro the top to the too, Line 1392 He anoyntyd hym ther-with, afftyr werryurrys vsage; Line 1393 And afftyr vsyd hys drynke and made hym redy to go, Line 1394 Armyd on the most sure wyse, and gan walk to and fro, Line 1395 Abydyng hys masengere; and for he come noght redyly, Line 1396 He toke hys stede, chargyng that forthte no man schuld hym gy. Line 1397

(203)

And in the myd cyte, as he rod thru the strete, Line 1398 The mayer and the pepyl with hym mett, Line 1399 And to the mayer he sayd, " Farewelle, mayere, for I wul mete Line 1400 Thys nyght with yowre enimy. I wol noght let Line 1401 At this tyme; for owdyr at onys I wold yow releue, Line 1402 Or to dye for yow in this mysery and myscheue." Line 1403

(204)

And than this mayer and thys odyr folkys alle Line 1404 Afftyr gan wepe for thise wordys pitously, Line 1405 Seyng, "Sythyn that ye this day fyght schal, Line 1406 Let vs go with yow and with yow dyi; Line 1407 Or ellys afftyr fortune bryng home the vyctory." Line 1408 "Nay," quoth Amoryus, "that were noght my wurchyp; that schal noght be. Line 1409 No creature but I schal go owte off this cyte; Line 1410

(205)

"For sythyn that I only am sent to this entent, Line 1411 I be myn one schal bothe the sqwete and the soure Line 1412 For yow endure; and ye that be here now present Line 1413 Drawyth yow to the wal, or to sum toure, Line 1414 [leaf 42 b.] And prayth to Venus and Mars omnipotent, Line 1415 To fortune eke; for yowre welffare and prosperyte Line 1416 Is in my uyage, yff I may uyctor be." Line 1417

(206)

Affter that word he prekyd hys steede owte off the toune Line 1418 In-to the feld, qwere this meruulus dragon lay, Line 1419 With schynyng skalys, in uale or an eld dungun, Line 1420 A lytyl be-syd the hy way. Line 1421 And fro affer qwan he that serpent sey, Line 1422 Hys phylatery [Phylacteries are prohibited in various religious writings of the Middle Ages; see Burchardus Wormatensis, Migne, P. L., cxl. 835; P. Ivo Carnot., ibid., clxi. 1392. ] with hys drynk he gan take, Line 1423 Anoyntyd hys harnes with-owte, and gan alle redy make. Line 1424

(207)

And Cleopes ryng forgate he noght, Line 1425 But to hys fyngyr he bond yt surely; Line 1426 With hert ful deuoute to hys goddys he besought Line 1427 Hym to defend. Afftyr gan vp lepe fersly Line 1428 On hys steede, and toward the beest he gan hy; Line 1429 But off the dene off hys steede this dragon gan awake, Line 1430 Lyfft vp hys hed, and a meruulus cry gan make. Line 1431

(208)

Than Amoryus, as fast as he myght, he dyd hym hy, Line 1432 Or ther serpent rose, yt to wound Line 1433 With hys spere; but the dragon sone yt gan aspye, Line 1434 Alofft with hys wyngys reisyd fro the grounde Line 1435 Hys hydus body, and turnyd hym round Line 1436 With gapyng mouthe; as thow he at onys Line 1437 Schul hym at the begynnyng deuour, both flesch and bonys. Line 1438

(209)

But Amoryus sqwyftely with hys scharp spere Line 1439 With-in the mouth so sore yt gan smyghte, Line 1440 That yt brast, and left halff there; Line 1441 And sqwyftly he drw hys sqwerd bryght, Line 1442 [leaf 43 a.] Deffendyng hym-self as a manful knyght; Line 1443 But the dragon, more wode aftyr than be-fore, Line 1444 Lepe on hys stede and kylde yt with-oute more, Line 1445

(210)

That Amoryus on fote must nede fyght. Line 1446 But as yt appyd be fortune, in hys fallyng, Line 1447 With the poynt off hys sqwerd, he smet oute the syght Line 1448 Off the serpentys one eye; and euer he held Cleopes ryng Line 1449 Ayen the todyr with the stone, and with-owte tarying Line 1450 He lept aboute, hewyng on [MS. has punctuation between "on" and "on" as if both were intended.] on euery syde: Line 1451 With huge strokys hys sqweid on the skalys gan glyde. Line 1452

(211)

But ho, trow ye, than was afferd but this folk on the wal, Line 1453 Qwan thei sei Amoryus feld and hys steede sleyn? Line 1454 "Alas!" quoth thei, "and cursyd be the owre that this case schul falle Line 1455 Vpon yon wurthy knyght, for he comyth no more ayyen; Line 1456 For manhod, strenght, ner sotel trayn Line 1457 May now noght auayl. Alas! qwy yed he forth alone? Line 1458 But alle to late now, as wantewyttys we make owre mone." Line 1459

(212)

Thus the ferfful folk on the wallys dyd compleyn Line 1460 With many a salt tere, and wryngyng off ther handys. Line 1461 But qwat, suppose ye, that Cleopes feryd? Ye, certeyn, Line 1462 Sche feryd that he schuld forgete her techyng; Line 1463 That nowdyr mete, ner drynk, ner odyr thyng Line 1464 Myght her comfort, for inward fere: Line 1465 Sche toke yt so heuyly and at her hart dyd yt bere. Line 1466

(213)

A thousand tymys, qwan sche was alone, sche gan say, Line 1467 "My knyght Amoryus, alas! qwat chauns ys the befall? Line 1468 I schal the neuer more see; qwerfore cursyd be that iche a day, Line 1469 That this infortune or iuberte schul euer falle." Line 1470 And on the goddys alle Line 1471 [leaf 43 b.] Sche cryid, and most to Venus and fortune inspecyal; Line 1472 "Thy uaryabyl squel," quoth sche, "O fortune! brent myght be Line 1473 With Pluto in helle, that thus sone has chongyd owre nwe felycyte. Line 1473

(214)

"How schal I do qwan I hys fadyr see? Line 1474 Brest must my hert, I knowe yt veryly. Line 1475 The remembrauns off hys louely chere so enprendyd schal be Line 1476 With-in my hart, that I schal nedys dy. Line 1477 Alas!" quoth sche, "qwat on-happy fortune, or qwat mysery Line 1478 Is me betyd, that am the most wofful creature Line 1479 Lyuyng on ertht? O Amoryus, Amoryus! how schal I endure?" Line 1480

(215)

But qwat Amoryus was saff, but offtyne in fere, Line 1481 Herd strokys he had and stynke so orybyl; Line 1482 That had noght hys posyon abe, he had dyid ryght ther Line 1483 With-owte wound; for this dragun, as a deuyl, Line 1484 Blwe flamyng venym owte off hys mowth, that impossybyl Line 1485 Was beste or man to lyue that yt onys dyd touche.— Line 1486 I may this wrytyng on the phylysophyr vouche. Line 1487

(216)

And offte this serpent gan saute the bugyl blak Line 1488 The qwyche vpon hys helmet stod, and bysyly Line 1489 Yt beheld; but the ryby so bryght ["ryby so bryght". See preceding note on parallel with Troy Book, and a note on Luminous Stones, Dunlop, loc. cit., i. 473-4.] shone in hys ye, Line 1490 That afferd he was, and confuse, and ofte turnyd hys bak. Line 1491 For euer Amoryus the ryng held befforn the face bysyly Line 1492 Off this dragun, and with hys sqwerd fast leyd on; as doth a smyth Line 1493 Qwan he a brennyng hote yryn hath vp-on a styth. Line 1494

(217)

