PART II. THE LEGEND OF MEDEA.

To Colcos comen is this duk Iasoun, 1580 That is of love devourer and dragoun. As matere appetyteth forme al-wey, And from forme in-to forme hit passen may, Or as a welle that were botomlees, Right so can fals Iasoun have no pees. 1585 For, to desyren, through his appetyt, To doon with gentil wommen his delyt, (220) This is his lust and his felicitee. Iasoun is romed forth to the citee, That whylom cleped was Iaconitos, 1590 That was the maister-toun of al Colcos, And hath y-told the cause of his coming Un-to Oëtes, of that contre king, Preying him that he moste doon his assay To gete the flees of gold, if that he may; 1595 Of which the king assenteth to his bone, And doth him honour, as hit is to done, (230) So ferforth, that his doghter and his eyr, Medea, which that was so wys and fair That fairer saw ther never man with yë, 1600 He made her doon to Iasoun companye At mete, and sitte by him in the halle. Now was Iasoun a semely man with-alle, And lyk a lord, and had a greet renoun, And of his loke as real as leoun, 1605 And goodly of his speche, and famulere, And coude of love al craft and art plenere (240) With-oute boke, with everich observaunce. And, as fortune her oghte a foul meschaunce, She wex enamoured upon this man. 1610 'Iasoun,' quod she, 'for ought I see or can, As of this thing the which ye been aboute, Ye han your-self y-put in moche doute. For, who-so wol this aventure acheve, He may nat wel asterten, as I leve, 1615 With-outen deeth, but I his helpe be. But natheles, hit is my wille,' quod she, (250) 'To forthren yow, so that ye shal nat dye, But turnen, sound, hoom to your Tessalye.' 'My righte lady,' quod this Iasoun tho, 1620 'That ye han of my dethe or of my wo Any reward, and doon me this honour, I wot wel that my might ne my labour May nat deserve hit in my lyves day; God thanke yow, ther I ne can ne may. 1625 Your man am I, and lowly you beseche, To been my help, with-oute more speche; (260) But certes, for my deeth shal I nat spare.' Tho gan this Medea to him declare The peril of this cas, fro point to point, 1630 And of his batail, and in what disioint He mote stande, of which no creature, Save only she, ne mighte his lyf assure. And shortly, to the point right for to go, They been accorded ful, betwix hem two, 1635 That Iasoun shal her wedde, as trewe knight; And term y-set, to come sone at night (270) Unto her chambre, and make ther his ooth, Upon the goddes, that he, for leef ne looth, Ne sholde her never falsen, night ne day, 1640 To been her husbond, whyl he liven may, As she that from his deeth him saved here. And her-upon, at night they mette y-fere, And doth his ooth, and goth with her to bedde. And on the morwe, upward he him spedde; 1645 For she hath taught him how he shal nat faile The flees to winne, and stinten his bataile; (280) And saved him his lyf and his honour; And gat him greet name as a conquerour Right through the sleight of her enchantement. 1650 Now hath Iasoun the flees, and hoom is went With Medea, and tresor ful gret woon. But unwist of her fader is she goon To Tessaly, with duk Iasoun her leef, That afterward hath broght her to mescheef. 1655 For as a traitour he is from her go, And with her lafte his yonge children two, (290) And falsly hath betrayed her, allas! And ever in love a cheef traitour he was; And wedded yit the thridde wyf anon, 1660 That was the doghter of the king Creon. This is the meed of loving and guerdon That Medea received of Iasoun Right for her trouthe and for her kindenesse, That loved him better than her-self, I gesse, 1665 And lafte her fader and her heritage. And of Iasoun this is the vassalage, (300) That, in his dayes, nas ther noon y-founde So fals a lover going on the grounde. And therfor in her lettre thus she seyde 1670 First, whan she of his falsnesse him umbreyde, 'Why lyked me thy yelow heer to see More then the boundes of myn honestee, Why lyked me thy youthe and thy fairnesse, And of thy tonge the infinit graciousnesse? 1675 O, haddest thou in thy conquest deed y-be, Ful mikel untrouthe had ther dyed with thee!' (310) Wel can Ovyde her lettre in vers endyte, Which were as now to long for me to wryte.

EXPLICIT LEGENDA YSIPHILE ET MEDEE, MARTIRUM.

1370. A. T. Add. tender; _rest repeat_ gentil. C. _has_ tendere wemen gentil. 1373. A. C. farced; F. Tn. Th. farsed; B. forsed; P. filled; T. v_er_syd. 1375. P. A. thy; _rest om._ 1377. _Here_ MS. P. _ends_. 1386. C. T. A. Th. Add. love and; F. Tn. B. and gretter. 1387. C. A. abought; _rest_ bought. C. T. A. Add. his; _rest om._ 1389. C. et (= eteth); _rest_ eteth (etith). 1391. C. hath; _rest om._ (_badly_). 1392. C. T. Add. Al haue he; F. Alle thof he haue. 1396. F. Tn. B. and; _rest_ as. C. Guido; T. A. Guydo; Add. Gwydo; F. Tn. Th. B. Ouyde. 1397. F. Tn. B. knyght; _rest_ kyng (_see l._ 1401); _see note_. 1405. _So_ C.; _rest_ Of fredom, of strength, and of lustynesse. 1409. C. T. Add. hadde. 1418. C. To syndyn; T. Add. To send; Tn. Th. B. That to senden; F. That to selden (!). 1427. F. Tn. Th. B. ther; _rest_ therin. C. may se. 1433. T. Th. moche; F. muche; C. meche othir. 1438. C. Oetes; _rest_ Otes (Otys). 1443. C. T. A. Add. a; _rest om._ 1444. T. A. C. mightest; _rest_ myghte. 1445. C. T. bryngyn; _rest_ brynge (bring). 1448. C. T. A. Add. cost; _rest_ costes. 1449. C. _om._ And. A. ches; F. Tn. T. B. chese; Th. chose; C. Schis (!). C. A. that; _rest om._ 1452. C. T. Add. _om._ ilke. 1457. T. A. Add. go; _rest om._ C. ryde; _rest_ rede; _better_ reden. 1460. C. T. Add. that; _rest om._ 1463. _All insert_ of _after_ yle (_needlessly_). Th. Lemnon; A. Lenno_u_n; C. lenoun (_for_ l[=e]noun = le_m_noun); F. Tn. B. leono_u_n; T. Add. lenon (= le_m_non). 1471. F. brake (!); A. bonk; _rest_ banke. 1472. _So_ C. T. A. Add.; F. Tn. Th. B. Wher lay the shippe, that Iasoun (_no sense_). 1476. C. F. B. hem; _rest_ him. 1481. C. A. cog; T. Add. boote; _rest_ cogge. 1483. F. atempree. 1486. C. T. A. Add. axinge; _rest_ askynge. 1487. F. B. _om._ oght. 1489. C. T. A. Add, of; _rest om._ 1490. F. Tn. B. _omit this line_. 1498. C. endelong (_as in_ Kn. Tale); F. endlonge. 1499. C. F. Add. these other; _rest_ this other. 1506. F. hit; C. Tn. Th. B. it; T. A. Add. they. 1512. F. Tn. Th. B. by the (_for_ by). 1519. F. (_only_) she spake moste; Add. _om._ most. 1523. C. euyl; A. euill; _rest_ any othir (_caught from_ l. 1522). 1524. C. T. A. Add. so; _rest om._ 1525. C. T. A. Add. him; _rest_ hyt (it). C. areysid; _rest_ reysed. 1526. C. _om._ half. 1527. C. cape; _rest_ cope. 1536. F. A. B. Add. He; _rest_ Him (_badly_). 1538. A. almychti; _rest om._ 1540. C. With nonys; _read_ With th' nones. 1545. T. made; _rest omit; but sense and metre require it_. 1547. C. T. Add. assent; B. intente (_which will not rime_); _rest_ entent (_but_ Chaucer _uses_ entente). 1548. F. Thise; B. As; _rest_ And. 1550. F. B. _om._ he. 1552. F. B. god wolde; _rest_ wolde god. C. T. Add. I; _rest_ that I. 1559. C. T. somme; A. text; _rest_ sothe (soth). 1564. F. Tn. Th. B. _om._ to. 1569. F. B. (_only_) _om._ they. 1573. C. Th. Muste; F. Tn. B. Most; T. A. Myght. 1578. F. And; _rest_ Ne. 1582. F. nature; C. matier; Tn. Th. B. matire; T. A. matyr. C. apetitith; T. Add. appetyteth; _rest_ appeteth (!). 1583. F. Tn. Th. B. to (_for_ in-to). 1585. A. (_only_) this false; _rest om._ this. F. Th. B. _om._ fals. (_Accent_ Right.) 1590. C. T. Iaconitos; A. Iacomitos; F. Tn. Th. B. Iasonicos; (Latin _Iaconites_). 1593. F. Vnto tho (!). C. Oetes; Add. Cetes; T Cytees (!); _rest_ Otes. 1599. F. Tn. B. Add. and so feyre. 1605. C. T. Th. B. Add. as a leoun (lyoun). 1613. C. han; T. A. Add. haue; _rest_ and (!). 1626. T. A. Th. lowly; F. louly; B. loulye; C. louely; Tn. lowe. 1631. C. T. A. Add. And; _rest om._ F. Tn. _om._ in. 1634. C. T. A. Add. to the point right; _rest_ ryght to the poynt. 1642. C. T. sauyth; _rest_ saued. F. B. there; _rest_ here. 1643. F. Tn. B. _omit_; C. _has_ And here vp a nyght, &c. 1649. C. T. gat; A. gatt; Add. Th. gate; _rest_ gete. F. B. (_only_) _om._ him. T. gret; Add. grete; A. _om.; rest_ a. C. ryth as; T. A. ryght as; Add. lyke as; _rest_ as. 1652. F. Tn. Th. B. tresoures; C. tresor; T. A. Add. tresour. 1657. T. A. his; C. hire; _rest om._ 1659. C. thef and (_for_ cheef). 1661. C. A. the; _rest om._ 1667. F. (_only_) _om._ the. 1668. C. T. A. Add. ther; _rest_ neuer. 1671. C. Fyrst of his falsenesse whan she hym vpbreyde.

V. THE LEGEND OF LUCRETIA.

INCIPIT LEGENDA LUCRECIE ROME, MARTIRIS.

