The tragedies, gathered by Ihon Bochas, of all such princes as fell from theyr estates throughe the mutability of fortune since the creacion of Adam, vntil his time wherin may be seen what vices bring menne to destruccion, wyth notable warninges howe the like may be auoyded. Translated into Englysh by Iohn Lidgate, monke of Burye.

The Prologue of John Lydgate monke of Burye, translatoure of this worke.

HE that sumtime did his diligēce, The boke of Bochas, in Frēch to trā∣slate Out of latin, he called was Laurēce: The tyme remembred truely and the date Is whē kyng John through his mortal fate Was prisoner brought vnto this region, Than he began first on this translation.

In his Prologue affirmyng of reason, That artifirers hauyng exercise, May chaunge and turne by good discresion Shapes and formes, & newly them deuise: Make and vnmake in many a sundry wise, As Potters whiche to that craft entende Breake and renue their vessels to amende.

Thus men of craft may of due right That ben inuentife and haue experience, Fantasien in their inwarde syght Deuices newe through their excellence. Expert masters haue therto licence Fro good to better, for to chaunge a thinge: And semblably these clarkes in writyng.

Thing that was made of auctors thē beforn They may of newe finde and fantasy: Out of olde chaffe trye out full fayre corne, Make it more freshe and iusty to the eye. Their subtile witte their labour apply, With their colours agreable of hue, To make olde thinges for to seme newe.

Afore prouided that no presumption In their chaunging haue none aucthoritie, And that mekenes haue domination Ouer false Enuy, that she not present be: But that their grounde w^t perfite charitie Conueyed be to their aduauntage, Truely roted amidde their courage.

Thus Laurence from him enuy excluded, Thoughe to forne him translated was this boke Within him self▪ be fully hath cōcluded Vpon that labour when he cast his loke, He woulde amend it: but first he forsoke Presumption, and toke him to mekenes, In his prologue as he dothe expresse.

In whiche processe lyke as I am learned, He in his tyme, of cunnyng did excel: In their language he was requyred Of estates whiche gan him compell, (Among them holde of rethorike the well) To vnderfong this labour: they him prey And their request lowly he did obey.

Full well he felt the labour was notable, The fall of nobles with euery circumstance From their lordships dreadful and vnstable Howe they fyll, to put in remembraunce: Therin to shewe Fortunes variaunce, That other might as in a myrrour se, In worldly worship may no surety be.

By example, as there is no Rose Sprigyng in gardē but there be sum thorne Nether fayrer blossom thē nature list dispose Thē mai their beuty as mē hath sene toforn With bitter winds be frō the braūches born Ne none so high in his estate contune Fle frō the wayting & daunger of Fortune.

Wherfore Bochas for a memoriall, Consideryng the great dignities Of worldly princes and their power royall, Great emperours, estates, and degrees, How Fortune hath cast them frō their sees, Namely such as coulde them self not know, Full sodainly to make them lye full lowe.

This the sayd aucthour wise & ryght sadde, Hath gadered out wyth Rethorykes swete, In diuers bokes, whiche that he hath radde Of philosophers and an olde Poete, And busied him bothe in colde and heate Out to compile and write as he fonde The fall of nobles in many diuers londe.

Vpon whose boke in his translation, The saied Laurence rehearceth in certaine: And holdeth this in his opinion, Suche language as open is and playne Is more accepted (as it is often sene) Thē straunge termes which be not vnder∣stād Namely to folkes, y^• dwel vpō the lād.

He sayeth also that his entencion Is to amende, correct, and declare, Not to condemne of no presumption, But to report playnely, and not to spare Thinges touched shortly, of the story bare, Vnder a style briefe and compendious,

Them to prolonge when they ben vertuous.

For a story whiche is not playnely tolde, But construed vnder wordes fewe, For lacke of truth where they be new or old Men by report can not the matter shew. These okes great be not downe yhewe Fyrste at a stroke, but by long processe: Ne long storyes a worde may not expresse.

For whiche playnly thys noble translatour Cast of purpose these storyes for to wryte, And for to do his diligent laboure As they fyll in order to endite, That men after myght them selfe delyte The aduentures so as they fyll in dede, Of sundry prynces to beholde and reade.

And haue a maner contemplacion That things al where fortune may attaine, Be transitorye of condicion: For she of kynde is hasty and sodayne, Contrarious her course for to restrayne, Of wilfulnesse she is variable, Whē men most trust, thē is she most chaūge∣able.

And for her chaunge, and for her doublenes This Bochas biddeth y^• men should enclyne To set their hartes voyde of vnstablenes, Vpon thynges whyche that ben diuyne, Where as ioye perpetually dothe shyne Wythout eclipsyng, in that heauenly see Voyde of all cloudes of mutabilitye.

Among these Bochas writeth of swetenes, And of matters that lusty ben and glade, And sometyme he wryteth of wretchednes, And how fortune can floure and after fade: Ioye vnder cloude, prosperitie in the shade, Enterchangyng of euery maner thyng Which y^• men fele here, in this world ••••uyng.

And in hys processe who so lyst beholde, Of all estates of hygh and lowe degre, And of prynces bothe yong and olde Fro the beginning which in this world haue be Lykyng in ioye or in aduersitye, Fro the fyrst descended he adowne Of theyr fortune by playne description.

Of the most noble he ne spareth none, But setteth them in order cereously: Begynneth at Idā, & endeth at kyng John, Theyr auentures rehearsyng by and by. Of this kyng John concludyng finally, How y^• he was for all his great puissaunce, Of price Edward take prysoner in Fraūce

Thys sayd Bochas aucthour of thys boke, Whiche of stories had great intelligence, Some he left and some also he toke: Suche as he left was of no negligence, Supposyng and demyng of credence, All the storyes whythe that commune be Other knowe them also as well as he.

And lest that folke would haue had disdain Thynges cōmune for to put in memory, Therfore Bochas thought it were but vain: And to his name more encrease of glory To remember no cronicle ne historye, But tho that were for their merite notable, Aucthorised famous and commendable.

In his labour hauyng a delite That the matter greatly myght auayle, Do pleasaunce to the commen profite Of noble storyes to make a rehearsail, Shewig a myrror how al y^e world shal fail And how Fortune for all their hye renowne Hath vpon Prynces iurisdiction.

The whiche thyng in full sober wyse He considered in his inwarde intent: In his reason began to aduertyse, Seyng of Prynces the blynde entent, With worldly worshyp how y^• they be blent As they shoulde euer their estates kepe, And as Fortune were ylayed to slepe.

And as they had of Fortune the maistry, Her enchaunted wyth their pocions By some newe craft of sorcery, Or by power of incantacions: To make stable their dominations Wyth yron chaynes, for to last longe, Locked to rockes wyth adamantes strong.

Supposyng in their surquedy, Their estates should be durable. But Fortune can frowardly deny, And plainly preue that they be changeable, And fro prynces when they be most stable Fortune full fast for all their great estate, Vnwarely chaūgeth & saith to thē che〈…〉〈…〉

For lordes some in their magnificence, Of royal power, set of God tyght nought:

They not conceyue his long pacience, Neither peyse his power in their thought: But in their hartes if it were well sought How he is meke, and pacient to abide, They would of reason their pompe lay aside

But for their tariyng and their negligence, That they to him will not returne agayne, Yet of his mercy and his beneuolence Without vengeaunce, rigour, or disdayne As a meke father, in all his workes playne Assayeth his yarde of castigation, So for to bryng them to correction.

Some he can full fatherly chastice Where he loueth, by punishynge of sickenes: And of his mercy in many anotherwise, By aduersitie of worldely distres. And he not asketh for his kindenes Of high ne lowe, who so can aduert, None other treasure but a mans hart.

And as mine aucthour list to comprehende, This John Bochas by great aucthoritie, It is almesse to correct and amende The vycious folke of euery comminaltie: And by examples whiche that notable be Of Prynces olde that sumtime did fall, The lower people from their erroure call.

By small whelpes as sume clarkes write, Chastised is the mighty fierce Lyon: And whan y^• swerd of vengeaunce doth bite Vpon prynces for their transgression, The common people in their opinion For very dread, tremble, adowne, & quake, And by suche meanes their vyces forsake.

And suche also as haue ben defouled In their vyces by longe continuaunce, Or in their synnes lye ymouled, By good exāples may cum good repentaūce Who so repenteth the lord will him auaūce, And him accept in lowe and high estate, The meke preserue, & punyshe the obstinate.

This sayd matter touchyng such thinges, Mine aucthor Bochas herafter shal declare By exāple of prynces and of mighty kyngs, What was their fine, & not the truth spare. And though my style naked ••e, and bare In Rethorike, myne aucthour to ensue, Yet fro the truth shall I not re••••we.

But on the substaunce by good leiser abyde, After mine aucthor lyke as I may attaine: And for a part set eloquence aside, And in this boke bewepen and complayne The assault of Fortune, froward & sodayn: How she ou princes hath kyd her vēgeaūce, And of her malice, the deadly mortal chaūce

But O, alas, who shalbe my muse? Or vnto whom shall I for helpe call? Calliope my callyng wyll refuse, And on Pernaso her worthy susters all: They will their suger temper with no gall, For their swetenes and lusty freshe singyng Ful farre discordeth frō matter cōplayning.

My master Chaucer w^t his fresh cōmedies Is deade alas, chiefe Poete of Brytayne, That sumtime made ful piteous tragedies, The fall of Prynces he did also complayne, As he that was of makyng souerayne: Whō al this lande of ryght ought prefarre, Sith of our langage he was y^• lode starre.

Senec in Rome through his hye prudence, Wrote Tragedies of great moralitie: And Tullius chiefe well of eloquence, Made in his tyme many a fresh ditty: Fraunces Petra••eke of Florence that city•• Made a boke (as I can aduert) Of two Fortunes, wilfull and peruert.

And agaynst bothe wrote the remedies: In bokes twayne made a diuision, Among rehearsyng many freshe stories. The first boke is thus conueyed doun: A dialoge betwene gladnes and reason, The second by me well to witnes, Made betwene reason & worldly heauines.

The matter is wondets delectable, Though wo with ioye haue an entresse: And John Bochas wrot maters lamētable The fall of princes where he dothe expresse, How for their ioye they fyl in great distresse All these writers through their hye renown Great worshyp did vnto their nacion.

And semblably as I haue tolde toforne, My ma••••et Chaucer did his busines: And in his daies hath him so well borne, Out of out tonge to auoyde al rudenes: And to reforine it w^t colours of swetenes. Wherfore let vs geue him laude and glory, And put his name w^t Poetes in memory.

Of whose labour to make mencion, Where of right he shoulde commended be, In youthe he made a translation Of a boke whiche called is Trophe In Lumbard tonge, as men may read & se: And in our vulgare long or that he dyed, Gaue it to name of Troylus & Creseyde.

Whiche for to reade louers them delite, They haue therin so great deuocion: And this Poete also him selfe to quite, Of Boecius boke the consolation Made in his tyme an olde translation: And to his sonne that called was Lowys He made a treatise ful noble & of great prise.

Vpon that labour in full notable forme, Set them in order with their diuisions, Mens wittes to accomply she and conforme To vnderstande by full expert reasons, By domifiyng of sundry mancions: The rote out sought at the ascendent, To forne or he gaue any iudgement.

He wrote also full many a day agone, Dant in English, him selfe so doth expresse: The piteous story of Ceix and Alcion: And the death also of Blaunche the duches: And notably did his businesse By great auise his wittes to dispose, To translate the Romaynt of the Rose.

Thus in vertue he set all his entent, Idlenes and vyces for to fle: Of fowles also he wrote the parliament, Therin remembring of royall Eagles thre, Howe in their choyse they felt aduersitye, To fore nature profered the battayle, Eche for his partye if it woulde auayle.

He did also his diligence and payne In our vulgare to translate, and endite Or••gene vpon the Maudelayn: And of the Lyona boke he did write. Of Annelida and of false Arcite, He made a complaynt dolefull and piteous, And of the broche which that Vulcanus

At Thebes wrought, full diuers of nature. Ouide writeth: who so therof had a syght, For high desire he shoulde not endure But he it had, neuer be glad ne light: And if he had it once in his myght, Like as my master sayth & writeth in dede, It to conserue he shoulde euer liue in dred

This poet wrote at the request of the quene A legende of perfite holines, Of good women to fynde out nyntene, That did excell in bountie and fayrenesse: But for his labour and his businesse Was importable his wyttes to encomber, In all this world to finde so great a nūber

He made the boke of Caunterbury tales When the pylgryms rode on pilgrymage, Through out Kent by hylles and by vales, And the stories all tolde in their passage, Endityng them full well in our language: Some of knyghthode, & some of gentlenes, And some of loue, and some of perfitenes,

And some also of great mortalitie, Some of disport, cōcludyng great sentence: In prose he wrote the tale of Mellebe, And of his wife, that called was Prudence: And of Grisildes perfite pacience: And howe the monke of stories new & olde Pyteous tragedies by the way tolde.

This sayd Poete my master in his dayes, Made and compiled many a freshe dittie, Complaynts, ballades, roūdels, vyrelayes Full delectable to heare and to se: For whiche men should of ryght and equitie Syth he in englysh in making was the best Pray vnto god, to geue his soule good rest.

And these Poetes that I make of mencion, Were by olde tyme had in great deyntye: With kynges and princes in euery regyon Greatly preferred, after their degre. For lordes had pleasaunce for to se, To study among, and cast their lokes At good leasure vpon wyse bokes.

For in the tyme of Cesar Julius, When the triumphe he wan in Rome towne He enter woulde the schole of Tullius, And heare his lecture of great affection: And notwithstāding his cōquest & renowne Vnto bokes he gaue great attendaunce, And in stories had great ioye & pleasaunce.

Also in this lande I dare affyrme a thinge: There is a prynce full mighty of puissaunre, A kynges sonne, and vncle to the kynge Henry the syxt whiche nowe is in Fraunce,

And is lieutenaunt, & hath the gouernaunce Of our Brytayne, through whose discrecion He hath conserued vs in this region:

Duryng his time of full high prudence Peace and quiet han susteined ryght: That notwithstādyng his noble prouidēce, He is in dede proued a good knyght, Eyed as Argus with reason and forsight, Of high lecture: I dare of him tell, And truely deme that he dothe excell

In vnderstandyng, all other of his age. And hath ioye with clarkes to commune, And no man is more expert in langage, Stable in study, alway he dothe contune, Settyng aside all chaunces of fortune: And where he loueth (if I shall not tary) withouten cause, full lothe he is to vary.

Duke of Glocester men this prynce call. And not withstādyng his estate & dignitie, His courage neuer dothe appall To study in bokes of antiquitie: Therin he hath so great felicitie, Vertuously him selfe to occupye, Of vycious slouthe, he hath the maistry.

And with his prudence and his manhede Truthe to susteyne, he fauour setteth aside: And holy churche mainteynyng in dede, That in this lande no herityke dare abide. A very support, vpholde, and also gyde: Spareth none, but maketh him selfe stronge To punish all tho that do the church wrong.

Thus is he manly and also wise, Chosen of God to be his owne knyght, And of one thinge, he hath a singuler prise, That heritike dare none come in his sight: In Christes faith he stādeth so hole vpright Of holy churche defence and champion, To chastice all tho that do therto treason.

And to do pleasaunce to our Lorde Jesu, He studieth euer to haue intelligence. Readyng of bokes, bringeth in vertue, Vyces excludyng, w^t slouth and negligence, Maketh a Prince to haue experience To knowe him selfe in many soundry wise, Where he trespaceth his erroure to chastice.

And among bokes, playnely this is the case, This sayed prynce considered of reason The noble boke of this John Bochas Was accordyng in hys opinion Of great noblesse and reputation: And vnto princes greatly necessary To geue exāple how this worlde doth vary.

And for these causes as in his entent To shew the vntrust of all worldly thinge, He gaue to me in commaundement (As him semed it was ryght well sittyng) That I shoulde after my small cunnyng This boke translate, him to do pleasaunce: To shew the chaung of worldly variaunce.

And with support of his magnificence, Vnder the wynges of his correction, Though that I lacke of eloquence, I shall procede in this translation: Fro me auoydyng all presumption, Lowly submittyng euery houre and space, My rude language to my lordes grace.

And as I haue one thing well in minde, He bade I shoulde in especiall Folow myne aucthour, written as I fynde And for no fauoure be not partiall. Thus I meane, to speake in generall: And none estate singulerly depraue, But the sentence of mine aucthour saue.

All this conceiued. I gan my style dresse, Thought I would in my matter procede: And for the matter obreyed heauinesse, Of freshe colours I toke no maner hede. But my processe playnely for to lede: As me semed it was to me most mete, To set apart Rethorykes swete.

Ditties of mournyng and complaynyng Do not pertayne vnto Caliope, Neither to the muses that on Pernaso syng, Whiche be remēbred in numbers thrise thre: And vnto matters of aduersitie With their sugred aureat lycoure, They be not willyng to do fauoure.

But of disdayne me settyng farre a backe, To hinder me of that I woulde endite, Hauyng no colours but only whyte & blake To the tragedies whiche I shall write: And for I can my selfe no better aquyte, Vnder the support of all that shall it reade Vpon Bochas ryght thus I will procede.

Finis.

¶ Howe Adam and Eue for their Ino∣bedience were put out of Paradise, and liued in sorowe and wo, they and their ofspringe: And howe they standynge naked before Bo∣chas, desired hym to put their wofull fall fyrste in remem∣braunce.

[illustration]

¶ The fyrste Chapiter.

WHan John Bocas considered had & sought The woful fal of migh∣ty conquerours, A remembrance entred in his thought, Rekenyng the numbre, of our predecessours: And fyrste to mynde came the progenitours Of all man kynde, farre yrun in age, And toward hym holdyng their passage.

And as hym thought in his in warde syght, In theyr cōming full pitiously tremblynge, Quaking for age, and for lacke of myght, Their feblenesse by signes out shewing: And one of them first at his commyng, Our father Adam sodenly abrayde, And to myne auctour euen thus he saide:

Cosyn Bochas I wol well that thou lere That art so busy to serche ouer all, Ofinfortune the maner to enquere, Her sodayne chaunge turning as a ball Of ••••thly princes from their estate rial, It is most syttyng or we a sondre twyn, At vs twayne the processe to begyn.

Consider first the lorde in his auyse, Whan he vs made vnto his likenesse: He put vs both in to paradise,

There to haue lyued in parfite stablenesse: Till the Serpent dyd his businesse, Of false enuy, to make vs lese our grace, Perpetually to exyle vs fro that place.

And whā Jhon Bochas naked thē behelde, Without the hand, fourmed of nature, Of slime of the erth in Damascene the felde God made them aboue eche creature. And for they should perpetually endure, By discrecion for a prerogatife, He endued them wyth a soule of lyfe.

Parfite of age as men of .xxx. yere: Put them after in possession Of Paradise, a place most entere, And of delites a chosen mansion: Where Adam made an imposion To fysh and to foule, and to these beastes al, Of very reason what men should them call.

Out of a rybbe whyle that Adam dyd slepe, Eue was drawe ful fayre of her visage, Al sodenly, or that he toke kepe: After to hym ioyned in mariage For his disport, and his auantage, So as the lorde first wyues dyd ordeyne Eyther for helpe, or encrease of peyne.

God vnto them gaue the soueraintie Of Paradyse, and dominacion, A place fulfilled of all felicitye, The frutes be all in their subiection, Saue that of one was made excepcion: Whyche god forbad (the Byble can deuyse) That they should it touche in no wyse.

All delices in that heuenly place God gaue to them, and put in their kepyng, To vse them euery houre and space To theyr most ease, as was to them lyking: Blomes, blossomes theyr fayrnes ay keping And the frutes alwaye of one freshnesse, For witer stormes myght do thē no duresse.

The soyle enbrouded full of sa••er floures, There wedes wycke had none interesse: For god & kynde wyth freshnesse of colours And w^t their tapites & motles of gladnesse, Had made y^t place habūdant w^t at swetnes, And fresh Flora whych is of floures quene, Her lyuerey made of a perpetūal grene.

The trees raught almost to the heuen, Whyche cast about a ful pleasaunt shade, That storme, ne rayne, thūdre, wynde, ne le∣uine, No power had their leues for to fade: For euer they were ylyke freshe and glade: And whan they lyst they might se In middes of y^e garden of life y^• holesume tre

Whyche vertue had ayenst all malady, Folke to preserue in youth in their freshnes: Who eate thereof should neuer dye, But lyue euer in ioy and gladnes: And neyther fele trouble nor sickenesse, But in that place haue alwaye hertes ease, And suffisaunce of all y^• myght them please.

Euer endure and neuer fal in age: For whyche it was called the tre of lyfe. But whan Adam was fallen in dotage, And ayenst god began to holde stryfe, Throuh excitynge of her that was his wyfe, And wylfully yaue her to assent To breke the precepte & the cōmaundement

Of god the lord, through wylful negligence To approche the tre that bare the name The tre of connyng and also of science: For of the frute who that dyd attame He sothly should (the Byble sayth the same) Of good & euyll haue cōnyng in his thought, wher as toforne of euyl he knew right noght

Thus had they first of euyll, experience: Which as toforne they knew no wickednes. Presumpcion and inobedience Brought thē out of ioye into wretchednesse. For afore time (mine author bereth witnes) Helth & goodnes were called very lyfe, Euyl named sicknes, first rote of our strife.

In Paradyse myne auctour sayth certeyne, The tyuers were so Orient and so fyne, Lyke quicsiluer boylyng vp they pleyen: And in their ronnyng very chrystallyne: Whych from a wel heauenly and deuyne In their vpspryngyng & aueylyng downe, Of al pleasaunce gaue so swete a sowne

That it woulde rauysh a mans corage. Whose baumy colour endewed al the place: And w^t the freshnes & cours of hys passage, The holesome ayre hertes dyd embrace: There was such plēty of plesaūce & of grace, That euery spice, herbe, grayne, and rote, Were foāden growyng in that gardein sote,

And there was a delectable soun Of songe of brydes in their ermony: The aire was clene from all corrupcion, For therin ingendred was no malady. There was all mirth, there was al melody, Of ioy and blysse souerayne suffisaunce, With al that may to hertes do pleasaunce.

And of clerkes lyke as it is tolde, In their bokes as they determine, Thoe in his sphere the sunne manifolde, Was of more vertue & more clere dyd shyne Than it doth nowe in his mighty lyne. The mone whyter with her beames clere, And euery sterre bryghter dyd appere.

Euery thynge was there more vertuous Than they be nowe, who can behold and se, For in y^t place there was nothing noyous, But perfit gladnes knit vnto surete, Perpetuell peace ioy and prosperite: And in that blisse to make more strong, To their comfort god spake to them among

Of his goodnesse he bare them companye: Shewed vnto them hys gracious presence, Angels also their state to magnifye, Amonge, to serue them, dyd their dilygence, In diuers offices with humble reuerence: And nature wrought for the nones Of ryall purpill and ryche stones,

Tissues of gold and other ornamentes For to enuiron their bodily beaute: Shaping to them suche maner garnimētes As angels vse in their felicite. Naked they were fayrest on to se, For whyle they stode in state of innocence, They had of clothynge none experience.

And of their blysse to make mencion, And of their ioyes that were celestiall, There may be made no comparison Of no ioy which is temporal, Which should haue be lasting and immortal Euer to haue lyued in mirth and gladnesse, Saue ageyn reason of very wilfulnesse

They banished thē self out of that blisful life Whan Adam gaue credence to a snake, And wretchedly gan trust on his wife, Whiche gan the apple of the serpent take, And plesantly did a present make Vnto Adam, as she that fyrst began Deth to deuyse, and poyson vnto man.

But as their ioy was incomparable, Greatest their lordship of all erthly thinge, So their fall was to them importable. For he that was all other surmountyng, In Paradise reignynge as a kinge, Was it not a dedelye mortall payne, Fro thilke place to haue a fall sodayne▪

For thilke sorow surmounteth al sorowe Which next foloweth felicite: No wo more greuous at euen ne at morow, As is in dede sodeyne aduersite, Which commeth vnwarely after prosperite. Ne nothinge may more hertes disauaunce, Than of old ioy newe remembraunce.

Taketh ensample of Adam and of Eue, Maketh of them a myrroure in your mynd, Whether of reason it dyd thē greatly greue For to be put, alas, so ferre behynde? Out of that blysse they and all their kynde, Chaungyng the state of immortalite And became subget to deth and pouerte.

Their sodeyn change & vnware mischefe, And their vnhappy transmutacion It was to them full vncouth and vnlefe For to depart fro thilke manlion, That was so ful of delectacion: Fro such delites sodenly to go Into this worlde whych is so ful of wo.

There is delite, and here sorowe and care, There is ioy, and here is heuinesse, There is plenty, and here is euyll fare, There is helth, and here is great sickenes: Here troble ay mēged with vnsure gladnes, There is ay blysse and eternall glory, And here is mirth, but false and transitory.

Alas, howe they were blinded in their sight Through vaynglory and false ambicion. They went wronge they loked not a ryght: False couetyse was theyr confucion, Wherthrough they lost the dominacion Of Paradise, and was both poore & thrall, Their fredome lost and became mortal.

Vnto god they wold haue be semblable, Lyke vnto hym good and yuell to know: And in their trust for they were not stable, Frō their estate they were brought ful low.

And thus the sede was fyrst ysowe, The rote planted of disobeysaūce, Which brought out linage to sorowe & mis∣chaūce.

Thus came in fyrst through inobedience, As by a gate, pouertye and nede: And at their backe foloweth indigence, Sorowe, sicknes, malady, and drede, Exile, banyshynge, and seruitude in dede: Whych caused man longe to contune Vnder the lordshyp and daūger of fortune.

Thus came in also malady, and deth, To dispoyle mankynde of hys beautye: Long syckenesse, and pestilence that slethe By soden stroke, whych y^e no man may flye. For vnto Adam and hys posteritie Deth was annexed by successyon, For hys offence, and so conueyed doun

For man to man in euery maner age. For who so list know, sin brought in shame, Man to be feble and faynt in hys passage. And by processe to wexe halte and lame: Vnto Adam thys was an vncouth game, To be constrayned in sych apparayle In bareyne erth to seke hys vitayle.

In hungre and thurst here he had hys lyfe, Wyth swete and labour and tribulacions: Endured also many a mortal styfe Of hote and colde, ryght stronge passyons Of elementes sodayne mutacions, Wynde, hayle and rayne, fearful fallyng And vnware strokes of thūder & lyghtning.

Thei stode also in domage and in drede Of cruel beastes, Tygres, and lyons, And of wylde beres who so taketh hede, And in great feare of these fel dragons: The assaut of dragons and of Scorpions. For thilke beastes, that toforne were milde, After their sinnyng ful ragy were & wylde.

And where thei stode first in sikernes Of ioye and blisse, euer in one lastinge: Out of their rest thei fil in vnsurenesse, In sorowe, & sighing, & dolours cōplaining. And fro their iyen continually weping, The bitter teares day by day distil, In this desert, for wanting of their wil.

And wheder were thei sorowful or faine, Long tyme after their desolacion, Whan they foūd Abell their own son slayne By cruel Cayne to his confusion▪ The same Cayne as made is mencyon, After that time wilde was & vagabound, Til blind Lameth yafe hī his dethes woūd.

Adam nor Eue afore that ylke time Had neuer sene no feest funeral. It was of chaunge to them a new prime, For to behold a thyng disnatural: Brethern of one wombe by hatered eternal, The one of hate so far hym selfe deuide, Of false malice to be an homicyde.

And it was routh whan that they stode For to behold their son al deed, Layd on the grond, and bathed in his blod, And al the soile where he lay was rede: That whan Adam and Eue toke hede It was to them ful great aduersite, The newe slaughter to behold and se.

And euer among their sighes harde & sore, The bitter weping and sorowes to auaūce, Or they were ware their heeres woxe hore, And age began theyr beautie disauaunce. Their youth also by ful great displesaunce, Began to appal or they it could aspye, By cruel constreynt and force of malady.

And of youth fallen was their flour, By the processe of many hundred yeres: And by the duresse of great labour, They wexe vnlusty, & vgly of their cheres. Of age and deth these ben the daungers, To say checkmate in nature it is couth, Vnto beautie and grene lusty youth.

For whan the yeres fully passed be Of flouring age, lastynge a season, By processe (at eye men may se) Beaute declineth, his blossoms fal adoune, And littel and littel by succession Cōmeth croked elde, vnwarely in crepynge, With his potent ful porely manassing.

Thus to our father that called was Adam Of creatures fayrest of al feire, After great trauaile by processe in he came, And began vnwarely ascend vpō the steyre With his potent, and cast him to repeyre With Atropose which afore shal gone, For to attwin his liues threde anone.

And in Ebron was made his sepulture: Ther after was bilded a mighty great cyte, By whose story and recorde of nature I may conclude who list to se, That neuer man had liberte Sithen that Adam our lord gan disobey, Ayenst deth, but that he must obey.

In cōplaining mine autor Jhon Bochas Ful pitiously, in hys aduertence, Bewepeth, wayleth, and oft sayeth alas, In apple there was so great offence, That for a taste of inobedience Adam, alas, should haue so great a fal, So sodainely to die and be mortal.

Which example ought inough suffise, In al this world though there were no mo: To exemplify to folkes that ben wise, How this world is a throwfare ful of wo. Lyke false Fortune y^• turneth to and fro, To make folkes whā they most clerely shine In their estates, vnwarely to decline.

For though that thei their hedes lift a lofte, Highe as Phebus shineth in his sphere, Thinke them selfe (as it falleth oft) Their renown recheth aboue y^e starres clere And howe they surmount euery sphere, Their trust corrupt hath a sodayne fal, For to declare you they ben mortal.

O worldly folke aduert and yene entent, What vengeaūce and what punicion God shal take in his iugement For your trespas and your transgression, Which breke his preceptes ayen al reason: Ye haue forgotten how w^t his precious blod You for to saue he died vpon the Roode.

For if Adam for his disobeisaunce Was by the lorde as him list ordaine, Made first, & formed with euery circūstāce, Of creatures to be most soueraine, If that he was enbraced in the chaine Of seruitude, with children ouersene, what shal I than of other folkes sein••

That liue here in this deserte of sorowe▪ In this exise, of plesance desolate▪ And in this worlde both euin and morowe Of hertely ioye stonte disconsolate▪ All destitute and also infortunate, And forpossed with wo and worldly troble, Euer variable and ful of chaunges double.

Ye not entende but to false couetise, To fraude, berret, and extorcion: Agayne god in many dyuers wise, Againe your neighbour by false collusion, To do hym wronge and oppression: And worst of al, ye retche not by syn To slee your soule, worldly good to wyn.

And if it fal your power to be but smal To accomplyshe your auarice in dede, Your sinful wyl assenteth ouer al, Thing to desire of which ye maye not spede: And thus false lust doth your bridel lede, Trust in hauing so sore you doth assayle, Falsly afered the world should you fayle.

And if god benigne and debonayre With his yarde of castigacion Chastiseth you but easely and faire, Ye grudge against his correction: Nothing auerting in your discrecion, Howe god not bad vs (who can take hede) For to striue ne wrastel in dede.

Neither our strength, ne our might to appli Vpon the beast monstruous and sauage, which called is the Chimere of Licy, Specially whan he is in hys rage: which monstre had to his auantage Heed of a lion as bokes determine, Wombe of a gote, and taile serpentyne,

Which was outrayed of Bellyferon, As olde poetes make mencion: Neither god bad not that men should gon In to Colchos to conquere with Jason The Flees of gold, which in that region With firie bulles of mettal made of bras, And by a dragon ful straitly kept was.

God bad vs not our contreys for to lete, To vnderfonge things that ben impossible: The Mynotaur for to slee in Crete, Halfe man halfe bul if it be credible: Which was a monster hateful and odible. Sūtime brought forth in bokes ye may se By Mynos wife, called Pasyphae.

Whose storie techeth, if thou list to here, This vgly beast and monstruous Through Ariadne the kings doughter dere Was sumtime slayne by duke Theseus,

Within a caue made by Dedalus. God biddeth vs plainely for his sake, So great emprise for to vndertake.

He byddeth vs not to be so recheles In perilous dedes that bene marciall, Vs to ieoparde, as dyd Hercules, Which by the bidding in especiall Of Euristeus the mighty kyng royall: Lordes of Athēs to make their honor shine, Learned of armes the famous discipline.

Of these preceptes if we haue a sight, And remembred of his highe bounte, He vs cōmaundeth thinges that be lyght, For to accomplishe with all humilite: From our corage to auoyde all vanite, And from our hertes to exclude ydelnesse And this false chāge of al worldly gladnes.