But alle hys strokys stode to none auayl, Line 1495 For hys skalys were so hard, that noght thei dyd yeld Line 1496 Ayens hys sqwerd; but offtyn with hys tayl Line 1497 He smet Amoryus to the grounde, wyde opyn in the feld; Line 1498 [leaf 44 a.] And therto brak alle to pecys hys scheld,— Line 1499 For had not a bene that precyus vngwent, Line 1500 He had be slayn and on pecys rente. Line 1501

(218)

But at the last this serpent, wode for ire, Line 1502 Gan fersly Amoryus asayle, gapyng wyde, Line 1503 Thrwe owte hys venym, as flamyng fyre; Line 1504 But Amoryus yt asspyid and sodenly styrt asyde; Line 1505 And this dragun affter sqwyfftely gan glyde: Line 1506 But Amoryus, as fortune wold, to hys pocion, Line 1507 Phyal and alle, thrw yt in the mowth of the dragon. Line 1508

(219)

And forth-with the mowth closyd, as yt had be bound Line 1509 With iryn chenys; and gan fast to schake the hed; Line 1510 And afftyr fylle plat on the grounde; Line 1511 Hys brystylyd mosel gan blwe wer, as ony led; Line 1512 And qwan yt felt yt schuld be ded, Line 1513 Yt gan asay to flye; but in the rysyng Line 1514 Amoryus hys sqwerd to hyltys smet vndyr the wyng, Line 1515

(220)

That yt thyrlyd hys hert; and so heuyly Line 1516 Fyl doune, that as an erthen the ground schake; [Suggested emendation for "schake": quake.—hc] Line 1517 And with that set vp so hydus a cry, Line 1518 That the pepyl on the wal for feere gan schake; Line 1519 And with brast in the myddys, and Amoryus hwe off the hed, Line 1520 Leuyng that stynkyng body ther sterk ded. Line 1521

(221)

And this pepyl on the wal, qwan thei sey Line 1522 Amoryus hole and sound, thei lyff vp her handys to the fyrmament, Line 1523 Iheryng Mars and fortune; pitusly thei gan sey: Line 1524 "O blyssyd! O benyngne! O mercyful goddys omnipotent! Line 1525 Wurchyp and preysyng be to yow, that vs socoure sent. Line 1526 [leaf 44 b.] With bollys, rammys, and kydys eke Line 1527 With-in yowre tempyllys, we schal yow feythffully seke. Line 1528

(222)

And with-owte lettyng, doune and owte off the cyte Line 1529 Thei yede, and on ther kneys fyl Amoryus beffore Line 1530 With dyuyne wurchyppys; that wundyr yt was to see Line 1531 Thys pepylys for gladnes wepyng, more and more; Line 1532 And the mayer and odyr statys that ther wore. Line 1533 A garlond off gold vp-on hys hed in sygne off vyctory Line 1534 Thei empressyd, conueying hym in with alle maner of mynstrelsy. Line 1535

(223)

Qwat schul I telle the gret presents that men gan hym yeue, Line 1536 Sythyn that yche resonabyl wyght Line 1537 May yt conceyue, that he that labouryd for her mysceue, Line 1538 They must nedys hym magnyffy with alle her myght; Line 1539 And hym excellent weryour and most hardy knyght, Line 1540 Euer to name, qwyl that her lyuys wold endure, Line 1541 To loue hym beforn yche erthly creature. Line 1542

(224)

Thys dragon thus ded, as here ys wrytyn beffore, Line 1543 Amoryus schop home hys wey as sone as he myght; Line 1544 For the memoratyff dart had woundyd hym so sore Line 1545 Off Cleopes bryght chere, with her frendly wordys qwyght, Line 1546 That alle worldys felycyte was in maner as a derk nyght Line 1547 To the prime oryent sparkyl off hys daunyng fyre, Line 1548 Nwe radyffyid with the flame off ueneryan dysyre. Line 1549

(225)

Thus in conclusyon, he toke hys vyage Line 1550 To the cyte of Albynest, qwere he ful honorabylly Line 1551 Was receyuyd off eld and yong off the nobyl lynage; Line 1552 But qwo was than glad, deme ye yt ryghtly? Line 1553 Cleopes, I gesse, that in fere was so gretly; Line 1554 [leaf 45 a.] For empres to a ben made, sche coud no more joyful a be, Line 1555 That [Suggested emendation for "That": Than.—hc] qwan sche hym lyuyng in helth gan see. Line 1556

(226)

O lord! qwat joy that sche had, and how myri and glad Line 1557 Sche gan be, qwan he with vyctory off that serpent Line 1558 Was commyn with helth! More joy sche had Line 1559 Than Orphe, qwan he hys wyf receyuyd ayen for the rent Line 1560 Off hys musycal melody, the qwyche in helle brent, Line 1561 More glad than Parys off the rapt off qwene Eleyn,— Line 1562 More gladnes in her hart sche had, the soth to seyn; Line 1563

(227)

For clerk with penne, or tunge off retrycyan, Line 1564 Or musyng hert can noght telle halff her felycyte. Line 1565 But alas! this sqwete delyteful loue drawyth to the conclusyon. Line 1566 Off the byttyr, peynful, and scharp endyng aduersyte, Line 1567 I qwake for fere to wryte, yff yt myght odyr-wyse be Line 1568 Off ther endys; but that endyter that wul a story take Line 1569 He must as wele off the bytter as off the sqwete mencion make. Line 1570

(228)

But to the proces, Amoryus that nyght determynyd fully Line 1571 To haue with Cleopes hys lady the louely dalyauns, Line 1572 As thise louerys haue the practyk, and knowyng fully Line 1573 Off that sqweete and plesaunt obseruauns. Line 1574 And as he purposyd, ryght so effectwally Line 1575 He fulffyllyd in-dede; mete at the walle as thei dyd be-fore; Line 1576 I trow than veryly that thei bothe myry wore. Line 1577

(229)

But to the purpos off ther dalyauns, this was the conclusyon: Line 1578 That thei schuld mete the nest mornyng Line 1579 In a forest, that was fast by the toune, Line 1580 In a certeyn erbere, be-fforn the dawnyng, Line 1581 Iche alone qwan no creature were steryng, Line 1582 [leaf 45 b.] And there to breke ther hertys off alle heuynes Line 1583 Her louys eke, vndyr, a nwe forme to redres. Line 1584

(230)

Thus thei departyd to ryse erly, Line 1585 Yede to ther rest in fulle very trost, Line 1586 The nest morw to expend ful delectabyly Line 1587 In louys obseruauns; noudyr to spare for snowe ner frost; Line 1588 Bysyly thei gan record ther speche that no tyme schuld be lost, Line 1589 That thus and thus thei schul say; but alas! that yche qwyle Line 1590 Dysseyuabyl fortune gan hym dysseyue and begyle. Line 1591

(231)

But trwth ys sayd that God schapyth for the best, Line 1592 He knwe at the begynnyng qwat the conclusyon schul be. Line 1593 And to telle forth this story, qwan thei woke off ther rest, Line 1594 Thei gan them fast aray, qwan thei gan se Line 1595 The dauns off the systyrrys seuyn .vij. Line 1596 Drawe toward the west part of heuyn. Line 1597

(232)

But .viij. days be-fforn apperyd in the fyrmament Line 1598 A lemyng sterre, that a comete ys clepyd in astronomy, Line 1599 In the mylke qwyte gyrdyl. That euer doth represent Line 1600 A gret chaunge; as the deth off princys, or pestylencys gret and hasty, Line 1601 Gret bataylys, deth of kyngys, or gret penury: Line 1602 The qwyche the same morw gan dysapere, Line 1603 That this case fylle, as I wryte nowe here. Line 1604

(233)

