The Canterbury tales

Lucifer

At lucifer, though he an angel were,

1999

And nat a man, at hym wol I bigynne.

2000

For though fortune may noon angel dere,

2001

From heigh degree yet fel he for his synne

2002

Doun into helle, where he yet is inne.

2003

O lucifer, brightest of angels alle,

2004

Now artow sathanas, that mayst nat twynne

2005

Out of miserie, in which that thou art falle.

2006

Adam

Loo adam, in the feeld of damyssene,

2007

With goddes owene fynger wroght was he,

2008

And nat bigeten of mannes sperme unclene,

2009

And welte al paradys savynge o tree.

2010

Hadde nevere worldly man so heigh degree

2011

As adam, til he for mysgovernaunce

2012

Was dryven out of hys hye prosperitee

2013

To labour, and to helle, and to meschaunce.

2014

Sampson

Loo sampsoun, which that was annunciat

2015

By th' angel, longe er his nativitee,

2016

And was to God almyghty consecrat,

2017

And stood in noblesse whil he myghte see.

2018

Was nevere swich another as was hee,

2019

To speke of strengthe, and threwith hardynesse; Page 190

2020

But to his wyves toolde he his secree,

2021

Thurgh which he slow hymself for wrecchednesse.

2022

Sampsoun, this noble almyghty champioun,

2023

Withouten wepen, save his handes tweye,

2024

He slow and al torente the leoun,

2025

Toward his weddyng walkynge by the weye.

2026

His false wyf koude hym so plese and preye

2027

Til she his conseil knew; and she, untrewe,

2028

Unto his foos his conseil gan biwreye,

2029

And hym forsook, and took another newe.

2030

Thre hundred foxes took sampson for ire,

2031

And alle hir tayles he togydre bond,

2032

And sette the foxes tayles alle on fire,

2033

For he on every tayl had knyt a brond;

2034

And they brende alle the cornes in that lond,

2035

And alle hire olyveres, and vynes eke.

2036

A thousand men he slow eek with his hond,

2037

And hadde no wepen but an asses cheke.

2038

Whan they were slayn, so thursted hym that he

2039

Was wel ny lorn, for which he gan to preye

2040

That God wolde on his peyne han some pitee,

2041

And sende hym drynke, or elles moste he deye;

2042

And of this asses cheke, that was dreye,

2043

Out of a wang-tooth sprang anon a welle,

2044

Of which he drank ynogh, shortly to seye;

2045

Thus heelp hym god, as judicum telle.

2046

By verray force at gazan, on a nyght,

2047

Maugree philistiens of that citee,

2048

The gates of the toun he hath up plyght,

2049

And on his bak ycaryed hem hath hee

2050

Hye on an hill whereas men myghte hem see.

2051

O noble, almyghty sampsoun, lief and deere,

2052

Had thou nat toold to wommen thy secree,

2053

In al this world ne hadde been thy peere!

2054

This sampson nevere ciser drank ne wyn,

2055

Ne on his heed cam rasour noon ne sheere,

2056

By precept of the messager divyn,

2057

For alle his strengthes in his heeres weere.

2058

And fully twenty wynter, yeer by yeere,

2059

He hadde of israel the governaunce.

2060

But soone shal he wepe many a teere,

2061

For wommen shal hym bryngen to meschaunce!

2062

Unto his lemman dalida he tolde

2063

That in his heeris al his strengthe lay,

2064

And falsly to his foomen she hym solde.

2065

And slepynge in hir barm, upon a day,

2066

She made to clippe or shere his heres away,

2067

And made his foomen al his craft espyen;

2068

And whan that they hym foond in this array,

2069

They bounde hym faste and putten out his yen.

2070

But er his heere were clipped or yshave,

2071

Ther was no boond with which men myghte him bynde;

2072

But now is he in prison in a cave,

2073

Were-as they made hym at the queerne grynde.

2074

O noble sampsoun, strongest of mankynde,

2075

O whilom juge, in glorie and in richesse!

2076

Now maystow wepen with thyne eyen blynde,

2077

Sith thou fro wele art falle in wrecchednesse.

2078

The ende of this caytyf was as I shal seye.

2079

His foomen made a feeste upon a day,

2080

And made hym as hire fool biforn hem pleye;

2081

And this was in a temple of greet array.

2082

But atte laste he made a foul affray;

2083

For he two pilers shook and made hem falle,

2084

And doun fil temple and al, and ther it lay, --

2085

And slow hymself, and eek his foomen alle.

2086

This is to seyn, the prynces everichoon,

2087

And eek thre thousand bodyes, were ther slayn

2088

With fallynge of the grete temple of stoon.

2089

Of sampson now wol I namoore sayn.

2090

Beth war by this ensample oold and playn

2091

That nomen telle hir conseil til hir wyves

2092

Of swich thyng as they wolde han secree fayn,

2093

If that it touche hir lymes or hir lyves.