For vnto a man that perfite is and stable (By good reasō mine auctor doth wel preue) There is nothing more faire ne agreable, Than finally his vicious lyfe to leue. On verye god rightfully to beleue: Him loue & worship aboue al erthly thyngs This passeth victory of Emperours & kin∣ges.

The Lord biddeth also who so can discerne, Of entere loue to do our labour In this life here, so our life shal gouerne, To father & mother that we do due honor, And in their nede to do them socour: And in all vertue our frendes to comfort, And to our power in grace them supporte.

For in this world is nothing more perfite Neither taccōplish thinge of more plesance, Than a man for to haue delyte In lytell good to haue suffisaunce: And to be content in his gouernance, Auoyde auarice, and thinke euer among To his neighbour that he do no wronge.

Not to couet his goodes in no wise: Him selfe gouerne like to his estate, Not to excede, but flye and also dispise All maner loue whych is disordinate: Him selfe preserue from contecke & debate. And specially to esche we it is good Slaughter, & murdre, & sheding of bloude.

Flye from his syn, and hate for to lye: O folde offences among haue repentaunce. And to esche we all scorne and malory: Ayenst vyces do almesse and penance. And to haue most souerainly pleasaunce To sewe the pathes of oure Lorde Jesu, True examplayre of grace and vertue.

Which for our sake, and our redempcion, And for our loue, was nayled on a tre: Suffered payne and cruell passion, And nothing asketh of high & lowe degre, Recompensed ayenwarde for to be, But that we set all holy our ententes For to fulfil his commaundementes.

And of his grace here in this mortal lyfe, As we precell of wysdome and reason, And of his gift haue a prerogatife Tofore all beastes by discrecion, Therefore let vs of hole intencion As we of reason, beastes ferre excede Let vs be before thē in word, exāple, & dede.

Grounde our selfe first vpon humilite, Our pompous eyen mekely to vnclose: Enclyne our hartes & so conceiue and se, All worldly welth shall fade as a rose: And of meke hert let vs our selfe dispose By this tragedy to haue knowledgynge Of our mischefe howe rote and beginninge

Was the vice of inobedience, Surquidy, and false disobeisaunce, As myne anctour hath shewed in sentence. Emprinteth it well in your remembraunce, Be ware the serpent wyth disceiuance, The flesh, the world, your enemies all thre, Through their traynes ye nat disceiued be.

Your best shilde to make resistence Ayenst their power, sothly is mekenes: Your haburion most mighty of defence The fendes power to venquish & oppresse, It is to remembre deuoutly with lownes Howe mekely Christe to pay our taunsum, Suffred on crosse deth and passion.

Therby men may that prudent ben & wyse, The ioyes clayme whych bene eternal: And entre ayen into Paradise Fro whens Adam by pryde had a fall. To whych place aboue celestiall, O Christ Jesu so brynge vs to that glory Whyche by thy deth haddest the victory.

Lenuoye.

SOdeine departinge out of this feli∣citie, Into miserie and mortal heuinesse, Vnware depriuynge out of prospe∣ritye, Chaunge of gladnes into wretchednes, Longe languishynge in wo and bitternes, Continuell sorow, dred, dole, & pestilence, Were fyrst brought in by inobedience.

Adam and Eue lost their libertye, Their fraunchise, and their blessednes: Put in exyle and captiuitye To lyue in wo, labour, and pensifnes, Through false desire and pompous wilfulnes To the serpent whan they gaue credence, The lord mistrustyng through inobedience.

But O alas, wher as they were free, Of ioy eternall stode in sekernes, They were to blynde alas it was pitie To leue their rest, and liue in wetines, All their ofsprynge to brynge in dystresse, Drawynge fro God hys due reuerence Through false consentynge to inobedience.

Wherefore ye prynces auysely doth se (As thys tragedye in maner bereth wytnesse) Where as wanteth in any comonalte Subiection, for lackynge of mekenes, And wyth poore, pryde hath an enteresse: There foloweth after through froward inso∣lence, Among the people false inobediēce.

And noble princes whych haue the souereinte To gouerne the people in ryght wysenesse, Lyke as ye cherishe them in peace & vnite, Or frowardly distroy them or oppresse: So ayenwarde their corages well dresse Lowly to obeye to your magnificence, Or disobey by inobedience.

Che .ii. Chapiter.

¶ Howe Nembroth bylt the tower of Baby∣lon to saue him fro Noyes stode, whyche for his pryde was put fro his mag∣nificence, and hys tower with so∣dayne leuyn smytten downe.

MYne auctour Bochas lightly oueryode The vengeaunces, & myscheues huge Which y^• God toke with Noyes flode Whan he sent an vniuersal deluge: Ayenst whych there was no refuge, Saue .viii. persons in that mortal wo Whiche in a shyp were saued, and no mo.

Wherefore myn auctour lightly ouergoth, Maketh of that age no special mencion, But passeth ouer from Adam to Nembroth, Consideryng howe in that deedly chaunce, The lorde for syn toke so greate vengeaunce, That by wryttynge of storyes, no victorye Of highe ne lowe was left to memorye.

For there was laft cronicle none ne boke, After, that made mencion Of none auctour, who so lyst to loke: For all was brought to destruction By a deluge, wythout any excepcion. For whych myne auctour trāsported his stile, And of that tyme lyst nothynge compyle.

He founde no mater wheron he myght found, Nor set his fote by none auctoritie, Neyther no truth his purpose on to grounde, Of olde wrytynge that he coude se: For whych him thought of necessitie The surplusage of all that tyme lete, And after Adam with Nembroth for to mete.

And certes lyke as Bochas in hys boke Remembreth first of Adam the story, So next in order he the story toke To speke of Nembroth, and his surquedye: Whych here first (as bokes specifye) After the flode his waues gan aswage, Was made a lorde, to gouerne in that age.

For whan the flode began to decrece, And God his vengeaunce gan to molifye, Withdrawe his hand, the water tho gan cese•• Vpon the mounteynes high of Ermonye, The shyp gan rest, the Byble can not lye. And in that age called the seconde, Lynage of man gan first to habounde.

To encrease ayen and to multiplye, And by dyscent in bokes ye maye se Specified the genelogye: Howe that one Chus cosyn to Noe, A man that tyme of greate auctorritie,

Vnto this Nembroth, the storye dothe assure The father was as by ingendrure.

This Nembroth was mighty, large, & long, Excelling other as of his stature, Surquedous, hardy, and right stronge, And in his time great labour might endure: And in his force to much he dyd assure, And yet was none on water ne on lande Which durst his power presume to withstand.

And his noblesse more to magnify, In worldly worship by reporte of his glorye, He was called chefe prince of venery, Desirous euer to haue the victorye Of beastes wilde: to be put in memory, And haue a price amonge these champions. Tigres to daunt, eke boores and Lions,

There was no beast in wodes so sauage, That durst ayenst him make resistence: His furious yre so mortall was on rage: The erth quoke for feare of his presence: Tyll at the last in his aduertence, As a prince deuoyed of all grace, Ayenst god he began to compace. He made a maner coniuracion This frowarde Gyaunt, and a conspiracy, Toke his counseyl by false collusion, His might, his power, for to multiply: And his estate for to glorifye, Thought he woulde of his entent not fayle, God, and heuen, proudly to assaile.

That namely God whiche gouerneth al, He thought he woulde proudely take on hād, Ayenst deluges if any come shall, Of prouidence, plainely them withstande: Him selfe to assure, & make a place on lande That should him kepe, and be to a defence Both ayenst god and waters violence.

And that they might accomplishe their intent, Lyke their desire they did their labour: Toke their counseil al by one assent, Chose Nembroth their duke & gouernoure Them to conuey, and do them socour: To be their gyde to forne, as they were ware, Towarde a countre called Sinear,

In compasse wise rounde about yclosed With a great stode, named Eufrates: Their strong foly whych they haue purposed, For to fulfil they were not rechelesse, This is to saye, they put them selfe in prese So high a toure for to edifye, whiche shoulde surmoūt aboue the sterry skie.

That they shoulde greued be nomore, With no deluge brought to distruction: Neither that no waters may thē greue sore, This was the fine of their intencion. And of that tower a mightie stronge dongion Ayenst God and flodes themselfe to assure, The hight and largenesse both of a measure.

Thus in Nembroth encrese began the name, And in the peoples reputacion Of golde, and richesse, he had so great a fame, They called him God in their opinion: Most eurous, most mighty of renowne. The worlde also hole vnder his obeisaunce. As God and lord he toke the gouernance.

Vnder whose might the people gan procede, He as a lord hauinge inspection, Percinge the bowelles of the earth in dede, To make mighty their foundacion: And of false glorye and vaine false ambicion, This proude Nembroth in his appetite, To se them worche hath ful great delite.

His ioy was and his inwarde gladnesse, To beholde so great a company Persen the erth by so great depenesse, To make the ground stronge by masonry, The worke vpwarde for to fortifye With many a stone, huge & large of weight, They haue it reysed vp into y^• ayre on height.

And finally, by mediacion Of this great werke, Nēbroth was famous, Takinge in hert great consolacion That by report he was so glorious: Of so great might, and port so pompous, That he was so myghty, ryche and stronge, To rease a towre so high, so large, and longe.

For to this daye touchynge the great myghte Of this towre whych Babell men it cal, Men fro ferre may haue thereof a sight, It surmounteth other toures all: Of whych werke, thus it is befal, Of serpentes and many a great dragon, It is nowe called chefe habitacion.

That no man dare as they it se

For wycked eyre, and for corrupcion, By a great space and in a great countre, Approche no nere y^e meruaylous dongion: So venemous was that mansion And so horible, that no man dare approche, Lyke to a mountayne builded on a roche.

And as men say that had thereto repaire, This tower attaineth vnto the sterres clere, And transcendeth the region of the eire, The stones and the siment were made of such mater And the ioyninge so stedfast & entier, Though fyre and water both dyd it assaile, Litle or nought their power shoulde auayle.

It was made so mighty to endure, So well assured by disposicion, That in this worlde no liuynge creature Sawe neuer none like in comparison, Whose reryng vp was chefe occasion, And the ryches of the masonrye Were through Nēbroth of pride & surquedy.

Demed proudely as in his auise, He transcended all other in noblesse: Thought him selfe most myghty and wyse, Felowe to God as in lykenes. But God that can all worldly pryde oppresse And make princes eclypsen in their glory, Suche as trust in thinges transitory,

The same lorde of his eternall myghte, Thys tower whyche Nembroth list to edifye, He made wyth thunder and leuyn lighte, Thereof to fall a full greate partie: The boystous wyndes and the ragy skye, And goddes power on that other syde, Began thus abate a percell of his pryde.

And in discent, and fallynge of the stones, Of the werkemen ful many a man was deed, And oppressed, their backe broken and bones, The masonry wyth their bloude was reed: Yet proude Nēbroth that of all this was hed, With al these signes his lorde list not knowe, For whiche his pomp was after broughte ful∣lowe

But in hys errour procedeth furth of newe, Thought he would get him selfe a name. Of melancoly can chaunge loke and hewe, And began also to attempte and atame For to encrease and magnify hys fame, A newe tower to edify ayen, Lyke as God had ben blynde & nothing seen.

He would haue raught vp to the sterres seuen By thassēt of them that can him first coūsail, Robbed god, and from him raught the heuen: But who presumeth the lorde aboue tassayle, It were no reason that he shoulde auayle. Prynces may well ayenst hym cry loude, But his power may clipse wyth no cloude.

For in the myddes of his great emprises This proude Nembroth makynge his masōs For to compas and cast their deuises, Geometries in their diuisions, But God that hath his aspections Seynge thententes of euery erthly man, As he that is most mighty, and best can

Ayenst their malice make resistence, Their worldly power, their dominacion, Of his vengeable and most magnificence, He can chastice, and ouer whelme downe The pride of princes in euery region: By ensample of Nembroth as ye shal here, Whose pompe raught aboue the sterres clere.

For whan his workemen stode at auantage, And most were busy to hys intencion, And before that time spake al on langage, All sodenly by transmutacion, There was of tounges made a diuision: That in their workynge as they can obrayde▪ No man wyst what that other sayde.

And it is lyke accordynge wyth reason, So as chaunge was made of their langages, So of their hertes was made diuision, Both of their wyll, and of their corrages: And in ascendynge of their workynge stages, Ther was such chan̄ge of broder vnto broder Like straungers none knew thentēt of other.

Myne auctour troweth that this aduersitie Was for their gilt caused by vègaunce, Or els God of tyght and equitie Disposed hath in his ordinaunce, To be amonge them so great a variaunce, That through y^e world they shuld thēselfe de∣uide And fro Nembroth disceuer, & not abide.

They gan anone among thēselfe disdeyne To accept this Nembroth for their kynge, And amonge forsoth there was not twayne, One of another that had clere knowynge, Ne of their speche knewe the plaine meanyng:

For whyche y^• coūtre of Senaar they forsoke, And eche of them a sondry countrey toke.

They departed and made no lenger space, Folowyng the fortune of their diuision: And begā to chese thē a newe dwellinge place In the parties of many a region. And thus Nembroth was priued & put doun, And of Babel the mighty famous toure, He was called no lenger possessour.

For ayenst the pryde of this Nembroth Froward fortune gan her cours to vary, And God also was in maner worth, Of surquedie that he was so contrary: And for the place was wilde and solitarye Of thys Senaar, and furious sauage. Nembroth gan to feble & fal in great age.

And yet some bokes of him specifye, He waxte froward of hys condicion, And was fyrst grounde of ydolatrie, And fynder vp of false religion: Causynge people to haue an opinion Goddes to worshyp in Panimes wyse, Founder of rightes, and of false sacrifyce.

Towarde Perce chese hys dwellynge place, The whych countre is in the Orient, That hys lordshyp shuld stretch a great space He bounded hym into the Occident: For Perce lande hath hys extent Toward the parties of the Reed see. And thys lande Perce who so lyst to se

As bokes olde remembre & put in mynde, How that Perce costeth inuiron Septemtrion, and the great Inde, And many another myghtye region: Where Nembroth had first dominacion. Whyche extendeth as bokes specifye, Out of Mede into Germanye.

But in lordeshippes as myne auctour sayeth, Without that vertue be their true guyde, In them there is suraūce none ne fayeth. Thynge that passeth may no whyle abyde. Wherefore Bochas in a spyte of pryde, And in rebukynge of al folkes proude, Makyng his cōplaynt cryeth to thē ful loude.

The .iii. Chapiter.

¶ An exclamaciō of Bochas ayenst al proude men, shewynge howe God maye them and their pryde abate whan hym best lyste, by manye dyuers meanes and wayes punyshe and chaslyce.

ME al proud, most ryal in your floures, Whych that most trust to reygne long, Dresseth vp youre roches and youre towres, And ayenst God make youre selfe stronge: And let your power proudly vnderfonge, Your selfe wyth pryde for to magnifye, Ayenst the heuin to holde the champartye:

Buyld vp your castles, reyse them vp tyghte, Of Adamantes wyth yron stronge ybounde, With square stones, large and huge of hyght, Reyse vp your walles most mighty & profoūd And shit your dūgeōs w^t mighty chenes roūd, Lette men of armes (who euer wake or slepe) Nyght and daye your watche so straitly kepe

As god ne man in your opinions Your fortresses myghte not assayle, Your Castels, ne your stronge dungeons, Stuffed wyth men & plenty of vytayle, Lyke to stande euer and neuer for to fayle: As god not might ayenst your false puissaūce. Whā euer hym lyst of right to do vengeaunce.

Set afore youre eyen that ben blynd The monstruous werke of greate Babilone: The pride of Nēbroth that was put behinde, Maugre his mighte, & his towre smyt doun: For al the craft of werkemen and mason Distroied was with a sodayne leuin, To auenge hys pryde sent a downe fro heuin.

For though your strengthes so assured be That none engyne may thereto attayne, Gunne ne Bumberdes by no subtilte, Shot of arowblast, ne touche of dundayne, Yet god that is lord and souerayne Which lyche desertes can both spyl & saue, May confounde it with an erth quaue.

Myne auctour asketh what castel or towre May be so strōge made in any wyse, But that by meane of some false traytoure, Or by some way that he can deuyse, It may be lost, or solde for couetise: And deliuered for al the stronge bondes,

Into the power of their enemies handes,

Or by some other sodayne aduenture. Castels & cities and many a riche towne, Haue be lost, they might not them assure For to resist ayenst false trayson: Sume haue be lost also by rebellion And all these meanes the truth to begyn, Is but punishynge whyche god sent for syn.

God hath a thousande handes to chastyse, A thousande dartes of punicion, A thousande bowes made in diuers wyse, I thousande arowblastes bent in hys dōgeō, Ordeyned echeon for castigacion: But where he findeth mekenes & repentaūce, Mercy is maistresse of his ordinaunce.

Ye that bene wyse considereth howe the rote Of vices al is pride, ye may well se: Pulleth him downe, and putteth vnderfote, And taketh your counceyl of humilitie: And if ye list to stande in surete, Byldeth in hert for more sekernesse A towre of vertues, grounded on mekenesse.

Whose masonry is of no costage, Of vertues grounde and soueraine: Blastes of wyndes and of weders rage, Neyther no tempest hasty ne sodayne, Pompe ne blast, though they do their payne, This vertue mekenesse for to vndermyne, They be to feble to make her to enclyne.

For where mekenesse is grounded verily, Though he somtime fele aduersite, He passeth ouer, and suffreth paciently, And venquisheth all maner enmytie. The assaute also and the contrariosite Of infortune and of worldly trouble, And of victory conquereth a Palme double.

And tho mekenes amiddes the flodes flowe Of worldly mischefe and persecucion, Whyle pacience in her bote doth rowe Tho froward waues tosse her vp and downe, A calme shall folowe of consolacion: Whan sterne windes their blastes haue laid lowe The name of mekenesse shal shewe & be well knowe:

She may be troubled, but ouercome neuer: And for a tyme she may suffre werre, But at the ende she vanquisheth euer, On land and see whether she be nere or ferre, To the hau•••• of life she was the lode sterre, I take recorde of the humilite, Of Mary so blessed mote she be.

The rote of mekenes floureth vp so faire Whose beaute dredeth no tribulacions, In somer ne wynter her floures not apayre, And her frute lasteth in all maner seasons: Pryde may assayle with his bostful sownes, And finally for her encrease of glory, With humblenes she wynneth the victorye.

¶ Lenuoye.

Ofolkes al that this tragedies rede, Haueth to me kenes amonge youre ad∣uertence Of proude Nembroth also taketh hede, How that he fel from his magnificence, Onely for he by sturdy violence, List of malice the mighty lorde assayle. But in such case what myght his pride auayli

Noble princes which this worlde do possede, Ye that be famous of wysdome and science, And haue so many subiectes that you drede, In gouernaunce vnder your excellence: Let your power with mekenes so dispence, That false pride oppresse not the poreyle, Which to your nobles so muche may auayle.

Pride of Nembroth dyd the brydel lede, Which him conuayed with great insolence: Pride apertayneth nothynge to manhede, Saue in armes to shewe his presence: Wherfore honour, laude, and reuerence Be to mekenes, that hath the gouernaile Of al vertues, which man may most auayle.

The .iiii. Chapter.

How many yeres was betwixt Adam and Nembroth, and bitwixte Nembroth and Cadmus, & of other kinges.

THese olde poetes w^t their sawes swete, Ful couertly in their verses do fayne How old Saturne was sūtimne king of Crete, And of custome dyd hys busy payne, And of his goodnes list to ordayne That he shoulde as of his nature Echon deuoure, as by his ingendrue.

In this mater shortly to soiorne,

To vnderstande of poetes the processe, They meane plainly that this word Saturne Doth in it selfe nothinge but Time expresse: And Philosophers bere also wytnes, That as in tune forth euery thing is broght, So time ayenward bryngeth al to nought.

Clerkes also recorde in their wrytinge Vnder support as I dare reherse, How that fyre wasteth euery thynge: And yron herd doth neshe thynges perce. If ought abideth y^• they may not transuerce, Yet cōmeth time and by continuaunce, It al consumeth with his sharpe launce.

His sharpe toth of consumpcion In stil wise doth his busy cure For to aneantise in conclusion Al thynge that is brought forth by nature. By long abydyng ye may thē not assure: For olde thynges deuoured men may se, Ferre out of mynde, as they neuer had be.

Who can or maye remembre in any wise, The glorious prowesse of these princes olde▪ Or the noblesse of Philosophers wyse▪ Or of poetes their feyning to vnfolde▪ Processe of yeres, alas (as I you tolde) Deuoured hath their name & their noblesse, Derked their renoune by foryetfulnesse.

Thus of their names is left no memory, Tyme w^t his rasour hath done so greate ven∣geaunce, Shauen away the honor & glory Of many noble, ful mighty of puissaunce: That there is left nowe no remembraunce Of princes, poetes, ne Philosophers. For whan y^• deth nailed them in their cofers

Cam time vpon, and by processe of yeres, Their memory hath dusked & their minde: And reuolucion of the heuenly spheres, By oft turnyng, their glory hath left behind. Thus euery thinge whiche subget is to kind, Is in this life without more auauntage, wasted with time and processe of long age.

In the first time from Adam to Noe Prudent listers which list in bokes to rede, Founde of fortune no mutabilite: Neither of her chaūge they toke the no hede. But from Adam there rekened ben in dede Vnto Nembroth by turnynge of the heuen A thousand yeres .vii. hundred and eleuen.

In which space who that considereth wel, There ben no thinges writen in especial Digne of memory, ne spoken of neuer a del, which that ben notable ne historial: But fro the time Nembroth had a fal, Vnto Cadmus the yeres to conteine, They were a .M. iiii. hundred and fourtene.

Touchinge this Cadmus as Bochas list en∣dite, It is rehersed b•• Rethoriens Howe one Vexores in bokes as they write, was made first a kinge of the Egipciens, whan Philosophers and nigromanciens Began first taboūde their renoune tauaūce, Nachor y^• time hauyng y^• gouernaūce

Of the Ebrues, as made is mencion. After Nembroth by true rehersayle, Thre hundred yere by computacion, Foure score & .xii. which time it is no fayle That Vexores begā warres & great bataile Of volunt ayenst straunge nacions, And to conquere Cityes, borowes, & townes

By force only, without title of ryght: He wan al Egipt to encrease his name, But for al that who lyst to haue a sight, There is nowe left no reporte of his fame, Saue Bochas wryteth howe he first dyd at∣tame Hys mighty conquest of intencion, That the glory and the high renoune

Ascriued were vnto his worthynes: And the residue and surplusage Of golde & treasure of good and of richesse, Turne should to common auauntage Of al hys people, that euery maner age Report mighte it was to him more nerre Aboue singularite, his cōmon to prefer.

Also Tanais of Cithie fyrst kynge, Whan Sarneke was duke and souerayne Ouer the Iewes, by recorde of writynge Two hundred yere .xl. also and twaine After Nēbroth, this Tanais gan ordayne A mighty power & a stronge battaile, Them of Cithye proudly to assayle.

Conqueryng from thens vnto the yle Called Ponte, in a ful cruel wyse: And though his lordship lasted but a whyle All that he wan was for couetise. And as Bochas doth of thys folke deuise, Proces of yeres for al their great puissaunce,

Hath put their names out of remembraunce.

Zoroastes also for all his great myght Of Bactrians kyng and possessoure, Lorde of Trace, and a full myghty knyght, Of all his dedes and his great laboure, Of his conquest, ne of his great honoure, Is nothing left of writyng vs beforne, Saue y^t he lough the houre y^t he was borne.

He began full sone for to be mery With sodaine laughter at his natiuitie: And worthy Ninus, that was kyng of Assiry Expowned his laughter to great felicitie. The which Ninus wan many a fayre coūtry, And day by day his power gan encrease, For which he would not of his cōquest cease.

For this is the maner of these conquerours, Whan they haue had in armes victory, Do their might, their paine, & their labours With newe emprises to be put in memory: For their courage surprised w^t vayne glorye, Can not be styll content in their estate, Till their Parady say to them checkmate.

Fortune of armes (in bokes ye may read) With a false laughter on folkes dothe smyle: She frowarde euer ere they can take hede, Of nature will falsely them begyle: Conquest by warre lasteth but a while, For who by death dothe sturdy vyolence, God will by death his vengeaunce recōpence.

This worthy Ninus gan mightely preuayle, Ayenst zoroastes of whom I spake tofore: For he with hym fought last in battayle, In whiche Ninus hath him so well ybore That zoroastes hath the felde ylore. And he was aucthour as bokes specify Of false Magyke, and Nygromancy.

He fonde the nature of euery element, Their kindely workyng, & their mutacions: The course of starres, and of the firmamente, Their influences, their dispositions, Their aspectes and their coniunctions: Wrote in pillers deuised of metall, The seuen sciences called liberall.

Also in pillers of Brycke full harde ybake, There were vp set, longe, large and huge, He began also write them and vndertake, To make them sure as for their refuge: That they shoulde by floude, ne deluge Defaced ben as of their scripture, But in their grauyng perpetuall endure.

But though zoroastes these craftes out fond, Full little ornought it myght to him auayle: And though he were a good knight of his hōd, He was of Ninus slayne in batrayle, Lost his realme, and royal apparayl: And Ninus dyed within a litle throw, But in what wise, the story is not knowe.

Also Moydes kyng of Sodome, I fynde of him no memory by writyng, Saue in a story as men may reade and se, He and his people were freell in liuynge: But he that was of Assiriens kyng, Through false Fortune that can so oft vary To Babylon made them tributary.

We haue sene and redde also, The vengeaunce and the pestilence Done in Egypt to kyng Pharao: For that he made a maner resistence Ayenst God, of wilfull insolence. Therfore his people vpon a day and he, Were drent echone in middes of the see.

The people of God ledde by Moyses, Without trouble of any maner wawe, Went echone in quiet and in peas: And Pharao as he gan after drawe Them to pursue, by a full mortall lawe, In his pursuite forward was atteynt, Among the waues with his host and dreynt.

In Exodi ben these mencions, Ceriouslye put in remembraunce. The. xii, plages and persecutions In Egypt done, by full great vengeaunce, And of their treasour & their great substaūce They were dispoyled by Ebrues (it is tolde) Of their vessels, of siluer, and of golde.

Out of Egypt full great treasure they ladde, Such as thē thought might most thē auaile: And Pharao I fynde that he hadde Two hundred chares enarmed for battayle, Them to pursue and proudly to assayle: And fifty thousande in whom was no lacke Of men of armes, folowyng on horsebacke.

Two .C. thousande of fotemen him aboute, And of Egypt all his chyualrye:

And Pharao with all his great route, Began Israel pursue of enuye. But for his pryde and false surquedy, He and his people were drowned euerychone Of all his number was left not one.

His froward hart ayenst God indurate, Fulfilled of malyce and obstinacy, And in his purpose proude and obstinate: These foule vyces or he coulde them espye From his glory and his regally, He was doun (though he tofore was crouned) Amidde the sea among his people drowned.

Of Ogiges kyng of Thebes.

ANother Prynce called Ogygus, Kyng of Thebes as bokes determine: And foūder was, thus Bochas telleth vs Of a citye called Eleusyne. Which stout in Grece, whose power to decline There fyll a floude in that regyoun Whiche ouerflowed many a royall towne.

And in Cithia that did most dammage, Tyme of Iacob patriarke notable: And this deluge with his waues rage Slewe lordes many, & prynces honourable. For dame Fortune is so deceiuable, That she sumtime when she list disdayne, Can folke assayle with a floude sodaine.

This floude also where it did assayle, Wasted cornes bothe croppe and rote: Caused also scarcitie of vytayle, That many a man felt full vnsote. The pore not wyst where to finde bote, For their prynces supprised were with drede, Through lacke of vitayle in that great nede.

Of a great floude in Tessaly.

ANother floude there was in Tessaly, In the time when kyng Amphyon Helde the ceptre and the regaly Vpon Thebes, the mighty stronge towne, Beside the kyngdome of Babilon: The same time this floude fell doubtles, When Gods people was ledde by Moses.

With this floude the land had ben deuoured Of Tessaly, and of all that region, But on Pernaso the people were succored, And on the Roches that stode enuyron, Founde there refuge to their saluation And great succour, til the floudes rage Began to decrease, withdrawe and asswage.

In olde stories also ye may se, Whan Cecrops had first possession Of Athens, the myghty stronge citye, An heate there fell in that region, By influence that descendeth downe From the bodies aboue celestiall, Whiche likely was for to deuoure all.

And this heate engendred with the sonne, In diuers countreys both in length & breade Hath his course so mightely begone, That many folke fell in great dreade: Ryuers, welles, who so list take hede Consumed were and dryed vp echone, The heat called the enbracyng of Pheton.

The .v. Chapter.

☞ Of goodly Isis wife to Apys kyng of Argyue, slayne by his brother Dyffeus.

WE haue read in stories here toforne, How that Isis to Egypt toke her flyght Out of Crete, the true daughter borne, Of Promotheus, a full manly knyght: And Isis in euery mans syght So freshe, so goodly, wedded by her lyue, To worthy Apys that was king of Argyue.

The whiche Isis excellent of beauty, After tyme her father was ygraue, She was put for more suretye With her vncle that shoulde kepe and saue This sayd ma••de y^• no man should her haue: And her vncle (in Ouide ye may se) Like as he wrote▪ was called Epymethe.

And flourynge vp in her tender age This sayd Isis so pleasaunt was and mete, Of semelines, of loke, and vysage, That Iupiter the mighty kynge of Crete, Was enuyronned with her for to mete: And she excited of feminitie, Enclined her hart vnto his deitie.

And for she was of her entent so clene, Obeiyng hun in most lowly wise, Of Argiuois he made her to be quene Because that she was smit in couetise, Ayenst Argus a warre she gan deuise, And for he was vnweldy of his age, Her to w^t stand he found none aduauntage.

But yet Fortune gan vpon her frowne, And kyng Argus through his subtiltye, With his counsaile so prudently gan rowne, That she was take by full great crueltie: And her souldiours were also made to flye, And by Argus, there gayned no raunsome, She fettred was and put in strong pryson.

But her sonne God Mercurius, Right freshe, ryght lusty, & full of hardines, And of his earthly ioye so glorious, Ayenst Argus gan his power dresse: And so intirely did his busines, That Argus was slaine in conclusion, And after Isis deliuered fro pryson.

Of her sleyghtes afterwarde not feynt, She toke a shyp and to Egypt went: In which shyp there was a cowe depeynt. And Theores whom Iupiter also sent, Is gone with her bothe of one entent, To ioyne a mariage after anone ryght Betwene her & Apys, a prynce full of myght.

She was ryght wise aboue other creatures, Secrete of cunnyng, well expert in science. She taught first letters and fygures To Egyptians, by playne experience: Gaue them cunnyng and intelligence To tyll the lande, taught the labourers To sowe their graine, & multiply by peres.

And in Egypt her fame and her renowne Began day by day, wext her worthines, Holde of cunnyng and of reputation By signe shewed not onely in princesse. But she was holde among them a Goddesse: And with worshyps whiche were diuyne, And sacrifices to her they did enclyne.

But to declare playnly at a worde, In middes of all her great prosperitie, Mighty Apis her husband and her lorde, Prince of Egypt and lorde of that country, Sonne of Iupiter and of Niobe, Whiche Niobe by long discendyng The daughter was of Phoroneus y^• kyng.

And Phoroneus first the lawe founde To whiche all Crete stande vnder obeysaūce And the statutes of that myghty londe Were ystablished by his ordinaunce. But for to write the vnhappy chaunce Of kynge Apys that is remembred, He slayne was: and pyteously dismembred.

By his brother called Tyffeus, Sumwhat of hatred, but more for couetise: For Tyffeus was onely desitous To reioyce in full mortall wise, The mighty kingdom as ye haue herd deuise, Of Argiuois to haue possession, Preferred by murder and false succession.

And when that Isis foūde her lorde so deade, Of entent that he were magnified: First of wisdome she gan take hede, Ordeyned a meane that he were deified High among Goddes to be stellified: In Egypt temples made to be stalled, And God Serapis, after he was called.

The .vi. Chapter.

¶ Of Grysiton that his membres eate for honger.

WHat shall I write of case horrible Of Grisiton, w^t hōger so cōstrayned That his life was to him self odible In Thessaly w^t indigence payned, And pyteously his fame was disteyned When he solde his daughter in seruage, Liriope whiche was but yong of age.

By exchaunge of God to puruey thē vytayle, Of very nede, he was so wo begon: He had nothing y^• might his thirst auayle, Ne staūch his hōger, but gnawyng on a bone Wherfore he ate his membres one by one, A prynce, alas, was it not great pitie, To se him dye in suche aduersitie▪

We had also read full many a day tofore, The great banishment and persecution Of Argiuois: how kyng Gelanor•• Was cruelly put from his region, And his lieges of indignacion In his place they set one Danaus, Sonne and also heyre to the God Belus.