In this morw erly before the day, Line 1605 Cleopes ful priuyly at a posterin yate, Line 1606 Stale owte alone, and to the forest toke her wey; Line 1607 For in her thowt sche feryd to a comyn to late; Line 1608 And fast sche gan her hy in her iurney Line 1609 Toward the erbere; and qwan sche come and se no creature, Line 1610 [leaf 46 a.] "A!" quoth sche, "I fyrst am comyn, now am I sure." Line 1611

(234)

And in this erbere, as seyth my boke, ther was Line 1612 A lusty, fresch, delectabyl spryng of water clere; Line 1613 The qwyche ran smothly thru the chas Line 1614 Off this forest owte off this foresayd erbere. Line 1615 And Cleopes qwan sche sey Amoryus come noght nere, Line 1616 To the water sche yed, and wysch both handys and face, Line 1617 And her dryid and fast a-bowte gan gase, Line 1618

(235)

And as sche lokyd about, sche aspyid comyng Line 1619 An huge lyon; the qwyche that nyght to hys pray Line 1620 Had deuouryd an hyinde, and afftyr hys fedyng Line 1621 Erly come to drynke off that fresch spryng. Line 1622 And Cleopes, ny fro her-selff for that soden affray, Line 1623 Fled awey, as fast as sche myght renne; Line 1624 And for fere styrt in-to a lyonnys denne. Line 1625

(236)

And as sche ran, a kerchyff pennyd losely, Line 1626 Fyl fro her hed awey vp-on the gres; Line 1627 But for gret haste sche dyd yt noght aspy. Line 1628 And forth in-to the erbere this lyoun come with mowth al blody; Line 1629 But or he drank, afftyr hys nature, he gan hym dres,— Line 1630 Wypt on the gres hys blody mowth; and in hys welteryng Line 1631 Made alle blody Cleopes kerchyff in hys wypyng; Line 1632

(237)

And afftyr rose vp and dranke off the water hys fylle. Line 1633 Afftyr in-to the forest he yed be a-nodyr wey; Line 1634 But Cleopes for fere lay ston stylle. Line 1635 Sche lokyd alwey to a ben the lyouns pray. Line 1636 And Amoryus nas noght longe; but with-oute delay Line 1637 Hyid hym, as fast as he coude, and for surete Line 1638 Hys sqwerd vndyr hys arme he bare for case off aduersyte. Line 1639

[leaf 46 b.]

(238)

But alas! qwy nas yt broke on pecys thre Line 1640 Thys yche sqwerd, but qwat fortune wold so? Line 1641 It was ther desteny; yt wold none odyr be. Line 1642 But Amoryus and Cleopes must dye ther-with both to .ij.,— Line 1643 Qwat schuld I yt prolonge; Y must be ordyr go, Line 1644 For in ther chauncys; and so Amoryus entryd the erbere. Line 1645 And thus it be-ffyl as ye schal afftyr here. Line 1645

(239)

Qwan he was come to the erbere, fast he gan loke Line 1646 Iff Cleopes had owte be styryng ther ere; Line 1647 But sodenly he abaschyd and fyl in-to fere, Line 1648 Qwan he this blody kerchyf sey lying there; Line 1649 Hys hert gan cold and heuy wax as ony led. Line 1650 "Thys ys Cleopes kerchyff," quoth he, "in peyn off myn hed." Line 1651

(240)

And forth-with he stoupyd and vp the kerchyf gan take, Line 1652 And lokyd vppon the merk, and fond for Cleopes a .C. Line 1653 Wrowt with sylke; than euyn as an espys lef doth schake Line 1654 Ayens the wynd, ryght so than dyd he, Line 1655 Dyd qwake for fere, qwan he that lettyr gan se; Line 1656 And at the fyrst word thus pitusly he gan crye, Line 1657 "O hye Jouys, help! help, for now I dye." Line 1658

(241)

Encrese so sore began hys inward heuynes, Line 1659 That as a lyoun wode for ire, ryght so he faryd Line 1660 Nygh owte off hys mend; and in that gret dystres Line 1661 Hys inward conseyt thus he had off Cleopes Line 1662 With mornyng hert and pytus chere; thus he ys conseyt declaryd: Line 1663 "O most trosty, most trw, most louyng! Line 1664 Cursyd be that owre, that we gan trete off this metyng; Line 1665

(242)

[leaf 47 a.] "For this ys trwth, experyens schewyth yt opynly; Line 1666 And be this blody kerchyf I yt deme, Line 1667 That for very trw loue sche keme hydyr ryght erly Line 1668 Me to abyde. Alas, for sqweme! Line 1669 And sum lyoun or tygyr come here forby, Line 1670 The qwych for hys pray hath drawen her to hys caue. Line 1671 Alas! qwy nas I here her to saue? Line 1672

(243)

"O fers! O crwel! O wod, rauenus best! Line 1673 Was ther none odyr pray to suffyse thi gredynes, Line 1674 Off hert or hyinde, or odyr best walkyng in this forest, Line 1675 But on that louely mayd, my lady Cleopes? Line 1676 O hye Jouys! inclyne thine ere,, or that myne hert brest, Line 1677 To my prayur; that as the thundyr dynt slow Companeus, ["Companeus": Capaneus. This is possibly a reminiscence of Lydgate's Siege of Thebes. There is, however, a similar allusion in Chaucer's Troilus and Creseyde, v. 1505. ] Line 1678 Ryght so this crwel best myght dye, that was so rauenus. Line 1679

(244)

"Or ellys, or my wofful spyryt owte of the body pase, Line 1680 I myght with that uermyne mete to venge Cleopes detht; Line 1681 And yff yow nyl me here, thi brodyr I pray off grace, Line 1682 That Pluto men clepe with fyry breth; Line 1683 As at the sege off Thebes Ampyorax ["Ampyorax": Amphiaraus. This, with the foregoing allusion to Capaneus, is a slight indication of Metham's knowledge of Lydgate's Siege of Thebes. Amphiaraus is also mentioned in Troilus and Creseyde, ii. 105. ] fro hys place Line 1684 Fyl in-to helle alle qwyk, ryght so this foule best and vermyne Line 1685 Myght falle thorw the erth to helle pyne." Line 1686

(245)

And at that word the cramp so sore gan hys hert hold, Line 1687 That he nyst veryly qwat to sey; Line 1688 But sodenly he gan to syghe, as hys hert brest wold. Line 1689 And at the last cryid, "Allas and welawey! Line 1690 Alas! how schal I doo? for sorow I dey. Line 1691 O hert myne, Cleopes! O myne heuyn sqwete! Line 1692 Alas! qwy schal I neuer more with yow mete? Line 16

(246)

[leaf 47 b.] "Alas! that I in prime loue thus beraft off my gladnes; Line 17 And yyt a mayd neuer louyd but one, Line 18 The qwyche fortune wyckyd hath slayn gylteles. Line 19 Allas! I, sorowfful wrecche, with-owte conffort alone Line 20 Nowe schal dye; and now to yow, furyis inffernal, I make my mone, Line 21 O yow helle hound, Tri-Cerberus ["Tri-Cerberus": Cerberus. This form occurs also in Alex. and Dind., 536, 793. ] , opyn thi yatys wyde, Line 22 And conioyne my spyryt on to my lady syde. Line 1700

(247)

"For sythyn fortune nolde us suffyr here Line 1701 To mete in felycyte, I must with sorowful hert ende Line 1702 Owre loue begunne; for sche for me hath bought yt dere, Line 1703 And Y as dere schal yt yeld, that I onkend Line 1704 Neuer schal be found, in boke ner mend. Line 1705 Lo, lytyl spryng! to the I compleyn with hert sore; Line 1706 Ther schal neuer lyuyng creature with me speke more." Line 1707

(248)

