decorative border DIEV ET MON DRIOT ARISE FOR IT IS DAY. 
A memorial of such Princes, as since the time of King Richard the second, have been unfortunate in the Realm of England.  
¶ LONDINI In aedibus Johannis Waylandi, cum privilegio per Septennium.   

The copy of the queens majesties letters patents.  
Marry by the grace of God, Queen of England France and Ireland, defender of the faith, and in earth of the Church of England, and also of Ireland, the supreme head. To the printers of books, and book sellers, and to all other out Officers, ministers, and Subjects these our letters patents hearing or seeing, greeting. Know ye that we of our especial grace and mere motion: have given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant full power, licence, authority, and Privilege unto our well-beloved Subject John Wayland, Citezeyn and Scrivenour of London. That he & his Assigns only, and none other person or persons shall from henceforth have authority, & liberty to print all and every such usual Primers or Manual of prayers by whatsoever other title the same shall or may be called, which by us our heirs, successors, or by our clergy by our assent shallbe authorized, set forth, and devised for to be used of all our loving Subjects throughout all our Realms, and dominions, during the full time and term of seven years next ensuing the date of these our letters patents. And farther that it shall not be lawful for any manner of other person▪ or persons of out said Subjects, to print or to procure to be imprinted, any primers or Manual of prayers by whatsoever title the same shall or may be called, or set forth, during the said term, nor any book, or books, which the said John Waylande or his Assigns at his or their costs and charges shall first print, or set forth during the said term of seven years next ensuing the printing of the same book or books, upon pain of forfeiture, and confiscation of the same primers, Manual or prayers, and books, ●o those of us and our successors. Wherefore we w●ll and command all you our Printers, and other our Subjects that ye nor any of you, do presume, procure, or attempt to print or setforth any manner primers, Manual of prayers, book or books, which the said John Wayland or his assigns shall first Print during the time of this our Privilege, and licence, upon pain of forfeiture and confiscation of the same primers, Manual of prayers, and books, as aforesaid. And as ye tender our pleasure, and will avoid the contrary. In witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patents. witness ourself at Westminster the four and twentieth day of Octobre, in the first year of our reign.  
Per brē de privato sigillo et de data predicta.   

¶ Here followeth the Table of this present Book, called the fall of Princes, and Princesses. etc. Which book is divided in to nine books, and every book containeth divers chapters, as here after followeth: And first of the first book, which containeth xxiiii. chapters  


THe Prologue of John Lidgate Monk of Bury, translator of this book.  
The first Chapter of the first book showeth how Adam and Eve for their inobedience, were put out of paradise: and how they standing naked before Bochas, desired him to put their woeful fall first in remembrance: And how they and their offspring lived in sorrow & wretchedness: with a Lenuoye. The first chapter.  
How Nembroth builded the tower of babylon, to save himself from noah's stood, which for his pride and presumption, was put from his magnificence, and his tower with sudden leaven smitten down. The second chapter.  
An exclamation of John Bochas against proud fo●ke, showing how God may them and their pride abate, when 〈◊〉 shall please him: and by divers means & ways them punish and chastise: With a envoy. The third chapter.  
How many years were between Adam and Nembroth, and between Nembroth and Cadmus, and of divers other kings. The fourth chapter.  
Of Ogiges' king of Thebes, leaf vii  
Of a great flood in Tessaly. leaf vii  
Of goodly Jsys wife to Apys king of Argive, and how he was slain by his brother Diffeus'. The fift chapter.  
Of Grisiton that eat his members for hunger. With a Envoy. the sixth chapter.  
How Jupiter ravished Europa, the daughter of king Agenor, and how Cadmus was sent to seek her in to divers countries: With a Envoy of the translator. The seventh chapter.  
A goodly process of Oetes king of Colchos, of Jason and Medea, of Theseus, Sylla, of Nisus, and of divers other: With a Envoy. The eight Chapter,  
Of mighty Jabyn king of Canaan, of Queen Jocasta, and how Thebes was destroyed: With a Envoy. The ix chap.  
How Atreus king of Messene wrought against his brother Thyestes', and how he stew his children, dismembered them in pieces, and made the said Thyestes' to eat of their flesh and drink of their blood. The tenth chapter.  
How Atreus accused himself of murder, and his brother of adultery, done with Europa the queen: With a Envoy: The xi. chapter.  
Of duke Theseus, and of Ariadne that saved his life in a cave, and how he like a forsworn man for soak her, and wedded fair Phedra, which afterward slew herself: a Envoy. The xii chapter.  
How Bochas blameth them that giveth hasty credence to liars and flatterers: With a Envoy. The xiii chapter.  
Of queen Althaea, and how Hercules by women was brought to confusion: With a Envoy. The xiiii chapter.  
A process of Narcissus, Byblis, Myrra and divers other, their infortunes to Bochas complaining, and how Narcissus, Byblis, and Myrra died at mischief. with a Envoy. The fifteen chapter.  
Of Priamus' king of Troy: and how the monk of bury, translator of this book, wrote a book of the siege of Troy called Troy book. the sixteen chapter,  
Here Bochas author of this book, writeth again the Surquedous pride of them that trust to much in their riches. The seventeen chapter.  
Here also John Bochas putteth a great praise and commendation of surety that standeth in poverty: With a Envoy. The eighteen chapter.  
Of mighty Samson, which told all his counsel to Dalyda, whereby he was deceived: With a Envoy. The nyntene chapter.  
A chapter of Bochas dis●●yuynge the malice that is in Women. The twenty chapter.  
Thexcuse of Bochas for his writing against misgoverned women, in manner of a Envoy. The. xxi, chapter  
Of mighty Pyrrus that slew Pollycene, which for his pride and adultery died in poverty, and at the last was slain by Horestes. The xxiii chapter  
Of Machayre and of his sister Canace. The xxiiii chapter.  
The letter of complaint written by Canace to her brother Machayre. With a Envoy. The xxv chapter.   
¶ Thus endeth the Table with the chapters of the first book, and here followeth the table of the second book which containeth xxxi chapters.   


THe Prologue of the translator.  
The fryste Chapter of the second book declareth how Saul King of jerusalem borne of low degree, as long as he loved God, and dread him, and was obedient to his laws, and ruled by good counsel, had many great victories: But at the last for his pride, presumption, and great disobey sans, lost his crown, and was slain by Philistees▪ with a Envoy of the translator.  
A commendation of Bochas, upon the virtue of Obedience. Look the leaf xli  
How king Roboam, for giving faith to young counsel lost the benevolence of his people, and at the last died a fool: With a envoy. The second chapter  
A chapter discryvinge, how Princes being hedes of their commontees, should have noble chivalry and true judges to govern the commons. The third chap.  
How Mucius Scevola slew an innocent in stead of king Porcenna, that laid siege to Rome. The fourth chapter.  
How Lucrece oppressed by Tarquin slew herself. The fifth chapter.  
How Rome was governed after the death of Lucrece, and how Virginia was by her father slain: with a Envoy. The sixth chapter.  
How jeroboam king of Israel, for idolatry and disobedience, came to a mischievous end. The seventh chapter.  
How zareas king of ethiop was slain in battle. The eight chapter,  
How Nadab king of jerusalem lost both sceptre and crown. The ninth chap.  
How the vengeable prince zambrias set a tower on fire and brent himself. The tenth chapter,  
Of king Achab and jesabel his wife. The eleventh chapter,  
How the queen Athalia for her tyranny was slain. The xii chapter  
How Dydo Queen of Cartage slew herself for the conservation of her chastity: With a Envoy. The xiii chapter  
A Envoy direct to widows, of the translator. look the leaf l  
How the vicious Sardanapalus king of Assirie, brent himself and his treasure. The fourteen chapter.  
A commendation of john Bochas of virtuous business, rehearsing the names of divers founders of sciences in reproof of idleness: With a Envoy. The fifteen Chapter.  
How Amazias in juda king, for his pride and presumption was venquis●hed in battle, and after slain. The sixteen chapter.  
How Osias succeading king next in juda, was smitten with leper. The seventeen chapter.  
An exhortation for Princes to take heed that they do nat again the commandments of God. The eighteen chapter.  
How king Ozeas was taken by king Salmanaser, and died in prison. The. nineteen chapter.  
How Senacheryb king of Assyrie was slain. The twenty chapter.  
How king Sedechyas for false forswearing was made blind, and slain in prison: with a Envoy. The xxi chapter  
How king Astyages laboured to disheryte Cyrus, but God would nat suffer him in his malice to prevail: with a Envoy. The two and twenty chapter.  
How Canda●us king of Lyde was made cockold. The three and twenty chap.  
How all thing that king Midas touched was turned to gold, and yet at the last he died in misery and wretchedness. The four and twenty chapter.  
Of Balthasar king of babylon, and how Daniel exponed Mane, Techell, Phares. The five and twenty chapter,  
How Croesus and Balthasar were vanquished by Cyrus and how the son of Croesus was slain at the hunting of a wild boor. The xxvi chapter.  
How the cruel tyrant Cirus delighted ever in slaughter and shedding of blood, and so ended: With a Envoy. The xxvii chapter.  
How Amilius for covetise slew his brother, and how Remus and Romulus were nourished by a she Wolf. The eight and twenty chapter.  
How Mecius king of Albanoys, for because he was false of his oath and promise, was drawn all in pieces. The nine and twenty chapter.  
How all Princes should be true of their oaths and promise, in avoiding all doubleness and disception. The xxx cha.  
Of king Hostilius the first that ware purple colour, was consumed with fiery leaven: with a Envoy. The xxxi chapter.   
¶ Thus endeth the table with the Chapters of the second book▪ and here followeth the table of the third book, which containeth xxvii Chapters.   


The Prologue of the translator. The first chapter of the third book ●reteth: how Andalus doctor of Astronomy showeth that princes should nat at wit their constellation nor fortune, of their unhappy falling, but their own demerits and vicious living. Look leaf .lxv.  
A disputation between Fortune and glad poverty. Look leaf .lxv.  
How king Hostilius for worshipping of false gods, was consumed with fiery leaven. The first chapter.  
How Anchus king of Rome was murdered by Lucinyo, by the assent of his wife. The ii chapter.  
How Lucinio that murdered Anchus was after murdered himself: with a Envoy. The third chapter.  
How after the offence done to Lucrece by Tarquin, there was never king crowned in Rome. The fourth chapter.  
The grievous complaint of Lucrece for her oppression. The fifth chapter  
A complaint of Bochas upon Luxury of Princes, as by ensample of many divers mischances declareth: with a Envoy. Look leaf lxxi  
How Cambyses, assenting to the murder of his brother Mergus, at the last slew himself: and how Oropastes occupied the crown of Perce by unjust title, and how he was slain. The sixth chapter.  
How Dary obtaining the kingdom of Perce by sleight, ended with shame. The seventh chapter.  
How Corolyan was by Romans exiled, and of the war he made against them, and how when he besieged them they sent out his mother and his wife, with other to treat for a peace, which they obtained: and how he was after exiled again and slain. The viii chapter.  
How Melciades Duke of Athenes, with a small number venquished six hundred thousand Perciens, and after by his commons (that aye of custom desireth change of Princes) was chained in prison, and so died: With a Envoy. The ix chapter.  
How xerxes king of Perce, for his ravine and covetise was dismembered in small pieces: with a Envoy. The ten chap.  
How Artabanus murdered king xerxes, and how he was after murdered himself. The eleventh chapter,  
Of duke Palantes, and the Spartenoys that warred on them of Messene for ●auyshyng of their maidens. The twelfth chapter.  
How Ceson Quincius out of Rome was exiled▪ and how'wt Graccus Cloellyus' prince of Equoyes was take prisoner. The xiii chapter.  
Bochas rehearseth the tyranny of Appyus and falseness of Judges: With a Envoy. The fourteen chapter.  
Bochas again the untruth of Judges. Look the leaf lxxxi  
An exclamation of Bochas against the extortion of the officers of Rome. The fifteen Chapter.  
How Alcibyades was exiled, and after brent in his bed. The sixteen chapter  
An exclamation of John Bochas, upon the death of Alcibiades: with a Envoy. The seventeen chapter.  
Bochas writeth again the desires of worldly people. The xviii chapter.  
Bochas speaking again idleness, rehearseth how some men have pleasure in one Science and some in another. The. nineteen chapter.  
How Malleus Duke of Cartage, for his oppression and tyranny was hewn to pieces: with a Envoy. The twenty chapter.  
☞ How the substance of the host of Hymilcho duke of Cartage, as they went to conquer Cecile, died of the Pestilence, and how he was after slain himself. The xxi chapter.  
How Heynon Duke of Cartage was dismembered: with a Envoy. The two & twenty chapter.  
The author against covetous people look the leaf lxxxvii  
How Euagoras king of Cypre was by Artaxerses outrayed and put from his kingdom. The xxiii cha.  
How Theon king of egypt was by Artaxerses driven from his kingdom, and how he fled in to Arabye. The four and twenty chapter.  
How Amintas of Macedon king, had by Erudice his wife, Alysandre▪ Pet dica, and philip, who were after slain The xxv Chapter,  
How the proud tyrant haman was hanged, and the Innocentes preserved. The xxvi chapter  
¶ Of the two brethren, Artaxerses and Cyrus, and how Artaxerses slew his children and concubines, and how they ended: with a Envoy. The xxvii chapit.   
Thus endeth the Table with the chapters of the third book, and here followeth the table of the fourth book which containeth xxvi. chapters.   

The Table of the fourth book.  

THe prologue of the translator. The first chapter of the fourth book declareth: how Marcus Manlius wrought for Rome town, and how at the last for all his labour he was by the commons cast in to Tybre and so drowned.  
How Bochas writeth in part against such as can nat be content with suffisance but usurp to high dignyties, with a Envoy. The second chapter.  
How Nectanabus king of egypt, was by xerxes constrained to sly his kingdom. The third chap.  
How Pausanias' Duke of Lacedaemon, was exiled by them of Athenes. The four chapter.  
How Helyarchus the tyrant, for extortion and oppression, was slain by the knight Leonydes. The fifth chapter.  
How the vicious Dyonis king of Cycyle slew his brethren and kindred, and how he was exiled and died at mischief with a Envoy. The sixth chapter.  
The author again presumptuous people & princes holding themself as gods The seventh chapter.  
How king Pollicrate for extortion and tyranny was hanged, till every joint fell from other. The eight chapter  
How the tyrant Alexandre slew his Philosopher Calisthenes with divers other, for saying troth: with a Envoy. The ninth chapter.  
How Alexander king of Pyrothe, adventuring to pass the flood of Acheronte, was slain therein, by them that he trusted most. The tenth chap.  
How Dary king of Perce and Mede, was outrayed by Alexander king of Macedon: with a Envoy. The eleventh chapter.  
A chapter of Bochas, wherein he remembreth the battles and losses of realms of antiquity, with the falling of divers nobles. The xii chap.  
How Eumenydes was twice outraied by Antigonus, and at last died in prison, With a Envoy. The xiii chapter.  
How Queen Olympiad's, for she delighted in vices, in murdre, and in vengeance, died at mischief: With a Envoy. The fourteen chapter.  
How Agathocles of low birth borne attaygned unto royal dignity, and how he ended in poverty and wretchedness: With a Envoy. The fifteen chapter.  
How Cassander slew the wife of Alexander and Hercules her son, and how Antipater slew his mother, and of divers other murders. The sixteen chapter.  
Of two prefects, Perdiccas and Amintas. The xvii cha.  
How Sandrocottus borne of low degree, cherished robbers & thieves. The xviii. ca  
How Seleuchus the mighty prince was slain by the great Tholome king of egypt. The nineteen. chap.  
How the two sons of Queen Arcynoe were by their mothers traitourously slain, and she exiled, with a Envoy. The twenty Chapter.  
How Ceramius of Macedoyne king that murdered his cousins, was slain in battle by them of France. The xxi. cha.  
How the prince Belgius was discomfited and brought to nought. The xxii chap.  
How duke Bre●●us delyting to rob and steal mischivouslye ended: with a Envoy. The xxiii. chap.  
How Pyrrus king of Pyrothe list not live in peace, but through pride and presumption in war, came to mischance. The xxiiii. Chapter.  
How the tyrant Aristotimus by treacherous working, set aside the right line, and how he was crowned king of Epirothes and after slain. The xxv chap.  
How Queen Arcinoe for her adultery done with Demetrius husband of Beronices, ended in sorrow. The xxvi ca   
¶ Thus endeth the table with the Chapters of the fourth book, and here followeth the table of the fifth book, which containeth xxxiii Chapters.   

¶ The table of the fifth book.  

IN the first Chapter of the fifth book Bochas writeth against them that delight in beauty and seemliness, calling to purpose how a man borne in Tuscan, which excelled in beauty and fairness: and for he would nat give occasion to other to sin, disfigured his visage and body, with many a grievous wound and spot, with a Envoy.  
How the two brethren Seleuchus and Antiochus each of them desiring to excel other, fill at discord, and so ended in mischief. The second chap.  
How the noble Queen Laodomya was slain in the Temple, and of the vengeance that was take upon him that slew her. The third chapter.  
How Cleomenes king of Macedon was slain with his wife and children. The fourth chapter.  
Of king Nero, Cornely and Hanybal. The fifth Chapter.  
Of the duke zantipas that was cast into the sea. The sixth chapter.  
How Marcus Regulus of his free-will died for the common weal: with a Envoy. The seventh chapter.  
How Tholome king of egypt called Philopater slew his father and mother, and his wife, and how he spent his time in lechery, and of his mischievous end. The eight Chapter.  
How Brithomarus and Viridomarus dukes of France, after great battles were by Romans slain. The ix ca  
How Syphax the king of Numedy was taken and how he died in prison. The tenth Chapter.  
How Nabyn having no title of right but by tyranny, took on him to be king of Macedon, and how he was slain. The eleventh chapter.  
Bochas rehearseth the mortal wars that hath been between the Romans and Africans. The. twelfth cap.  
How king Perseus was by the Romans outrayed and after take. The xiii cap.  
How the people of Achaia with their chief city called Cori●the, by Romans was destroyed. The fourteen chapter.  
How the great Antiochus using riot and vicious living, by Marcus Actilius was outrayed and died sodayulye, with a Envoy. The fifteen chapter.  
How Jeronimus king of Cyracuse was slain, and how Scipio African that laboured for the common weal of Romans was exiled by them, and so died. The sixteen chapter.  
How Scipio Asyan lord of Asye, that laboured ever for the common weal was at last murdered. The seventeen chap.  
How duke Philopomenes was take, put in prison and after drank poison and so died. The eighteen chapter.  
Of the third Scipion Nasica that ever wrought much for the commonty, with a Envoy. The xix chapter  
How duke Ha●ball after many victorious deeds slew himself with poison: with a Envoy. The twenty chapter.  
How Prusias king of Bith●ye that betrayed Hannibal would have dish erited his son and heir, went a begging in strange lands. The xxi chapter.  
How Perses of Macedon king, that empoisoned his brother was by Emilyus outrayed and died in prison. The xxii. ca  
How Amonyus a prince of Antioch, delighting in pillage and robbery with other vicious living, stead in woman's clothing, after taken & slain. The xxiii. cap.  
How Andriscus of low birth borne, having no title became king of Macedon, was taken, & died in prison. The xxiiii. ca  
How Alexander Ballast king of Surry for extortion, pride, & unkindness, died at mischief: with a Envoy. The xxv. chap.  
Bochas against the rebellions and seditions in Rome between Tribunes and the commons. The xxvi chapter.  
How the wife of ●asdrubal brent herself and her children. The xxvii chapter.  
Of Machabeus Jonathas taken by the king of Surry. The xxviii. ca  
How Demetrius the second lost at the last his head. The xxix cha.  
How zebenna king of Surry by intrusion entering had a mischievous ending. The xxx Chapter.  
How Bitynctus king of Auergnoyes, by the Romans was taken and died in prison. The xxxi chapter.  
How the tyrant Euergetes wedded queen Cleopatra, and how he slew her son, exiled his wife, & wedded her daughter. The xxxii chapter.  
How Jugurtha by intrusion was king of Numidy, slew the rightful heirs, and how he was after drowned himself: with a Envoy. The xxxiii chap.   
Thus endeth the table with the chapters of the fifth book, and here followeth the table of the sixth book, which containeth seventeen chapters.   


Bochas' sitting in his study all alone writeth a great process, how Fortune like a monstrous image having an C●hādes, appeared unto him and spoke, and Bochas unto her: making between them many great arguments & reasons of Fortune's chances. Leaf cxxxiiii  
In the first chapter of the sixth book, Fortune rehearseth her conditions unto Bochas, she wing him how she hath many one enhanced for a time, and anon after she hath them suddenly overthrown.  
How Gayus Marius of low birth borne, came to high estate, which blended with covetise, after many great battles died at mischief. The second chap.  
How king Mithridate abode seven year in wilderness, and had great torments both on sea and land, by his blood brought to utterance, and how he slew himself with a sword: with a Lenuoye.  
How Eucradites king of Sithie, was slain by Demetrius, and after his carrion cast to hounds. The four chapter.  
How Herodes king of Parthoys warred with the romans, which after his son and heir was slain, made his bastard son king, that anon after slew his father. The fifth chapter.  
How Fimbria a consul of Rome slew himself. The sixth chapter.  
Of Albinius that was slain with stones. The seventh chapter.  
How Adrian borne of low degree falsely usurped to be king of Rome, which with his churls was after brent. The eight chapter.  
How Sinthonius king of Trace that all coveited, all forewent, and died in poverty. The ix chapter.  
Bochas in brief sentence maketh a description of the kingdom of Trace, and pasleth over lightly unto the accomplishment of his book. The tenth chapter.  
How after many great conquests of duke Pompey, there began great war between him and Julius, and how there were three hundred thousand slain, and at the last the head of Pompey smyt of: with a Envoy. The xi chapter.  
How the noble Julius Cesar brent the vessel of Tholome, sloughe Achyllas', that would have murdered him, and after his great victories, he himself was slain with bodkyns by Brutus Cassius. The twelfth chapter.  
How y● last Scipion consulere of Rome, for he would not live in servage of Julius, rove himself to the heart: with a Lenuoye. The thirteen chapter.  
How Octavian succeeded next, and how the murderers of Julius died at mischief. The fourteen chapter.  
How Tullius was two times exiled, and at last slain by Pompilius. The fifteen chapter.  
A chapter again janglers and diffamers of rhetoric. The sixteen chap.  
How Sextus warred again Triumuir, and of the death of great Anthony and Cleopatras. The seventeenth chap.   
Thus endeth the table with the Chapters of the sixth book▪ and here followeth the table of the seventh book, which containeth xi. chapters.   


OF Antony son & heir to the great Antony, and of Cesarius, Julia, Agrippa, Cassius, and Galbus. The first chapter.  
How the tyrant Herodes slew his wife and children and afterward himself died at michefe: with a Envoy. The two. chap.  
Of Antipas exiled by Octavian, and of Archelaus son of Herodes the second. The third Chapter.  
Of the strife between Calligula, Tiberius and Messalyne. The third chap.  
Of the most vicious and cruel tyrant Nero that slew Peter and Paul, and last of all himself: with a Envoy. The fifth Chapter.  
How Eleazarus a Jewe borne, for extortion and robbery was brought into prison and there ended. The six chapped.  
How the head of Galba was smitten of, filled full of gold, and offered at the sepulture of Nero. The seventh chapter.  
How Occho and Vitellius for gluttony, lechery, ribaudy, and tyranny, ended mischievously. The eight chapter.  
Bochas complaineth again the foul vice of gluttony. The ninth chap.  
A chapter diseriving the golden world, that is to say, when temperance had the governance: with a Envoy. The x. chap.  
How the kindred of Jacob was destroyed, Christ borne & crucified, Jerusalem destroyed: and xi. hundred. M. slain by sword, hunger, fire, & pestilence. The xi. chapter.   
Thus endeth the table with the chapters of the seventh book, and here followeth the table of the eight book, which containeth xxvii. chapters.   

The table of the eight book.  

