Chapter XV: Part II: The Legend of Medea (1)

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._