Chapter 1
Produced by Jason Isbell, Taavi Kalju and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
[Transcriber's note: Until recently this work was attributed to John Lydgate, but now most scholars consider that the author is unknown. The first mention of Lydgate's authorship of this work was made by Stephen Hawes in 1505 as one of Lydgate's seven major works. But many scholars have doubted over the years that this poem was written by Lydgate, because the style used doesn't greatly resemble the style of Lydgate's other works, and the vocabulary is somewhat more modern than Lydgate is known to have used. Modern scholars believe that this work was written between 1478 and 1483 (about forty years after Lydgate's death). Analysis of style and vocabulary have led scholars to conclude that the author might have been a woman. For further information about this poem please see The Assembly of Gods, edited by Jane Chance, published by Medieval Institute Publications, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 1999, ISBN: 1580440223, which is also available online at http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/teams/asint.htm.
The book from which this e-book was transcribed is a fascimile reprint of the third printing of this book, made by Wynkyn de Worde circa 1500. The book was printed in blackletter font known as Wynkyn de Worde's type 3, and uses many abbreviations, which I have expanded and rendered inside parenthesis, eg., {x}. The abbreviations used in this book are:
*Macron over the letter. The most common one, usually meaning missing "n" or "m" after the letter. But in some cases might also mean missing "e," "er" or "re" after the letter. This happens usually when p, q or r have macrons. *Little e over Middle-English thorn, meaning "the." *Little t over Middle-English thorn, meaning "that." *Little u over Middle-English thorn, meaning "thou." *Little t over w, meaning "with." *Middle-English yogh, representing "gh." *Superscripted 9 after letter, meaning missing "us." Used only at the end of the word. *Superscripted 2 after letter, meaning missing "e," "er" or "re." Used only at the end of the word. *Stretched s, looking like integral sign, meaning missing "e" or "i" before letter s. *Dot over the letter, meaning missing "e," "er" or "re" after the letter. Usually used with d, t, e and u. Combination q+d with dot means "quod." *Strike through letter, meaning missing "e," "er" or "re" after the letter. Usually used with p, v and s. Striked through p might also mean missing "ro" or "or" after p.
Occasionally there were some letters printed upside down. I have rendered them inside brackets, e.g., [x]. The poem uses two types of punctuation--a dot, meaning longer pause, and a slash, meaning shorter pause or comma. I have corrected many errors and noted them on a right margin. Also this printing was missing three lines and one line had several letters missing from the middle of the line. I have marked them on a right margin and the correct reading supplied from the modern edition. There were a couple of places where the word "nota" or "note" was printed, but the actual notes weren't found in this reprint. There's a fair chance that those notes were never printed. The original page images are available with html edition.]
The assemble of goddes by John Lydgate
Printed at Westminster by Wynkyn de Worde about the year 1500
Cambridge at the University Press 1906
The work here reprinted formed part of the famous volume of black-letter tracts (formerly marked AB. 4. 58), which came to the University Library in 1715 by the gift of King George the First with the rest of the library of John Moore, Bishop of Ely. No other copy of this edition is recorded to be in existence.
The types used are Caxton's type 3 (for the title) and Wynkyn de Worde's type 3, with final m and n etc. from type 1 (in the rest of the book). This type 3 is not known to have been used before 1499.
Mr Sayle remarks that the woodcut illustration is taken from Caxton's second edition (ab. 1483-4) of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.
FRANCIS JENKINSON
1906 March 5.
I certify that I have printed 250 copies only of this facsimile, that the impressions have been rubbed off the plates and the negatives destroyed.