THe Prologne of the translator.  
The first chapter of the eight book expoundeth how the proud tyrant Domician emperor of Rome, and many other emperors & nobles for their great outrage and wretchedness ended mischievously.  
How Gallyen son of Valerian was slain. The second chapter.  
How Quintilius was murdered by women. The third chapter.  
Of Aurelian in Denmark borne. The fourth chapter.  
How Probus discomfited the Romans, and after was slain. The fifth chap.  
How Clarus and his two sons were mischieved. The sixth chapter.  
How the noble Queen zenobia fought with Aurelian, and how she was take. The seventh chapter.  
How Galerius oppressed martyrs and Christ's faith, and of his mischievous end. The eight chapter.  
How Maxence the emperor enemy to Christ's faith, ended mischievously. The ninth chapter.  
How Lucinius enemy to Christ's faith was slain. The tenth chapter.  
Of Constantine and Crispus, and how Dalmacius was slain. The eleventh ca  
Of the brethren constance and Constancius and how Magnencius & Decius murdered themselves. The twelfth chapter  
How Constantine baptized by Silvester, was cured of his lepry. The xiii. chap.  
How Julian Apostata enemy to Christ's faith, by false illusion was chosen emperor and after slain. The fourteenth Chapter.  
How the emperor Valence slew holy hermits, shed thristen blood, distoyed churches, and after was brent himself. The fifteen chapter.  
Of king Amasicius and how Gracian and Theodosy destroyed temples of false gods, and how Gracian was put to flight. The sixteen chapter.  
A goodly process how Theodosy with prayer and small numbered gate the victory of a great numbered. The seventeen chapter.  
How knights and gentle men chase Alerike king, and how the commons chase Radagassus which had a mischievous end. The eighteen chapter.  
How ruffian chamberlain with Theodosy usurped to be Emperor, & for his presumption condemned by Honorius, and his head smyt of. The nineteen. chapter.  
How Stillicon and other of like condition ended mischievously. The xx. chap.  
A goodly process of the author why Rome was destroyed, & for the same or like cause were divers other realms destroyed. The xxi. Chapter.  
How the kings Trabstila and B●surus were brought unto subjection & made tributaries to Theodorike, The xxii. cha.  
How Philitheus lost his kingdom. The xxiii. Chapter.  
How Symacke and Boes his son in law were banished, and after judged to die. The xxiiii chapter.  
Of king Arthur and his conquests, and of the commodities of England, and how he was deceived by his cousin Mordrede: with a Envoy. The xxv. chapter.  
An exclamation of Bochas again folks that be unkind to their kindred. Foe xvii  
Of Gisivill king of Venandre & of three other kings: and how they were destroyed. The xxvi. chapter.  
How Albuinus was murdered by his wife Rosamonde, and how she for her abominable dealing and vicious life was slain also. The xxvii. chapter.   
Thus endeth the table with the chapters of the eight book, and here followeth the table of the ninth book, which containeth xxxviii chapters.   

¶ The table of the ninth book.  

THe first chapter of the ninth book showeth, how the Emperor Mauricius his wife and his children were slain at Calcidony.  
Of Machomet the false prophet, and how he being drunk, was devoured among swine. The second chapter.  
How Brounchylde a queen of France slew her kin, and brought the land in division, & after was hanged & hewn in small pieces: with a Envoy. The three chap.  
Bochas marveleth of the great malice and cruelty of Brunchylde. Folly xxviii  
How Eraclius the Emperor sustained heresy, fill into dropsy and sickness uncurable, and so died. The fourth chapter.  
How Constantine the son of Eraclius for supporting of errors and heresies was murdered in a stew by his own knights. The fifth chapter.  
How Gisulphus was slain, and how his wife for her vicious living ended mischievously. The sixth chapter.  
Of Justinian the false extortioner, which was exiled by Patrician, and after that his nose cut fro his head, and both his eyen put out. The seventh chapter.  
How Philip the emperor died at mischief. The eight chapter.  
How Anastase was compelled to leave the empire and live in poverty. The ix. cap.  
How the head of Lupus king of Lombardy was smit of by Grymbaldus. The tenth chapter.  
How the head of Alexius was smit of by Compe●●on. The eleventh chapter.  
How Ariperton was drowned with his richesse. The twelfth chapter.  
How Dedyre by pope Andrian & Charles of France was put to flight and died at mischief. The. The xiii chapter.  
Of Pope John a woman, and how she was put down▪ The fourteenth Chapter.  
Bochas counseleth princes to remember on arnold. Folly xxvi  
Of Charles of Lorraine that was confounded for hunger. The fifteen Chapter.  
How king Solomon whilom king of Hungry was put to flight. The xvi ca  
How Petro king of Hungry was slain. The xvii chapter.  
How Diogenes the emperor was taken, and his eyen put out. The xviii chap.  
How Robert duke of Normandy fought with the turks, and should have had the crown of Jerusalem, and how he died at mischief. The xix Chapter.  
How Joceline prince of Rages for pride, sloth, and lechery, died in poverty. The twenty chapter.  
How the Emperor Andronicus slew all that were of the noble blood, cherished vicious people, and how he was after hanged: with a Envoy. The xxi chapter.  
Of Jsacius made blind, and take at mischief. The xxii chapter.  
Of Henry the eldest son of Fredrick the second, mischieved by his father. The. xxiii chapter.  
A commendation of Bochas to such as be kind to their kinsfolk. Folly xxx  
How Manfroye king of Poile was slain The xxiiii chapter.  
How Ences king of Sardiny died in prison. The xxv chapter.  
Of another Fredrick that was slain by the judgement of his brother. The xxvi chapter.  
How Manimettus and Argones died at mischief. The xxvii chapter.  
How Charles king of Jerusalem and Cicyle for his avarice and adultery died at mischief: with a Envoy. The xxviii chapter  
Of Hugoline Earl of Pisa slain in prison The xxix Chapter.  
How Pope Boniface the eight was take by the lineage of Columpnes, and how he eat his hands and died in prison. The thirty chapter.  
How the order of templars was founded, and Jaques with other of the order brent. The xxxi. Chapter.  
Bochas commendeth Theodorus with other two Philosophers for their great patience. The xxxii Chapter.  
Bochas here commendeth humility. Folli xxxiii  
How Philippe le Bele of France was slain with a wild Boar, and of his three sons and their wedding. The xxxiii chapped.  
How duke Gaulter of Florence for his tyranny, lechery, and covetise, ended in mischief. The xxxiiii chapter.  
Of Philipot Cathenoise born of low birth which came to high estate, and after how she her son and her daughter were brent. The xxxv. chapter.  
How king Sauses was slain by his cousin, which was brother to the king of Arragon. The xxxvi chapter.  
How jews king of Jerusalem ●nd Cicyle was put down. The xxxvii chapter.  
How king John of France was take prisoner at poitiers by prince Edward, and brought into England: with a Envoy. The xxxviii. chapter.  
Bochas rehearseth how Fortune hath made many high estates unwarely descend Folly xxxviii  
The words of the translator wherewith he endeth his book.   
❧ Thus endeth the table with the chapters of the ninth and last book, and here after followeth the prologue of the translator.    


The Prologue of John Lydgate monk of bury, translator of this work.  

HE that sumtime did his diligence,  
The book of Bochas, in French to translate  
Out of latin, he called was Laurence:  
The time remembered truly and the date  
Is when king John through his mortal fate  
Was prisoner brought unto this region,  
Than he began first on this translation.   

In his Prologue affirming of reason,  
That artifirers having exercise,  
May change and turn by good discretion  
Shapes and forms, & newly them devise:  
Make and unmake in many a sundry wise,  
As Potters which to that craft intend  
Break and renew their vessels to amend.   

Thus men of craft may of due right  
That ben inventive and have experience,  
Fantasien in their inward sight  
Devices new through their excellence.  
Expert masters have thereto licence  
Fro good to better, for to change a thing:  
And semblably these clerks in writing.   

Thing that was made of authors than beforn  
They may of new find and fantasy:  
Out of old chaff try out full fair corn,  
Make it more fresh and †iusty† to the eye.  
Their subtle wit their labour apply,  
With their colours agreeable of hue,  
To make old things for to seem new.   

Afore provided that no presumption  
In their changing have none authority,  
And that meekness have domination  
Over false Envy, that she not present be:  
But that their ground with perfit charity  
Conveyed be to their advantage,  
Truly rooted amid their courage.   

Thus Laurence from him envy excluded,  
Though to forne him translated was this book  
Within himself▪ be fully hath concluded  
Upon that labour when he cast his look,  
He would amend it: but first he forsook  
Presumption, and took him to meekness,  
In his prologue as he doth express.   

In which process like as I am learned,  
He in his time, of cunning did excel:  
In their language he was required  
Of estates which 'gan him compel,  
(Among them hold of rhetoric the well)  
To underfong this labour: they him prey  
And their request lowly he did obey.   

Full well he felt the labour was notable,  
The fall of nobles with every circumstance  
From their lordship's dreadful and unstable  
How they fill, to put in remembrance:  
Therein to show Fortune's variance,  
That other might as in a mirror se,  
In worldly worship may no surety be.   

By example, as there is no Rose  
Spriging in garden but there be sum thorn  
Nether fairer blossom them nature list dispose  
Then mai their beauty as men hath seen toforn  
With bitter winds be from the branches born  
Ne none so high in his estate contune  
flee from the waiting & danger of Fortune.   

Wherefore Bochas for a memorial,  
Considering the great dignities  
Of worldly princes and their power royal,  
Great emperors, estates, and degrees,  
How Fortune hath cast them from their sees,  
Namely such as could themself not know,  
Full suddenly to make them lie full low.   

This the said author wise & right sad,  
Hath gathered out with Rethorykes sweet,  
In divers books, which that he hath radde  
Of philosophers and an old Poet,  
And busied him both in cold and heat  
Out to compile and write as he fond  
The fall of nobles in many divers land.   

Upon whose book in his translation,  
The said Laurence rehearseth in certain:  
And holdeth this in his opinion,  
Such language as open is and plain  
Is more accepted (as it is often seen)  
Then strange terms which be not understand  
Namely to folks, that dwell upon the land.   

He sayeth also that his entention  
Is to amend, correct, and declare,  
Not to condemn of no presumption,  
But to report plainly, and not to spare  
Things touched shortly, of the story bare,  
Under a style brief and compendious,  
Them to prolong when they been virtuous.   

For a story which is not plainly told,  
But construed under words few,  
For lack of truth where they be new or old  
Men by report can not the matter show.  
These oaks great be not down yhewe  
first at a stroke, but by long process:  
Ne long stories a word may not express.   

For which plainly this noble translator  
Cast of purpose these stories for to write,  
And for to do his diligent labour  
As they fill in order to indite,  
That men after might themself delight  
The adventures so as they fill in deed,  
Of sundry princes to behold and read.   

And have a manner contemplation  
That things all where fortune may attain,  
Be transitory of condition:  
For she of kind is hasty and sudden,  
Contrarious her course for to restrain,  
Of wilfulness she is variable,  
When men most trust, them is she most changeable.   

And for her change, and for her doubleness  
This Bochas biddeth that men should incline  
To set their hearts void of unstableness,  
Upon things which that been divine,  
Where as joy perpetually doth shine  
Without eclipsing, in that heavenly see  
Void of all clouds of mutabilitye.   

Among these Bochas writeth of sweetness,  
And of matters that lusty ben and glade,  
And sometime he writeth of wretchedness,  
And how fortune can flower and after fade:  
joy under cloud, prosperity in the shade,  
Interchanging of every manner thing  
Which y● men feel here, in this world ●●uyng.   

And in his process who so list behold,  
Of all estates of high and low degree,  
And of princes both young and old  
Fro the beginning which in this world have be  
Liking in joy or in adversity,  
Fro the first descended he adown  
Of their fortune by plain description.   

Of the most noble he ne spareth none,  
But setteth them in order cereously:  
beginneth at Idan, & endeth at king John,  
Their adventures rehearsing by and by.  
Of this king John concluding finally,  
How y● he was for all his great puissance,  
Of price Edward take prisoner in France   

This said Bochas author of this book,  
Which of stories had great intelligence,  
Some he left and some also he took:  
Such as he left was of no negligence,  
Supposing and deeming of credence,  
All the stories whythe that common be  
Other know them also as well as he.   

And lest that folk would have had disdain  
Things common for to put in memory,  
Therefore Bochas thought it were but vain:  
And to his name more increase of glory  
To remember no chronicle ne history,  
But though that were for their merit notable,  
authorized famous and commendable.   

In his labour having a delight  
That the matter greatly might avail,  
Do pleasance to the comen profit  
Of noble stories to make a rehearsail,  
Shewig a mirror how all the world shall fail  
And how Fortune for all their high renown  
Hath upon princes jurisdiction.   

The which thing in full sober wise  
He considered in his inward intent:  
In his reason began to advertise,  
Seeing of Princes the blind intent,  
With worldly worship how y● they be blended  
As they should ever their estates keep,  
And as Fortune were ylaid to sleep.   

And as they had of Fortune the mastery,  
Her enchanted with their potions  
By some new craft of sorcery,  
Or by power of incantations:  
To make stable their dominations  
With iron chains, for to last long,  
Locked to rocks with adamantes strong.   

Supposing in their surquedy,  
Their estates should be durable.  
But Fortune can frowardly deny,  
And plainly prove that they be changeable,  
And fro princes when they be most stable  
Fortune full fast for all their great estate,  
unwarely changeth & saith to them che 〈…〉   

For lords some in their magnificence,  
Of royal power, set of God tight nought:  
They not conceive his long patience,  
Neither poise his power in their thought:  
But in their hearts if it were well sought  
How he is meek, and patient to abide,  
They would of reason their pomp lay aside   

But for their tarrying and their negligence,  
That they to him will not return again,  
Yet of his mercy and his benevolence  
Without vengeance, rigour, or disdain  
As a meek father, in all his works plain  
Assayeth his yard of castigation,  
So for to bring them to correction.   

Some he can full fatherly chastise  
Where he loveth, by punishing of sickness:  
And of his mercy in many anotherwise,  
By adversity of worldly distress.  
And he not asketh for his kindness  
Of high ne low, who so can advert,  
None other treasure but a man's heart.   

And as mine author list to comprehend,  
This John Bochas by great authority,  
It is alms to correct and amend  
The vicious folk of every commonalty:  
And by examples which that notable be  
Of princes old that sumtime did fall,  
The lower people from their error call.   

By small whelps as sum clerks write,  
Chastised is the mighty fierce Lion:  
And when y● sword of vengeance doth bite  
Upon princes for their transgression,  
The common people in their opinion  
For very dread, tremble, adown, & quake,  
And by such means their vices forsake.   

And such also as have been defouled  
In their vices by long continuance,  
Or in their sins lie ymouled,  
By good examples may come good repentance  
Who so repenteth the lord will him advance,  
And him accept in low and high estate,  
The meek preserve, & punish the obstinate.   

This said matter touching such things,  
Mine author Bochas hereafter shall declare  
By example of princes and of mighty kings,  
What was their fine, & not the truth spare.  
And though my style naked ●e, and bare  
In Rhetoric, mine author to ensue,  
Yet fro the truth shall I not re●●we.   

But on the substance by good leiser abide,  
After mine author like as I may attain:  
And for a part set eloquence aside,  
And in this book bewepen and complain  
The assault of Fortune, froward & sudden:  
How she ou princes hath kid her vengeance,  
And of her malice, the deadly mortal chance   

But O, alas, who shallbe my muse?  
Or unto whom shall I for help call?  
Calliope my calling will refuse,  
And on Pernaso her worthy sisters all:  
They will their sugar temper with no gall,  
For their sweetness and lusty fresh singing  
Full far discordeth from matter complaining.   

My master Chaucer with his fresh comedies  
Is dead alas, chief Poet of britain,  
That sumtime made full piteous tragedies,  
The fall of Princes he did also complain,  
As he that was of making sovereign:  
Whom all this land of right aught prefer,  
Sith of our language he was the load star.   

Senec in Rome through his high prudence,  
Wrote Tragedies of great morality:  
And Tullius chief well of eloquence,  
Made in his time many a fresh ditty:  
France's Petra●eke of Florence that city●  
Made a book (as I can advert)  
Of two Fortunes, wilful and pervert.   

And against both wrote the remedies:  
In books twain made a division,  
Among rehearsing many fresh stories.  
The first book is thus conveyed down:  
A dialogue between gladness and reason,  
The second by me well to witness,  
Made between reason & worldly heaviness.   

The matter is wonders delectable,  
Though woe with joy have an entresse:  
And John Bochas wrote matters lamentable  
The fall of princes where he doth express,  
How for their joy they fell in great distress  
All these writers through their high renown  
Great worship did unto their nation.   

And semblably as I have told toforne,  
My ma●●et Chaucer did his business:  
And in his days hath him so well borne,  
Out of out tongue to avoid all rudeness:  
And to reforine it with colours of sweetness.  
Wherefore let us give him laud and glory,  
And put his name with poets in memory.   

Of whose labour to make mention,  
Where of right he should commended be,  
In youth he made a translation  
Of a book which called is Trophy  
In Lombard tongue, as men may read & see:  
And in our vulgar long or that he died,  
Gave it to name of Troilus & Creseyde.   

Which for to read lovers them delight,  
They have therein so great devotion:  
And this Poet also himself to quite,  
Of Boecius book the consolation  
Made in his time an old translation:  
And to his son that called was Louis  
He made a treatise full noble & of great prize.   

Upon that labour in full notable form,  
Set them in order with their divisions,  
men's wits to accomplish and conform  
To understand by full expert reasons,  
By domifiing of sundry mansions:  
The rote out sought at the ascendent,  
To forne or he gave any judgement.   

He wrote also full many a day agone,  
Dant in English, himself so doth express:  
The piteous story of Ceix and Altion:  
And the death also of Blaunche the duchess:  
And notably did his business  
By great avise his wits to dispose,  
To translate the Romaynt of the Rose.   

Thus in virtue he set all his intent,  
Idleness and vices for to i'll:  
Of fowls also he wrote the parliament,  
Therein remembering of royal Eagles three,  
How in their choice they felt adversity,  
To fore nature proffered the battle,  
Each for his party if it would avail.   

He did also his diligence and pain  
In our vulgar to translate, and indite  
Or●gene upon the Maudelayn:  
And of the Lyona book he did write.  
Of Annelida and of false Arcite,  
He made a complaint doleful and piteous,  
And of the brooch which that Vulcanus   

At Thebes wrought, full divers of nature.  
ovid writeth: who so thereof had a sight,  
For high desire he should not endure  
But he it had, never be glad ne light:  
And if he had it once in his might,  
Like as my master saith & writeth in deed,  
It to conserve he should ever live in dread   

This poet wrote at the request of the queen  
A legend of perfit holiness,  
Of good women to find out nyntene,  
That did excel in bounty and fairness:  
But for his labour and his business  
Was importable his wits to encumber,  
In all this world to find so great a number   

He made the book of Caunterbury tales  
When the pylgryms road on pilgrimage,  
Through out Kent by hills and by vales,  
And the stories all told in their passage,  
Enditing them full well in our language:  
Some of knighthood, & some of gentleness,  
And some of love, and some of perfectness,   

And some also of great mortality,  
Some of disport, concluding great sentence:  
In prose he wrote the tale of Mellebe,  
And of his wife, that called was Prudence:  
And of Grisildes' perfit patience:  
And how the monk of stories new & old  
Piteous tragedies by the way told.   

This said Poet my master in his days,  
Made and compiled many a fresh ditty,  
Complaints, ballads, roundels, vyrelayes  
Full delectable to hear and to see:  
For which men should of right and equity  
sith he in english in making was the best  
Pray unto god, to give his soul good rest.   

And these poets that I make of mention,  
Were by old time had in great dainty:  
With kings and princes in every region  
Greatly preferred, after their degree.  
For lords had pleasance for to see,  
To study among, and cast their looks  
At good leisure upon wise books.   

For in the time of Cesar Julius,  
When the triumph he won in Rome town  
He enter would the school of Tullius,  
And hear his lecture of great affection:  
And notwithstanding his conquest & renown  
Unto books he gave great attendance,  
And in stories had great joy & pleasance.   

Also in this land I dare affirm a thing:  
There is a prince full mighty of puissaunre,  
A kings son, and uncle to the king  
Henry the sixth which now is in France,  
And is lieutenant, & hath the governance  
Of our britain, through whose discretion  
He hath conserved us in this region:   

During his time of full high prudence  
Peace and quiet han sustained right:  
That notwithstanding his noble providence,  
He is in deed proved a good knight,  
Eyed as Argus with reason and foresight,  
Of high lecture: I dare of him tell,  
And truly dame that he doth excel   

In understanding, all other of his age.  
And hath joy with clerks to commune,  
And no man is more expert in language,  
Stable in study, always he doth contune,  
Setting aside all chances of fortune:  
And where he loveth (if I shall not tarry)  
withouten cause, full loath he is to vary.   

Duke of Gloucester men this prince call.  
And not withstanding his estate & dignity,  
His courage never doth appall  
To study in books of antiquity:  
Therein he hath so great felicity,  
Virtuously himself to occupy,  
Of vicious sloth, he hath the mastery.   

And with his prudence and his manhood  
Truth to sustain, he favour setteth aside:  
And holy church maintaining in deed,  
That in this land no heretic dare abide.  
A very support, uphold, and also guide:  
Spareth none, but maketh himself strong  
To punish all though that do the church wrong.   

Thus is he manly and also wise,  
Chosen of God to be his own knight,  
And of one thing, he hath a singular prize,  
That heretic dare none come in his sight:  
In Christ's faith he standeth so hole upright  
Of holy church defence and champion,  
To chastise all though that do thereto treason.   

And to do pleasance to our Lord Jesus,  
He studieth ever to have intelligence.  
Reading of books, bringeth in virtue,  
Vices excluding, with sloth and negligence,  
Maketh a Prince to have experience  
To know himself in many sundry wise,  
Where he trespasseth his error to chastise.   

And among books, plainly this is the case,  
This said prince considered of reason  
The noble book of this John Bochas  
Was according in his opinion  
Of great noblesse and reputation:  
And unto princes greatly necessary  
To give example how this world doth vary.   

And for these causes as in his intent  
To show the untrust of all worldly thing,  
He gave to me in commandment  
(As him seemed it was right well sitting)  
That I should after my small cunning  
This book translate, him to do pleasance:  
To show the change of worldly variance.   

And with support of his magnificence,  
Under the wings of his correction,  
Though that I lack of eloquence,  
I shall proceed in this translation:  
Fro me avoiding all presumption,  
Lowly submitting every hour and space,  
My rude language to my lords grace.   

And as I have one thing well in mind,  
He bade I should in especial  
Follow mine author, written as I find  
And for no favour be not partial.  
Thus I mean, to speak in general:  
And none estate singularly deprave,  
But the sentence of mine author save.   

All this conceived. I 'gan my style dress,  
Thought I would in my matter proceed:  
And for the matter obreyed heaviness,  
Of fresh colours I took no manner heed.  
But my process plainly for to lead:  
As me seemed it was to me most meet,  
To set apart Rethorykes sweet.   

Ditties of mourning and complaining  
Do not pertain unto Calliope,  
Neither to the muses that on Pernaso sing,  
Which be remembered in numbers thrice three:  
And unto matters of adversity  
With their sugared aureat liquor,  
They be not willing to do favour.   

But of disdain me setting far a back,  
To hinder me of that I would indite,  
Having no colours but only white & black  
To the tragedies which I shall write:  
And for I can myself no better acquit,  
Under the support of all that shall it read  
Upon Bochas right thus I will proceed.   
Finis.   

¶ How Adam and Eve for their Inobedience were put out of Paradise, and lived in sorrow and woe, they and their offspring: And how they standing naked before Bochas, desired him to put their woeful fall first in remembrance.  
¶ The first Chapter.  

When John Bocas considered had & sought  
The woeful fall of mighty conquerors,  
A remembrance entered in his thought,  
reckoning the numbered, of our predecessors:  
And first to mind came the progenitors  
Of all man kind, far yrun in age,  
And toward him holding their passage.   

And as him thought in his in ward sight,  
In their coming full piteously trembling,  
Quaking for age, and for lack of might,  
Their feebleness by signs out showing:  
And one of them first at his coming,  
Our father Adam suddenly abraid,  
And to mine author even thus he said:   

Cousin Bochas I will well that thou lere  
That art so busy to search over all,  
Ofinfortune the manner to inquire,  
Her sudden change turning as a ball  
Of ●●thly princes from their estate rial,  
It is most sitting or we a sondre twin,  
At us twain the process to begin.   

Consider first the lord in his advice,  
When he us made unto his likeness:  
He put us both in to paradise,  
There to have lived in perfect stableness:  
Till the Serpent did his business,  
Of false envy, to make us lose our grace,  
Perpetually to exile us fro that place.   

And when John Bochas naked them beheld,  
Without the hand, formed of nature,  
Of slime of the earth in Damascene the field  
God made them above each creature.  
And for they should perpetually endure,  
By discretion for a prerogative,  
He endued them with a soul of life.   

Perfect of age as men of xxx year:  
Put them after in possession  
Of Paradise, a place most enter,  
And of delights a chosen mansion:  
Where Adam made an imposion  
To fish and to foul, and to these beasts all,  
Of very reason what men should them call.   

Out of a rib while that Adam did sleep,  
Eve was draw full fair of her visage,  
All suddenly, or that he took keep:  
After to him joined in marriage  
For his disport, and his advantage,  
So as the lord first wives did ordain  
Either for help, or increase of pain.   

God unto them gave the sovereignty  
Of paradise, and domination,  
A place fulfilled of all felicity,  
The fruits be all in their subjection,  
Save that of one was made exception:  
Which god forbade (the Bible can devise)  
That they should it touch in no wise.   

All delices in that heavenly place  
God gave to them, and put in their keeping,  
To use them every hour and space  
To their most ease, as was to them liking:  
Blomes, blossoms their fairness ay keeping  
And the fruits alway of one freshness,  
For witer storms might do them no duresse.   

The soil enbrouded full of sa●er flowers,  
There weeds wycke had none interest:  
For god & kind with freshness of colours  
And with their tapites & motles of gladness,  
Had made that place abundant with at sweetness,  
And fresh Flora which is of flowers queen,  
Her livery made of a perpetunal green.   

