The works of our ancient, learned, & excellent English poet, Jeffrey Chaucer as they have lately been compar'd with the best manuscripts, and several things added, never before in print : to which is adjoyn'd The story of the siege of Thebes, by John Lidgate ... : together with The life of Chaucer, shewing his countrey, parentage, education, marriage, children, revenues, service, reward, friends, books, death : also a table, wherein the old and obscure words in Chaucer are explained, and such words ... that either are, by nature or derivation, Arabick, Greek, Latine, Italian, French, Dutch, or Saxon, mark'd with particular notes for the better understanding of their original.

The Prophecy of Amphiorax the Bishop.

And wist well, as his gods told, That if Greekes forth her journey hold, It tourne shall platly, this is no fage, To great mischeefe and great damage Of hem echone, and in especiall, The most blood, right of the blood royall Through all Greece, it may not be withdraw In this voyage shortly shall be slaw, And of him, why the Greekes wente, Who that euer wept him or bemente, This is the fine, and may not be succoured, Of the earth he should be deuoured Quicke as he was, he knew it in certaine, And for he saw there nas none other gaine To saue his life, nor no bette defence, Than vtterly to withdraw his presence, Praying his wife for him to prouide, If he were sought, that she should him hide, And womanly for to keepe him close, And of trouth conceiling his purpose, For all his trust, touching his greuaunce, Was full set in her purueyaunce, I hope to God, that he there not drede Of no deceit, in her womanhede, She was so true, as women been echone, And also close and muet as a stone, That she ne would, as the mill stood, Discuren him for no worlds good. But finally, the Greekes of entent, In all his drede haue for this Bishop sent,