2094

Hercules

Of hercules, the sovereyn conquerour,

2095

Syngen his werkes laude and heigh renoun;

2096

For in his tyme of strengthe he was the flour.

2097

He slow, and frate the skyn of the leoun;

2098

He of centauros leyde the boost adoun;

2099

He arpies slow, the crueel bryddes felle;

2100

He golden apples rafte of the dragoun;

2101

He drow out cerberus, the hound of helle;

2102

He slow the crueel tyrant busirus,

2103

And made his hors to frete hem, flessh and boon;

2104

He slow the firy serpent venymus;

2105

Of acheloys two hornes he brak oon;

2106

And he slow cacus in a cave of stoon;

2107

He slow the geant antheus the stronge; Page 191

2108

He slow the grisly boor, and that anon;

2109

And bar the hevene on his nekke longe.

2110

Was nevere wight, sith that this world bigan,

2111

That slow so manye monstres as dide he.

2112

Thurghout this wyde world his name ran,

2113

What for his strengthe and for his heigh bountee,

2114

And every reawme wente he for to see.

2115

He was so stoong that no man myghte hym lette.

2116

At bothe the worldes endes, seith trophee,

2117

In stide of boundes he a pileer sette.

2118

A lemman hadde this noble champioun,

2119

That highte dianira, fressh as may;

2120

And as thise clerkes maken mencioun,

2121

She hath hym sent a sherte, fressh and gay.

2122

Allas! this sherte, allas and weylaway!

2123

Envenymed was so subtilly withalle,

2124

That er that he had wered it half a day,

2125

It made his flessh al from his bones falle.

2126

But nathelees somme clerkes hire excusen

2127

By oon that highte nessus, that it maked.

2128

Be as be may, I wol hire noght accusen;

2129

But on his bak this sherte he wered naked,

2130

Til that his flessh was for the venym blaked.

2131

And whan he saugh noon oother remedye,

2132

In hoote coles he hath hymselven raked,

2133

For with no venym deigned hym to dye.

2134

Thus starf this worthy, myghty hercules.

2135

Lo, who may truste on fortune and throwe?

2136

For hym that folweth al this world of prees,

2137

Er he be war, is ofte yleyd ful lowe.

2138

Ful wys is he that kan hymselven knowe!

2139

Beth war, for whan that fortune list to glose,

2140

Thanne wayteth she her man to overthrowe

2141

By swich a wey as he wolde leest suppose.

2142

Nebchadnezzar

The myghty trone, the precious tresor,

2143

The glorious ceptre, and roial magestee

2144

That hadde the kyng nabugodonosor

2145

With tonge unnethe may discryved bee.

2146

He twyes wan jerusalem the citee;

2147

The vessel of the temple he with hym ladde.

2148

At babiloigne was his sovereyn see,

2149

In which his glorie and his delit he hadde.

2150

The faireste children of the blood roial

2151

Of israel he leet do gelde anoon,

2152

And maked ech of hem to been his thral.

2153

Amonges othere daniel was oon,

2154

That was the wiseste child of everychon;

2155

For he the dremes of the kyng expowned,

2156

Whereas in chaldeye clerk ne was ther noon

2157

That wiste to what fyn his dremes sowned.

2158

This proude kyng leet maken a statue of gold,

2159

Sixty cubites long and sevene in brede;

2160

To which ymage bothe yong and oold

2161

Comanded he to loute, and have in drede,

2162

Or in a fourneys, ful of flambes rede,

2163

He shal be brent that wolde noght obeye.

2164

But nevere wolde assente to that dede

2165

Daniel, ne his yonge felawes tweye.

2166

This kyng of kynges proud was and elaat;

2167

He wente that god, that sit in magestee,

2168

Ne myghte hym nat bireve of his estaat.

2169

But sodeynly he loste his dignytee,

2170

And lyk a beest hym semed for to bee,

2171

And eet hey as an oxe, and lay theroute

2172

In reyn; with wilde beestes walked hee,

2173

Til certein tyme was ycome aboute.

2174

And lik an egles fetheres wax his heres;

2175

His nayles lyk a briddes clawes weere;

2176

Til God relessed hym a certeyn yeres,

2177

And yaf hym wit, and thanne with many a teere

2178

He thanked god, and evere his lyf in feere

2179

Was he to doon amys or moore trespace;

2180

And til that tyme he leyd was on his beere,

2181

He knew that God was ful of myght and grace.

2182

Belshazzar

His sone, which that highte balthasar,

2183

That heeld the regne after his fader day,

2184

He by his fader koude noght be war,

2185

For proud he was of herte and of array;

2186

And eek an ydolastre was he ay.

2187

His hye estaat assured hym in pryde;

2188

But fortune caste hym doun, and ther he lay,

2189

And sodeynly his regne gan divide.