Now moot I seyn the exiling of kinges 1680 Of Rome, for hir horrible doinges, And of the laste king Tarquinius, As saith Ovyde and Titus Livius. But for that cause telle I nat this storie, But for to preise and drawen to memorie 1685 The verray wyf, the verray trewe Lucresse, That, for her wyfhood and her stedfastnesse, Nat only that thise payens her comende, But he, that cleped is in our legende (10) The grete Austin, hath greet compassioun 1690 Of this Lucresse, that starf at Rome toun; And in what wyse, I wol but shortly trete, And of this thing I touche but the grete. Whan Ardea beseged was aboute With Romains, that ful sterne were and stoute, 1695 Ful longe lay the sege, and litel wroghte, So that they were half ydel, as hem thoghte; And in his pley Tarquinius the yonge Gan for to iape, for he was light of tonge, (20) And seyde, that 'it was an ydel lyf; 1700 No man did ther no more than his wyf; And lat us speke of wyves, that is best; Praise every man his owne, as him lest, And with our speche lat us ese our herte.' A knight, that highte Colatyne, up sterte, 1705 And seyde thus, 'nay, for hit is no nede To trowen on the word, but on the dede. I have a wyf,' quod he, 'that, as I trowe, Is holden good of alle that ever her knowe; (30) Go we to-night to Rome, and we shul see.' 1710 Tarquinius answerde, 'that lyketh me.' To Rome be they come, and faste hem dighte To Colatynes hous, and doun they lighte, Tarquinius, and eek this Colatyne. The husbond knew the estres wel and fyne, 1715 And prively into the hous they goon; Nor at the gate porter was ther noon; And at the chambre-dore they abyde. This noble wyf sat by her beddes syde (40) Dischevele, for no malice she ne thoghte; 1720 And softe wolle our book seith that she wroghte To kepen her fro slouthe and ydelnesse; And bad her servants doon hir businesse, And axeth hem, 'what tydings heren ye? How seith men of the sege, how shal hit be? 1725 God wolde the walles weren falle adoun; Myn husbond is so longe out of this toun, For which the dreed doth me so sore smerte, Right as a swerd hit stingeth to myn herte (50) Whan I think on the sege or of that place; 1730 God save my lord, I preye him for his grace:'-- And ther-with-al ful tenderly she weep, And of her werk she took no more keep, But mekely she leet her eyen falle; And thilke semblant sat her wel with-alle. 1735 And eek her teres, ful of honestee, Embelisshed her wyfly chastitee; Her countenaunce is to her herte digne, For they acordeden in dede and signe. (60) And with that word her husbond Colatyn, 1740 Or she of him was war, com sterting in, And seide, 'dreed thee noght, for I am here!' And she anoon up roos, with blisful chere, And kiste him, as of wyves is the wone. Tarquinius, this proude kinges sone, 1745 Conceived hath her beautee and her chere, Her yelow heer, her shap, and her manere, Her hew, her wordes that she hath compleyned, And by no crafte her beautee nas nat feyned; (70) And caughte to this lady swich desyr, 1750 That in his herte brende as any fyr So woodly, that his wit was al forgeten. For wel, thoghte he, she sholde nat be geten And ay the more that he was in dispair, The more he coveteth and thoghte her fair. 1755 His blinde lust was al his covetinge. A-morwe, whan the brid began to singe, Unto the sege he comth ful privily, And by himself he walketh sobrely, (80) Thimage of her recording alwey newe; 1760 'Thus lay her heer, and thus fresh was her hewe; Thus sat, thus spak, thus span; this was her chere, Thus fair she was, and this was her manere.' Al this conceit his herte hath now y-take. And, as the see, with tempest al to-shake, 1765 That, after whan the storm is al ago, Yet wol the water quappe a day or two, Right so, thogh that her forme wer absent, The plesaunce of her forme was present; (90) But natheles, nat plesaunce, but delyt, 1770 Or an unrightful talent with despyt; 'For, maugre her, she shal my lemman be; Hap helpeth hardy man alday,' quod he; 'What ende that I make, hit shal be so;' And girt him with his swerde, and gan to go; 1775 And forth he rit til he to Rome is come, And al aloon his wey than hath he nome Unto the house of Colatyn ful right. Doun was the sonne, and day hath lost his light; (100) And in he com un-to a privy halke, 1780 And in the night ful theefly gan he stalke, Whan every night was to his reste broght, Ne no wight had of tresoun swich a thoght. Were hit by window or by other gin, With swerde y-drawe, shortly he comth in 1785 Ther as she lay, this noble wyf Lucresse. And, as she wook, her bed she felte presse. 'What beste is that,' quod she, 'that weyeth thus?' 'I am the kinges sone, Tarquinius,' (110) Quod he, 'but and thou crye, or noise make, 1790 Or if thou any creature awake, By thilke god that formed man on lyve, This swerd through-out thyn herte shal I ryve.' And ther-withal unto her throte he sterte, And sette the point al sharp upon her herte. 1795 No word she spak, she hath no might therto. What shal she sayn? her wit is al ago. Right as a wolf that fynt a lomb aloon, To whom shal she compleyne, or make moon? (120) What! shal she fighte with an hardy knight? 1800 Wel wot men that a woman hath no might. What! shal she crye, or how shal she asterte That hath her by the throte, with swerde at herte? She axeth grace, and seith al that she can. 'Ne wolt thou nat,' quod he, this cruel man, 1805 'As wisly Iupiter my soule save, As I shal in the stable slee thy knave, And leye him in thy bed, and loude crye, That I thee finde in suche avouterye; (130) And thus thou shalt be deed, and also lese 1810 Thy name, for thou shalt non other chese.' Thise Romain wyves loveden so hir name At thilke tyme, and dredden so the shame, That, what for fere of slaundre and drede of deeth, She loste bothe at-ones wit and breeth, 1815 And in a swough she lay and wex so deed, Men mighte smyten of her arm or heed; She feleth no-thing, neither foul ne fair. Tarquinius, that art a kinges eyr, (140) And sholdest, as by linage and by right, 1820 Doon as a lord and as a verray knight, Why hastow doon dispyt to chivalrye? Why hastow doon this lady vilanye? Allas! of thee this was a vileins dede! But now to purpos; in the story I rede, 1825 Whan he was goon, al this mischaunce is falle. This lady sente after her frendes alle, Fader, moder, husbond, al y-fere; And al dischevele, with her heres clere, (150) In habit swich as women used tho 1830 Unto the burying of her frendes go, She sit in halle with a sorweful sighte. Her frendes axen what her aylen mighte, And who was deed? And she sit ay wepinge, A word for shame ne may she forth out-bringe, 1835 Ne upon hem she dorste nat beholde. But atte laste of Tarquiny she hem tolde, This rewful cas, and al this thing horrible. The wo to tellen hit were impossible, (160) That she and alle her frendes made atones. 1840 Al hadde folkes hertes been of stones, Hit mighte have maked hem upon her rewe, Her herte was so wyfly and so trewe. She seide, that, for her gilt ne for her blame, Her husbond sholde nat have the foule name, 1845 That wolde she nat suffre, by no wey. And they answerden alle, upon hir fey, That they foryeve hit her, for hit was right; Hit was no gilt, hit lay nat in her might; (170) And seiden her ensamples many oon. 1850 But al for noght; for thus she seide anoon, 'Be as be may,' quod she, 'of forgiving, I wol nat have no forgift for no-thing.' But prively she caughte forth a knyf, And therwith-al she rafte her-self her lyf; 1855 And as she fel adoun, she caste her look, And of her clothes yit she hede took; For in her falling yit she hadde care Lest that her feet or swiche thing lay bare; (180) So wel she loved clennesse and eek trouthe. 1860 Of her had al the toun of Rome routhe, And Brutus by her chaste blode hath swore That Tarquin sholde y-banisht be ther-fore, And al his kin; and let the peple calle, And openly the tale he tolde hem alle, 1865 And openly let carie her on a bere Through al the toun, that men may see and here The horrible deed of her oppressioun. Ne never was ther king in Rome toun (190) Sin thilke day; and she was holden there 1870 A seint, and ever her day y-halwed dere As in hir lawe: and thus endeth Lucresse, The noble wyf, as Titus bereth witnesse. I tell hit, for she was of love so trewe, Ne in her wille she chaunged for no newe. 1875 And for the stable herte, sad and kinde, That in these women men may alday finde; Ther as they caste hir herte, ther hit dwelleth. For wel I wot, that Crist him-selve telleth, (200) That in Israel, as wyd as is the lond, 1880 That so gret feith in al the lond he ne fond As in a woman; and this is no lye. And as of men, loketh which tirannye They doon alday; assay hem who so liste, The trewest is ful brotel for to triste. 1885

EXPLICIT LEGENDA LUCRECIE ROME, MARTIRIS.

1681. F. B. dedes; _rest_ doinges. 1682. Addit. (12524) And; _rest om._ 1685. F. B. to (_for_ and); _rest_ and. 1686. C. trewe; _rest om._ 1689. F. Tn. Th. B. _om._ he. 1693. F. _omits this line; I give the spelling as in_ MS. T., _changing_ thyng _into_ thing. 1696, 1697. C. F. Tn. Th. B. wroughten, thoughten; _but_ thoughten _is bad grammar_; T. A. Add. wrought, thought. 1701. C. no; _rest om._ 1705. C. highte; Tn. hat; _rest_ hyght (_perhaps read_ hatte). 1710. _So_ C. T. Add.; _rest_ to Rome to nyght. 1715. B. estres; C. A. estris; F. Tn. esters; T. estes (!); Th. efters (!!). 1716. _All but_ T. Add. _needlessly insert_ ful _after_ And. 1718. C. they gan abyde. 1720. C. Discheuele; F. Disshevely. 1721. T. Add. oure boke seyth; C. seyth (_om._ our book); Th. saith Liui; _rest_ seyth our boke. 1725. C seith; F. sayne. 1727. C. Th. so; _rest_ to. 1728. C. sore; _rest_ to (_badly_). 1729, 1730. C. _has_--That with a swerd me thynkyth that to myn herte It styngith me whan I thynke on that place. 1730. T. A. Add. the sege; F. Tn. B. these (_for_ the sege); Th. this. 1731. F. my; _rest_ his (_before_ grace). 1736. F. the (_for_ her). A. T. honestee; C. oneste; B. heuyte (!); F. hevytee (!); Tn. Th. heuynesse. 1737. C. Emblemyschid (!). Th. chastnesse. C. _puts_ ll. 1738-9 _after_ l. 1743. 1744. C. kiste; _rest_ kissed. 1747. C. T. A. Add. shap; _rest_ bounte. 1749. C. nas; _rest_ was. 1751. C. brende; B. brente; F. Tn. brent. 1752. C. is al; Th. A. was al; _rest_ was. 1754. C. T. A. Add. that; _rest om._ 1757. F. Tn. Th. B. On; _rest_ A. 1760. C. Thymage; _rest_ The ymage. 1763. F. T. This; _rest_ Thus. 1764. C. A. now; _rest_ newe (new). 1766. C. Yit (_for_ That). 1770. C. _om._ But. 1773. C. T. A. alday; _rest_ alway. 1776. C. forth he rit; A. Addit. (12524) forth he ride; F. Tn. Th. he forth right (!). 1784. C. T. A. Add. Were hit; _rest_ Whether. 1787. F. felt; C. felte. 1793. C. thour-out; T. thorout; A. throughout; _rest om._ out. 1795. C. T. A. Add. point; _rest_ swerd. C. vp-on; T. opon; Tn. Th. on; _rest_ unto. 1798. C. T. A. fynt; Add. fyndyth; _rest_ fayneth _or_ feyneth (!). C. lomb; Add. lombe; T. A. Th. lambe; _rest_ loue (!). 1801. C. T. A. Add. that; _rest om._ 1802. F. Add. sterte; _rest_ asterte (astert). 1804. C. T. A. Add. seyth; _rest_ seyde. 1805. C. A. Add. he; T. tho; _rest om._ 1807. F. Tn. Th. B. _om._ As. 1809. C. auouterye; F. avowtrye. 1811. C. T. A. Add. non other; _rest_ not. 1815. C. at onys bothe; _rest_ bothe atones. 1816. C. wex; B. wexe; Tn. wax; T. wexed; A. wox; F. Th. woxe. 1821. F. Tn. Th. B. _om. 2nd_ as. C. worthi (_for_ verray). 1823. C. T. A. Add. this; _rest_ thy. 1824. C. vileyn; A. T. vileyns; Add. vilons; F. B. Tn. vilenouse; Th. villaynous. 1825. F. Tn. Th. B. _insert_ the _after_ to. 1829. F. Tn. Th. B. _om._ al. C. herys; A. heeres; F. heer; Tn. T. Th. B. here (heare, heere). C. _has lost_ ll. 1836-1907. 1840. Add. made; T. maden; A. maid; _rest_ make. 1846. _So all but_ F. Tn. B.; F. B. That nolde she suffre; Tn. That wolde she suffren nat. 1847. T. opon; A. vpon; _rest_ vnto (_badly_). 1857. T. A. Add. she hede; _rest_ hede she. 1862. _So_ T. A. Add.; _rest_ hath by hir chaste blood. 1873. T. A. Add. as; _rest om._ 1876. T. A. Add. for the; _rest_ in her. 1879. _All_ him-self _or_ him-selfe. 1882. F. Add. _om._ and. 1883. F. women; _rest_ men. C. _has lost_ ll. 1836-1907.