The trees reached almost to the heaven,  
Which cast about a full pleasant shade,  
That storm, ne rain, thunder, wind, ne Levine,  
No power had their leaves for to fade:  
For ever they were alike fresh and glad:  
And when they list they might see  
In mids of the garden of life the holesume tre   

Which virtue had against all malady,  
Folk to preserve in youth in their freshness:  
Who eat thereof should never die,  
But live ever in joy and gladness:  
And neither feel trouble nor sickness,  
But in that place have alway hearts ease,  
And suffisance of all that might them please.   

Ever endure and never fall in age:  
For which it was called the tre of life.  
But when Adam was fallen in dotage,  
And against god began to hold strife,  
Throuh exciting of her that was his wife,  
And wilfully gave her to assent  
To break the precept & the commandment   

Of god the lord, through wilful negligence  
To approach the tre that bare the name  
The tre of cunning and also of science:  
For of the fruit who that did attame  
He soothly should (the Bible saith the same)  
Of good & evil have cunning in his thought,  
where as toforne of evil he knew right nought   

Thus had they first of evil, experience:  
Which as toforne they knew no wickedness.  
Presumption and inobedience  
Brought them out of joy into wretchedness.  
For afore time (mine author beareth witness)  
Health & goodness were called very life,  
Evil named sickness, first rote of our strife.   

In paradise mine author saith certain,  
The tyvers were so Orient and so fine,  
Like quicksilver boiling up they pleyen:  
And in their ronning very chrystallyne:  
Which from a well heavenly and divine  
In their upsprynging & aveyling down,  
Of all pleasance gave so sweet a sown   

That it would ravish a man's courage.  
Whose balmy colour endued all the place:  
And which the freshness & course of his passage,  
The wholesome air hearts did embrace:  
There was such plenty of pleasance & of grace,  
That every spice, herb, grain, and rote,  
Were foanden growing in that garden sote,   

And there was a delectable sound  
Of song of brides in their ermony:  
The air was clean from all corruption,  
For therein engendered was no malady.  
There was all mirth, there was all melody,  
Of joy and bliss sovereign suffisance,  
With all that may to hearts do pleasance.   

And of clerks like as it is told,  
In their books as they determine,  
thou in his sphere the sun manifold,  
Was of more virtue & more clear did shine  
Than it doth now in his mighty line.  
The moan whiter with her beams clear,  
And every star brighter did appear.   

Every thing was there more virtuous  
Than they be now, who can behold and see,  
For in that place there was nothing noyous,  
But perfect gladness knit unto surety,  
perpetual peace joy and prosperity:  
And in that bliss to make more strong,  
To their comfort god spoke to them among   

Of his goodness he bore them company:  
showed unto them his gracious presence,  
Angels also their state to magnify,  
Among, to serve them, did their diligence,  
In divers offices with humble reverence:  
And nature wrought for the nonce  
Of rial purpill and rich stones,   

Tissues of gold and other ornaments  
For to environ their bodily beauty:  
Shaping to them such manner garnimentes  
As angels use in their felicity.  
Naked they were fairest on to see,  
For while they stood in state of innocence,  
They had of clothing none experience.   

And of their bliss to make mention,  
And of their joys that were celestial,  
There may be made no comparison  
Of no joy which is temporal,  
Which should have be lasting and immortal  
Ever to have lived in mirth and gladness,  
Save again reason of very wilfulness   

They banished themself out of that blissful life  
When Adam gave credence to a snake,  
And wretchedly 'gan trust on his wife,  
Which 'gan the apple of the serpent take,  
And pleasantly did a present make  
Unto Adam, as she that first began  
Death to devise, and poison unto man.   

But as their joy was incomparable,  
Greatest their lordship of all earthly thing,  
So their fall was to them importable.  
For he that was all other surmounting,  
In Paradise reigning as a king,  
Was it not a dedelye mortal pain,  
Fro thilk place to have a fall sudden▪   

For thilk sorrow surmounteth all sorrow  
Which next followeth felicity:  
No woe more grievous at even ne at morrow,  
As is in deed sudden adversity,  
Which cometh unwarely after prosperity.  
Ne nothing may more hearts disavance,  
Than of old joy new remembrance.   

Taketh ensample of Adam and of Eve,  
Maketh of them a mirror in your mind,  
Whether of reason it did them greatly grieve  
For to be put, alas, so far behind?  
Out of that bliss they and all their kind,  
Changing the state of immortality  
And became subject to death and poverty.   

Their sudden change & unware mischief,  
And their unhappy transmutation  
It was to them full uncouth and unlefe  
For to departed fro thilk manlion,  
That was so full of delectation:  
Fro such delights suddenly to go  
Into this world which is so full of wo.   

There is delight, and here sorrow and care,  
There is joy, and here is heaviness,  
There is plenty, and here is evil fare,  
There is health, and here is great sickness:  
Here trouble ay menged with unsure gladness,  
There is ay bliss and eternal glory,  
And here is mirth, but false and transitory.   

Alas, how they were blinded in their sight  
Through vainglory and false ambition.  
They went wrong they looked not a right:  
False covetise was their confusion,  
wherethrough they lost the domination  
Of Paradise, and was both poor & thrall,  
Their freedom lost and became mortal.   

Unto god they would have be semblable,  
Like unto him good and evil to know:  
And in their trust for they were not stable,  
From their estate they were brought full low.  
And thus the seed was first ysowe,  
The rote planted of disobeysaunce,  
Which brought out lineage to sorrow & mischance.   

Thus came in first through inobedience,  
As by a gate, poverty and need:  
And at their back followeth indigence,  
Sorrow, sickness, malady, and dread,  
Exile, banishing, and servitude in deed:  
Which caused man long to contune  
Under the lordship and danger of fortune.   

Thus came in also malady, and death,  
To despoil mankind of his beauty:  
Long sickness, and pestilence that slayeth  
By sudden stroke, which the no man may fly.  
For unto Adam and his posterity  
Death was annexed by succession,  
For his offence, and so conveyed down   

For man to man in every manner age.  
For who so list know, sin brought in shame,  
Man to be feeble and faint in his passage.  
And by process to wax halt and lame:  
Unto Adam this was an uncouth game,  
To be constrained in such apparel  
In barren earth to seek his victual.   

In hunger and thirst here he had his life,  
With sweet and labour and tribulations:  
Endured also many a mortal stiff  
Of hot and cold, right strong passions  
Of elements sudden mutations,  
Wind, hail and rain, fearful falling  
And unware strokes of thunder & lightning.   

They stood also in damage and in dread  
Of cruel beasts, Tigers, and lions,  
And of wild bears who so taketh heed,  
And in great fear of these fell dragons:  
The assault of dragons and of Scorpions.  
For thilk beasts, that toforne were mild,  
After their sinning full ragy were & wild.   

And where they stood first in sikernesses  
Of joy and bliss, ever in one lasting:  
Out of their rest they fill in unsurenesse,  
In sorrow, & sighing, & dolours complaining.  
And fro their eyen continually weeping,  
The bitter tears day by day distill,  
In this desert, for wanting of their wil   

And whether were they sorrowful or feign,  
Long time after their desolation,  
When they found Abel their own son slain  
By cruel Cain to his confusion▪  
The same Cain as made is mention,  
After that time wild was & vagabound,  
Till blind Lameth gave him his deaths wound.   

Adam nor Eve afore that ilk time  
Had never seen no feast funeral.  
It was of change to them a new prime,  
For to behold a thing disnatural:  
brethren of one womb by hatred eternal,  
The one of hate so far himself divide,  
Of false malice to be an homicide.   

And it was routh when that they stood  
For to behold their son all deed,  
Laid on the ground, and bathed in his blood,  
And all the soil where he lay was read:  
That when Adam and Eve took heed  
It was to them full great adversity,  
The new slaughter to behold and se.   

And ever among their sighs hard & sore,  
The bitter weeping and sorrows to advance,  
Or they were aware their hairs wox hoar,  
And age began their beauty disavance.  
Their youth also by full great displeasance,  
Began to appal or they it could aspye,  
By cruel constraint and force of malady.   

And of youth fallen was their flower,  
By the process of many hundred years:  
And by the duresse of great labour,  
They wax unlusty, & ugly of their cheers.  
Of age and death these ben the dangers,  
To say checkmate in nature it is couth,  
Unto beauty and green lusty youth.   

For when the years fully passed be  
Of flowering age, lasting a season,  
By process (at eye men may see)  
beauty declineth, his blossoms fall adoune,  
And little and little by succession  
cometh crooked eld, unwarely in creeping,  
With his potent full poorly manassing.   

Thus to our father that called was Adam  
Of creatures fairest of all feire,  
After great travail by process in he came,  
And began unwarely ascend upon the steyre  
With his potent, and cast him to repair  
With Atropose which afore shall gone,  
For to attwin his lives thread anon.   

And in Ebron was made his sepulture:  
There after was builded a mighty great city,  
By whose story and record of nature  
I may conclude who list to see,  
That never man had liberty  
Sithen that Adam our lord 'gan disobey,  
Against death, but that he must obey.   

In complaining mine author John Bochas  
Full piteously, in his advertence,  
Bewepeth, waileth, and oft sayeth alas,  
In apple there was so great offence,  
That for a taste of inobedience  
Adam, alas, should have so great a fall,  
So suddenly to die and be mortal.   

Which example ought enough suffice,  
In all this world though there were no more:  
To exemplify to folks that been wise,  
How this world is a throwfare full of wo.  
Like false Fortune that turneth to and fro,  
To make folks when they most clearly shine  
In their estates, unwarely to decline.   

For though that they their hedes lift a loft,  
High as Phoebus shineth in his sphere,  
Think themself (as it falleth oft)  
Their renown reacheth above the stars clear  
And how they surmount every sphere,  
Their trust corrupt hath a sudden fall,  
For to declare you they been mortal.   

O worldly folk advert and yene intent,  
What vengeance and what punition  
God shall take in his judgment  
For your trespass and your transgression,  
Which break his precepts again all reason:  
Ye have forgotten how with his precious blood  
You for to save he died upon the Rood.   

For if Adam for his disobeisaunce  
Was by the lord as him list ordain,  
Made first, & form with every circumstance,  
Of creatures to be most sovereign,  
If that he was embraced in the chain  
Of servitude, with children overseen,  
what shall I than of other folks sein●   

That live here in this desert of sorrow▪  
In this exise, of pleasance desolate▪  
And in this world both even and morrow  
Of heartily joy stonte disconsolate▪  
All destitute and also infortunate,  
And forpossed with woe and worldly trouble,  
Ever variable and full of changes double.   

Ye not intend but to false covetise,  
To fraud, berret, and extortion:  
Again god in many divers wise,  
Again your neighbour by false collusion,  
To do him wrong and oppression:  
And worst of all, ye retch not by sin  
To slay your soul, worldly good to win.   

And if it fall your power to be but small  
To accomplish your avarice in deed,  
Your sinful will assenteth over all,  
Thing to desire of which ye may not speed:  
And thus false lust doth your bridle lead,  
Trust in having so sore you doth assail,  
Falsely afered the world should you fail.   

And if god benign and debonair  
With his yard of castigation  
Chastiseth you but easily and fair,  
Ye grudge against his correction:  
Nothing averting in your discretion,  
How god not bad us (who can take heed)  
For to strive ne wrastel in deed.   

Neither our strength, ne our might to appli  
Upon the beast monstrous and savage,  
which called is the Chimere of Licy,  
Specially when he is in his rage:  
which monster had to his advantage  
Heed of a lion as books determine,  
Womb of a goat, and tail serpentyne,   

Which was outrayed of Bellyferon,  
As old poets make mention:  
Neither god bade not that men should gone  
In to Colchos to conquer with Jason  
The Flees of gold, which in that region  
With fiery bulls of metal made of brass,  
And by a dragon full straightly kept was.   

God bade us not our countries for to let,  
To underfang things that been impossible:  
The Mynotaur for to slay in Crete,  
Half man half bull if it be credible:  
Which was a monster hateful and audible.  
Suntime brought forth in books ye may see  
By Minos wife, called Pasyphae.   

Whose story teacheth, if thou list to here,  
This ugly beast and monstrous  
Through Ariadne the king's daughter dear  
Was sumtime slain by duke Theseus,  
Within a cave made by Dedalus.  
God biddeth us plainly for his sake,  
So great emprise for to undertake.   

He biddeth us not to be so reckless  
In perilous deeds that been martial,  
Us to jeopardy, as did Hercules,  
Which by the bidding in especial  
Of Euristeus the mighty king royal:  
Lords of Athens to make their honour shine,  
Learned of arms the famous discipline.   

Of these precepts if we have a sight,  
And remembered of his high bounty,  
He us commandeth things that be light,  
For to accomplish with all humility:  
From our courage to avoid all vanity,  
And from our hearts to exclude idleness  
And this false change of all worldly gladness.   

For unto a man that perfit is and stable  
(By good reason mine auctor doth well prove)  
There is nothing more fair ne agreeable,  
Than finally his vicious life to leave.  
On very god rightfully to believe:  
Him love & worship above all earthly things  
This passeth victory of Emperors & kings.   

The Lord biddeth also who so can discern,  
Of enter love to do our labour  
In this life here, so our life shall govern,  
To father & mother that we do due honour,  
And in their need to do them succour:  
And in all virtue our friends to comfort,  
And to our power in grace them support.   

For in this world is nothing more perfit  
Neither taccomplish thing of more pleasance,  
Than a man for to have delight  
In little good to have suffisance:  
And to be content in his governance,  
Avoid avarice, and think ever among  
To his neighbour that he do no wrong.   

Not to covet his goods in no wise:  
Himself govern like to his estate,  
Not to exceed, but fly and also despise  
All manner love which is disordinate:  
Himself preserve from contecke & debate.  
And specially to esche we it is good  
Slaughter, & murder, & shedding of blood.   

Fly from his sin, and hate for to lie:  
O fold offences among have repentance.  
And to esche we all scorn and malory:  
Against vices do alms and penance.  
And to have most sovereignly pleasance  
To sew the paths of our Lord Jesus,  
True exemplary of grace and virtue.   

Which for our sake, and our redemption,  
And for our love, was nailed on a tre:  
Suffered pain and cruel passion,  
And nothing asketh of high & low degree,  
Recompensed againward for to be,  
But that we set all holy our intents  
For to fulfil his commandments.   

And of his grace here in this mortal life,  
As we precel of wisdom and reason,  
And of his gift have a prerogative  
Tofore all beasts by discretion,  
Therefore let us of hole intention  
As we of reason, beasts far exceed  
Let us be before them in word, example, & deed.   

Ground ourself first upon humility,  
Our pompous eyen meekly to unclose:  
incline our hearts & so conceive and see,  
All worldly wealth shall fade as a rose:  
And of meek heart let us ourself dispose  
By this tragedy to have knowledging  
Of our mischief how rote and beginning   

Was the vice of inobedience,  
Surquidy, and false disobeisaunce,  
As mine anctour hath showed in sentence.  
Emprinteth it well in your remembrance,  
Be ware the serpent with disceivance,  
The flesh, the world, your enemies all three,  
Through their trains ye nat deceived be.   

Your best shield to make resistance  
Against their power, soothly is meekness:  
Your haburion most mighty of defence  
The fiends power to venquish & oppress,  
It is to remember devoutly with lownes  
How meekly Christ to pay our taunsum,  
Suffered on cross death and passion.   

Thereby men may that prudent ben & wise,  
The joys claim which been eternal:  
And entre again into Paradise  
Fro whence Adam by pride had a fall.  
To which place above celestial,  
O Christ Jesus so bring us to that glory  
Which by thy death hadst the victory.   

Lenuoye.  

Sudden departing out of this felicity,  
Into misery and mortal heaviness,  
Unware depriving out of prosperity,  
Change of gladness into wretchedness,  
Long languishing in woe and bitterness,  
Continuell sorrow, dread, dole, & pestilence,  
Were first brought in by inobedience.   

Adam and Eve lost their liberty,  
Their franchise, and their blessedness:  
Put in exile and captivity  
To live in woe, labour, and pensiveness,  
Through false desire and pompous wilfulness  
To the serpent when they gave credence,  
The lord mistrusting through inobedience.   

But O alas, where as they were free,  
Of joy eternal stood in sekernes,  
They were to blind alas it was pity  
To leave their rest, and live in wetines,  
All their offspring to bring in distress,  
Drawing fro God his due reverence  
Through false consenting to inobedience.   

Wherefore ye princes advisedly doth see  
(As this tragedy in manner beareth witness)  
Where as wanteth in any comonalte  
Subjection, for lacking of meekness,  
And with poor, pride hath an enteresse:  
There followeth after through froward insolence,  
Among the people false inobedience.   

And noble princes which have the sovereinte  
To govern the people in right wiseness,  
Like as ye cherish them in peace & unite,  
Or frowardly destroy them or oppress:  
So againward their courages well dress  
Lowly to obey to your magnificence,  
Or disobey by inobedience.     

Che ii Chapter.  
¶ How Nembroth bylt the tower of Babylon to save him fro Noyes stood, which for his pride was put fro his magnificence, and his tower with sudden leaven smitten down.  

Mine author Bochas lightly overyode  
The vengeances, & mischiefs huge  
Which that God took with Noyes flood  
When he sent an universal deluge:  
Against which there was no refuge,  
Save viii persons in that mortal woe  
Which in a ship were saved, and no more.   

Wherefore mine author lightly overgoth,  
Maketh of that age no special mention,  
But passeth over from Adam to Nembroth,  
Considering how in that deadly chance,  
The lord for sin took so great vengeance,  
That by writing of stories, no victory  
Of high ne low was left to memory.   

For there was laft chronicle none ne book,  
After, that made mention  
Of none author, who so list to look:  
For all was brought to destruction  
By a deluge, without any exception.  
For which mine author transported his stile,  
And of that time list nothing compile.   

He found no matter whereon he might found,  
Nor set his foot by none authority,  
Neither no truth his purpose on to ground,  
Of old writing that he could se:  
For which him thought of necessity  
The surplusage of all that time let,  
And after Adam with Nembroth for to mete.   

And certes like as Bochas in his book  
Remembreth first of Adam the story,  
So next in order he the story took  
To speak of Nembroth, and his surquedy:  
Which hear first (as books specify)  
After the flood his waves 'gan assuage,  
Was made a lord, to govern in that age.   

For when the flood began to decrece,  
And God his vengeance 'gan to molifye,  
Withdraw his hand, the water though 'gan caesar  
Upon the mountains high of Ermonye,  
The ship 'gan rest, the Bible can not lie.  
And in that age called the second,  
Lineage of man 'gan first to abound.   

To increase again and to multiply,  
And by dyscent in books ye may see  
Specified the genelogye:  
How that one Chus cousin to Noah,  
A man that time of great auctorritie,  
Unto this Nembroth, the story doth assure  
The father was as by ingendrure.   

This Nembroth was mighty, large, & long,  
Excelling other as of his stature,  
Surquedous, hardy, and right strong,  
And in his time great labour might endure:  
And in his force to much he did assure,  
And yet was none on water ne on land  
Which durst his power presume to withstand.   

And his noblesse more to magnify,  
In worldly worship by report of his glory,  
He was called chief prince of venery,  
Desirous ever to have the victory  
Of beasts wild: to be put in memory,  
And have a price among these champions.  
Tigers to daunt, eke boors and Lions,   

There was no beast in woods so savage,  
That durst against him make resistance:  
His furious ire so mortal was on rage:  
The earth quoke for fear of his presence:  
Till at the last in his advertence,  
As a prince devoyed of all grace,  
Against god he began to compass.  
He made a manner conjuration  
This froward Giant, and a conspiracy,  
Took his counseyl by false collusion,  
His might, his power, for to multiply:  
And his estate for to glorify,  
Thought he would of his intent not fail,  
God, and heaven, proudly to assail.   

That namely God which governeth all,  
He thought he would proudly take on hand,  
Against deluges if any come shall,  
Of providence, plainly them withstand:  
Himself to assure, & make a place on land  
That should him keep, and be to a defence  
Both against god and waters violence.   

And that they might accomplish their intent,  
Like their desire they did their labour:  
Took their counsel all by one assent,  
Chose Nembroth their duke & governor  
Them to convey, and do them succour:  
To be their guide to forne, as they were ware,  
Toward a country called Sinear,   

In compass wise round about yclosed  
With a great stood, named Eufrates:  
Their strong folly which they have purposed,  
For to fulfil they were not reckless,  
This is to say, they put themself in press  
So high a tour for to edify,  
which should surmount above the sterry sky.   

That they should grieved be no more,  
With no deluge brought to destruction:  
Neither that no waters may then grieve sore,  
This was the fine of their intention.  
And of that tower a mighty strong dungeon  
Against God and floods themself to assure,  
The height and largeness both of a measure.   

Thus in Nembroth increase began the name,  
And in the people's reputation  
Of gold, and richesses, he had so great a fame,  
They called him God in their opinion:  
Most eurous, most mighty of renown.  
The world also hole under his obeisance.  
As God and lord he took the governance.   

Under whose might the people 'gan proceed,  
He as a lord having inspection,  
piercing the bowels of the earth in deed,  
To make mighty their foundation:  
And of false glory and vain false ambition,  
This proud Nembroth in his appetite,  
To see them work hath full great delight.   

His joy was and his inward gladness,  
To behold so great a company  
Persen the earth by so great deepness,  
To make the ground strong by masonry,  
The work upward for to fortify  
With many a stone, huge & large of weight,  
They have it raised up into the air on height.   

And finally, by mediation  
Of this great work, Nembroth was famous,  
Taking in heart great consolation  
That by report he was so glorious:  
Of so great might, and port so pompous,  
That he was so mighty, rich and strong,  
To rease a tower so high, so large, and long.   

For to this day touching the great might  
Of this tower which Babel men it call,  
Men fro far may have thereof a sight,  
It surmounteth other towers all:  
Of which work, thus it is befall,  
Of serpents and many a great dragon,  
It is now called chief habitation.   

That no man dare as they it see  
For wicked eyre, and for corruption,  
By a great space and in a great country,  
Approach no near the marvelous dungeon:  
So venomous was that mansion  
And so horrible, that no man dare approach,  
Like to a mountain builded on a roche.   

And as men say that had thereto repair,  
This tower attaineth unto the stars clear,  
And transcendeth the region of the air,  
The stones and the siment were made of such matter  
And the joining so steadfast & entire,  
Though fire and water both did it assail,  
Little or nought their power should avail.   

It was made so mighty to endure,  
So well assured by disposition,  
That in this world no living creature  
Saw never none like in comparison,  
Whose rering up was chief occasion,  
And the riches of the masonry  
Were through Nembroth of pride & surquedy.   

Deemed proudly as in his avise,  
He transcended all other in noblesse:  
Thought himself most mighty and wise,  
Fellow to God as in likeness.  
But God that can all worldly pride oppress  
And make princes eclypsen in their glory,  
Such as trust in things transitory,   

The same lord of his eternal might,  
This tower which Nembroth list to edify,  
He made with thunder and levyn light,  
Thereof to fall a full great party:  
The boisterous winds and the ragy sky,  
And god's power on that other side,  
Began thus abate a parcel of his pride.   

And in descent, and falling of the stones,  
Of the workmen full many a man was deed,  
And oppressed, their back broken and bones,  
The masonry with their blood was reed:  
Yet proud Nembroth that of all this was head,  
With all these signs his lord list not know,  
For which his pomp was after brought fullowe   

But in his error proceedeth forth of new,  
Thought he would get himself a name.  
Of melancholy can change look and hew,  
And began also to attempt and atame  
For to increase and magnify his fame,  
A new tower to edify again,  
Like as God had been blind & nothing seen.   

He would have reached up to the stars seven  
By thassent of them that can him first counsel,  
Rob god, and from him reached the heaven:  
But who presumeth the lord above t'assail,  
It were no reason that he should avail.  
princes may well against him cry loud,  
But his power may eclipse with no cloud.   

For in the mids of his great emprises  
This proud Nembroth making his masons  
For to compass and cast their devices,  
Geometries in their divisions,  
But God that hath his aspections  
saying thintents of every earthly man,  
As he that is most mighty, and best can   

Against their malice make resistance,  
Their worldly power, their domination,  
Of his vengeable and most magnificence,  
He can chastise, and over whelm down  
The pride of princes in every region:  
By ensample of Nembroth as ye shall here,  
Whose pomp reached above the stars clear.   

For when his workmen stood at advantage,  
And most were busy to his intention,  
And before that time spoke all on language,  
All suddenly by transmutation,  
There was of tongues made a division:  
That in their working as they can obrayde▪  
No man wist what that other said.   

And it is like according with reason,  
So as change was made of their languages,  
So of their hearts was made division,  
Both of their will, and of their corrages:  
And in ascending of their working stages,  
There was such channge of brother unto brother  
Like strangers none knew th'intent of other.   

Mine author troweth that this adversity  
Was for their gilt caused by uègaunce,  
Or else God of tight and equity  
Disposed hath in his ordinance,  
To be among them so great a variance,  
That through the world they should themselves divide  
And fro Nembroth dissever, & not abide.   

They 'gan anon among themselves disdain  
To accept this Nembroth for their king,  
And among forsooth there was not twain,  
One of another that had clear knowing,  
Ne of their speech knew the plain meaning:  
For which the country of Senaar they forsook,  
And each of them a sundry country took.   

They departed and made no longer space,  
Following the fortune of their division:  
And begun to cheese them a new dwelling place  
In the parties of many a region.  
And thus Nembroth was prived & put down,  
And of Babel the mighty famous tour,  
He was called no longer possessor.   