2190

A feeste he made unto his lordes alle,

2191

Upon a tyme, and bad hem blithe bee;

2192

And thanne his officeres gan he calle:

2193

Gooth, bryngeth forth the vesseles, quod he,

2194

Whiche that my fader in his prosperitee

2195

Out of the temple of jerusalem birafte;

2196

And to oure hye goddes thanke we

2197

Of honour that oure eldres with us lafte. Page 192

2198

Hys wyf, his lordes, and his concubynes

2199

Ay dronken, whil hire appetites laste,

2200

Out of thise noble vessels sondry wynes.

2201

And on a wal this kyng his eyen caste,

2202

And saugh an hand, armlees, that wroot ful faste,

2203

For feere if which he quook and siked soore.

2204

This hand, that balthasar so soore agaste,

2205

Wroot mane, techel phares, and namoore.

2206

In all that land magicien was noon

2207

That koude expoune what this lettre mente;

2208

But daniel expowned it anoon,

2209

And seyde, kyng, God to thy fader lente

2210

Glorie and honour, regne, tresour, rente;

2211

And he was proud, and nothyng God ne dradde,

2212

And therfore God greet wreche upon hym sente,

2213

And hym birafte the regne that he hadde.

2214

He was out cast of mannes compaignye;

2215

With asses was his habitacioun,

2216

And eet hey as a beest in weet and drye,

2217

Til that he knew, by grace and by resoun,

2218

That God of hevene hath domynacioun

2219

Over every regne and every creature;

2220

And thanne hadde God of hym compassioun,

2221

And hym restored his regne and his figure.

2222

Eek thou, that art his sone, art proud also,

2223

And knowest alle thise thynges verraily,

2224

And art rebel to god, and art his foo.

2225

Thou drank eek of his vessels boldely;

2226

Thy wyf eek, and thy wenches, synfully

2227

Dronke of the same vessels sondry wynys;

2228

And heryest false goddes cursedly;

2229

Therfore to thee yshapen ful greet pyne ys.

2230

This hand was sent from God that on the wal

2231

Wroot mane, techel, phares, truste me;

2232

Thy regne is doon, thou weyest noght at al.

2233

Dyvyded is thy regne, and it shal be

2234

To medes and to perses yeven, quod he.

2235

And thilke same nyght this kyng was slawe,

2236

And darius occupieth his degree,

2237

Thogh he therto hadde neither right ne lawe.

2238

Lordynges, ensample heerby may ye take

2239

How that in lordshipe is no sikernesse;

2240

For whan fortune wole a man forsake,

2241

She bereth awey his regne and his richesse,

2242

And eek his freendes, bothe moore and lesse.

2243

For what man that hath freendes thurgh fortune,

2244

Mishap wol maken hem enemys, I gesse;

2245

This proverbe is ful sooth and ful commune.

2246

Zenobia

Cenobia, of palymerie queene,

2247

As writen persiens of hir noblesse,

2248

So worthy was in armes and so keene,

2249

That no wight passed hire in hardynesse,

2250

Ne in lynage, ne in oother gentillesse.

2251

Of kynges blood of perce is she descended.

2252

I seye nat that she hadde moost fairnesse,

2253

But of his shap she myghte nat been amended.

2254

From hire childhede I fynde that she fledde

2255

Office of wommen, and to wode she wente,

2256

And many a wolde hertes blood she shedde

2257

With arwes brode that she to hem sente.

2258

She was so swift that she anon hem hente;

2259

And whan that she was elder, she wolde

2260

Leouns, leopardes, and beres al torente,

2261

And in hire armes weelde hem at hir wille.

2262

She dorste wilde beestes dennes seke,

2263

And rennen in the montaignes al the nyght,

2264

And slepen under a bussh, and she koude eke

2265

Wrastlen, by verray force and varray myght,

2266

With any yong man, were he never so wight.

2267

Ther myghte no thyng in hir armes stonde.

2268

She kepte hir maydenhod from every wight;

2269

To no man deigned hire for to be bonde.

2270

But atte laste hir freendes han hire maried

2271

To odenake, a prynce of that contree,

2272

Al were it so that she hem longe taried.

2273

And ye shul understonde how that he

2274

Hadde swiche fantasies as hadde she.

2275

But natheless, whan they were knyt in-feere,

2276

They lyved in joye and in felicitee;

2277

For ech of hem hadde oother lief and deere.

2278

Save o thyng, that she wolde nevere assente,

2279

By no wey, that he sholde by hire lye

2280

But ones, for it was hire pleyn entente

2281

To have a child, the world to multiplye;

2282

And also soone as that she myghte espye

2283

That she was nat with childe with that dede

2284

Thanne wolde she suffre hym doon his fantasye

2285

Eft-soone, and nat but oones, out of drede. Page 193

2286

And if she were with childe at thilke cast,

2287

Namoore sholde he pleyen thilke game

2288

Til fully fourty wikes weren past;

2289

Thanne wolde she ones suffre hym do the same.