P. DUJARDIN
Here foloweth the Interpretacoin of the names of goddes and goddesses as is reherced in this tretyse folowynge as Poetes wryte
¶ Phebus is as moche to saye as the Sonne. ¶ Apollo is the same or elles God of syght. ¶ Morpleus Shewer of dremis ¶ Pluto God of hell. ¶ Mynos Iuge of hell. ¶ Cerberus Porter of hell. ¶ Colus the wynde or God of the Eyre. ¶ Dyana Goddesse of wode and chase. ¶ Phebe the Mone or Goddesse of waters. Aurora Goddes of {the} morow or spry{n}g of {the} daye ¶ Mars God of batyll ¶ Iupiter God of wysdom. ¶ Iuno Goddesse of rychesse ¶ Saturne God of colde. ¶ Ceres Goddesse of corne. ¶ Cupydo God of loue. ¶ Othea Goddesse of wysdome. ¶ Fortune The varyant Goddesse ¶ Pan God shepherdes. ¶ Isys Goddesse of frute. ¶ Neptunus God of the se. ¶ Mynerue Goddes of {the} batail or of heruest ¶ Bachus God of wyne. ¶ Mercuryus God of langage. ¶ Venus Goddesse of loue. ¶ Dyscorde Goddes of debate & stryffe ¶ Attropos Dethe ¶ Here endeth {the} interpretacyon of the names of Goddes & Goddesses as is reherced in the treatyse folowynge as poetes wryte.
Whan Phebus the crabbe had nere his cours ronne And toward {the} Leon his Iourney gan take To loke on Pyctagoras spere / I had begonne ¶ Syttyng all solytary allone besyde a lake. ¶ Musyng on a maner how {that} I myght make. ¶ Reason and sensualyte in one to accorde. ¶ But I coude not bryng about {the} manacorde.
¶ For longe er I myght slepe me gan oppres ¶ So ponderously I coud make none obstacle ¶ In myne hede was fall suche an heuinesse. ¶ I was fayne to drawe to myne habytacle. ¶ To rowne {with} a pylow me semyd best tryacle. ¶ So leyde I me downe my dysease to releue. ¶ Anone cam in Morpleus & toke me by {the} sleue
¶ And as I soo laye halfe in a traunse ¶ Twene slepyng & wakyng he bad me aryse. ¶ For he sayd I must yeue attendaunce. ¶ To the grete Courte of Mynes the Iustyse. ¶ Me nought auayled ayene hym to sylogyse. ¶ For hit is oft sayd by hem that yet lyues. ¶ He must nedes go that the deuell dryues.
¶ Whan I see noo better but I must go. ¶ I sayd I was redy at his co{m}maundement. ¶ Wheder that he wolde me lede to or fro. ¶ Soo vp I arose and forth with hym went. ¶ Tyll he had me brought to the parlament. ¶ Where Pluto sate and kepte is estate. ¶ And with hym Mynos the Iuge desperate.
¶ But as we thyderwarde went by the way. ¶ I hym besought his name me to tell. ¶ Morpleus he sayde thou me call may. ¶ A syr sayde I than where do ye dwell. ¶ In heuen or in erthe eyther elles in hell. ¶ Nay he sayde myn abydyng most commonly ¶ Is in a lytyll corner called fantasy.
¶ And as sone as he thyse wordes had sayd. ¶ Cerberus the porter of hell {with} his cheyne. ¶ Brought theder Colus i{n} ragges euyll arayd ¶ Agay{n} whom Neptun{us} & Dyana dyd co{m}pley{n}t Original has ¶ Saynge thus O Mynos {thou} Iuge souerayn. co{m}pey{n}t ¶ Gyue thy cruel iugeme{n}t aye{n} this traytour so instead of ¶ {That} we may haue cause to preyse thy lord Pluto co{m}pley{n}t
¶ Then was there made a proclamacyon. ¶ In Plutoos name co{m}maunded scylence. ¶ Vpon the payn of strayt correccyon. ¶ {That} Dyana & Neptun{us} might haue audience. ¶ To declare her grefe of the grete offence. ¶ To hem do by Colus wheron they co{m}pleined ¶ And to begyn Dyana was constreyned.
¶ Whyche thus begyn as ye shall here. ¶ Saynge in this wyse. O thou lorde Pluto. ¶ Wyth thy iuge Mynos syttyng {with} the in fere ¶ Execute your fury vpon Colus soo. ¶ Accordyng to thofence that he to me hath do ¶ That I haue no cause forther to appele. ¶ Whyche yf I do shall not be for youre wele.