And with that word hys sqwerd owte he drwe Line 1708 With crwel chere, and scharp uoys gan sey; Line 1709 "Farewele, knyghthed! farewele, auenturys nwe! Line 1710 Farewele, lykyng lust! farewele, auenturys nwe! Line 1711 Farewele, beutel farewele, fame and vyctory! Line 1712 Farewele, alle lykyng dalyauns off alle worldys felycyte! Line 1713 Farewele, myrth, welth, sporte, and pley; for alle ys pasyd with me!" Line 1714

(249)

And with that word he lete downe glyde Line 1715 The pomel off hys sqwerd, and held the poynte alofft, Line 1716 And affter yt set to hys lefft syde; Line 1717 With ferfful and grysely chere thise wordys rehersyd ofte: Line 1718 "O Cleopes, my lady dere! my spyryte nyl nowt abyde; Line 1719 But nedys yow folw, how sore sum-euery smert!" Line 1720 And with that word, alas! he smet hym-selff to the hert. Line 1721

(250)

[leaf 48 a.] And in that crwel dede so loude he cryid, "Farewele Cleopes!" Line 1722 That sche hys voys herd, and styrt owte apase Line 1723 Off this denn; but alle to late sche gan her dres, Line 1724 For qwan sche come, he lay grouelyng on hys face. Line 1725 And qwan sche aspyid that uery onhappy case, Line 1726 Sche wept and wrange her handys, and sayd thus pitusly: Line 1727 "Alas! myne owne knyght, qwy dye ye thus schamfully?" Line 1728

(251)

And betwene her armys sche lyfft hym alofft, Line 1729 And to hym sayd: "Alas! ys this oure metyng? Line 1730 Ys this the loue that we haue musyd so offt?" Line 1731 And qwan he herd her uoys, hys hert gan spryng. Line 1732 With hors voys, as myne autour tellyth hys dying, Line 1733 Amoryus her teld that he went be her kerchyff blodye, Line 1734 Sum best had her deuouryd,—"This js cause that I thus dye." Line 1735

(252)

And Cleopes that word so sore toke to her hert, Line 1736 That as an ymage off stone ryght so with-owte myght, Line 1737 Sche fyl on sqwounyng; and longe tyme affter vp sche stert Line 1738 Fro dethys crampe, and Amoryus vpward had turnyd the qwyght Line 1739 Off hys eyn: this Cleopes than the most wofful wyght Line 1740 That myght bere lyfe; qwan sche sey hym ded Line 1741 Her chekys sche gan tere, and rent the here. of her hed. Line 1742

(253)

And with that sche cursyd fortune, and the goddys alle, Line 1743 As sche that lost had alle worldys felycyte; Line 1744 And gan to sey: "O!" quoth sche, "sythyn that I dye schalle, Line 1745 Qwerto prolonge I the tyme? sythyn yt must nedys be Line 1746 That I schal dye; for I knowe neuer more to se Line 1747 Hym lyuyng ayen, that for my sake ded ys; Line 1748 I were to onkend afftyr to lyue, j-wys." Line 1749

(254)

[leaf 48 b.] And with-owte more sche gan kysse the ded body, Line 1750 And afftyr seyd, "O Saturne! the I beseche Line 1751 The soule off this knyght jn thi spere deyfy, Line 1752 And eke be now oure soulys leche; Line 1753 For hys loue on my-selff now I schal wreche. Line 1754 Conioyne owre spyrytys, qwedyr thow wylt with joy or peyn; Line 1755 For now I folowe, thow I be lothe to deyn." Line 1756

(255)

And Amoryus sqwerd than owte off hys grysely wound Line 1757 Sche drwe owte; and thus affter sche gan say, Line 1758 "O onhappy sqwerd! thow schalt me confound, Line 1759 That fleemyd hast the lyfe off thi lord this day. Line 1760 Cursyd be the oure that yow were made, and wele-awey! Line 1761 O Jouys! my uyrgynyte to the I sacryfyse in this nede, Line 1762 With the roseat blod off pure maydynhede." Line 1763

(256)

But sythyn yt yrkyth me to wryte Line 1764 The dethys off bothe, I pase schortly;— Line 1765 But Cleopes for certeyn her-selff dyd smyte Line 1766 Thorow the body. Alas, that sche so schuld dye! Line 1767 But alle this was but wrechydnes and foly. Line 1768 Thow that in eld tyme paynymmys yt dyd for a memoryal, Line 1769 I yt commend ryght noght at alle. Line 1770

(257)

Thus thise storyis as thei fylle, as be my rudenes, [In stanza 257 Metham seems to announce that what follows in the romance is of his own invention; see Introduction.] Line 1771 Bothe off her loue and off ther sqwemfful ende, Line 1772 I haue wrytyn; and now to the folwyng proces Line 1773 I my rude style in hast redres. Line 1774 Alle be yt so, that I haue noght redy in mend Line 1775 The termys off retricyannys, that so freschly schyne; Line 1776 And thow I had, the tyme suffyse noght them to combyne. Line 1777 And thow I had, the tyme suffyse noght them to combyne. Line 1778

The Last Book

[leaf 49 a.]

The prolog in-to the laste boke.

(258)

Osunne off grace, that fro the heuynly trone Line 1779 Descendyst in-to this world! alle off thi benygnyte, Line 1780 Becomyng man, alle thise errourys to fordone; Line 1781 The qwyche illumynyst synderesys off mannys sensualyte; Line 1782 Namyd be ryght oryens sol iustycye; Line 1783 Incomprehensybyl thi wysdam and domys be fynally, Line 1783 That doyst and fordoyst, dysposyng alle to that ys necessary; Line 1784

(259)

The bemys off thi wysdam yeuyng to thi chylder dere; Line 1785 Withdrawyng them, qwere that may noght schyne, Line 1786 As fro the hertys off them that worldely wyse appere; Line 1787 That eke off thi inffynyte godenes fully to fyne Line 1788 The thralle bond off adamyrgyk thi mageste bydyst enclyne, Line 1789 In seruisabyl forme apperyng, vs to geyn by Line 1790 Sofferyng the most schamffull deth vp-on the cros woldst dye. Line 1791

(260)

And that the world schuld knowe the to be sauyd endelesly, Line 1792 Wondyrrys thow wroutyst meruulusly in oure nature, Line 1793 Alle sekenes releuyng; and yit more wonderffully Line 1794 Ded bodyis makyng to lyue, that yche creature Line 1795 Schuld wurchyp the for god with hert pure ; Line 1796 And to thi trw seruaunts yeuyng power, more specyally, Line 1797 For strenght off thi doctryne to reyse many a ded body. Line 1798

(261)

Qwerffore, O eternal god! alle wurchyp and preysyng be to the Line 1799 Off heuynly, erthly, and eke inffernall; Line 1800 And yche creature in hys nature, bothe on erth and in see, Line 1801 Qwedyr yt lyuyth with spyryte or grennes, in generalle; Line 1802 And eke alle thi handywerkys, bothe gret and smale, Line 1803 Myght yeue the preysyng; and I now off thi hynes Line 1804 Beseche the vp this story to redres. Line 1805

[leaf 49 b.]