For against the pride of this Nembroth  
Froward fortune 'gan her course to vary,  
And God also was in manner worth,  
Of surquedie that he was so contrary:  
And for the place was wild and solitary  
Of this Senaar, and furious savage.  
Nembroth 'gan to feeble & fall in great age.   

And yet some books of him specify,  
He waxed froward of his condition,  
And was first ground of idolatry,  
And finder up of false religion:  
Causing people to have an opinion  
Gods to worship in Panimes wise,  
Founder of rights, and of false sacrifice.   

Toward Perce cheese his dwelling place,  
The which country is in the Orient,  
That his lordship should stretch a great space  
He bounded him into the Occident:  
For Perce land hath his extent  
Toward the parties of the Reed see.  
And this land Pierce who so list to see   

As books old remember & put in mind,  
How that Perce costeth environ  
Septemtrion, and the great Ind,  
And many another mighty region:  
Where Nembroth had first domination.  
Which extendeth as books specify,  
Out of Mede into Germanye.   

But in lordships as mine author sayeth,  
Without that virtue be their true guide,  
In them there is suraunce none ne faith.  
Thing that passeth may no while abide.  
Wherefore Bochas in a spite of pride,  
And in rebuking of all folks proud,  
Making his complaint crieth to them full loud.    

The iii Chapter.  
¶ An exclamation of Bochas against all proud men, showing how God may them and their pride abate when him best list, by many divers means and ways punish and chaslyce.  

ME all proud, most ryal in your flowers,  
Which that most trust to reign long,  
Dresseth up your roches and your towers,  
And against God make yourself strong:  
And let your power proudly underfang,  
Yourself with pride for to magnify,  
Against the heaven to hold the champarty:   

build up your castles, raise them up tyghte,  
Of Adamantes with iron strong ybound,  
With square stones, large and huge of height,  
Raise up your walls most mighty & profound  
And shit your dungeons which mighty chenes round,  
Let men of arms (who ever wake or sleep)  
Night and day your watch so straightly keep   

As god ne man in your opinions  
Your fortresses might not assail,  
Your Castles, ne your strong dungeons,  
Stuffed with men & plenty of victual,  
Like to stand ever and never for to fail:  
As god not might against your false puissance.  
When ever him list of right to do vengeance.   

Set afore your eyen that been blind  
The monstrous work of great Babilone:  
The pride of Nembroth that was put behind,  
Maugre his might, & his tower smyt down:  
For all the craft of workmen and mason  
Destroyed was with a sudden leaven,  
To avenge his pride sent a down fro heaven.   

For though your strengths so assured be  
That none engine may thereto attain,  
Gun ne Bumberdes by no subtlety,  
Shot of arowblast, ne touch of dundayne,  
Yet god that is lord and sovereign  
Which lyche deserts can both spill & save,  
May confound it with an earth quave.   

Mine author asketh what castle or tower  
May be so strong made in any wise,  
But that by mean of some false traitor,  
Or by some way that he can devise,  
It may be lost, or sold for covetise:  
And delivered for all the strong bonds,  
Into the power of their enemy's hands,   

Or by some other sudden adventure.  
Castles & cities and many a rich town,  
Have be lost, they might not them assure  
For to resist against false treason:  
some have be lost also by rebellion  
And all these means the truth to begin,  
Is but punishing which god sent for sin.   

God hath a thousand hands to chastise,  
A thousand darts of punition,  
A thousand bows made in divers wise,  
I thousand arowblastes bend in his dungeon,  
Ordained echeon for castigation:  
But where he findeth meekness & repentance,  
Mercy is mistress of his ordinance.   

Ye that been wise considereth how the rote  
Of vices all is pride, ye may well see:  
Pulleth him down, and putteth underfoot,  
And taketh your council of humility:  
And if ye list to stand in surety,  
buildeth in heart for more sickerness  
A tower of virtues, grounded on meekness.   

Whose masonry is of no costage,  
Of virtues ground and sovereign:  
Blasts of winds and of weders rage,  
Neither no tempest hasty ne sudden,  
Pomp ne blast, though they do their pain,  
This virtue meekness for to undermine,  
They be to feeble to make her to incline.   

For where meekness is grounded verily,  
Though he sometime feel adversity,  
He passeth over, and suffereth patiently,  
And venquisheth all manner enmity.  
The assault also and the contrariosite  
Of infortune and of worldly trouble,  
And of victory conquereth a Palm double.   

And though meekness amids the floods flow  
Of worldly mischief and persecution,  
While patience in her boat doth row  
though froward waves toss her up and down,  
A calm shall follow of consolation:  
When stern winds their blasts have laid low  
The name of meekness shall show & be well know:   

She may be troubled, but overcome never:  
And for a time she may suffer were,  
But at the end she vanquisheth ever,  
On land and see whether she be near or far,  
To the hau●● of life she was the load star,  
I take record of the humility,  
Of Mary so blessed mote she be.   

The rote of meekness flowereth up so fair  
Whose beauty dreadeth no tribulations,  
In summer ne winter her flowers not apayre,  
And her fruit lasteth in all manner seasons:  
Pride may assail with his bostful sows,  
And finally for her increase of glory,  
With humbleness she winneth the victory.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

Ofolkes' all that this tragedy's read,  
Haveth to me keen among your advertence  
Of proud Nembroth also taketh heed,  
How that he fell from his magnificence,  
Only for he by sturdy violence,  
List of malice the mighty lord assail.  
But in such case what might his pride avayli   

Noble princes which this world do possede,  
Ye that be famous of wisdom and science,  
And have so many subjects that you dread,  
In governance under your excellence:  
Let your power with meekness so dispense,  
That false pride oppress not the poreyle,  
Which to your nobles so much may avail.   

Pride of Nembroth did the bridal lead,  
Which him conveyed with great insolence:  
Pride appertaineth nothing to manhood,  
Save in arms to show his presence:  
Wherefore honour, laud, and reverence  
Be to meekness, that hath the governaile  
Of all virtues, which man may most avail.     

The four Chapter.  
How many years was betwixt Adam and Nembroth, and bitwixte Nembroth and Cadmus, & of other kings.  

THese old poets with their saws sweet,  
Full covertly in their verses do feign  
How old Saturn was suntimne king of Crete,  
And of custom did his busy pain,  
And of his goodness list to ordain  
That he should as of his nature  
Echon devour, as by his ingendrue.   

In this matter shortly to sojourn,  
To understand of poets the process,  
They mean plainly that this word Saturn  
Doth in itself nothing but Time express:  
And Philosophers bear also witness,  
That as in tune forth every thing is brought,  
So time ayenward bringeth all to nought.   

clerks also record in their writing  
Under support as I dare rehearse,  
How that fire wasteth every thing:  
And iron herd doth nesh things pierce.  
If aught abideth that they may not transuerce,  
Yet cometh time and by continuance,  
It all consumeth with his sharp lance.   

His sharp tooth of consumption  
In still wise doth his busy cure  
For to aneantise in conclusion  
All thing that is brought forth by nature.  
By long abiding ye may then not assure:  
For old things devoured men may see,  
Far out of mind, as they never had be.   

Who can or may remember in any wise,  
The glorious prowess of these princes old▪  
Or the noblesse of Philosopher's wise▪  
Or of poets their feigning to unfold▪  
Process of years, alas (as I you told)  
Devoured hath their name & their noblesse,  
darked their renown by forgetfulness.   

Thus of their names is left no memory,  
Time with his razor hath done so great vengeance,  
shaven away the honour & glory  
Of many noble, full mighty of puissance:  
That there is left now no remembrance  
Of princes, poets, ne Philosophers.  
For when y● death nailed them in their coffers   

came time upon, and by process of years,  
Their memory hath dusked & their mind:  
And revolution of the heavenly spheres,  
By oft turning, their glory hath left behind.  
Thus every thing which subject is to kind,  
Is in this life without more advantage,  
wasted with time and process of long age.   

In the first time from Adam to No  
Prudent listers which list in books to read,  
Found of fortune no mutability:  
Neither of her change they took the no heed.  
But from Adam there reckoned been in deed  
Unto Nembroth by turning of the heaven  
A thousand years vii hundred and eleven.   

In which space who that considereth well,  
There been no things written in especial  
dign of memory, ne spoken of never a del,  
which that been notable ne historial:  
But fro the time Nembroth had a fall,  
Unto Cadmus the years to contain,  
They were a. M. iiii. hundred and fourteen.   

touching this Cadmus as Bochas list indite,  
It is rehearsed b● Rethoriens  
How one Vexores in books as they writ,  
was made first a king of the Egipciens,  
when Philosophers and nigromanciens  
Began first tabounde their renown tavaunce,  
Nachor the time having the governance   

Of the Hebrews, as made is mention.  
After Nembroth by true rehearsal,  
Three hundred year by computation,  
Four score & xii which time it is no fail  
That Vexores begun wars & great battle  
Of volunt against strange nations,  
And to conquer Cities, boroughs, & towns   

By force only, without title of right:  
He won all Egypt to increase his name,  
But for all that who list to have a sight,  
There is now left no report of his fame,  
Save Bochas writeth how he first did attame  
His mighty conquest of intention,  
That the glory and the high renown   

Ascrived were unto his worthiness:  
And the residue and surplusage  
Of gold & treasure of good and of richesse,  
Turn should to common advantage  
Of all his people, that every manner age  
Report might it was to him more near  
Above singularity, his common to prefer.   

Also Tanais of Cithie first king,  
When Sarneke was duke and sovereign  
Over the jews, by record of writing  
Two hundred year xl also and twain  
After Nembroth, this Tanais 'gan ordain  
A mighty power & a strong battle,  
Them of Cithye proudly to assail.   

Conquering from thence unto the isle  
Called Ponte, in a full cruel wise:  
And though his lordship lasted but a while  
All that he won was for covetise.  
And as Bochas doth of this folk devise,  
Process of years for all their great puissance,  
Hath put their names out of remembrance.   

Zoroaster also for all his great might  
Of Bactrians king and possessor,  
Lord of Trace, and a full mighty knight,  
Of all his deeds and his great labour,  
Of his conquest, ne of his great honour,  
Is nothing left of writing us before,  
Save that he lough the hour that he was borne.   

He began full soon for to be merry  
With sudden laughter at his nativity:  
And worthy Ninus, that was king of Assiry  
exponed his laughter to great felicity.  
The which Ninus won many a fair country,  
And day by day his power 'gan increase,  
For which he would not of his conquest cease.   

For this is the manner of these conquerors,  
When they have had in arms victory,  
Do their might, their pain, & their labours  
With new emprises to be put in memory:  
For their courage surprised with vain glory,  
Can not be still content in their estate,  
Till their Parady say to them checkmate.   

Fortune of arms (in books ye may read)  
With a false laughter on folks doth smile:  
She froward ever ere they can take heed,  
Of nature will falsely them beguile:  
Conquest by war lasteth but a while,  
For who by death doth sturdy violence,  
God will by death his vengeance recompense.   

This worthy Ninus 'gan mightily prevail,  
Against zoroasters of whom I spoke tofore:  
For he with him fought last in battle,  
In which Ninus hath him so well ybore  
That zoroaster hath the field ylore.  
And he was author as books specify  
Of false magic, and nigromancy.   

He fond the nature of every element,  
Their kindly working, & their mutations:  
The course of stars, and of the firmament,  
Their influences, their dispositions,  
Their aspects and their conjunctions:  
Wrote in pillars devised of metal,  
The seven sciences called liberal.   

Also in pillars of brick full hard ybake,  
There were up set, long, large and huge,  
He began also write them and undertake,  
To make them sure as for their refuge:  
That they should by flood, ne deluge  
Defaced been as of their scripture,  
But in their graving perpetual endure.   

But though zoroaster these crafts out fond,  
Full little ornought it might to him avail:  
And though he were a good knight of his hand,  
He was of Ninus slain in batrayle,  
Lost his realm, and royal apparel:  
And Ninus died within a little throw,  
But in what wise, the story is not know.   

Also Moydes king of Sodom,  
I find of him no memory by writing,  
Save in a story as men may read and see,  
He and his people were freell in living:  
But he that was of Assiriens king,  
Through false Fortune that can so oft vary  
To Babylon made them tributary.   

We have seen and red also,  
The vengeance and the pestilence  
Done in Egypt to king Pharaoh:  
For that he made a manner resistance  
Against God, of wilful insolence.  
Therefore his people upon a day and he,  
Were drow eachone in mids of the see.   

The people of God led by Moses,  
Without trouble of any manner wawe,  
Went eachone in quiet and in peace:  
And Pharaoh as he 'gan after draw  
Them to pursue, by a full mortal law,  
In his pursuit forward was attaint,  
Among the waves with his host and dreynt.   

In Exodi ben these mentions,  
Ceriouslye put in remembrance.  
The. xii, plagues and persecutions  
In Egypt done, by full great vengeance,  
And of their treasure & their great substance  
They were despoiled by Hebrews (it is told)  
Of their vessels, of silver, and of gold.   

Out of Egypt full great treasure they lad,  
Such as then thought might most them avail:  
And Pharaoh I find that he had  
Two hundred chares enarmed for battle,  
Them to pursue and proudly to assail:  
And fifty thousand in whom was no lack  
Of men of arms, following on horseback.   

Two. C. thousand of footmen him about,  
And of Egypt all his chivalry:  
And Pharaoh with all his great rout,  
Began Israel pursue of envy.  
But for his pride and false surquedy,  
He and his people were drowned everichone  
Of all his number was left not one.   

His froward heart against God indurate,  
Fulfilled of malice and obstinacy,  
And in his purpose proud and obstinate:  
These foul vices or he could them espy  
From his glory and his regally,  
He was down (though he tofore was crowned)  
Amid the sea among his people drowned.   

Of Ogiges' king of Thebes.  

ANother Prince called Ogygus,  
King of Thebes as books determine:  
And founder was, thus Bochas telleth us  
Of a city called Eleusyne.  
Which stout in Grece, whose power to decline  
There fill a flood in that regyoun  
Which overflowed many a royal town.   

And in Cithia that did most damage,  
Time of jacob patriarch notable:  
And this deluge with his waves rage  
Slew lords many, & princes honourable.  
For dame Fortune is so deceivable,  
That she sumtime when she list disdain,  
Can folk assail with a flood sudden.   

This flood also where it did assail,  
Wasted corns both crop and rote:  
Caused also scarcity of victual,  
That many a man felt full unsote.  
The poor not wist where to find boat,  
For their princes surprised were with dread,  
Through lack of victual in that great need.    

Of a great flood in Tessaly.  

ANother flood there was in Tessaly,  
In the time when king Amphyon  
Held the sceptre and the regaly  
Upon Thebes, the mighty strong town,  
Beside the kingdom of Babylon:  
The same time this flood fell doubtless,  
When God's people was led by Moses.   

With this flood the land had been devoured  
Of Tessaly, and of all that region,  
But on Pernaso the people were succoured,  
And on the Roches that stood environ,  
Found there refuge to their salvation  
And great succour, till the floods rage  
Began to decrease, withdraw and assuage.   

In old stories also ye may see,  
When Cecrops had first possession  
Of Athens, the mighty strong city,  
An heat there fell in that region,  
By influence that descendeth down  
From the bodies above celestial,  
Which likely was for to devour all.   

And this heat engendered with the son,  
In divers countries both in length & bread  
Hath his course so mightily begun,  
That many folk fell in great dread:  
Rivers, wells, who so list take heed  
Consumed were and dried up eachone,  
The heat called the embracing of Pheton.     

The .v. Chapter.  
☞ Of goodly Isis' wife to Apys king of Argive, slain by his brother Dyffeus'.  

WE have read in stories here toforne,  
How that Isis to Egypt took her flight  
Out of Crete, the true daughter borne,  
Of Promotheus, a full manly knight:  
And Isis in every man's sight  
So fresh, so goodly, wedded by her live,  
To worthy Apys that was king of Argive.   

The which Isis excellent of beauty,  
After time her father was ygrave,  
She was put for more surety  
With her uncle that should keep and save  
This said ma●de that no man should her have:  
And her uncle (in ovid ye may see)  
Like as he wrote▪ was called Epymethe.   

And flowering up in her tender age  
This said Isis so pleasant was and meet,  
Of seemliness, of look, and visage,  
That jupiter the mighty king of Crete,  
Was environed with her for to meet:  
And she excited of feminity,  
Inclined her heart unto his deity.   

And for she was of her intent so clean,  
obeying him in most lowly wise,  
Of Argivois he made her to be queen  
Because that she was smit in covetise,  
Against Argus a war she 'gan devise,  
And for he was unwieldy of his age,  
Her to which stand he found none advantage.   

But yet Fortune 'gan upon her frown,  
And king Argus through his subtlety,  
With his counsel so prudently 'gan rowne,  
That she was take by full great cruelty:  
And her soldiers were also made to fly,  
And by Argus, there gained no ransom,  
She fettered was and put in strong prison.   

But her son God Mercurius,  
Right fresh, right lusty, & full of hardiness,  
And of his earthly joy so glorious,  
Against Argus 'gan his power dress:  
And so entirely did his business,  
That Argus was slain in conclusion,  
And after Isis delivered fro prison.   

Of her sleights afterward not faint,  
She took a ship and to Egypt went:  
In which ship there was a cow depaint.  
And Theores whom jupiter also sent,  
Is gone with her both of one intent,  
To join a marriage after anon right  
Between her & Apys, a prince full of might.   

She was right wise above other creatures,  
Secret of cunning, well expert in science.  
She taught first letters and figures  
To Egyptians, by plain experience:  
Gave them cunning and intelligence  
To till the land, taught the labourers  
To sow their grain, & multiply by peers.   

And in Egypt her fame and her renown  
Began day by day, wext her worthiness,  
Hold of cunning and of reputation  
By sign showed not only in princess.  
But she was hold among them a Goddess:  
And with worships which were divine,  
And sacrifices to her they did incline.   

But to declare plainly at a word,  
In mids of all her great prosperity,  
Mighty Apis her husband and her lord,  
Prince of Egypt and lord of that country,  
Son of jupiter and of Niobe,  
Which Niobe by long descending  
The daughter was of Phoroneus the king.   

And Phoroneus first the law found  
To which all Crete stand under obeisance  
And the statutes of that mighty land  
Were ystablished by his ordinance.  
But for to write the unhappy chance  
Of king Apys that is remembered,  
He slain was: and piteously dismembered.   

By his brother called Tyffeus',  
somewhat of hatred, but more for covetise:  
For Tyffeus' was only desitous  
To rejoice in full mortal wise,  
The mighty kingdom as ye have herd devise,  
Of Argivois to have possession,  
Preferred by murder and false succession.   

And when that Isis found her lord so dead,  
Of intent that he were magnified:  
First of wisdom she 'gan take heed,  
Ordained a mean that he were deified  
High among Gods to be stellified:  
In Egypt temples made to be stalled,  
And God Serapis, after he was called.    

The vi Chapter.  
¶ Of Grysiton that his membres eat for hunger.  

WHat shall I write of case horrible  
Of Grisiton, with hunger so constrained  
That his life was to himself audible  
In Thessaly with indigence pained,  
And piteously his fame was distained  
When he sold his daughter in servage,  
Liriope which was but young of age.   

By exchange of God to purvey them victual,  
Of very need, he was so woe begun:  
He had nothing that might his thirst avail,  
Ne staunch his hunger, but gnawing on a bone  
Wherefore he ate his membres one by one,  
A prince, alas, was it not great pity,  
To see him die in such adversity▪   

We had also read full many a day tofore,  
The great banishment and persecution  
Of Argivois: how king Gelanor●  
Was cruelly put from his region,  
And his lieges of indignation  
In his place they set one Danaus,  
Son and also heir to the God Belus.   

The people of malice did him so encumber,  
To increase his sorrow and his adversity:  
And thirty daughters he had also in number,  
And Edippus his brother also pardy  
Had fifty sons (the stories ye may see)  
At ween the which in surety of ho●de  
In marriage there was made a bond.   

Under the which compassed was treason,  
Covertly, though they did it hide.  
But if ye list have clear inspection  
Of this story upon every side,  
Read the legend of Cupid  
Which that Chaucer in order as they stood,  
Compiled of women that were called good.   

Touching the story of king Pandion  
And of his goodly fair daughters twain,  
How Thereus false of condition  
Them to deceive did his busy pain:  
They both named of beauty sovereign,  
Goodly Progne, and young Philomene,  
Both innoc●utes of intent full clean.   

Their piteous fall in open to express,  
It were to me but a presumption,  
sith that Chaucer did his business  
In his legend as made is mention,  
Their martyrdom and their passion  
For to rehearse them, did his busy pain  
Is chief Poet called of britain.   

Of good women a book he did write,  
The number uncomplete fully of nineteen:  
And there the story plainly he did indite,  
Of Thereus, of Progne, and Philomene,  
Where ye may see their legend, thus I mean:  
Do them worship & forth their life show  
For a clear mirror because there be but few.   

I will pass over, and speak of them no more,  
And unto Cadmus forth my style dress:  
In my writing, yet it grieveth me sore.  
touching women of faith or stableness  
Blessed be God I find none excess,  
And for there be so few as thinketh me.  
The good should be had in more dainty.   

☞ Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy beareth to you witness,  
How Saturnus by disposition  
Maliciously of his frowardness,  
Causeth of juno full great infection:  
She of nature conveyeth the nature down:  
The air infect which no man may secure  
cometh death anon, & all thing doth devour   

Time from Adam mine author doth express  
Down to Nemrothe by computation,  
His stile conveyed by great aviseness,  
From zoroasters to king Pharaon:  
Of two deluges he maketh mention.  
In Tessaly the vengeance 'gan labour,  
And in Achaia Thebes to devour.   

Ye have of heats heard the excess:  
Of princes, princesses, full great destruction,  
Of Aegisthus the great wretchedness,  
The fury of Thereus the woe of Pandion,  
Of the two sisters the confusion,  
And how their fate 'gan upon them louvre,  
Their felicity unwarely to devour.   

princes princesses your eyen do up dress,  
I mean the eyen of your discretion,  
See of this world the change the doubleness,  
The great unsurenes, the variation,  
And advert for all your great renown  
Fortunes' dews when they most sweetly shower  
Than is she falsest, your glory to devour.     

The vii Chapter.  
¶ How jupiter ravished Europa, & how God must was sent to seek her in divers regions.  

THe rehearsal of many an old poet,  
By descent the line conveyed down:  
Next Saturnus the mighty king of Crete,  
jove was crowned by succession:  
As next his heir by procreation  
After his father the land to inherit,  
Reigning in Crete, as poets list to write.   

One of the lineage as I you told before  
Of the Gods, most sovereign and enter:  
And though he were of blood so high yborn  
He chose Europe for to be his fere.  
And down descended from his heavenly spear,  
As he that was for all his deity,  
surprised in heart with her great beauty.   

And she was daughter to a mighty king,  
Called Agenor by line all descent,  
Whose mighty kigdom & ryal fair dwelling  
Was in Phenice toward the orient,  
And to Araby his land was adjacent:  
far by south as ye may read and see,  
Toward the parties of the red sea.   

But jupiter when he did advert  
Of Europa the great seemliness,  
He thought he was wounded to the heart,  
Unto the death, beholding her fairness.  
And for his constraint & his mortal distress  
Seeing she was so fair in his sight,  
He ravished her of very force and might.   

But Agenor her own father dear,  
Began on this case, full piteously complain,  
When she, alas, most goodly and enter,  
Was him biraft which doubled all his pain.  
Recure was none, though he did plain,  
Till he remembering on his regaly,  
Thought he would send to aspy   

His son Cadmus' her to recure again,  
For to search her in many a region:  
Where so his labour were fructuous or vain,  
His father set him a fell condition,  
Not to return by none occasion,  
And thereupon made him to be bound,  
Till that he had the kings daughter found.   

He took his ships by great aviseness,  
And began to sail in many a strange see:  
Did his labour and his business:  
With many a worthy that were with him prove:  
But when that he of reason did see  
There was no mean for which that he was sent  
For to accomplish the fine of his intent,   

With glad heart devoid of grudging,  
Seeing the case froward and contrary,  
Humble of his cheer took his exiling:  
And of manhood list not himself despair,  
But with his main knightly 'gan repair  
Toward Grece, & piteously there to land,  
Of Apollo for to understand   

To what party that he might draw,  
He prayed God to wish him or read,  
Some token show or some manner saw,  
Into what I'll that he might him speed:  
Or that he would graciously him lead  
Where as he might build a city  
That were according to him & to his meinie   

And to Apollo he did sacrifice,  
And made to him his oblation:  
The God requiring goodly to devise,  
To what land or to what region,  
For his dwelling and habitation  
He should draw withouten more obstacle,  
For him and his to make his habitacle.   

And Cadmus thus before Apollo stood,  
kneeling among with full great reverence:  
And in the temple of Delphos still abode  
With humble entendaunce & devout diligence,  
Meekly beseeching by word or by sum sentence  
That Apollo would to him unclose  
To what party he should himself dispose.   

This was his answer in conclusion,  
As the statue to him did express:  
To go and search countries environ,  
And till he found, do his business  
A bull, that were excellent of fairness:  
Which by precept of Apollo's law,  
Had never aforne in yoke ydrawe.   

