The Canterbury tales and Faerie queene &c., &c., &c., ed. for popular perusal with current illustrations and explanatory notes, by D. Laing Purves.

160 THE CANTERBURY TALES.
I say, so worshipful a creatfire, Aurelian, when that the governance
And wise therewith, and large with measfire,l Of Rome came into his handis tway,14
So penible 2 in the war, and courteous eke, He shope l upon this queen to do vengeance;
Nor more labour might in war endure, And with his legi6ns he took his way
Was none, though all this worlde men should Toward Zenobie, and, shortly for to say,
seek. He made her flee, and at the last her hent,16
Her rich array it mighte not be told, And fetter'd her, and eke her children tway,
As well in vessel3 as in her clothing: And won the land, and home to Rome he
She was all clad in pierrie 4 and in gold, went.
And eke she lefte not,5 for no hunting, Amonges other thinges that he wan,
To have of sundry tongues full knowing, Her car, that was with gold wrought and pierrie,
When that she leisure had, and for t' intend6, This greate Roman, this Aurelian
To learne bookes was all her liking, Hath with him led, for that men should it see.
How she in virtue might her life dispend. Before in his triumphe walked she
And, shortly of this story for to treat, With giltS chains upon her neck hanging;
So doughty was her husband and eke she, Crowned she was, as after l her degree,
That they conquered many regnes great And full of pierrie charged 18 her clothing.
In th' Orient, with many a fair city Alas, Fortfin! she that whilom was
Appertinent unto the majesty Dreadful to kinges and to emperofirs,
Of Rome, and with strong hande held them fast, Now galeth 19 all the people on her, alas!
Nor ever might their foemen do7 them flee, And she that helmed was in starke stowres,20
Aye while that Odenatus' dayes last'. And won by force townes strong and tow'rs,
Her battles, whoso list them for to read, Shall on her head now wear a vitremite; 21
Against Sapor the king,8 and other mo', And she that bare the sceptre full of flow'rs
And how that all this process fell in deed, Shall bear a distaff, her cost for to quite.22
WVhy she conquer'd, and what title thereto, Although that NERO were as vicious
And after of her mischief 9 and her woe, As any fiend that lies full low adown,
How that she was besieged and y-take, Yet he, as telleth us Suetonius,23
Let him unto my master Petrarch go, This wide world had in subjectiotn,
That writes enough of this, I undertake. Both East and West, South and Septentrioun.
When Odenate was dead, she mightily Of rubies, sapphires, and of pearles white'The regne held, and with her proper hand Were all his clothes embroider'd up and down,
Against her foes she fought so cruelly, For he in gemmes greatly gan delight.
That there n'as 0 king nor prince in all that More delicate, more pompous of array,
land, More proud, was never emperor than he;
That was not glad, if he that graci fand That ilke cloth 24 that he had worn one day,
That she would not upon his land warray; 1 After that time he would it never see;
With her they maden alliance by bond, Nettes of gold thread had he great plenty,
To be in peace, and let her ride and play. To fish in Tiber, when him list to play;
The emperor of Rome, Claudius, His lustes were as law, in his degree,
Nor, him before, the Roman Gallien, For Fortune as his friend would him obey.
Durste never be so courageous, He Rome burnt for his deicacy; 2
Nor no Armenian, nor Egyptien, The senators he slew upon a day,
Nor Syrian, nor no Arabien, To heard how that men would weep and cry;
Within the fielde durste with her fight, And slew his brother, and by his sister lay.
Lest that she would them with her handis slen,12 His mother made he in piteous array;
Or with her meinie 13 putte them to flight. For he her wombe slitte, to behold
In kinges' habit went her sones two, Where he conceived was; so well-away!
As heires of their father's regnis all; That he so little of his mother told.26
And Heremanno and Timola6 No tear out of his eyen for that sight
Their names were, as Persians them call. Came; but he said, a fair woman was she.
But aye Fortine hath in her honey gall; Great wonder is, how that he could or might
This mighty queene may no while endure; Be doomisman 27 of her deade beauty:
Fortune out of her regne made her fall The wine to bringe him commanded he,
To wretchedness and to misadventure. And drank anon; none other woe he made.
1 Bountifulwithdue moderation. 2 Laborious. 19 Yelleth, shouteth.
3 Plate; French, "vaisselle." 20 Wore helmet in obstinate battles.
4 Precious stones. 5 Did not neglect. 21 The signification of this word, which is spelled in
6 Apply. 7 Make. several ways, is not known. Skinner's explanation,
8 Of Persia, who made the Emperor Valerian prisoner, " another attire," founded on the spelling " autremite,"
conquered Syria, and was pressing triumphantly west- is obviously insufficient.
ward, when he was met and defeated by Odenatus and 22 To spin for her maintenance.
Zenobia. 23 Great part of this " tragedy" of Nero is really
9 Misfortune. 10 Was not. borrowed, however, from the "Romance of the Rose."
11 Make war. 12 Slay. 13 Troops. 24 Same robe.
14 In A.D. 270. 15 Resolved, prepared. 25 Pleasure. 26 So little valued.
16 Took. 17 According to. 18 Loaded. 27 Judge, critic.