The people of malyce did him so encomber, To encrease his sorow and his aduersitie: And fyfty daughters he had also in number, And Edippus his brother also pardy Had fiftye sonnes (the stories ye may se) At wene the whiche in surety of ho••de In mariage there was made a bonde.

Vnder the which compassed was treason, Couertly, though they did it hide. But if ye list haue cleare inspection Of this story vpon euery side, Reade the legende of Cupide Which that Chaucer in order as they stode, Compyled of women that were called good.

Touchyng the story of kinge Pandion And of his goodly fayre daughters twayne, How Thereus false of condicion Them to deceiue did his busy payne: They bothe named of beauty souerayne, Goodly Progne, and yonge Philomene, Bothe innoc••utes of intent full cleane.

Their piteous fall in open to expresse, It were to me but a presumption, Syth that Chaucer did his busines In his legende as made is mencion, Their martyrdome and their passion For to rehearse them, did his busy payne Is chiefe Poete called of Brytayne.

Of good women a boke he did write, The number vncomplete fully of ninetene: And there the story plainely he did endite, Of Thereus, of Progne, and Philomene, Where ye may se their legende, thus I mene: Do them worshyp & forth their life shew For a clere myrror because there be but fewe.

I will passe ouer, and speake of thē no more, And vnto Cadmus forthe my style dresse: In my wrytynge, yet it greueth me sore. Touchynge women of fayeth or stablenes Blessed be God I fynde none excesse, And for there be so fewe as thinketh me. The good shoulde be had in more deyntie.

☞ Lenuoye.

THis tragedy beareth to you wytnesse, How Saturnus by disposition Maliciously of his frowardnes, Causeth of Iuno full great infection: She of nature conueyeth the nature doun: The ayre infect whiche no man may succour Cōmeth death anone, & al thing doth deuour

Time frō Adam mine auctour dothe expresse Downe to Nemrothe by computation, His stile conueyed by great auisenes, From zoroastes to kyng Pharaon: Of two deluges he maketh mencion. In Tessaly the vengeaunce gan laboure, And in Achaia Thebes to deuoure.

Ye haue of heates hearde the excesse: Of princes, pryncesses, full great destruction, Of Egistus the great wretchednes, The fury of Thereus the wo of Pandion, Of the two sisters the confusion, And how their fate gan vpon them loure, Their felicitie vnwarely to deuoure.

Prynces princesses your eyen do vp dresse, I meane the eyen of your discresion, Se of this worlde y^• chaunge the doublenes, The great vnsurenes, the variacion, And aduert for all your great renowne Fortuns dewes whā they most swetely shour Than is she falsest, your glory to deuoure.

The .vii. Chapter.

¶ How Iupiter rauished Europa, & how Cad mus was sent to seke her in diuers regions.

THe rehersal of many an olde poete, By discent the line conueyed downe: Next Saturnus the mighty kyng of Crete, Ioue was crowned by succession: As next his heyre by procreacion After his father the lande to enherite, Raygning in Crete, as poetes list to wryte.

One of the linage as I you tolde beforne Of the Gods, most souerayne and entere: And though he were of bloude so high yborne He chose Europe for to be his fere. And downe discended frō his heauenly spere, As he that was for all his deitie, Surprysed in hart with her great beauty.

And she was daughter to a mighty kyng, Called Agenor by line all discent, Whose mighty kigdom & ryal faire dwellyng Was in Phenice toward the orient, And to Araby his lande was adiacent: Farre by south as ye may read and se, Toward the parties of the redde sea.

But Iupiter whan he did aduert Of Europa the great semelinesse, He thought he was wounded to the hart, Vnto the death, beholdyng her fayrenes. And for his cōstraynt & his mortall distresse

Seyng she was so fayre in his syght, He rauished her of very force and might.

But Agenor her owne father dere, Began on this case, full piteously complayne, When she, alas, most goodly and entere, Was him biraft whiche doubled al his paine. Recure was none, though he did pleyne, Tyll he remembryng on his regaly, Thought he woulde sende to aspy

His sonne Cadmus her to recure ayene, For to searche her in many a region: Where so his labour wer fructuous or vaine, His father set him a fell condicion, Not to returne by none occasion, And therupon made him to be bounde, Tyll y^• he had the kinges daughter founde.

He toke his shyps by great auisenes, And began to sayle in many a straunge see: Did his labour and his busines: With many a worthy that were w^t him preue: But when that he of reason did se There was no meane for which that he was sent For to accōplishe the fine of his entent,

With glad hart deuoyde of grutchyng, Seyng the case frowarde and contrary, Humble of his cheare toke his exilinge: And of manhode list not him selfe dispayre, But with his meyne knightly gan repayre Towarde Grece, & piteously there to lande, Of Appollo for to vnderstande

To what party that he might drawe, He prayed God to wyshe him or rede, Some token shewe or some maner sawe, Into what Ile that he myght him spede: Or that he woulde graciously him leade Where as he myght builde a citye That were accordyng to him & to his meynie

And to Appollo he did sacrifice, And made to him his oblation: The God requiryng goodly to deuise, To what lande or to what region, For his dwellyng and habitacion He should drawe withouten more obstacle, For him and his to make his habitacle.

And Cadmus thus before Appollo stode, Knelyng among with full great reuerence: And in the temple of Delphos styll abode With hūble entendaunce & deuout diligence, Mekely besechyng by word or by sum sentēce That Appollo woulde to him vnclose To what party he should him selfe dispose.

This was his aunswere in conclusion, As the statue to him did expresse: To go and serche countreys enuyron, And tyll he found, do his businesse A bulle, that were excellent of fayrenes: Whiche by precept of Appollos lawe, Had neuer aforne in yoke ydrawe.

And where that euer sekyng that he fonde, A bull stande styll in his pasture, Appollo bade vpon that same lo••de Where as he seeth this syght of auenture, That he shoulde do his busy cure To builde a citye, he and his folkes all, And Boecia after the Bulle it call.

And whā that Cadmus y^• precept vnderstode And in searchyng did his busines, He founde a place where a bulle stode Feadyng hym selfe, whiche as by likenes Was a place full pleasaunt of largesse: Where as he stynt, he gan a citye rayse, Which the poetes greatly cōmend and praise.

And y^• his buildyng myght the more auayle, All the foreyns that did about him dwell, Full like a knyght, by force and by battayle Out of that countrey he did them expell: Raysynge a citie whiche that did excell. And as Ouide also recordeth the same, Vnto thys day of Thebes beareth the name.

And he was not onely glorified For rearyng vp of this great citye, But he was also magnified For his manhode, & his magnanimitie: And most commended if ye list to se, For the surmountyng & famous excellence, Whiche that he had in wysdome and science.

For as myne aucthour, of him list indite, Through his noble prudent puruey aunce, He taught fygures, & letters for to write: And made lawes of full great ordinaunce, Among the Grekes, and set a gouernaunce Thei•• vycious life by vertue to restrayne, And who outraied, was punished w^t the pain

And of entent to encrease hys lynage,

And his citye also for to multiply, He toke a wife that was but yong of age, And she was called as bokes specify, Hermyone: and touching her alye, Though that she were borne of royall bloud, She was also bothe ioly, fayre, and good.

And this was done as writeth mine auctour, After the death of worthy Iosue: Sothonyell beyng successour, Hauyng the leadyng and the soueraintie Of Israell, whan Thebes the citye Was founded first in the dayes olde, By kyng Cadmus, tofore as I you tolde.

Foure daughters he had by his lyue, Full fayre echone and goodly on to se: And their names to reherse blyue, Semele was the eldest, and next Acthonie The thirde in order was called Inoe And Agane was yongest of them all, Of the whiche daughters thus it is befall.

They were echone of port and of manere, Full well fauoured in euery mans syght, Right womanly, and heauenly of their chere, And for their beauty their father anone right As it was sittyng, wyth all his full myght Like their estates, birthe, and also their age, Made thē be wedded, and ioyned in mariage,

To worthy princes, his linage to auaunce. And they encreased by procreation, Wherof the kynge had full great pleasaunce: And great reioysyng in his opinion, To saue his lyne by generation, With his neuewes and cosyns of alye, Fro day to day, to waxe and multiply.

And this encreased his felicitie, Whan he considered verely in dede The riche buildynge of his royall citye, And Fortune did his brydle leade To great riches, in bokes as I reade, To great nobles, hauyng great residence, In his citye of moste magnificence.

His daughter Semele record of mine auctor, Though she discended were of the bloud ryal, To Iupiter she was paramoure: And by his power supercelestiall, She conceiued in especiall (As poetes of her list to endite) Him that is god of grapes redde and white. Called Bachus: whiche hath the gouernaūce Of wynes all and the regaly: Wherof after was take full great vengeaūce, For when Iuno did first espye Of Iupiter the great auoutrye, Of great hatred and enuyous desire, She made Semele to be brent w^t sodayn fire

By discendyng of a sodayne leuine: And on Semele the vengeaunce downe wēt, Fro Iuno ielous, cleped quene of heauen, To wreke her wrath purposely ysent. And fore the flame consumed was and spent There was of her left no remembraunce, But of the ende the wofull mortall chaunce.

Also Actheon the sonne of Acthonie, To great mischefes and infortunes borne Whose father called was Criste, Come of the kinred that I you tolde toforne With cruell houndes alas he was to torne: For that he sawe, as bokes of him tell Dyana naked, bath her in a well.

And as Poetes remember at the lest, Whan the ladyes of Thebes the citye, Helde of Bachus solemnely the feaste, The yonger sister called Agane, Daughter to Cadmus, alas it was pitie Ayenst her owne sonne deare, She was so wode and mortall of her cheare

Murderyng hym in full cruell wise In her rage: she was so furious For he lough at the sacrifyce In Thebes done by women to Bachus. The whiche sonne was called Pantheus, Whom that she slewe w^t a sharpe dart, In her wodenes, as she him founde apart.

These great mischeues fell in the lyue Of king Cadmus through his vnhappy chāce Fortune his noblesse gan vndermyne, And thought she would his glory disauaunce All worldly gladnes is medled w^t greuaunce. Experience in Cadmus ye may se, So importable was his aduersitie.

For while he sate most highest in his glory, No part clipsed of his prosperitie, His bryght renowne and his royall memory, In realmes spredde, & many a farre con̄trey, He moste wealfull in his high see, Set w^t his linage most high in noblesse,

Than came Fortune the false enchaunteresse.

Of wilfulnesse and founde occasion Ayenst Cadmus, and made his renowne dul: Of his kynred by false collusion, She gan away the bryghtest fethers pull. And whan his shining was waxt vp to y^• full After the chaunge of fortunes lawe, His glory gan discrece and withdrawe.

It was more greuous to his dignitie. A sodayne fall from his high noblesse, Than if that he had neuer be Set in the state of his great worthines: For the furious mortall heauines Of his kinred without any more, Would haue greued a pore man full sore.

And amonge his sorowes euerychone, To rehearse playnly as it was, I dare affirme how that there was one Most horrible & dreadfull in such a caas: For Cadmus sonne called Athamas, His sonne in lawe, through false melancoly, Fell sodaynely into a frenesy.

Of whom the wife was called Inoe, Cadmus daughter as ye haue heard expresse Which through the cōstraynt of his infirmitie In his rage and furious wodenes, Thought that his wyfe was a lyonesse, And in his wylde ymaginations That his two children were also two lyons.

And vpon them full loude he gan to crye, Towarde his wife in haste he came anone: And from her armes there was no remedy, The childe he rent, and on a craggy stone He gan to brast it and breake it euery bone. The whiche childe Bochas writeth thus Full tender and yong called was Learchus.

And all this wofull and sodaine aduenture, Of this rage whan that she toke hede, As most sorowfull of any creature Her other childe she hent anone for drede, For of succour she knewe no better spede, So as she might gan haste out of his sight. But welaway, as she toke her to flyght

Her husbande came after pursuyng Like a woode Lyon in his crueltie, Downe from a hill whiche was dependyng She and her childe fell into the see, Was it not ruthe, was it not pitye, A kings daughter, her lord i Thebes crouned He to be woode, and she for feare drowned▪

Lo here the fine of Cadmus euery deale: His children slayne, and his allies all, And he him selfe from fortunes whele Whan he wened leste, full sodaynly is fall. His little suger tempred with moche gall: For among all his mortall peynes, His liege men of Thebes citezynes

Made ayenst him conspiration, Put him in exile, and his wife also: His sons & daughters brought to destruction And to the encrease of his mortall wo, He and his wife compelled bothe two For very pouerte and very indigence In their last age to purchace their dispence.

Thus of Cadmus the sorowes to discriue, And his mischiefe to put in remembraunce: He banished was twise by his lyue, First by his fathers cruell ordinaunce Of his sister to make enquiraunce: And alder last in his vnweldy age He was compelled to holde his passage

Out of Thebes, his wife and he alone, In sorow wepyng to accomplishe their daies Into Illery togither they be gone: Their pacience put at fell assayes, Whose bitternes felt none alaies, Also of their ende, and vnhappy fate, Ne of their death, I finde none other date.

Saue that Ouide maketh mencion, And Iohn Bochas the poete excellent Say that two brethren, zethus and Amphion Out of Thebes by one assent, Haue this Cadmus into exile sent, His wyfe also: after their high noblesse, To ende their life in sorow and wretchednes.

But the Gods of mercy and pitye, Whā they thē saw by fortune thus cast doun, From their estates into great pouertie, Hauyng of them full great compassion, They made of them a transformacion, Of bothe twayne, them yeuyng a likenesse Of serpentes, to liue in wyldernes.

¶ Lenuoye.

OWhat estate may him selfe assure, For to conserue his life in sikernes? What worldly ioy may here long endure? Or where shall men finde now stablenes, Sithe kinges & princes frō their high nobles (Record of Cadmus) ben sodēly brought low And from the whele of fortune ouerthrow?

Who may susteyne the pyteous aduenture Of this tragedy, by writyng to expresse? It is like to the chaunte plure Beginnyng with ioy, endyng in wretchednes. All worldly blisse is meinte with bitternes. The sodayn chaūg therof may no man know For who sytteth highest is sonest ouerthrow.

Was in this world yet neuer creature, (Reken vp princes for all their hygh noblesse) But fortune coulde enclyne them to her lure: And them enperishe through her frowardnes. Wherfore ye lordes, w^t all your great riches, Beware afore or ye daunce in the rowe, Of such as fortune hath frō her whele throw.

The .viii. Chapter.

☞ A processe of Oetes kyng of Colchos, Ia∣son, Medea, Theseus, Scilla, Nisus, and other mo.

WHan Iohn Bochas was most dili∣gent To consider the successions Of lynages, withall his entent In his writyng and discriptions, To compyle the generations Of many noble famous of estate, I meane of suche as were infortunate,

In his serchyng he founde not out a fewe That were vnhappy founde in their liuynge: To his presēce anone there gan hym shewe A multitude, full piteously wepynge: Among whiche full dolefully playnyng, Came forthe Oetes, & hath cōplaynt begūne, Kyng of Colchos, and sonne vnto the sunne.

For of Phebus which is bryght and clere, Poetes write that he was sonne and heyre, Because he was so myghty of power, So freshe, so lusty, so manly and ryght fayre: But of fortune he fell in great dispayre, Cursyng his fate, and his destayne When Iason first entred his countrey againe

By Pelleus sent from Tessaly, There to accomplishe by diligent labour The great emprises through his chiualry, (If God and fortune list do to him fauoure) That they might winne the excellent treasour This is to meane, that he were so bolde, The ram to assail which bare y^• flece of gold.

This Iason through counsaile of Medee, By sorcery and incantacion, The bulle slough horrible for to se, And vainquished the venimous dragon, The kyng dispoyled of his possession, Accomplished with carectis and figures Of Colchos the dreadful aduentures.

And afterwarde when he his purpose had, He left Oetes in full great dispayre: And Medea forth with him he lad, And her brother, which was the kyngs heyre. But as I finde howe in his repayre Out of Colchos whan they gan remue Kinge Oetes after them gan sue,

Vpon Iason auenged for to be, Without tariyng he folowed proudly: The whiche thing when Iason did se, This Medea gan shape a remedy: She toke her brother and slewe him cruelly, And him dismēbred as bokes make minde, And piecemele in a felde behinde

She gan him cast all bespreint with bloude. Wherof his father when he had a syght, Full pale of chere still in the felde he stode, While she and Iason toke them vnto flyght, I trowe that tyme the most wofull wyght That was on liue, whan he did know His childe dismembred and abrode ysowe.

Whiche cause was, alas, and welaway That he so stout as man disconsolate, While that Iason fro Colches went away: And Medea most infortunate, Was rote and ground of this mortall debate, For who saw euer, or redde of suche another, To saue a straunger list to slea her brother?

Forsoke her father, her countrey and kinred, The lande emperished through her robbery, Of her worshyp toke none other hede, Loue hath her brought in suche a fantasy. And while that she abode in Tessaly, And with Iason did there soiourne, She made Eson to youth returne.

A yarde she toke that was drie and olde, And with her herbes and commi••tions, She made it boyle, in Ouide it is tolde: And by charectes and incantacious, And with the craft of her coniurations, The yarde began to bud and blossome newe, And to beare frute and leaues freshe of hew.

And semblably with her confections, His olde humours the hath deputed cleane: And with her lusty freshe pocions, His empty skynne tremblyng and right leane Pale and wanne that no bloude was sene, But as it were a deadly creature, All this hath she transformed by nature.

Made him lusty, and fresh of his courage, Glad of hart, liuely of cheare and syght, Right well chered, and clere of his vysage, Wonders deliuer both of force and myght: In all his members as weldy and as lyght As euer he was, in the same estate By craft of Medee he was lo alterate.

After all this, ayenst kyng Pelleus She began to maligne, vncle vnto Iason, And of enuy she proceadeth thus: The kings daughters she draweth to her anō Them counsaylyng that they should gone Vnto their father, & playnly vnto him sayne, If he desired to be yong agayne,

Full restored his force to recure, And therwithall in lusty age floure, She behight to do her busy cure, Lyke his desire to helpe and socoure: And in this matter so crafty laboure Fynally stande in the same case, To be made yonge as his brother was.

Touchyng whiche thing for more euidence, This Medea hath to the daughters tolde Of entent to yeue the more credence, She bade thē take a ramme y^• was right old And wyth a knyfe for to be so bolde To slea the beast before them there he stode, And in a vessell drawe out the olde bloude.

Fullye affirmyng like as it were true, That he should be a lambe agayne. For she by craft would his bloude remue In such wise by euidens playne, That of elde no token shoulde be seyne, In all his membres as lusty and entere As was a lambe eyned of one yere.

And here vpon in suche sleyghty wise, She began a processe of full false treason: The sisters made vpon the lambe to practise, Drewe out his bloude, like her enteneton: And she by craft of false illusion, Blent their eyen by apparaunce in vayne, The olde Ram to seme a lambe agayne.

Thus Medea by her sleyght compassyng Of enuy, and venemous hatred, Excited hath the sisters in workynge, Ayenst their father mortally to procede: w^t sharpe kniues thei made their father blede Amiddes the hart, throughout euery vayne, Supposyng the sely sisters twayne

That Pelleus renued shoulde be To youth ayen, of force and of substaunce, But finally by treason of Medee, He lost his life, suche was his wofull chaūce: She this wrought onely for vengeaunce, As rote and grounde of this cruell dede, Ayenst the nature of all womanhede.

Supposyng in her opinion, That the death greatly shoulde please Of Pellius, vnto her lorde Iason, Through great encrease set his hart at ease: But it rebounded vnto his disease, That finally Iason her forsoke, For her offence, and he his way toke

Into Corynth to the kynge Creon, Whose daughter Creusa for her great beauty Was afterwarde wedded to Iason: But whā this wedding was knowē to Mede Cast she woulde theron auenged be: Began to conspyre of malice and enuy, And through her magyke and her forcery

In full great haste gan to ordayne A little coffer, onely of entent: And by her yonge fayre sonnes twayne, With other iewels she hath it sent Vnto Creusa makyng a present, Whiche of malyce she list to dispose: That whan Creusa the coffer did vnclose

The fyre brast out a full large space, Brent Creusa by full great vyolence: Set a fyre playnely all the place, By enchauntment there was no resistence.

All went a fire that was in her presence, By vengeaunce did full great domage. But whan Iason this fire sawe in his rage,

And considered the malice of Medee, Thought he woulde do execution, For to punishe the great iniquitie, Ayenst him compassed of treason: For she of vengeaunce ayenst all reason After that Creusa consumed was and brent, Her owne sounes whylom that she sent

Without ruth or womanly pitye She falsly murdred: the children that she bare (Like a stepmother auenged for to be) Cut their throtes, or that they were ware, Ayenst nature, there was none other spare: But for hatred she had vnto Iason, After this murder she fled away anone,

So escapyng his indignation. By craft of magike she went at libertie To Athens, and in that region She wedded was vnto the kyng Ege: Not longe after a sonne by him had she, The which child, mine auctour telleth thus, After Medea, called was Medus.

After whose name the famous region Ynamed was, which called is Mede. But folowyng euer her olde condicion, This Medea voyde of shame and dread, Compassed hath of wilfull false hatred That Theseus the sonne of kyng Ege, With newe poyson shall deuoured be.

But Theseus full like a manly knyght In repayryng home to his countrey, Of high prudence aspied anone ryght The mortall vengeaunce, the great crueltie, Of this stepmother, whiche of enmitie Concluded hath in her entencion Him to destroy vnwarely, with poyson.

Her hart of malice, cruell, and horrible As she that was with treason euer alied, Whan that she sawe her purpose moste odible, By king Egeus fully was aspied, She hath her hart and wittes newe applied As in their bokes poetes haue compiled, Ayen to Iason to be reconciled.

She fled away for feare of Theseus. Lest he would done on her vengeaunce: And finally as writeth Ouidius, And morall Seneke concludeth in sentaunce In his tragedies makyng remembraunce Howe Medea, like as poetes sayne, Vnto Iason restored was agayne.

Touchyng the ende of their furious discorde Poetes make therof no mencion, Neither tell no meane how they fyll accord, But if it were by incantation: Whiche so well coulde turne vp so down Sondry thinges of loue and of hatred, And in Bochas of her no more I read.

Saue whan she had fulfilled her purpose, Mine aucthour telleth that Iason & Mede Restored haue ayen vnto Colchos Her father Oetes, and from his pouertie Brought him ayen into his royall see: And to his crowne by force they him restore, Touching his ende, of him find I no more.

Thus his fortune hath turned to and fro, First like a kyng hauyng ful great riches: After liuyng in pouertie and wo, Sythen restored to his worthines. Thus euer sorow is meint with gladnes, (Who can aduert) in all worldly thing, Record of Mynos the noble worthy kyng,

To whom I must now my style dresse, Folowyng the traces of Bochasius. The wiche Mynos, as Ouid doth expresse, Touchyng his byrth he writeth playnly thus That he was manly, wise, and vertuous: Sonne by discent of Iupiter the great, And of Europa, borne to be heyre of Crete.

And of his person wonders delitable, Full renowined of wisdome, and science, By diuers titles of laude commendable, Of byrth, of bloud, of knighthode & prudence, For by his study and entyre diligence, He founde first lawes grounded on reason, Wherby of Crete the famous region

Gouerned was, and set in stablenes, All iniuries and wronges to reforme Made statutes, extorcions to represse: Of right wisenes they toke the first forme. And that eche man shoulde him conforme Like their degrees, subiect and souerayne: That no man had a matter to complayne.

He made his lieges to liue in quiete, Cleare shinyng in his royall noblesse, With sword and sceptre, sittyng in his sete: And while he floured in his worthines, He toke a wife of excellent fayrenes, Doughter to Phebus, in Bochas ye may se, And she was called faire Pasiphae.

And her father by record of writyng, In his time was holden full famous: Of the yle of Rhodes he was lorde and kyng, And in his dayes of port full glorious, Right proude in armes and victorious, Takyng witnes of Methamorphoseos, His daughter had thre children by Mynos.

The first a sonne called Androge, And afterward full faire daughters twayne, Ryght goodly and womanly on to se: But like as fortune did for them ordayne, They felt them selues in trouble and in payn, The one called Ariadne, & Phedra the other, Folowyng their fate it might be none other.

Androgeus by kyng Mynos was sent For he should profite in cleargy, To Athens, of vertuous entent There to study in philosophy: And for he began to encrease and multiply, And passe all other by study in learnyng, And to excell his felowes in cunnyng,

They of enuy and false malice, alas, Made ayenst him a conspiration: And from a pinacle sacred to Pallas. Of ful great heigth thei made him tūble doun For which iniury, Bochas maketh mencion, His father Mynos auenged for to be, Layed a great power about the citie.

He cast him fully y^• no man shoulde him let, But that he woulde do cruelly vengeaunce: And rounde about so sore he them beset, With men of armes and with his ordinaunce, That finallye he brought them to vttraunce. And them constrayned within a little space, Their life, their death, submitten to his grace.

But while they made ayenst him resistence, Supposyng his power to withstande, Nisus that was kyng of Megarence, Ayenst Mynos their party toke on hande: And oft times as ye shall vnderstande, Whan kyng Mynos did the citye assayle, Nisus within with myghty apparayle

Vpon the walles stode in his defence, Whan that Mynos full like a manly knyght, Fought without, with sturdy vyolence: Like Mars him selfe in stele armed bryght. Wherof whan Scilla once had a syght, Daughter to Nysus aduertyng his prowes, Anone for loue she fell in great distresse.

She was supprised with his high noblesse: His manly force expert many folde, Set Scilla in great heauines, For loue of Mynos in Poetes it is tolde, Made her hart presume and be bolde, First her life to put in ieopardy Her fathers life, the citye, the cleargy.

From her hart loue hath set aside. Ayenst nature, her bloude and her kynred, And all frendshyp from her gan deuide: And of her worshyp she toke no maner hede. Loue made her cruell ayenst all womanhede, First her hart so sore set a fire, Her fathers death falsely to conspyre.

For kyng Mynos beyng a straungere Was so emprynted in her opinion, Of creatures there stode none so nere, And for his sake by full false treason, She compassed the destruction First of her father, and than of the citye. So straunge a thing alas how myght it be,

That a woman of yeres yong and tender, Coulde ymagen so marueylous a thing? But it falleth that creatures slender, Vnder face of angelike lokynge, Ben very wolues outwarde in workynge, Also vnder coloure of their port feminine, Some ben found very serpentyne.

Lambes in she wyng, shadowed w^t mekenes, Cruel as Tygres, who doth to them offence: Of humble chere pretendyng a likenesse, But wo, alas what harme doth apparence? What damage doth counterfaite innocence? Vnder a mantell shroude of womanhede, Whan fayned falsenes doth the brydle lede?

For this Scilla the kynges daughter dere, In whom he set his whole affection, His hartes ioy, his pleasaunce most entere, His worldly blisse, his consolation,

But she all turned to his confusion. Not like a daughter, but like a sorceresse, His death cōpassed the story beareth witnes.

Her father had a fatall heer that shone Bryghter then golde, in which he did assure, Manly to fight ayenst his mortall fone: For in his head while it did endure, He should vainquishe and recure, And through his knighthode to his encrese of glory In euery quarel wyn the victory.

But whā kyng Nysus her father lay a slepe, Vpon a night parcell afore day, Full secretely or that he toke kepe, The heere of golde this Scilla cut away: And vnto Mynos armed where he lay, She him presented through her ordinaunce, Of false entent him for to do pleasaunce.

But in this matter like as writeth Ouyde Methamorphoseos, who so taketh hede, Her father sleping, she knelyng by his side Toke a sharpe knife without feare or dreade, While he lay naked, she carft a two his head: And stale away of full false entent, And to kyng Mynos y^e head she doth present.

And in her commyng to his presence, Her fathers head when she afore him layed, Nothing ashamed of her great offence, Vnto Mynos thus she did obrayed, And with bolde chere euen thus she saied: My lorde (quod she) w^t support of your grace, Yeueth to my tale, leasure, time and space.

Certes my lorde, loue hath excyted me And constrayned to this cruell dede, To slee my father, destroye my citie, To forget my worshyp, forsake womanhead: And made me hardy to make my father blede Thinges horrible thus haue I vndertake, For to accomplyshe, onely for your sake.

My selfe disherited for loue of your persone, Called in my countrey a false traytoresse: Disconsolate, stale away alone, Of new diffamed, and named a maistresse Of false murder: I bryng a great witnes, My fathers head and his deadly vysage, Ayenst nature to further your voyage.

Wherfore I pray that ye list aduertise, And consider like a gentle knyght, How I for loue towarde your great empryse And to great furtheryng also of your right Haue first my father depriued of his myght, Raft him his life, dispoyled his riches, To do pleasaunce to your high nobles.

And nothing aske I vnto my guerden, Neither to my rewarde that may auayle, But that I might haue full possession Of your person most worthy in battayle: For there is no treasure y^• might counteruayle To my desire, as that you woulde in dede Goodly accept me and my womanhede.

Ye may me saue and spyll with a worde, Make most glad, and most dolorous: I not require of you my souerayne lorde But that ye would be to me gracious. For bloud, and kinne, and my fathers house, All left behinde, if ye list aduert, And vndeparted yeue to you my hert.

Which to your highnes ought ynough suffise, All thing considered in your royall estate: Conceiued also how in vncouth wise For your loue I stande desolate, Saue of your mercy full disconsolate: Here is all and some, your loue I bye so sore But ye do grace, I can say you no more.

And whan she had her tale tolde knelyng, With a maner of pretence of womanhede, Of all her treason a poynt not cōcelyng: The king astonied of her horrible dede, By great aduise peysed and toke hede, It was not sittyng to prynce nor to kyng To do fauour to so frowarde a thing.

With troubled hart and with a face pale, His loke vp cast, sayed: God forbede That euer in Cronicle, in story, or in tale, That any man should of Mynos reade How he supported so venemous a dede: Fauour a woman, alas, and well away, Whiche slough her father, whan he in bed lay▪

But for your hatefull and vnkynde rage, I praye the gods echone, and Saturne, For to take vengeaunce on your false outrage Euery where, whither ye do returne: And euery place where as ye soiourne. Lande and sea shortly to expresse, They ben enfect with your cursednesse.

Your owne mouth your outrage doth accuse, And your actes ben so abhominable That your giftes fully I do refuse: They ben so frowarde, and so reprouable, That your persone disnaturell and vnstable, Within my courte it were a thinge not faire, That ye shoulde abyde, or haue repaire.

Ye be so hateful on euery side And contrarious of condicion, I praye Cellus which oferth is gide, And to Neptunus I make this orison, As ferre as stretcheth their dominacion, Vnder the bound of their regaly, A dwellinge place that they to you deny.

Whan Minos had his answere thus deuised, On reason grounded and equite: And Scilla sawe howe she was dispised, Knewe no partie, passage, ne countre, To finde socour whether she might flye. But dispeired lyke a traitouresse, Towarde the see anone she gan her dresse

To entre the water plainly if she mighte, For very shame her selfe for to shroude: And whan the goddes thereof had a sight, They turned her, as they y^• might & coude In to a quaile, for to sing loude. Her father Nisus they dyd also transmewe In to a sparhauke the quaile to pursue.

This was the ende of Nisus & Scille. And afterwarde of Athenes the toune, Was yelded vp to stande at the will Of kinge Minos: with this condicion Euery yere, by reuolucion, They of the citie should not delay Nyne of theyr chyldren for a tribute paye.

This was by Minos the imposicion Vpon Athenes, and of very drede They obeyed, as made is mencion, And their children yere by yere they lede In to Crete, the Minotaur to fede: Vnto this monstre ordeyned for repast, Which at their cōming deuoured were in hast.

But or that I forther do procede In this mater, I wyl do my cure To declare if ye lyst to take hede, Of this monstre to tell the engendrure, Vncouth to heare and ayenst nature: For by the writynge of Ouidius, Thys vgly beaste was engendred thus.

In Methamorphoseos the maner ye may se. Minos had a bulle of greate fayrenes, White as milke, and the quene Pasiphae Loued him so hote, the story bereth wytnes: And Dedalus dyd his busines, By subtell craft, and made his gynnes so That ayenst kinde with her he had to do.

And conceyued a beast monstruous, That was departed, halfe bull, halfe man: And as the poete by writinge techeth vs, Of al Minotaures thus the name began. And Dedalus not longe after, whan This mōstre was by the quene forth brought, This subtle workmā hath an house ywroght

Called Laberinthus, diuers and vncouth, Full of wrynkels and of straungenes, Vgly to knowe which is north or south, Or to what parte a man should hym dresse: Folkes were there blent w^t furious derknes. Who that entred, his retourne was in veyn, Wythout a clewe for to resort ageyn.