2290

Al were this odenake wolde or tame,

2291

He gat namoore of hire, for thus she seyde,

2292

It was to wyves lecherie and shame,

2293

In oother caas, if that men with hem pleyde.

2294

Two sones by this odenake hadde she,

2295

The whiche she kepte in verty and lettrure;

2296

But now unto oure tale turne we.

2297

I seye, so worshipful a creature,

2298

And wys therwith, and large with mesure,

2299

So penyble in the werre, and curteis eke,

2300

Ne moore laboure myghte in werre endure,

2301

Was noon, though al this world men sholde seke.

2302

Hir riche array ne myghte nat be told,

2303

As wel in vessel as in hire clothyng.

2304

She was al clad in perree and in gold,

2305

And eek she lafte noght, for noon huntyng,

2306

To have of sondry tonges ful knowyng,

2307

Whan that she leyser hadde; and for to entende

2308

To lerne bookes was al hire likyng,

2309

How she in vertu myghte hir lyf dispende.

2310

And shortly of this storie for to trete,

2311

So doghty was hir housbonde and eek she,

2312

That they conquered manye regnes grete

2313

In the orient, with many a fair citee

2314

Apertanaunt unto the magestee

2315

Of rome, and with strong hond held hem ful faste,

2316

Ne nevere myghte hir foomen doon hem flee,

2317

Ay whil that odenakes dayes laste.

2318

Hir batailles, whoso list hem for to rede,

2319

Agayn spor the kyng and othere mo,

2320

And how that al this proces fil in dede,

2321

Why she conquered, and what title had therto,

2322

And after, of hir meschief and hire wo,

2323

How that she was biseged and ytake, --

2324

Lat hym unto my maister petrak go,

2325

That writ ynough of this, I undertake.

2326

Whan odenake was deed, she myghtily

2327

The regnes heeld, and with hire propre hond

2328

Agayn hir foos she faught so cruelly

2329

That ther nas kyng ne prynce in al that lond

2330

That he nas glad, if he that grace fond,

2331

That she ne wolde upon his lond werreye.

2332

With hire they maden alliance by bond

2333

To been in pees, and lete hire ride and pleye.

2334

The emperour of rome, claudius

2335

Ne hym bifore, the romayn galien,

2336

Ne dorste nevere been so corageus,

2337

Ne noon ermyn, ne noon egipcien,

2338

Ne surrien, ne noon arabyen,

2339

Withinne the feeld that dorste with hire fighte,

2340

Lest that she wolde hem with hir handes slen,

2341

Or with hir meignee putten hem to flighte.

2342

In kynges habit wente hir sones two,

2343

As heires of hir fadres regnes alle,

2344

And hermanno and thymalao

2345

Hir names were, as persiens hem calle.

2346

But ay fortune hath in hire hony galle;

2347

This myghty queene may no while endure.

2348

Fortune out of hir regne made hire falle

2349

To wrecchednesse and to mysaventure.

2350

Aurelian, whan that the governaunce

2351

Of rome cam into his handes tweye,

2352

He shoop upon this queene to doon vengeaunce.

2353

And with his legions he took his weye

2354

Toward cenobie, and shortly for to seye,

2355

He made hire flee, and atte laste hire hente,

2356

And fettred hire, and eek hire children tweye,

2357

And wan the land, and hoom to rome he wente.

2358

Amonges othere thynges that he wan,

2359

Hir chaar, that was with gold wroght and perree,

2360

This grete romayn, this aurelian,

2361

Hath with hym lad, for that men sholde it see.

2362

Biforen his triumphe walketh shee,

2363

With gilte cheynes on hire nekke hangynge.

2364

Coroned was she, as after hir degree,

2365

And ful of perree charged hire clothynge.

2366

Allas, fortune! she that whilom was

2367

Dredeful to kynges and to emperoures,

2368

Now gaureth al the peple on hire, allas!

2369

And she that helmed was in starke stoures,

2370

And wan by force townes stronge and toures,

2371

Shal on hir heed now were a vitremyte;

2372

And she that bar the ceptre ful of floures

2373

Shal bere a distaf, hire cost for to quyte

2374

Pedro of Castille

O noble, o worthy petro, glorie of spayne,

2375

Whom fortune heeld so hye in magestee,

2376

Wel oghten men thy pitous deeth complayne!

2377

Out of thy land thy brother made thee flee,

2378

And after, at a seege, by subtiltee,

2379

Thou were bitraysed and lad unto his tente,

2380

Where as he with his owene hand slow thee,

2381

Succedynge in thy regne and in thy rente.