¶ Remembre fyrst how I a goddesse pure. ¶ Ouer all desertes / forestes and chaces. ¶ Haue the guydynge and vnder my cure. ¶ This traytour colus hath mani of mi places ¶ Destroyd {with} his blastes & daily me manaces ¶ Where ony wood is he shall make it playne. ¶ If he to his lyberte may resorte ageyne
¶ The gretest trees that ony man may fynde ¶ In forest to shade the dere for her comforte. ¶ He breketh he{m} aso{n}der or rendith he rote & ri{n}de ¶ Out of the erthe this is his dysporte. ¶ So that the deere shall haue noo resorte. ¶ Wythin shorte tyme to noo maner shade ¶ Where thorough the game is lykly to fade.
¶ Which to my name a reproche synguler. ¶ Sholde be foreuer whyle the worlde laste. ¶ And to all the goddes an hygh dyspleyser. ¶ To see the game soo destroyed by his blaste. ¶ Wherfore a remedy puruey in haste. ¶ And lete hym be punysshed after his offence. ¶ Cousyder the cryme and yeue your sentence.
¶ And whan Dyana had made her compley{n}t ¶ To mynos the Iuge in Plutoos presence. ¶ Came forth Neptun{us} {with} vysage pale & feynt ¶ Desyrynge of fauour to haue audyence. ¶ Saynge thus Pluto to thy magnyfycence. ¶ I shall reherce what this creature. ¶ Colus hath done me out of mesure.
¶ Thou knowest well that I haue the charge ¶ Ouer all the se and therof god I am. ¶ No shyp may sayl Keruel / bote ne barge. ¶ Grete karyk nor hulke {with} ony lyuyng man. ¶ But he haue my saue conduyte than. ¶ who me offendith wythin my Iurysdyccyon ¶ Owyth to submyt him to my correccyon.
¶ But in asmoche as it is now soo. ¶ That ye hym here haue as your prysonere ¶ I shall shew my compleynt soo. ¶ wherfore I pray you that ye wyll here. ¶ And let hy{m} not escape out of your daungere. ¶ Tyl he haue made full sethe & recompence ¶ For hurt of my name thrugh his grete offe{n}ce
¶ Fyrst to begyn this Colus hath ofte. ¶ Made me to retorne mi course agein nature. ¶ wyth his grete blastes whan he hath be alofte ¶ And charged me to labour fer out of mesure ¶ {that} it was grete merueyl how I might endure Original has ¶ The com of my swete wyll testyfy. gtete ¶ That on the se bankes lye beten full hye. instead of grete ¶ Secundly where my nature is. ¶ Both to eb & flowe a[n]d so thy course to kepe. ¶ Ofte of myne entent hath he made me mys ¶ where as I shulde haue fylled dykes depe. ¶ At a full water I myght not theder crepe. ¶ Before my season came to returne ageyn. ¶ And than went I faster than i wold certayn
¶ Thus he hath me dryuen ayen myn entente ¶ And contrary to my course naturall. ¶ where I shuld haue be he made me absente ¶ To my grete dyshonour & in especyall. ¶ Do thynge he vsed that worst was of all. ¶ For where I my sauegard graunted ¶ Ay in that coste he comonly haunted
¶ Of very pure malyce and sylfwyll. ¶ Theym to destroy in dyspyte of me. ¶ To whome I promised both in gode & yll. ¶ For to be her protectour in all aduersyte. ¶ That to theym shulde fall vpon the se. ¶ And euen sodenly or they coud beware ¶ wyth a sodeyn pyry he lapped theym in care.