Of Minotaurus thys was the habitacle, Lyke a prison made for turmentry: For dampned folke a paynefull tabernacle, For all that lay there in ieoperdy, The monstre must deuoure them, and defy. And specially was ordayned thys turment, For all that were doun from Athenes sent.

But in this mater some folke vary, And afferme how that quene Pasiphae Of kyng Minos loued a secretarye, Called Taurus, in Bochas ye may se: And thus the kinge for all his ryalte Disceiued was: for who may any whyle Him selfe preserue, where women lyst begile••

For by this Taurus, Bochas bereth witnes, Quene Pasiphae had a childe full faire. Minos not knowing by no likenes, But the childe was borne to be his heire. His trust was good, he fell in no dispaire: For some husbandes, as poetes haue cōpiled, Whych most assure, rathest ben begiled.

Innocentes can not deme amys, Namely of wiues that ben founde true: Clerkes may write, but doutles thus it is, Of their nature they loue nothynges newe,

Stedfast of hert, they chaunge not their hew. Haukes best preued sūtime a chek can make, Yet for a faute, the foule is not forsake.

Of this mater wryte I wyll nomore: But aye the tribute and seruage of the toun Procedeth forth, they cōstreyned were so sore, Lyke as their lot turned vp and doun: For there was made none excepcion Of high ne lowe, neyther soure ne swete, But as it fell, they were sent into Crete.

The statute was so inly rigorous, They toke their sort as it came aboute: Tyll at the last it fell on Theseus, That he mought go forth amonge the route, Kyng Egeus son, beynge in great dout Touchig his life, which might not be socored, But that he must wyth other be deuoured.

Which Theseus for hys worthynesse, And of his knighthode for hys great encrese, Through manly force and for his prowes, Somtyme was called the seconde Hercules: Among Amasones he put hym selfe in prese, Wedded Ipolita, as bokes specifye, The hardy quene called of Feminye.

And afterwarde to Thebes he is gone, Holpe the ladyes in especiall, Which that cōpleined vpon the king Creon, Which thē distroubled, lyke their estate rial To holde and halowe the festes funerall Of their lordes, quenes, and princesses, Of wifely truth to she we their kyndnesses.

For whan thys duke the maner had sene, And of Creon the great iniquite, To the ladyes he made deliuer ayene The lordes bones, of ruth and of pyte: Yet in his youth out of this cite, He was deliuered by statute ful odible To be deuoured of this beast horrible.

He gothe to prison for all his semelynesse, As the statute felly dyd ordeyne: But of ruth and tender gentylnes Hym to preserue from that deedly payne Of king Minos y^e goodly doughters twaine Ariadne shope a remedie, And feire Phedra, that he shoulde not dye.

Through their helpe he hath y^• mōstre slaine, That was dredful and vgly for to se: By them he scaped, whereof he was ful faine, Led them wyth hym towarde his countre: And by the waye deuoyde of all pyte, Ariadne ful falsely he hath forsake, Ayenst his suraunce, & Phedra he hath take.

In myddes the sea he left her in an yle, Towardes no partye she knewe no declyne: She wepeth, she crieth, alas the hard while, For of her fate thys was the mortall fyne: That for pite, Bachus the god of wyne Toke her to wife, whose croune of stones fine Doth nowe in heauen with .ix. sterres shyne.

Thus of Theseus ye may beholde and se To Ariadne the great vnstedfastnes. The great vntruth, the mutabilite, The broke assuraunce, & the newe fanglenes: But sely women kepe their stedfastnes. Euer vnfouled, saue sumtyme of theyr kinde, They must thē puruey whan men be vnkind.

Of Theseus I can no more nowe sayne, In this matter to make of hym memory: But to kynge Minos I wyll resort againe, To tell howe fortune euer false & transitory, In what poyntes defaced hath his glory, Fyrst of eche one, Bochas doth specifye, Of Pasiphae the foule aduoutry,

Which was his wyfe, & stode well his grace. To his pleasaunce she was most soueraine, But a cloude of a small trespare Made her lorde at her disdayne: But he of wysdome bare preuily his paine. For in suche case, this is my sentence, Let prudent husbandes take them to paciēce.

On other thynges Mynos gan also cōplaine, Hauynge in hert thereof full great greuaūce: That he so lost his fayre doughters twayne, And Minotaurus slayne wyth mischaunce. Also to hym it was a great greuaunce That Theseus was gone at liberte, And from all tribute deliuered hys cite.

It greued him also in countinaunce & there That Theseus Ariadne forsoke: It liked him also not the manere Vnto his wyfe that he Phedra toke. And yet thys Phedra, lyke as sayth my boke, Had two sonnes by this Theseus, First Demophoon and next Antiochus.

Also Theseus after gan hym drawe, Towarde Cecile, in stele armed clene: With Peritheus, in armes his felawe For to rauyshe Proserpina the quene: But of entent Phedra ful vnclene, Loued her stepsonn, called Ipolitus, But for he was to her daungerous

And to her lust froward and contrary, In his apport not goodly ne benigne, Of her false entent anon she gan to vary, Ayenst hym full felly to maligne: And to her prince of many token and signe Of womanhede, she gan hym accuse, Her auoutry falsly to excuse.

Who sayth that women can not ymagyne In their deffence tales vntrue, To their desire if men list not enclyne, Neither on their feyned false wo to tue▪ Anon they can compasse thynges new, Fyshe and finde out of their entencion, A couert cloude to shadowe their traison.

She hath accused yonge Ipolitus Of false auoutrye in hys tendre age: Tolde and affirmed to duke Theseus, With ful bolde chere, and ful playne visage, Howe he purposed for to do outrage, Only by force her beaute to oppresse, Her lorde beseching, to reforme and dresse

The great iniquitie done to his wife Whyle he was absēt, for thing y^• bare charge. Wyues of tales somtyme ben inuentife To suffre their tonges falsly flyen at large, But folkes y^e list of domage thē discharge, Of such accusyng ne take they none hede, Tyll the truth be tried out in dede.

I meane nothynge of wyues that ben good, Neyther of women y^e flouren in innocence: For god forbede and the holy roode, But men should do due reuerence To their noblesse and their excellence: Declare their bounte, & their vertue shewe, And thē cherishe, because there be but fewe.

Touching the accusing ayenst Ipolitus, Though if so were that it was fals in dede, Yet he for shame and fere of Theseus As in the story ye may behold and rede, In his hert he caught a maner drede That he alas thys sely yonge knight, Fled & withdrewe hi out of hys fathers sight.

Hys indignacion playnly for to eschewe Though by desert, in him there was no lacke: Of hasty drede as he gan remewe Or in a chare, or on horse backe, His horse afrayde, there fel a sodeine wracke: Doun frō a roch pendaunt as ye shall lere, He and his chare were drowned both in fere.

Thus vngilty in his most lusty youth, He was conueied to his distruction: The sclander conspired as it is wele couth By false Phedra: but in conclusion, The sclander turned to her confusion. For whan she wyst Ipolitus was dede Through her defaut, anon for shame & drede

She toke a swerde full sharpe ygrounde, And there with all she raft her hert a tweine. Lo howe y^t vēgeaūce woll euer ayen reboūde, On them that falsely do their busy peine To sclaunder folke: for like as they ordeine With their diffames other folkes to wyte, God at last their malice can aquite.

But some bokes of Phedra do recorde That she ashamed and confuse of this dede, Hing her selfe vp full high with a corde: Lo how false sclaunder can quite folkes mede. Wherefore I counsayle euery man take hede In such maters as stande vncertaine, From hasty langage his tonge to refraine.

Amonge these stories woful for to rede, All besprent with teares in his face, Full sodenly Jhon Bochas gan take hede In middes the prease zisara came to place: And howe that fortune gan also to manace This proud duke, full myghty and notable, Of kyng Jabyn called the great constable,

Of his host, leder and gouernour: To Israell very mortall fo. With people he rode lyke a conquerour, And where that euer his meyny dyd go, The earth quoke, people dredde him so: Fled fro hys face where as he came a ferre, Nyne hundred waynes he had for the wet,

Strōgly inarmed w^t hokes made like sithes▪ Who y^e approched to mayme & to wounde: For this tirant of custome oftsithes Had great delite the Jewes to confound,

And all tho that his swerde hath found, Kynge Jabyn bad, prince of Canaan, In Israel to spare childe ne man.

This zisara was sent to be their scourge By goddes suffraunce their sinnes to chastise, Their olde offences to punishe & to purge, As a flagell many sondry wyse, But whan of reason they gan better deuise, And for their trespaces to fall in repentaūce, God gan w^t drawe the hand of his vengeaūce.

For in their mischefe they gan their lorde to knowe Felynge the pricke of his punicion: And mercy than hath vnbent the bowe Of hys fell yre and castigacion, To God they made their inuocacion, And he them herde in their mortal drede, In Judicum the storye ye may rede.

Howe in the whyle that this zisara Shope hym of newe the Jewes to oppresse, In their defence god sent them Delbora, I prophetesse, the story bereth witnes, To yeue thē counseil, their armeis to dresse: And by the spirite of her prophesie, For to wythstande the great tyrannye

Of zisara, whych was discended doun With a great host into the felde repeired: But Delbora of high discrecion, Whan that she sawe the Jewes dispeired, And for to fight their corrages sore apeired, She made them first deuoutly in that drede To crye to god to helpe them in their nede.

She was their iudge & their gouernes Chefe of their counsaill, and of custome she Causes dependinge of great auysenes, That stode in dout, by dome of equitie, She tried them out vnder a palme tre▪ And was not hasty no mater to determyne, Tyll she the parties aforedyd examyne.

And whan that she herd of the cōminge Of zisara wyth full great puissaunce, That was constable of that mighty king, Called Jabyn, wyth al his ordinaunce, Vpon Jewes for to do vengeaunce: This Delbora gan prudently entende, The Jewes party, by wysdome to defende.

She bad Barach, her husbande, anon ryght, Of Nemptalym .x. M. with him take, Ayenst zisara to fyght for their ryghte, And that he shoulde a great enarme take. But he for drede thys iourney gan forsake, And durst not ayenst him tho werrey But she were present, and lyst hym to conuey.

Wel wel quod she, syth it standeth so That of wantrust ye haue a maner drede, I wyl my selfe gladly wyth you go, You to support in this great nede: But trusteth fully as ye shall fynde in dede, That a woman, with laude, honour, & glorye Shal fro you wyn the price of this victory.

It folowed after sothly as she sayd: Auisely she made her ordinaunce. And the chefe charge on her selfe she layde, As princesse of Jewes gouernaunce. And prudently gan her selfe auaunce, With god conueyed & support of his grace, With zisara to mete in the face.

And specially touchyng this viage, God toke away the spirite and the myght Fro zisara, his force and his corage, That he was feareful to entre into fyght: Kepte his chare, and toke hym to flyght. Knowyng no place in suertie to abyde, Tyll that Jaell a woman dyd hym hide

Within her tente, and al most dede for drede, Vnder a mantell, desirous for to drynke, She gaue him mylke: the slepe fyl in his heed. And whyle that he for heuines gan wynke, And sadly slept, she gan her to bethynke: Thought she woulde for zisara so shape, That with his lyfe, he should not escape.

She toke a nayle that was sharpe & long, And couertly gan her selfe auaunce: With a myghty hamer round and stronge. She droue y^• naile, lo this was her bēgeaūce, Through his heed: se here the soden chaunce On tirantes that trust on Fortune, Which wil not suffer them long to contune

In their false vsurped tiranny, To holde people in long subieccion. She can them blandyshe wyth her flatery, Vnder a colour of false colluspon: And wyth a sodaine transmutacion, Fortune them can that poore folke trouble, Reuerse their pride, wyth her face double.

What should I lengre in thys mater tary▪ Though that lordshyp be myghty & famous, Let zisara be your examplary, It not endureth but it be vertuous. Conquest, victory, though they be glorious Vnto the world, if vertue be behinde Men not reioyse to haue theyr name in mide.

For Fortune through her frowardnes, Hath kynges put out of their regions: And she hath also throughe her doublenes▪ Dystroyed lynages wyth their successions▪ Made not she sometyme her translacions Of the kyngdome called Argiuois, To be transported to Lacidemonois▪

The same tyme whan zisara the proude Gan goddes people to put vnder fote, Fames trumpe blewe his name vp loude, Wyth sacred sownes semynge wondre sote: But al his pride was rent vp by the rote, Whan hys glory was outward most shyning. But who may trust in any worldly thynge▪

Folke haue afore sene the valuacion By remembraunce of antiquitie, Of myghty Troy, and of I lion, After distroyed by Grekes that cyte: To vs declarynge the mutabilite Offalse fortune, whose fauor lasteth no while Shewyng euer truest, whan she wol begile.

So variable she is in her delites, Her whele vntrusty and frowardly meuyng, Recorde I take of the Madianites, Their vnware fal ful dolefully pleynynge. Which shewed them selfe pitiously wepynge To Jhon Bochas, as he in writynge sought, How y^• fortune ayenst their princes wrought,

Which that gouerned the lande of Madian▪ Trustinge of pride in their greate puissaunce, Ayenst Jewes a warre they began, Purposinge to bringe them to vtterance. But god that holdeth of warre the balaunce, And can of princes oppresse the vein glory, Yeueth where him list conquest and victory:

Not to great nōbre, nor to great multitude, But to that party where he seeth the right. Hys dredful hand, shortly to conclude, So holdeth vp by grace, and yeueth lyght The higher hand where he cast his sight, Lyst his power and his fauour shewe, Be it to many, orbe it vnto fewe.

The wronge party gladly hath a fall, Though ther be Millions, many ••••o theran: I take witnesse of Jerobaall, Whych is also called Gedian, That wyth thre .C. fought ayenst the fan Of Israel, the Byble can deuyse, Whan he to God had done hys sacrifice,

Shewyng to hym a thynge meruaylous: Whan the fleece wyth siluer dewe ful shene Was spreint and wet, the storye telleth thus, And rounde about the soyle & all the grene Was founde drye, and no drop sene: In token onely, this duke, this knightly man, Shulde haue the victory of all Madian.

This Gedeon toke with hym but a fewe, Thre hundred chase, whych lapped the riuer. God vnto hym such tokens dyd shewe, And euidences afore that were full clere, That he shoulde be of right good there: And on no party hys aduersaries drede, For nother prowes, neyther manhede.

Where god aboue holdeth champerty, Their may ayenst hym be made no defence▪ Force, strength, wysdome, nor cheualry, Ayenst hys might, are feble of resistence: Thys was well preued in experience, Whan thre .C. wyth Gedeon in nombre, So many thousandes by grace dyd encōbre.

Thys sayd people deuided in to thre, With their trumpettes vpon y^e derke nyght, By Gedeon that had the soueraynte, Wyth voyde pottes & laumpes therin lyght, And thus arayed they entred in to fyght: But vnto them thys token was first knowe, Whan Gedeon his trumpe dyd blowe.

They blewe echon and loud gan to crye: Brake their pottes, and shewted anon ryght, As the story doth playnly specifye, Their laumpes shewed w^t a full soden lyght: Wherof their enemies astoinied in their sight, Were so troubled vpon euery side, That in the felde they durst not abyde.

The crie was this of them euerychon: Thanke to y^e lorde most noble and glorious, Pryse to the swerde of myghty Gedeon, Which vs hath caused to be victorious:

Made our enemyes most malicious, Through influence onely of his grace, For very feare to flye afore our face.

Thus can the lorde of hys magnificence, The meke exalte, and the proude oppresse: Lyke as he fyndeth in hertes difference So of his power he can his domes dresse. Mercy aye meint wyth his rightwysenes: Hys iudgementes wyth long delay differred. And or he punish pytie is aye preferred.

Lenuoye.

MYghty Princes, remembre that your power Is transitory, and no while abiding: As thys tragedy hath rehersed here, By euidences notable ensuynge. And by example in substaunce wytnessyng, That all ty••antes (playnly to termpue) Mo••e from t••eir state sodenly declyne.

Phebus the freshe in hys mydday sphere His beames bryghtest & hotest out spredyng, But cloudy skyes oft approch nere To eclipse his lyght w^t their vnware coming: None erthly ioye is here longe abidynge, Record of Tytā, whych stondmele doth shine, Yet toward nyght his stremes doun decline.

Whan that fortune is fairest of her chere, By apparence, and most blandishyng, Than is she fallest ech season of the yere Her soden cha••ge now vp, now down turnīg: The nightīgale in May doth freshly sing, But a backe wynter can somer vndermyne, And all his freshnes sodenly declyne.

All erthly blisse dependeth in a were, In a balaunce vneuynly hanging. Of prīces & prīcesses most souerayne & entere In this tragedy conceyueth by redynge, Howe that estates by vnware chaunginge, Somtime full worthy, their liues dyd fine, Whā frō their noblesse they were made to de∣clyne.

¶ Of mighty Iabyn kinge of Canaan of quene Iocasta, and how Thebes was distroyed.

The .ix. Chapter.

NOwe muste I wryte the greate so∣beyn fall Of mighty Iabyn, for his iniquite▪ Whyche vnto Iewes was enmye full mortal, With scepter & crowne reigning in Canane, And vpon Affrike had the souerainte, Rebell to god, and lyst not hym obey, But euer redy hys people to werrey,

The lord aboue seynge his tiranny, Forbare his hand wyth full longe suffraūce: And was not hasty of his obstinacy, Lyke his desert for to do vengeaunce. But euer thys Iabyn by continuance Endured forth in his cursidnesse, Tyll the swerde of goddes righwisenes

Was whet ayenst this tira••t, to chastise And to represse his rebellion: From his kyngdome (the story doth deuise) In myddes of his pride he was pulled doun To exemplify that such dominacion As is found wilful truth to ouer cast, God wyll not suffer in power long to last.

For this Iabyn was found alway frowarde, Of high disdaine list not the lorde knowe: Therfore his power drewe alway bacward, And his empire was after ybrought full low. His riall fame fortune hath ouerthrow, His name eclipsed y^t sumtime shone ful clere, Of great Cison, besyde the ruiere.

Of quene Iocasta Bochas doth also endite, Princesse of Thebes, a mighty great citie: Of her vnhappes he dolefully doth write, Imagining howe he did her se To him appere in great aduersite. Lyke a woman that would in teares reine, For that fortune gan at her so disdeine.

And though she were defaced of figure, There shewed in her a maner maieste Of quenely honour, plainly to discure Her infortuns, and her infelictte, And to declare plainly how that she Of all princesses which stode in estate Was her selfe the most infortunate.

Which gaue to Bochas full great occasion Whan he sawe her pitous apparayle, For to make a lamentacion Of vncouth sorowes, whych dyd her assaile

With a tragedy to wepe and to wayle Her importable and straunge dedely strife, Which that she had duryng all her lyfe.

He wryte of her a story large and playne. And of her byrth fyrst he doth diffyne: And affyrmeth in hys boke certayne, She was discended of a noble lyne. In flouryng age also when she dyd shyne, She wedded was for her great beauty, Vnto the kyng of Thebes the citye,

Which in his tyme was called Layus. And whan her wombe by processe dyd aryse, The kyng was glad and also desirous, The childes fate to know in some wise: And thought he would go do sacrifice Vnto Appollo, to haue knowlegynge toforne Touching his child, whan that it was borne.

What should folow in conclusion He was desirous and hasty for to se, Fyrst by heauenly disposicion, And by the fauour if it woulde be Of Appollos myghty deite: To haue aunswere among his wyttes al, Of his child what fate should befall.

His answere though it were contrary To his desire, yet was it thus in dede: Appollo tolde hym, and lyst no lenger tary, That this childe should verily in dede Slee his father, and make his sides blede: And w^t his hands, there was none other wey But on his swerde he must nedes deye.

The kyng was heuy & trist on this sentence, Sorouful of hert, god wote, & nothyng faine: And cast afore through his prouidence, That his son should in al hast be slayne: And that he would not an houre delayne After his byrth, but bad his men to gone Into a forest, and slee the chylde anone.

Lyke his byddyng the ministers dyd in dede, Takyng the chylde, tendre, & yong of age, And into a forest wyth them they gan it lede, To be deuoured of beastes most sauage: The mother, alas, almost fell into rage Seyng her child so inly fayre of face Shal thus be deed, and dyd no trespace.

Lytel wondre though she felt smert: To al women I report me, And vnto mothers that ben tendre of hert, In this mater fuges for to be: Was it not ruth, was it not pite, That a princesse, a quene, alas, Shuld know her child deuoured in such caas▪

After thys byrth Layus toke good kepe, Without mercy, respite, or delay, That vnto one whych kept his shepe This yong chyld vpou a certayne day, Shal be deliuered, in al the hast he may: To thys entent it myght not be socoured, But that it should of beastes be dettoured.

This sayd sheperde goth forth anon ryght, The chyld beholdyng benigne of loke & face, Thought in hert and in his inwarde light, He shoulde do to god a great trespace To slee this child, wherfore he did hym grace: Toke fyrst a knife and dyd his busy payne, Throughout his fete to make holes twayne.

Toke a smal rodde of a yonge osier, Perced the fete, alas it was pite, Bonde hym fast, and by good leiser The yong childe he henge vpon a tree, Of entent that he ne should not be Through wylde beastes cruel and sauage, All sodenly deuoured in their rage.

Vpon the tre whyle he henge thus bound, Of auenture by some occasion, A straunge sheperd hath the child yfound, Whych of ruth and pyte toke hym doun: Bare wyth hym home in to hys toun, Made hys wyfe for to do her payne, To foster the chylde wyth her brestes twaine.

And whan he was brought forth & recured, And full made hole of hys woundes sore, Thys yong chyld whych al this hath endured Whan he in age began to were more, And that nature began hym to restore, The saide sheperde that loued hym best of all, After his hurtes, Edippus dyd hym cal.

For Edippus is no more to saine, Who that conceyueth the exposicion, But fete yperced throughout both twayne, In that langage, as made is mencion. And to Meropa wife of king Polibion The shepeherde of ful humble entent, Began the child ful lowly to present.

And for she was barreyne of nature, She and the kyng of one affection, Toke Edippus both in to their cure, As sonne and heire by adopcion, To reigne in Corinth by succession: The kyng, the quene, & of Corinth the coūtre, Had the chylde in so great cheerte.

Let men considre in their discrecion, Sodayne chaunge of euery maner thyng. This childe sent out for his distruction, And now prouided for to be a kynge: And through fortune, aye double in working, He that was refuse to beastes most sauage, Is now receyued to knyghtly heritage.

Destitute he was of his kynrede, Forsake, and abiect of bloud, and of alie, In tēdre youth his fete were made to blede, Henge on a tre, and began for helpe crie: But god that can in mischefe magnifye, And reconfort folke disconsolate, Hath made thys childe nowe thus fortunate.

And hath prouided to be a kynges heire, Him that stode of deth in auenture. Fortune can shew herselfe both foule & fayre, Folkes brought lowe, ful wel ayen recure: And such as paciently can endure, And lyst not grudge ayenst their chastisyng, God out of myschefe can sodenly them bryng.

But whan Edippus was growe vp to age, Lyke a yong prince encresynge in noblesse, Lusty and strong, and freshe of his corage, Of auenture it fel so in sothnesse, Outher by strife, or by some frowardnes, Or by sume conteke he had knowledgynge, Howe he was not sonne vnto the kynge

As by discēt, but a ferre fortaine. Whereupon full sore he began to muse, And for to knowe, and be put in certaine, Thought he would som maner practike vse: And to the kyng he gan hym selfe excuse, For a tyme to wythdrawe his presence, Tyil he myght knewe by some experience,

Or by sume signe howe the matter stode. Thought he would do his diligence To knowe his father, & also of what bloude, He was discended, and haue some euidence Touching troth howe it stode in sentence: And her vpon to be certified, Towarde Appollo fast he hath hym hyed.

Whiche in Cirta worshypped was that time, And gaue answere through his beite, To tolke that came at euen and at prime, Of euery doute and ambiguyte: And there Edippus fallyng vpon his kne, After hys offring, had answere anoue, That towarde Grece he should gone

Vnto a mountaine, that Phocis bare y^e name: And there he shoulde of his kynred here. Also lyke his fate, the answere was the same, He shoulde slee hys owne father dere, And after that to Thebes drawe hym nere, Wedde his mother of very ignoraunce, Called Iocasta, throgh hys vnhappy chan̄ce.

He list no lenger tary ne abyde, Thys sayd Edippus, but forth goeth he: And on hys way he began anone to ryde, Tyi he the mount of Phocis did se, Vnder the which stode a great countre, Called Cetoyens, whiche that time certayne Werreyed them that were on the moūtaine.

His father Layus through his chiualry, With Citoyens is entred into battaile. And Edippus came wyth the partie Of the hyll, armed in plate and mayle. And as they began eche other to assaile, Among the prese at the encountrynge, Of auenture, Edippus flewe the kyng,

Vnknowen to hym that he his father was, Hauyng thereof no suspection: Passed his way platly thys is the case, And also vnknowen he came to the toun Of mighty Thebes, wher for his hie renoun, He was receyued wyth ful great reuerence, Bycause that he slough in their defence

Sphinx the serpent horible for to se, Sometyme ordained by incantacions For to distroy the towne and the countre, By his compassed sleightly questions Sloughe man and chylde in all the regions, Such as not coude by wysdome or reason, Make of his probleme playne exposicion.

Who so passed by, he coude hym not excuse, But the serpent woulde hym felly assaile: With a problem make hym for to muse, Called of some men an vncouth deuinayle.

Whych for to expowne who that did assaile, Ther was none helpe neither other remedy, By the statute, but that he must dye.

And for all folke haue not knowledgyng Of this demaunde, what it was in dede, I wyll reherce it here in my wrytyng Compendiously, that men may it rede. First this serpent (who that list take hede) Was monstruous, and spake ayenst nature: And if it fyll that any creature

Man or woman, should forth by passe, Highe or lowe of all that region, As I sayde erst there was none other grace, But if he made an exposicion Of this serpentes frowarde question, He must dye, and make no defence: The whych demaunde was thus in sentence.

The serpent asked: what thyng may that be, Beast or foule whan it is forth brought, That hath no power to stand, go, nor flee: And afterwarde, if it be well ysought, Goth fyrst on foure, or els gothe he nought, After by precesse, on thre, & than on twayne, And eft agayne, as nature doth ordayne,

He goth on thre, and efte on four agayne, Also kyndly right nature disposeth it so, And in a whyle it foloweth in certaine, To the matter which that he came fro, He must of kynde resort ayen therto? And who can not the meanynge clerely se, He of this serpent shall deuoured be.

Which Edippus ful sobre in his entent, Not to rekell, or to hasty of langage, But in his hert wyth great auy sement, And full demure of loke and of vysage, Considred fyrst thys perilous fel passage: Sawe wel tofore that it was no iape, And ful prouided y^• no worde should escape.

At good leysar, wyth hole mynde & memorye, Seyng the ernest of this mortal emprise, Hys life depending bitwixe deth & victory, Thys (quod he) plainly to deuyse, Is fyrst a child whych may not suffyce Whan it is borne (the truth is al day sene) Wythout helpe him selfe to sustene.

After on four he naturally doth crepe, For impotence and grene tendernesse, Norices can tell that do them kepe: But afterwarde vp he doth hym dresse, With his two fete: the thirde to expresse, Is hand, or benche, or support of some wal, To holde hym vp, lest he catche a fall.

And afterward, encresyng of his myght, To great age whan he doth attayne, Of his nature than he goth vpryght, Mightily vpon his legges twayne: Than cometh age his power to restrayne, Croked & lame lyke as men may se, With a staffe, or potent, to make vp his legges thre,

But whan feblenesse or syckenes do assayle, On handes and fete he must bow and lout: For croche, or potentes, may not than auayle, Whan lusty youth is banished and shet out. Than eft agayne, hereof maye be no dout, With four fete to erth he doth retourne, Fro whe••s he came, there styl to soiourne.

All came fro erth, and all to the erth shal, Agaynst nature may be no protection, Worldly estates echone they be mortal, There may no treasour make redempcion. Who clymeth hiest, his fal is lowest doun. A meane estate is best, who coude it knowe, Betwene hye presumynge, & bowing to lowe.

For who sit hyest, stand in ieopardye, Vnder daunger of fortune, lyke for to fall: Mischefe and pouerte as for their party, Ben lowest brought among these people al. Some folke tast sugre, and sum tast call. Salomon therfore myrrour of sapience, Bytwene great riches and great indigence,

Asked a meane, called suffysance: To hold hym content of cōpetent dispence, Not to reioyce of to great haboundaunce, And euer in pouerte to send him pacience,. Sobre w^t his plenty, in scarsnesse non offence, As of grutching: but bitwene ioye and smart. Thanke god of all, and euer be glad of hert.

Erth is the ende of euery maner man, For the rich wyth great possession, Dyeth as soone (as I reherce can) As doth the poore in tribulacion. For deth ne maketh no diuision, By syngler fauour, but bitwene both ylich, Of the poorest, & of hym that is most rich.

This said problem concluded in this case,

Whych y^• serpent began sleighly to propose, That whan a childe is fyrst borne, alas, ••ynde to his dethwarde anon doth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dispose. Eche day a iourney, there is none other glose, Experience can tech in euery age Howe thys worlde is here but a pilgrimage.

Thys sayde Edippus fyrste in Thebes borne, Sent to a forest deuou••ed for to be, Founde & brought forth as ye haue herde to∣forne, And after drawynge home to his countre, Slough hys father, so infortunate was he: Of frowarde happes followynge al hys lyue, As this tragedy hys fortune shal discriue.

But for that he through his hye prudence, Vnto the serpent declared euery dele, He slough hym after, by knightly vyolence, More by wysdome, than by armure or stele: Stace of Thebes can tell you thys ful wele. Whych was one cause if ye list to sene, Wh••••through Edippus, wedded hath y^• quene

Called Iocasta, princesse of that countre: Hys owne mother, vnknowen to them bothe. And though she were ryghte fayre vpon to se, With this mariage y^• goddes wereful wroth, For their aliaunce nature gan to loth: That a mother as ye shal vnderstande, Shoulde her son take to be her husbande.

There was therin no conuenience To be supported by kynde, ne by reason, But if it so be the heuenly influence Disposed it by the inclinacion Of some false froward constellacion, Caused by Saturne, or Mars the frowarde star, To engendre debate, or some mortal war.

In thys matter playnly thus I deme, Of no connyng, but of opinion: Though he were crowned w^t sceptre and dia∣deme To reigne in Thebes the strōg myghty toun, That some aspect came fro heuen adoun, Infortunate, frowarde, and full of rage, Which agayne kynde ioyned the mariage.

He crowned was by assent of all the towne, Flouryng a season by soueraynte of peece: And whyle he helde the possession, Sonnes and doughters he had doubtles. The fyrst sonne called Ethiocles, Polynices called was that other, (As sayth Bochas) the seconde brother.

Also he had goodly doughters twayne, The eldest called was ••ntigone, The seconde named was Imeyne: And both they were ryght fayre vnto se, The quene Iocasta might no gladder be Than to remembre whan they wexe in age, Her goddes had encresed their linage.

It was her ioye and her felicitie, To se her children, that were so inly fayre: But after ioye ther cometh aduersite, And hope assured wanhope doth oft appayre▪ Cōtrarious trust wyll gladly their repaire Wher false wenyng in hert is cōceyued, Through ignorāce, which hath many disceiued

What thynge in earth is more disceyuable, Than whan a man supposeth verily In prosperite for to stand stable, And from his ioye is remeued sodaynly▪ For where fortune is found to hasty, To trise folke, she is greuous to endure: For sodayne chaunges be hatefull to nature.

Vnware wo that cometh on gladnes, Is vnto hertes ryght passinge encombreous: And who hath felt his parte of wealfulnesse Sorowe suynge on, is to hym odious. And worst of al, and most contrarious Is whan estates highest of renoun, Ben frō their noblesse, sodenly brought doun.

There is no glory whych that shyneth here, That false fortune can so magnifie, But whan his laude brightest is & clere, She can eclips it wyth some cloudy s••••e Of vnware sorowe, onely of enuy: Seeth of Edippus an open euidence, Which by his life had experience

Of highe noblesse: and therwyth also, Parte importable of great aduersite: Hys ioye euer meynt wyth ful mortal wo. For while he reigned in Thebes the citie▪ And Iocasta with ful great ••o••alte, Within the countre there fyl a pestilence, The people infectyng with his violence.

Through all the land, and al the region, In euery age, but most greuously On them echone that were of that towne, The infection spred most specially: And of vengeaūce the swerd most rigorously, Day by day began to byte and ••a••ue,

Of ech estate causyng folke to sterue.

Thus began to encrease the mortalite: That euery man stode in ieopardy Of their lyues throughout the countre, So importable was their malady, That ye might heare the people clepe and cry, Dispeyred so were they of theyr lines, Voyde of all socour, & of their preseruatiues.