VI. THE LEGEND OF ARIADNE.

INCIPIT LEGENDA ADRIANE DE ATHENES.

Iuge infernal, Minos, of Crete king, Now cometh thy lot, now comestow on the ring; Nat for thy sake only wryte I this storie, But for to clepe agein unto memorie Of Theseus the grete untrouthe of love; 1890 For which the goddes of the heven above Ben wrothe, and wreche han take for thy sinne. Be reed for shame! now I thy lyf beginne. Minos, that was the mighty king of Crete, That hadde an hundred citees stronge and grete, 1895 To scole hath sent his sone Androgeus, (11) To Athenes; of the whiche hit happed thus, That he was slayn, lerning philosophye, Right in that citee, nat but for envye. The grete Minos, of the whiche I speke, 1900 His sones deeth is comen for to wreke; Alcathoe he bisegeth harde and longe. But natheles the walles be so stronge, And Nisus, that was king of that citee, So chivalrous, that litel dredeth he; 1905 Of Minos or his ost took he no cure, (21) Til on a day befel an aventure, That Nisus doghter stood upon the wal, And of the sege saw the maner al. So happed hit, that, at a scarmishing, 1910 She caste her herte upon Minos the king, For his beautee and for his chivalrye, So sore, that she wende for to dye. And, shortly of this proces for to pace, She made Minos winnen thilke place, 1915 So that the citee was al at his wille, (31) To saven whom him list, or elles spille; But wikkedly he quitte her kindenesse, And let her drenche in sorowe and distresse, Nere that the goddes hadde of her pite; 1920 But that tale were to long as now for me. Athenes wan this king Minos also, And Alcathoe and other tounes mo; And this theffect, that Minos hath so driven Hem of Athenes, that they mote him yiven 1925 Fro yere to yere her owne children dere (41) For to be slayn, as ye shul after here. This Minos hath a monstre, a wikked beste, That was so cruel that, without areste, Whan that a man was broght in his presence, 1930 He wolde him ete, ther helpeth no defence. And every thridde yeer, with-outen doute, They casten lot, and, as hit com aboute On riche, on pore, he moste his sone take, And of his child he moste present make 1935 Unto Minos, to save him or to spille, (51) Or lete his beste devoure him at his wille. And this hath Minos don, right in despyt; To wreke his sone was set al his delyt, And maken hem of Athenes his thral 1940 Fro yere to yere, whyl that he liven shal; And hoom he saileth whan this toun is wonne. This wikked custom is so longe y-ronne Til that of Athenes king Egeus Mot sende his owne sone, Theseus, 1945 Sith that the lot is fallen him upon, (61) To be devoured, for grace is ther non. And forth is lad this woful yonge knight Unto the court of king Minos ful right, And in a prison, fetered, cast is he 1950 Til thilke tyme he sholde y-freten be. Wel maystow wepe, O woful Theseus, That art a kinges sone, and dampned thus. Me thinketh this, that thou were depe y-holde To whom that saved thee fro cares colde! 1955 And now, if any woman helpe thee, (71) Wel oughtestow her servant for to be, And been her trewe lover yeer by yere! But now to come ageyn to my matere. The tour, ther as this Theseus is throwe 1960 Doun in the botom derke and wonder lowe, Was ioyning in the walle to a foreyne; And hit was longing to the doghtren tweyne Of king Minos, that in hir chambres grete Dwelten above, toward the maister-strete, 1965 In mochel mirthe, in Ioye and in solas. (81) Not I nat how, hit happed ther, per cas, As Theseus compleyned him by nighte, The kinges doghter, Adrian that highte, And eek her suster Phedra, herden al 1970 His compleyning, as they stode on the wal And lokeden upon the brighte mone; Hem leste nat to go to bedde sone. And of his wo they had compassioun; A kinges sone to ben in swich prisoun 1975 And be devoured, thoughte hem gret pitee. (91) Than Adrian spak to her suster free, And seyde, 'Phedra, leve suster dere, This woful lordes sone may ye nat here, How pitously compleyneth he his kin, 1980 And eek his pore estat that he is in, And gilteless? now certes, hit is routhe! And if ye wol assenten, by my trouthe, He shal be holpen, how so that we do!' Phedra answerde, 'y-wis, me is as wo 1985 For him as ever I was for any man; (101) And, to his help, the beste reed I can Is that we doon the gayler prively To come, and speke with us hastily, And doon this woful man with him to come. 1990 For if he may this monstre overcome, Than were he quit; ther is noon other bote. Lat us wel taste him at his herte-rote, That, if so be that he a wepen have, Wher that he dar, his lyf to kepe and save, 1995 Fighten with this fend, and him defende. (111) For, in the prison, ther he shal descende, Ye wite wel, that the beste is in a place That nis nat derk, and hath roum eek and space To welde an ax or swerd or staf or knyf, 2000 So that, me thinketh, he sholde save his lyf; If that he be a man, he shal do so. And we shul make him balles eek also Of wexe and towe, that, whan he gapeth faste, Into the bestes throte he shal hem caste 2005 To slake his hunger and encombre his teeth; (121) And right anon, whan that Theseus seeth The beste achoked, he shal on him lepe To sleen him, or they comen more to-hepe. This wepen shal the gayler, or that tyde, 2010 Ful privily within the prison hyde; And, for the hous is crinkled to and fro, And hath so queinte weyes for to go-- For hit is shapen as the mase is wroght-- Therto have I a remedie in my thoght, 2015 That, by a clewe of twyne, as he hath goon, (131) The same wey he may returne anoon, Folwing alwey the threed, as he hath come. And, whan that he this beste hath overcome, Then may he fleen awey out of this drede, 2020 And eek the gayler may he with him lede, And him avaunce at hoom in his contree, Sin that so greet a lordes sone is he. This is my reed, if that he dar hit take.' What sholde I lenger sermoun of hit make? 2025 The gayler cometh, and with him Theseus. (141) And whan thise thinges been acorded thus, Adoun sit Theseus upon his knee:-- 'The righte lady of my lyf,' quod he, 'I, sorweful man, y-dampned to the deeth, 2030 Fro yow, whyl that me lasteth lyf or breeth, I wol nat twinne, after this aventure, But in your servise thus I wol endure, That, as a wrecche unknowe, I wol yow serve For ever-mo, til that myn herte sterve. 2035 Forsake I wol at hoom myn heritage, (151) And, as I seide, ben of your court a page, If that ye vouche-sauf that, in this place, Ye graunte me to han so gret a grace That I may han nat but my mete and drinke; 2040 And for my sustenance yit wol I swinke, Right as yow list, that Minos ne no wight-- Sin that he saw me never with eyen sight-- Ne no man elles, shal me conne espye; So slyly and so wel I shal me gye, 2045 And me so wel disfigure and so lowe, (161) That in this world ther shal no man me knowe, To han my lyf, and for to han presence Of yow, that doon to me this excellence. And to my fader shal I senden here 2050 This worthy man, that is now your gaylere, And, him to guerdon, that he shal wel be Oon of the grettest men of my contree. And yif I dorste seyn, my lady bright, I am a kinges sone, and eek a knight; 2055 As wolde god, yif that hit mighte be (171) Ye weren in my contree, alle three, And I with yow, to bere yow companye, Than shulde ye seen yif that I ther-of lye! And, if I profre yow in low manere 2060 To ben your page and serven yow right here, But I yow serve as lowly in that place, I prey to Mars to yive me swiche a grace That shames deeth on me ther mote falle, And deeth and povert to my frendes alle; 2065 And that my spirit by nighte mote go (181) After my deeth, and walke to and fro; That I mote of a traitour have a name, For which my spirit go, to do me shame! And yif I ever claime other degree, 2070 But-if ye vouche-sauf to yive hit me, As I have seid, of shames deeth I deye! And mercy, lady! I can nat elles seye!' A seemly knight was Theseus to see, And yong, but of a twenty yeer and three; 2075 But who-so hadde y-seyn his countenaunce, (191) He wolde have wept, for routhe of his penaunce; For which this Adriane in this manere Answerde to his profre and to his chere. 'A kinges sone, and eek a knight,' quod she, 2080 'To been my servant in so low degree, God shilde hit, for the shame of women alle! And leve me never swich a cas befalle! But sende yow grace and sleighte of herte also, Yow to defende and knightly sleen your fo, 2085 And leve herafter that I may yow finde (201) To me and to my suster here so kinde, That I repente nat to give yow lyf! Yit were hit better that I were your wyf, Sin that ye been as gentil born as I, 2090 And have a rëaume, nat but faste by, Then that I suffred giltles yow to sterve, Or that I let yow as a page serve; Hit is not profit, as unto your kinrede; But what is that that man nil do for drede? 2095 And to my suster, sin that hit is so (211) That she mot goon with me, if that I go, Or elles suffre deeth as wel as I, That ye unto your sone as trewely Doon her be wedded at your hoom-coming. 2100 This is the fynal ende of al this thing; Ye swere hit heer, on al that may be sworn.' 'Ye, lady myn,' quod he, 'or elles torn Mote I be with the Minotaur to-morwe! And haveth her-of my herte-blood to borwe, 2105 Yif that ye wile; if I had knyf or spere, (221) I wolde hit leten out, and ther-on swere, For than at erst I wot ye wil me leve. By Mars, that is the cheef of my bileve, So that I mighte liven and nat faile 2110 To-morwe for tacheve my bataile, I nolde never fro this place flee, Til that ye shuld the verray preve see. For now, if that the sooth I shal yow say, I have y-loved yow ful many a day, 2115 Thogh ye ne wiste hit nat, in my contree. (231) And aldermost desyred yow to see Of any erthly living creature; Upon my trouthe I swere, and yow assure, Thise seven yeer I have your servant be; 2120 Now have I yow, and also have ye me, My dere herte, of Athenes duchesse!' This lady smyleth at his stedfastnesse, And at his hertly wordes, and his chere, And to her suster seide in this manere, 2125 Al softely, 'now, suster myn,' quod she, (241) 'Now be we duchesses, bothe I and ye, And sikered to the regals of Athenes, And bothe her-after lykly to be quenes, And saved fro his deeth a kinges sone, 2130 As ever of gentil women is the wone To save a gentil man, emforth hir might, In honest cause, and namely in his right. Me thinketh no wight oghte her-of us blame, Ne beren us ther-for an evel name.' 2135 And shortly of this matere for to make, (251) This Theseus of her hath leve y-take, And every point performed was in dede As ye have in this covenant herd me rede. His wepen, his clew, his thing that I have said, 2140 Was by the gayler in the hous y-laid Ther as this Minotaur hath his dwelling, Right faste by the dore, at his entring. And Theseus is lad unto his deeth, And forth un-to this Minotaur he geeth, 2145 And by the teching of this Adriane (261) He overcom this beste, and was his bane; And out he cometh by the clewe again Ful prevely, whan he this beste hath slain; And by the gayler geten hath a barge, 2150 And of his wyves tresor gan hit charge, And took his wyf, and eek her suster free, And eek the gayler, and with hem alle three Is stole awey out of the lond by nighte, And to the contre of Ennopye him dighte 2155 Ther as he had a frend of his knowinge. (271) Ther festen they, ther dauncen they and singe; And in his armes hath this Adriane, That of the beste hath kept him from his bane; And gat him ther a newe barge anoon, 2160 And of his contree-folk a ful gret woon, And taketh his leve, and hoomward saileth he. And in an yle, amid the wilde see, Ther as ther dwelte creature noon Save wilde bestes, and that ful many oon, 2165 He made his ship a-londe for to sette; (281) And in that yle half a day he lette, And seide, that on the lond he moste him reste. His mariners han doon right as him leste; And, for to tellen shortly in this cas, 2170 Whan Adriane his wyf a-slepe was, For that her suster fairer was than she, He taketh her in his hond, and forth goth he To shippe, and as a traitour stal his way Whyl that this Adriane a-slepe lay, 2175 And to his contree-ward he saileth blyve-- (291) A twenty devil way the wind him dryve!-- And fond his fader drenched in the see. Me list no more to speke of him, parde; Thise false lovers, poison be hir bane! 2180 But I wol turne again to Adriane That is with slepe for werinesse atake. Ful sorwefully her herte may awake. Allas! for thee my herte hath now pite! Right in the dawening awaketh she, 2185 And gropeth in the bedde, and fond right noght. (307) 'Allas!' quod she, 'that ever I was wroght! I am betrayed!' and her heer to-rente, And to the stronde bar-fot faste she wente, And cryed, 'Theseus! myn herte swete! 2190 Wher be ye, that I may nat with yow mete, And mighte thus with bestes been y-slain?' The holwe rokkes answerde her again; No man she saw, and yit shyned the mone, And hye upon a rokke she wente sone, 2195 And saw his barge sailing in the see. (311) Cold wex her herte, and right thus seide she. 'Meker than ye finde I the bestes wilde!' Hadde he nat sinne, that her thus begylde? She cryed, 'O turne again, for routhe and sinne! 2200 Thy barge hath nat al his meiny inne!' Her kerchef on a pole up stikked she, Ascaunce that he sholde hit wel y-see, And him remembre that she was behinde, And turne again, and on the stronde her finde; 2205 But al for noght; his wey he is y-goon. (321) And doun she fil a-swown upon a stoon; And up she rist, and kiste, in al her care, The steppes of his feet, ther he hath fare, And to her bedde right thus she speketh tho:-- 2210 'Thou bed,' quod she, 'that hast receyved two, Thou shalt answere of two, and nat of oon! Wher is thy gretter part away y-goon? Allas! wher shal I, wrecched wight, become! For, thogh so be that ship or boot heer come, 2215 Hoom to my contree dar I nat for drede; (331) I can my-selven in this cas nat rede!' What shal I telle more her compleining? Hit is so long, hit were an hevy thing. In her epistle Naso telleth al; 2220 But shortly to the ende I telle shal. The goddes have her holpen, for pitee; And, in the signe of Taurus, men may see The stones of her coroun shyne clere.-- I wol no more speke of this matere; 2225 But thus this false lover can begyle (341) His trewe love. The devil quyte him his whyle!