And where that ever seeking that he fond,  
A bull stand still in his pasture,  
Apollo bade upon that same lo●de  
Where as he seeth this sight of adventure,  
That he should do his busy cure  
To build a city, he and his folks all,  
And Boecia after the bull it call.   

And when that Cadmus' the precept understood  
And in searching did his business,  
He found a place where a bull stood  
feeding himself, which as by likeness  
Was a place full pleasant of largesse:  
Where as he stint, he 'gan a city raise,  
Which the poets greatly commend and praise.   

And that his building might the more avail,  
All the foreigns that did about him dwell,  
Full like a knight, by force and by battle  
Out of that country he did them expel:  
Raising a city which that did excel.  
And as ovid also recordeth the same,  
Unto this day of Thebes beareth the name.   

And he was not only glorified  
For rearing up of this great city,  
But he was also magnified  
For his manhood, & his magnanimity:  
And most commended if ye list to see,  
For the surmounting & famous excellence,  
Which that he had in wisdom and science.   

For as mine author, of him list indite,  
Through his noble prudent purvey ance,  
He taught figures, & letters for to write:  
And made laws of full great ordinance,  
Among the Greeks, and set a governance  
Thei● vicious life by virtue to restrain,  
And who outraied, was punished with the pain   

And of intent to increase his lineage,  
And his city also for to multiply,  
He took a wife that was but young of age,  
And she was called as books specify,  
Hermyone: and touching her ally,  
Though that she were borne of royal blood,  
She was also both jolly, fair, and good.   

And this was done as writeth mine author,  
After the death of worthy joshua:  
Sothonyell being successor,  
Having the leading and the sovereignty  
Of Israel, when Thebes the city  
Was founded first in the days old,  
By king Cadmus, tofore as I you told.   

Four daughters he had by his live,  
Full fair eachone and goodly on to see:  
And their names to rehearse blyve,  
Semele was the eldest, and next Acthonie  
The third in order was called Inoe  
And Again was youngest of them all,  
Of the which daughters thus it is befall.   

They were eachone of port and of manner,  
Full well favoured in every man's sight,  
Right womanly, and heavenly of their cheer,  
And for their beauty their father anon right  
As it was sitting, with all his full might  
Like their estates, birth, and also their age,  
Made then be wedded, and joined in marriage,   

To worthy princes, his lineage to advance.  
And they increased by procreation,  
Whereof the king had full great pleasance:  
And great rejoicing in his opinion,  
To save his line by generation,  
With his nephews and cousins of ally,  
Fro day to day, to wax and multiply.   

And this increased his felicity,  
When he considered verily in deed  
The rich building of his royal city,  
And Fortune did his bridle lead  
To great riches, in books as I read,  
To great nobles, having great residence,  
In his city of most magnificence.   

His daughter Semele record of mine auctor,  
Though she descended were of the blood ryal,  
To jupiter she was paramour:  
And by his power supercelestial,  
She conceived in especial  
(As poets of her list to indite)  
Him that is god of grapes red and white.  
Called Bacchus: which hath the governance  
Of wines all and the regaly:  
Whereof after was take full great vengeance,  
For when juno did first espy  
Of jupiter the great adultery,  
Of great hatred and envious desire,  
She made Semele to be brent with sudden fire   

By descending of a sudden levine:  
And on Semele the vengeance down went,  
Fro juno jealous, cleped queen of heaven,  
To wreak her wrath purposely send.  
And fore the flame consumed was and spent  
There was of her left no remembrance,  
But of the end the woeful mortal chance.   

Also Actheon the son of Acthonie,  
To great mischiefs and infortunes borne  
Whose father called was Criste,  
Come of the kindred that I you told toforne  
With cruel hounds alas he was to torn:  
For that he saw, as books of him tell  
Dyana naked, bathe her in a well.   

And as poets remember at the jest,  
When the ladies of Thebes the city,  
Held of Bacchus solemnly the feast,  
The younger sister called Again,  
Daughter to Cadmus, alas it was pity  
Against her own son dear,  
She was so wode and mortal of her cheer   

Murdering him in full cruel wise  
In her rage: she was so furious  
For he lough at the sacrifice  
In Thebes done by women to Bacchus.  
The which son was called Pantheus,  
Whom that she slew with a sharp dart,  
In her woodness, as she him found apart.   

These great mischiefs fell in the live  
Of king Cadmus through his unhappy chance  
Fortune his noblesse 'gan undermine,  
And thought she would his glory disavance  
All worldly gladness is meddled with grievance.  
Experience in Cadmus ye may see,  
So importable was his adversity.   

For while he sat most highest in his glory,  
No part clipsed of his prosperity,  
His bright renown and his royal memory,  
In realms spread, & many a far country,  
He most wealfull in his high see,  
Set which his lineage most high in noblesse,  
Than came Fortune the false enchaunteresse.   

Of wilfulness and found occasion  
Against Cadmus, and made his renown dull:  
Of his kindred by false collusion,  
She 'gan away the brightest feathers pull.  
And when his shining was waxed up to y● full  
After the change of fortune's law,  
His glory 'gan discrece and withdraw.   

It was more grievous to his dignity.  
A sudden fall from his high noblesse,  
Than if that he had never be  
Set in the state of his great worthiness:  
For the furious mortal heaviness  
Of his kindred without any more,  
Would have grieved a poor man full sore.   

And among his sorrows everichone,  
To rehearse plainly as it was,  
I dare affirm how that there was one  
Most horrible & dreadful in such a case:  
For Cadmus' son called Athamas,  
His son in law, through false melancholy,  
Fell suddenly into a frenzy.   

Of whom the wife was called Inoe,  
Cadmus' daughter as ye have heard express  
Which through the constraint of his infirmity  
In his rage and furious woodness,  
Thought that his wife was a lioness,  
And in his wild imaginations  
That his two children were also two lions.   

And upon them full loud he 'gan to cry,  
Toward his wife in haste he came anon:  
And from her arms there was no remedy,  
The child he rend, and on a craggy stone  
He 'gan to braced it and break it every bone.  
The which child Bochas writeth thus  
Full tender and young called was Learchus.   

And all this woeful and sudden adventure,  
Of this rage when that she took heed,  
As most sorrowful of any creature  
Her other child she hent anon for dread,  
For of succour she knew no better speed,  
So as she might 'gan haste out of his sight.  
But wellaway, as she took her to flight   

Her husband came after pursuing  
Like a wood Lion in his cruelty,  
Down from a hill which was depending  
She and her child fell into the see,  
Was it not ruth, was it not pity,  
A king's daughter, her lord i Thebes crowned  
He to be wood, and she for fear drowned▪   

Lo here the fine of Cadmus every deal:  
His children slain, and his allies all,  
And he himself from fortunes wheel  
When he weaned lest, full suddenly is fall.  
His little sugar tempered with moche gall:  
For among all his mortal pains,  
His liege men of Thebes citezynes   

Made against him conspiration,  
Put him in exile, and his wife also:  
His sons & daughters brought to destruction  
And to the increase of his mortal woe,  
He and his wife compelled both two  
For very poverty and very indigence  
In their last age to purchase their dispense.   

Thus of Cadmus the sorrows to descrive,  
And his mischief to put in remembrance:  
He banished was twice by his live,  
First by his father's cruel ordinance  
Of his sister to make enquiraunce:  
And alder last in his unwieldy age  
He was compelled to hold his passage   

Out of Thebes, his wife and he alone,  
In sorrow weeping to accomplish their days  
Into Illery together they be gone:  
Their patience put at fell assays,  
Whose bitterness felt none allays,  
Also of their end, and unhappy fate,  
Ne of their death, I find none other date.   

Save that ovid maketh mention,  
And john Bochas the poet excellent  
Say that two brethren, zethus' and Amphion  
Out of Thebes by one assent,  
Have this Cadmus into exile sent,  
His wife also: after their high noblesse,  
To end their life in sorrow and wretchedness.   

But the Gods of mercy and pity,  
When they then saw by fortune thus cast down,  
From their estates into great poverty,  
Having of them full great compassion,  
They made of them a transformation,  
Of both twain, them giving a likeness  
Of serpents, to live in wilderness.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

OWhat estate may himself assure,  
For to conserve his life in sikernesses?  
What worldly joy may here long endure?  
Or where shall men find now stableness,  
scythe kings & princes from their high nobles  
(Record of Cadmus) been suddenly brought low  
And from the wheel of fortune overthrow?   

Who may sustain the piteous adventure  
Of this tragedy, by writing to express?  
It is like to the chaunte plure  
Beginning with joy, ending in wretchedness.  
All worldly bliss is meinte with bitterness.  
The sudden change thereof may no man know  
For who sitteth highest is soonest overthrow.   

Was in this world yet never creature,  
(reckon up princes for all their high noblesse)  
But fortune could incline them to her lure:  
And them enperishe through her frowardness.  
Wherefore ye lords, which all your great riches,  
Beware afore or ye dance in the row,  
Of such as fortune hath from her wheel throw.     

The viii Chapter.  
☞ A process of Oetes king of Colchos, jason, Medea, Theseus, Scylla, Nisus, and other more.  

When john Bochas was most diligent  
To consider the successions  
Of lineages, withal his intent  
In his writing and descriptions,  
To compile the generations  
Of many noble famous of estate,  
I mean of such as were infortunate,   

In his searching he found not out a few  
That were unhappy found in their living:  
To his presence anon there 'gan him show  
A multitude, full piteously weeping:  
Among which full dolefully plaining,  
Came forth Oetes, & hath complaint begun,  
King of Colchos, and son unto the sun.   

For of Phoebus which is bright and clear,  
poets writ that he was son and heir,  
Because he was so mighty of power,  
So fresh, so lusty, so manly and right fair:  
But of fortune he fell in great despair,  
Cursing his fate, and his distain  
When jason first entered his country again   

By peleus sent from Tessaly,  
There to accomplish by diligent labour  
The great emprises through his chivalry,  
(If God and fortune list do to him favour)  
That they might win the excellent treasure  
This is to mean, that he were so bold,  
The ram to assail which bare the fleece of gold.   

This jason through counsel of Medee,  
By sorcery and incantation,  
The bull slough horrible for to see,  
And vainquished the venomous dragon,  
The king despoiled of his possession,  
Accomplished with carectis and figures  
Of Colchos the dreadful adventures.   

And afterward when he his purpose had,  
He left Oetes in full great despair:  
And Medea forth with him he lad,  
And her brother, which was the kings heir.  
But as I find how in his repair  
Out of Colchos when they 'gan remue  
King Oetes after them 'gan sue,   

Upon jason avenged for to be,  
Without tarrying he followed proudly:  
The which thing when jason did see,  
This Medea 'gan shape a remedy:  
She took her brother and slew him cruelly,  
And him dismembered as books make mind,  
And piecemele in a field behind   

She 'gan him cast all bespreint with blood.  
Whereof his father when he had a sight,  
Full pale of cheer still in the field he stood,  
While she and jason took them unto flight,  
I trow that time the most woeful wight  
That was on live, when he did know  
His child dismembered and abroad ysowe.   

Which cause was, alas, and wellaway  
That he so stout as man disconsolate,  
While that jason fro colchis went away:  
And Medea most infortunate,  
Was rote and ground of this mortal debate,  
For who saw ever, or red of such another,  
To save a stranger list to slay her brother?   

Forsook her father, her country and kindred,  
The land emperished through her robbery,  
Of her worship took none other heed,  
Love hath her brought in such a fantasy.  
And while that she abode in Tessaly,  
And with jason did there sojourn,  
She made Aeson to youth return.  
A yard she took that was dry and old,  
And with her herbs and commi●tions,  
She made it boil, in ovid it is told:  
And by charectes and incantacious,  
And with the craft of her conjurations,  
The yard began to bud and blossom new,  
And to bear fruit and leaves fresh of hue.   

And semblably with her confections,  
His old humours the hath deputed clean:  
And with her lusty fresh potions,  
His empty skin trembling and right lean  
Pale and wan that no blood was seen,  
But as it were a deadly creature,  
All this hath she transformed by nature.   

Made him lusty, and fresh of his courage,  
Glad of heart, lively of cheer and sight,  
Right well cheered, and clear of his visage,  
Wonders deliver both of force and might:  
In all his members as weldy and as light  
As ever he was, in the same estate  
By craft of Medee he was lo alterate.   

After all this, against king peleus  
She began to malign, uncle unto jason,  
And of envy she proceedeth thus:  
The king's daughters she draweth to her anon  
Them counselling that they should gone  
Unto their father, & plainly unto him sayne,  
If he desired to be young again,   

Full restored his force to recure,  
And therewithal in lusty age flower,  
She behight to do her busy cure,  
Like his desire to help and succour:  
And in this matter so crafty labour  
Finally stand in the same case,  
To be made young as his brother was.   

Touching which thing for more evidence,  
This Medea hath to the daughters told  
Of intent to give the more credence,  
She bade them take a ram that was right old  
And with a knife for to be so bold  
To slay the beast before them there he stood,  
And in a vessel draw out the old blood.   

fully affirming like as it were true,  
That he should be a lamb again.  
For she by craft would his blood remue  
In such wise by evidens plain,  
That of eld no token should be sayen,  
In all his membres as lusty and enter  
As was a lamb eyned of one year.   

And here upon in such sleighty wise,  
She began a process of full false treason:  
The sisters made upon the lamb to practise,  
Drew out his blood, like her enteneton:  
And she by craft of false illusion,  
Blent their eyen by appearance in vain,  
The old Ram to seem a lamb again.   

Thus Medea by her sleight compassing  
Of envy, and venomous hatred,  
Excited hath the sisters in working,  
Against their father mortally to proceed:  
which sharp knives they made their father bleed  
amids the heart, throughout every vain,  
Supposing the silly sisters twain   

That peleus renewed should be  
To youth again, of force and of substance,  
But finally by treason of Medee,  
He lost his life, such was his woeful chance:  
She this wrought only for vengeance,  
As rote and ground of this cruel deed,  
Against the nature of all womanhood.   

Supposing in her opinion,  
That the death greatly should please  
Of Pellius, unto her lord jason,  
Through great increase set his heart at ease:  
But it rebounded unto his disease,  
That finally jason her forsook,  
For her offence, and he his way took   

Into Corinth to the king Creon,  
Whose daughter Creusa for her great beauty  
Was afterward wedded to jason:  
But when this wedding was known to Mede  
Cast she would thereon avenged be:  
Began to conspire of malice and envy,  
And through her magic and her forcery   

In full great haste 'gan to ordain  
A little coffer, only of intent:  
And by her young fair sons twain,  
With other jewels she hath it sent  
Unto Creusa making a present,  
Which of malice she list to dispose:  
That when Creusa the coffer did unclose   

The fire braced out a full large space,  
Brent Creusa by full great violence:  
Set a fire plainly all the place,  
By enchantment there was no resistance.  
All went a fire that was in her presence,  
By vengeance did full great damage.  
But when jason this fire saw in his rage,   

And considered the malice of Medee,  
Thought he would do execution,  
For to punish the great iniquity,  
Against him compassed of treason:  
For she of vengeance against all reason  
After that Creusa consumed was and brent,  
Her own sons whilom that she sent   

Without ruth or womanly pity  
She falsely murdered: the children that she bore  
(Like a stepmother avenged for to be)  
Cut their throats, or that they were ware,  
Against nature, there was none other spare:  
But for hatred she had unto jason,  
After this murder she fled away anon,   

So escaping his indignation.  
By craft of magic she went at liberty  
To Athens, and in that region  
She wedded was unto the king Ege:  
Not long after a son by him had she,  
The which child, mine author telleth thus,  
After Medea, called was Medus.   

After whose name the famous region  
Ynamed was, which called is Mede.  
But following ever her old condition,  
This Medea void of shame and dread,  
Compassed hath of wilful false hatred  
That Theseus the son of king Ege,  
With new poison shall devoured be.   

But Theseus full like a manly knight  
In repairing home to his country,  
Of high prudence espied anon right  
The mortal vengeance, the great cruelty,  
Of this stepmother, which of enmity  
Concluded hath in her entention  
Him to destroy unwarely, with poison.   

Her heart of malice, cruel, and horrible  
As she that was with treason ever allied,  
When that she saw her purpose most audible,  
By king Egeus fully was espied,  
She hath her heart and wits new applied  
As in their books poets have compiled,  
Again to jason to be reconciled.   

She fled away for fear of Theseus.  
Lest he would done on her vengeance:  
And finally as writeth ovidius,  
And moral Seneke concludeth in sentaunce  
In his tragedies making remembrance  
How Medea, like as poets sayne,  
Unto jason restored was again.   

Touching the end of their furious discord  
poets make thereof no mention,  
Neither tell no mean how they fill accord,  
But if it were by incantation:  
Which so well could turn up so down  
Sundry things of love and of hatred,  
And in Bochas of her no more I read.   

Save when she had fulfilled her purpose,  
Mine author telleth that jason & Mede  
Restored have again unto Colchos  
Her father Oetes, and from his poverty  
Brought him again into his royal see:  
And to his crown by force they him restore,  
Touching his end, of him find I no more.   

Thus his fortune hath turned to and fro,  
First like a king having full great riches:  
After living in poverty and woe,  
sithen restored to his worthiness.  
Thus ever sorrow is meint with gladness,  
(Who can advert) in all worldly thing,  
Record of Minos the noble worthy king,   

To whom I must now my style dress,  
Following the traces of Bochasius.  
The which Minos, as Ovid doth express,  
Touching his birth he writeth plainly thus  
That he was manly, wise, and virtuous:  
Son by descent of jupiter the great,  
And of Europa, borne to be heir of Crete.   

And of his person wonders delitable,  
Full renowned of wisdom, and science,  
By divers titles of laud commendable,  
Of birth, of blood, of knighthood & prudence,  
For by his study and entire diligence,  
He found first laws grounded on reason,  
Whereby of Crete the famous region   

Governed was, and set in stableness,  
All injuries and wrongs to reform  
Made statutes, extortions to repress:  
Of right wiseness they took the first form.  
And that each man should him conform  
Like their degrees, subject and sovereign:  
That no man had a matter to complain.  
He made his lieges to live in quiet,  
Clear shining in his royal noblesse,  
With sword and sceptre, sitting in his seat:  
And while he flowered in his worthiness,  
He took a wife of excellent fairness,  
Daughter to Phoebus, in Bochas ye may see,  
And she was called fair Pasiphae.   

And her father by record of writing,  
In his time was holden full famous:  
Of the isle of Rhodes he was lord and king,  
And in his days of port full glorious,  
Right proud in arms and victorious,  
Taking witness of Methamorphoseos,  
His daughter had three children by Minos.   

The first a son called Androge,  
And afterward full fair daughters twain,  
Right goodly and womanly on to see:  
But like as fortune did for them ordain,  
They felt themselves in trouble and in pain,  
The one called Ariadne, & Phedra the other,  
Following their fate it might be none other.   

Androgeus by king Minos was sent  
For he should profit in clergy,  
To Athens, of virtuous intent  
There to study in philosophy:  
And for he began to increase and multiply,  
And pass all other by study in learning,  
And to excel his fellows in cunning,   

They of envy and false malice, alas,  
Made against him a conspiration:  
And from a pinnacle sacred to Pallas.  
Of full great height they made him tumble down  
For which injury, Bochas maketh mention,  
His father Minos avenged for to be,  
Laid a great power about the city.   

He cast him fully that no man should him let,  
But that he would do cruelly vengeance:  
And round about so sore he them beset,  
With men of arms and with his ordinance,  
That finally he brought them to utterance.  
And them constrained within a little space,  
Their life, their death, submitten to his grace.   

But while they made against him resistance,  
Supposing his power to withstand,  
Nisus that was king of Megarence,  
Against Minos their party took on hand:  
And oft times as ye shall understand,  
When king Minos did the city assail,  
Nisus within with mighty apparel   

Upon the walls stood in his defence,  
When that Minos full like a manly knight,  
Fought without, with sturdy violence:  
Like Mars himself in steel armed bright.  
Whereof when Scylla once had a sight,  
Daughter to Nysus adverting his prows,  
Anon for love she fell in great distress.   

She was surprised with his high noblesse:  
His manly force expert many fold,  
Set Scylla in great heaviness,  
For love of Minos in poets it is told,  
Made her heart presume and be bold,  
First her life to put in jeopardy  
Her father's life, the city, the clergy.   

From her heart love hath set aside.  
Against nature, her blood and her kindred,  
And all friendship from her 'gan divide:  
And of her worship she took no manner heed.  
love made her cruel against all womanhood,  
First her heart so sore set a fire,  
Her father's death falsely to conspire.   

For king Minos being a straungere  
Was so imprinted in her opinion,  
Of creatures there stood none so near,  
And for his sake by full false treason,  
She compassed the destruction  
First of her father, and than of the city.  
So strange a thing alas how might it be,   

That a woman of years young and tender,  
Could imagine so marvelous a thing?  
But it falleth that creatures slender,  
Under face of angelic looking,  
Ben very wolves outward in working,  
Also under colour of their port feminine,  
Some been found very serpentine.   

Lambs in she wing, shadowed with meekness,  
Cruel as Tigers, who doth to them offence:  
Of humble cheer pretending a likeness,  
But woe, alas what harm doth appearance?  
What damage doth counterfeit innocence?  
Under a mantel shroud of womanhood,  
When feigned falseness doth the bridle lead?   

For this Scylla the kings daughter dear,  
In whom he set his whole affection,  
His hearts joy, his pleasance most enter,  
His worldly bliss, his consolation,  
But she all turned to his confusion.  
Not like a daughter, but like a sorceress,  
His death compassed the story beareth witness.   

Her father had a fatal here that shone  
brighter than gold, in which he did assure,  
Manly to fight against his mortal fone:  
For in his head while it did endure,  
He should vanquish and recure,  
And through his knighthood to his increase of glory  
In every quarrel win the victory.   

But when king Nysus her father lay a sleep,  
Upon a night parcel afore day,  
Full secretly or that he took keep,  
The here of gold this Scylla cut away:  
And unto Minos armed where he lay,  
She him presented through her ordinance,  
Of false intent him for to do pleasance.   

But in this matter like as writeth Ovid  
Methamorphoseos, who so taketh heed,  
Her father sleeping, she kneeling by his side  
Took a sharp knife without fear or dread,  
While he lay naked, she carft a two his head:  
And stolen away of full false intent,  
And to king Minos the head she doth present.   

And in her coming to his presence,  
Her father's head when she afore him laid,  
Nothing ashamed of her great offence,  
Unto Minos thus she did obrayed,  
And with bold cheer even thus she said:  
My lord (quoth she) with support of your grace,  
giveth to my tale, leisure, time and space.   

Certes my lord, love hath excited me  
And constrained to this cruel deed,  
To slay my father, destroy my city,  
To forget my worship, forsake womanhood:  
And made me hardy to make my father bleed  
Things horrible thus have I undertake,  
For to accomplish, only for your sake.   

Myself disherited for love of your person,  
Called in my country a false traitoress:  
Disconsolate, stolen away alone,  
Of new defamed, and named a mistress  
Of false murder: I bring a great witness,  
My father's head and his deadly visage,  
Against nature to further your voyage.   

Wherefore I pray that ye list advertise,  
And consider like a gentle knight,  
How I for love toward your great emprise  
And to great furthering also of your right  
Have first my father deprived of his might,  
Raft him his life, despoiled his riches,  
To do pleasance to your high nobles.   

And nothing ask I unto my guerdon,  
Neither to my reward that may avail,  
But that I might have full possession  
Of your person most worthy in battle:  
For there is no treasure that might countervail  
To my desire, as that you would in deed  
Goodly accept me and my womanhood.   

Ye may me save and spill with a word,  
Make most glad, and most dolorous:  
I not require of you my sovereign lord  
But that ye would be to me gracious.  
For blood, and kin, and my father's house,  
All left behind, if ye list advert,  
And undeparted give to you my heart.   

Which to your highness ought enough suffice,  
All thing considered in your royal estate:  
Conceived also how in uncouth wise  
For your love I stand desolate,  
Save of your mercy full disconsolate:  
Here is all and some, your love I buy so sore  
But ye do grace, I can say you no more.   

And when she had her tale told kneeling,  
With a manner of pretence of womanhood,  
Of all her treason a point not conceling:  
The king astonished of her horrible deed,  
By great advise poised and took heed,  
It was not sitting to prince nor to king  
To do favour to so froward a thing.   

With troubled heart and with a face pale,  
His look up cast, said: God forbid  
That ever in Chronicle, in story, or in tale,  
That any man should of Minos read  
How he supported so venomous a deed:  
Favour a woman, alas, and well away,  
Which slough her father, when he in bed lay▪   

But for your hateful and unkind rage,  
I pray the gods eachone, and Saturn,  
For to take vengeance on your false outrage  
everywhere, whither ye do return:  
And every place where as ye sojourn.  
Land and sea shortly to express,  
They ben infect with your cursedness.  
Your own mouth your outrage doth accuse,  
And your acts been so abominable  
That your gifts fully I do refuse:  
They been so froward, and so reprovable,  
That your person disnaturell and unstable,  
Within my court it were a thing not fair,  
That ye should abide, or have repair.   

Ye be so hateful on every side  
And contrarious of condition,  
I pray Cellus which oferth is guide,  
And to Neptunus I make this orison,  
As far as stretcheth their domination,  
Under the bound of their regaly,  
A dwelling place that they to you deny.   