They sought herbes, & spices in their cofers, And began to seke for helpe & other socours: The cause enquiringe of prudent philosofers, And of their most experte diuinours, Why that the goddes wyth so sharpe shours Of pestilence, and in so cruel wyse Lyst them, alas, so mortally chastyse.

But among all, in soth this is the case, There was founde one ful prudent and wyse, A prophet, called Tiresias, Of prophecy hauyng a souerayne prise: Which affirmed, and sayd in thys wyse, As vnto him was shewed by myracle, Phebus him selfe declarynge the oracle:

Cause of this syckenes and these maladies, As the goddes plainly haue disposed, (And Senecke writeth also in hys tragedies) Though the cause be secrete and yclosed: Vnto the tyme there be a kyng deposed, Which slew his father & raft him his life, And hath also take his mother to his wyfe,

Tyll thys be done, and execute in dede, Ther may be made no redempcion: But pestilence shall multiply and sprede Euer more and more, through that region. Tyl vnto the tyme that he be put a doun Fro his crowne, whych not long agone His father slough, among his mortall fone,

And hath his mother wedded also, Agaynst lawe and agaynst al ryght: Tyll vengeaunce vpon that crime be do, There shalbe war, pestylence, and fighte, Sorowe, & strife, & euery maner wight Of veugeaunce hys neighbour shal hate, Brother w^t brother, & bloud w^t bloud debate.

This is al and some, there may be no socour. Whych brought the people in great heauynes, For Tiresias the great diuinour, By propher•• told them thus expresse: And at the last by tokens and witnes, Men vnderstode, by signes out shewyng, This pestilence was brought in by the kyng.

And though the people gaue no credence To Tiresias ne to his prophecy, The quene Iocasta caught au euidence, And in her hert a full great fantasy, Specially whan she dyde espie Of Edippus the fete that were wounded, How this tumour was on trouth ygrounded.

Because also there was a diuinour Which tolde tofore, that Edippus shoulde be To Layus of Thebes successour Wherby the kyng, the quene, and the ryte, Fyl in great trouble and great aduersite, Well more than I by writyng can report, For there was nothing y^t myght thē recōfort.

Ful oft in the day Iocasta gan to swoune, And kyng Edippus to sobbe, crye and wepe, In salte teares as they them would drown: Deth crāpishing in to their hert gan crepe, A day cōplainyng, a night they may not slepe, Cursynge the houre of their natiuyte, That they should lyue that day for to se.

Their mortall chaunce, their dedly auenture, Their fortune also whych gan on thē froun, Inpacient, and doleful to endure, Their froward fate, wyth their lokes broun: The kynge foryre caste away his crowne, And began to ••ace, for cōstraint of his payne, Out of his heed his wofull eyen twayne.

Day and night he cried after deth, Hatefull to come in any mannes sight: Most desirous to yelde vp the breth, Woful in hert to come in any light, Coorbed for sorow, feble to stande vpright, And specially in hys deedly distres, For drede and shame he dared in derkenes.

The cruel constr••int of his most grenance Was, that his sonnes had hym in dispyte: Which gan his sorowe greatly to auance, For him to scorne was set all their delite, Was neuer none that stode in worse plyte, For thus lyeng and destitute of chere, Vnto the goddes he made his prayere:

Beseching thē with a ful doleful herte, Vpon his wo to haue sum compassion: And that they would for to auenge his ••inert,

Bitwene his sonnes make a diuision, Eche to brynge other to distruction. Thys was his prayer in substaunce, That eche on other may take vengeaunce.

In yeres fewe, for their vnkyndnesse, They herd his prayer as ye haue herd deuise: The bretherne two through their cursidnes, Eche gan other mortally dispise, For lacke of grace, and for false couetyse: Eche for his partie desirous in dede Tofore other to reigne and succede.

And thus these bretherne most infortunate, Bitwene them selfe fill at discencion: And finally, this vnkindly debate Brought al Thebes to distruccion. Yet was there made fyrst a conuencion By enterchangīg y^• eche should reigne a yere, The tother absent to play, & come no nere.

This concluded by their both assent And by accorde of that region, Polynices rode forth and was absent, Ethiocles toke fyrst possession: But whan the ye re by reuolucion Was come about, he false of his entent, Vnto the accorde denied to assent.

Thys was a cause of theyr both striues: Polynices was thus put out of his ryght, Tyll Adrastus that kyng was of Argyues, which thorow al Grece gretest was of might, Sent vnto Thebes, Tideus a knyght, Hys sonne in lawe, to treat of thys matter, And the cause finally to lere:

Wher through the kyng called Ethiocles, Would condiscende of truth and of reason, To stynt warre, and to cherishe pece: After the accorde and composicion Vp to deliuer Thebes that mighty towne, Vnto his brother, whych absēt was without, Now that his yere was fully come about.

But he was false, and frowardly gan vary, Ethiocles from hys conuenci••n: For whych Adrastus no lenger would tary Whan Tideus had made relacion, But called anone throughout his region All the worthy, both nere and farre, Ayenst Thebes for to begyn a warre.

For thys cause lyke as ye shal lere, Polynices to force hys partie Ywedded had the kynges doughter dere I meane of Adrastus, floure of chyualry, Whan Tideus dyd him certifye Touchinge the answere of Ethiocles, And of his truth, how he was recheles,

False of hys promyse, & cursedly forsworne. For to hys truth none aduertence had he, Neyther to the accord y^t was made beforne Touchyng y^• deliueraūce of Thebes the citie: But who that lyst the storye clerely se Of these two bretherne, and their discencion, And howe Adrastus lay to fore the toun,

And howe Tideus through his high prowes, Fought by the way going on message: And how of Grece all the worthines, Wyth kyng Adrastus went in this viage, And of the mischefe that fyll in that passage For lacke of water, tyll that I siphile Norishe of Ligurgus so fayre vpon to se,

Taught Tideus to fynde out a riuer, She that dyd in fayrnesse so excell: Ne howe the serpent most vgly of his chere, Of ••ig Ligurgus y^• childe slough at the well: Neyther howe Amphiorax fyll doun to hel, All to declare me semed was no nede, For in the siege of Thebes ye may it rede

The storye hole: and made there is mencion Of either parte, their puissaūce, & their might And how Adrastus lay tofore the toun, And how they inette euery daye in fyght. And howe Tideus the famous knyght So re••omed in actes marcial, Was slayne, alas as he fought on the wal.

And howe the bretherne met among the prese, Lyke two Tigres or lions that were wode, With sharpe speres, this is doutlesse, Eueryche of them shed others hert bloud: This was the fyne, & thus with thē itstode, Saue at their feestes called funerall, There fell a marueyle which I tel shal.

Whan they were brent in to ashes dede, Of their enuy there fyll a ful great wonder Amonge the brondes and the coles rede, Hyghe in the ayre the smokes went a sunder, The one to one party, and that other yonder. To declare the storye, me list not fayne, The gret hatered y^• was bitwixt hem twayn.

Thus for their yre, and false discention, All the lordes and all the chiualrye, Were slayne of Grece, and also of the towne, And rote of all (myne aucthour list not lye) Was false alyaunce, and fraternall enuy: And chefe grounde with all the surplusage, Who serche aright, was vnkyndly maryage.

The quene Iocasta felt her part of payne, To se her chylder eche of them slea other: Her son, her lorde, blynde on his eyen twayne Which to his sons was father & also brother, Fortune would it shoulde be none other. Also Parchas sisters which be in nūber thre, Spanne so the threde at their natiuitie.

Also whan Iocasta stode thus disconsolate, And sawe of Thebes the subuersion, The countrey destroyed, and made desolate, The gentle bloude shedde of that region: Without comfort or consolacion, Thought she myght be no more appeyred, But of all hope fully loe dispayred.

Trist and heauy, pensyfe, and spake no word, Her sorowes olde and newe she gan aduert, Toke the sworde of hym that was her lorde, w^t which Edippus smot Layus to the hart: She to ••inyshe all her paynes smarte And fro the body her soule to deuide, Ro••e her selfe throughout euery syde.

She wery was of her wofull life, Seyng of Fortune the great frowardnes, How her diffame and slaunder was so rife, And of Edippus the great wretchednes. Also of her sonnes the great vnkindnes, All these thinges weyed on her so sore, That for distresse she list to liue no more.

Bochas writeth concernyng her fayrenes, Constraynt of sorow caused it to fade: The famous light also of her noblesse And all the clearenes of her dayes glade, With vnware harmes, she was so ouer lade, Of very anguyshe that she her selfe did hate, So inly contrary disposed was her fate.

Thus death deuoureth with his bitter gall Ioye and sorow, auoyde of all mercy: And with his dart he maketh downe to fall Riche and pore, them markyng sodaynly. His vnware stroke smiteth indifferently, From him refusyng fauour and all mede, Of all estates he taketh so little hede.

Better is to dye than liue in wretchednes, Better is to dye than euer lyue in payne, Better is an ende than deadly heauines, Better is to dye than euer in wo remayne: And where y^• mischefe doth folke to cōplaine By wofull cōstraynt of long cōtinuaunce, Better it is to dye thā liue in suche greuaūce.

Taketh ensample hereof and a priefe, Of kyng Edyppus that was so long ago, Of quene Iocasta that felt so great mischiefe, And of their children remember also, Whiche euer liued, in enuy, sorow and wo. Fortune, alas, duryng all their dayes, Was so frowarde to them at all assayes.

Touching Edippus processe finde I none, What ende he made in conclusion: Saue Bochas writ howe that kyng Creon, Cosen and heyre by succession, Exiled him chayned farre out of the towne. Where he endured mischefe, sorow, and drede Tyll Attropos vntwyned his liues threde.

☞ Lenuoy.

IN this tragedy thre thinges ye may se: The pryde of Iabin & false presumption Of quene Iocasta the great aduersitie, Of kyng Edippus the inclinacion To vyces all: and the diuision Of the two brethren, playnly vs to assure Kyngdomes deuided may no while endure.

☞Omne regnum in se diuisum desolabitur.

For who sawe euer kyngdome or countrey Stande in quiete of possession, But if there were, ryght, peace, and equitie, And iust accorde without discention, Voyde of vntruth and false collusion▪ Plainly declaryng by ensample and scripture Kingdomes deuided may no while endure.

Seeth here example of Thebes the citye, And how that noble myghty region Through their frowarde false duplicitie, With warre were brought to destruction, Their promise broken, & their couert treason, Shewed by their harmes ipossible to recure, Kingdomes deuided may no while endure.

Princes, princesses which haue the souerain∣tie Ouer the people, and domination, Ifye lyst longe lyue in felicitie, Cherishe your subiectes, do none extorcion. And aduertise, of wysdome and reason, As this tragedy dothe to you discure, Kyngdomes deuided may no while endure.

The .x. Chapter.

☞ How Atreus kynge of Messene wrought ayenst his brother Thiestes, slew his thre children, dismembred them in pieces & made Thiestes to eat of their flesh, & drinke of their bloud.

BOchas the Poete auctour of this boke Him purposyng to gather and compile Diuers stories, anone his penne he toke: Him remembryng within a little while, In this chapitle began direct his style To write the story, hye and compendious, A forne all other, of duke Theseus

Lorde of Athens, a famous great citye, Right strong and myghty on euery side. But at his backe Bochas did one se, Which cryed loude, and bade he shold abide: Bochas (quod he) fro the me list not hide My wofull case, ne in no wise spare, My piteous complaynt to the to declare.

I am Thiestes besprent all with wepyng, Drowned in teares as thou maiest well se: Sometyme sonne of the mighty kyng Pelops, and borne also parde Of quene Hippodamea excellent of beautye. And for thou art desirous to endite Of people vnhappy and their wo to write,

My will is this anone that thou procede. Turne thy style, and take thy penne bliue, Leaue Theseus and take of hym none hede, But first my tragedy that thou discryue: For I suppose that in all thy lyue, That thou saw neuer a thing more dolorous More vnhappy, frowarde, ne more piteous

Than is, alas, my mortall aduenture: Incomperable, the sorow surmounting Of quene Iocasta, most wofull creature, Or of Edippus his fate euer complaynyng For my complaynt hath none endyng But lasteth euer, and beareth me witnes, No wo resembleth vnto my heauines.

And with y^• worde John Bochas styll stode▪ Full soberly to geue him audience: And in the place demurely abode. To hear the substaunce of his mortal offence, Whiche thus began to shewe the sentence. O John (quod he) I pray the take good hede My wo to write, that men may it reade.

Alas, my brother rote of vnkyndenes, Atreus called of reason, sours and well, And finder out of treason and falsenes, (For all other in fraude he doth precell) Whose couert hate is more than I can tell, I supposyng of very innocence In him no malice, disceite, nor none offence,

But as brother should a brother trust, I trusted him, of hart, will, and, thought: By apparence none other cause I wyst, For in his person I supposed nought That euer he culd so false a thig haue wroght But who may soner another man deceyue, Than he in whom no malice men conceyue▪

I demed of him as of my true brother, Wenyng he had faythfull ben to me: I sawe no signe, ne I knew none other, In him suposynge no duplicitie. But wo alas, how might it euer be, Or who did euer in any story finde, Bloude vnto bloude to be so vnkynde?

I will passe ouer to tell the worthines, Touching the estates of our progenitours, Of our kynred, and the great noblesse, I tell nothing nether of our predecessours, Ne of my youth, howe passed ben the floures: I leaue all this, and vnto mynde call The wretchednes that I am in fall.

My brother founde a false occasion Ayenst me, and began a cause feyne To banish me out of our region: And began at me of hatred to disdayne, Vpon me affirmyng in certayne In our kingdome whiche called is Missene, I should haue lien by his wyfe the quene.

This he compassed full falsely of malice, Him selfe well knowyng that it was not so: Euer founde vnkynde and misauise, Not like my brother, but like my deadly ••o. And to encrease great percell of my wo, By long processe in his entencion,

He ••••••••gined my destruction.

And his chefe cause was false couetise Touchyng this thing which he did fame And yet this kyngdome truely to deuise, Should haue bē departed betwene vs twaine But ayenst truth he did so ordayne, Me to exyle out of that region, Him selfe alone to haue possession.

Yet in his hart he cast an other wile, To my vndoyng and desolation, To the place whence he did me exile Vnder a shadowe of false collusion, To make a mane•• reuocation: Of brotherhead shewyng a pretence, Me to restore ayen to his presence.

To be accepted as a brother shoulde: With full accorde styll with hym to abide, All miuries of whyche afore I tolde, On either party forget and set asyde. That nothing after should our loue deuide, But of one will and one entencion, Leade all our lyfe without deuision.

Wherof the people were full glad and lyght, Throughout Missene that mighty region. At my resortyng founde I euery wyght Ready of hart and whole affection Me to receyue into that noble towne. And none so ready by sygnes out shewyng, To make me chere in sothe as was the kyng.

There is no domage in comparison, That may be lykened by no resemblaunce To fayned truth and simulation, Whan fraude is hyd w^t a fayre countenaunce, Pretendyng truth outward by deceyuaunce, And vndernethe of most false entent, Of doublenesse dareth the serpent.

As vnder flowers is shrowded the dragon, For to betray by sodayne vyolence, Suche folke as haue no suspection, But truely meane in their pure innocence, Till they be caught dispurueyed of defence: Or as a fishe with bayte of false pleasaunce, The hoke not sene is brought to mischaunce:

Thus semblably at my home commyng, I was receyued with euery circumstaunce: Lyke as halfe heyre and brother to the kynge. And he pretendyng as by countenaunce, That he had so inly great pleasaunce Of my repayre, of truth he tolde so For reioysyng that he sayed he woulde go

Vnto his gods to do some obseruaunce For this accorde, and humble sacrifice: Made his ministers w^t faythful attendaunce To wayte on me in all their best wise. It nedeth not to tell ne deuise Neither by wrytyng in bokes sor to set, Halfe the ioye he made whan we mette.

First how frendly he did me embrace, Of harty gladnes within his armes twaine▪ And how for ioye the teares on his face Full entirely gan distyll and rayne: That for my party he could not me restraine, But that I must of frendshyp fraternall, Wepe as did he, in his estate royall.

The wily wolfe that cast him to deuou•• The sely lambe whiche can no defence, Ne none helpe him selfe to succour, So feble he is to make resistence, Whiche demeth truth of false apparence, What wonder is it the fraude not conceiued Though such lambes vnwarely be disceiued?

Though that roses at midsomer be full sote, Yet vnderneth is hyd a full sharpe spyne: Some freshe floures haue a full bitter rote, And lothsom galle can suger vndermine, In dredful stormes y^• sunne amōg doth shyne And vnder a shadow of fayned frendlyheade There is no frendshyp so perillous to dreade.

Thus remēbryng the faythful wordes stable Of my brother shewed vnto me At our metyng the kissyng amiable, The assured couenauntes of our fraternitie, But oft time men may beholde and se That lilies growen amōg these nettles thicke And ••••oure delice in mids these wedes wicke.

Thus while I rested in the kynges house, Nothing aduertyng his deadly cruelty, His old hatred was so venemous, And so odible to destroy me: Him selfe to auenge he toke my children thre, And sikerly is it not a wonder, He cut their throtes with a knife asunder.

For he thought that it did him good Them to dismember into peces small:

And in a dessell for to gather their bloude While they say still and loked on him pale. This was his dede in a desert vale Within a caue that no man should espy, Treason conspired of his false tyranny.

This was the substaunce of his sacrifice, To slee my childer, & make their harts blede. I trowe the Gods therof did agrise, Of his false offrynge whan they toke hede. He did their membres after rost and sede, And with this vyande most abhominable He made me to be serued at the table.

In couert cruses (also thus it stode) To staūch mi thirst through his cruel vēgeāce He made me vnknowe drynke their bloud. Was not this thing to goddes displeasaunce? Yes I dare saye, for by demonstraunce, Vpon this dede without more obstacle, The sunne in heauen shewed a myracle:

Whiche sore agrysed might not beholde With his beames theron to cast his syght, For displeasaūce his clearenes gan w^tholde And for vengeaunce to withdraw his lyght, The day turnyng for horrour into nyght, Whan he shone bryghtest in his midday spere, Shrowded his face and woulde not appere.

But I alas vpon this case horrible That coulde not ymagyn ne thynke, On any matter that was so odible, Eat their fleshe, their bloude also did drynke: Whiche so sore dothe to mine hart synke, That I may not touchyng this aduenture The circumstaunce for constraint discure.

It nedeth me not to make rehearsayle Touchynge mine exyle, of all maner thinges, Of diuers sorowes that me did assayle, My wofull sighes, ne my greuous wepings: Ne vpon nightes my dolorous wakinges. My pouert, nether how I stode in drede, To lese my life, wherof Bochas take hede.

And remembre all the circumstaunces, If euer thou sawest of high or low degre, More contrary or more vnhappy chauntes, Than thou hast heard remembred here of me Wey in balaunce my sorowes, let me se If any sorowe or mischefe vnrecured, May counterpayse to that I haue endured?

Mine infortunes I founde them aye so fell Without fauour and succoure, dispurueyed. My brother on me was euer so cruell, That I full oft desiered to haue died: For to this day my spirite hath ben conueyed With sorow and wo deuoyde of all refuge, Wherfore I pray the, O Bochas be my iuge.

And in thy writyng leaue me not behynde, Nether in thy boke that thou not disdayne, Among tho folke that thou haue me in mynd, Which y^t for sorow, wepe, wayle, and playne: And thus Thiestes rehearsyng all his paine, Like as he would him selfe in pieces rende, Made vnto Bochas of his tale an ende.

The .xi. Chapter.

¶ How Atreus excuseth him selfe of murder, and of his brothers aduoutry done with Europa quene.

ATreus came after with a full pale chere And of enuy full dead in his vysage, Vnto Bochas gan to approche nere, Like as he had be fallen in a rage, And furiously abrayde in his langage, How may this be that like a man were wode Thiestes hath his venym sow abrode?

And like a rybaude falsly me accused? Notwithstandyng that I full clearely se Mine infortunes which may not be refused, So sore alas they worke agaynst me. And though Thiestes false and vntrue be, And vnto the Bochas with a face pale Agaynst me hath forged here a tale.

Whiche in effect shalbe found vntrue, If I haue time my complaynt to declare: For I purpose to tell a tale newe Fro poynt to poynt, and for no man spare, How he was ground and rote of all my care, And ouer, like as it is befall, Reherce the beginnyng of my sorowes all.

Sometime whan I raigned in Missene, Of age lusty flouryng in my freshenes, With my wife Europa that was quene, Most reuomed that time of fayrenes, Thiestes than as grounde of all falsenes, As a traytour his tyme did espye, Through his false fraude and flattery,

Compassed a meane within my citye,

By sleighty wyles that were incomparable, To corrupt my wiues chastitie, My bedde defoulyng a thing intollerable, And to the Gods very abhominable: Vsyng the quene to his fleshely pleasaunce, Tyll vnto the tyme that in continuaunce

She by him had sonnes two or thre, Echone brought forth in false aduoutry: Demyng none other but they had be Mine owne children, till that I did espye How this swyne through his false lechery This Thiestes, after Europa Lay with his daughter called Pelopeia.

And by processe forthe a chylde she brought Called Egistus whiche whan he came to age As saith Bochas much treason wrought: For by his malice and his great outrage, Destroyed was all whole the lynage Of Tantalus, whiche by his liuyng In Frygia raygned as lorde and kyng.

But this Egistus of whom I spake toforne Falsely begotten (mine auctour sayth y^e same) Of Pelopeia, anone as he was borne, To hyde the slaunder, and also the fame, Of Thiestes, and also to saue his name, Whan he was but a day of age, He was out cast to beastes sauage

To be deuoured: the story is well couthe. A melche gote God lyst for him prouide, To foster him in his tender youthe. He nyght and day liynge by her syde, Within the forest thus he did abyde: Vnto the tyme he gan growe in age, Than to the court he holdeth his passage.

Wherfore (O Bochas) of hart I pray the, Whiche of these stories is most terrible Of Edippus, Iocasta, or of me▪ Tel on anone if it be possible, Whiche of these sorowes is most penible? Of the Thebane brethren ful of wo and tene, Or of vs twayne brethren of Missene?

I am aknowe as for my party, Of vengeaunce I did a cruell dede: I slough his children of malyce and enuy, And tosted them whan they were deade, Onely bicause, if thou list take hede. That he begate thē, as rote of all this stryfe, Vpon Europa which that was my wife.

Such hatefull thinges ech man should lothe, Which apparteyneth to murder and treson: Thus may I saye we be vnhappy both. He first by trespace of fornication, Done by the quene wythin my region: And I slaundred on that other syde, Of hasty vengeaunce to be an homicyde.

My bedde he defouled by his aduoutry, To God and man a thing most detestable: And I of malice and false melancholy, Slough his childer, & serued thē at the table. Thus enterchaunging if it be commendable, Eche was desyrous throughe our vnhappye chaunce Vpon other to do vengeaunce.

Our great hatred most odious found of all, Our crueil dedes wrought on eyther syde, Senecke reherceth them in especiall In his tragedies, and there he dothe deuide Our complayntes, our malice, and our pryde Our fatall ende in sorow and mischefe fyned, Whan Attropos our liues threde vntwyned.

Whan John Bochas fully had espied Of these two brethren the accusations, And how they had maliciously replyed, Eche agaynst other in their discentions, He began duly to heare their mocions: Put vp his pen, & wrote not more a word, Of their fury, ne of their false discorde.

¶ Lenuoy.

THis tragedy sheweth a fygure, A maner of ymage and also likenes. How contrary it is vnto nature, Bloude vnto bloud to shew vnkyndnes: This wofull story can well beare witnes, All such debates ben as ye shall fynde, Hatefull to God and contrary vnto kynde.

For there is no more dreadfull aduenture Than in kynred to fynde frowardnes, Neither no domage more perilous tendure, Than in frēdshyp whan there is straūgenes: A maner party by example I dare expresse. To se the tree debate agaynst the rynde, To God right hateful, and contrary to kynd.

Euery beast, and euery creature Loueth his sēblable of kynde right I gesse: And whā in one truth doth tway harts assure Vndeparted of very perfitenes,

It were a vycious frowarde cursednes▪ Their loue to vnknytte, to lose, or vnbinde, Hatefull to God, and contrary vnto kynde.

Princes, pryncesses, do your busy cure, Frō you to auoyd, strife, fraude, & doublenes: Remember you vpon the vnhappy cure Of these two brethrē, and their wretchednes, And of their bothe malicious wilfulnes, And of their strife, haue this well in mynde: To God right hatefull, and contrary to kind.

¶ The .xii. Chapter.

☞ Of duke Thesius and Ariadne that saued his life in a caue, and how he like a forsworne man forsoke her, and wedded fayre Phedra, which after slewe her selfe.

A Thenes whan it was in his floures, Was called nourish of philosophers wise Princesse of poetes and expert oratours, Sūme of all sciences as clarkes can deuise, Whence all cunnyng most clearely did aryse: Named of Grece the lanterne and the light, Which through al erth shed his bemes bright

With noble titles which ben out of number In euery coast his renome did shyne: The fame therof was clipsed w^t none vmber, All other scholes it did so enlumine, For in that citye plamely to determine, Of the .vii. artes, as frō one head did spring As out of riuers, streames of all cunuyng.

These sciences were called liberall, Onely of fredome, fraunchise, and libertie, For of a stocke that were proued thrall, There should no braunch study in that citye: But the ilke bloude that were founde free, Bothe by discent, and liniall high noblesse, There to scholey should haue entresse.

This citye was sacred to Mynerue, For their wisdome and their sapience: Of Mercury the feastes they obserue, For rethorike and for eloquence. And mighty Mars gaue them influence With glad aspectes, their party to amende, Nobles of knighthode, their cleargy to defēd

This toune was nobled bi title of other thin∣ges And most glorious rekened in that age, By succession of dukes and of kynges, Among which, duke Thesius by lynage Sonne of Egistus, full freshe in his courage, Excellyng all of prudence and manhede That euer did the crowne there possede.

For to that citye through his noblesse. In their defence, such trust, such affiaunce, He gaue to them by his expert prowes, Of his triumphes so great aboundaunce: And specially their renome to auaunce, He made them free their truage to lete, Ayenst Mynos the mighty kyng of Crete.

For by his force (the story is well couthe) Them to franchise and all that region, The Mynotaur he slough in tender youth. And afterwarde he of deuocion, To acquite him selfe like a champion, Therof made solemne sacrifice, To Jupiter in most humble wise.

And of a Theatre called Maraton, Duke Theseus had the victorye, After he went to Colchos with Jason, Chiefe of counsayle, as made is memory. And by processe to augment his glory, With Hercules his brother to conucy, Agaynst Amasones he went to warrey.

Conquered them, his manhode was wel sene, His force, his noblesse, in that mortall stryfe: And after that Ipolita the quene This Theseus toke vnto his wife. And for his brother he ieoparded his lyfe, Duke Perithous, whan he did vndertake The Centaures to outray for his sake.

This Centaures poetes specifye, And Seruius maketh mencion, How they were sumtyme engendred on a sky Whan first their father called Ixion Was enamored full many a day agone, Vpon Juno, because she was so fayre, Gouernesse, and goddesse of the ayre.

This Ixion was her secretary. And for her fayrenes and excellent beauty, Loued her hote: albeit she was contrary To his desire, Bochas read and ye may se: Him to delude, he writeth how that she Her selfe transformed, as she y^• might & could, Into the likenes of an heauenly cloude.

This Ixion playnly supposyng It was her selfe: and euen thus he wrought The cloude embracyng w^tout more tatiynge, Of his foly the goddesse there he sought. And w^t their medlyng forth they brought The Centaures, these beastes matuelous, Whiche of nature ben founde monstruous.

Halfe mā, halfe horse, departed thus in twain And wonderfull by their discription, Of false malyce did them selfe ordayne, On Pirithous to make enuasion: And him to put out of possession Of his wife called Ipodamen, And her to rauishe maugry all his men.

There were of thē an hundred in number, Swift as the winde in their course runnyng Whiche of malyce cast them to encumber, Duke Pirithous the day of his weddyng: And to rauysh his wyfe at their commyng, If for his party there were no defence Agaynst their power to make resistence.

But Theseus lyst not to delay, Pirithous his brother to defende: First the Centaures knyghtly he did outray, So mortally, they durst not him offende, After the conquest to hell they did descende, Duke Pirithoe: and worthy Theseus, Maugry the daunger of cruell Cerberus.

There they rauished in their mortall tene Through their knyghthode, if ye list to lere, Despite of Pluto, Proserpina the quene Whiche of Jupiter was the daughter dere. And Pirithous founde first the manere Of wilfull force through his high renoun, Realmes to conquere, and hold in possession.

But by writyng sothly of Duyde, He playnly telleth how duke Theseus Arested was in hell, and must abyde, By the force of cruell Cerberus. And Pluto was to hym contrarious, Tyll Pirithous to fynde a relees, The case declared vnto Hercules.

Whiche of his knighthode a remedy founde: To helpe his frende did his busy paine, First by his prowes Cerberus he bounde At hell gates wyth a treble chayne. And of his manhode he did so ordayne, Duke Theseus from daunger to discharge, Maugry of Pluto for to go at large.

They were in armes brethren bothe twayne, Loued as brethren bothe in warre and pees, That neither coulde vnto other frayne: Their life to ieopard, and put thē self in prees And both as brethren were called Hercules, To signify (Poetes can well tell) This name in conquest all other doth excell.

By olde tyme they that were pereles For their nobles in diuers regions, All they for manhode were named Hercules. Such as were noysed for famous champions Tygres to daunt, eke boares, and lyons: And renoumed among them euerychone, Bechas affirmeth that Theseus was one.

First (as I sayd) by his knyghtly trauayle Whan Athens stode in deuision, Among them selues by warre and battayle, By his wisdome and his discrecion, To set accord within that noble towne Them that were exiled & stode in no certeyne He of his knyghthode made thē resort ayen.

He gaue thē lawes wherby thei shold thē gye Noble statutes founded of reason: Set amonge them so prudent policy In their liuyng, that no discention Shoulde aryse by none occasion, Among them selues in hye or lowe estate, Prouidyng euer that there were no debate.

Thus began the city encrease and multiplye, To waxe famous of wisdome and richesse: There sprong the well fyrst of Philosophy, There first of knyghthode rose the hye nobles By Theseus, Bochas beareth wytnes, Thus thinges two like as it is founde, Cleargy and lawe did there first abounde.

For to set the citye in quiete He made peace through all that region: And of knyghthode he manly did mete The cruell tyrant that called was Creon. Maugre him made restitucion Of lordes bones that were at Thebes slayn, To the ladyes, wherof they were full fayne.

Thus through Grece his renome spradde, His knyghtly fame began to multiply: And long in ioye thus his life he ladde, While that Fortune list him magnify.

But aye her ioye is meynt with some enuy, For she froward list no more soiourne With Theseus, but began her to face tourne

Away fro him: wexe peruerce and froward, Of his glory, vngoodly gan to doubul, Downe frō her whele, she made go backward Of his good name she gan the fethers pull, Whan his noblesse was highest at full, I meane the full of his felicitye, There folowed an ebbe of great aduersitie.

And moreouer her frowardly to aquite, His vnhaps rehearsyng one by one, One the first, as Bochas list to endite, Was when he lay in Crete among his fone: And out of pryson should into Grece gone, Repayryng homeward & him selfe w^tdrawe, The Mynotaur whan he had yslawe.

The first empryse that he vndertoke, Was whan he escaped the importable payne, Of Mynotaurs, like as sayth my boke: And w^t him had the kings daughters twayne That he of malice falsely list disdayne: Ayenst ••ryadne which did him saue From the death, whan he lay in the caue,

Should haue ben slaine had not his socour be In his repayre he toke therof no hede: He left her alone in great aduersitye, Within an yle, in mischefe, sorowe and drede. And fayre Phedra with him he did lede, Wedded her like a forsworne man, Thus w^t vntruth his mischefe first began.

How Phedra quither, y^• story is well know: In his absence, Bochas writeth thus, Whan that she within a little throwe Loued agaynst kynde, her sonne Ipolitus. But he to her was contrarious, Woulde not assent to so foule a dede, For shame he fled, & percel also for drede.

To his father she him did accuse, As ye toforne haue the story sene: And for he did her company refuse, He went away and came neuer agayne. For ye haue heard how that he was slayne, Within a chare through his vnhappy chaūce: And how Phedra through vengeaunce,

Slough her selfe, agaynst all womanhede, Here in this boke tofore as I you tolde. Of which thing whan Thesius toke hede, Thought it was vēgeaunce for his offēce old: For he not quit him like as he was beholde, To Ariadne whiche should haue be his wyfe, By whose succour he scaped with his lyfe.