EXPLICIT LEGENDA ADRIANE DE ATHENES.

1886. F. B. Tn. Grece; _rest_ Crete; _see_ l. 1894. 1888. F. B. oonly for thy sake; _rest_ for thy sake only. F. Tn. Th. B. writen is; T. A. Add. wryte I. 1890. F. vntrewe; _rest_ vntrouthe (vntrouth). 1891. T. A. Add. the; _rest om._ (_after_ of). 1895. T. A. Th. had; B. wanne; F. whan (!); Tn. _om._ 1897. F. happeth; A. hapned; Add. appynyd; _rest_ happed. 1902. Th. Alcathoe (_rightly_); A. Alcitoe; Tn. Alcie; T. All the cyte; F. B. And the citee. 1910. F. B. hyt happed; _rest_ happed hit. 1911. C. caughte. 1912. C. T. A. Add. for; _rest om._ C. _om._ 1922, 1923. 1923. Th. As Alcathoe; A. As Alcitoe; F. B. And Alcites; T. With all the cyte; _see_ l. 1902. 1924. C. But (_for_ And). 1925. F. B. Tn. B. _om._ that. 1927. C. T. righ[t] as ye shal here; A. rycht thus as ye schall here. 1930. C. T. A. Add. in; _rest_ in-to. 1932. C. _om._ yeer. 1933. C. T. A. Add. and; _rest om._ C. fil (_for_ com). 1934. C. or; Th. Add. and; _rest_ on. 1936. T. Add. Vn-to; _rest_ To. C. Theseus (_for_ Minos). 1938. C. T. A. Th. Add. right; _rest om._ 1940. F. B. To; _rest_ And. 1941. C. T. A. that; _rest om._ 1944. C. T. Add. that; _rest om._ 1945. Tn. Mot; C. T. Th. Mote; _rest_ Moste (Must). 1948. C. gon (_for_ lad). 1949. C. T. A. Add. court; _rest_ contree. C. T. A. Add. right; _rest_ of might. 1951. A. thilke; C. the ilke; _rest_ the. 1954. C. T. A. Add. were depe; F. B. depe were; Tn. depe; Th. arte depe. 1955. C. hym; T. theym; _rest_ whom. 1960. C. A. as; T. Add. that; _rest om._ 1962. C. T. A. Add. in; _rest_ to. C. Tn. T. A. Add to; F. B. Th. of. 1964. A. king; _rest om._ C. Of Thesius that, &c. 1965. C. T. A. Add. toward; _rest om._ 1966. T. In mochell myrthe; Add. In moche myrth; Th. Of the towne; _rest_ Of Athenes(!); _see note_. 1967. C. Tn. Th. Not; F. A. B. Wot. T. But I not how. A. happi_n_it; _rest_ happed. Add. ther; T. there; _rest om._ 1969. F. Tn. B. Add. that Adriane (_badly_); Th. that Ariadne. 1971. C. T. A. Add. compleynyge; _rest_ compleynt. 1972. C. T. lokedyn; _rest_ loked. 1973. F. B. (_only_) _om. 1st_ to. C. A. sone; _rest_ so sone. 1980. F. Tn. B. _om._ he. 1982. C. now certeyn; T. A. now certes; _rest_ certes now. 1987. F. A. B. _insert_ that _before_ I. 1991. F. B. the; _rest_ this. 1995. _So_ C.; F. B. that hys lyf he dar kepe or; Tn. Th. that he his lif dar kepe or; T. that he dar his lyfe kepe and. 1997. F. Tn. B. Th. ther as; C. T. A. _om._ as. 1998. F. Tn. B. _omit this line. So_ C. Th. A. Wel wote [gh]e, &c. T. The best, ye wot well that he ys, &c. 1999. Addit. (12524) rome eke and space; C. bothe rou_m_ and space; _rest_ roume (roum) and eke space. 2003. F. Tn. B. _om._ him. 2007. C. what (_error for_ whan) that; Th. T. whan that; F. Tn. A. B. whan. 2008. T. A. C. achoked; Th. acheked (!); F. Tn. asleked; B. aslakyd. 2009. F. (_only_) the (_for_ they). F. to helpe (!); _rest_ to hepe. 2012. Tn. crenkled; Th. crencled; B. cruklyd. 2015. T. (_only_) _om._ a. 2016. F. B. clywe. 2019. _So_ C. A.; _so_ Addit. (12625) _with_ monstre _for_ beste; F. Tn. Th. B. And whan this best ys ouercome (!); T. And when that he thus hath ouercome (!). 2020. C. T. A. drede; _rest_ stede; (drede _gives the better rime_). 2025. T. A. Th. sermoun; C. sarmoun; _rest om._ 2027. C. And; _rest om._ 2028. C. T. A. Adoun; _rest_ Doun. 2031. C. T. A. whil; _rest_ whiles. F. Tn. Th. B. _om._ lyf or. 2032. F. Tn. B. wolde; _rest_ wil (wol). 2035. C. A. -mo; _rest_ -more. 2039. C. A. so gret a; T. so gret; _rest_ suche a. 2046. F. B. so me; T. so; _rest_ me so. 2048. C. A. for; _rest om._ 2051. C. now; _rest om._ 2052. C. F. to; Tn. T. Th. B. so; A. _om._ 2060. F. Tn. Th. B. _insert_ that _after_ if. 2063. C. A. so (_for 2nd_ to). C. A. a; _rest om._ 2064. C. T. A. Th. deth; F. B. dede; Tn. deed; _see_ l. 2072. 2065. T. pouert; _rest_ pouerte; _cf._ Cant. Ta. C 441. 2068. A. a traytour; _rest om._ a. 2069. A. go; C. T. goth; Th. mote go; F. Tn. B. mot go (_for_ mot-e go); _see_ l 2066. [_Go_ = may go.] 2070. F. B. ever y; T. C. A., I ever. 2071. C. T. A. if; _rest om._ 2073. F. B. no more; Tn. nat; _rest_ nat elles. 2074. F. Tn. Th. B. this Theseus; C. T. A. _om._ this. 2075. C. a; _rest om._ 2080. F. Tn. B. _badly have_ And a. 2083. A. leue; Th. lene; C. F. B. leue _or_ lene; Tn. leen; (leve _is right_); _see_ l. 2086. 2084. C. T. A. But; _rest_ And. 2085. _So_ C. A. B.; F. Tn. T. Th. to sleen (_badly_). 2086. F. leve (_sic_); A. lyve; C. B. leue (_or_ lene); Th. lene; Tn. leen; T. graunt. C. T. A. that; _rest om._ 2088. C. T. A., I; _rest_ I ne. 2089. C. T. A. that; _rest om._ 2090. C. T. A. that; _rest om._ 2091. T. reaume; Tn. reame; C. reume; _rest_ realme. 2092. C. T. giltles [gh]ow; A. [gh]ow giltles; F. Tn. Th. B. your gentilesse (!). 2095. C. that; _rest_ that that. C. men; T. a man; _rest_ man. C. nyl don; A. nyl do; T. wyll do (!); F. Tn. Th. B. wol not do. 2100. F. B. to be; _rest om._ to. 2102. A. on; _rest_ vpon. 2107. B. lete; F. C. Tn. T. laten; A. latten; Th. letten. 2109. C. T. A. the; _rest om._ 2111. C. tacheue; T. A. to acheue; F. Tn. Th. B. to taken (!). C. myn; A. T. Th. my; F. Tn. B. by (!). 2113. C. prene (_rightly_); F. T. prefe; Tn. A. prof; Th. profe; B. trouth. 2115. C. I-louyd; A. yloued; _rest_ loved. 2116. F. Tn. Th. B. _om._ hit. 2119. C. ensure. 2124. C. Th. hertely; B. hertilye; _rest_ hertly (hertely _is more correct_). F. Tn. Th. B. and at his chere. 2126. C. T. A. Al; _rest_ And. 2134. C. her-of us; _rest_ us her-of. 2138. _All_ was performed; _the improvement is obvious_. 2139. F. B. the; _rest_ this. 2149. F. hath thys beste; _rest_ this beste hath. 2150-2153. F. Tn. B. _omit from_ geten _to_ gayler (_owing to repetition of_ gayler). 2150. _So_ C.; T. _has_ getyn he hath; A. Th. gotten hath. 2151. _So_ C. T. Th.; A. _has_ he _for_ hit. 2152. _So_ C. T. A. Th. 2155. C. Ennepye; F. Tn. B. Eunopye _or_ Ennopye; T. Ennopy; A. Ennopie; Th. Enupye. 2160. C. T. A. newe; _rest_ noble. 2161. F. Tn. B. _om._ ful. 2164. C. dwellede; B. Th. dwelte; Tn. A. dwelt; F. T. dwelleth. 2168. F. Tn. B. _om._ that. 2182. C. atake; _rest_ y-take. 2184. C. now; T. A. gret; _rest om._ 2186. C. T. graspeth; A. grapid; _rest_ gropeth. 2188. C. & al hire her. 2193. F. B. _omit this line_. 2194. C. shynede; T. shynyd; A. schyneth; F. Tn. Th. B. shone. 2199. C. Hadde; T. A. Had; _rest_ Hath. F. Tn. Th. _needlessly insert_ he _after_ that. 2201. F. thy (_for_ his). 2202, 2203. T. _omits these lines_. 2203. C. Tn. Th. B. Ascaunce; A. Ascances; F. Aschaunce. C. A. that; _rest om._ 2206. C. I-gon; A. ygone; T. agone; _rest_ goon (gone). 2207. C. T. A. upon; _rest_ on. 2208. C. kyssith; _rest_ kyssed (_but read_ kiste). 2210. C. _om._ she. 2213. C. thyn; T. A. thy; _rest_ the. C. I-gon; A. y-gone; _rest_ goon (gone). 2214. C. wreche. 2215. _So_ T.; A. that any bote her come; C. that boot here ne come (_wrongly_); Tn. F. B. that bote none here come (_wrongly_); _see note._ 2217. C. myn selue; F. my selfe (_read_ my selven); _rest_ my self. 2221. C. T. A. I telle; _rest_ telle I. 2226, 2227. A. _omits these lines_. 2226. C. T. Th. this false louer; F. Tn. B. these false lovers. 2227. C. Tn. T. Th. His; F. Hyr; B. Her; _but all have_ him. _Perhaps_ him quyte _would give a smoother line_.