When Minos had his answer thus devised,  
On reason grounded and equity:  
And Scylla saw how she was despised,  
knew no party, passage, ne country,  
To find succour whether she might fly.  
But dispeired like a traitouresse,  
Toward the see anon she 'gan her dress   

To enter the water plainly if she might,  
For very shame herself for to shroud:  
And when the gods thereof had a sight,  
They turned her, as they that might & coude  
In to a quail, for to sing loud.  
Her father Nisus they did also transmewe  
In to a sparhauke the quail to pursue.   

This was the end of Nisus & Scille.  
And afterward of Athenes the town,  
Was yielded up to stand at the will  
Of king Minos: with this condition  
Every year, by revolution,  
They of the city should not delay  
Nine of their children for a tribute pay.   

This was by Minos the imposition  
Upon Athenes, and of very dread  
They obeyed, as made is mention,  
And their children year by year they lead  
In to Crete, the Minotaur to feed:  
Unto this monster ordained for repast,  
Which at their coming devoured were in haste.   

But or that I further do proceed  
In this matter, I will do my cure  
To declare if ye list to take heed,  
Of this monster to tell the engendrure,  
Uncouth to hear and against nature:  
For by the writing of ovidius,  
This ugly beast was engendered thus.   

In Methamorphoseos the manner ye may se.  
Minos had a bull of great fairness,  
White as milk, and the queen Pasiphae  
Loved him so hot, the story beareth witness:  
And Dedalus did his business,  
By subtle craft, and made his gins so  
That against kind with her he had to do.   

And conceived a beast monstrous,  
That was departed, half bull, half man:  
And as the poet by writing teacheth us,  
Of all Minotaures thus the name began.  
And Dedalus not long after, when  
This monster was by the queen forth brought,  
This subtle workman hath an house ywroght   

Called Laberinthus, divers and uncouth,  
Full of wrynkels and of strangeness,  
Ugly to know which is north or south,  
Or to what part a man should him dress:  
folks were there blended with furious darkness.  
Who that entered, his return was in vain,  
Without a clue for to resort again.   

Of Minotaurus this was the habitacle,  
Like a prison made for tormentry:  
For dampened folk a painful tabernacle,  
For all that lay there in jeopardy,  
The monster must devour them, and defy.  
And specially was ordained this torment,  
For all that were down from Athenes sent.   

But in this matter some folk vary,  
And affirm how that queen Pasiphae  
Of king Minos loved a secretary,  
Called Taurus, in Bochas ye may see:  
And thus the king for all his ryalte  
deceived was: for who may any while  
Himself preserve, where women list beguiled   

For by this Taurus, Bochas beareth witness,  
Queen Pasiphae had a child full fair.  
Minos not knowing by no likeness,  
But the child was borne to be his heir.  
His trust was good, he fell in no despair:  
For some husbands, as poets have compiled,  
Which most assure, rathest been beguiled.   

Innocentes can not dame amiss,  
Namely of wives that been found true:  
Clerks may write, but doubtless thus it is,  
Of their nature they love nothynges new,  
Steadfast of heart, they change not their hue.  
Hawks best proved sometime a check can make,  
Yet for a fault, the foul is not forsake.   

Of this matter write I will no more:  
But aye the tribute and servage of the town  
proceedeth forth, they constrained were so sore,  
Like as their lot turned up and down:  
For there was made none exception  
Of high ne low, neither sour ne sweet,  
But as it fell, they were sent into Crete.   

The statute was so inly rigorous,  
They took their sort as it came about:  
Till at the last it fell on Theseus,  
That he mought go forth among the rout,  
King Egeus son, being in great doubt  
Touchig his life, which might not be socored,  
But that he must with other be devoured.   

Which Theseus for his worthiness,  
And of his knighthood for his great increase,  
Through manly force and for his prows,  
Sometime was called the second Hercules:  
Among Amasones he put himself in press,  
Wedded Ipolita, as books specify,  
The hardy queen called of Feminye.   

And afterward to Thebes he is gone,  
Holp the ladies in especial,  
Which that compleined upon the king Creon,  
Which them distroubled, like their estate rial  
To hold and hallow the festes' funeral  
Of their lords, queens, and princesses,  
Of wifely truth to she we their kindnesses.   

For when this duke the manner had seen,  
And of Creon the great iniquity,  
To the ladies he made deliver again  
The lords bones, of ruth and of pity:  
Yet in his youth out of this cite,  
He was delivered by statute full audible  
To be devoured of this beast horrible.   

He goeth to prison for all his seemliness,  
As the statute felly did ordain:  
But of ruth and tender gentleness  
Him to preserve from that deadly pain  
Of king Minos the goodly daughters twain  
Ariadne shope a remedy,  
And feire Phedra, that he should not die.   

Through their help he hath the monster slain,  
That was dreadful and ugly for to see:  
By them he scaped, whereof he was full feign,  
Led them with him toward his country:  
And by the way devoid of all pity,  
Ariadne full falsely he hath forsake,  
Against his surance, & Phedra he hath take.   

In mids the sea he left her in an isle,  
Towards no party she knew no decline:  
She weepeth, she crieth, alas the hard while,  
For of her fate this was the mortal fine:  
That for pite, Bacchus the god of wine  
Took her to wife, whose crown of stones fine  
Doth now in heaven with ix stars shine.   

Thus of Theseus ye may behold and see  
To Ariadne the great unsteadfastness.  
The great untruth, the mutability,  
The broken assurance, & the new fangleness:  
But silly women keep their steadfastness.  
Ever unfouled, save sometime of their kind,  
They must then purvey when men be unkind.   

Of Theseus I can no more now say,  
In this matter to make of him memory:  
But to king Minos I will resort again,  
To tell how fortune ever false & transitory,  
In what points defaced hath his glory,  
first of each one, Bochas doth specify,  
Of Pasiphae the foul adultery,   

Which was his wife, & stood well his grace.  
To his pleasance she was most sovereign,  
But a cloud of a small trespare  
Made her lord at her disdain:  
But he of wisdom bore previly his pain.  
For in such case, this is my sentence,  
Let prudent husbands take them to patience.   

On other things Minos 'gan also complain,  
Having in heart thereof full great grievance:  
That he so lost his fair daughters twain,  
And Minotaurus slain with mischance.  
Also to him it was a great grievance  
That Theseus was gone at liberty,  
And from all tribute delivered his cite.   

It grieved him also in countenance & there  
That Theseus Ariadne forsook:  
It liked him also not the manner  
Unto his wife that he Phedra took.  
And yet this Phedra, like as saith my book,  
Had two sons by this Theseus,  
First Demophoon and next Antiochus.  
Also Theseus after 'gan him draw,  
Toward Cecile, in steel armed clean:  
With Peritheus, in arms his fellow  
For to ravish Proserpina the queen:  
But of intent Phedra full unclean,  
Loved her stepsonn, called Ipolitus,  
But for he was to her dangerous   

And to her lust froward and contrary,  
In his apport not goodly ne benign,  
Of her false intent anon she 'gan to vary,  
Against him full felly to malign:  
And to her prince of many token and sign  
Of womanhood, she 'gan him accuse,  
Her adultery falsely to excuse.   

Who saith that women can not imagine  
In their defence tales untrue,  
To their desire if men list not incline,  
Neither on their feigned false woe to tue▪  
Anon they can compass things new,  
Fish and find out of their entention,  
A covert cloud to shadow their treason.   

She hath accused young Ipolitus  
Of false adultery in his tender age:  
Told and affirmed to duke Theseus,  
With full bold cheer, and full plain visage,  
How he purposed for to do outrage,  
Only by force her beauty to oppress,  
Her lord beseeching, to reform and dress   

The great iniquity done to his wife  
While he was absent, for thing the bare charge.  
wives of tales sometime been inventive  
To suffer their tongues falsely flyen at large,  
But folks the list of damage them discharge,  
Of such accusing ne take they none heed,  
Till the truth be tried out in deed.   

I mean nothing of wives that been good,  
Neither of women the flourens in innocence:  
For god forbid and the holy rood,  
But men should do due reverence  
To their noblesse and their excellence:  
Declare their bounty, & their virtue show,  
And then cherish, because there be but few.   

Touching the accusing against Ipolitus,  
Though if so were that it was falls in deed,  
Yet he for shame and fere of Theseus  
As in the story ye may behold and read,  
In his heart he caught a manner dread  
That he alas this silly young knight,  
Fled & withdrew high out of his father's sight.   

His indignation plainly for to eschew  
Though by desert, in him there was no lack:  
Of hasty dread as he 'gan remewe  
Or in a char, or on horse back,  
His horse afraid, there fell a sudden wrack:  
Down from a roch pendaunt as ye shall lere,  
He and his char were drowned both in fere.   

Thus unguilty in his most lusty youth,  
He was conveyed to his destruction:  
The slander conspired as it is weal couth  
By false Phedra: but in conclusion,  
The slander turned to her confusion.  
For when she wist Ipolitus was deed  
Through her default, anon for shame & dread   

She took a sword full sharp yground,  
And there with all she raft her heart a tweine.  
Lo how that vengeance will ever again rebound,  
On them that falsely do their busy pain  
To slander folk: for like as they ordain  
With their diffames other folks to wite,  
God at last their malice can acquit.   

But some books of Phedra do record  
That she ashamed and confuse of this deed,  
Hang herself up full high with a cord:  
Lo how false slander can quite folks meed.  
Wherefore I counsel every man take heed  
In such matters as stand uncertain,  
From hasty language his tongue to refrain.   

Among these stories woeful for to read,  
All besprent with tears in his face,  
Full suddenly John Bochas 'gan take heed  
In mids the press zisara came to place:  
And how that fortune 'gan also to menace  
This proud duke, full mighty and notable,  
Of king Jabyn called the great constable,   

Of his host, leader and governor:  
To Israel very mortal foe.  
With people he road like a conqueror,  
And where that ever his meinie did go,  
The earth quoke, people dread him so:  
Fled fro his face where as he came a far,  
Nine hundred veins he had for the wet,   

Strongly inarmed with hooks made like scythes▪  
Who the approached to maim & to wound:  
For this tyrant of custom oftsithes  
Had great delight the Jews to confound,  
And all though that his sword hath found,  
King Jabyn bad, prince of Canaan,  
In Israel to spare child ne man.   

This zisara was scent to be their scourge  
By gods suffrance their sins to chastise,  
Their old offences to punish & to purge,  
As a flagell many sundry wise,  
But when of reason they 'gan better devise,  
And for their trespasses to fall in repentance,  
God 'gan which draw the hand of his vengeance.   

For in their mischief they 'gan their lord to know  
Feeling the prick of his punition:  
And mercy than hath unbent the bow  
Of his fell ire and castigation,  
To God they made their invocation,  
And he them heard in their mortal dread,  
In Judicum the story ye may read.   

How in the while that this zisara  
Shaped him of new the Jews to oppress,  
In their defence god sent them Delbora,  
I prophetess, the story beareth witness,  
To give them counsel, their arms to dress:  
And by the spirit of her prophesy,  
For to withstand the great tyranny   

Of zisara, which was descended down  
With a great host into the field repeired:  
But Delbora of high discretion,  
When that she saw the Jews dispeired,  
And for to fight their corrages sore apeired,  
She made them first devoutly in that dread  
To cry to god to help them in their need.   

She was their judge & their governs  
Chief of their counsel, and of custom she  
Causes depending of great avysenes,  
That stood in doubt, by doom of equity,  
She tried them out under a palm tre▪  
And was not hasty no matter to determine,  
Till she the parties aforedyd examine.   

And when that she herd of the coming  
Of zisara with full great puissance,  
That was constable of that mighty king,  
Called Jabyn, with all his ordinance,  
Upon Jews for to do vengeance:  
This Delbora 'gan prudently intend,  
The Jews party, by wisdom to defend.   

She bad Barach, her husband, anon right,  
Of Nemptalym ten M. with him take,  
Against zisara to fight for their right,  
And that he should a great enarme take.  
But he for dread this journey 'gan forsake,  
And durst not against him though warray  
But she were present, and list him to convey.   

Well well quoth she, sith it standeth so  
That of wantrust ye have a manner dread,  
I will myself gladly with you go,  
You to support in this great need:  
But trusteth fully as ye shall find in deed,  
That a woman, with laud, honour, & glory  
Shall fro you win the price of this victory.   

It followed after soothly as she said:  
Auisely she made her ordinance.  
And the chief charge on herself she laid,  
As princess of Jew's governance.  
And prudently 'gan herself advance,  
With god conveyed & support of his grace,  
With zisara to meet in the face.   

And specially touching this voyage,  
God took away the spirit and the might  
Fro zisara, his force and his courage,  
That he was fearful to enter into fight:  
Kept his char, and took him to flight.  
Knowing no place in surety to abide,  
Till that Jaell a woman did him hide   

Within her tent, and all most deed for dread,  
Under a mantel, desirous for to drink,  
She gave him milk: the sleep fell in his heed.  
And while that he for heaviness 'gan wink,  
And sadly slept, she 'gan her to bethink:  
Thought she would for zisara so shape,  
That with his life, he should not escape.   

She took a nail that was sharp & long,  
And covertly 'gan herself advance:  
With a mighty hamer round and strong.  
She drove the nail, lo this was her bengeaunce,  
Through his heed: see here the sudden chance  
On tyrants that trust on Fortune,  
Which will not suffer them long to contune   

In their false usurped tyranny,  
To hold people in long subjection.  
She can them blandyshe with her flattery,  
Under a colour of false colluspon:  
And with a sudden transmutation,  
Fortune them can that poor folk trouble,  
Reverse their pride, with her face double.  
What should I lengre in this matter tarry▪  
Though that lordship be mighty & famous,  
Let zisara be your exemplary,  
It not endureth but it be virtuous.  
Conquest, victory, though they be glorious  
Unto the world, if virtue be behind  
Men not rejoice to have their name in mid.   

For Fortune through her frowardness,  
Hath kings put out of their regions:  
And she hath also through her doubleness▪  
destroyed lineages with their successions▪  
Made not she sometime her translations  
Of the kingdom called Argivois,  
To be transported to Lacidemonois▪   

The same time when zisara the proud  
'Gan god's people to put under foot,  
Fame's trump blewe his name up loud,  
With sacred sows seeming wondre sote:  
But all his pride was rend up by the rote,  
When his glory was outward most shining.  
But who may trust in any worldly thing▪   

folk have afore seen the valuation  
By remembrance of antiquity,  
Of mighty Troy, and of I lion,  
After destroyed by Greeks that city:  
To us declaring the mutability  
Offalse fortune, whose favour lasteth no while  
Showing ever truest, when she will beguile.   

So variable she is in her delights,  
Her wheel untrusty and frowardly moving,  
Record I take of the Madianites,  
Their unware fall full dolefully plaining.  
Which showed themself piteously weeping  
To John Bochas, as he in writing sought,  
How y● fortune against their princes wrought,   

Which that governed the land of Madian▪  
trusting of pride in their great puissance,  
Against Jews a war they began,  
purposing to bring them to utterance.  
But god that holdeth of war the balance,  
And can of princes oppress the vein glory,  
giveth where him list conquest and victory:   

Not to great number, nor to great multitude,  
But to that party where he seeth the right.  
His dreadful hand, shortly to conclude,  
So holdeth up by grace, and giveth light  
The higher hand where he cast his sight,  
List his power and his favour show,  
Be it to many, orb it unto few.   

The wrong party gladly hath a fall,  
Though there be Millions, many ●●o theran:  
I take witness of Jerobaall,  
Which is also called Gedian,  
That with three. C. fought against the fan  
Of Israel, the Bible can devise,  
When he to God had done his sacrifice,   

Showing to him a thing marvelous:  
When the fleece with silver dew full sheen  
Was spreint and wet, the story telleth thus,  
And round about the soil & all the green  
Was found dry, and no drop seen:  
In token only, this duke, this knightly man,  
Should have the victory of all Madian.   

This Gedeon took with him but a few,  
Three hundred chase, which lapped the river.  
God unto him such tokens did show,  
And evidences afore that were full clear,  
That he should be of right good there:  
And on no party his adversaries dread,  
For neither prows, neither manhood.   

Where god above holdeth champerty,  
Their may against him be made no defence▪  
Force, strength, wisdom, nor chivalry,  
Against his might, are feeble of resistance:  
This was well proved in experience,  
When three. C. with Gedeon in number,  
So many thousands by grace did encumber.   

This said people divided in to three,  
With their trumpets upon the dark night,  
By Gedeon that had the sovereignty,  
With void pots & laumpes therein light,  
And thus arrayed they entered in to fight:  
But unto them this token was first know,  
When Gedeon his trump did blow.   

They blewe echon and loud 'gan to cry:  
Broke their pots, and shewted anon right,  
As the story doth plainly specify,  
Their laumpes showed with a full sudden light:  
Whereof their enemies astoinied in their sight,  
Were so troubled upon every side,  
That in the field they durst not abide.   

The cry was this of them everyone:  
Thank to the lord most noble and glorious,  
prise to the sword of mighty Gedeon,  
Which us hath caused to be victorious:  
Made our enemies most malicious,  
Through influence only of his grace,  
For very fear to fly afore our face.   

Thus can the lord of his magnificence,  
The meek exalt, and the proud oppress:  
Like as he findeth in hearts difference  
So of his power he can his domes dress.  
Mercy aye meint with his rightwiseness:  
His judgements with long delay differred.  
And or he punish pity is aye preferred.   

Lenuoye.  

Mighty Princes, remember that your power  
Is transitory, and no while abiding:  
As this tragedy hath rehearsed here,  
By evidences notable ensuing.  
And by example in substance witnessing,  
That all tyrants (plainly to termpue)  
Mo●e from their state suddenly decline.   

Phoebus' the fresh in his midday sphere  
His beams brightest & hottest out spreading,  
But cloudy skies oft approach near  
To eclipse his light with their unware coming:  
None earthly joy is here long abiding,  
Record of Titan, which stondmele doth shine,  
Yet toward night his streams down decline.   

When that fortune is fairest of her cheer,  
By appearance, and most blandishing,  
Than is she fallest each season of the year  
Her sudden cha●ge now up, now down turning:  
The nightingale in May doth freshly sing,  
But a back winter can summer undermine,  
And all his freshness suddenly decline.   

All earthly bliss dependeth in a were,  
In a balance unevynly hanging.  
Of princes & princesses most sovereign & enter  
In this tragedy conceiveth by reading,  
How that estates by unware changing,  
Sometime full worthy, their lives did fine,  
When from their noblesse they were made to decline.     

¶ Of mighty jabyn king of Canaan of queen jocasta, and how Thebes was destroyed.  
The ix Chapter.  

Now must I write the great sobeyn fall  
Of mighty jabyn, for his iniquity▪  
Which unto Jews was enemy full mortal,  
With sceptre & crown reigning in Canane,  
And upon Africa had the sovereignty,  
Rebel to god, and list not him obey,  
But ever ready his people to warray,   

The lord above saying his tyranny,  
Forbore his hand with full long sufferance:  
And was not hasty of his obstinacy,  
Like his desert for to do vengeance.  
But ever this jabyn by continuance  
Endured forth in his cursidnesse,  
Till the sword of god's righwisenes   

Was whet against this tyrant, to chastise  
And to repress his rebellion:  
From his kingdom (the story doth devise)  
In mids of his pride he was pulled down  
To exemplify that such domination  
As is found wilful truth to over cast,  
God will not suffer in power long to last.   

For this jabyn was found always froward,  
Of high disdain list not the lord know:  
Therefore his power drew always backwardly,  
And his empire was after ybrought full low.  
His rial fame fortune hath overthrow,  
His name eclipsed that sumtime shone full clear,  
Of great Cison, beside the ruiere.   

Of queen jocasta Bochas doth also indite,  
Princess of Thebes, a mighty great city:  
Of her unhaps he dolefully doth write,  
Imagining how he did her see  
To him appear in great adversity.  
Like a woman that would in tears rain,  
For that fortune 'gan at her so disdain.   

And though she were defaced of figure,  
There showed in her a manner majesty  
Of quenely honour, plainly to discure  
Her infortuns, and her infelictte,  
And to declare plainly how that she  
Of all princesses which stood in estate  
Was herself the most infortunate.   

Which gave to Bochas full great occasion  
When he saw her piteous apparel,  
For to make a lamentation  
Of uncouth sorrows, which did her assail  
With a tragedy to weep and to wail  
Her importable and strange deadly strife,  
Which that she had during all her life.   

He write of her a story large and plain.  
And of her birth first he doth define:  
And affirmeth in his book certain,  
She was descended of a noble line.  
In flowering age also when she did shine,  
She wedded was for her great beauty,  
Unto the king of Thebes the city,   

Which in his time was called Layus.  
And when her womb by process did arise,  
The king was glad and also desirous,  
The child's fate to know in some wise:  
And thought he would go do sacrifice  
Unto Apollo, to have knowledging toforne  
Touching his child, when that it was borne.   

What should follow in conclusion  
He was desirous and hasty for to see,  
first by heavenly disposition,  
And by the favour if it would be  
Of Apollo's mighty deite:  
To have answer among his wits all,  
Of his child what fate should befall.   

His answer though it were contrary  
To his desire, yet was it thus in deed:  
Apollo told him, and list no longer tarry,  
That this child should verily in deed  
Slay his father, and make his sides bleed:  
And which his hands, there was none other weigh  
But on his sword he must needs die.   

The king was heavy & trist on this sentence,  
sorrowful of heart, god wot, & nothing feign:  
And cast afore through his providence,  
That his son should in all hast be slain:  
And that he would not an hour delayne  
After his birth, but bad his men to gone  
Into a forest, and slay the child anon.   

Like his bidding the ministers did in deed,  
Taking the child, tender, & young of age,  
And into a forest with them they 'gan it lead,  
To be devoured of beasts most savage:  
The mother, alas, almost fell into rage  
Seeing her child so inly fair of face  
Shall thus be deed, and did no trespass.   

little wondre though she felt smart:  
To all women I report me,  
And unto mothers that been tender of heart,  
In this matter fuges for to be:  
Was it not ruth, was it not pite,  
That a princess, a queen, alas,  
Should know her child devoured in such case▪   

After this birth Layus took good keep,  
Without mercy, respite, or delay,  
That unto one which kept his sheep  
This young child upou a certain day,  
Shall be delivered, in all the hast he may:  
To this intent it might not be succoured,  
But that it should of beasts be dettoured.   

This said shepherd goth forth anon right,  
The child beholding benign of look & face,  
Thought in heart and in his inward light,  
He should do to god a great trespass  
To slay this child, wherefore he did him grace:  
Took first a knife and did his busy pain,  
Throughout his feet to make holes twain.   

Took a small rod of a young osier,  
Pierced the feet, alas it was pite,  
Bond him fast, and by good leiser  
The young child he hinge upon a tree,  
Of intent that he ne should not be  
Through wild beasts cruel and savage,  
All suddenly devoured in their rage.   

Upon the tre while he hinge thus bound,  
Of adventure by some occasion,  
A strange shepherd hath the child yfound,  
Which of ruth and pity took him down:  
Bare with him home in to his town,  
Made his wife for to do her pain,  
To foster the child with her breasts twain.   

And when he was brought forth & recured,  
And full made hole of his wounds sore,  
This young child which all this hath endured  
When he in age began to were more,  
And that nature began him to restore,  
The said shepherd that loved him best of all,  
After his hurts, Edippus did him call.   

For Edippus is no more to sane,  
Who that conceiveth the exposition,  
But feet yperced throughout both twain,  
In that language, as made is mention.  
And to Merope wife of king Polibion  
The shepherd of full humble intent,  
Began the child full lowly to present.   

And for she was barren of nature,  
She and the king of one affection,  
Took Edippus both in to their cure,  
As son and heir by adoption,  
To reign in Corinth by succession:  
The king, the queen, & of Corinth the country,  
Had the child in so great cheerte.   

Let men consider in their discretion,  
Sudden change of every manner thing.  
This child sent out for his destruction,  
And now provided for to be a king:  
And through fortune, aye double in working,  
He that was refuse to beasts most savage,  
Is now received to knightly heritage.   

Destitute he was of his kindred,  
Forsake, and abject of blood, and of alley,  
In tender youth his feet were made to bleed,  
Hinge on a tre, and began for help cry:  
But god that can in mischief magnify,  
And reconfort folk disconsolate,  
Hath made this child now thus fortunate.   

And hath provided to be a kings heir,  
Him that stood of death in adventure.  
Fortune can show herself both foul & fair,  
folks brought low, full well again recure:  
And such as patiently can endure,  
And list not grudge against their chastising,  
God out of mischief can suddenly them bring.   

But when Edippus was grow up to age,  
Like a young prince increasing in noblesse,  
Lusty and strong, and fresh of his courage,  
Of adventure it fell so in soothness,  
either by strife, or by some frowardness,  
Or by sum conteke he had knowledging,  
How he was not son unto the king   

As by descent, but a far fortaine.  
Whereupon full sore he began to muse,  
And for to know, and be put in certain,  
Thought he would some manner practic use:  
And to the king he 'gan himself excuse,  
For a time to withdraw his presence,  
Tyil he might knew by some experience,   

Or by sum sign how the matter stood.  
Thought he would do his diligence  
To know his father, & also of what blood,  
He was descended, and have some evidence  
Touching troth how it stood in sentence:  
And her upon to be certified,  
Toward Apollo fast he hath him hied.   

