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.

¶ Hovve Andalus doctour of Astronomy concludeth how Prynces shoulde not atwite constel∣lacions nor Fortune of their vnhappy fallyng, but their demerites and vycious liuyng.

¶ The first Chapter.

AT Naples whylom as he dothe specify In his youth whan he to schole went, There was a doctour of Astro∣nomye, Famous of cunnyng and right excellent, Of hym rehearsyng shortly in sentment, His ioy was most to study and wake, And he was called Andalus the blake.

He redde in scholes the mening of the heauen, The kinde of starres and constellacions, The course also of the planets seuen, Their influence and their mocions: And helde also in his opinions, The fall of princes the cause well out sought, Came of them selfe and of fortune nought.

Nor the starres was nothing to wite By their meuyng, nor by their influence Nor y^t men should of right the heauen at wite, For no froward worldly vyolence: For this clarke there concluded in sentence, How men by vertue longe may contune, From hurt of starres or of fortune.

Their owne desert is chefe occasion Of their vnhappe who so taketh hede, And their demerites vnwarely put thē doun, Whan vycious life doth their brydle lede: Course of fortune nor of the starres rede, Hindreth nothing agayne their felicitie, Syth of free choyse they haue full libertye.

God punished sinne in many maner wyse, Some he chastiseth for theyr owne auaile, Men may of reason in suche case deuise, Sinne aye requireth vengeaūce at his tayle: God of fortune taketh no counsayle, Nor from her meuyng no man is more fre, As clarkes write, than is glad pouertee.

And vnto purpose this auctour full notable, To his scholers there beyng in presence, Full demurely gan reherse a fable, With many a coloure of sugred eloquence, Theron concludyng the sūme of his sentence, Touching a strife whiche he did expresse, Atwene glad pouert, & this blinde goddesse.

☞ A disputation betwene Fortune and glad pouerte.

HVod Andalus whilom of fortune In straite place there sate glad pouert Whiche resembled of loke & of figure A retcheles woman most vgly vnto se, At a narow metyng of hye wayes thre, All to torne, to ragged, and to rent, A thousand patches vpon her garment.

She was hydous bothe of chere and face, And in semyng voyde of sorow and drede: And by that way as Fortune did pace, And of glad Pouert sodaynly toke hede, She gan to smile and laught at her in dede, By a maner scornyng in certayne, Of her aray she had so great disdaine.

Whose froward laughter whā pouert did espy How she of her had indignacion, She rose her vp of hygh melancholy Playnly to shewe her entencion, Without good day or salutacion, Doyng to Fortune no maner reuerence, Vnder these wordes, declaryng her sentence.

O thou Fortune moste fole of foles all, What cause hast thou for to laugh at me, Or what disdayne is in thyne hart fall: Spare not a deale tell on let se, For I full little haue ado with the, Of olde nor new I haue none aquayntaunce Neither with the nor wyth thy gouernaunce.

And whan Fortune beholdeth the manere Of glad Pouert, in her to torne wede, And knew also by countenaunce and chere, How she of her toke but little hede, Like as she had to her no maner nede, The whiche thinges conceyued and seyne, To pouerty she answered thus ageine:

My scornefull laughter plainly was for the, Whan I the sawe so megre, pale, and lene, Naked and colde, in great aduersitie, Scabbed, scoruy, scalled, and vnclene, On backe and body as it is well sene, Many a beast walke in their pasture, Whiche day by day of new thou doest recure.

Hauyng nothing to wrap in thy head, Saue a brode hatte rent out of nattes olde, Full of honger for defaute of bread, Slepyng on strawe in the frostes colde: And where thou comest as men may behold, For fear of the, children them withdrawe, And many a dogge hath on thy staffe ygnaw.

To all estates thou art most odious, Men with the will haue no daliaunce, Thy felowship is so contracious, Where thou abidest may be no pleasaunce: Folke hate so deedly thi froward acquaitaūce That finally I dare conclude of the, Where euer thou comest thy felowshyp mē fle.

Whan glad pouert gan plainly vnderstand The rebukes rehearced of Fortune, The rude reasons that she toke on hande Whiche frowardly to her she did entune, As Pouert were a refuse in commuue, By the repreues that Fortune on her layde, For whiche pouerte, replyed agayne & saide.