This infortune and this vnhappy chaunce Was to his nobles full contrarious, The death also was to him a vengeaunce, Of his sonne called Ipolitus: For sorow of whom this duke Theseus With salt teares sore began to playne, And helde the exequies of the ilke twayne.

I trowe also it did him sore greue, Duke Pirotheus whan he sawe deade. Slayne with a beast, and myght not releue, Of kig Orchus hoūd which had a treble head Whose teeth hortible of his bloud were redde: Whiche infortune when he gan beholde, Vnto the death he felt his hart colde.

And for to reken the great wretchednes, The vnhappy chaunces y^• fell him in his lyfe, Among all his other great distresses, Was none so mortall and so full of strife, As was whan he gaue credence to his wyfe, Phedra called, whiche of intencion Compassed vntruely an accusation

Vpon Ipolytus, of hatred and enuy, Because he woulde not do so great offence, As for to assent to her lechery: Therfore of death he felt the vyolence. And for his father to sone gaue credence, Bochas forbade husbandes all their lyues, Without prefe, not leue to sone their wyues.

Neither be to hasty tales for to leue Of flaterers, in chamber ne at the table: Forgers of lesyngs my auctor doth wel preue To abide w^t lordes that they be not able, Here on he maketh a chapitle notable, And of his wrytyng this was the cause why, That prynces should examyne eche party.

Of wisdome also, and of discrecion, Without a prefe not be parciall, For to a prynce it is confusion, If betwene parties he be not found egall: Caused many one for to haue a fall▪ God suffreth such not longe to contune Withdraw their grace, & hindreth their fortūe

Thus Theseus for his hastines His happe, his grace, discreased day by day. The fame appalled of his worthines, And frowarde fortune also in a wayte lay For his defautes, to hinder him if she may, Cast she woulde his nobles disauaunce: And than his kyngdome by disobeysaunce.

From him w^tdrawe honour and reuerence, Full frowardlye through all his region They of Athens by cruell vyolence, Fyll agaynst him in rebellion: That he was fayne to flye out of that towne, Thus hath fortune darked the bryghtnes Of all his nobles, and cast hym in distresse.

Thus was the ende by great contrarioustie, Of Theseus, after hys dayes glade, Whan the freshe floure of olde felicitie Fortune aduerse made them for to fade. Eche thyng must bowe whan it is ouerlade, Worshyp & honour whan they brightest shine w^t vnware chaunges than rathest do declyne.

☞ Lenuoy.

THe vnsure gladnes, the ioye transitory, The vnstable surenes, the transmutatiōs, The clowdy brightnes, the false eclipsed glory Of earthly prynces, whiche haue possessions, Monarchies and dominacions, Their sodayne chaunge declareth to vs all Their swete suger is meynt with bitter gall.

This blynde goddesse in her consistory, With her pleasaunce medleth discentions: After triumphes, conquest, and victory, Reueth from kynges their scepters & crowns Troubleth the people with false rebellions, Se these dukes which from the whele be fall Al worldly suger is meynt with bytter gall.

This tragedy maketh memory Of dukes twayne, and of their hye renounes, And of their loue write a great history, And how they conquered diuers regions: Gouerned cities, countreyes, & also townes, Tyll fortune their prowes did appall, To shew their suger was meint w^t bitter gal.

Prynces, pryncesses, se how deceptory, Ben all these worldly reuolutions: And how fortune in her reclinatory, With her treacle tempreth false poysons. So marueilous ben her confections, Of frowardnes she wyll what so befall, Euer with her suger of custome temper gall.

¶ The .xiii. Chapter.

¶ Here Bochas writeth agaynste them that geueth hastye credence to lyers and flatterers.

IN this chapter Bochas in sentence, Repreueth & blameth not onely princes, But all them that lyghtly geueth credēce To euery tale and fable whiche is Reported vnto them for sothfastnesse: And list nothing do as it were due, To proue the truth were it false or true.

All though so be in euery maner age Folkes ben diuers of condicions, To turne, plye, and chaunge in their courage To outher party with sodayne mocions, And for to bowe by transmutations With euery wynde as the vnstable leaues, Which hang on trees, in forestes & in greues.

But of al chaūges y^• chaunge is most to drede And most fearfull is that variaunce, Whā that princes whych may the people lede, Ben founde vnstable in their gouernaunce: For their nobles and their hye puissaunce Assureth them by a maner of forme, What euer thē list to accomplyshe & performe

To cōmen profite they most may aueyle, Whan they ben ruled by wisdome and reason And to the people they may most disaueyle, Whan they lacke wytte and discrecion. Thus betwene twayne in euery region The people draweth, who that can discerne, To good or badde as prynces them gouerne.

They may not be to hasty, ne to sodayne, But do all thyng by good aduisement: Kepe thē fro tonges y^t parted be in twayne, Not be to hasty to geue no iudgement: And of folkes whan they ben absent, Lieue no tales▪ neither geue no credence, Tyll that the party may come to euidence.

Sumtime hath happed that slowe credence Hath in some be founde full noyons, But hasty credence I dare say in sentence, A thousande folde is more perillous: For vnaduised all haste is odious.

For haste full oft for lacke of reason, Of muche people hath ben destruction.

There is no domage that men can purpose More to be dradde nor more lamentable Than a prynce his eares to vnclose To euery tale and euery fable: It is a token their hartes be not stable, Whan they to flatterers their eares do apply Namely to suche that can well forge & lye.

Folke ben diuers, some false, some true, In diuers studies done their busines: Some can study, and finde out tales newe, And some for lucre can maintayne falsenes, And holde vp quarels ayenst ryght wisenes. Pretendyng truth vnder a false entent, To hinder folkes whiche ben innocent.

Men to suppose it were a great folye That folkes shoulde in their opinion Speake or pronounce all on one party, Or holde one way in their intencion: For semblably as there is a diuision Of courages, of hye or lowe degre, So is there truly a great diuersitie

In rehearsall, or report of a thing. For to his party eche man is fauourable, Some man can say well in al his rehearsyng Some man is double, and some disceauable: Some men say true, and some be variable, Wherfore a prynce of ryght as it doth seme, Should well examen before that he deme.

For there is none more dreadfull pestilence, Than a tonge that can flatter and fage: For wyth his cursed crabbed vyrulence, He enfecteth folke of euery age. Wo to tonges froward of their langage, And wo to tonges, false, furious, and wode, Which of no person neuer can say good.

Bochas rehearseth, it is right well sittyng That euery man other do commende, And say the best alway in reportyng: For in well saiyng no man may offende, Where men say well god will his grace send. After as men be, mē must their praise vpraise Like their merites alowe them or disprayse.

But where a thing is vtterly vnknowe, Let no man there be hasty of sentence: For ryghtfull iudges sittyng on a rowe Of their wisdome and of their hye prudence, Will of trouth haue first some euidence. (I meane such as gouerned be by grace) Or any dome forthe of their lippes pace.

A prynce should assemble thinges twayne Within him selfe, full prudently: Shut vp the domes betwene lockes twayne, One of the soule: to reason for that party Prudence chosen, and right for the body. And betwene them bothe or he geue sentence, To counsayle call truth and good conscience.

First to consider wyth euery circumstaunce, And diligently do theron his laboure, Of discrecion to take the balaunce: And first wey out who is the accusour, And whether that he for falsenes or fauoure, In his processe list to procede, Hereof a prynce must of ryght take hede.

He must also consider by and by What he is, that to him is accused, And whether the accusour, be frend or enemy Or whether he shalbe accept or refused. In his actes this must afore be mused. And whether he be by report of his name, A man well noysed, or slaundred by diffame.

If Thesius thus had ben auysed, And considered of reason the manere: He had not so hastely deuised His sonnes death, like as ye shall leare. For if there had assembled be in fere, In his person, prudence and reason, He shoulde haue sene in his descrecion.

By knowlegyng of long experience, Of his wyfe the great vnstedfastnes: Which through her false compassed eloquence Was ready euer to bryng folke to distresse. And in his writyng Bochas beareth witnes, Of their nature women can flatter and fage, And be sumtyme to copious of their langage.

Also of wisdome, duke Thesius Should haue considred afore in his entent, How that his sonne called Jpolytus, Of all vnclennes was founde euer innocent: And how that he by custome made his went Into forestes durynge his yonge age, To hunt at beastes, which that were sauage.

Rennyng on fote, as ye shall vnderstande,

On hilles and valeys, to eschue idlenes Mother of vices, with his bow in hand, Diana to serue of huntyng chefe goddesse: Sumtime to hauke he did his busines, Also vnto fishyng greatly he was applyed, So that his youth was neuer vnoccupied.

Thus he liued in woodes solitary, And of Venus dispised the seruice: Among women he would neuer tary, Their felowshyp he did alway despise, For he demed by sentence of the wise, Who toucheth pytche by a saye men may se, It fayleth not he shall defouled be.

Jpolitus sawe wel this thing before, Kept him at large from such contagiositie His grene youth he would not haue it lore, To be defouled for lacke of chastitie. For he liued euer in virginitie, And neuer did (Bochas will not vary) Nothing that was vnto God contrary.

Thus of entent he kept his body clene, Duryng his life both in thought and dede: Whose mother was Jpolita, the quene Of Amasones, in Ouide ye may rede. But wo alas that Theseus toke hede, For a tale of Phedra full of gyle, Without gilte his sonne so to exyle.

After whose death some Poetes sayne, Howe that Dyana for his chastitie, Restored him vnto life agayne By Esculapius, and gaue him lybertye In her forestes to hunt and to go fre: For whiche restoryng (as write Ouidius) As twyse a man men call hym Virbius.

But Bochas here I not what he doth mene, Maketh in his boke an exclamation, Agaynst women, that pity is to sene: Sayth how their life, and their generation, Ben of their nature double of condicion. And calleth them also, diuers and vnstable, Beastes resemblyng, that ben insaciable.

He meaneth of women borne in Crete, And nothyng of them y^• dwell in this coūtrey. For women here all doublenes they lete, And haue no tatche of mutabilitie: They loue no chaunges, ne no duplicitie. For their husbandes in causes small or great, Whatsoeuer they say, they can not coūterplete

Blessed be god that them hath made so meke, So humble and fearfull of their condicions: For though men would cause and matter seke Against their pacience, to finde occasions, They haue refused all contradictions. And thē submitted through their gouernaūce, Onely to mekenes and womanly suffraunce.

I speake not of one, I speke of euerychone That ben professed vnto lowlines, Thei mai haue mouthes, but lāgage haue thei none All true husbandes can beare hereof witnesse. For wedded men, I dare full well expresse, That haue assayed, and had experience, Best can recorde, of wifely pacience.

For as it longeth to men to be sturdy, And sumwhat frowarde as of their nature: Right so can women suffer paciently, And all wronges womanly endure. Men shoulde attempt no maner creature. And namely women, their mekenes to preue, Which may wel suffer, if no man them greue.

Euery thing resorteth to his kynde, (As Bochas writeth) sumtyme of the yere: And who sercheth by processe he shall fynde, That truth & vertue may neuer fade of there: For rightwisenes will alway shyne clere. Truth and falsnes in what they haue to done, They may no while assemble in one persone.

Feare and flattery they ben contrary, They may together hold no long soiour: Neither simplesse whiche that can not vary, May neuer accorde with a baratour. Neyther innorence with a lesyngour, Neither chastite can not her selfe apply, Her to conforme vnto no rybaudry.

Eche thing hath a proper disposition, By the ordinaunce set in their courage: And ech man foloweth his condicion, As of the stocke the frute hath the tarrage. Pilgrymes may go full farre in their passage But I dare say how farre that euer they go, They beare some tarrage of y^• they came fro.

Bochas maketh an introduction In this chapiter, of hygh noblesse That prynces haue in their possession: And by a maner laughyng doth expresse, How for toset them in great sykernesse They haue seruauntes vpon them abidynge,

And men of armes day and nyght awaytyng

That no man may enter but he haue lycence. The froward porters standyng at the gate, Put men abacke by sturdy vyolence: It were full harde agaynst them to debate. Their watches kept early and also late, Them to assure on nyghtes whan they slepe, The chāberlains their dores straightly kepe.

Men assigned their meates to assay, To taste their wynes lest there were treason, Such mortall drede these lordes do affray, So is their surenes meynt with suspection: Who feadeth him glaoly that feareth poyson▪ But pore folke franchised from such dreade, Such as god doth sende, w^t myrthe they fede.

But Poetes that write tragedies, Their complàynyng is all of hye estates: Rehearsyng euer their piteous ieopardyes, Their sodayne chaūges, & their wofull fates, Their deuisyons, and their mortall debates. And euer cōclude, their dities who so canrede, High estates stande aye most in drede.

Ground and rote of all this mortall trouble, As Bochas writeth and beareth witnes, Ben these lyers with their tonges double, Them selfe aye forsyng truth to oppresse: With whom flattery is a chiefe maistresse, And worst of all, to their dreadfull sentence, Is whan prynces be hasty of credence.

Hasty credence is roote of all erroure, A froward stepmother of all good counsayle: Ground of great hindring, a dredefull discey∣uour, Fayre of face with a perillous tayle. Gladly concluding w^t ful great disauayle. Next neighbour vnto repentaunce, To all that trust & haue in her pleasaunce.

¶ Lenuoy.

PRynces, pricesses cōsider how in euery age Folkes ben diuers of their condicion: To ply & turne and chaunge in their courage, Yet is there none to mine opinion, So dreadfull chaunge ne transmutation, As chaunge of prynces, to geue iugement, Or hasty credence without auisement.

It is well founde a passyng great domage, Knowen and expert in euery region, Though a tale haue a fayre vysage, It may enclude full great deception, Hide vnder suger ga••e and fell poyson, With a freshe face of double entendem cut: Yet geue no credence without auisement.

Let folkes beware of their laugage, Kepe their tonges from oblocution: To hynder or hurte by no maner outrage, Preserue their lyppes from all detraction, From champarty, and contradiction, Lest that fraude were found in their entent, Ne geue no credence without auisement.

Prynces princesses of noble and high parage, Whiche haue lordshyp and do nination, Voyde them asyde that can flatter and fage: Fro tonges that haue a terrage of ••reason, Stoppe your eares, from their bitter soun, Be circumspect, not hastye but prudent, And geue no credence without auisement.

¶ The .xiiii. Chapter.

¶ Of quene Althea, and how Hercules by women was brought to con∣fusion.

WHā Bochas had shewed his sētence And declared his opinion Against thē y^• wer hasty of credēce, He begā anone to make a digression Fro that matter: and of entencion To serche out mo his purpose to contune, That were downe cast & hyndred by fortune.

And as him thought he sawe a company Of many worthy whiche did appeare: And among all first he did espye, Quene Althea, as she gan nygh him nere, All be wept her face, and also her chere, With salt teares that pitye was to sene, Whiche some time was of Cale••dony quene.

She was the daughter of kynge Thestius, Wedded to Oene of Calsidony kynge, Of cheare and face appearing full piteous, Her heere to torne, and frowardly liyng: And in token also of complaynynge, As writeth Bochas, wherof he toke hede, Blacke was her habite, & torne was her wede

A sonne she had Melliager he hyght, In earth was there none fayrer to se:

Ryght wel fauoured in euery mans syght, And as I fynde, at his natiuite Present were the fatal susters thre, With their rockes, and began to spyn fast, And toke a brond, and in the fyre it cast:

And in that hour this was their langage: Touchynge thys chylde we full accorded be, And haue disposed also, the terme of his age The space concluded of his destyne, As long tyme who so lyst to se, Tyll thys brond among the coles reed, Be ful consumed into ashes dead.

But whan Althea espied their entent, And conceyued the fyne of their sentence: She rose vp, and the brond she hent Out of the fyre wyth ful great diligence. Quenched anone the fyres violence, The dome of Parche she gan thus disobey, The brond reseruinge vnder locke & key.

Touchyng the father of this Melliager, Oeneus, of hym thus I rede, Howe that he sought nighe and ferre Goddes & goddesses, whose lyst take hede, In hope onely for to haue great mede. For to them al, poetes thus deuyse, Saue to Diana he dyd sacrifyce.

Wherof she caught an indignacion: Cast she woulde on hym auenged be. Sent a Boore in to his region, Full sauage and full of cruelte. Which deuoured the frute of many a tree, And distroyed his cornes and his vynes, That such scarsnesse of vitayles & of wynes

Was in his land vpon euery syde, That the people of necessite, Compelled were among to prouyde Some meane or way to saue their countre: And at the last they condiscended be That Melliager lusty of his corage, Shoulde chose w^t him folkes fresh & yonge of age

This dredeful Boore mightely to enchace. And forth they went echon deuoyde of drede, With round speres they gan him to manace But Melliager made fyrst his sydes blede, And wyth a swerde than smote of his hede. Wherof the countre was glad and fayne, And in this wyse the tuskye bore was slaine.

Some bokes tell of this huntyng, That a lady whych was borne in Irge, Called Athalanta doughter to the kyng, To slee this Boore toke on her the charge. And wyth an arowe made his woūdes large, Also in Ouide, lyke as it is founde, Because that she gaue the fyrst wounde,

Melliager anone for a memorye, As he that was her owne chosen knight, Gaue her the heed in token of this victory. But his two vncles ayenst al skyl and tyghte, Raft her the head of very force and myght: Hauyng dispite that she in her auyse, Of this victory shoulde beare away the price.

With which iniury. Melliager was wroth, Agaynst them proudly gan disdayne: Pulled out a swerde & vpon thē goeth, And throughe hys manhode slewe his vncles twaine: And after y^t dyd his busy payne To take the heed, and wyth humble entent To Athalanta agayne to be present.

One of his vncles was called Flexippus A manly knyght but yonge of age, That other brother named Theseus. But whan their suster herde of that outrage, Howe they were slayne, she gan in her visage Wexe deed and pale, alas, for her bloud: Whan she espyed the cause howe it stode.

She had no matter god wote to be fayne, Quene Althea to stand and beholde, Her bretherne twayne of her son slayne At the huntyng, of whych tofore I tolde. Fyrst thynges twayne she gan peise & vnfold, Of her bretherne the loue and nigh kynted, And of her sonne the hasty cruel dede.

And remembring she casteth in balaunce Of hertely wo that she dyd endure, Thought if she dyd vpō their deth vengeaūce To slee her son it were ayenst nature: Thus in a warre longe tyme she dyd endure, Her deedly sorowe peysyng euery dell, Wheder she shalbe tender or eruel.

Thus tender I meane, her son for to spare, Or punishe the dethe of her brether twayne. Thus confortlesse al destitute and bare, In languishing she endured forthe her payne: And temedy can she none ordayne, Saue faine she would auenge her if she may,

But than came forth nature and sayd nay.

It was her sonne, agaynst all kyndly ryghte Of whom she cast auenged for to be: To women al an vgly straunge syghte, That a mother deuoyde of all pitie, Shoulde slee her childe so merciles parde. Naye not so, nature wyl not assent, For if she dyd full sore she should repent.

But O, alas, al fatal purueyance Kepeth his course, as some clerkes sayne: But the wrytyng of doctours in substaunce, And these diuynes reply there agayne, And affirme the opinion is in vayne, Of them that trust in fate or desteny, For God aboue hath the soueraintie.

And of fortune the power may restrayne, To saue and spyl lyke as folke deserue: Ayenst his wyl they may nothynge ordayne, Of necessite what course that they conserue. But this matter al holy I reserue Vnto diuines, to determyne and conclude, Whych nat partayneth vnto folkes rude.

But Althea of Calcidony quene, Began sore muse and henge in balaunce: Her bretherne deed whan she dyd them sene, Than was she meued anon to do vengean̄ce Vpon her son, by ful great displeasance. But as poetes lyst for to compile, Nature her made w^tdrawe her hand, a while.

Thus betwene yre and affection, She helde her long of euery partie stable: Tyll that she caught in her opinion A soden rancor which made her be vengeable. And hasty worth, which is not cōmendable, Ayenst her son made her with her hande Out of her chest to take the fatall brande,

••nd sodaynly she cast it in the fyre, And wexed cruell agaynst all womanhede, To execute her venomous desyre. The fatall bronde among the coles rede Consumed was into ashes dede, And furiously in her melancoly, The vengeaunce done, she thus gan to cry.

O ye Parce froward susters three Which of Joue kepe the library, And of children at their natiuite Awayte the sentence whych may not vary, Wherso it be wylful or contrary, Vpon his domes alwaye takyng hede, How that ye shall dispose the fatal threde,

Thou Cloto takest thy rocke on hand, And Lachesis after doth begyn, By great auise, who so can vnderstande, The threde of length to drawe and to spyn. But whan the spirite shal frō the bodye twin, Thou Atropos doest thy busy payne, Ful frowardly to parte the thred in twayne.

I may wel playne in such perdicion, Not for a day, but wo alas for euer: Ye haue vntwyned and made deuision, Of my two bretherne, & caused thē disceuer, That here on lyue I shal se them neuer: And I of haste, alas why dyd I so? Tauenge their deth haue slayn my son also.

O ye doughters of Cerberus the fell, Whose vgly moder was the blacke nyght, Al your kyndred and linage lyue in hell, And for to auēge the wrong & great vuryght Which I haue accomplished in your syght, I wyl wyth you perpetually complayne, Like my desert, tendure sorow and payne.

And whyle she gan w^t her selfe thus stryue Vpon her sorowes that were endlesse: She made a swerde through her hert to riue, Of her selfe she was here recheles. And Bochas after among al the prese, Sawe as hym thoughte wyth a full hidious chere, Deed of visage, Hercules appere.

Whose father was Jupiter the greate, His mother doughter of Amphitrion, Called Alcumena sumtyme borne in Crete. And as poetes reherce one by one, So excellent was there neuer none To speke of conquest, of victory and fame, Here in thys world that had so great a name.

Dredful of loke he was and ryght terible, His berde also blacke which hing lowe doun: And al his heer as bristles were horible, Hys robe also ful maruaylous of facion, Was of the skynne of a fierce lyon, Whych from his backe of very force he rent: Within a forest a lone whan he went.

In his hand he bare a mase of stele, Whych to beholde was wonder long & huge,

By apparence as Bochas felte wele. Demed of reason a ryghtful iuge, That Hercules had to his refuge, Wysedome w^t force, for to encrease his fame, As beastes wylde for to make them tame.

And vnto Bochas he gan loude crye: Take right good hede for it is no fable, I for my merites to speake of chiualry And noble triumphes, am most cōmendable: To be preferred most worthy and most able. Which haue accomplished al that may excel, Through hyghe prowes y^t any tong can tel.

Also of my byrth in heuyn ful yore ago, Fully conceyued my constellacion: Myghty Jupiter sayd vnto Juno, On such a day in such a region, One shalbe borne most myghty of renoun, Noblest of nobles both in warre and pees, Of whom the name shalbe Hercules.

The whych dome whan Juno vnderstode, Of Jupiter conceyuing the entent, And knewe my fate should be so good, To Lucina her messanger she sent: But some saythe howe her selfe downe went, To thys goddesse, goddesse of childing, And her besought to graunt her her askynge.

That she would from Hercules translate The influence of his natiuyte, Helpe to rescue his name and hys fate, And graunt it holy to yonge Euristee. And that Lucina present would be The same hour by Jupiter prouyded, It to possede all hole and vndeuided.

Thus to the mother of this Euristee, Juno the goddes graunted her fauour: Therby disposyng that he should be, Mighty of puissaunce lyke an emperour. But of his nobles the conquest & labour, And of his manhode the prowes & pursute, By Hercules was fully execute.

This Hercules had the trauayle, And Euristeus bare away the name. Also Hercules fought in plate and mayle, And highe emprises proudly dyde attame, But the report of hys noble fame To Euristeus fully was ascriued, Thus of his thanke was Hercules depriued. Full oft in armes some man doth wele, And oft causeth that the felde is won, And another that dyd neuer a dele, The price out spredeth lyke as shineth y^• son. And oft it happeneth he that hath best ron, Doth not the spere like his desert possede, Where false fauor giueth euery mā his mede

Fame in her palice hath trūpes mo than one, Some of golde that geueth a freshe soun: Some man hath laude and deserueth none, And some haue be ful worthy of renoun Nothinge preferred by commendacion. As by report of states hye and lowe, So frowardly Fame her trumpe hath blowe.

Touchyng armes, the pore ne the riche Be not of hertes echone corragious: Neither al men may not be yliche, Neyther of theyr name egal ne gracious. And though the pore haue bene victorious, Of auenture to do full wel some daye, Other haue pinched to take his thāke away.

On sleeth the dere wyth an hoked arowe, Whose part is none yet of the venison: One beteth the y^• bush another hath y^• sparow And all the byrdes in his possession. One draweth his nettes in riuers vp & doun, With sondry baytes cast out lyne and hoke, And hath no parte of al that euer he toke.

An euidence hereof ye may se Ful notable to be put in memorye, Of Hercules and of Euriste: For Hercules gate aye the victory, And Euristeus receiued hath the glorye. Thus the palme departed was in twayne, That one reioysed, that other bare y^e payne.

Euristeus was prince of Athene, Sonne and heire by dyscent of lyne, Vnto the kyng that called was Stellene Vnder whose myght as Bochas dothe deter∣mine Hercules through knightly disciplyne, Proued so most manly and most wyse, That from al other he bare away the prise.

But wo alas that euer it should fall, So manly a knyght so worthy and notable, That any spotte should his price appall, Or cause hys corage for to be vnstable. Which is a thinge doleful and lamentable, From his knighthode as a thinge straunge,

That euer a woman should his hert chaunge.

I wyll excuse them because their nature Is to chaunge hertes and corrages: Agaynst their nature no force maye endure, For their flatery and sugred fayre langages, Lyke Sirens full freshe of their visages, For to chaunge of princes the noblesse, Mo than Hercules can bere hereof witnesse.

Thus Hercules astonied and ashamed, Vnto Bochas shewed his presence: Said, alas my knighthode is diffamed By a full false amorous pestilence. So sore constrayned by mortal vtolence, Whereby alas my manhode was applied, By sleye of women oppressed & maistried

To take their habit & cloth me in their wede, To shere my berde, and farce my vysage With oyntmentes against al manhede, To make it souple, & chaunge my langage: And to complayne more of myne outrage, Vpon my fyngers fyue twyse tolde, I had ringes richely wrought of golde.

Thus was my corage chaunged femynine, For loue of one called Iolee: Of condicions though she were serpentyne, Me thought she was fayrest vnto se, That all my ioye was wyth her to be. And that none should aperceiue my trespace, I chaunged both habite loke and face,

And was a woman outwarde in apparence, Of entent to haue more liberte To vse my lustes, and haue experience Of appetites, which that vnlefull be: Wherof the sclaundre reboundeth vpon me. That I dare say my outragious trespace Doth al my knyghthode & prowes difface.

Wherof Bochas, I pray the take good hede, For to discriue in termes playne & clere, Mine infortune lyke as it was in dede: That whan other conceyue the manere Of myne vnhappes, contagious for to here, They may by example of me do their paine, From vicious life their hertes to restraine.

For these folles that al wysdome dispise, And be contrary to bertuous discipline, May gyue example to folkes that ben wise And ben to them a lanterne of doctrine, Vyces to eschewe, and prudently declyne Fro fleshely lustes: for it is taught in scholes, That wysemē al day ben ytaught by foles.

Whan Bochas had conceyued the pleynt Of Hercules in his appering, And how his nobles by women was ataint, Through his disordinate liuing: He thought anone hym remembringe, It had be ruthe for to put in mynde Hys vires all, and vertues left behinde.

Considered also it was impartinent Eyther by lāgage to write ayenst al ryght, Any thing that should in sentment The fame amenuse of so noble a knyght, Or to discrese in any mans syght Hys glorious prowes, sith poetes for hys werres Reise his renome, so highe aboue the sterres.

For he was both knyght and Philosopher, And for his strength called a giant: For commen profit he gan promptly profer. Of manly corage gyue thereto full graunt, To entre in to Egipt to slee the giaunt Called Busyris, who of ful false entēt Slewe al straūgers that through his kingdū wēt

For vnder a colour of liberalite, Vnto his palys gladly he would cal Straūgers echone y^• came through his cūtre, And solemly receyue thē one and al: And lyke a kynge, both in chambre and hal Make them such chere in all maner thynge As apperteyned to a worthy kyng.

But whyle his gestes lay a nyght to slepe, This false tirant in ful cruel wyse, Murdred them ethone or they toke kepe: And after that, thys was also his gise, With their bloud to make a sacrifice To Jupiter god of that countre, Of hole entent to please his deite.

That in his kyngdome of frutes & grayne, The land encresed by great habundaunce: Doun from heuin he would send thē rayne, This meane he made & this cheuisaunce. To murdre and slee he had so great plesaūce, For of al thing him thought it did him good To murdre his gestes, and to shede their blod

Whā this murdre of Busiris was couth, That no strāgers myght passe his lād i pees:

This manly knyght yet flowryng in youthe, Thys noble, famous, thys worthy Hercules, Among other he put hym selfe in prees: And lyke a gest outwarde in shewyng. Came to the palys of Busiris the kyng.

Rebuked hym of his great outrage Done to hys gestes, by cruel violence. And for to make pesible that passage, And for to auenge y^• his importable offence, And of his murdre to make a recompence, Thys Hercules slewe Busiris in dede, And toke the bloud whych he dyd blede,

Offred it vp Jupiter to please, For thys victory hym to magnifye. And al Egipt thus was set in ease, Their landes and frutes gan also multiply, Theyr grayne encresed about on eche partye, And to habounde by influence of rayne, Whych afore time of vitayle was barayne.

Another giaunt called Antheus, Kyng of Libye and gouerned al the land, Whom Hercules most strong and coragious, Sūtime outraid, & slewe hym with his hand. For as they wrastled by experience he fand, Touching the erth this giant (it is trewe) His force, his myght, dyd alway renewe.

But whan Hercules the maner dyd espye, Howe his strength renewed agayne so ofte: Theragaynst he shope a remedy, Hye in the ayre he peysed hym vp a lofte, And with strokes harde and nothynge softe, Backe and bone so sore he did embrace, That he fyll deed tofore hym in the place.

But some bokes of thys giant tell, Within his kyngdome who dyd him assaile, He would of newe his chiualry compel Efte agayne to mete hym in battayle: And in this wyse full selde he dyd fayle To aforce of newe as ye shal vnderstand, His strength, his myght, all enemis to w^t stād.

But Hercules of hye discrecion, The felde on him manly to recure, Had hym by sleyght out of hys region: And as they met there of auenture, The sayd Anthens might not endure, But was disconfited by Hercules anone, Maugre his myght, and his men echone.

After this conquest Hercules is gone For exercise, his prowes for to vse Agaynst the myghty stronge Gereon, Kyng of Spayne, of Melleager, and Ebuse, The whych tiraunt myght hym not excuse, That all his labour as poetes lyst compyle, Was from these realmes his people to exile.

Hys tiranny myght not long endure, For Hercules that noble worthy knyght, Made vpon hym a great disconfiture, And slough the tyraunt as they met in fyghte: And after that through his great myght, Of highe prowes and magnanimyte, Sloughe Cerberus with his heades thre.

The famous bull of the lande of Crete Whych that distroyed all that region, He sloughe also whan that they dyd mete: And in Nemea he slough a feirse lyon. And for a recorde of hys high renoun, Of manly force his skyn away he toke, And to his body a cote thereof he shope.

To his enemis to shewe hym more dredeful, Therfore he ware that hidious garment. And for he was in armes neuer founde dul, But ylike freshe euer in his entent, In to a mountaine anone he made hys went, Called Erimanthus: & there in his passage, He slewe a boar most wylde & most sauage.

Besyde a ryuer called Styphalus, Of furious byrdes he slewe a great nombre, Within the kyngdome of kyng Pheneus, All the countre they dyd encombre: For wyth their shadowe & cōtagious vmbre On sede, on frutes, where euer they alight, Al was deuoured in euery mannes sight.

Vpon the mountayne called Auentyne, Which is not far from Rome the citye, There is a wode, as cronicles determyne, Right freshe of light and goodly on to se: And Hercules passyng by that countre, Fro Spaynward passyng by Itayle, Cachus the giant dyd hym there assaile.

While Hercules among the leues grene Layde him to slepe by sodayne auenture, And his beastes, against the sonne shyne While that he slepte, went in their pasture, Came Cachus forth ful hidious of stature, Thought he would these beastes w^t him haue

Stale them echone, and hyd thē in a caue.

And lyke a thefe he made them go backward That no man should y^• traces of them know: Neyther of their passage haue no regarde, For by their tailes he ledde them on a rowe, In to his caue which that stode full lowe. And for they were of excellent fayrnes, To kepe them close he did his businesse.