¶ And full oft syth wyth hys boystous blaste. ¶ Or they myght be war{e} he drof he{m} on {the} sond ¶ And other whyle he brake top sayl & maste. ¶ which caused thei{m} to peryssh or thei ca{m} to lond ¶ Then cursed they the tyme {that} euer thei me fa{n}d ¶ Thus amonge the people lost is my name. ¶ And so by his labour put I am to blame. Original has ¶ Consyder this mater and ponder my case. sencence ¶ Tender my compleynt as rygure requyreth instead of ¶ Shew forth youre sentence {with} a breef clause sentence ¶ I may not longe tary the tyme fast expyreth Original has ¶ The offence is grete wherfore it desyreth. erpyreth ¶ The more greuous payn and hasty iugeme{n}t instead of ¶ For offence don wylfully wyl non auysement expyreth
And wha{n} {the} god pluto a whyl had hi{m} bethought ¶ He rowned {with} mynos what was to do. ¶ Then he sayde openly loke thou fayl nought ¶ Thy sentence to yeue wythoute fauoore soo. ¶ Lyke as thou hast herde the causes the too. ¶ And so euenly dele twene thise partyey twein ¶ That none of he{m} haue case on {the} other co{m}pleint
¶ Thenne sayd mynos full indyfferently. ¶ To Dyana & Neptunus is there ony more. ¶ That ye wyll declare ageyn hym openly. ¶ Nay in dede they sayd we kepe none in store / ¶ we haue sayd Inough to punysshe hym fore ¶ If ye in this mater be not parcyall· ¶ Remembre your name was wont to be egall.
¶ Well than sayd Mynos now let vs see. ¶ what this boystous Colus for hy{m}self cay say ¶ For here Prima facie to vs doth appere. ¶ That he hath offended no man can say naye ¶ wherfore thou Colus wythoute more delaye ¶ Shape vs an answere to thyne accusemente ¶ And elles I must procede vpon thy iugeme{n}t
¶ And euen as col{us} was onward to haue said ¶ For his excuse / came in a messengere. ¶ Fro god Appolo to Pluto and hym prayde. ¶ On his behalfe that he wythoute daungere ¶ wolde to hym come & bry{n}ge wyth hym in fere ¶ Dyana and Neptunus vnto his banket ¶ And yf they dysdeyned hy{m}self he wold he{m} fet.
¶ Moreouer he sayde to god Appolo ¶ Desyred to haue respyte of the iugemente ¶ Of Colus bothe of Mynos and Pluto ¶ So Dyana & Neptun{us} were therwith co{n}te{n}t ¶ And yf they were dysposed to assente ¶ That he myght come vnto his presente ¶ He it desyred to knowe his offence
¶ What say ye herto sayd Pluto to hem tweyn ¶ wyll ye both assente that it shal be thus ¶ ye sayd the goddesse for my parte certeyne ¶ And I also sayd this Neptunus ¶ I am well plesid quod this Colus ¶ And whan they had a whyle th{us} togyd{er} spoke ¶ Pluto commaunded the court to be broke
¶ And than togeder went they in fere. ¶ Pluto and Neptunus ledynge the goddesse ¶ whome folowed Cerberus {with} his prysonere. ¶ And alderlast wyth grete heuynesse. ¶ Came I and Morpleus to the forteresse. ¶ Of the god appolo vnto his banket. ¶ where many goddes and goddesses met.
¶ Whan Appolo se that they were come. ¶ He was ryght glad & prayed theym to syt. ¶ Nay sayd Dyana this is all and some. ¶ ye shall me pardone I shall not syt yet. ¶ I shall fyrste know why Colus abyde. ¶ And what execucyon shall on hym be doo ¶ For his offence / well sayd Appollo.
¶ Madame ye shall haue all your plesere. ¶ Syth that it wyll none otherwyse be. ¶ But fyste I pray you let me {the} mater here ¶ why he is brought in this perplexyte. ¶ well sayd Pluto that shall ye sone se. ¶ And gan to declare euen by and by. ¶ Bothe theyr complayntes ordynatly.
¶ And whan Appolo had herd the reporte ¶ Of Pluto in a maner smylynge he sayd. ¶ I se well Colus thou hast small comforte. ¶ Thy selfe to excuse thou mayst be dysmayde· ¶ For to here so grete co{m}pleyntes ayen the layd ¶ And notwythstondyng if thou can say ought ¶ For thyne own wele say and tary nought
¶ Nota
¶ Forsoth sayd Colus yf I had respyte. ¶ Hereto an answere cowd I counterfete. ¶ But to haue her grace more is my delyte. ¶ wherfore I pray you all for me entrete. That I may by your req{ue}st her gode grace gete ¶ And what payn or greef ye for me prouyde ¶ wythout ony grutchyng I shall it abyde.