Fortune (quod she) touching this debate Whiche of malice thou doest againe me take, Be well certaine touching my pore estate, I of frewyll thy fauour haue forsake, And though folke saye thou maiest men ryche make Yet had I leuer be pore w^t gladnes, Than with trouble posse de great riches

For though thou seme benigne & debonayre By a maner counterfaite apparence, Fatte and well fedde w^t rounde chekes fayre, With many colours of trouth as in pretence, As therof fayth were very existence, But vnder all thy floures of freshenes, The serpent glydeth of chaunge & doublenes

And though thy clothing be of purple hewe, With great awaytyng of many chamberers, Of golde and perle eche day chaunged newe, Clothe of golde and sundry fresh attires, And in thine housholde full many officers, Yet I dare well put in ieoparty With the to pleate and holde champarty.

Thus glad pouert gan waxe importune, Of there contrary of loke and of langage, Agayne this ladye whiche called is Fortune: That of disdayne she fill into a rage, Beholde quod she of pouerte the courage In wretchednes standyng disconsolate, How agayne me she is now obstinate?

She can not se how she stant outrayed Farre from the fauour of my felicitie, Yet of pride she is not dismayed Nor list not bowe for to obey me, Though she be cast in mendicite: Farthest abacke I do you well assure, In mischefe set of any creature.

But truely pouerte for all thi truaundise Maugry thy pride and thine outrage I shall the punishe in full cruell wise, To make the loute vnder my seruage, Whiche resemblest a deadly ymage That were newe risen out of his graue, And yet of pryde darest ayenst me raue.

But whan fortune had these wordes sayde, Glad pouerte gan fall in great gladnes, And agayne Fortune with a sodayne brayde, She gan her conceit out shewe and expresse: Fortune (quod she) though thou be a goddesse Called of foles yet learne this of me, From thy seruage I stande at libertie.

But if I shall algates haue ado With the in armes moste cruell & vengeable, Touching the quarell y^t is atwene vs two, There is one thinge to me right comfortable, That thy courage is flikeryng and vnstable, And where an harte is in him selfe deuided, Victory in armes for him is not prouided.

Me list nether flatter the nor fage, Nor the to anoynt by adulacion, Though flattery and fayned false langage Appropred be to thy condicion:

And in dispite of thy presumption, I haue forsake of my fre voluntie All the treasures of worldly vanitie.

Whylom I was as thou hast deuised Seruaunt to the, and vnto thy treasours, But frō thy daunger now y^t I am fraūchised Seking of the nether for helpe nor succours, Manace kynges and mighty emperours, For glad pouerte late neither sone With thy riches hath nothing to done.

For though thou haue embraced in thy cheine Worldly princes and goodes transitorye, And ryche marchauntes vnder thy demeyne, Yeuest to knighthode conquest and victory, The fadyng palme of laude and vaynglory: But whan echone thy fauour haue recured, Thā is glad pouerte fre fro thy lure assured.

All thy seruauntes stande vnder drede, Quakyng for feare of thy doublenes, For neither wisdome, force, nor manhede, Fredome, bountie, loue, nor gentilnes, May in thy fauour haue no sykernesse, They be so possed w^t windes in thy barge: Where as glad pouert goth fre at his large.

Thy manacyng dothe me no duresse, Whiche worldly princes dreden euerychone, They may well quake for losse of riches, But I glad pouerte therof desire none: As flow & ebbe all worldly things must gone, For after floudes of Fortunes tide, The ebbe foloweth and will no man abide.

Flowe and ebbe to me both aliche, I drede nothing thy mutabilitee: Make whō thou list either pore or ryche, For I nothing will require of the, Nether lordship nor great prosperitie, For with thy gyftes who that hath to done, Of chaunges braydeth ofter then the Mone.

Out of pouerte came first these emperours That were in Rome crowned with laurere, Fredom and larges made them first victours Causyng their fame to shine bright and clere, Till couetise brought them in daungere: Whan they of foly in their most excellence To thy doublenes did reuerence.

For whan fredome a prynce dothe forsake, And couetise put awaye largesse, And straytnes into honsholde take, And nygardshyp exileth gentilues, Than is withdrawe from their hye noblesse The peoples hart, and playnely to deuise Of their seruantes farewel al good seruice.