VII. THE LEGEND OF PHILOMELA.

INCIPIT LEGENDA PHILOMENE.

_Deus dator formarum._

Thou yiver of the formes, that hast wroght The faire world, and bare hit in thy thoght Eternally, or thou thy werk began, 2230 Why madest thou, unto the slaundre of man, Or--al be that hit was not thy doing, As for that fyn to make swiche a thing-- Why suffrest thou that Tereus was bore, That is in love so fals and so forswore, 2235 That, fro this world up to the firste hevene, Corrumpeth, whan that folk his name nevene? (10) And, as to me, so grisly was his dede, That, whan that I his foule story rede, Myn eyen wexen foule and sore also; 2240 Yit last the venim of so longe ago, That hit enfecteth him that wol beholde The story of Tereus, of which I tolde. Of Trace was he lord, and kin to Marte, The cruel god that stant with blody darte; 2245 And wedded had he, with a blisful chere, King Pandiones faire doghter dere, (20) That highte Progne, flour of her contree, Thogh Iuno list nat at the feste be, Ne Ymeneus, that god of wedding is; 2250 But at the feste redy been, y-wis, The furies three, with alle hir mortel brond. The owle al night aboute the balkes wond, That prophet is of wo and of mischaunce. This revel, ful of songe and ful of daunce, 2255 Lasteth a fourtenight, or litel lasse. But, shortly of this story for to passe, (30) For I am wery of him for to telle, Five yeer his wyf and he togeder dwelle, Til on a day she gan so sore longe 2260 To seen her suster, that she saw nat longe, That for desyr she niste what to seye. But to her husband gan she for to preye, For goddes love, that she moste ones goon Her suster for to seen, and come anoon, 2265 Or elles, but she moste to her wende, She preyde him, that he wolde after her sende; (40) And this was, day by day, al her prayere With al humblesse of wyfhood, word, and chere. This Tereus let make his shippes yare, 2270 And into Grece him-self is forth y-fare Unto his fader in lawe, and gan him preye To vouche-sauf that, for a month or tweye, That Philomene, his wyves suster, mighte On Progne his wyf but ones have a sighte-- 2275 'And she shal come to yow again anoon. Myself with her wol bothe come and goon, (50) And as myn hertes lyf I wol her kepe.' This olde Pandion, this king, gan wepe For tendernesse of herte, for to leve 2280 His doghter goon, and for to yive her leve; Of al this world he lovede no-thing so; But at the laste leve hath she to go. For Philomene, with salte teres eke, Gan of her fader grace to beseke 2285 To seen her suster, that her longeth so; And him embraceth with her armes two. (60) And therwith-al so yong and fair was she That, whan that Terëus saw her beautee, And of array that ther was noon her liche, 2290 And yit of bountee was she two so riche, He caste his fyry herte upon her so That he wol have her, how so that hit go, And with his wyles kneled and so preyde, Til at the laste Pandion thus seyde:-- 2295 'Now, sone,' quod he, 'that art to me so dere, I thee betake my yonge doghter here, (70) That bereth the key of al my hertes lyf. And grete wel my doghter and thy wyf, And yive her leve somtyme for to pleye, 2300 That she may seen me ones er I deye.' And soothly, he hath mad him riche feste, And to his folk, the moste and eek the leste, That with him com; and yaf him yiftes grete, And him conveyeth through the maister-strete 2305 Of Athenes, and to the see him broghte, And turneth hoom; no malice he ne thoghte. (80) The ores pulleth forth the vessel faste, And into Trace arriveth at the laste, And up into a forest he her ledde, 2310 And to a cave privily him spedde; And, in this derke cave, yif her leste, Or leste noght, he bad her for to reste; Of whiche her herte agroos, and seyde thus, 'Wher is my suster, brother Tereus?' 2315 And therwith-al she wepte tenderly, And quook for fere, pale and pitously, (90) Right as the lamb that of the wolf is biten; Or as the colver, that of the egle is smiten, And is out of his clawes forth escaped, 2320 Yet hit is afered and awhaped Lest hit be hent eft-sones, so sat she. But utterly hit may non other be. By force hath he, this traitour, doon that dede, That he hath reft her of her maydenhede, 2325 Maugree her heed, by strengthe and by his might. Lo! here a dede of men, and that a right! (100) She cryeth 'suster!' with ful loude stevene, And 'fader dere!' and 'help me, god in hevene!' Al helpeth nat; and yet this false theef 2330 Hath doon this lady yet a more mischeef, For fere lest she sholde his shame crye, And doon him openly a vilanye, And with his swerd her tong of kerveth he, And in a castel made her for to be 2335 Ful privily in prison evermore, And kepte her to his usage and his store, (110) So that she mighte him nevermore asterte. O sely Philomene! wo is thyn herte; God wreke thee, and sende thee thy bone! 2340 Now is hit tyme I make an ende sone. This Tereus is to his wyf y-come, And in his armes hath his wyf y-nome, And pitously he weep, and shook his heed, And swor her that he fond her suster deed; 2345 For which this sely Progne hath swich wo, That ny her sorweful herte brak a-two; (120) And thus in teres lete I Progne dwelle, And of her suster forth I wol yow telle. This woful lady lerned had in youthe 2350 So that she werken and enbrouden couthe, And weven in her stole the radevore As hit of women hath be woned yore. And, shortly for to seyn, she hath her fille Of mete and drink, and clothing at her wille, 2355 And coude eek rede, and wel y-nogh endyte, But with a penne coude she nat wryte; (130) But lettres can she weven to and fro, So that, by that the yeer was al a-go, She had y-woven in a stamin large 2360 How she was broght from Athenes in a barge, And in cave how that she was broght; And al the thing that Tereus hath wroght, She waf hit wel, and wroot the story above, How she was served for her suster love; 2365 And to a knave a ring she yaf anoon, And prayed him, by signes, for to goon (140) Unto the quene, and beren her that clooth, And by signes swor him many an ooth, She sholde him yeve what she geten mighte. 2370 This knave anoon unto the quene him dighte, And took hit her, and al the maner tolde. And, whan that Progne hath this thing beholde, No word she spak, for sorwe and eek for rage; But feyned her to goon on pilgrimage 2375 To Bachus temple; and, in a litel stounde, Her dombe suster sitting hath she founde, (150) Weping in the castel her aloon. Allas! the wo, the compleint, and the moon That Progne upon her dombe suster maketh! 2380 In armes everich of hem other taketh, And thus I lete hem in hir sorwe dwelle. The remenant is no charge for to telle, For this is al and som, thus was she served, That never harm a-gilte ne deserved 2385 Unto this cruel man, that she of wiste. Ye may be war of men, yif that yow liste. (160) For, al be that he wol nat, for his shame, Doon so as Tereus, to lese his name, Ne serve yow as a mordrour or a knave, 2390 Ful litel whyle shul ye trewe him have, That wol I seyn, al were he now my brother, But hit so be that he may have non other. (166)

EXPLICIT LEGENDA PHILOMENE.