The Laste Boke

(262)

Amoryus and Cleopes thus ded, as I rehersyd be-fore, Line 1806 Yt happyd be the dyspensacion off God that mornyng, Line 1807 An holy man to pase forby, hos name was Ore, Line 1808 That an hermyte was; [Compare Troy Book, book ii, where you have the death of Amaira with her husband and child. ] had in that forest hys dwellyng, Line 1809 Gadyrryd that morw wyld applys to hys lyuyng; Line 1810 Hard the scrykyng off Cleopes, qwan sche dyid, Line 1811 And to wyte qwat was thidir fast hym hyid. Line 1812

(263)

But for the qweyntenes off the fend, Line 1813 The qwyche for fraude dothe make sqwyche cry Line 1814 To inquyete holy lyuerrys to withdrawe ther mend. Line 1815 Fro prayyere and contemplacion, this holy man broute to mend; Line 1816 Or he yed ther-fore, he made hys prayyere deuoutely, Line 1817 Besechyng God yff yt were for the best to abyde or go, Line 1818 He myght haue knowyng, qwat were beste to do. Line 1819

(264)

And as he lay in hys prayyer plat on the ground, Line 1820 A soden lyght come fro heuyn, and ther-with a melody, Line 1821 Makyng so meruulus a melody and so sqwete a sound, Line 1822 That he halff raueschyd was be the sqwete armony; Line 1823 And ther-with a uoys soundyd, the qwyche bad hym hy Line 1824 Thydyr he was ment, for the soulys sauacion Line 1825 Off the pepyl off the cyte and eke off the regyon. Line 1826

(265)

Thys voys pasyd, and this forseyd lyght, Line 1827 And this holy man rose hym to go; Line 1828 And qwan he come nere and perseyuyd that ferful syght, Line 1829 Gretly he was dyscomfortyd tho; Line 1830 And fast gan kast in hys mend to and fro, Line 1831 Qwat was best to do, and be hys reuelacion Line 1832 He construyd that bothe were paynymmys be the conclusyon. Line 1833

(266)

[leaf 50 a.] And with that he fylle on kneys, and vp hys handys gan hold Line 1834 Toward the fyrmament, besechyng God off hys benygnyte, Line 1835 Off hys hye mercy eke, that he wold Line 1836 Hem turne to lyfe, yff thei krynsnyd wold be. Line 1837 "For blyssyd Iesu, thow wotyst wele," quoth he, Line 1838 "That I onwurthy am, for my synful lyuyng Line 1839 To beseche the off this gret and meruulus thing. Line 1840

(267)

"But I beleue jff thow wyl them restore Line 1841 To lyffe ayen, the pepyl off alle the cyte Line 1842 Bothe men and women, lesse and more, Line 1843 Schal fully be conuertyd and leue in the. Line 1844 Now blyssyd Iesu, graunt yt may so be, Line 1845 As thow dyidys for alle man-kend, Line 1846 To redeme them that thralle were to the fend. Line 1847

(268)

"And O qwene off mercy and modyr dygne! Line 1848 Trone off God, my ful trost ys in the, Line 1849 That comfort art off alle carful. Mayd most benygn, Line 1850 Synguler joy and reffute in euery necessyte, Line 1851 Be now my voket, as my trost ys the, Line 1852 To thi blyssyd sone; for noght he wul the deny, Line 1853 That thou besechyst, fore I knowe yt ueryly." Line 1854

(269)

And with that this holy man gan vpryse, Line 1855 Yede to Cleopes, fast wepyng, Line 1856 Drew owte the sqwerd on the best wyse Line 1857 He myght, for more hurtyng Line 1858 Thys wound allewey fast bledyng. Line 1859 Vndyr this forme and lyke manere, Line 1860 He reysyd thise bodyis, and ye schal now here: Line 1861

(270)

[leaf 50 b.] "In hys name," quoth this eremyte, "that boute mankend, Line 1862 Kryst Iesu, yowre soulys in-to yowr bodyis Line 1863 Entyr may ayen, fro the powere off the fend; Line 1864 And thow I be noght wurthy, of my merytys, Line 1865 Hole and sound, with-owte wemme off yowre woundys, Line 1866 Nowe vp-ryse; and yeue hym preysyng with hole hert, Line 1867 That delyuerryd yow hath fro peynys smert." Line 1868

(271)

And with that word bothe deede bodyis vp-brayd, Line 1869 And with o .j. uoys thei gan thise antune off owre lady, Line 1870 Euyn as off one .j. mowth and tunge yt had besayd; Line 1871 And euer thise wordys they gan multyply, Line 1872 With many a tere that ran fro ther ye, Line 1873 And pytus voyse, thei sange, "Salue, salue, Line 1874 Salue, salue, regina mater misericordye!" Line 1875

(272)

That ys to sey: Heyl, qwene and modyr off mercy! Line 1876 Thus thei her preysyd with-owte sesyng, Line 1877 Tyl this holy ermyt axid hem qwy Line 1878 That thei contynwally rehersyd that preysyng; Line 1879 They ansqweryd that ther soulys dampnyd in fyre euerlastyng Line 1880 Amonge the fendys, at Maryis commaundement, Line 1881 Were delyueryd and to the bodyis sent. Line 1882

(273)

"And eke yowre-selff vs semd that ye ther were, Line 1883 And for vs prayd to the lord, that for alle Line 1884 Dyid on the cros; and hys angel this dyd vs lere Line 1885 To preyse hys modyr, as empres celestyalle, Line 1886 Byddyng vs euer for a memoryal Line 1887 Thys orysun to sey, in presyng off that blyssyd lady, Line 1888 That sche, ondeseruyd, schewyd vs her mercy. Line 1889

(274)

[leaf 51 a.] "Qwerffore," quoth thei, "for hys sake that vs dere hathe bougth. Line 1890 Make vs krystyn, and teche vs the wey ryght Line 1891 To serue that lord; for nowe we dowght nowght Line 1892 That God ys none but one .j., that regnyth in heuyn bryght: Line 1893 For alle-tho that we be-fforn dyd wurchyp apperyng godys to owre syght, Line 1894 Dampnyd spyrytys be in helle euerlastyngly, Line 1895 That haue vs begylyd be vanyte and foly; Line 1896

(275)

"For alle thise goddys hys creaturys be, Line 1897 And noght thei may do with-owte hys sofyrauns, Line 1898 That owre myscheuus ende hath now browt to felycyte." Line 1899 "Wele," quoth this ermyght, "than fully be ye Line 1900 In purpose to forsake alle the custum and gouernauns Line 1901 Off paynymmys secte; and now yff ye this forsake, Line 1902 I schal yow baptyse and krystyn make." Line 1903

(276)

And anone he gan hem lerne, and teld hem in the begynnyng Line 1904 How this world faryth as affeyre [Suggested emendation for "affeyre": a feyre.—hc] Line 1905 , euer onstabyl; Line 1905 And how that deth ys oncerteyn, and qwat peyne ys at the endyng, Line 1906 And qwat ther reward schuld be off joys incomperabyl Line 1907 For soffyrrauns off thise transytory thingys onstabyl; Line 1908 For Cryst seyth, that ful streyt yt ys Line 1909 A worldely-wyse man to entyr heuyn blysse. Line 1910

(277)

And off alle odyr thingys necessary, Line 1911 Thys ermyght enfformyd them fully in the feyth; Line 1912 And baptysyd them in that welle ryght deuoutely; Line 1913 And afftyr, as myne autoure Fyrage seyth, Line 1914 Thys ermyght axyd off qwat stok thei come, and qwy Line 1915 Thei had so fordone them-selff, and how thei come in-to that place; Line 1916 And thei teld hym, as I rehersyd be-ffore alle the case. Line 1917

(278)

[leaf 51 b.] "Now trwly," quoth this ermyght, "gret pyte yt had bene Line 1918 That to .ij. so semly personys so schuld a dyid; Line 1919 And more pyte, the los of yowre soulys to haue sene,— Line 1920 But vertuus loue of God was neuer denyid." Line 1921 And this qwestyon this ermyte axid: Line 1922 "Is the loue," quoth he, "as gret now as yt was be-fore? Line 1923 Or owdyr yt ys lessyd, or yt ys more." Line 1924

(279)

"For my parte," quoth Amoryus, "as longyth to me, Line 1925 My loue was neuer greter to this lady Line 1926 Than yt ys at this owre, ner greter yt may be" Line 1927 "How thinkyth yow?" quoth the ermyte to Cleopes, "sei your fantesy." Line 1928 "I am," sche seyd, "so God plesyd be, with hert, wyll, and body Line 1929 Goddys and this knytys; and qwat fortune so-suery endure, Line 1930 Neuer to forsake hym for none erthly creatur." Line 1931