All suche sodayne chaunges in commune, In this worlde vsed now fro day to daye, Echone they come by fraude of false fortune, Experience hath put at assay: Loue, trouth, and fayth, be gone farre away, And if that trust with prynces will not tary, Little maruayle though the people vary.

For through thy chaūges of fraudulēt faire∣nes There is now vsed in euery region Glad chere outshewed w^t couert doublenes, Vnder the curtayne of simulation: So secrete is now adulation, That in this worlde may be no surete, But if it rest in glad pouerte.

Yet of thy perillous frowarde variaunce I set no store truely as for me, For all thy frendshyp cōcludeth w^t mischaūce, With sodayne mischefe of mutabilitie: Which yeueth me hart to haue ado with the, For suffisaunce in my pore estate, Shal to thy chaūges say sodainly chekmate.

Fortune with anger almost dispayred, Of these wordes toke full great greuaunce: Pouert (quod she) which maist not be apayred But I now shew agayne the my puissaunce Men would little accompt my substaunce, O mighty pouerte, O stronge Hercules, Which against me puttest thy selfe in prees.

Supposest thou it should the auayle, Other by force or by hardines To haue ado wyth me in battayle, Whiche am of conquest & of hygh prowes, In armes called lady and prynces? For there is none so myghty conqueroure That may preuayle without my fauour.

Of these wordes pouerte nothyng aferde, Answerde agayne thus playnly in sentence: Though I ne haue spere, shelde, nor swerde, Nor chosen armure to stande at defence, Pollar, nor dagger, to make resistence, But bare and naked, anone it shalbe seyne If thou w^t me darest wrastle on the pleyne.

Whiche shal be done vnder condicion That none of vs shall him selfe withdrawe, But styll abide of entencion Till he that vaiquisheth ordeined hath a law Such as him liketh against his felawe: The whiche lawe shall not be delayed To be accomplished on him that is outrayed.

Of whose wordes Fortune again gan smile, That pouert profered so proudly to assayle, And vpon this she stynt a little whyle, And to pouert she put this opposayle. Who shall (quod she) be iudge of this battaile, Or yeue doine iustly atwene vs twayne, Of this quarell that we shall darayne?

I aske also another question, Touchyng thy profer of furious outrage: Where as thou puttest a condicion And a lawe with full proude langage, Where shalt thou fynde pledges or hostage, To kepe the promise which thou doest ordain Therof to abide the guerdon or the payne?

I meane as thus if there be set a lawe Atwene vs two, or a condicion By surety whiche may not be withdrawe, As vnder bonde or obligation: But there is neither lawe nor reason May bynde a begger if it be well sought, Whan it is proued y^t he hath right nought.

The secte of pouerte hath a protection From all statutes to go at libertie, And from all lawe a playne exception: Than foloweth it if thou bynde the To any lawe that may contriued be, It were fraude playnely to endite, Which hast right nought thy party to acquite

Thou art so feble if I came therto That thou were brought vnto vtteraunce, For no power whan that all were do Thou shoulde fayle to make thy finaunce, Bothe destitute of good and of substaunce: And sithe no lawe now thy person may coart, It were foly with suche one to ieoparte.

If I woulde compulse the to wracke, To aske of the treasure of kyng Dary, On that party thou standest farre abacke, My payment so longe shoulde tarye Indigence would the to vary: And if I woulde thy person eke compare To Alysaunder, thy sydes ben full bare.

And finally thou standest in suche caas Of misery, wretchednes, and nede, That thou mightest of reason synge alas, Bothe forsake of frendshyp and kynrede, And there is none dare pledge the for drede: Yet like a fole supprised with vaynglory, Hopest of me to wynne the vyctory.

Quod glad pouerte I doubt neuer adele That the vyctory shall passe on my side, Pledge and hostages let them go, farewele, I aske no more of all thy great pryde, But to thende that thou wylt abyde, Pledge thy fayth, albe that some men sayth, To trust in fortune there is full little fayth.

And for my part in this hye emprise Sith I haue pledges nether one nor twayne More sure hostage can I not deuise: But if so be the victory thou attayne, Than yelde I my body bound in a chayne, Perpetually, like the condicion With the to abyde fettred in pryson.