TITLE. _From_ F. _After which_, F. _has_ Deus dator formatorum; B. _has_ Deus dator formarum. 2233. C. T. A. fyn; _rest_ fende. 2239. C. A. his; F. Tn. B. this. T. that sorrowfull story. 2241. F. B. laste (_error for_ last); Tn. A. laft (!); C. lestyth; T. Th. lasteth. 2242. C. T. A. it; _rest om._ C. wele; T. wyll; Add. (12524) woll; _rest_ wolde. 2243. B. Th. Tereus; A. Tireus; C. Therius; T. Thereus; F. Teseus; Tn. Theseus (!). [_Of which I tolde_ = whom I mentioned (l. 2234).] _See next line._ 2246. C. T. A. a; _rest om._ 2249. C. T. A. lyst; Th. lyste; F. Tn. B. baste (!). 2252, 2253. C. Tn. A. brond, wond; _rest_ bronde, wonde. 2256. A. Lestith; _rest_ Laste (Last). 2277. _All but_ C. T. _badly insert_ I _after_ her. 2282. T. C. loueth. 2285. F. B. Tn. for; _rest_ of. 2286. _So_ F. Tn. Th. B.; C. T. she loueth so; A. sche loued so. 2287-92. T. _omits_. 2291. B. bounte; F. bounde (_error for_ bounte); _rest_ beaute (_but see_ l. 2289). A. twys; Th. to; _rest_ two (twoo); _see_ 736. 2294. C. wilis he so fayre hire preyede. 2297. C. T. A. here; _rest repeat_ dere. 2301. C. Tn. T. er; _rest_ or. 2311. F. T. in-to; _rest_ to. 2314. Tn. a-groos; A. agros; Th. agrose; F. agrosse; T. agrysyd; C. aros (!). 2316. C. Tn. Th. B. wepte; F. wepe; T. wepyd. 2319. F. Tn. Or of; B. Or; _rest_ Or as. 2320. F. Tn. B. _om._ his. 2324. C. he; _rest om._ 2325. F. Tn. B. _om._ of her. 2328. F. B. longe; _rest_ loude. 2329. C. A. and; _rest om._ 2332. F. B. Tn. ferde; A. fered; _rest_ fere. 2334. A. C. kerveth; T. kutteth; _rest_ kerf (kerfe). 2338. _So_ C. T. A.; Th. she ne might (_om._ him). F. Tn. B. _omit this line and have a spurious line after_ 2339. 2339. C. T. A. is; F. Tn. Th. B. is in. 2345. C. say (_for_ fond). 2346. F. B. the (_for_ this). 2350. C. T. A. lerned; _rest_ y-lerned. 2352. F. Tn. Th. B. _om._ her. F. Tn. T. Th. B. radeuore (_or_ radenore); C. radyuore (_or_ radynore); A. raduor. 2353. F. wore (_error for_ yore); _rest_ yore. 2355. C. T. A. and; _rest_ of. 2356. C. A. coude; _rest_ kouthe (couthe, couth). P. Tn. Th. B. _put_ and _after_ y-nogh. 2357. C. A. coude she: T. couthe she; _rest_ she kouthe (couth, coulde). 2359. _All but_ T. A. _om. 2nd_ that. F. (_only_) _om._ al. 2360. A. C. ywouen; _rest_ wouen (woued). C. T. A. stamyn; _rest_ stames. 2364. C. waf; Tn. B. wafe; _rest_ waue (wave). 2369. F. Tn. Th. B. signe; _rest_ signes. C. swor hym; T. sware she; A. suore; Th. swore; F. B. sworne (!); Tn. sworen (!). 2375. C. Th. on; T. A. in; F. Tn. B. a. 2378. Tn. her; C. here (_for_ her); A. all hir; F. T. Th. B. hir self. 2379. _So_ A.; _so_ T. (_omitting 3rd_ the); C. Allas the compleynt the wo & the mone; F. Th. Allas the wo constreynt (!) and the mone. 2380. _So all._ 2388. C. his; _rest om._ 2389. C. so; _rest om._ 2390. B. mordrer; F. morderere; Th. murtherer; C. T. A. morderour; Tn. mordroure. 2393. C. T. A. non othir; _rest_ a-nother (!).

VIII. THE LEGEND OF PHYLLIS.

INCIPIT LEGENDA PHILLIS.

By preve as wel as by auctoritee, That wikked fruit cometh of a wikked tree, 2395 That may ye finde, if that it lyketh yow. But for this ende I speke this as now, To telle you of false Demophon. In love a falser herde I never non, But-if hit were his fader Theseus. 2400 'God, for his grace, fro swich oon kepe us!' Thus may thise women prayen that hit here. Now to theffect turne I of my matere. (10) Destroyed is of Troye the citee; This Demophon com sailing in the see 2405 Toward Athenes, to his paleys large; With him com many a ship and many a barge Ful of his folk, of which ful many oon Is wounded sore, and seek, and wo begoon. And they han at the sege longe y-lain. 2410 Behinde him com a wind and eek a rain That shoof so sore, his sail ne mighte stonde, Him were lever than al the world a-londe, (20) So hunteth him the tempest to and fro. So derk hit was, he coude nowher go; 2415 And with a wawe brosten was his stere. His ship was rent so lowe, in swich manere, That carpenter ne coude hit nat amende. The see, by nighte, as any torche brende For wood, and posseth him now up now doun, 2420 Til Neptune hath of him compassioun, And Thetis, Chorus, Triton, and they alle, And maden him upon a lond to falle, (30) Wher-of that Phillis lady was and quene, Ligurgus doghter, fairer on to sene 2425 Than is the flour again the brighte sonne. Unnethe is Demophon to londe y-wonne, Wayk and eek wery, and his folk for-pyned Of werinesse, and also enfamyned; And to the deeth he almost was y-driven. 2430 His wyse folk to conseil han him yiven To seken help and socour of the queen, And loken what his grace mighte been, (40) And maken in that lond som chevisaunce, To kepen him fro wo and fro mischaunce. 2435 For seek was he, and almost at the deeth; Unnethe mighte he speke or drawe his breeth, And lyth in Rodopeya him for to reste. Whan he may walke, him thoughte hit was the beste Unto the court to seken for socour. 2440 Men knewe him wel, and diden him honour; For at Athenes duk and lord was he, As Theseus his fader hadde y-be, (50) That in his tyme was of greet renoun, No man so greet in al his regioun; 2445 And lyk his fader of face and of stature, And fals of love; hit com him of nature; As doth the fox Renard, the foxes sone, Of kinde he coude his olde faders wone Withoute lore, as can a drake swimme, 2450 Whan hit is caught and caried to the brimme. This honourable Phillis doth him chere, Her lyketh wel his port and his manere. (60) But for I am agroted heer-biforn To wryte of hem that been in love forsworn, 2455 And eek to haste me in my legende, Which to performe god me grace sende, Therfor I passe shortly in this wyse; Ye han wel herd of Theseus devyse In the betraising of fair Adriane, 2460 That of her pite kepte him from his bane. At shorte wordes, right so Demophon The same wey, the same path hath gon (70) That dide his false fader Theseus. For unto Phillis hath he sworen thus, 2465 To wedden her, and her his trouthe plighte, And piked of her al the good he mighte, Whan he was hool and sound and hadde his reste; And doth with Phillis what so that him leste. And wel coude I, yif that me leste so, 2470 Tellen al his doing to and fro. He seide, unto his contree moste he saile, For ther he wolde her wedding apparaile (80) As fil to her honour and his also. And openly he took his leve tho, 2475 And hath her sworn, he wolde nat soiorne, But in a month he wolde again retorne. And in that lond let make his ordinaunce As verray lord, and took the obeisaunce Wel and hoomly, and let his shippes dighte, 2480 And hoom he goth the nexte wey he mighte; For unto Phillis yit ne com he noght. And that hath she so harde and sore aboght, (90) Allas! that, as the stories us recorde, She was her owne deeth right with a corde, 2485 Whan that she saw that Demophon her trayed. But to him first she wroot and faste him prayed He wolde come, and her deliver of peyne, As I reherse shal a word or tweyne. Me list nat vouche-sauf on him to swinke, 2490 Ne spende on him a penne ful of inke, For fals in love was he, right as his syre; The devil sette hir soules bothe a-fyre! (100) But of the lettre of Phillis wol I wryte A word or tweyne, al-thogh hit be but lyte. 2495 'Thyn hostesse,' quod she, 'O Demophon, Thy Phillis, which that is so wo begon, Of Rodopeye, upon yow moot compleyne, Over the terme set betwix us tweyne, That ye ne holden forward, as ye seyde; 2500 Your anker, which ye in our haven leyde, Highte us, that ye wolde comen, out of doute, Or that the mone ones wente aboute. (110) But tymes foure the mone hath hid her face Sin thilke day ye wente fro this place, 2505 And foure tymes light the world again. But for al that, yif I shal soothly sain, Yit hath the streem of Sitho nat y-broght From Athenes the ship; yit comth hit noght. And, yif that ye the terme rekne wolde, 2510 As I or other trewe lovers sholde, I pleyne not, god wot, beforn my day.'-- But al her lettre wryten I ne may (120) By ordre, for hit were to me a charge; Her lettre was right long and ther-to large; 2515 But here and there in ryme I have hit laid, Ther as me thoughte that she wel hath said.-- She seide, 'thy sailes comen nat again, Ne to thy word ther nis no fey certein; But I wot why ye come nat,' quod she; 2520 'For I was of my love to you so free. And of the goddes that ye han forswore, Yif that hir vengeance falle on yow therfore, (130) Ye be nat suffisaunt to bere the peyne. To moche trusted I, wel may I pleyne, 2525 Upon your linage and your faire tonge, And on your teres falsly out y-wronge. How coude ye wepe so by craft?' quod she; 'May ther swiche teres feyned be? Now certes, yif ye wolde have in memorie, 2530 Hit oghte be to yow but litel glorie To have a sely mayde thus betrayed! To god,' quod she, 'preye I, and ofte have prayed, (140) That hit be now the grettest prys of alle, And moste honour that ever yow shal befalle! 2535 And whan thyn olde auncestres peynted be, In which men may hir worthinesse see, Than, preye I god, thou peynted be also, That folk may reden, for-by as they go, "Lo! this is he, that with his flaterye 2540 Betrayed hath and doon her vilanye That was his trewe love in thoghte and dede!" But sothly, of oo point yit may they rede, (150) That ye ben lyk your fader as in this; For he begyled Adriane, y-wis, 2545 With swiche an art and swiche sotelte As thou thy-selven hast begyled me. As in that point, al-thogh hit be nat fayr, Thou folwest him, certein, and art his eyr. But sin thus sinfully ye me begyle, 2550 My body mote ye seen, within a whyle, Right in the haven of Athenes fletinge, With-outen sepulture and buryinge; (160) Thogh ye ben harder then is any stoon.' And, whan this lettre was forth sent anoon, 2555 And knew how brotel and how fals he was, She for dispeyr for-dide herself, allas! Swich sorwe hath she, for she besette her so. Be war, ye women, of your sotil fo, Sin yit this day men may ensample see; 2560 And trusteth, as in love, no man but me. (168)