Which in Cirta worshipped was that time,  
And gave answer through his beite,  
To tolke that came at even and at prime,  
Of every doubt and ambiguyte:  
And there Edippus falling upon his knee,  
After his offering, had answer anon,  
That toward Grece he should gone   

Unto a mountain, that Phocis bore the name:  
And there he should of his kindred here.  
Also like his fate, the answer was the same,  
He should slay his own father dear,  
And after that to Thebes draw him near,  
Wed his mother of very ignorance,  
Called jocasta, through his unhappy chance.   

He list no longer tarry ne abide,  
This said Edippus, but forth goeth he:  
And on his way he began anon to ride,  
Tyi he the mount of Phocis did see,  
Under the which stood a great country,  
Called Cetoyens, which that time certain  
Werreyed them that were on the mountain.   

His father Layus through his chivalry,  
With Citoyens is entered into battle.  
And Edippus came with the party  
Of the hill, armed in plate and mail.  
And as they began each other to assail,  
Among the press at the encountering,  
Of adventure, Edippus flew the king,   

Unknown to him that he his father was,  
Having thereof no suspection:  
Passed his way platly this is the case,  
And also unknown he came to the town  
Of mighty Thebes, where for his high renown,  
He was received with full great reverence,  
Because that he slough in their defence   

Sphinx the serpent horrible for to see,  
Sometime ordained by incantations  
For to destroy the town and the country,  
By his compassed slightly questions  
Sloughe man and child in all the regions,  
Such as not could by wisdom or reason,  
Make of his problem plain exposition.   

Who so passed by, he could him not excuse,  
But the serpent would him felly assail:  
With a problem make him for to muse,  
Called of some men an uncouth devinayle.  
Which for to expone who that did assail,  
There was none help neither other remedy,  
By the statute, but that he must die.   

And for all folk have not knowledging  
Of this demand, what it was in deed,  
I will rehearse it here in my writing  
Compendiously, that men may it read.  
First this serpent (who that list take heed)  
Was monstrous, and spoke against nature:  
And if it fill that any creature   

Man or woman, should forth by pass,  
High or low of all that region,  
As I said erst there was none other grace,  
But if he made an exposition  
Of this serpent's froward question,  
He must die, and make no defence:  
The which demand was thus in sentence.   

The serpent asked: what thing may that be,  
Beast or foul when it is forth brought,  
That hath no power to stand, go, nor flee:  
And afterward, if it be well ysought,  
Goth first on four, or else goeth he nought,  
After by precesse, on three, & than on twain,  
And eft again, as nature doth ordain,   

He goth on three, and eft on four again,  
Also kindly right nature disposeth it so,  
And in a while it followeth in certain,  
To the matter which that he came fro,  
He must of kind resort again thereto?  
And who can not the meaning clearly see,  
He of this serpent shall devoured be.   

Which Edippus full sober in his intent,  
Not to rekell, or to hasty of language,  
But in his heart with great any cement,  
And full demure of look and of visage,  
Considered first this perilous fell passage:  
Saw well tofore that it was no jape,  
And full provided that no word should escape.   

At good leisure, with hole mind & memory,  
Seeing the earnest of this mortal emprise,  
His life depending bitwixe death & victory,  
This (quoth he) plainly to devise,  
Is first a child which may not suffice  
When it is borne (the truth is all day seen)  
Without help himself to sustain.   

After on four he naturally doth creep,  
For impotence and green tenderness,  
Norices can tell that do them keep:  
But afterward up he doth him dress,  
With his two feet: the third to express,  
Is hand, or bench, or support of some wall,  
To hold him up, lest he catch a fall.   

And afterward, increasing of his might,  
To great age when he doth attain,  
Of his nature than he goth upright,  
Mightily upon his legs twain:  
Than cometh age his power to restrain,  
Crooked & lame like as men may see,  
With a staff, or potent, to make up his legs three,   

But when feebleness or sickness do assail,  
On hands and feet he must bow and lout:  
For croche, or potentes, may not than avail,  
When lusty youth is banished and shut out.  
Than eft again, hereof may be no doubt,  
With four feet to earth he doth return,  
Fro whe●s he came, there still to sojourn.   

All came fro earth, and all to the earth shall,  
Against nature may be no protection,  
Worldly estates eachone they be mortal,  
There may no treasure make redemption.  
Who climbeth highest, his fall is lowest down.  
A mean estate is best, who could it know,  
Between high presuming, & bowing to low.   

For who sit highest, stand in jeopardy,  
Under danger of fortune, like for to fall:  
Mischief and poverty as for their party,  
Ben lowest brought among these people al.  
Some folk taste sugar, and sum taste call.  
Solomon therefore mirror of sapience,  
between great riches and great indigence,   

Asked a mean, called suffisance:  
To hold him content of competent dispense,  
Not to rejoice of to great abundance,  
And ever in poverty to send him patience,.  
Sober with his plenty, in scarceness non offence,  
As of grudging: but between joy and smart.  
Thank god of all, and ever be glad of heart.   

Earth is the end of every manner man,  
For the rich with great possession,  
dieth as soon (as I rehearse can)  
As doth the poor in tribulation.  
For death ne maketh no division,  
By syngler favour, but between both ylich,  
Of the poorest, & of him that is most rich.   

This said problem concluded in this case,  
Which y● serpent began sleighly to propose,  
That when a child is first borne, alas,  
●ynde to his dethwarde anon doth 〈◊〉 dispose.  
Each day a journey, there is none other gloze,  
Experience can tech in every age  
How this world is here but a pilgrimage.   

This said Edippus first in Thebes borne,  
Sent to a forest devoured for to be,  
Found & brought forth as ye have herd toforne,  
And after drawing home to his country,  
Slough his father, so infortunate was he:  
Of froward haps following all his live,  
As this tragedy his fortune shall descrive.   

But for that he through his high prudence,  
Unto the serpent declared every deal,  
He slough him after, by knightly violence,  
More by wisdom, than by armure or steel:  
Stace of Thebes can tell you this full weal.  
Which was one cause if ye list to seen,  
Wherethrough Edippus, wedded hath the queen   

Called jocasta, princess of that country:  
His own mother, unknown to them both.  
And though she were right fair upon to see,  
With this marriage the god's wereful wrath,  
For their alliance nature 'gan to loath:  
That a mother as ye shall understand,  
Should her son take to be her husband.   

There was therein no convenience  
To be supported by kind, ne by reason,  
But if it so be the heavenly influence  
Disposed it by the inclination  
Of some false froward constellation,  
Caused by Saturn, or Mars the froward star,  
To engender debate, or some mortal war.   

In this matter plainly thus I dame,  
Of no cunning, but of opinion:  
Though he were crowned with sceptre and diadem  
To reign in Thebes the strong mighty town,  
That some aspect came fro heaven adown,  
Infortunate, froward, and full of rage,  
Which again kind joined the marriage.   

He crowned was by assent of all the town,  
flowering a season by sovereignty of piece:  
And while he held the possession,  
Sons and daughters he had doubtless.  
The first son called Ethiocles,  
Polynices called was that other,  
(As saith Bochas) the second brother.   

Also he had goodly daughters twain,  
The eldest called was antigone,  
The second named was Imeyne:  
And both they were right fair unto se,  
The queen jocasta might no gladder be  
Than to remember when they wax in age,  
Her gods had increased their lineage.   

It was her joy and her felicity,  
To see her children, that were so inly fair:  
But after joy there cometh adversity,  
And hope assured wanhope doth oft appair▪  
Contrarious trust will gladly their repair  
Where false weening in heart is conceived,  
Through ignorance, which hath many deceived   

What thing in earth is more deceivable,  
Than when a man supposeth verily  
In prosperity for to stand stable,  
And from his joy is removed suddenly▪  
For where fortune is found to hasty,  
To trise folk, she is grievous to endure:  
For sudden changes be hateful to nature.   

Unware woe that cometh on gladness,  
Is unto hearts right passing encombreous:  
And who hath felt his part of wealfulnesse  
Sorrow suing on, is to him odious.  
And worst of all, and most contrarious  
Is when estates highest of renown,  
Ben from their noblesse, suddenly brought down.   

There is no glory which that shineth here,  
That false fortune can so magnify,  
But when his laud brightest is & clear,  
She can eclipse it with some cloudy s●●e  
Of unware sorrow, only of envy:  
Seethe of Edippus an open evidence,  
Which by his life had experience   

Of high noblesse: and therewith also,  
part importable of great adversity:  
His joy ever meynt with full mortal wo.  
For while he reigned in Thebes the city▪  
And jocasta with full great ●o●alte,  
Within the country there fell a pestilence,  
The people infecting with his violence.   

Through all the land, and all the region,  
In every age, but most grievously  
On them eachone that were of that town,  
The infection spread most specially:  
And of vengeance the sword most rigorously,  
Day by day began to bite and ●a●ue,  
Of each estate causing folk to starve.   

Thus began to increase the mortality:  
That every man stood in jeopardy  
Of their lives throughout the country,  
So importable was their malady,  
That ye might hear the people clepe and cry,  
despaired so were they of their lines,  
Void of all succour, & of their preservatives.   

They sought herbs, & spices in their coffers,  
And began to seek for help & other socours:  
The cause inquiring of prudent philosophers,  
And of their most expert diviners,  
Why that the gods with so sharp showers  
Of pestilence, and in so cruel wise  
List them, alas, so mortally chastise.   

But among all, in sooth this is the case,  
There was found one full prudent and wise,  
A prophet, called Tiresias,  
Of prophecy having a sovereign prize:  
Which affirmed, and said in this wise,  
As unto him was showed by miracle,  
Phoebus himself declaring the oracle:   

Cause of this sickness and these maladies,  
As the gods plainly have disposed,  
(And Senecke writeth also in his tragedies)  
Though the cause be secret and yclosed:  
Unto the time there be a king deposed,  
Which slew his father & raft him his life,  
And hath also take his mother to his wife,   

Till this be done, and execute in deed,  
There may be made no redemption:  
But pestilence shall multiply and spread  
Ever more and more, through that region.  
Till unto the time that he be put a down  
Fro his crown, which not long agone  
His father slough, among his mortal fone,   

And hath his mother wedded also,  
Against law and against all right:  
Till vengeance upon that crime be do,  
There shallbe wars, pestilence, and fight,  
Sorrow, & strife, & every manner wight  
Of veugeaunce his neighbour shall hate,  
Brother with brother, & blood with blood debate.   

This is all and some, there may be no succour.  
Which brought the people in great heaviness,  
For Tiresias the great diviner,  
By propher● told them thus express:  
And at the last by tokens and witness,  
Men understood, by signs out showing,  
This pestilence was brought in by the king.   

And though the people gave no credence  
To Tiresias ne to his prophecy,  
The queen jocasta caught au evidence,  
And in her heart a full great fantasy,  
Specially when she died espy  
Of Edippus the feet that were wounded,  
How this tumour was on troth ygrounded.   

Because also there was a diviner  
Which told tofore, that Edippus should be  
To Layus of Thebes successor  
Whereby the king, the queen, and the rite,  
Fill in great trouble and great adversity,  
Well more than I by writing can report,  
For there was nothing that might them recomfort.   

Full oft in the day jocasta 'gan to swoon,  
And king Edippus to sob, cry and weep,  
In salt tears as they them would drown:  
Death crampishing in to their heart 'gan creep,  
A day complaining, a night they may not sleep,  
Cursing the hour of their nativity,  
That they should live that day for to se.   

Their mortal chance, their deadly adventure,  
Their fortune also which 'gan on them froun,  
impatient, and doleful to endure,  
Their froward fate, with their looks brown:  
The king foryre cast away his crown,  
And began to ●ace, for constraint of his pain,  
Out of his heed his woeful eyen twain.   

Day and night he cried after death,  
Hateful to come in any man's sight:  
Most desirous to yield up the breath,  
Woeful in heart to come in any light,  
Coorbed for sorrow, feeble to stand upright,  
And specially in his deadly distress,  
For dread and shame he dared in darkness.   

The cruel constraint of his most grenance  
Was, that his sons had him in despite:  
Which 'gan his sorrow greatly to advance,  
For him to scorn was set all their delight,  
Was never none that stood in worse plight,  
For thus lying and destitute of cheer,  
Unto the gods he made his prayer:   

Beseeching them with a full doleful heart,  
Upon his woe to have sum compassion:  
And that they would for to avenge his minert,  
between his sons make a division,  
Each to bring other to destruction.  
This was his prayer in substance,  
That each on other may take vengeance.   

In years few, for their unkindness,  
They herd his prayer as ye have herd devise:  
The brethren two through their cursedness,  
Each 'gan other mortally despise,  
For lack of grace, and for false covetise:  
Each for his party desirous in deed  
Tofore other to reign and succeed.   

And thus these brethren most infortunate,  
between themself fill at dissension:  
And finally, this unkindly debate  
Brought all Thebes to destruction.  
Yet was there made first a convention  
By interchanging that each should reign a year,  
The other absent to play, & come no near.   

This concluded by their both assent  
And by accord of that region,  
Polynices road forth and was absent,  
Ethiocles took first possession:  
But when the year by revolution  
Was come about, he false of his intent,  
Unto the accord denied to assent.   

This was a cause of their both strives:  
Polynices was thus put out of his right,  
Till Adrastus that king was of Argyues,  
which thorough all Grece greatest was of might,  
Sent unto Thebes, Tideus a knight,  
His son in law, to treat of this matter,  
And the cause finally to lere:   

Where through the king called Ethiocles,  
Would condescend of truth and of reason,  
To stint war, and to cherish piece:  
After the accord and composition  
Up to deliver Thebes that mighty town,  
Unto his brother, which absent was without,  
Now that his year was fully come about.   

But he was false, and frowardly 'gan vary,  
Ethiocles from his conuenci●n:  
For which Adrastus no longer would tarry  
When Tideus had made relation,  
But called anon throughout his region  
All the worthy, both near and far,  
Against Thebes for to begin a war.   

For this cause like as ye shall lere,  
Polynices to force his party  
Ywedded had the kings daughter dear  
I mean of Adrastus, flower of chivalry,  
When Tideus did him certify  
touching the answer of Ethiocles,  
And of his truth, how he was reckless,   

False of his promise, & cursedly forsworn.  
For to his truth none advertence had he,  
Neither to the accord that was made before  
Touching y● deliverance of Thebes the city:  
But who that list the story clearly see  
Of these two brethren, and their dissension,  
And how Adrastus lay to fore the town,   

And how Tideus through his high prows,  
Fought by the way going on message:  
And how of Grece all the worthiness,  
With king Adrastus went in this voyage,  
And of the mischief that fill in that passage  
For lack of water, till that I siphile  
nourish of Ligurgus so fair upon to see,   

Taught Tideus to find out a river,  
She that did in fairness so excel:  
Ne how the serpent most ugly of his cheer,  
Of ●ig Ligurgus the child slough at the well:  
Neither how Amphiorax fill down to hell,  
All to declare me seemed was no need,  
For in the siege of Thebes ye may it read   

The story hole: and made there is mention  
Of either part, their puissance, & their might  
And how Adrastus lay tofore the town,  
And how they inette every day in fight.  
And how Tideus the famous knight  
So renomed in acts martial,  
Was slain, alas as he fought on the wall.   

And how the brethren met among the press,  
Like two Tigers or lions that were wode,  
With sharp spears, this is doubtless,  
everich of them shed others heart blood:  
This was the fine, & thus with them itstode,  
Save at their feestes called funeral,  
There fell a marvel which I tell shall.   

When they were brent in to ashes deed,  
Of their envy there fill a full great wonder  
Among the brands and the coals read,  
High in the air the smokes went a sunder,  
The one to one party, and that other yonder.  
To declare the story, me list not fain,  
The great hatred that was betwixt hem twain.   

Thus for their ire, and false dissension,  
All the lords and all the chivalry,  
Were slain of Grece, and also of the town,  
And rote of all (mine author list not lie)  
Was false alliance, and fraternal envy:  
And chief ground with all the surplusage,  
Who search aright, was unkindly marriage.   

The queen jocasta felt her part of pain,  
To see her childer each of them slay other:  
Her son, her lord, blind on his eyen twain  
Which to his sons was father & also brother,  
Fortune would it should be none other.  
Also Parchas sisters which be in number three,  
Span so the thread at their nativity.   

Also when jocasta stood thus disconsolate,  
And saw of Thebes the subversion,  
The country destroyed, and made desolate,  
The gentle blood shed of that region:  
Without comfort or consolation,  
Thought she might be no more appaired,  
But of all hope fully lo despaired.   

Trist and heavy, pensive, and spoke no word,  
Her sorrows old and new she 'gan advert,  
Took the sword of him that was her lord,  
which which Edippus smote Layus to the heart:  
She to ●inyshe all her pains smart  
And fro the body her soul to divide,  
Ro●e herself throughout every side.   

She weary was of her woeful life,  
Seeing of Fortune the great frowardness,  
How her diffame and slander was so rife,  
And of Edippus the great wretchedness.  
Also of her sons the great unkindness,  
All these things weighed on her so sore,  
That for distress she list to live no more.   

Bochas writeth concerning her fairness,  
constraint of sorrow caused it to fade:  
The famous light also of her noblesse  
And all the clearness of her days glade,  
With unware harms, she was so overlade,  
Of very anguish that she herself did hate,  
So inly contrary disposed was her fate.   

Thus death devoureth with his bitter gall  
joy and sorrow, avoid of all mercy:  
And with his dart he maketh down to fall  
rich and poor, them marking suddenly.  
His unware stroke smiteth indifferently,  
From him refusing favour and all meed,  
Of all estates he taketh so little heed.   

Better is to die than live in wretchedness,  
Better is to die than ever live in pain,  
Better is an end than deadly heaviness,  
Better is to die than ever in woe remain:  
And where y● mischief doth folk to complain  
By woeful constraint of long continuance,  
Better it is to die than live in such grievance.   

Taketh ensample hereof and a priefe,  
Of king Oedipus' that was so long ago,  
Of queen jocasta that felt so great mischief,  
And of their children remember also,  
Which ever lived, in envy, sorrow and wo.  
Fortune, alas, during all their days,  
Was so froward to them at all assays.   

Touching Edippus process find I none,  
What end he made in conclusion:  
Save Bochas writ how that king Creon,  
cozen and heir by succession,  
Exiled him chained far out of the town.  
Where he endured mischief, sorrow, and dread  
Till Atropos untwyned his lives thread.   

☞ Envoy.  

IN this tragedy three things ye may see:  
The pride of jabin & false presumption  
Of queen jocasta the great adversity,  
Of king Edippus the inclination  
To vices all: and the division  
Of the two brethren, plainly us to assure  
Kingdoms divided may no while endure.    

☞ Omne regnum in se divisum desolabitur.  

For who saw ever kingdom or country  
Stand in quiet of possession,  
But if there were, right, peace, and equity,  
And just accord without dissension,  
Void of untruth and false collusion▪  
Plainly declaring by ensample and scripture  
Kingdoms divided may no while endure.   

Seeth here example of Thebes the city,  
And how that noble mighty region  
Through their froward false duplicity,  
With war were brought to destruction,  
Their promise broken, & their covert treason,  
showed by their harms ipossible to recure,  
Kingdoms divided may no while endure.   

Princes, princesses which have the sovereignty  
Over the people, and domination,  
Ifye list long live in felicity,  
Cherish your subjects, do none extortion.  
And advertise, of wisdom and reason,  
As this tragedy doth to you discure,  
Kingdoms divided may no while endure.     

The ten Chapter.  
☞ How Atreus' king of Messene wrought against his brother Thyestes', slew his three children, dismembered them in pieces & made Thyestes' to eat of their flesh, & drink of their blood.  

BOchas the Poet author of this book  
Him purposing to gather and compile  
divers stories, anon his pen he took:  
Him remembering within a little while,  
In this chapitle began direct his style  
To write the story, high and compendious,  
A forne all other, of duke Theseus   

Lord of Athens, a famous great city,  
Right strong and mighty on every side.  
But at his back Bochas did one see,  
Which cried loud, and bade he should abide:  
Bochas (quoth he) fro the me list not hide  
My woeful case, ne in no wise spare,  
My piteous complaint to the to declare.   

I am Thyestes' besprent all with weeping,  
Drowned in tears as thou mayest well see:  
Sometime son of the mighty king  
Pelops, and borne also pard  
Of queen Hippodamea excellent of beauty.  
And for thou art desirous to indite  
Of people unhappy and their woe to write,   

My will is this anon that thou proceed.  
Turn thy style, and take thy pen believe,  
Leave Theseus and take of him none heed,  
But first my tragedy that thou discryve:  
For I suppose that in all thy live,  
That thou saw never a thing more dolorous  
More unhappy, froward, ne more piteous   

Than is, alas, my mortal adventure:  
incomparable, the sorrow surmounting  
Of queen jocasta, most woeful creature,  
Or of Edippus his fate ever complaining  
For my complaint hath none ending  
But lasteth ever, and beareth me witness,  
No woe resembleth unto my heaviness.   

And with y● word John Bochas still stood▪  
Full soberly to give him audience:  
And in the place demurely abode.  
To hear the substance of his mortal offence,  
Which thus began to show the sentence.  
O John (quoth he) I pray the take good heed  
My woe to write, that men may it read.   

Alas, my brother rote of unkindness,  
Atreus called of reason, sours and well,  
And finder out of treason and falseness,  
(For all other in fraud he doth precel)  
Whose covert hate is more than I can tell,  
I supposing of very innocence  
In him no malice, deceit, nor none offence,   

But as brother should a brother trust,  
I trusted him, of heart, will, and, thought:  
By appearance none other cause I wist,  
For in his person I supposed nought  
That ever he could so false a thing have wrought  
But who may sooner another man deceive,  
Than he in whom no malice men conceive▪   

I deemed of him as of my true brother,  
weening he had faithful been to me:  
I saw no sign, ne I knew none other,  
In him suposing no duplicity.  
But woe alas, how might it ever be,  
Or who did ever in any story find,  
Blood unto blood to be so unkind?   

I will pass over to tell the worthiness,  
Touching the estates of our progenitors,  
Of our kindred, and the great noblesse,  
I tell nothing nether of our predecessors,  
Ne of my youth, how passed been the flowers:  
I leave all this, and unto mind call  
The wretchedness that I am in fall.   

My brother found a false occasion  
Against me, and began a cause feign  
To banish me out of our region:  
And began at me of hatred to disdain,  
Upon me affirming in certain  
In our kingdom which called is Missene,  
I should have lain by his wife the queen.   

This he compassed full falsely of malice,  
Himself well knowing that it was not so:  
Ever found unkind and misavise,  
Not like my brother, but like my deadly ●o.  
And to increase great parcel of my woe,  
By long process in his entention,  
He imagined my destruction.   

And his chief cause was false covetise  
Touching this thing which he did fame  
And yet this kingdom truly to devise,  
Should have been departed between us twain  
But against truth he did so ordain,  
Me to exile out of that region,  
Himself alone to have possession.   

Yet in his heart he cast an other wile,  
To my undoing and desolation,  
To the place whence he did me exile  
Under a shadow of false collusion,  
To make a mane● revocation:  
Of brotherhood showing a pretence,  
Me to restore again to his presence.   

To be accepted as a brother should:  
With full accord still with him to abide,  
All miuries of which afore I told,  
On either party forget and set aside.  
That nothing after should our love divide,  
But of one will and one entention,  
Lead all our life without division.   

Whereof the people were full glad and light,  
Throughout Missene that mighty region.  
At my resorting found I every wight  
Ready of heart and whole affection  
Me to receive into that noble town.  
And none so ready by signs out showing,  
To make me cheer in sooth as was the king.   

There is no damage in comparison,  
That may be likened by no resemblance  
To feigned truth and simulation,  
When fraud is hid with a fair countenance,  
Pretending truth outward by deceyvaunce,  
And underneath of most false intent,  
Of doubleness dareth the serpent.   

As under flowers is shrouded the dragon,  
For to betray by sudden violence,  
Such folk as have no suspection,  
But truly mean in their pure innocence,  
Till they be caught dispurveyed of defence:  
Or as a fish with bait of false pleasance,  
The hook not seen is brought to mischance:   

Thus semblably at my home coming,  
I was received with every circumstance:  
Like as half heir and brother to the king.  
And he pretending as by countenance,  
That he had so inly great pleasance  
Of my repair, of truth he told so  
For rejoicing that he said he would go   

Unto his gods to do some observance  
For this accord, and humble sacrifice:  
Made his ministers with faithful attendance  
To wait on me in all their best wise.  
It needeth not to tell ne devise  
Neither by writing in books for to set,  
Half the joy he made when we met.   

First how friendly he did me embrace,  
Of hearty gladness within his arms twain▪  
And how for joy the tears on his face  
Full entirely 'gan distill and rain:  
That for my party he could not me restrain,  
But that I must of friendship fraternal,  
Weep as did he, in his estate royal.   

The wily wolf that cast him to deuou●  
The silly lamb which can no defence,  
Ne none help himself to secure,  
So feeble he is to make resistance,  
Which deemeth truth of false appearance,  
What wonder is it the fraud not conceived  
Though such lambs unwarely be deceived?   