Than Fortune laught more thē she did afore Whan she saw Pouerte so presumptuous, In his aray all to ragged and to tore, And had neither rent, lande, ne house: It is (quod she) a thing contraryous Vnto nature, who that can aduert, To a begger to haue a sturdy hart.

And if I the vainquished in battayle, It were to me no worshyp nor aduauntage, What should thy body vnto me auayle The to enpryson straytly in a cage? It should be a charge and a costage Thine empty wombe eche day to fyll, If thou mightest haue vytayle at thy wyll.

And if I would my selfe to magnify, Token of tryumphe after my chare the lede, Men would deme it a maner mockery, And say in scorne take of that fole good hede, How she a begger hath ouercome in dede, Fought with her for to encrease her name, Which cōquest turneth to disclaūder & shame.

Yet whan I haue brought the to vttraunce, My power shadowed and my great might. And thine outrage oppressed by vengeaunce, After all this as it is skyll and ryght,

It shalbe couthe in euery mans syght, Out declared the great difference, Atwene thy feblenes & my great excellence.

Than to represse thy surquedy at ones, Cruel Orchus the tydogye infernall, Shall rende thy skinne asunder frō the bones To shew my power whiche is imperiall: And to declare in especiall Pouerte reclaymed vnto prydes lure, With me to plete may no whyle endure.

And sodenly or glad pouerte toke hede, Fortune proudly first began tassayle, And vnwarely hent her by the hede, Demyng of pride y^t she may nat fayle, Thrugh her power to vēquish this bataile: But it may fall, a dwerye in his right, To outray a gyaunt for all his gret might.

God taketh none hede to power nor strēgth, To highe estate, nor to high noblesse, To square limes forged on brede or length, But to quarels groūded on right wisnesse: For out of wronge may growd no prowesse, For where that trouth holdeth champarty, God wyll his cause by grace magnify.

Wherfore pouerte stronge in her entent, Light, and delyuer, voyde of all fatnesse, Right well brethed, & nothing corpulent, Small of dyette, surfettes to represse, Agayne fortune proudly gan her dresse: And with an vgly sterne cruell face, Gan in armes her proudly to enbrace.

Pouert was slender & might well endure, Fortune was roūde, short of wynde, & breth: And wombes great oppressed with armure, For lacke of wynde the great stuffe thē sleth, And many a man bringeth to his dethe: For ouermoche of any maner thing, Hath many one brought to his vndoyng.

A meane is best with good gouernaūce, To moche is nought, nor ouer great plente, Gretter rychesse is founde in suffysaunce, Than in the flodes of superfluyte: And who is content in his pouerte, And grutcheth nat for bytter nor for sote, What euer he be hath fortune vnder fote,

Couetyse put hym in no dispayre, Wherfore pouerte in herte glad and lyght, Lyft fortune full hygh vp in the eyre, And her constrayned of very force & myght: For glad pouerte of custome and of right, Whan any trouble agayne her dothe begyn, Aye of Fortune the laurer she dothe wyn.

Maugre Fortune in the eyre a lofte, Constrayned she was by wylfull pouerte, That to the earthe her fall was full vnsofte: For of pouert the bony sharpe kne, Slendre, and longe, & leane vpon to se Hyt fortune with so great a myght, Agayne y^e hert, she myght nat stand vpryght.

To signify that pouerte with gladnesse, Which is content with small possession, And geuyth no force of treasour nor richesse, Hath ouer fortune the dominacion, And kepeth her euer vnder subiection: Where worldly folke w^t their rych aparaile, Lyue euer in dred lest fortune wolde fayle.

The poore man afore the thefe dothe synge, Vnder y^e wodes with fresh notes shryll, The ryche man full fearfull of robbyng Quakyng for drede rydeth forthe full styll: The poore at large goth wher he list at wyll, Strongly fraūchysed frō all debate & stryfe, The ryche aferde alway to lose his lyfe.

Thus glad pouerte hath the palme ywonne, Fortune outrayed for all her doublenesse, Vpon whome pouerte in haste is ronne, And strayned her wyth so great duresse, Tyll she confessed & playnly dyd expresse, with faythe & hande in all her great payne, To abyde what lawe pouerte lyst ordayne.