2382

The feeld of snow, with th' egle of blak therinne,

2383

Caught with the lymrod coloured as the gleede,

2384

He brew this cursednesse and al this synne.

2385

The wikked nest was werker of this nede.

2386

Noght charles olyver, that took ay heede

2387

Of trouthe and honoure, but of armorike

2388

Genylon-olyver, corrupt for meede,

2389

Broghte this worthy kyng in swich a brike.

2390

De Petro Rege de Cipro

O worthy petro, kyng of cipre, also,

2391

That alisandre wan by heigh maistrie,

2392

Ful many an hethen wroghtestow ful wo,

2393

Of which thyne owene liges hadde envie,

2394

And for no thyng but for thy chivalrie

2395

They in thy bed han slayn thee by the morwe.

2396

Thus kan fortune hir wheel governe and gye,

2397

And out of joye brynge men to sorwe.

2398

De Barnabo de Lumbardia

Off melan grete barnabo viscounte,

2399

God of delit, and scourge of lumbardye,

2400

Why sholde I nat thyn infortune acounte,

2401

Sith in estaat thow cloumbe were so hye?

2402

Thy brother sone, that was thy double allye,

2403

For he thy nevew was, and sone-in-lawe,

2404

Withinne his prisoun made thee to dye, --

2405

But why, ne how, noot I that thou were slawe.

2406

De Hugelino Comite de Pize

Off the erl hugelyn of pyze the langour

2407

Ther may no tonge telle for pitee.

2408

But litel out of pize stant a tour,

2409

In which tour in prisoun put was he,

2410

And with hym been his litel children thre;

2411

The eldest scarsly fyf yeer was of age.

2412

Allas, fortune! it was greet crueltee

2413

Swiche briddes for to putte in swich a cage!

2414

Dampned was he to dyen in that prisoun,

2415

For roger, which that bisshop was of pize,

2416

Hadde on hym maad a fals suggestioun,

2417

Thurgh which the peple gan upon hym rise,

2418

And putten hym to prisoun, in swich wise

2419

As ye han herd, and mete and drynke he hadde

2420

So smal, that wel unnethe it may suffise,

2421

And therwithal it was ful povre and badde.

2422

And on a day bifil that in that hour

2423

Whan that his mete wont was to be broght,

2424

The gayler shette the dores of the tour.

2425

He herde it wel, but he spak right noght,

2426

And in his herte anon ther fil a thoght

2427

That they for hunger wolde doon hym dyen.

2428

Allas! quod he, allas, that I was wroght!

2429

Therwith the teeris fillen from his yen.

2430

His yonge sone, that thre yeer was of age,

2431

Unto hym seyde, fader, why do ye wepe?

2432

Whanne wol the gayler bryngen oure potage?

2433

Is ther no morsel breed that ye do kepe?

2434

I am so hungry that I may nat slepe.

2435

Now wolde God that I myghte slepen evere!

2436

Thanne sholde nat hunger in my wombe crepe;

2437

Ther is no thyng, save breed, that me were levere.

2438

Thus day by day this child bigan to crye,

2439

Til in his fadres barm adoun it lay,

2440

And seyde, farewel, fader, I moot dye!

2441

And kiste his fader, and dyde the same day.

2442

And whan the woful fader deed it say,

2443

For wo his armes two he gan to byte,

2444

And seyde, allas, fortune, and weylaway!

2445

Thy false wheel my wo al may I wyte.

2446

His children wende that it for hunger was

2447

That he his armes gnow, and nat for wo,

2448

And seyde, fader, do nat so, allas!

2449

But rather ete the flessh upon us two.

2450

Oure flessh thou yaf us, take oure flessh us fro,

2451

And ete ynogh, -- right thus they to hym seyde,

2452

And after that, withinne a day or two,

2453

They leyde hem in his lappe adoun and deyde.

2454

Hymself, despeired, eek for hunger starf;

2455

Thus ended is this myghty erl of pize.

2456

From heigh estaat fortune awey hym carf.

2457

Of this tragedie it oghte ynough suffise;

2458

Whoso wol here it in a lenger wise,

2459

Redeth the grete poete of ytaille

2460

That highte dant, for he kan al devyse

2461

Fro point to point, nat o word wol he faille.

2462

Nero

Although that nero were as vicius

2463

As any feend that lith ful lowe adoun,

2464

Yet he, as telleth us swetonius,

2465

This wyde world hadde in subjeccioun,

2466

Bothe est and west, (south), and septemtrioun.

2467

Of rubies, saphires, and of peerles white

2468

Were alle his clothes brouded up and doun;

2469

For he in gemmes greetly gan delite.

2470

Moore delicaat, moore pompous of array,

2471

Moore proud was nevere emperour than he;

2472

That like clooth that he hadde wered o day,

2473

After that tyme he nolde it nevere see.

