Chapter XVI: Part II: The Legend of Medea (2)

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

EXPLICIT LEGENDA PHILOMENE.

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

VIII. THE LEGEND OF PHYLLIS.

INCIPIT LEGENDA PHILLIS.

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

EXPLICIT LEGENDA PHILLIS.

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

IX. THE LEGEND OF HYPERMNESTRA.

INCIPIT LEGENDA YPERMISTRE.

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

[_Unfinished._]

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

A TREATISE ON THE ASTROLABE.