Out of his slepe whan Hercules awoke, And parceyued his oxen were away He rose vp and cast about his loke, Began to aspye in all the hast he may To what partie the traces of them lay: And while he stode thus musyng in the shade, He herd the lowyng that his oxen made.

And by their lowing he gan anone aproche Toward the parte wher they were kept close, Fonde the caue vnder a myghty roche: And proud Cachus which had thē in depose, Agaynst Hercules he sturdely arose, But for al that he myghte hym selfe not saue, For he hym sloughe at thentring of the caue.

And thus his beastes he hath ayen recured, That sempte afore inrecuperable. After the mountaine byforce he hath assured, Which for brigātes afore was full doutable. But by his knyghthod it was made habita∣ble, That men myght for drede of any foe Whan euer they would frely come and go.

Touchyng his conquest vpon Feminye, Agaynst Amasones with Theseus he went: The quene Ipolyta through his chiualry, For his praye anone to hym he hent. And Ipolita of ful true entent Gaue vnto hym in token of victory, A girdel of golde to haue her in memorie.

After to Affrike he went a full great pace, Onely of purpose the gardin for to se, Which apperteyned to kynge Athlas That brother was to the kynge Promothee: In astrology full wel expert was he, And of this gardyn of whych I haue tolde, The riche braūches & apples were of gold,

Through magike made by great auisement, Ful streyte kepte and closed enuyron, And y watched with a fell serpent, That no man entred that ryche mancion. But Hercules most mighty of renoun, The serpēt slough through his māly pursute, And fro the gradeyn he bare away the frute.

This said Athlas as bokes specifie, And poetes also of him endite, He was connynge in astronomy, And therin did ful greatly him delite: And many a boke he made and dyd write With great labour and great diligence, In hys time vpon that science,

The which were more precious than golde, And more rich in his opinion: But Hercules in soth as it is tolde, Gate all the bokes through hys hie renoun: Bare them by force out of that region, And to Grece lyke a conquerour, With him he brought thē for a great treasour.

Of Trace he slough the giant outragious That sumtime was called Diomede, Which murdred al that came to his house, And with their fleshe his horse he dyd fede. And through his witte labour and manhede Of Achelous, whych was a great wondre, He made the stremes for to departe a sondre.

And by his wisdome dyd thē so deuide, In two parties disceueringe his passage: For afore no man myght abyde Of his course the furious fel outrage. For in countreis it dyd so great domage, Turning vpward there was non other bote, Where euer it flowed of trees, crop and rote.

A great emprise he did also vndertake Whan that the messe hidious and horible Ariued vp of Archadies the lake, Called Lerne the beastes ful odible, Which with their teeth & mouthes terrible Frute, grayne, & corne dyd mortally deuour. But Hercules the countre to sucour,

Came lyke a knyght their malice for to let, And by his prudence destroyed thē euerichon: With in the lake the wormes vp he shet, Saue among all behind was left one. And against him this Hercules anone, Of knighthod raught so great auauntage, That to the coūtre he dyd no more domage.

Thus all that euer may rehersed ••e, Touching knighthode, prowes, or prudence,

Or glorious fame, or long felicitie, This knyghtly man had most excellence, And in armes longest experience: And for his triumphes and actes marciall, He set vp pillers for a memoriall.

Whiche remembred his cōquest most notable And his dedes by grauyng did expresse, Beyonde whiche no lande is habitable, So farre abrode spred his noblesse. But as the sunne leaueth his bryghtnes Sumtime whan he is fresshest in hys sphere, With vnware cloudes that sodaynly appere:

Semblably the nobles and the glory Of Hercules in this vnstable lyfe, Eclipsed was, and shadowed his memory By Dianyra, that sumtyme was his wyfe: For by her fraude came in the mortall stryfe, As ye shal heare the maner and the caas, Wherby that he lost his lyfe, alas.

Yet for her sake this most manly man, Fought as I fynde in singuler battayle With Acheloes sonne of the Occian, Lyke as Poetes make rehearsayle: And as eche other proudly did assayle, This Hercules of knyghthode souerayne, Sent from his head one of his hornes twain

Of kyng Oene she was the daughter dere, To Hercules ioyned by mariage: And as they came to a great riuere, With sturdy waues where was no passage, Nessus the gyaunt vgly of vysage, To Hercules profered his seruyce, And full falsely against him gan deuyse.

Made his promise to Hercules in dede To put his life in great aduenture, Ouer the streme Dianyra to l••de, Because he was large of his stature. And for she was a ryght fayre creature Whan they passed and came to londe, Nessus falsely woulde vpon the str••nd

Haue know her fleshly, like as write Ouide. Hercules hauyng therof a syght, As he abode vpon that otherside, And for to auenge him of his great vnright, ••ake his howe and ••ent it a••one ryght▪ And wyth an arrowe fyled sharpe and groūd Gaue to Nessus his deadly fatall ••••unde.

Like a condyte gusshed out the bloude And whan he sawe that he must dye, To Dianyra before him there she stode, With all his hart he her gan pray, That in one thing his lust she would obey: To take his shert and be not retcheles With bloud distayned, and sende it Hercules.

There through with him to be reconsiled: And she to him anone the shert hath sent, Through whose venim, alas he was begiled, For what by touching and by enchauntment, His fleshe and bones were all to brent, And among his deadly paynes all, Into a rage he sodaynly is fall.

And as a beast furiously he ranne On valeys & hylles among craggy stones, Semblably as doth a woodeman. Pulled vp trees and rotes all at ones, Brake beasts hornes, & al to gnew her bones Was it not pitie that a knyght so good, Shold amōg bestes runne sauage & woode?

Thus ouerwhelmed was all his worthines, And to de••iyne went his prosperitie. Cause and roote of al his wretchednes, Was for that he set all his felicitie, To trust so much the mutabilitie, Of these women, whyche early and soone Of their nature brayed vpon the moone.

Alas, alas, all nobles and prudence, Prowes of nature, force, and chyualry, Forsyght of wisdome, discrecion, and science, Vertuous study profityng in cleargy, And the clere shynyng of Philosophy, Hath through false lustes here be manaced, By sleyght of women, darked and defaced.

O Hercules I fele my penne quake, Mine ynke full filled with bitter teares salt, This piteons tragedy to write for thy sake, Whom all Poetes glorifye and exalt: But fraude of women made thy renome halt, And froward muses thy triūphes all to ••end, For to discryue alas thy fatal ende.

¶ Lenuoy.

THe sole ve〈…〉〈…〉 sauory p••yso••, The dredful•• ioy••, the dolorous pleasaūce The 〈…〉〈…〉, the furious 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Fayth dispay••••d, 〈…〉〈…〉▪

Vertue exilyng where lust hath gouernaūce, Through false luxury diffasen all nobles, As this tragedy can beare full well witnes.

Where froward Venus hath domination And blinde Cupide his subiects doth auaunce And wilfull lust through indiscrecion Is chosen iudge to holde the balaunce, Their choyse vnlefull hath through yll chaūce Derked of prynces the famous nobles, As this tragedy beareth full well witnes.

O thou Hercules for all thy high renoun, For all thy conquest, & knyghtly suffisaunce, Thou were by women brought to confusion, And by their fraude thy renoumed puissaūce, Disclaundred was & brought to mischaunce I were ashamed to write it or expresse, Except this tragedy can beare well witnesse.

Prynces princesses, of high discretion, This thing imprinte in your remembraunce Of others fallyng, make your protection You to preserue through prudent purueiaūce: Afore prouided that your perseueraunce Be not perturbed by no false sorceresse, As this tragedy of other bereth witnesse.

¶ The .xv. Chapter.

☞ A processe of Narcissus, Byblis, Myrra, and of other their infortunes to Bo∣chas complaynyng.

NArcissus, Byblis, and Myrra all thre, Tofore Bochas pyteously did appeare Their infortunes their infelicitie, To him complaynyng with a deadly cheare: And of their commyng to tell the manere, Narcissus with sorow and dole attaynt, Began first to declare his complaynt.

He was the sonne of Cephisus the flode, And his mother called Lyriope: And by discent borne of gentle blode: Of creatures fayrest on to se. And as I finde at his natiuitie, Tyresias by spirite of prophecy, Touchyng his fate thus gan specify.

The goddes haue prouided for him a space To lyue in earth, and so long endure Tyll that he knowe and se his owne face: And for his sake full many a seruitu••e, By ordinaunce of god and of nature, Whan they him se shall fele full great payne, If they in loue his grace may not attayne.

But he shalbe contrary and daungerous And of his port full of straungenesse: And in his hart right inly surquidous, By the occasion of his natife fayrenes. And presumyng of his semelinesse, No woman so freshe ne so fayre of face That able were to stand in his grace.

And for the excellence of his great beantye, He purposed him in his tender age Neuer in his lyfe wedded for to be, He thought him selfe so fayre of vysage: For whych he cast through his great outrage Agaynst all lustes of loue to disdayne, To hunt at beastes alone, and be slayne.

And in this whyle that he kept hym so, In the forest and in wyldernes, A water goddesse, that called was Ecco, Loued him full hote for his fairenes: And sikerly did her busines, To folow his steppes ryght as any lyne, To her desyres to make him to enclyne.

He heard her wele but he sawe her nought, Wherof astonied anone he gan to enquere, As he that was amarueyled in his thought, Sayd euen thus: is any wyght now here? And she aunswered the same in her manere. What euer he sayd (as longeth to Ecco) Without abode she sayd the same hym to.

Come nere (quod he) and began to call. Come nere (quod she) my ioy & my pleasaūce. He loked about among the rockes all, And sawe nothyng beside ne in distaunce But she abrayed and declared her greuaunce And to him sayd: mine owne hart dere, Ne be not straunge but let vs dwell in fere.

Nay nay (quod he) I will nothing obey To your desires, for short conclusion: Well leuer I had playnly for to dey Than ye should haue of me possession, We be nothing of one opinion. I here you well though I no fygure se, Go forth your way ye speake no more w^t me.

And she ashamed fled her way anone, As she that myght of him no socour haue:

But dispayred this Ecco is forthe gone, And hidde her selfe in an vgly caue, Among the rockes is buried in her graue: And though so be y^t men her voyce may heare After that time she neuer durst appeare.

Thus Narcissus through daunger & disdeine Vpon the lady did cruell vengeaunce, But whan the Goddes his cruelty had sei••e Towardes him fyll a great greuaunce: Of his vnmercy they had displeasaunce, And right as he merciles was founde, So w^t vnmercy he caught his deadly wound.

For all daunger displeaseth to Venus And all disdayne is lothsome to Cupide: For who to loue is contrarious, The god of loue will quite him on some syde, His dreadfull arrowes so mortally deuyde, To hurt and mayme all that be retchlesse, And in her seruyce founde mercilesse.

And for Narcissus was not merciable Towarde Ecco, for his great beautye, But in his port was founde vntretable, Cupyde thought he woulde auenged be, As he that her prayer hearde of pitie: Causyng Narcissus to fele and haue his part, Of Venus brande and of her fiery darte.

And on a day whan he in wildernes, Had after beastes runne in huntyng, And for longe labour can fall in werines, He was desirous to haue some refreshyng, And wonders thurstlewe after traueylyng Myght not endure lenger there to dwell, And at the last he founde a cristall well,

Right freshe springyng & wonder agreable, The water lusty and delectable of sight: And for his thirst was to him importable, Vpon the brynkes he fell downe ryght, And by reflection in middes of y^e water bright Him thought he sawe a passyng faire ymage, To hym appeare, most angelyke of vysage.

He was enamoured with the semelinesse, And desierous therof to stand in grace, And yet it was not but a lykelinesse, And but a shadowe reflectyng of his face, The whiche of feruence amorously tembrace This Narcissus with a piteous complaynt, Start into the well and so him selfe dreynt.

And thus his beauty, alas, was layed lowe, His semelines put full farre abacke: Thus whan he gan fyrst him selfe knowe And sene his vysage in whiche was no lacke, Presumptuous pryde caused all to wracke: For who to much doth of him selfe presume His owne vsurpyng wyll sonest him cōsume.

And finally as these olde Poetes tell, This Narcissus without more succour, After that he was drowned at the well, The heuenly goddes did him so fauour, They turned him into a full freshe floure, A water lilly, whiche dothe remedy In hote accesses as bokes specify.

After that Narcissus was at the well dreynt, And to John Bochas declared had his wo, Biblis appeared with teares all be spreint, And toward him a great pase gan she go: And her brother Camnus came also. And of one wombe as gemelles twayne, But she tofore her fate gan complayne.

She in her loue was not vertuous For ayenst God and kyndes ordinaunce, She loued her brother named Camnus: And whan he sawe her froward gouernaūce He vnto her gaue none attendaunce, Though she of sleyght to accōplysh her entēt, In secrete wise a pistle to him sent.

She sayd it was an impossible thing Without his grace her selfe to saue, And but he were to her assentyng, She els playnly may not health haue. But onely death and afterwarde her graue: Thus in her writyng to him she did attame, And to be couert she ne wrote no name.

But whan this pistle came to his presence, Vertuously therat he gan disdayne: And gaue therto no maner aduertence, Neither toke no hede of her furious payne, But suffred her eternally to playne. Tyll that she was, as Ouid can wel tell With oft wepyng transformed to a well.

Next came Myrra wyth face full piteous, Whiche that sumtime loued ayenst nature Her owne father called Cynarus, For whose sake great payne she did endure. For she ••e durst her sorowe not discure, Tyll her noryshe by sygnes dyd espy,

The hartily constraynt of her malady.

For her nourice of whiche I haue tolde, Conceiued hath by open euidence, As she knoweth both of newe and olde, In suche matters all hole the experience, That through long labour and great diligēce Diuers wayes and meanes out she sought, To her fathers bed that she Myrra brought.

With whom she had her lust and pleasaunce, For she vnknow lay with him all nyght: He was deceaued by dronklewe ignoraunce, And on the morow longe or any lyght She stale away, and went out of his sight With her noryce whiche kept her long close, Till vnto the tyme that her wombe arose.

But her father that was of Cypre king, Which as I tolde was called Cynarus, Whan he the truthe espyed of this thing, That by his daughter he was deceiued thus, She waxt to him loth some and odious: Fledde from his sight, so sore she was aferde, And he pursued after with his swerde.

In Araby the hote mighty lande, Kyng Cynarus hath his daughter founde: And cruelly began enhaunce his hande, With his sworde to geue her a wounde: But the goddes of mercy most habound, Hath fro the death made her to go fre, And through their power trāformed to a tree.

Which after her beareth yet the name, Called Myrra, as she was in her life. Out of whiche, aucthours say the same, Distilleth a gome a great preseruatife: And of nature a full good defensife, To kepe bodies from putrifaction, And them franchise from all corruption.

By influence of the sunne beames Myrre is engendred by distyllyng of his kind With round dropes ayenst Phebus streames, And doun discendeth through the hard rinde, And through the riftes also I finde The sayd Myrra hath a childe forth brought, In all this worlde if it were sought,

Was none so faire formed by nature. For of his beauty he was pereles And as Poetes recorde by scripture, He called was the fayre Adonydes. And to his worshyp and his great encrees, For he of fairenes bare away the floure, Venus him chase to be her paramour.

The whiche Goddesse gaue to him in charge, That he should in his tender age, In forestes while he went at large, Hunt at no beastes whiche were sauage. But he contrary to his disauauntage, Through wilfulnesse, I can say no more, Was slayne vnwarely of a Tuskye boare.

At the whiche he felly did enchace, But of folly in vayne was his laboure, For he lay slayne full pale of chere and face: Whom Venus turned to a full freshe stoure, Whiche was as bloude of purple the coloure, A budde of golde w^t goodlye leaues glade Set in y^• middes whose beauty may not fade.

And whan Myrra frō Bochas was w^tdraw And declared her great aduersitie: And of her fate tolde the mortall lawe, Came Orpheus full vgly vnto se, Sonne of Appollo and of Calyope, And appeared with a full dolefull face, Sumtime brought forthe & yborne in Trace.

Full renoumed in armes and in science, Famous in musike and melody: And full notable also in eloquence, And for his soote sugred armony Beastes and foules as poetes specify Wodes & floudes of their course most strong, Stynte of course, to harken his sote song.

An harpe he had of Mercurius, With the whiche Erudice he wanne: And to Bachus as write Ouidius, Sacrifices solemnely he began. And vnto hell for his wife he ran, Her to recure with sote touches sharpe, Whiche he made vpon his heauenly harpe.

But whan that he this labour on him toke, I lawe was made which that boūd him for•• That if he backeward cast his loke, He shold her lese and se her neuermore. But it is sayd sythen gone full yore: There may no lawe louers well constrayne, So importable is their deadly payne.

If some husbands had stand in the caas To haue lost their wiues for a loke sodayne,

••hey would haue suffred and not sayd alas, ••ut paciently endured all their payne: ••nd thanked god y^• broken was the chayne, ••hich hath so long them in pryson bounde, ••hat they by grace had such a way founde.

••olye in pryson it is a ful great charge, ••nd to be stocked vnder key and locke: ••t is meryer a man to go at large, ••han with yrons to be nailed to a blocke▪ But there is a bonde that called is wedlocke ••ettryng husbandes so sore that it is wonder ••hich with a file may not be broke asunder.

But Orpheus father of hermony, Thought Erudice y^• was his wife so fayre, For her sake he felt that he must dye, Because that he whan he made his repayre, Of her in trouth nothing embraced but ayre Thus he lost her there is no more to sayne, And for the cōstraynt of his greuous payne

At his hart her partyng sate so sore, The grene memory the tender remembraūce, That he would neuer wine no more, So fayre he was escaped his penaunce. For wedlocke is a life of muche pleasaunce, But who hath ones infarnall paynes sene, Will neuer after come in the snare I wene.

This Orpheus gaue counsaile full notable, To husbandes that haue endured payne, To such as ben prudent and tretable, One hel is dredful, but more dredful is twain And who is ones bounde in a chayne And may escape out of daunger blyue, If he eft resort God let him neuer thriue.

Vpon this sentence women were vengeable, And to his writyng full contrarious Sayd his counsaile was not commendable, At the feast they halowed to Bachus, They fill echone vpon this Orpheus: And for all his rethoryke swete, They slough alas this laureate poete.

And of his harpe if ye lyst to heare, The God Appollo made a translation, Among the ymages of the starres cleare: Wherof men may haue cleare inspection. But fortune to his confusion Denyed him frowarde of her nature, Whan he was slayne fredome of sepulture. Next Orpheus there did appeare also Of Amasons worthy quenes twayne: Merpesia and her sister Lampedo, Whiche in conquest did their busy payne, And great worshyp in armes did attayne: Namyng them selues by writing nere & farre Doughters to Mars which is god of warre.

Merpesia rode out in regions, And conquered full many a great citye, For couetise of great possessions, To encrease her lordshyp if it would be: And her sister kept surely their countrye, Of all enemies so that there was no doubt, While Merpesia rode with her host about.

But while she was in conquest most famous▪ And her enemies proudly did assayle, Fortune anone wart contrarious, And caused that she was slaine in battayle. Lo what conquest or victory may auayle, Whan that fortune doth at them disdayn, Se here ensample by these quenes twayne.

☞ Lenuoy.

THis tragedy remembreth thynges fyue: Of Narcissus the excellent beauty, And of Biblis dothe also discriue, The great luxury and dishonestye, Myrra diffamed, turned to a tree, To exemplify that lechery and pride, Ben from all vertue set full farre aside.

How Orpheus endured in his liue, Joye entermedled wyth aduersitye: In his youth whan he did wyue He felt in wedlocke full great felicitie: His worldly blisse meynt with duplicitie, As fortune her chaunges can deuyde, Whiche from all vertue be set full farre aside.

Merpesia for her list to stryue, Wyth wylfull warres to encrease her coūtre, But her pompe was ouerturned blyue, Whan in battayle vnwarely slayne was shet For of all warre death is the fyne pardee. So furious Mars can for her folke prouide, Whiche from all vertue ben set farre aside.

Ye mighty princes let witte and reason dryue Your high nobles to consider and se, How fortune estates can depryue, And plonge thē downe from their prosperitie,

Pride and luxury I counsayle that you flye, Falce auarice ne let not be your gyde: Whiche from all vertue is clene set asyde.

¶ The .xvi. Chapter.

¶ Of Priamus kyng of Troye: and how the monke of Bury translatoure of this boke wrote a boke of the siege of Troy called Troy boke.

AFter these complayntes and lamētacions Which that Bochas did in his boke cōpile Medled among with transmutations Set in Ouide by full souerayne style: Whan he on them had mused a long while Sene the maner both of forowe and ioye, He began to remēber of Priamus of Troy.

First of his byrthe, and of his kynrede, How among kinges he was most famous: And as poetes recorde of him in dede, He descended of worthye Dardanus, Whiche as his line declareth vnto us, From Jupiter was lynially come downe, Vnto his father called Laomedoun.

Of olde Troy this Laomedon was kyng, Destroyed by Grekes he and his countrye. After whom this Priamus raynyng, Made there ayen a myghty strong citye: Where he full longe in full great royaltie With wife & childer most worthy of renoun, With scepter and crowne held the possessioun.

Gouerned his citye in peace and rightwisnes, And Fortune was to him fauourable: For of all Asie the treasour and riches, He did assemble this kyng most honourable. And in armes, he was so commendable, That through the worlde as far as mē gone. Of high nobles the ronoume of him shone.

This Priamus had children many one, Worthy princes, and of full great myght: But Hector was among them euerychone Called of prowes the lanterne and the lyght. For there was neuer borne a better knyght, Troylus in knyghthode so manly was foūd, That he was named Hector the seconde.

But I should rehearse the manhede Of kyng Pryam, and of his sonnes all, And how his citye besieged was in dede, And all the story to remembraunce call, Betwene him and Grekes how it is befall, The circumstaunces rehearsyng vp & doun To set in order the first occasion

Of the siege why it was first layed By Hercules, and also by Iason, The maner whole in Troye boke is sayde, Rudely endited of my translation: Folowyng vpon the destruction Called the second, whych by accomptes cler•• Fully endured the space of ten yere.

For as me semeth the labour were in vayne, Truely also I not to what entent That I should write it newe agayne, For I had once in commaundement By him that was most noble and excellent, Of kynges all for to vndertake, It to translate and write it for his sake.

And if ye list to wete whom I meane Henry the fifte most myghty of puyssaunce, Gaue me the charge of entent full cleane, Thinge of olde time to put in remembraunce▪ The same Henry for knyghtly suffisaunce, Worthy for manhode, teken kynges all, With nyne worthies for to haue a stall.

To holy churche he was chefe defensoure, In all suche causes Christes chosen knyght: To destroy heritykes he set all his laboure, Loued all vertues and to sustayne right, Through his nobles, his manhode, & might: Was diligent and did his busy payne, To haue set peace betwene realmes twayne.

A meane in sothe England and Fraunce, His purpose was to haue had a peace finall: Sought out meanes w^t many a circumstan̄ce As well by treaty, as actes marciall, Theron ieoparded lyfe, goodes and all. But wo, alas, agaynst death is no boone, This land may say he dyed all to soone.

For among kinges he was one of the best, So all his dedes conueyed were by grace: I pray to God so geue his soule good rest, Wyth sayntes in heauen a dwellyng place. For here with vs to little was the space That he abode, of whom the remembraunce, Shall neuer dye in England ne in Fraunce.

This worthy kyng gaue to me in charge

In Englysh tonge to make a translation Out of latyn within a volume large, Howe longe the grekes lay tofore the toun: And how that Paris fyrst at Cytheron, In Venus temple sleighly dyd his payne There to rauysh the fayre quene Heleyne

In which boke the processe ye may se, To hym how she was wedded in the toune: And of the siege layde vnto the cyte By Menelay and kyng Agamennon. And many another full worthy of renoun On eyther partie which that in battaile Fro day to day ech other dyd assayle.

Wherto shuld I tell or what shuld I write, The deth of Hector or of Achylles? Or wherto should I of newe endite How worthy Troilus was slaine in y^• prese? The ende of Paris or of Pallamides, Or the slaughter of manly Deyphebus, Or howe his brother called Hellenus

Tolde afore howe it was great folly That Paris should wed quene Heleyne. And how Cassandra in her prophecy, On this wedding fore began compleyne, And for the constreint of her hertely paine, How she wexe madde, & ran about the toune. Tyl she was caught & shet vp into prison.

Al this matter ye may behold in dede, Set by and by wythin Troye boke: And how Creseide loued Dyomede, Whan worthy Troylus she wilfully forsoke. Of her nature a quarel thus she toke, To assay both, if nede were also to feyne To take the thirde, & leue thē both tweyne.

I passe ouer and tel of it no more, Ne by what meanes the grekes wan y^• toun, How Eneas neyther how Anthenore Ayenst kyng Priam cōspired false traison: Neyther howe Vlixes gate Paladion. The deth of Priam ne of Eccuba the quene, Ne howe Pyrrus flewe pong Pollicene.

Neyther here to write it is not mine entent, Repeyre of grekes home in to their countre, After the cyte at Iiyon was brent: Neither of their mischefe they had on the see. Neyther howe Vlixes founde Penolope, A true wyfe though he were long her fro, Through al Grece I can rede of no mo. Of these matters thus I make an eude, What fil of grekes after their viage, To Troy boke tho folke I send, Which haue desire to se the surplusage: Howe grekes made fyrst their passage Towardes Troy, besiegynge the cite, Bede the storye ye get no more of me.

The .xvii. Chapter.

☞ Here speketh Bochas the authour of thys boke, agaynste the surquedous pryde of them that truste in rychesse, sayeng these wordes vnto them.

ME proude folkes that set your affiaūce In strength, beaute, or in hye nobles, If ye consider fortunes variaunce, And coude a myrrour before your eyen dresse, Of kyng Pryam and of his great richesse, To se how he and his children all From their noblesse sodainly ben fall,

Hector of knighthode called sours & wel, Sad and demure, and famous of prudence, Paris also in beaute dyd excell, And Helenus in perfyt prouidence. Troylus in armes had great experience, Also Deyphebus preued manly on his fone, Yet in y^• warre they were slaine euerychone.

Had not this kyng also as I can deuise, By noble Heccuba whiche that was y^• quene▪ A doughter called Cassandra the wyse, Her yong suster fayre Pollicene? Alas alas what may all such pride mene. For albeit their renome spronge ful far, Yet are these women deuoured in the war.

Was he not mighty & strong in all thynges, And had also of his aliaunce, Ryght worthy princes & many rych kynges, And nighe al Asie vnder his obeisaunce? Holde in his tyme most famous of puissance, Most renomed of richesse and tresours, Tyl that fortune wyth her sharpe shoures

Whan that he satte highest on his whele, This blind goddes began him to assaile: Her frowarde malice he felte it ful wele, His golde, his treasure, fyrst it gan to fayle, And darken gan his roial apparayle. By whych example at proud men mayse,

The vntrue trust, the mutabilite.

Which in this world is sene & founde alday. In myddes of states in their magnificence, Ebbe after floude maketh no delaye: But hait her course, there is no resistence, The tyde abydeth not for no violence. Eche man y^• standeth of chaūges here in dout Must take his tourne as it cōmeth about.

Let Priam be to you a clere myrrour, Ye proude folkes that set your affiaunce, In such glorye, whych fadeth as a flour, And hath of beautie here none attendaunce. The worlde to you cast a ful bitter chaunce: For whan ye wene syt highest at full, Than wil she sonest your bright feders pul.

Ye haue warnynges for to take hede By ensample of other, clere & ryght visible, How worldly blysse is medled al wyth drede, And if your wittes and reasons be sencible, Thynge sene at the eye is not incredible. And al this doctrine is to you in veyne If in your tyme ye haue no chaunges sene.

Wherefore Bochas vnto your auayle, Full prudently put you at this issue: Fyrst of al he giueth you this counsaile, To leaue your byces and take you to vertue. And sette your trust al wholy in Jesut For he may best in mischiefe helpe at nede Of worldly chaunges that ye thē not drede.

The .xviii. Chapiter.

¶ Here also Jhon Bochas putteth a greate praysynge and commendacion of suerty that standeth in pouertie vnder these wordes in sen∣tence.

THese great lordshyppes, these greate dignities, Chefe thinge annexed vnto y^• regaly Whan they sytte highest in their sees, And rounde about stante the chiualry, Drede entreth in with paryl and enuy And vnware chaūge, whych none may know Whan fortune wyl make them lout low.

They may wel kepe a stately housholde, With a vain trust their power shuld euer last, Clad in their mātell of purpul & of golde, And on the whele of fortune clyme vp fast, Lyke as she myght neuer downe them cast. But aye the clymbinge highest at all, Alas the sorer is their vnhappy fal.

The fal of Priam and of Agamemnon, Ought of right more to be complayned, Whan that fortune had pulled them doun, And of malice hath at them disdayned, Than if they neuer to worship had attained: But theyr fallyng was the more greuous, Because tofore they were so glorious.

O thou pouert, meke, humble, & debonayre, Which that kepest the lawes of nature, For sodayne chaunges thou wilt not dispaite So art thou franchised from fortunes lure: All her assautes thou lowly doest endure, That she may haue no iurisdiction, To enterupt thy possession.

Thou settest lytel by al worldly richesse▪ Nor by his treasours which bene transitory: Thou scornest thē that their sheltrōs dresse Towarde batayls, for conquest & victory: Thou dispysest al shininge of veyne glory. Laude of triumphes whych conquerers haue sought w^t al her pillage, y^u setst thē at noght.

Thou dispreisest al superfluitee. None infortune may chaunge thy corage: And the shippes that saile by the see With marchandise amonge the flodes rage, Their auentures and perillous passage, Lyfe, body, goodes, al put in auenture, Onely for lucre, great richesse to recure.

Of al such thyng thou takest litle hede, Nor of the people that maners do purchase: Nor of pleders whych for lucre & mede, Meyntayne quarels, and questes do enbrace. Thou thē beholdest with a ful styl face, Their subtill working sought out for y^e nones And sodainly depart from al atones.

Thou canst in litell also haue suffisaunce, And art content wyth ful small dispence, For thy richesse, and thyne haboundaunce, Without grutchyng is humble pacience. If any man do to the offence, Thou forgettest, and canst forgyue, To the suffyseth so thou mayst liue.

The starred heuin is thy couerture,

In somer season vnder the leaues grene: Thou makest thy dwellinge & doest thy selfe assure, Ayen great heates of the son shene: Content w^t frutes, and water christal clene: To staunche thy hūger, and thy thurstes sore, After the season, and carest for no more.

Pouert eke lyeth the colde wynters nyght Wrapped in strawe, without cōpleyning: Without drede, he goeth glad & light, And tofore theues ful merely doth syng. She gothe also without patisyng, Fro lande to lande amonge poore & riche, For frende and foe to hym be both ylich.

Moral Senecke recordeth by writing, Richest of thynges is glad pouerte: Euer of one chere voyde of al grutching, Both in ioye and in aduersite: Through al the world last her liberte, And her franchise stant in so greate ease, That of fredom no man wyll her displese.

She is norice of study and of doctrine, In vertuous labour doth her diligence: And of science whych that ben diuine, She is called mother by clerkes in sentence: Of philosophers most had in reuerence. Fortune and she so farre a sonder vary, That eche to other of custome is contrary,

Her erthly ioye is for to liue in peas. Hateth tumulte, noyse, and disturbaunce: For her disciple called zenocrates, In wylful pouert set holy his plesaunce. Sober of his porte, through whose attempe∣raūce, Ful many a man by his teching, Were brought to vertue fro vicious lyuinge.

His diete was so mesurable, And deuoyde of superfluite, That his corage he kepte fyrme and stable, Fro fleshely lustes he was so attempre: Reason maistred his sensualite, Desyres vnleful for to set asyde, Duryng his lyfe pouert was his gide.

His abidyng and his conuersacion Was in places that were solitary, Among trees & welles he bylte him a dōgiō, With multitude he hated for to tary: For pouert was his secretary, Sober of his chere and stable of his entent, And in Athenes fyrst to schole he went. He was so mighty of authorite, Rightwysnesse, and iustyce to obserue, That rightful iuges his sentēce toke at gre: He coude his mouth and tonge so preserue, That in the temple ones of Mi••erue Without oth vnto his sentence, To that he saide the iuges gaue credence.

He asked was among great audience, Why he was soleine of his daliaunce: His answere was that neuer for scylence Through litel speking he felte no greuance. Speche vnauysed causeth repentaunce: And recheles tonges for lacke of refreyninge, To many a man hath be great hinderinge.

Diogenes true heire and next alied To wylful pouert, by iust enheritaunce, For all richesse he plainly hath defied: To him it was so great encomberaunce, With worldly treasour to haue aliaunce. Hys dwellyng made within a litell tunne, Which turned about w^t concourse of the sun.