(280)

" Wele, dere soulys," quoth this holy man, "yt ys hys wylle, Line 1932 That hath yow restoryd to lyffe, that this meruelle Line 1933 Be schewyd in the cyte; and for this skyl, Line 1934 That the pepyl schuld hym knowe that haruyd helle; Line 1935 And for this cause Y yt yow telle, Line 1936 That the pepyl off the cyte for this myrakyl crystyd schal be; Line 1937 Qwere ye afftyr the lawe despousyd schal be." Line 1938

(281)

But in this mene-tyme, myche sekyng ther was Line 1939 Afftyr Amoryus, qwan he that day dyd noght appere; Line 1940 For Palamedon thru the cyte dyd enqwire, off more and las, Line 1941 Qwedyr Amoryus was gone; and on the same manere Line 1942 Thei enqwyrryd affter Cleopes, fare and nere: Line 1943 But nowdyr were founde, that causyd ther faderys care, Line 1944 That no man coude telle qwydyr thei schuld fare. Line 1945

(282)

[leaf 52 a.] Thus the rude pepyl with priuy langage ran to and fro Line 1946 With qwysperyng speche, "A! qwere ys he and qwere ys sche? Line 1947 Benedycyte! qwat aylyd them thus awey to go?" Line 1948 But be Palamedonnys assent yt was commaundyd in the cyte, Line 1949 That alle the communnys redy schuld be Line 1950 In the tempyl off Venus to wete, be reuelacion off ther goddes, Line 1951 Qwere were becomyn Amoryus and Cleopes. Line 1952

(283)

And qwylys the pepyl in the tempyl lay in prayyere, Line 1953 Thys holy man entryd in-to the tempyl, Line 1954 Brynggyng with hym Amoryus and Cleopes; and to the spere Line 1955 He toke hys wey; and with gret voyse cryid among the pepyl: Line 1956 "O blynd pepyl! qwy knele ye here? Line 1957 Qwy forsake ye yowre maker almyghty Line 1958 And wurchyp this deuyl? qwy do ye this foly?" Line 1959

(284)

removeQhanaddThan this pepyl gretly astoynyd, but qwan thei sei Line 1960 Amoryus and Cleopes ther, thei yede nere; Line 1961 But fyrst Palamedon and Dydas to ther chylder dere Line 1962 Yede in haste, with-owte more delay, Line 1963 Enqwyryng qwere thei had ben alle that day. Line 1964 And this ermyght toke this speche on hand boldely, Line 1965 And teld them alle the chauncys by and by. Line 1966

(285)

But qwan he reportyd how thei were dede, Line 1967 And eke schewyd the tokynnys off ther woundys, Line 1968 The pepyllys chere gan change, and pale as ony lede, Line 1969 And than to syghe and wepe, and to wryng ther handys; Line 1970 But qwan he teld the myrakyl, folwyng affter tho wordys, Line 1971 That the God off krystemen had schewyd them hys godenes, Line 1972 The hertys off alle the pepyl gan enclyne both more and les. Line 1973

(286)

[leaf 52 b.] "But wulle ye wete," quoth he, "qwat yowre goddes ys? Line 1974 That Uenus ye clepe; for certeyne a deuyl off helle, Line 1975 I schal schewe yt yow alle, so God me wys; Line 1976 And so yeue credens to that I telle. Line 1977 And this spere, that meuyth thus fast, in an ey-schel Line 1978 I may yt put; for thow yt seme gold and schynyth rychely, Line 1979 Alle ys but sotelte off the fend to blere yowre ye." Line 1980

(287)

Wyth this worde the pepyl gan schoute, and with .j. one voyse say, Line 1981 "Perfforme thi wordys, and anone we alle Line 1982 Conuertyd to thi lord schal be, and krystynnyd this day." Line 1983 So this ermyght off sylens than dyd them pray; Line 1984 And he hys wordys schuld perfforme alle. Line 1985 Thus he spake, as hys wordys I reherse here, Line 1986 Fyrst to the ymage off Venus and than to the spere: Line 1987

(288)

"O blynde spyryte, most enuyus! aungel off elacion, Line 1988 Most froward and fals! that fyllyst fro heuyn for thi presumcion; Line 1989 That thus longe hast japyd the creaturys off God be fals simulacion. Line 1990 Thow orybyl, nakyd spyryte! In the vertu off hys passyon Line 1991 That bought mankend, breke nowe thi mansyon, Line 1992 Thys ymage off Venus; that be opyn demonstracion Line 1993 The pepyl may the se, that thow hast blyndyd be-forn, Line 1994 To thi vtyr schame, conffusyon, and sckorn." Line 1995

(289)

Thys word nas sunner spokyn, but that the deuyl gan owte flye, Line 1996 And brake the ymage on pecys; and ther odyr goddys alle, Line 1997 And ther-with made sqwyche a noyse and sqwyche a cry, Line 1998 That alle the pepyl for fere to the ground dyd falle. Line 1999 And he commaundyd the spyryte, that no creature at alle Line 2000

He schul noy; but to a desert qwere no creature were abydyng, Line 2001 [leaf 53 a.] Hastyly to pase, ther to the day of dome to make hys abydyng. Line 2002

(290)

And ther-with he seyd to the pepyl, "Qwy ly ye so? Line 2003 Yowre gret enmy ys fled; ryse vp and se Line 2004 More meruellys yit; for or we go, Line 2005 Thys fantastyk spere for-done schal be." Line 2006 And with hys hand he bekynnyd the pepyl, bad them come nere. Line 2007 "Fere ye noght, and here qwat I schal sey; Line 2008 And put fro yowre hertys alle doutys awey." Line 2009

(291)

And so the pepyl dyd and he in opyn audyens Line 2010 To the spyrytys thus seyd, that meuyd the spere: Line 2011 "O dysseyuabyl spyrytys! qwy make ye resystens Line 2012 Ayens yowre makere? qwy dysseyue ye that he hath bought dere? Line 2013 But enuye causyth yt, for that ye wold in fere Line 2014 Them haue dampnyd with yow, in euerlastyng fyre; Line 2015 I knowe that this ys yowre entent and yowre dysyre. Line 2016

(292)

"Qwerffore, that alle this pepyl may knowe opynly Line 2017 That ye hem dysseyue, this fantasye and ye now dyspere, Line 2018 In hys name that sofyrryd the Iuys hym crucyfye; Line 2019 And schewe opynly that this fantastyk spere Line 2020 Is no thing materyal, but as the smoke off a fere." Line 2021 And noght soner this word was spokyn, Line 2022 But this spere was vanyschyd and brokyn. Line 2023

(293)

And noght apperyd noudyr gold, syluer, ner precyus stone, Line 2024 But spyrytys fulle the tempyl wyngyd lyke larkys; Line 2025 And qwan the pepyl sei the spere was vanyschyd and gone,— Line 2026 "Thys ys in-nowe;" quoth thei, "we beleue alle thi werkys; Line 2027 Anone vs kyrstyn make with-owte delay euery-chone." Line 2028

And this holy man the spyrytys commaundyd to wende Line 2029 [leaf 53 b.] Owte off the tempyl, the qwyche bare yn ther gate the chyrchys ende. Line 2030

(294)

And than this holy man gan them lere Line 2031 The feyth off the chyrche, and towght them fully Line 2032 To serue ther maker, qwyl thei were lyuyng here, Line 2033 Tellyng them the peynys off helle, and eke the glory Line 2034 Off heuyn, promysyng them that this blys to possede euerlastyngly, Line 2035 Iff thei the commaundements off God kept; and than them alle Line 2036 He crystynnyd,—men, women, and chylder, both gret and smale. Line 2037