And in haste after this discomfyture, Fortune began to complayne sore, But glad pouert which al thing might indure Charged fortune scorne her no more: For it was sayd sythe go full yore, He that reioyseth to scorne folke in vayne, Whan he is lothest, shall scorned be agayne.

Yet quoth pouert though thou were dispitous Wordes rehersyng whyche were nat fayre, Straunge rebukes full contrarious, And repreues many thousande payre, Thou shalt me fynde againe warde debonaire: For though a tong be slaundrous & vēgeable, To slaunder againe, is nothing cōmendable.

Thou must considre touchyng oure batayle, The ordinaunce and imposycion That whiche of vs in conquest do preuayle, To bringe his felowe to subiection: He shall obey the statute of reason, And accomplyshe of very due det, What lawe the victoure lyst vpon hym set.

For whiche thou shalt the sayd lawe obey, Wyth circumstaunces of the condicion, By me ordayned, and nothynge agayne say: Make no grutchynge nor replycation, Consydred first the false opinion Of them that sayne all worldly auenture Of good and bad, abyde vnder thy cure,

Some poetes and phylosophers also, Wold in this case make the a goddesse: Which be disceiued I dare say both two, And their errour and foly to redresse, I shall withdrawe in very sykernesse, Vnhappy auenture away fro thy power, That she no more stand in thy daunger.

This lawe of newe vpon the I make, That first thou shalt al open in some pleyne, Juell auenture bynde to a stake, Or to some pyller where she may be seyne: To shewe example to folke in certeine That no man shal lose her ne discharge, But such as lyst with her to go at large.

Herof to make a declaracion, Touching thy might of yuell auenture, Thou shalt forgo the dominacion, To hyndre and harme any creature, But only foles which in thy might assure: They of their foly may fele great domage, Nat of thy power, but of their own outrage.

For thylke foles which that list vnbinde This wretch called vnhappy auenture, Of wyt and reason they make thē self blinde, Like as the world stode in fortunes cure, As though she might assure them & vnsure: And them dispose to welthe or wretchednesse, In their errour calling her a goddesse.

Such wilful wretches that them self betake, To put their fredom in her subiection, Of god aboue the power they forsake, And submitte them agayne all reason, Vnder fortunes transmutacion: Their lyberte full falsly for to thrall, Namely whan they a goddesse lyst her cal.

With a derke myst of variacion, Fortune hath clouded their natural lyght, And ouershadowed their discretion, That they be blent in their inward syght, For to consydre and behold a ryght, Howe god aboue put vnder mannes cure, Fre choyce of good his reason to assure.

The lord enlumined of his boūtuous larges, With minde and wyt his memoryall, Toward all vertue his steppes for to dresse: Endued his reason for to be naturall, Of frowardenesse tyll he waxe bestyall: To bynde him selfe contrariously in dede, To serue fortune, atwene hope and drede.

Thus bestyall folke made her a goddesse, Falsly wening she might them most auayle, Wyth her plentyes of habundaunt rychesse: And some deme in their supposayle, w^t vnware chaūge she dare the great assayle, Whose trust alwaye medled is with trouble, And her plesaunce includeth mening double.

And some affyrme that she may auaunce Conquestes great and discomfytures, And howe it lyeth also in her puissaunce To forther and hynder all maner creatures, And call her princesse of al aduentures, The rich to enhaunce by royal apparayle, And by disdayne to hinder the porayle.

when she maketh most fulsome her profers, Her blandisshing is farced with falshede: whan her riches ben stuffed vp in cofers, They ben aye shet vnder a locke of drede. Wherfore ye rich of one thyng take hede, As your gathering came in wyth plesaunce, Right so your losse departeth w^t mischaunce.

Your gredy thurst treasour to multiply Causeth an etyke of no suffisaunce: In you engendring a false dropsye, With a sharp hunger of worldly abundaunce Making of you a maner resemblaunce With Tantalus, whan ye do depest synke, Thā is your nature most thrustlew to drink

who clymbeth highest on fortunes whele, And sodainly to rychesse dothe ascende, An vnware turne afore sene neuer a dele, Whan he leest weneth maketh him descende:

Fro suche chaunges who may hym defende, But they that be wyth pouerte nat dismaide, And can with lytell holde them selfe apayde.