¶ Lo good dame sayd god Appollo. ¶ what may he do more but sew to your grace. ¶ Beholde how the teres from his eyen goo. ¶ It is satysfaction half for his trespace. ¶ Now gloryo{us} goddes shew your petio{us} face ¶ To this pore prysoner at my request. ¶ All we for youre honour thynke thus is best.
¶ And yf it lyke you to do in thys wyse. ¶ And so to foryeue hym clerely his offence. ¶ One thynge surely I wyll you promyse. ¶ If he ought rebell and make resystence ¶ Or dysobey vnto your sentence. Original has ¶ For euery tree that he maketh fall. sencence ¶ Out of the erthe an /C/ ryse shall. instead of sentence ¶ Soo that youre game shall not dyscrease ¶ For lacke of shade i dare vndertake ¶ well syr Appolo sayd she than wyll I cease ¶ Off all my rancour and mercy {with} you make ¶ And than god Neptunus of his maner spak ¶ Saying th{us} appolo though dyana him relese ¶ yet shall he sue to me to haue his pease.
¶ A sayd Appolo ye wende I had forgete. ¶ You for my lady Dyana the goddesse. ¶ Nay thynke not so for I wyll you entrete. ¶ As well as her wythoute longe processe. ¶ wyll ye agre that Phebus your maystresse. ¶ May haue the guydyng of your varyaunce. ¶ I shall abyde quod he / her ordynaunce.
¶ Wel than quod appolo I pray you godd{i}s all ¶ And goddesses that ben here presente. ¶ That ye companable wyll aborde falle. ¶ Nay than sayd Othea it is not conuenyente. ¶ A dew ordre in euery place is expedyente. ¶ To be hadde wherfore ye may not lette. ¶ To be your own marshal at your own ba{n}ket
¶ And whan appolo se it wolde none other be ¶ He called to hym Aurora the goddesse. ¶ And sayd though ye wepe ye shall before me. ¶ Ay kepe your course and put yourself in p{re}sse ¶ Soo he her set fyrste at his owne messe. ¶ wyth her moyst clothes {with} teres all be sprey{n}t ¶ The medewes in may shew therof her co{m}plei{n}t
¶ Next her sat Mars myghty god and strong ¶ wyth a flamme of fyre enuyroned all about Original has ¶ A crown of yron on his hede a spere i{n} his ho{n}d aboeut ¶ It semed by his che{re} as he wold haue fought. instead of ¶ And next vnto hym as I perceyue mought. about ¶ Sat {the} goddesse Dyana in a mantell fyne. ¶ Of black sylke purfyled {with} poudred ermine
¶ Lyke as he had take {the} mantell & the rynge ¶ And next vnto her arayed roally. ¶ Sat the god Iupyter in his demenynge. ¶ Full sad and wyse he semed sykerly. ¶ A crowne of tynne stood on his hede. ¶ And that I recorde of all phylosophers. ¶ {that} lytyll store of Coyne kepe in her cofres.
¶ Ioyned to hy{m} in syttyng next there was ¶ The goddesse Iuno full rychely besene. ¶ In a sercote {that} shone as bryght as glas Of goldsmyth werk {with} spa{n}gles wrought beden{e} ¶ Of royall ryches wanted she none I wene. ¶ And next to her sat the god saturne. ¶ That oft syth causeth many one to morne.