(295)

Thus was the proffecye fulffyllyd off Venus, as be reuelacion Line 2038 To her secretary schewyd, as I rehersyd be-ffore,— Line 2039 How that a crucyffyid man schuld take possessyon, Line 2040 And Venus and her felyschyp to exclude for euermore. Line 2041 The qwyche ys Cryste crucyffyid of Iuys: made ther hys mancion, Line 2042 Qwan thei crystynnyd were, and the tempyl dedycat, Line 2043 Venus vttyrly excludyd, and Iesu fully possescionat. Line 2044

(296)

Thus hath this removejoysqwemfful morw a joe-ful euynyng; [With the wedding of Amoryus and Cleopes compare that of Paris and Helen (Troy Book, ii. 4164-89). There are Christian elements in many romances, from the canonization of Amys and Amyloun to the Holy Grail, but I know of no parallel to the resurrection of Amoryus and Cleopes by the prayers of the Hermit. ] Line 2045 Qwan this pepyl with gladnes home schuld wend, Line 2046 Browte this ermyght in-to the cyte, myryli syngynge, Line 2047 To Palamedonnys palyse; qwere he prayd them, at the end, Line 2048 The neste morw to come to chyrche, and for this enspecyal, Line 2049 To joyne Amoryus and Cleopes be lawe matrimonyal. Line 2050

(297)

Thys pepyl off tho tydyngys, replete with joy and gladnes Line 2051 Off that soden and hasty begunne maryage; Line 2052 For most conuenyent thei thowt that Cleopes, Line 2053 Affter ther consyderauns, was bothe of beute, byrth, and lynage Line 2054 To be Amoryus fere, for bothe thei were off one age. Line 2055

"And sythyn," quoth the pepyl, "he wul her to wyue take, Line 2056 Lete vs to-morow alle joy and myrth make." Line 2057

(298)

[leaf 54 a.] So this pepyl yed home to ther reste, Line 2058 And on the morw, on the most solempne wyse, Line 2059 They hem arayd; and to the palyse the worthyest Line 2060 Off the cyte yede, to brynge to the chyrche afftyr the gyse Line 2061 Bothe Amoryus and Cleopes; and qwat the pepyl coude deuyse Line 2062 Off solempnyte or sport nas noght to seke, Line 2063 That possybyl was for schortnes off tyme to eke. Line 2064

(299)

Wyth alle melody that myght be found affter the vsage Line 2065 Off that cuntre, thei led were to chyrche, and off this ermyght Line 2066 In the tempyl despousyd; and eght .viij. days contynwaly after the maryage Line 2067 Were kept in solempnyte and fest to the derke nyght, Line 2068 To ryche and pore, that wold come or myght; Line 2069 And to the dwellerrys off the same cyte Line 2070 The fest was continuyd the mountenauns off wekys thre. Line 2071

(300)

And affter this erhmyght ordynyd the pepyl to lere, Line 2072 Prestys and clerkys to serue God continwally, Line 2073 And thei stedffast in the feyth, he commyttyd them to God so dere; Line 2074 And to the forest, qwere he wunnyd, he gan hym hye, Line 2075 Days off hys lyfe expendyng in prayere solytary, Line 2076 Euer preyng for prosperyte off the pepyl in the cyte, Line 2077 Tyl hys soule vp fley to eternal felycyte. Line 2078

(301)

And syr Amoryus euer encresyd in goode fame, Line 2079 Also in manhod, in joy, honour, and tranqwyllyte Line 2080 With Cleopes hys lady; for euer ther gret loue was the same Line 2081 As in the begynnyng; for euer ther owdyrys felycyte Line 2082 Was iche in odyrys presens fore to be; Line 2083 And many beuteus chyldyr thei had, that rychely Line 2085 Were beset hauyng lordechyp off the regyon successyuely. Line 2086

(302)

[leaf 54 b.] And afftyr longe felycyte, Amoryus and Cloepes on .j. one day Line 2087 Yeldyd ther spyrytys to God; and togydyr in a graue Line 2088 Ther chylder them byryd in a tumbe off marbyl gray, Line 2089 Platyd with ymagys off gold; and superscrypcionys thei haue Line 2090 In-to this day, as he that red them sqwore so God hys soule saue, Line 2091 In the tempyl was, and red the scrypture that wrytyn ys Line 2092 In langage off Percys;—and in Englysch yt ys this: Line 2092

(303)

"Flowre off knyghthod, to the world a memoryal Line 2093 Off trosty loue, syr Amoryus resstyth here, Line 2094 Deffendsor off the cuntre, keper off pes contynwalle; Line 2095 And be hys syde Cleopes hys lady dere, Line 2096 Byrryid ys, exsampyl to alle women, fer and nere, Line 2097 Off trwe loue, stedffastenes, and curtesy: Line 2098 Vp-on hos soulys almyghty God haue mercy." Line 2099

(304)

Thys ys ther epytaffy wrytyn at ther fete Line 2100 In a plate off laton; and yche notabyl dede Line 2101 Off hys bateylys, and howe he with Cleopes dyd mete; Line 2102 Grauyn be ther eke, that thei can may them esyly rede, Line 2103 For a gret remembrauns; and thus this story I owte lede, Line 2104 Meruelyng gretly that noght nowe, as in eld tyme, Line 2105 Men do noght wryte knyghtys dedys; nowdyr in prose ner ryme. Line 2106

(305)

But qwedyr encresyng off uexacion yt causyth onlye Line 2107 Or defaute off cunnyng, with odyr causys moo, Line 2108 I can noght deme; but I trowe, yff men ther wyttys lyst to applye, Line 2109 They myght in Englond, and odyr cuntreys mo also, Line 2110 As notabyl storyis off manhod and chyualrye, Line 2111 Off knyghtys now lyuyng, as off them be-ffore a .cij. yere;— Line 2112 And rather thei schuld fayle endytyng than matere. Line 2113

(306)

[leaf 55 a.] And in Englond many notabyl knyghtys ther be Line 2114 In sundry placys; but off one I make remembrauns, Line 2115 The qwyche lyuyd in my days in gret prosperyte Line 2116 In este Ynglond; the qwyche for prudent port off gouernans Line 2117 And knyghtely behauyng in marcyis chauns Line 2118 Wurthy ys in the world to be preysyd, with-owten ende, Line 2119 Off wryter and endyter, for oblyuyon off mend. Line 2120

(307)

But trwth yt ys, that a gret rootyd tre Line 2121 Durabyl frute beryth: off this knyght I mene, nobyl off lynnage, Line 2122 The qwyche decendyth off a gretyd aunsetre Line 2123 Off nobyl werryourrys, that successyuely, be veray maryage, Line 2124 The to .ij. and fyffty .l. knyght ys computate to hys age, Line 2125 Home God hath induyd with alle maner off suffycyauns; Line 2126 So dyscrete ther-with, that abyl he ys an hole reme to haue in gouernauns; Line 2127

(308)

Wysdam euer settyng in yche werk be-ffore, Line 2128 As Salomon in sapyens makyth remembrauns; Line 2129 Prudens hys frend and systyr he namyd euermore, Line 2130 With hos counsel he so demenyd hys gouernauns, Line 2131 That iche wyse creature hym louyd with hertely affyauns; Line 2132 Euer as a wurthy werryur in euery necessyte, Line 2133 Hym qwyt for hys kynge, bothe on lond and see; Line 2134

(309)