2474

Nettes of gold threed hadde he greet plentee

2475

To fisshe in tybre, whan hym liste pleye.

2476

His lustes were al lawe in his decree,

2477

For fortune as his freend hym wolde obeye.

2478

He rome brende for his delicasie;

2479

The senatours he slow upon a day

2480

To heere how that men wolde wepe and crie;

2481

And slow his brother, and by his suster lay.

2482

His mooder made he in pitous array,

2483

For he hire wombe slitte to biholde

2484

Where he conceyved was; so weilaway!

2485

That he so litel of his mooder tolde.

2486

No teere out of his eyen for that sighte

2487

Ne cam, but seyde, a fair womman was she!

2488

Greet wonder is how that he koude or myghte

2489

Be domesman of hire dede beautee.

2490

The wyn to bryngen hym comanded he,

2491

And drank anon, -- noon oother wo he made.

2492

Whan myght is joyned unto crueltee,

2493

Allas, to depe wol the venym wade!

2494

In yowthe a maister hadde this emperour

2495

To teche hym letterure and curteisye,

2496

For of moralitee he was the flour,

2497

As in his tyme, but if bookes lye;

2498

And whil this maister hadde of hym maistrye,

2499

He maked hym so konnyng and so sowple

2500

That longe tyme it was er tirannye

2501

Or any vice dorste on hym uncowple.

2502

This seneca, of which that I devyse,

2503

By cause nero hadde of hym swich drede,

2504

For he fro vices wolde hym ay chastise

2505

Discreetly, as by word and nat by dede, --

2506

Sire, wolde he seyn, an emperour moot nede

2507

Be vertuous and hate tirannye --

2508

For which he in a bath made hym to blede

2509

On bothe his armes, til he moste dye.

2510

This nero hadde eek of acustumaunce

2511

In youthe agayns his maister for to ryse,

2512

Which afterward hym thoughte a greet grevaunce;

2513

Therefore he made hym dyen in this wise.

2514

But natheless this seneca the wise

2515

Chees in a bath to dye in this manere

2516

Rather than han another tormentise;

2517

And thus hath nero slayn his maister deere.

2518

Now fil it so that fortune liste no lenger

2519

The ye pryde of nero to cherice,

2520

For though that he were strong, yet was she strenger.

2521

She thoughte thus, by god! I am to nyce

2522

To sette a man that is fulfild of vice

2523

In heigh degree, and emperour hym calle.

2524

By god! out of his sete I wol hym trice;

2525

Whan he leest weneth, sonnest shal he falle.

2526

The peple roos upon hym on a nyght

2527

For his defaute, and whan he it espied,

2528

Out of his dores anon he hath hym dight

2529

Allone, and ther he wende han been allied,

2530

He knokked faste, and ay the moore he cried,

2531

The fastere shette they the dores alle.

2532

Tho wiste he wel, he hadde himself mysgyed,

2533

And wente his wey; no lenger dorste he calle.

2534

The peple cried and rombled up and doun,

2535

That with his erys herde he how they seyde,

2536

Shere is this false tiraunt, this neroun?

2537

For fere almoost out of his wit he breyde,

2538

And to his goddes pitously he preyde

2539

For socour, but it myghte nat bityde.

2540

For drede of this, hym thoughte that he deyde,

2541

And ran into a gardyn hym to hyde.

2542

And in this gardyn foond he cherles tweye

2543

That seten by a fyr full greet and reed.

2544

And to thise cherles two he gan to preye

2545

To sleen hym, and to girden of his heed,

2546

That to his body, whan that he were deed,

2547

Were no despit ydoon for his defame.

2548

Hymself he slow, he koude no bettre reed,

2549

Of which fortune lough, and hadde a game.

2550

De Oloferno

Was nevere capitayn under a kyng

2551

That regnes mo putte in subjeccioun,

2552

Ne strenger was in feeld of alle thyng,

2553

As in his tyme, ne gretter of renoun,

2554

Ne moore pompous in heigh presumpcioun

2555

Than oloferne, which fortune ay kiste

2556

So likerously, and ladde hym up and doun,

2557

Til that his heed was of, er that he wiste.

2558

Nat oonly that this world hadde hym in awe

2559

For lesynge of richesse or libertee,

2560

But he made every man reneyen his lawe.

2561

Nabugodonosor was god, seyde hee;

2562

Noon oother God sholde adoured bee.

2563

Agayns his heeste no wight dar trespace,

2564

Save in bethulia, a strong citee,

2565

Where eliachim a preest was of that place.

2566

But taak kep of the deth of oloferne:

2567

Amydde his hoost he dronke lay a-nyght,

2568

Withinne his tente, large as is a berne,

2569

And yet, for al his pompe and al his myght,

2570

Judith, a womman, as he lay upright

2571

Slepynge, his heed of smoot, and from his tente

2572

Ful pryvely she stal from every wight,

2573

And with his heed unto hir toun she wente.