Him selfe refreshig w^t hete of Phebus bemes, For he was content god wote with ful lite: Kyng Alexander that cōquered al realmes Came ridyng downe & gan him selfe delyte, This philosopher to se and visyte. Him selfe soquestred sole from al the prees, And came alone to see Diogenes.

Profered vnto hym great riches & treasoure, Badde him aske what thyng that he woulde, That might him please or do to hym succour: But of all that he nothinge ne tolde, But prayed him ful lowly that he shoulde Not drawe frō him that thynge ayen al right Which for to giue lay not in his myght.

What thyng is that quod Alexander agayne, I haue by cōquest al erthly tresour wun? The philosopher said he spake in vayne, Thou hast (quod he) no lordship of the sun, Thy shadow letteth his bemes fro my tun: And sith thou hast no power of hys lyght, I pray the hertely forbarre me not his sighte.

Though Alexāder was myghty of puissance, And all the world had in his demeyne, Yet was hys reason vnder the obeysaunce Of fleshly lustes, fettred in a cheine: For in hys person wyl was souereyne, His reason bridled by sensualite,

Troublyng the fredome of ryght & equite.

For where that wyll hath dominacion In a prince, which should sustayne ryght, And parcial fauour oppresseth his reason, And trouthes titel is bornedoun with myght, And equal doome hath lost his clere light, Though for a season they sit in hie cheyres, Their fame shal fade within a fewe yeres.

In this make I comparison, Bytwene Alexander and Diogenes: That one endured but a short season, For that he loued warre more than pees. And for that other was not recheles, But helde hym content wyth giftes of nature, Vnto great age his pouert dyd endure.

Alexander was slayne wyth poysone, In his triumphes whan he dyd excell: But in a tunne that lay ful low downe, Diogenes dranke water of the well. And of their end their difference to tel, Alexander wyth couetous was blent, The philosopher wyth litel was content.

Blessed be pouert that may endure longe, Maugre the fraude & daunger of fortune: Where as kynges and emperours strong, In their estate no whyle may contune, And al vertues rekened in cōmune, Twene indigence and great habundaunce, Is a good meane content with suffisaunce.

For with great plentye men be not assured, After their lust alway to lyue in ease: And though y^• mē great tresure haue recured, With their riches they fele many disease. Lords haue not al thyng that may thē please, But hertely ioy philosophers expresse, Is grettest tresour twene pouert & riches.

For this chapiter sheweth a fygure, A maner lykenesse, and demonstracion, Howe Diogenes lenger dyd endure, Than mighty Priam, or kyng Laomedon. So to exemplifye in conclusion, There is more trust in vertuous symplesse, Than in presumynge of vicious false riches.

For the auoutry of Paris and Heleine, Brought al Troye to distruccion: Pryde and luxury were also meanes tweine, Why grekes layd a siege to the towne, And finally cause of their confusion. To eyther partie losse of many a man, The groūd conceiued why fyrst that war gā.

Lenuoye.

THis tragedy piteous and lamentable. Ful dolorous to write and to expresse. That worthy Priam of kinges most notable, Was fal in pouert for al his great richesse: Fro kyngly honour in to wretchednes: From sceptre & croune, and from his regaly, To mischiefe brought through false auoutry▪

Was not fortune froward and disceuable, For to suffer by her doublenesse, And by her course whych euer is variable, That worthy Hector flour of al prowesse, Should vnwarly most famous of noblesse, Be slayne, alas chefe stocke of chiualry, For a quarel of false auoutry?

Agamemnon accompted incomparable Among grekes, for trouth & rightwysnesse, To gouerne most glorious and able, Within his paleis, the storye bereth wines, His wife Clitimnistra through her cursednes, Assented was to murdre hym of enuy, For the occasion of false auoutry.

Ye noble princes cōceiue howe chaungeable Is worldly honour, through vnstedfastnes, Sith of king Priam the glory was vnstable? Fixe in your minde thys mater doth impresse, And your corages knightly doth vpdresse: Agayne al tytles holdeth champarty, Whych appertayneth to false auoutry.

¶ The .xix. Chapter.

Of mighty Sampson whiche tolde hys counsayle to Dalyda, where∣by he was disceiued.

WHo was more stronger thā Samp∣son? None more deliuer, y^• byble bereth wytnesse: Without weapen he slough a fierse lyon, And for his enemyes to hym dyd expresse His vncouth problem anon he gan him dresse Agayne Philistines, and slough of thē thirty, To paye hys promyse spoyled them by & by.

His problem was (the text thus rehersyng After the letter) in very sothfastnesse, There came out mete of a thynge etynge, And fro the strong there went out swetnes. But hys wyfe of frowarde doublenes, Which euer wrought to his disauayle, Of worthy Sampson tolde the counsayle.

What is more stronge than is a lyon? Or more swete than hony in tastyng? But women haue thys condicion, Of secrete thynges whan they haue knowle∣ging They bolne inwarde their hertes aye freting Outher they must dye or discure, So britel of custome is their nature.

This was the case, the lyon that was deed, Agayne the sonne gapynge lay vp right: Aswarme of been entred in his heed, Of whom there came hony anone ryght, And whan Sampson therof had a syght, He fautasied in hys opinion, Full secretly this proposicion,

As ye haue herde, & gan it forth purpose, That philistines to hym it should expowne: Vnder a payne the trouth to hym vnclose. But wyth hys wife they priuely gan rown, And she on Sāpson gan cōpleyn and frowne, And faymngly so long vpon hym wepe, That he coud not his coūsayle fro her kepe.

Which whan she knewe made no taryeng, But plaine and hole she gan it to declare: Such double trust is in their wepynge, To kepe their tonges women can not spare. Such wepyng wyues yuell mote they fare, And al husbands I pray god gyue thē sorow, That tel their counsaile at euyn or morowe.

She told thē hole she told it thē not halfe, And Sampson than gan vpon thē smyle: If ye not had herde it in my calfe, Ye should not haue found it a great whyle. Who may be sure where women lyst begyle? Though bokes Sāpson of strēgth so cōmēde, Yet durst he not ayenst hys wyfe offende.

This mighty Sampson did also his payne Thre hundred foxes ones that he founde, He toke their tailes, knit thē twayn & twain, And amyd euerich he set a fyre bronde. And as they ran in Phylistines lond, So furiously vp and downe they went, That they their frutes & their vynes brent.

Eke by trayson whan he was ones bound, Wyth stronge cordes (as he lay a slepe) There .iii. M. whych that Sampson founde, To haue murdred hym or he toke kepe, He brake his bondes and vp anone he lepe: Of an asse he caught a chaule bone, And a thousande he slough of them anone.

He gan to faynt, and had a sodaine lust For to drinke, faded face and chere: And god sent hym to staūche with hys thurst, From the asses to the water christal clere, Which that sprāge out large lyke a ryuere: Refreshed his spirite whych afore gan dul, Tyl that he had of water dronke his ful.

After he went to Gasam the citye, Amōg hys enemys that were of great might To his plesaunce where he dyd se, A full fayre woman, lay wyth her al nyghte, And on the morowe long or it was lyght, Maugre the watch on his sholders square, The gates strong vp to an hyl he bare.

And in a valey whych called was Soret, Ful hote he loued Dalyda the fayre: On whom his hert was full sure set, She coude her fayne so meke & debonayre. Make him such chere whan hi list repeyre, But I dare call her Dalida the double, Chefe rote & cāuse of al his mortal trouble.

He neuer dranke wynes whyte ne reed, Of Nazarees such is the gouernaunce: Rasour, ne shere, touched neuer his heed, For in long growyng stādeth their plesaunce. And this Sampson most myghty of substāce, Had al his force by influence of heuyn, By heeres weryng y^• were in nombre seuyn.

It was ful secre in euery mannes syght, Among people told for an vncouth thinge, Wherof Sampson had so great myght, Outwarde shewyng by force of hys working: But Dalida wyth her false flatterynge, Woulde neuer stynt enquiring euer amonge, Tyl y^• ••he knewe wherby he was so strong.

She lyke a serpent daryng vnder flours, Or lyke a worme that wroteth in a tre, Or lyke an addre of many folde colours, Righte true apperinge and fayre vpon to se,

For shrowded was her mutabilite, With lowliheed and a fayre pretence, Of true menynge vnder false apparence.

He ment troth and she was variable, He was faithful and she was vntre we: He was sted fast and she was v•• stable, His trust aye one, she loued thinges newe, She weared colours of many diuers hewe. In stede of blewe which sted fast is & clene, She loued cha••nges of many diuers grene.

But to purpose for to condiscende, Whan she of Sampson knewe al the priuite, Her falsheed shortly for to comprehende, She made hym slepe ful soft on her kne, And a sharpe rasour after that toke she, Shofe of his heeres large & of great length Whereby alas he lost all his strength.

Domage in erth is none so greuous, As an enemy which that is secree: Nor pestilence none so perilous, As falsnesse wher it is priuee, And specially in feminitee. For if theyr wyues be founde variable, Where shall husbandes fynde other stable?

Thus Sāpson was by Dalida disceiued, She coude so well flatter, forge, and fayne: Which Philistines whan thei haue cōceyued, Vnwarely boūd hym in a myghty cheyne, Cast him in prison, put out his eyen twayne, And of dispite after as I fynde, At their quernes made hym for to grynde.

Thei made a feast stately and solempne, Whan they had al this traison wrought: And to rebuke him, scorne him, & condempne, Blinde Sampson was afore them brought▪ Which greued hym ful fore in his thought, Cast he dyd priuely in his minde, Cauenge hys blyndnesse some maner way to finde.

And whan he had thus be thought hym long, He made a childe hym priuely to lede, To two postes, large, square, and stronge, Enbraced them, or any man toke hedet And gan to shake the without feare or drede•• So sturdely among hys fone al, That the temple is vpon them fal.

Thus he was auenged on his fone, Which that falsely dyd agaynt hym stryue: Slough in hys dyeng, god wote many one, More than he dyd euer afore in hys lyue. And he was also, the date to discriue In Israel (the Byble is myn auctour) Twenty yere theyr iudge and gouernour.

¶ Lenuoye.

••Hys tragedy gyueth an euidence, To whom mē shal theyr coūseil 〈…〉〈…〉 dyscure: For recheles tonges for lacke of prudence, Haue do great harme to many a creature, Whan harme is done ful harde it is to recu〈…〉〈…〉 Beware by Sāpsō your coūsaile wel to ke〈…〉〈…〉 Let Dalida complaine, crye and wepe.

Whilom Sampson for manhode & pruden〈…〉〈…〉 Israel had in gouernance and cure, Daunted Lyons through his magnifyeence▪ Made on a thousande a disconfiture: But hys most perilous auenture, Was whan he lay with Dalida to slepe, Whych falsly coude complayne, crye & wepe.

Ye noble princes conceyue the sentence Of thys story remembred in scripture, Howe that Sampson of wylful negligence Was shauen & shorne, diffaced his fygure•• Kepe your cō••eytes vnder couerture, Suffre no nightworme within your co〈…〉〈…〉 ••cr•••• Though Dalida cōplayne, crye and wepe.

☞ The .xx. Chapiter.

A chapter of Bochas discriuyng the malice of women.

MYne aucthour Bocas reioysed in by¦lyue, I dare not saye whether it was com∣mendable, Of these women the malice to dyscryue, Generally, and writ (it is no fable) Of theys nature how they ••en variable, And howe their malice best by euidente Is knōw to them that haue experience.

They can aforce them al day men mayse, By sp••guler fredom and dominacion, Ou••r••en to haue soueraynte, And kept them lowe vnder subiection: And sor•• labour in the•• opinion•• By subtyl ••ra•••• that thinge to return.

Which is to them denied of nature.

Bochas affirmeth and holde it for no tale. If they want freshnes of colour, And haue their face Jawne, swerte, and pale, Anone they do their diligent laboure In such anede to helpe and do socour, Their riueled skyn abrode to drawe & strain, Forward froūces to make thē smoth & plain.

If no rednesse in their chekes be, Nor no lilyes dilectable and white, Than they take tencrease their beaute, Such oyntements as may most delite. Wher kynde fayleth the surplusage to aquite They can by craft so for them selfe dispose, Shewe rednes, though there be no rose.

And for to shewe their face faire and bryghte, With hote spices and oyntementes sote, They can by craft counterfete a ryght: Take in such case many an holsome rote. Where kinde faileth connynge can do bote. If theyr brestes vp to hye them dresse, They cā ful wel thē bossynge downe represse.

And if they be to soft or to tendre, They haue connyng to make them harde and round: Their corsnes they can eke make slendre, With poynant sauces y^• ben in phisike fon̄de, Their subtel wittes in sleightes so habound, Thynge y^• is croked or wrong in mās syght, To make it seme as it went vp ryght.

They haue strictories too make theyr skyn to shine Wrought subtilly of gōmes & of glaire, Crafty lyes to dye their heer cytryne, Distilled waters to make them seme fayre. Fumigacions to rectify the ayre, Stomagers and freshe confections, To represse false exhalacions.

Of al these things Bochas hath most dispite, Whan these veckes farre yron in age, Within them selfe haue vaine glory & delite, For to be fayre and paynt their visage: Lyke as a paintour on an olde ymage Layeth his collours riche & freshe of hewe, Worme frete storkes for to make seme newe.

Their slak skyn by crafte abrode is streined, Lyke an orenge from the galey brought: Riche relikes about their necke is cheined, Golde vpō golde w^e perle & stones wrought. And y^e their colour outward apeire nought w^t winde or sun which shuld thē stein or fade, For vnkinde heates they vsen Citrinade.

What should I write their vncouth desiers, Sumtyme frowarde sūtyme debonayre? Imageninge sondry freshe attiers, Contriued of newe many thousand payre. Diuers deuiles to make them seme fayre: In their apport by counterfayte lykenes For to resemble Venus the goddesse.

Of one deuise they holde them not apayde, They must eche day haue a straunge wede: If any be better than other arayed, Of frowarde grutchynge they fele their herte blede. For eueryche thynketh verely in dede A morow prieng in a myrrour bryght, For to be fairest in her owne sight.

They can their eyen and their lokes dresse To drawe folkes by sleightes to their lure, And some whyle by their frowardnes And fayned daunger they can of men recure What euer they lyst, such is their auenture: Agaynst whose sleightes force nor prudence May not auayle to make resistence.

With constraint wepyng, & forged flatery, Subtyll speche, ferced with plesaunce, And many false dissimuled malady Though ī their hertes they fele no greuaūce, And with their couert sobre daliaunce, Though vnderneth the double serpent dare, Ful many one they haue broght ī their snare.

O swetnes ful of mortalitie, Serpentyne wyth a plesant visage, Vnstable ioy ful of aduersite, O most chaungeable of hert and of corage, In thy desires hauyng thys auauntage, What euer thou lyst to daunt and oppresse, Such is thy fraūches, Bocas bereth witnes.

Of nature they can in many wyse, Of mighty gyantes the power wel aslake▪ What wyt of man can compas or deuise, Their sleighty wyles dare well vndertake, And if them lyst theron an ende make: Fro this conceite who so that discord•• A thousande stories the reders can accorde.

Remembring first how Hercules stronge▪

Was brought by women to his destruction: The quene Clitimnistra dyd also great wrōg To murder her lorde kynge Agamemnon. Dalyda also betrayed Sampson, Amphiorax sanke depe downe in to hell, Bicause his wife his counsaile did out tell.

It nedeth not make mencion Though Phillis died through impacience, Of longe abidinge of her Demophoon, Nor howe that Nisus kyng of Magarence Was by his doughters cursed violence Vnwarely murdred, in Ouide it is told, Whā frō his head she stale y^• heare of golde.

Bochas reherseth of wyues many one, Which in their werkinge were ful cōtrarius: But among all he writeth there was one. Quene of Assirye & wyfe to kyng Ninus, And by discent doughter to Neptunus, Semitamis called in her dayes, Which of all men woulde make assa••••s.

She nouther spared straunger ne kynred, Her owne son was not set asyde: But wyth him had knowledgyng in dede, Of whych the sclaūder went about ful wyde, For wyth one man she could not abyde, Such a false lust was vpon her fall, In her corage to haue a do wythal.

And truely it doth my wyt appal, Of thys matter to make rehersaile: It is no reason to atwyte women al Though one or two whylom dyd fayle, It sitteth not nor it may not auaile Them to rebuke that perfit ben and gode, Ferre out of ioynt though some other stode.

The rich Rubye nor the Saphire Inde Be not appayred of their freshe beautie, Though among stones mē coūterfetes fynd: And semblably though some women be Not wel gouerned after their degre, It not diffa••eth nor doth no violence, To them that neuer dyd in their life offence.

The whyte lillye nor the holsome rose Nor violettes sprede on bankes thicke, Their swetnes whych outwarde they vnclose Is not appeyred with no weedes wycke. And though y^• breres & many a croked sticke Growe in gardens among the floures fayre, They may the vertue of herbes not apayre.

And (I dare say) that women vertuous Ben in the vertue (of price) more cōmendable Than there be some rekened vicious, And of their liuinge founde also stable. Good women ought not be partable Of their trespasse, nor their wycked dede, But more cōmended for their womanhed.

What is appayred of Hester the mekenes, Though y^• Scilla was sturdy & vengeable? Nor of Alceste the perfite stedfastnes Is not eclipsed, but more acceptable, Though Clitimnistra was founde variable: Lyke as whā clouds their blaknes do decline Phebus w^t his beames doth more clere shine.

Ful many one haue clene ben al their lyue, Vndefouled kept their virginitie: And some coude against al vices striue, Them to conserue in perfit chastitie, Deuoyde of chaung and mutabilitie. Thogh sūe other haue ther againe trespased▪ The laude of them is not therwith diffased.

And who euer of malice lyst accuse These sely women touchynge variaunce, Let them remembre & in their wyttes muse Men be not ay stable in their constaunce: In this worlde there is no perseueraunce, Chaunge is ay founde in men & women both On outher party be they neuer so wroth.

No man should the vertuous at wite In stede of him that did the trespace, Nor for a thefe a trewe man iudite, Nor for the gylty an Innocent manace: Good and wycked abyde in euery place, Their price, their lacke, let them be reserued, To outher party as they haue deserued.

Though Jhon Bochas in his opinion Agaynst women lyst a processe make, They that ben good of condicion Shoulde ayenst it no maner quarel take But lightly, passe and their sleues shake: For againe good he nothinge made Who can conceyue theffect of this balade.

¶ The .xxi. Chapter.

The excuse of Bochas for his writing ayenst misgouerned women, in sted of a Lenuoy.

YE women all that shall beholde and see, This chapiter, and the proces rede, Ye that ben good founde in youre de∣gree, And vertuous both in thought and dede, What Bochas sayeth take ye no hede: For his writinge if it be discerned, Is not agayne them that be well gouerned.

For though it fall that one two or thre Haue done amisse, as therof god forbed, That other womē whych stable & faithful be, Should be atwited of their vngoodlyhede: But more cōmended for their womanhed. For this scripture if it be concerned, Is agayne them that be not well gouerned.

A galled horse (the soth if ye list se) Who toucheth hi boweth his backe for drede, And who is knowe vntrue in his countre, Shrinketh his hornes whā mē speke of fals∣hede, But good women haue ful litel nede To grutch or frowne whan y^e truth is lerned, Thoughe there be sōe y^t be not wel gouerned.

Of Dalida and quene Pasiphae Though doublenes dyd their bridell lede, Yet of Lucrece and Penolope, The noble fame abrode doth shyne & sprede: Out of good corne mē may the darnel wede, Women rebuke in their defautes querned, And not touch them that be wel gouerned.

The .xxii. Chapter.

¶ Of myghty Pyrrus that sloughe Pollicene, whyche for hys pryde and auoutry dyed in pouerte, slayne at the last by Horestes.

BOchas musynge in hys remem∣braunce, And considerynge in his fantasy, The vnsure truste of worldely va∣riaunce, Of men & women the chaunge and the foly: The same tyme he sawe a company Of myghty princes ful pitously wepynge, To hym appere their fortune complaining.

Among other that put them selfe in pr••ase, Of mighty Pirrus fyrst he had a tight: That was the son of worthy Achilles, Among Grekes the most famous knight, Most commended of manhode & of might. Son and next heire as bokes specifye, Of Pelleus kynge of Thessalie.

This Achilles ful manly of his herte Hurt of Hector and his wounde grene, Slough Hector after or he dyd aduert: The whiche Achilles for loue of Pollicene, By compassing of Heccuba the quene, Vnder treaty this grekes champion, Was slayne of Paris within Troy toun.

Whose deth to auenge, Pyrrus in his tene Furiously with face deed and pale, Slough afterward the sayde Pollicene, And dismembred her on peices smale: Whiche for to heare is a piteous tale, That a knight so vengeable was in dede, To slee a mayde quakynge in her drede.

He coude for Ire on her no mercy haue, But with his swerde most furious & wode, Merciles vpon his fathers graue, Lyke a tiraunt he shed her chaste bloud: The dede horrible diffaced his knighthode, That to this day the sclaunder and diffame, By newe report reboundeth on his name.

Poetes say, and specially Ouide Writes whan Grekes fro Troy shuld saile. Howe their shyppes by an anker dyd ryde, Of their purpose which long dyd thē faile: But in this whyle he maketh re hersayle, Out of the erth manacynge of chere, Of Achilles an ymage dyd appere.

To grekes sayde wyth a deedly face: I fele well mine honour and my glory, And my nobles ful lyghtly forth doth pace Vnkynde people, out of your memory. Whych by me had your conquest and vyctory, Your deuoyre doth Pollicene to take, And on my graue a sacrifice to make.

Wyth her blode, loke ye spare nought To spring it about my sepulture: Thus blode for blode wyth vengeance shalbe bought, And for my death the death she must endure.

And hole the maner of thys auenture, And howe she dyed, in her maydenhead, Methamorphoseos y^• processe ye may rede.

In hasty vengeaunce set was al hys ioye, w^t thurst vnstaūched Troyan blode to shede, He slough Priam the worthy kyng of Troy: And into Grece wyth hym he dyd lede Andromada, the story ye may rede, Weded her, and after in certaine, By him she had worthy sonnes twayne.

But in repayryng home to his coūtre, As Eolus dyd hys shyppes dryue, I fynde he was a pirat of the se: And into Grece whan he dyd aryue, Fortune vnwarely gan agayne him stryue, Forsoke hys wyfe let her lyue alone, Toke another called Hermione

Which was that tyme in mariage To Horestes son of Agamemnon: And he alas of loues wylful rage, Toke her by force to hys possession. But of auoutry foloweth this guerdō, Sodayne deth, pouerte, or shame, Open disclaūder, great mischefe or diffame.

Eke in hys tyme thys Pirrus as I rede, Fyll into mischefe and great pouerte: And wyth such meyny as he dyd lede, He was a rouer, and robbed on the see. And as poetes reherse, ye may se, Of such robbyng by sclaūder and diffame, This worde Pirate of Pirrus toke y^• name.

And as the storye after doth deuise, The sayde Horestes gan sykerly espye, Wher that Pyrrus dyd sacrifyce Tofore Appollo, that god to magnify: Full vnwarely Horestes of enuy, Toke a sharpe sherde or Pyrrus coud aduert Wher that he stode & rofe hym to the hert.

This was the fyne of Pyrrus in substance, For al his pryde and great presumcion: Of false auoutry foloweth thys vengeaūce, Losse of some membre, pouerte, or prison. Or hateful sclaundre by some occasion, Or sodayne deth, shortly in sentence, Complete in Pyrrus, by ful clere euydence.

The .xxiii. Chapiter.

¶ Of Machayre and of hys suster Ca∣nace.

AFter thys Pyrrus came Canace the faire, Teares dystyllynge fro her eyen twayne: And her brother that called was Machaire. And both they pitiously gan playne That fortune gan at them so disdayne, Hyndryng their fate by woful aduenture, Touchig their loue which was ayen nature.

He was her brother and her loue also, As the storie plainely doth declare: And in a bedde they laye eke bothe two, Reason was none why they would spare. But loue that causeth wo and eke welfare, Gan agayne kynde so straungely deuyse, That he her wombe made sodenly to ryse.

And finally myne authour beareth wytnes, A childe she had by her owne brother, Which excelled in fauour and fayrenes, For lyke to hym of beaute was none other, But of their loue so gyded was the rother, That Caribdis twene windes ful contrayre, Hath Canace distroied, and Machayre.

For whan their father the maner dyd espie, Of their workyng whych was so horible, For yre almost he fel in frensy, Whych for to appese was an impossible: For the mater was frowarde and odible, For whiche plainely deuoyde of al pite, Vpon their trespas he would auenged be.

The cause knowen the father anone right, Cast for their deth of rigour to prouide: For whych Machaire fledde out of his sight And from his face his presence gan to hide. But wo alas his suster must abide, Mercilesse for their hateful trespase, And suffre deth there was none other grace.

First her father a sharpe swerde to her sent, In token of deth for a remembraunce, And whan she wist plainely what he ment, And conceiued his rigorous ordinaunce: Whyth whole purpose to obey his plesaunce,

She grutched not, but lowly of entent, Lyke a meke doughter to his desire assent.

But or she dyed she cast for to write A lytell letter to her brother dere, A deedly complaynt to shewe & endite, With pale fate and a mortal there. The salt teares from her eyen clere, With pitous sobbing fet fro her herts brinke, Distillyng downe to tēpre with her ynke.

☞ The .xxv. Chapiter.

¶ The letter of complaynt of Ca∣nace, to her brother Machayre.

OVt of her sowne whan she abreyde, Knowyng no meane but deth in her distres, Too her brother full pytouslye she sayde Cause of my sorowe, rote of my heuynesse, That whilō was chefe sours of my gladnes, Whā both our ioyes by wyl were so disposed, Vnder one key our herts to be vnclosed.

Whilom thou were supporte and sykernes, Chefe reioysyng of my worldly plesaunce: But now thou art ground of my sicknes, Wel of wanhope, and my deedly penaunce: Which haue of sorow grettest habūdaūce That euer yet had any creature, Which must for loue the deth, alas, endure,

Thou were whylō my blysse & al my trust, Souerayne confort, my sorowes to appese: Spring and wel of all my hertes lust, And nowe alas chefe rote of my disease. But if my deth myght do the any ease, O brother myne in remembraūce of twaine, Deth shall to me be pleasure & no payne.

My cruel father most vnmerciable, Ordayned hath (it nedes must be so) In his rigour he is so vntretable, Al mercilesse he wyll that it be do, That we algate shall dye both two: But I am glad sith it may be none other, Thou art escaped my best beloued brother.

This is myne ende I may it not astert, O brother myne there is no more to say, Lowly besechinge the with al my hole hert, For to remembre specially I prey, If it befall my litel sonne to dey, That y^• maist after some mynde on vs haue, Suffre vs both to be buried in one graue.

I holde hi streitly atwene my armes twaine, Thou & nature layde on me this charge: He gyltlesse wyth me mast suffre payne, And sith thou art at fredom and at large, Let kyndnes our loue not so discharge, But haue a mynde where euer that thou be Ones a day vpon my chylde and me.

On the and me dependeth the trespare, Touchyng our gylt and our great offence: But welawaye most angelyke of face, Our chylde yong in his pure innocence, Shal agaynst right suffre dethes violence. Tender of lymmes, god wote full giltlesse, The goodly fayre y^• lieth here spechlesse.

A mouth he hath, but wordes hath he none, Can not cōplaine, alas, for none outrage, Nor grutcheth not, but lyeth here alone Styll as a lambe most meke of his visage: What hert of stele coude do to hym domage, Or suffre hym dye beholdyng the mauere, And loke benigne of his two eyne clere?

O thou my father to cruell is thy wreche, Harder of hert, than any tigre or lyon: To slee a chylde that lyeth wythout speche, Voyde of all mercy and remission, And on his mother haste no compassion. His youth cōsidered w^t lyppes soft as silke Whych at my brest lyeth & souketh mylke.

Is any sorow remēbred by wryting Vnto my sorouful sighes comparable? Or was there euer creature lyuyng That felt of dole a thinge more lamentable? For confortlesse and vnrecurable Are thilke heaped sorowes full of rage, Which haue with wo oppressed my corrage.

Reken all my mischeues, in especial And on my mischefe remembre & haue mynd: My lord my father is my enemy mortal, Experience yn••ugh thereof I finde. For in his pursute he hath left behinde, In distruccion of the my chyld and me, Al ruth, al mercy, and fatherly pite.

And the my brother auoyded from his sight, Whiche in no wyse his grace mayst attayne: Alas that rigour, vēgeaunce & cruel right, Shoulde aboue mercy be lady souerayne. But crueltie doth at me so disdayne, That thou my brother my childe & also I Shall dye exyled, alas from all mercy.

My father whylom by many a sondry signe Was my socour and supportacion, To the and me most gracious and benigne, Our worldly gladnes oure consolacion: But loue & fortune hath tourned vpsodoun Our grace, alas, our welfare & our fame, Hard to recure so sclaundred is our name.

Spot of diffaming is harde to washe away, Whan noyse abrode do folke manace: To hynder a man theyr may be no delay, For hateful fame flyeth far in short space? But of vs twayne there is none other grace, Saue onely deth, and after deth, alas, Eternal sclaunder, of vs thus stant the caas.

Whō shal we blame or whō shal we atwite, Our greate offence sith we maye it not hyde? For our excuse reportes to respyte Meane is there none except the God Cupide: And though he woulde for vs prouyde, In thys mater to be our chefe refuge, Poetes say he is blynde to be a iudge.

He is depaynt lyke a blynde archere, To marke aryght fayling discrecion: Holdynge no measure nouther fer nor nere, But lyke fortunes disposicion, Al vpon hap voyde of al reason. As a blynd archer w^t arrowes sharp ygroūd, Of auenture yeueth many a mortal wounde.

At the and me he wrongly dyd marke, Felly to hynder our fatal auentures. As farre as Phebus shyneth in hys arke, To make vs refuse to al creatures, Called vs twayne vnto the wofull lures Of diffame, whych wyll depart neuer, By newe reporte the noyse encresyng euer.

Odious fame with swift wynges flyeth, But al good fame enuy doth restrayne: Eche man of other the defautes seeth, Yet on his owne no man wyl complayne. But al the worlde out cryeth on vs twayne. Whose hateful ire by vs may not be quemed. For I must dye my father hath so demed.

Now farwel brother, to me it doth suffice To dye alone for our both sake: And in my most faithful humbly wyse, Vnto my dethward thogh I trimble & quake, Of the for euer now my leaue I take. And ones a yere forget not but take hede, My fatal day this letter for to rede.

So shalt y^u haue of me some remēbraunce, My name emprinted in thy kalendere, By rehersayle of my deedly greuance: Weare black that day & make a doleful chere. And whan thou comest & shalt aproch nere My sepulture, I pray the not disdaine Vpon my graue some teares for to rayne.

Writyng her letter wrapped all in drede, In her ryght hande her pen gan to quake: And a sharpe swerde to make her hert blede, In her lift hand her father hath her take. And her most sorow was for her childes sake Vpon whose face in her barme slepyng, Ful many a teare she wepte in complayning.

After al thys, so as she stode and quoke, Her chylde beholdig amyd her paynes smert: Without abode the sharpe swerde she toke, And roue her selfe euyn to the hert. Her chyld fil downe which myght not astert, Hauyng no helpe to soccour hym nor saue, But in her bloud him selfe began to bathe.

And than her father most cruel of entent, Badde that the childe shoulde anone be take, Of cruel houndes in haste for to be rent, And be deuoured for hys mothers sake: Of thys tragedy thus an ende I make, The processe of whych men may rede & se Concludeth on mischefe & furious crueltie.

Remembrynge fyrst as made is mencion, Howe that Pyrrus delited hym in dede Whan Troye was brought to distruction, With cruel swerde Troyan blode to shede. But of such slaughter se here the cruel mede. As ryght requyreth by vnware violence, Blode shedde for blode is finall recōpence.

¶ Lenuoye.

WHan surquedy oppressed hath pitie, And mekenes is w^t tyranny bore doun Agayne all ryght, then hasty crueltie To be vengeable maketh no delation, What foloweth therof by good aspection, Se an example how Pyrrus in his tene Of hatefull yre slough yonge Pollicene.

Kynge Eolus to outragious was parde, And to vengeable in his entencion: Agaynst his children, Machaire, & Canace, So importable was his punicion, Of haste proceadyng to their destruction. Worse in his yre as it was well sene, Than cruell Pyrrus whiche slewe Policene.

Noble princes, prudent and attempre, Deferre vengeaunce of high discrecion: Tyll your yre sum what as waged be, Do neuer of doome none execusion. For hate and rancour perturben the reason Of hasty iudges, more of entent vnclene, Than cruell Pyrrus whych slewe Policene.

¶ Thus endeth the firste Booke.