¶ But he was clad me thought straungely ¶ For of froste & snowe was all his aray. ¶ In his honde he helde a fawchon all blody ¶ It semed by his chere as he wold make a frai ¶ A baudryck of Isykles about his necke gaye ¶ He had and aboue on hygh on his hede. ¶ Couchid {with} hayl sto{n}es he wered a crou{n} of lede
¶ And nexte in ordre was set by his syde. ¶ Ceres the goddesse in a garmente. ¶ Of sacke cloth made {with} sleues large & wyde ¶ Embrowdered wyth sheues and sycles bent ¶ Of all maner greynes she sealed {the} patente. ¶ In token {that} she was goddes of corne. ¶ Olde Poetes saye she beryth the heruest horn
¶ Then was there set the god cupydo· ¶ All fresshe & galaunte and costly in aray. ¶ Wyth ouches and rynges he was beset so. ¶ {the} paleys therof shon as though it had be day ¶ A kerchyff of plesau{n}s stood ouer his helm ay ¶ The goddesse Ceres he loked in the face. ¶ And wyth one arme he her dyde enbrace.
¶ Next to Cupido in order by and by ¶ Of wordly wysdum sat the forteresse. ¶ Called Othea chyef grounde of polycy. ¶ Reuler of knyghthode of prudence {the} goddes ¶ Clad all in purpure was she more & lesse. ¶ Saaf on her hede a crowne there stode. ¶ Couched wyth perles oryent fyne & good.
¶ And nexte to her was god Pluto set ¶ Wyth a derke myste enuyrond al about. ¶ His clothy was made of a smoky net. ¶ His colour was bothe wythin & wythoute. ¶ Foule / derke & dy{m}me his eyen grete & stoute. ¶ Of fyre & sulfure all his odoure wase. ¶ That wo was me whyle I beheld his face
¶ Fortune the goddesse {with} her perty face. ¶ Was vnto Pluto next in order sette. ¶ Varyant she was ay in shorte space. ¶ Her whele was redy to turne wythout let. ¶ Her gowne was of gawdy grene clamelet. ¶ Chaungeable of sondry dyuerse colours. ¶ To {the} condycyons accordy{n}g to her shoures
¶ And by her sat thoughe he vnworthy were. ¶ The rewde god Pan of shepherdes {that} gyde ¶ Clad in russet frese & breched lyke a bere. ¶ Wyth a grete terbox hangyng by his syde. ¶ A shepcrok in his ho{n}d he spared for no pryde. ¶ And by his fete lay a prekered curre. ¶ He rateled in {the} throte as he had {the} murre.
¶ Isys the goddes bare hym company. ¶ For at the table next she sat by his syde. ¶ In a close kyrtell embrowdered curyously ¶ {with} braunches and leues brood large & wyde. ¶ Grene as any grasse in {the} somer tyde. ¶ Of all maner frute she had the gouernaunce ¶ Of fauours odyferous was her sustynauns
¶ Next to her than was god Neptunus set. ¶ He sauoured lyke a fyssher of hy{m} i spak before ¶ It semed by his clothes as they had be wet. About hy{m} i{n} his gyrdelsted hi{n}g fysshes mani a xx ¶ Of his straunge aray merueyled I sore. ¶ A shyp wyth a top and sayle was hys creste. ¶ Me thought he was gayly dysgysed at {the} fest.
¶ Than toke mynerue the goddes her sete. ¶ Ioyntly to Neptunus all in curas cladde. ¶ Gau{n}telettis on ho{n}des & sabatou{n}s on her fete ¶ She loked about as though she had be mad. ¶ An hamer and a sythe on her hede she hadde ¶ She wered two bokelers one by her syde. ¶ that other ye wote were this was al her prid
¶ Tha{n} cam {the} god bach{us} & by her set hy{m} doun ¶ Holdynge in his honde a cuppe full of wyne. ¶ Of grene vyne leues he wered a Ioly croun ¶ He was clad in clustres of grapes gode & fine ¶ A garlonde of yuy he chose for his sygne. ¶ On his hede he had a thredbare ke{n}dall hode. ¶ A gymlot and a fauset therupon stode.
¶ Next hym sat phebus wyth her colour pale. ¶ Fat she was of face but of complexon feynte. She sayd she rewled Neptun{us} & made hy{m} bayl ¶ And ones in {the} monthe {with} pheb{us} was she mei{n}t ¶ Also ne were she Ceres were ateynte ¶ Thus she sat & tolde the myght of her nature ¶ & on her hede she wered a croun of siluer pure