2574

De Rege Antiocho illustri

What nedeth it of kyng anthiochus

2575

To telle his hye roial magestee,

2576

His hye pride, his werkes venymus?

2577

For swich another was ther noon as he.

2578

Rede which that he was in machabee,

2579

And rede the proude wordes that he seyde,

2580

And why he fil fro heigh prosperitee,

2581

And in an hill how wrecchedly he deyde.

2582

Fortune hym hadde enhaunced so in pride

2583

That verraily he wende he myghte attayne

2584

Unto the sterres upon every syde,

2585

And in balance weyen ech montayne,

2586

And alle the floodes of the see restrayne.

2587

And goddes peple hadde he moost in hate;

2588

Hem wolde he sleen in torment and in payne,

2589

Wenynge that God ne myghte his pride abate.

2590

And for that nichanore and thymothee

2591

Of jewes weren venquysshed myghtily,

2592

Unto the jewes swich an hate hadde he

2593

That he bad greithen his chaar ful hastily,

2594

And swoor, and seyde ful despitously

2595

Unto jerusalem he wolde eftsoone,

2596

To wreken his ire on it ful cruelly;

2597

But of his purpos he was let ful soone.

2598

God for his manace hym so soore smoot

2599

With invisible wounde, ay incurable,

2600

That in his guttes carf it so and boot

2601

That his peynes weren importable.

2602

And certeinly the wreche was resonable,

2603

For many a mannes guttes dide he peyne.

2604

But from his purpos cursed and dampnable,

2605

For al his smert, he wolde hym nat restreyne,

2606

But bad anon apparaillen his hoost;

2607

And sodeynly, er he was of it war,

2608

God daunted al his pride and al his boost.

2609

For he so soore fil out of his char

2610

That it his limes and his skyn totar,

2611

So that he neyther myghte go ne ryde,

2612

But in a chayer men aboute hym bar,

2613

Al forbrused, bothe bak and syde.

2614

The wreche of God hym smoot so cruelly

2615

That thurgh his body wikked wormes crepte,

2616

And therwithal he stank so horribly

2617

That noon of al his meynee that hym kepte,

2618

Theither so he wook, or ellis slepte,

2619

Ne myghte noght the stynk of hym endure.

2620

In this meschief he wayled and eek wepte,

2621

And knew God lord of every creature.

2622

To al his hoost and to hymself also

2623

Ful wlatsom was the stynk of his careyne;

2624

No man ne myghte hym bere to ne fro.

2625

And in this stynk and this horrible peyne,

2626

He starf ful wrecchedly in a monteyne.

2627

Thus hath this robbour and this homycide,

2628

That many a man made to wepe and pleyne,

2629

Swich gerdoun as bilongeth unto pryde.

2630

De Alexandro

The storie of alisaundre is so commune

2631

That every wight that hath discrecioun

2632

Hath herd somwhat or al of his fortune.

2633

This wyde world, as in conclusioun,

2634

He wan by strengthe, or for his hye renoun

2635

They weren glad for pees unto hym sende.

2636

The pride of man and beest he leyde adoun,

2637

Wherso he cam, unto the worldes ende. Page 197

2638

Comparisoun myghte nevere yet maked

2639

Bitwixe hym and another conquerour;

2640

For al this world for drede of hym hath quaked.

2641

He was of knyghthod and of fredom flour;

2642

Fortune hym made the heir of hire honour.

2643

Save wyn and wommen, no thing myghte aswage

2644

His hye entente in armes and labour,

2645

So was he ful of leonyn corage.

2646

What pris were it to hym, though I yow tolde

2647

Of darius, and an hundred thousand mo

2648

Of kynges, prices, dukes, erles bolde

2649

Whiche he conquered, and broghte hem into wo?

2650

I seye, as fer as man may ryde or go,

2651

The world was his, -- what sholde I moore devyse?

2652

For though I write or tolde yow everemo

2653

Of his knyghthod, it myghte nat suffise.

2654

Twelf yeer he regned, as seith machabee.

2655

Philippes sone of macidoyne he was,

2656

That first was kyng in grece the contree.

2657

O worthy, gentil alisandre, allas,

2658

That evere sholde fallen swich a cas!

2659

Empoysoned of thyn owene folk thou weere;

2660

Thy sys fortune hath turned into aas,

2661

And yet for thee ne weep she never a teere.

2662

Who shal me yeven teeris to compleyne

2663

The deeth of gentillesse and of franchise,

2664

That al the world weelded in his demeyne,

2665

And yet hym thoughte it myghte nat suffise?

2666

So ful was his corage of heigh emprise.

2667

Allas! who shal me helpe to endite

2668

False fortune, and poyson to despise,

2669

The whiche two of al this wo I wyte?