EXPLICIT LEGENDA PHILLIS.

2400. F. Tn. Th. B. _om._ if. 2402. F. Tn. Th. B. _om._ may. 2408. C. his; _rest om._ 2409. C. sek (_read_ seek); _rest_ seke. 2410. A. Th. the sege; F. Tn. B. a sege; T. sege; C. thasege (_good_). 2412. C. T. A. ne myghte; _rest_ myght not. 2418. C. A. ne; T. noon; _rest om._ 2420. A. So wood. C. A. now vp now doun; T. now vp and doun; _rest_ vp and doun. 2422. Th. Chorus; T. Thora; _rest_ Thorus (_see note_). F. Tn. B. _om._ Triton. 2423. F. Th. B. vp; _rest_ vp-on. 2425. A. B. Ligurgus; C. Tn. T. Ligurges; Th. Lycurgus; F. Bygurgus (_error for_ Lygurgus). 2430. C. That (_for_ And). C. almost was (_better than_ was almost _in the rest_). 2435. C. T. A. To; _rest_ And. 2437. C. T. A. his; _rest om._ 2438. A. _om._ for. 2440. C. T. A. court; _rest_ contree. 2443. F. Tn. Th. B. hath. 2444. C. T. A. of gret; _rest_ grete of. 2445. C. of (_for_ in). C. the; T. A. that; _rest_ his. 2449. C. owene (_for_ olde). 2452. A. phillis; C. Philes; Th. T. quene Phillis; _rest_ quene. 2453. F. B. And; _rest_ Her (Hire, Hir). 2454. A. Th. agroted; B. agrotyd; C. agrotyed; F. Tn. agroteyd; T. agroteyed. 2455. C. T. ben in love; A. ar of loue; _rest_ in loue ben. 2459. C. T. A. deuyse; F. Tn. B. the nyse (_sic_); Th. the gyse. 2470, 1. T. I couthe ryght well, yef that hyt lykyd me Tell all hys doyng; but hyt ys vanyte. 2472. C. T. vnto; A. into; _rest_ to. F. Th. B. him; _rest_ he. 2475. F. B. _omit_. 2476. C. hath hire sworn; A. hath to hir suorn; Tn. to her sworne; F. T. Th. B. to hir swore. 2477. _So_ C. A.; F. Tn. Th. B. ageyn he wolde. 2480. C. homly; F. T. B. homely; A. hui_m_ly; Tn. humble; Th. hombly. C. let; _rest om._ 2482. C. ne; _rest om._ 2483. A. C. Th. abought; F. Tn. B. yboght. 2484. F. Tn. B. _om._ as. A. T. stories; _rest_ story (_but this would require_ recordeth; _indeed_, C. _has_ recordith!). 2485. C. T. A. ryght; _rest om._ 2487. F. Tn. Th. B. But firste wrote she to hym. 2488. C. T. A. hire delyuere; _rest_ delyuer hir. F. pyne (_error for_ peyne). 2489. F. B. oo; Tn. one; _rest_ a; _see_ l. 2495. 2491. C. T. A. Ne spende; _rest_ Dispenden. 2493. C. a fere; T. afyre; A. in fyre; F. Tn. Th. B. on a fire (_badly_). 2496. C. Ostesse thyn. T. A. o thow Demophon. 2498. F. Tn. B. _om._ moot. 2504. F. Tn. B. _om._ hid. 2505. Th. thylke; C. F. Tn. B. that thilke (!); A. that ilke; T. that. 2506, 7. C. _omits_. 2506. A. hath lycht this. 2507. T. yef; A. if; F. B. Th. yet (_error for_ yef); Tn. yit (_error for_ yif). 2508. C. storm (_error for_ streem); _rest_ streme. Th. Scython; C. B. Sytoye; A. Cytoye; T. Sitoy; F. Tn. Sitoio (Ovid _has_ Sithonis unda). T. y-brought; _rest_ broght (brought). 2509. C. comyth it; T. A. cometh; F. Tn. B. come hit; Th. came it. 2517. C. A. wel hath; _rest_ hath wel. 2518. C. T. A. thyne (thy); _rest_ the. C. come; T. comen; F. Tn. Th. B. cometh. 2519. C. T. A. thy_n_ (thy); _rest_ the. 2523. C. T. A. Yif (_only_); F. Tn. Th. B. That (_only_); _but read_ Yif that. 2525. C. T. A. pleyne; _rest_ seyne (!). 2527. C. I-wronge; A. yronne (_error for_ ywronge); F. Tn. Th. B. wronge. 2529. A. Quhethir ther may (_but this is Scottish_). 2532. _All_ mayde. 2539. C. T. A. for by; _rest_ forth by. 2546. A. C. T. subtilitee. 2549. C. T. A. him; _rest om._ A. _has lost_ ll. 2551-2616. 2555. F. Tn. B. _om._ sent. 2561. _So_ C. T.; _so_ Tn. Th. (_with_ now _for_ as); F. B. And as in love truste no man but me.

IX. THE LEGEND OF HYPERMNESTRA.

INCIPIT LEGENDA YPERMISTRE.

In Grece whylom weren brethren two, Of whiche that oon was called Danao, That many a sone hath of his body wonne, As swiche false lovers ofte conne. 2565 Among his sones alle ther was oon That aldermost he lovede of everichoon. And whan this child was born, this Danao Shoop him a name, and called him Lino. That other brother called was Egiste, 2570 That was of love as fals as ever him liste, (10) And many a doghter gat he in his lyve; Of which he gat upon his righte wyve A doghter dere, and dide her for to calle Ypermistra, yongest of hem alle; 2575 The whiche child, of her nativitee, To alle gode thewes born was she, As lyked to the goddes, or she was born, That of the shefe she sholde be the corn; The Wirdes, that we clepen Destinee, 2580 Hath shapen her that she mot nedes be (20) Pitouse, sadde, wyse, and trewe as steel; And to this woman hit accordeth weel. For, though that Venus yaf her greet beautee, With Iupiter compouned so was she 2585 That conscience, trouthe, and dreed of shame, And of her wyfhood for to kepe her name, This, thoughte her, was felicitee as here. And rede Mars was, that tyme of the yere, So feble, that his malice is him raft, 2590 Repressed hath Venus his cruel craft; (30) What with Venus and other oppressioun Of houses, Mars his venim is adoun, That Ypermistra dar nat handle a knyf In malice, thogh she sholde lese her lyf. 2595 But natheles, as heven gan tho turne, To badde aspectes hath she of Saturne, That made her for to deyen in prisoun, As I shal after make mencioun. To Danao and Egistes also-- 2600 Al-thogh so be that they were brethren two, (40) For thilke tyme nas spared no linage-- Hit lyked hem to maken mariage Betwix Ypermistra and him Lino, And casten swiche a day hit shal be so; 2605 And ful acorded was hit witterly; The array is wroght, the tyme is faste by. And thus Lino hath of his fadres brother The doghter wedded, and eche of hem hath other. The torches brennen and the lampes brighte, 2610 The sacrifices been ful redy dighte; (50) Thencens out of the fyre reketh sote, The flour, the leef is rent up by the rote To maken garlands and corounes hye; Ful is the place of soun of minstralcye, 2615 Of songes amorous of mariage, As thilke tyme was the pleyn usage. And this was in the paleys of Egiste, That in his hous was lord, right as him liste; And thus the day they dryven to an ende; 2620 The frendes taken leve, and hoom they wende. (60) The night is come, the bryd shal go to bedde; Egiste to his chambre faste him spedde, And privily he let his doghter calle. Whan that the hous was voided of hem alle, 2625 He loked on his doghter with glad chere, And to her spak, as ye shul after here. 'My righte doghter, tresor of myn herte! Sin first that day that shapen was my sherte, Or by the fatal sustren had my dom, 2630 So ny myn herte never thing me com (70) As thou, myn Ypermistra, doghter dere! Tak heed what I thy fader sey thee here, And werk after thy wyser ever-mo. For alderfirste, doghter, I love thee so 2635 That al the world to me nis half so leef; Ne I nolde rede thee to thy mischeef For al the gode under the colde mone; And what I mene, hit shal be seid right sone, With protestacioun, as in this wyse, 2640 That, but thou do as I shal thee devyse, (80) Thou shalt be deed, by him that al hath wroght! At shorte wordes, thou nescapest noght Out of my paleys, or that thou be deed, But thou consente and werke after my reed; 2645 Tak this to thee for ful conclusioun.' This Ypermistra caste her eyen doun, And quook as dooth the leef of aspe grene; Deed wex her hewe, and lyk as ash to sene, And seyde, 'lord and fader, al your wille, 2650 After my might, god wot, I shal fulfille, (90) So hit to me be no confusioun.' 'I nil,' quod he, 'have noon excepcioun;' And out he caughte a knyf, as rasour kene; 'Hyd this,' quod he, 'that hit be nat y-sene; 2655 And, whan thyn husbond is to bedde y-go, Whyl that he slepeth, cut his throte a-two. For in my dremes hit is warned me How that my nevew shal my bane be, But whiche I noot, wherfor I wol be siker. 2660 Yif thou sey nay, we two shul have a biker (100) As I have seyd, by him that I have sworn.' This Ypermistra hath ny her wit forlon; And, for to passen harmles of that place, She graunted him; ther was non other grace. 2665 And therwith-al a costrel taketh he, And seyde, 'herof a draught, or two or three, Yif him to drinke, whan he goth to reste, And he shal slepe as longe as ever thee leste, The narcotiks and opies been so stronge: 2670 And go thy wey, lest that him thinke longe.' (110) Out comth the bryd, and with ful sober chere, As is of maidens ofte the manere, To chambre is broght with revel and with songe, And shortly, lest this tale be to longe, 2675 This Lino and she ben sone broght to bedde; And every wight out at the dore him spedde. The night is wasted, and he fel a-slepe; Ful tenderly beginneth she to wepe. She rist her up, and dredfully she quaketh, 2680 As doth the braunche that Zephirus shaketh, (120) And husht were alle in Argon that citee. As cold as any frost now wexeth she; For pite by the herte her streyneth so, And dreed of death doth her so moche wo, 2685 That thryes doun she fil in swiche a were. She rist her up, and stakereth heer and there, And on her handes faste loketh she. 'Allas! and shul my handes blody be? I am a maid, and, as by my nature, 2690 And by my semblant and by my vesture, (130) Myn handes been nat shapen for a knyf, As for to reve no man fro his lyf. What devil have I with the knyf to do? And shal I have my throte corve a-two? 2695 Than shal I blede, allas! and me beshende; And nedes cost this thing mot have an ende; Or he or I mot nedes lese our lyf. Now certes,' quod she, 'sin I am his wyf, And hath my feith, yit is it bet for me 2700 For to be deed in wyfly honestee (140) Than be a traitour living in my shame. Be as be may, for ernest or for game, He shal awake, and ryse and go his way Out at this goter, or that hit be day!'-- 2705 And weep ful tenderly upon his face, And in her armes gan him to embrace, And him she roggeth and awaketh softe; And at the window leep he fro the lofte Whan she hath warned him, and doon him bote. 2710 This Lino swifte was, and light of fote, (150) And from his wyf he ran a ful good pas. This sely woman is so wayk, allas! And helples so, that, or that she fer wente, Her cruel fader dide her for to hente. 2715 Allas! Lino! why art thou so unkinde? Why ne haddest thou remembred in thy minde To taken her, and lad her forth with thee? For, whan she saw that goon awey was he, And that she mighte nat so faste go, 2720 Ne folwen him, she sette her doun right tho, (160) Til she was caught and fetered in prisoun. This tale is seid for this conclusioun....