As at Waxham, ["Waxham." In a letter, written probably soon after 1440, Margaret Paston writes to John Paston: 'Ryth reverent and worsepful husbon, I recomawnde me to ȝow with alle myn sympul herte, and prey you to wete that there come up xi hundyr Flemyns at Waxham, qwereof wer takyn and kylte and dronchen viij hundryte. And thei had nowte a be, ȝe xul a be atte home this Qwesontyde, and I suppose that ȝe xul be atte home er owte long be'.—Gairdner, Paston Letters, i. 423. ] qwere Gyldenerrys londyd to brenne the cuntre, Line 2135 Thys excellent knyght bare hym as a champyon. Line 2136 And the hole matere, that lyste to rede and see, Line 2137 Rede the story that I endyght off kyng Cassyon, ["Cassyon." Not found; see following note on "Corbellyon." ] Line 2138 And in the ende ye may yt fynde, affter the destruccion Line 2139 Off Corbellyon, ["Corbellyon." It may be that the lost work by Metham bearing this name dealt with the capture of Corbeil (Lat. Corbolium), a city in the Isle de France, captured by King Louis the Fat from the arch-rebel Hugo of Puiset. See Zedler, Universal-Lexicon, under 'Corbeil'; also Mézeray, Hist. de France. It is also possible that Metham's work dealt with the actual campaigns of Sir Miles Stapleton in the Isle de France. Corbeil is mentioned in Letters and Papers referring to Wars of England and France, Rolls Series, ii. 251. Corbeil was also besieged by the Duc de Burgogne in 1418.] qwere I alle hys notabyl dedys bryng to remenbrauns, Line 2140 Done wurthyly off hym in Englond and Frauns. Line 2141

(310)

[leaf 55 b.] And ye that this story can noght fynde, Line 2142 Seke them in the begynnyng off Alexander Macedo, Line 2143 Or in Josue, or Josepus; for in thise storyis I brynge to mende Line 2144 The knyght, Mylys Stapylton, and hys lady bothe to .ij., Line 2145 Now here I spare yow that yt be so. Line 2146 I haue off hys dedys many to wryte; Line 2147 I purpose in odyr placys in specyall them endyghte. Line 2148

(311)

But this knyght despousyd had a lady, Line 2149 Hauyng decens be ryght lynage Line 2150 Off that wurthy and excellent stok lyneally, Line 2151 That Poolys men clepe, to duke Wylyam as be cosynnage Line 2152 Ryght nece,—that off Suffolk fyrst successyuely Line 2153 Was bothe fyrst merkeys and duke; and be this remenbrauns Line 2154 Ye may noght fayl, qwat kyng had than Englond in gouernauns. Line 2155

(312)

And fore that thei, the qwyche be nowe onborne, Line 2156 Qwan this lady ys pasyd, schal rede this story, Line 2157 That thei for her schal pray on euyn and morne, Line 2158 I alle the storyis that I endyght I wryte this memory, Line 2159 That be her lyue thus sche was namyd communly, Line 2160 Modyr off norture, in her behauyng vysyng alle gentylnes, Line 2161 Euer redy to help them that were in troubyl and heuynes; Line 2162

(313)

So beuteus eke and so benyngn, that yche creature Line 2163 Here gretly magnyfyid, commendyng her womanhede Line 2164 In alle her behauyngys, ireprehensybyl and demure, Line 2165 And most to commende; that off thoughte sche toke gret heede Line 2166 To the necessyteys off the pore, releuyng them at euery nede. Line 2167 Off her beute and uertuys here I sese; for yt ys so, Line 2168 I hem declare in Crysaunt, and odyr placys mo. Line 2169

(314)

[leaf 56 a.] And yff I the trwthe schuld here wryght, Line 2170 As gret a style I schuld make in euery degre, Line 2171 As Chauncerys off qwene Eleyne, or Cresseyd, doht endyght; Line 2172 Or off Polyxchene, Grysyld, or Penelope; ["As Chauncerys of Qwene Eleyne, or Cresseyd, doht endyght; Or off Polyxchene, Grysyld, or Penelope." This list is evidently taken from Chaucer's ballade (see Skeat, Chaucer's Works, iii. xxv ff.), and not from the Prolog to the Man of Lawe's Tale, or from a knowledge of Chaucer's works. This is evident because Metham attributes to Chaucer works on Helen and Polyxena. Penelope is mentioned in the ballade (L. 252) and in the Man of Lawe's prolog (B. 75), and in various other places in Chaucer's works. Polyxena is mentioned in the list in the ballade (L. 258), in the Boke of the Duchess (1070), and in Troilus and Creseyde, but not in the Man of Lawe's prolog. Helen is mentioned in the ballade and in many other places, but also not in the Man of Lawe's prolog. ] Line 2173 As beuteus, [Dr. Furnivall: l. 2174, beuteus; l. 2180, ffeythfully; l. 2191, be … naturelly; l. 2195, Imagynacionys off ym[a]gys; p. 81, l. 2202, emmocion; l. 2209, schuld[ë]; l. 2211, yt [ys] best so. ] as womanly, as pacyent, as thei were wunt to be, Line 2174 Thys lady was, qwan I endytyd this story, Line 2175 Floryschyng the seuyn and twenty .xxvij. yere off the sext kyng Henry. Line 2176

(315)

Go now, lytyl boke, and with alle obeychauns, Line 2177 Enterly me comende to my lord and mastyr eke, Line 2178 And to hys ryght reuerend lady, with alle plesauns, Line 2179 Enfformyng them how feythffully I hem beseke Line 2180 Off supportacion of the rude endytyng owte of Greke; Line 2181 For alle this wrytyng ys sayd vndyr correcion, Line 2182 Bothe off thi rymyng and eke off thi translacion. Line 2183

(316)

For thei that greyheryd be, afftyr folkys estymacion, Line 2184 Nedys must more cunne, be kendly nature, Line 2185 In yche syens, qwere-in thei haue ther operacion, Line 2186 Sythyn that crafft comyth be contynwauns in-to euery Line 2187 Than he that late begynnyth, as be demonstracion, Line 2188 My mastyr Chauncerys, I mene, that longe dyd endure Line 2189 In practyk off rymyng;—qwerffore proffoundely Line 2190 With many prouerbys hys bokys he rymyd naturally. Line 2191

(317)

Eke Ion Lydgate, sumtyme monke off Byry, Line 2192 Hys bokys endytyd with termys off retoryk ["termys of retoryk." Compare the following lines from Lydgate's Troy Book, ii:

'Þe gold dewe-dropes of rethorik so fyneOur rude language only tenlwmyne.'

] Line 2193 And halff chongyd Latyne, with conseytys off poetry Line 2194 And craffty imagynacionys off thingys fantastyk; Line 2195 But eke hys qwyght her schewyd, and hys late werk, Line 2196 How that hys contynwauns made hym both a poyet and a clerk. Line 2197

(318)

[leaf 56 b.] But nowe thei bothe be pasyd,—and affter schal I,Line 2198 Qwer-ffor I make this schort orysun:Line 2199 O welle off mercy, Iesu! that I be freelnes and folyLine 2200 Haue the offendyd in dede or in ony jmagynacion,Line 2201 Fully off foryeffnes I the beseche, with my hertys hole entencion,Line 2202 Purposyng to amende alle that I haue done amys;Line 2203 To me, Iesu, now thi mercy, ful necessary ys.Line 2204

(319)

And thei that my sympyl wrytyng schal rede,Line 2205 Off storyis off elde tyme, yff thei lyste, off ther godenes,Line 2206 Qwere thei Ion Metham in bokes fynde, pray for hym to spedeLine 2207 In vertuys; for he off rymyng toke the besynesLine 2208 To comfforte them that schuld falle in heuynes.Line 2209 For tyme on-ocupyid, qwan folk haue lytyl to do,Line 2210 On haly-dayis to rede, me thynk yt best so.Line 2211

[Two cancelled strophes.]

Here endyth the story off Amoryus the knyght and off Cleopes the lady.