2670

De Julio Cesare

By wisedom, manhede, and by greet labour,

2671

From humble bed to roial magestee

2672

Up roos he julius, the conquerour,

2673

That wan al th' occident by land and see,

2674

By strengthe of hand, or elles by tretee,

2675

And unto rome made hem tributarie;

2676

And sitthe of rome the emperour was he,

2677

Til that fortune weex his adversarie.

2678

O myghty cesar, that in thessalie

2679

Agayn pompeus, fader thyn in lawe,

2680

That of the orient hadde al the chivalrie

2681

As fer as that the day bigynneth dawe,

2682

Thou thurgh thy knyghthod hast hem take and slawe,

2683

Save fewe folk that with pompeus fledde,

2684

Thurgh which thou puttest al th' orient in awe.

2685

Thanke fortune, that so wel thee spedde!

2686

But now a litel while I wol biwaille

2687

This pompeus, this noble governour

2688

Of rome, which that fleigh at this bataille.

2689

I seye, oon of his men, a fals traitour,

2690

His heed of smoot, to wynnen hym favour

2691

Of julius, and hym the heed he broghte.

2692

Allas, pompeye, of th' orient conquerour,

2693

That fortune unto swich a fyn thee broghte!

2694

To rome agayn repaireth julius

2695

With his triumphe, lauriat ful hey;

2696

But on a tyme brutus cassius,

2697

That evere hadde of his hye estaat envye,

2698

Ful prively hath maad conspiracye

2699

Agayns this julius in subtil wise,

2700

And caste the place in which he sholde dye

2701

With boydekyns, as I shal yow devyse.

2702

This julius to the capitolie wente

2703

Upon a day, as he was wont to goon,

2704

And in the capitolie anon hym hente

2705

This false brutus and his othere foon,

2706

And stiked hym with boydekyns anoon

2707

With many a wounde, and thus they lete hym lye;

2708

But nevere gronte he at no strook but oon,

2709

Or elles at two, but if his storie lye.

2710

So manly was this julius of herte,

2711

And so wel lovede estaatly honestee,

2712

That though his deedly woundes soore smerte,

2713

His mantel over his hypes caste he,

2714

For no man sholde seen his privetee;

2715

And he lay of diyng in a traunce,

2716

And wiste verraily that deed was hee,

2717

Of honestee yet hadde he remembraunce.

2718

Lucan, to thee this storie I recomende,

2719

And to swetoun, and to valerie also,

2720

That of this storie writen word and ende,

2721

How that to thise grete conqueroures two

2722

Fortune was first freend, and sitthe foo.

2723

No man ne truste upon hire favour longe,

2724

But have hire in awayt for everemoo;

2725

Witnesse on alle thise conqueroures stronge.

2726

Croesus

This riche cresus, whilom kyng of lyde,

2727

Of which cresus cirus soore hym dradde,

2728

Yet was he caught amyddes al his pryde,

2729

And to be brent men to the fyr hym ladde.

2730

But swich a reyn doun fro the welkne shadde

2731

That slow the fyr, and made hym to escape;

2732

But to be war no grace yet he hadde,

2733

Til fortune on the galwes made hym gape.

2734

Whanne he escaped was, he kan nat stente

2735

For to bigynne a newe werre agayn.

2736

He wende wel, for that fortune hym sente

2737

Swich hap that he escaped thurgh the rayn,

2738

That of his foos he myghte nat be slayn;

2739

And eek a sweven upon a nyght he mette,

2740

Of which he was so proud and eek so fayn

2741

That in vengeance he al his herte sette.

2742

Upon a tree he was, as that hym thoughte,

2743

Ther juppiter hym wessh, bothe bak and syde,

2744

And phebus eek a fair towaille hym broughte

2745

To dryen hym with; and therfore was his pryde,

2746

And to his doghter, that stood hym bisyde,

2747

Which that he knew in heigh sentence habounde,

2748

He bad hire telle hym what it signyfyde,

2749

And she his dreem bigan right thus expounde:

2750

The tree, quod she, the galwes is to meene,

2751

And juppiter bitokneth snow and reyn,

2752

And phebus, with his towaille so clene,

2753

Tho been the sonne stremes for to seyn.

2754

Thou shalt anhanged be, fader, certeyn;

2755

Reyn shal thee wasshe, and sonne shal thee drye.

2756

Thus warned hym ful plat and eek ful pleyn

2757

His doghter, which that called was phanye.

2758

Anhanged was cresus, the proude kyng;

2759

His roial trone myghte hym nat availle.

2760

Tragedies noon oother maner thyng

2761

Ne kan in syngyng crie ne biwaille

2762

But that fortune alwey wole assaille

2763

With unwar strook the regnes that been proude;

2764

For whan men trusteth hire, thanne wol she faille,

2765

And covere hire brighte face with a clowde.

2766

The Monk's Tale