[_Unfinished._]

2563. C. clepid; _rest_ called. 2571. F. B. in; _rest_ of. 2574. F. B. hyt (_for_ her). 2577. C. T. thewis goode I-born. 2578. Tn. B. goddesse (!); F. goddesses (!). 2581. C. mot; _rest_ moste (muste, most). 2582. F. B. Pitouse (_fem._); C. Pyetous; Tn. T. Piteous. Th. sadde (_fem.?_); _rest_ sad. C. T. and; _rest om._ 2590. C. beraft. 2592. Th. And what; C. T. That what; F. Tn. B. And; _I propose_ What. 2597. C. F. Tn. B. To; T. Ryght; Th. Two. 2598. C. for; _rest om._ 2599. C. T. As; _rest_ And. 2600. Th. Of (_for_ To); _without authority_. 2601. C. Al thow; _rest_ And thogh (_less clearly_). 2603. T. C. Th. lyked; _rest_ lyketh. 2606. F. Tn. B. witterly; _rest_ vttyrly. 2615. F. Tn. B. _om._ of soun. 2619. F. Tn. B. _om._ right. 2620. F. Tn. Th. B. that (_for_ the). 2624. F. Tn. Th. B. _om._ he. 2625. F. Tn. Th. B. voided was. F. B. _om._ hem. 2627. F. _om._ after. 2629. F. _om. 1st_ that. 2632. C. myn; T. A. _ins._ my _before_ doghter; _rest om._ 2633. F. Tn. Th. B. _om._ I. T. say; A. seye; _rest_ seyth. 2637. C. A., I; _rest om._ 2640. C. A. as in this; T. now on thys; F. Tn. Th. B. as seyn these. 2643. C. nescapist; Tn. Th. B. ne scapest; F. ne schapest (!). 2652. F. Tn. Th. B. be to me. 2655. Tn. Th. y-sene; _rest_ sene. 2656. Tn. y-goo; A. ygo; _rest_ goo (go). 2661. F. make; _rest_ haue. 2666. _So_ C. T. A. (_but with_ costret _for_ costrel); _rest_ And with-al a costrel taketh he tho (_badly_). 2667. F. Tn. Th. B. _om._ or three (_leaving the line too short_). 2668. A. to; _rest om._ 2670. F. B. Martotikes (_for_ narcotikes). T. A. opies; C. opijs; Th. apies; F. Tn. B. Epies (_for_ opies). 2671. F. Tn. Th. B. _ins._ to _before_ longe. 2674. F. Tn. Th. B. _om._ is. 2676. F. B. beth. T. sone byn; _rest om._ sone. C. a (_for_ to). 2682. F. hushst (_for_ husht); Th. hushte; C. A. hust; Tn. houste. 2684. F. Tn. B. streyneth hir; Th. strayned her; C. T. hire streynyth; A. hir stryngith. 2686. F. Th. B. swich (suche) a were; Tn. suche awere; C. this awer; A. this awere; T. that were. 2689. F. Tn. Th. B. _om._ and. 2696. F. Tn. Th. B. _om._ me. 2697. F. B. (_only_) Or _for_ And. 2709. C. T. A. at a (_for_ at the). 2712. _So_ T. A.; C. from his wif ran; _rest_ from her ran. 2714. C. A. or that; _rest om._ that. C. forth (_for_ fer). 2717. C. T. haddist; _rest_ hast. 2718. C. T. To; _rest_ And. 2721. Addit (12524), sette hyr; C. set hire; T. A. sat hyr; _rest_ sate (_om._ her). 2722. F. Tn. Th. And til (_for_ Til); B. And then.

A TREATISE ON THE ASTROLABE.

PROLOGUE.

Litell Lowis my sone, I have perceived wel by certeyne evidences thyn abilite to lerne sciencez touchinge noumbres and proporciouns; and as wel considere I thy bisy preyere in special to lerne the Tretis of the Astrolabie. Than, for as mechel as a philosofre seith, 'he wrappeth him in his frend, that condescendeth 5 to the rightful preyers of his frend,' ther-for have I geven thee a suffisaunt Astrolabie as for oure orizonte, compowned after the latitude of Oxenford; up-on which, by mediacion of this litel tretis, I purpose to teche thee a certein nombre of conclusions apertening to the same instrument. I seye a certein of conclusiouns, 10 for three causes. The furste cause is this: truste wel that alle the conclusiouns that han ben founde, or elles possibly mighten be founde in so noble an instrument as an Astrolabie, ben un-knowe perfitly to any mortal man in this regioun, as I suppose. A-nother cause is this; that sothly, in any tretis of the Astrolabie that I have 15 seyn, there ben some conclusions that wole nat in alle thinges performen hir bihestes; and some of hem ben to harde to thy tendre age of ten yeer to conseyve. This tretis, divided in fyve parties, wole I shewe thee under ful lighte rewles and naked wordes in English; for Latin ne canstow yit but smal, my lyte 20 sone. But natheles, suffyse to thee thise trewe conclusiouns in English, as wel as suffyseth to thise noble clerkes Grekes thise same conclusiouns in Greek, and to Arabiens in Arabik, and to Iewes in Ebrew, and to the Latin folk in Latin; whiche Latin folk han hem furst out of othre diverse langages, and writen in hir owne tonge, 25 that is to sein, in Latin. And god wot, that in alle thise langages, and in many mo, han thise conclusiouns ben suffisantly lerned and taught, and yit by diverse rewles, right as diverse pathes leden diverse folk the righte wey to Rome. Now wol I prey meekly every discret persone that redeth or hereth this litel tretis, to have 30 my rewde endyting for excused, and my superfluite of wordes, for two causes. The firste cause is, for that curious endyting and hard sentence is ful hevy atones for swich a child to lerne. And the seconde cause is this, that sothly me semeth betre to wryten un-to a child twyes a good sentence, than he for-gete it ones. And 35 Lowis, yif so be that I shewe thee in my lighte English as trewe conclusiouns touching this matere, and naught only as trewe but as many and as subtil conclusiouns as ben shewed in Latin in any commune tretis of the Astrolabie, con me the more thank; and preye god save the king, that is lord of this langage, and alle that 40 him feyth bereth and obeyeth, everech in his degree, the more and the lasse. But considere wel, that I ne usurpe nat to have founde this werk of my labour or of myn engin. I nam but a lewd compilatour of the labour of olde Astrologiens, and have hit translated in myn English only for thy doctrine; and with this swerd shal I 45 sleen envye.

I. The firste partie of this tretis shal reherse the figures and the membres of thyn Astrolabie, bi-cause that thou shalt han the grettre knowing of thyn owne instrument.

II. The second partie shal teche thee werken the verrey 50 practik of the forseide conclusiouns, as ferforth and as narwe as may be shewed in so smal an instrument portatif aboute. For wel wot every astrologien that smalest fraccions ne wol nat ben shewed in so smal an instrument, as in subtil tables calculed for a cause. 55

III. The thridde partie shal contienen diverse tables of longitudes and latitudes of sterres fixe for the Astrolabie, and tables of declinacions of the sonne, and tables of longitudes of citeez and of townes; and as wel for the governance of a clokke as for to finde the altitude meridian; and many another 60 notable conclusioun, after the kalendres of the reverent clerkes, frere I. Somer and frere N. Lenne.

IV. The ferthe partie shal ben a theorik to declare the moevinge of the celestial bodies with the causes. The whiche ferthe partie in special shal shewen a table of the verray 65 moeving of the mone from houre to houre, every day and in every signe, after thyn almenak; upon which table ther folwith a canon, suffisant to teche as wel the maner of the wyrking of that same conclusioun, as to knowe in oure orizonte with which degree of the zodiac that the mone ariseth in any latitude; 70 and the arising of any planete after his latitude fro the ecliptik lyne.

V. The fifte partie shal ben an introductorie after the statutz of oure doctours, in which thou maist lerne a gret part of the general rewles of theorik in astrologie. In which fifte partie 75 shaltow finde tables of equacions of houses aftur the latitude of Oxenford; and tables of dignetes of planetes, and other noteful thinges, yif god wol vouche-sauf and his modur the mayde, mo than I be-hete, &c.