Though that roses at midsummer be full sote,  
Yet underneath is hid a full sharp spyne:  
Some fresh flowers have a full bitter rote,  
And loathsome gall can sugar undermine,  
In dreadful storms the sun among doth shine  
And under a shadow of feigned frendlyheade  
There is no friendship so perilous to dread.   

Thus remembering the faithful words stable  
Of my brother showed unto me  
At our meeting the kissing amiable,  
The assured covenants of our fraternity,  
But oft time men may behold and see  
That lilies grown among these nettles thick  
And ●●oure delice in mids these weeds wick.   

Thus while I rested in the kings house,  
Nothing adverting his deadly cruelty,  
His old hatred was so venomous,  
And so audible to destroy me:  
Himself to avenge he took my children three,  
And sikerly is it not a wonder,  
He cut their throats with a knife asunder.   

For he thought that it did him good  
Them to dismember into pieces small:  
And in a dessell for to gather their blood  
While they say still and looked on him pale.  
This was his deed in a desert vale  
Within a cave that no man should espy,  
Treason conspired of his false tyranny.   

This was the substance of his sacrifice,  
To slay my children, & make their heart's bleed.  
I trow the Gods thereof did agrise,  
Of his false offering when they took heed.  
He did their membres after roast and seed,  
And with this vyande most abominable  
He made me to be served at the table.   

In covert cruses (also thus it stood)  
To staunch mi thirst through his cruel vengeance  
He made me unknown drink their blood.  
Was not this thing to god's displeasance?  
Yes I dare say, for by demonstrance,  
Upon this deed without more obstacle,  
The sun in heaven showed a miracle:   

Which sore agrysed might not behold  
With his beams thereon to cast his sight,  
For displeasance his clearness 'gan withhold  
And for vengeance to withdraw his light,  
The day turning for horror into night,  
When he shone brightest in his midday spear,  
Shrouded his face and would not appear.   

But I alas upon this case horrible  
That could not imagine ne think,  
On any matter that was so audible,  
Eat their flesh, their blood also did drink:  
Which so sore doth to mine heart sink,  
That I may not touching this adventure  
The circumstance for constraint discure.   

It needeth me not to make rehearsayle  
touching mine exile, of all manner things,  
Of divers sorrows that me did assail,  
My woeful sighs, ne my grievous weepings:  
Ne upon nights my dolorous wakinges.  
My poverty, nether how I stood in dread,  
To lose my life, whereof Bochas take heed.   

And remember all the circumstances,  
If ever thou sawest of high or low degree,  
More contrary or more unhappy chants,  
Than thou hast heard remembered here of me  
Weigh in balance my sorrows, let me see  
If any sorrow or mischief unrecured,  
May counterpoise to that I have endured?   

Mine infortunes I found them aye so fell  
Without favour and succour, dispurveyed.  
My brother on me was ever so cruel,  
That I full oft desired to have died:  
For to this day my spirit hath been conveyed  
With sorrow and woe devoid of all refuge,  
Wherefore I pray thee, O Bochas be my judge.   

And in thy writing leave me not behind,  
Nether in thy book that thou not disdain,  
Among though folk that thou have me in mind,  
Which that for sorrow, weep, wail, and plain:  
And thus Thyestes' rehearsing all his pain,  
Like as he would himself in pieces rend,  
Made unto Bochas of his tale an end.    

The xi Chapter.  
¶ How Atreus excuseth himself of murder, and of his brother's adultery done with Europa queen.  

Atreus' came after with a full pale cheer  
And of envy full dead in his visage,  
Unto Bochas 'gan to approach near,  
Like as he had be fallen in a rage,  
And furiously abraid in his language,  
How may this be that like a man were wode  
Thyestes' hath his venom sow abroad?   

And like a ribald falsely me accused?  
notwithstanding that I full clearly see  
Mine infortunes which may not be refused,  
So sore alas they work against me.  
And though Thyestes' false and untrue be,  
And unto the Bochas with a face pale  
Against me hath forged here a tale.   

Which in effect shallbe found untrue,  
If I have time my complaint to declare:  
For I purpose to tell a tale new  
Fro point to point, and for no man spare,  
How he was ground and rote of all my care,  
And over, like as it is befall,  
rehearse the beginning of my sorrows all.   

Sometime when I reigned in Missene,  
Of age lusty flowering in my freshness,  
With my wife Europa that was queen,  
Most revomed that time of fairness,  
Thyestes' than as ground of all falseness,  
As a traitor his time did espy,  
Through his false fraud and flattery,   

Compassed a mean within my city,  
By sleighty wiles that were incomparable,  
To corrupt my wives chastity,  
My bed defouling a thing intolerable,  
And to the Gods very abominable:  
Using the queen to his fleshly pleasance,  
Till unto the time that in continuance   

She by him had sons two or three,  
eachone brought forth in false adultery:  
deeming none other but they had be  
Mine own children, till that I did espy  
How this swine through his false lechery  
This Thyestes', after Europa  
Lay with his daughter called Pelopeia.   

And by process forth a child she brought  
Called Aegisthus which when he came to age  
As saith Bochas much treason wrought:  
For by his malice and his great outrage,  
Destroyed was all whole the lineage  
Of Tantalus, which by his living  
In Frygia reigned as lord and king.   

But this Aegisthus of whom I spoke toforne  
Falsely begotten (mine author saith the same)  
Of Pelopeia, anon as he was borne,  
To hide the slander, and also the fame,  
Of Thyestes', and also to save his name,  
When he was but a day of age,  
He was out cast to beasts savage   

To be devoured: the story is well couth.  
A melche goat God list for him provide,  
To foster him in his tender youth.  
He night and day lying by her side,  
Within the forest thus he did abide:  
Unto the time he 'gan grow in age,  
Than to the court he holdeth his passage.   

Wherefore (O Bochas) of heart I pray thee,  
Which of these stories is most terrible  
Of Edippus, jocasta, or of me▪  
Tell on anon if it be possible,  
Which of these sorrows is most penible?  
Of the Theban brethren full of woe and tene,  
Or of us twain brethren of Missene?   

I am aknowe as for my party,  
Of vengeance I did a cruel deed:  
I slough his children of malice and envy,  
And toasted them when they were dead,  
Only because, if thou list take heed.  
That he begat them, as rote of all this strife,  
Upon Europa which that was my wife.   

Such hateful things each man should loath,  
Which appertaineth to murder and treason:  
Thus may I say we be unhappy both.  
He first by trespass of fornication,  
Done by the queen within my region:  
And I slandered on that other side,  
Of hasty vengeance to be an homicide.   

My bed he defouled by his adultery,  
To God and man a thing most detestable:  
And I of malice and false melancholy,  
Slough his children, & served them at the table.  
Thus enterchaunging if it be commendable,  
Each was desirous through our unhappy chance  
Upon other to do vengeance.   

Our great hatred most odious found of all,  
Our cruel deeds wrought on either side,  
Senecke rehearseth them in especial  
In his tragedies, and there he doth divide  
Our complaints, our malice, and our pride  
Our fatal end in sorrow and mischief fyned,  
When Atropos our lives thread untwined.   

When John Bochas fully had espied  
Of these two brethren the accusations,  
And how they had maliciously replied,  
Each against other in their dissensions,  
He began duly to hear their motions:  
Put up his pen, & wrote not more a word,  
Of their fury, ne of their false discord.   

¶ Envoy.  

THis tragedy showeth a figure,  
A manner of image and also likeness.  
How contrary it is unto nature,  
Blood unto blood to show unkindness:  
This woeful story can well bear witness,  
All such debates been as ye shall find,  
Hateful to God and contrary unto kind.   

For there is no more dreadful adventure  
Than in kindred to find frowardness,  
Neither no damage more perilous tendure,  
Than in friendship when there is strangeness:  
A manner party by example I dare express.  
To see the tree debate against the rind,  
To God right hateful, and contrary to kind.   

Every beast, and every creature  
loveth his semblable of kind right I guess:  
And when in one truth doth twain hearts assure  
Vndeparted of very perfectness,  
It were a vicious froward cursedness▪  
Their love to unknit, to lose, or unbind,  
Hateful to God, and contrary unto kind.   

Princes, princesses, do your busy cure,  
From you to avoid, strife, fraud, & doubleness:  
Remember you upon the unhappy cure  
Of these two brethren, and their wretchedness,  
And of their both malicious wilfulness,  
And of their strife, have this well in mind:  
To God right hateful, and contrary to kind.     

¶ The xii Chapter.  
☞ Of duke Theseus' and Ariadne that saved his life in a cave, and how he like a forsworn man forsook her, and wedded fair Phedra, which after slew herself.  

A Thenot when it was in his flowers,  
Was called nourish of philosopher's wise  
Princess of poets and expert orators,  
Sum of all sciences as clerks can devise,  
Whence all cunning most clearly did arise:  
Named of Grece the lantern and the light,  
Which through all earth shed his beams bright   

With noble titles which been out of number  
In every coast his renome did shine:  
The fame thereof was clipsed with none umber,  
All other schools it did so enlumine,  
For in that city plamely to determine,  
Of the vii arts, as from one head did spring  
As out of rivers, streams of all cunuing.   

These sciences were called liberal,  
Only of freedom, franchise, and liberty,  
For of a stock that were proved thrall,  
There should no branch study in that city:  
But the ilke blood that were found free,  
Both by descent, and lineal high noblesse,  
There to scholey should have entresse.   

This city was sacred to minerve,  
For their wisdom and their sapience:  
Of Mercury the feasts they observe,  
For rhetoric and for eloquence.  
And mighty Mars gave them influence  
With glad aspects, their party to amend,  
Nobles of knighthood, their clergy to defend   

This town was nobled by title of other things  
And most glorious reckoned in that age,  
By succession of dukes and of kings,  
Among which, duke Theseus' by lineage  
Son of Aegisthus, full fresh in his courage,  
Excelling all of prudence and manhood  
That ever did the crown there possede.   

For to that city through his noblesse.  
In their defence, such trust, such affiance,  
He gave to them by his expert prows,  
Of his triumphs so great abundance:  
And specially their renome to advance,  
He made them free their truage to let,  
Against Minos the mighty king of Crete.   

For by his force (the story is well couth)  
Them to franchise and all that region,  
The Mynotaur he slough in tender youth.  
And afterward he of devotion,  
To acquit himself like a champion,  
Thereof made solemn sacrifice,  
To Jupiter in most humble wise.   

And of a Theatre called Maraton,  
Duke Theseus had the victory,  
After he went to Colchos with Jason,  
Chief of counsel, as made is memory.  
And by process to augment his glory,  
With Hercules his brother to conucy,  
Against Amasones he went to warray.   

Conquered them, his manhood was well seen,  
His force, his noblesse, in that mortal strife:  
And after that Ipolita the queen  
This Theseus took unto his wife.  
And for his brother he jeoparded his life,  
Duke Pirithous, when he did undertake  
The Centaurs to outray for his sake.   

This centaurs poets specify,  
And Servius maketh mention,  
How they were sometime engendered on a sky  
When first their father called Ixion  
Was enamoured full many a day agone,  
Upon Juno, because she was so fair,  
Governess, and goddess of the air.   

This Ixion was her secretary.  
And for her fairness and excellent beauty,  
Loved her hot: albeit she was contrary  
To his desire, Bochas read and ye may see:  
Him to delude, he writeth how that she  
Herself transformed, as she that might & could,  
Into the likeness of an heavenly cloud.  
This Ixion plainly supposing  
It was herself: and even thus he wrought  
The cloud embracing without more tatiing,  
Of his folly the goddess there he sought.  
And with their meddling forth they brought  
The Centaurs, these beasts matuelous,  
Which of nature ben found monstrous.   

Half man, half horse, departed thus in twain  
And wonderful by their description,  
Of false malice did themself ordain,  
On Pirithous to make enuasion:  
And him to put out of possession  
Of his wife called Ipodamen,  
And her to ravish maugry all his men.   

There were of them an hundred in number,  
Swift as the wind in their course running  
Which of malice cast them to encumber,  
Duke Pirithous the day of his wedding:  
And to ravish his wife at their coming,  
If for his party there were no defence  
Against their power to make resistance.   

But Theseus list not to delay,  
Pirithous his brother to defend:  
First the Centaurs knightly he did outray,  
So mortally, they durst not him offend,  
After the conquest to hell they did descend,  
Duke Pirithoe: and worthy Theseus,  
Maugry the danger of cruel Cerberus.   

There they ravished in their mortal tene  
Through their knighthood, if ye list to lere,  
Despite of Pluto, Proserpina the queen  
Which of Jupiter was the daughter dear.  
And Pirithous found first the manner  
Of wilful force through his high renown,  
Realms to conquer, and hold in possession.   

But by writing soothly of Duyde,  
He plainly telleth how duke Theseus  
Arrested was in hell, and must abide,  
By the force of cruel Cerberus.  
And Pluto was to him contrarious,  
Till Pirithous to find a releases,  
The case declared unto Hercules.   

Which of his knighthood a remedy found:  
To help his friend did his busy pain,  
First by his prows Cerberus he bound  
At hell gates with a triple chain.  
And of his manhood he did so ordain,  
Duke Theseus from danger to discharge,  
Maugry of Pluto for to go at large.   

They were in arms brethren both twain,  
Loved as brethren both in war and peace,  
That neither could unto other fray:  
Their life to jeopard, and put themself in prees  
And both as brethren were called Hercules,  
To signify (poets can well tell)  
This name in conquest all other doth excel.   

By old time they that were peerless  
For their nobles in divers regions,  
All they for manhood were named Hercules.  
Such as were noised for famous champions  
Tigers to daunt, eke boars, and lions:  
And renowned among them everichone,  
Bechas affirmeth that Theseus was one.   

First (as I said) by his knightly travail  
When Athens stood in division,  
Among themselves by war and battle,  
By his wisdom and his discretion,  
To set accord within that noble town  
Them that were exiled & stood in no certain  
He of his knighthood made them resort again.   

He gave them laws whereby they should then gye  
Noble statutes founded of reason:  
Set among them so prudent policy  
In their living, that no dissension  
Should arise by none occasion,  
Among themselves in high or low estate,  
Providing ever that there were no debate.   

Thus began the city increase and multiply,  
To wax famous of wisdom and richesse:  
There sprung the well first of Philosophy,  
There first of knighthood rose the high nobles  
By Theseus, Bochas beareth witness,  
Thus things two like as it is found,  
Clergy and law did there first abound.   

For to set the city in quiet  
He made peace through all that region:  
And of knighthood he manly did meet  
The cruel tyrant that called was Creon.  
Maugre him made restitution  
Of lords bones that were at Thebes slain,  
To the ladies, whereof they were full fain.   

Thus through Grece his renome spread,  
His knightly fame began to multiply:  
And long in joy thus his life he lad,  
While that Fortune list him magnify.  
But aye her joy is meynt with some envy,  
For she froward list no more sojourn  
With Theseus, but began her to face turn   

Away fro him: wax perverce and froward,  
Of his glory, ungodly 'gan to doubul,  
Down from her wheel, she made go backward  
Of his good name she 'gan the feathers pull,  
When his noblesse was highest at full,  
I mean the full of his felicity,  
There followed an ebb of great adversity.   

And moreover her frowardly to acquit,  
His unhaps rehearsing one by one,  
One the first, as Bochas list to indite,  
Was when he lay in Crete among his fone:  
And out of prison should into Grece gone,  
Repairing homeward & himself withdraw,  
The Mynotaur when he had yslawe.   

The first emprise that he undertook,  
Was when he escaped the importable pain,  
Of Mynotaurs, like as saith my book:  
And which him had the king's daughters twain  
That he of malice falsely list disdain:  
Against ●ryadne which did him save  
From the death, when he lay in the cave,   

Should have been slain had not his succour be  
In his repair he took thereof no heed:  
He left her alone in great adversity,  
Within an isle, in mischief, sorrow and dread.  
And fair Phedra with him he did lead,  
Wedded her like a forsworn man,  
Thus which untruth his mischief first began.   

How Phedra quither, the story is well know:  
In his absence, Bochas writeth thus,  
When that she within a little throw  
Loved against kind, her son Ipolitus.  
But he to her was contrarious,  
Would not assent to so foul a deed,  
For shame he fled, & parcel also for dread.   

To his father she him did accuse,  
As ye toforne have the story seen:  
And for he did her company refuse,  
He went away and came never again.  
For ye have heard how that he was slain,  
Within a char through his unhappy chance:  
And how Phedra through vengeance,   

Slough herself, against all womanhood,  
Here in this book tofore as I you told.  
Of which thing when Theseus' took heed,  
Thought it was vengeance for his offence old:  
For he not quit him like as he was behold,  
To Ariadne which should have be his wife,  
By whose succour he scaped with his life.   

This infortune and this unhappy chance  
Was to his nobles full contrarious,  
The death also was to him a vengeance,  
Of his son called Ipolitus:  
For sorrow of whom this duke Theseus  
With salt tears sore began to plain,  
And held the exequys of the ilke twain.   

I trow also it did him sore grieve,  
Duke Pirotheus when he saw dead.  
Slain with a beast, and might not relieve,  
Of king Orcus hound which had a triple head  
Whose teeth horrible of his blood were red:  
Which infortune when he 'gan behold,  
Unto the death he felt his heart cold.   

And for to reckon the great wretchedness,  
The unhappy chances that fell him in his life,  
Among all his other great distresses,  
Was none so mortal and so full of strife,  
As was when he gave credence to his wife,  
Phedra called, which of intention  
Compassed untruly an accusation   

Upon Ipolytus, of hatred and envy,  
Because he would not do so great offence,  
As for to assent to her lechery:  
Therefore of death he felt the violence.  
And for his father to soon gave credence,  
Bochas forbade husbands all their lives,  
Without proof, not leave to soon their wives.   

Neither be to hasty tales for to leave  
Of flatterers, in chamber ne at the table:  
Forgers of lesyngs my auctor doth well prove  
To abide with lords that they be not able,  
Here on he maketh a chapitle notable,  
And of his writing this was the cause why,  
That princes should examine each party.   

Of wisdom also, and of discretion,  
Without a proof not be partial,  
For to a prince it is confusion,  
If between parties he be not found equal:  
Caused many one for to have a fall▪  
God suffereth such not long to contune  
Withdraw their grace, & hindereth their fortune   

Thus Theseus for his hastiness  
His hap, his grace, discreased day by day.  
The fame appalled of his worthiness,  
And froward fortune also in a wait lay  
For his defaults, to hinder him if she may,  
Cast she would his nobles disavance:  
And than his kingdom by disobeisance.   

From him withdraw honour and reverence,  
Full frowardly through all his region  
They of Athens by cruel violence,  
Fill against him in rebellion:  
That he was fain to fly out of that town,  
Thus hath fortune darked the brightness  
Of all his nobles, and cast him in distress.   

Thus was the end by great contrarioustie,  
Of Theseus, after his days glade,  
When the fresh flower of old felicity  
Fortune adverse made them for to fade.  
Each thing must bow when it is overlade,  
Worship & honour when they brightest shine  
with unware changes than rathest do decline.   

☞ Envoy.  

THe unsure gladness, the joy transitory,  
The unstable sureness, the transmutations,  
The cloudy brightness, the false eclipsed glory  
Of earthly princes, which have possessions,  
Monarchies and dominations,  
Their sudden change declareth to us all  
Their sweet sugar is meynt with bitter gall.   

This blind goddess in her consistory,  
With her pleasance meddleth dissensions:  
After triumphs, conquest, and victory,  
reaveth from kings their sceptres & crowns  
Troubleth the people with false rebellions,  
See these dukes which from the wheel be fall  
All worldly sugar is meynt with bitter gall.   

This tragedy maketh memory  
Of dukes twain, and of their high renowns,  
And of their love write a great history,  
And how they conquered divers regions:  
Governed cities, countries, & also towns,  
Till fortune their prows did appall,  
To show their sugar was meint with bitter gall.   

Princes, princesses, see how deceptory,  
Ben all these worldly revolutions:  
And how fortune in her reclinatory,  
With her treacle tempreth false poisons.  
So marvelous been her confections,  
Of frowardness she will what so befall,  
Ever with her sugar of custom temper gall.     

¶ The xiii Chapter.  
¶ Here Bochas writeth against them that giveth hasty credence to liars and flatterers.  

IN this chapter Bochas in sentence,  
reproveth & blameth not only princes,  
But all them that lightly giveth credence  
To every tale and fable which is  
Reported unto them for soothfastness:  
And list nothing do as it were due,  
To prove the truth were it false or true.   

All though so be in every manner age  
folks been divers of conditions,  
To turn, ply, and change in their courage  
To other party with sudden motions,  
And for to bow by transmutations  
With every wind as the unstable leaves,  
Which hang on trees, in forests & in greues.   

But of all changes the change is most to dread  
And most fearful is that variance,  
When that princes which may the people lead,  
Ben found unstable in their governance:  
For their nobles and their high puissance  
Assureth them by a manner of form,  
What ever them list to accomplish & perform   

To comen profit they most may avail,  
When they been ruled by wisdom and reason  
And to the people they may most disaveyle,  
When they lack wit and discretion.  
Thus between twain in every region  
The people draweth, who that can discern,  
To good or bad as princes them govern.   

They may not be to hasty, ne to sudden,  
But do all thing by good advisement:  
Keep them fro tongues that parted be in twain,  
Not be to hasty to give no judgement:  
And of folks when they been absent,  
Lief no tales▪ neither give no credence,  
Till that the party may come to evidence.   

Sumtime hath happened that slow credence  
Hath in some be found full noyons,  
But hasty credence I dare say in sentence,  
A thousand fold is more perilous:  
For unadvised all haste is odious.  
For haste full oft for lack of reason,  
Of much people hath been destruction.   

There is no damage that men can purpose  
More to be dread nor more lamentable  
Than a prince his ears to unclose  
To every tale and every fable:  
It is a token their hearts be not stable,  
When they to flatterers their ears do apply  
Namely to such that can well forge & lie.   

folk ben divers, some false, some true,  
In divers studies done their business:  
Some can study, and find out tales new,  
And some for lucre can maintain falseness,  
And hold up quarrels against right wiseness.  
Pretending truth under a false intent,  
To hinder folks which been innocent.   

Men to suppose it were a great folly  
That folks should in their opinion  
Speak or pronounce all on one party,  
Or hold one way in their intention:  
For semblably as there is a division  
Of courages, of high or low degree,  
So is there truly a great diversity   

In rehearsal, or report of a thing.  
For to his party each man is favourable,  
Some man can say well in all his rehearsing  
Some man is double, and some deceivable:  
Some men say true, and some be variable,  
Wherefore a prince of right as it doth seem,  
Should well examen before that he dame.   

For there is none more dreadful pestilence,  
Than a tongue that can flatter and fage:  
For with his cursed crabbed vyrulence,  
He infecteth folk of every age.  
woe to tongues froward of their language,  
And woe to tongues, false, furious, and wooed,  
Which of no person never can say good.   

Bochas rehearseth, it is right well sitting  
That every man other do commend,  
And say the best always in reporting:  
For in well saying no man may offend,  
Where men say well god will his grace send.  
After as men be, men must their praise upraise  
Like their merits allow them or dispraise.   

But where a thing is utterly unknown,  
Let no man there be hasty of sentence:  
For rightful judges sitting on a row  
Of their wisdom and of their high prudence,  
Will of troth have first some evidence.  
(I mean such as governed be by grace)  
Or any doom forth of their lips pace.   

A prince should assemble things twain  
Within himself, full prudently:  
Shut up the domes between locks twain,  
One of the soul: to reason for that party  
Prudence chosen, and right for the body.  
And between them both or he give sentence,  
To counsel call truth and good conscience.   

First to consider with every circumstance,  
And diligently do thereon his labour,  
Of discretion to take the balance:  
And first weigh out who is the accuser,  
And whether that he for falseness or favour,  
In his process list to proceed,  
Hereof a prince must of right take heed.   

He must also consider by and by  
What he is, that to him is accused,  
And whether the accuser, be friend or enemy  
Or whether he shallbe accept or refused.  
In his acts this must afore be mused.  
And whether he be by report of his name,  
A man well noised, or slandered by diffame.   

If Theseus' thus had been advised,  
And considered of reason the manner:  
He had not so hastily devised  
His sons death, like as ye shall leare.  
For if there had assembled be in fere,  
In his person, prudence and reason,  
He should have seen in his discretion.   

By knowledging of long experience,  
Of his wife the great unsteadfastness:  
Which through her false compassed eloquence  
Was ready ever to bring folk to distress.  
And in his writing Bochas beareth witness,  
Of their nature women can flatter and fage,  
And be sometime to copious of their language.   

Also of wisdom, duke Theseus'  
Should have considered afore in his intent,  
How that his son called Jpolytus,  
Of all uncleanness was found ever innocent:  
And how that he by custom made his went  
Into forests during his young age,  
To hunt at beasts, which that were savage.   

running on foot, as ye shall understand,  
On hills and valleys, to eschew idleness  
Mother of vices, with his bow in hand,  
Diana to serve of hunting chief goddess:  
Sumtime to hawk he did his business,  
Also unto fishing greatly he was applied,  
So that his youth was never unoccupied.   

Thus he lived in woods solitary,  
And of Venus despised the service:  
Among women he would never tarry,  
Their fellowship he did always despise,  
For he deemed by sentence of the wise,  
Who toucheth pitch by a say men may see,  
It faileth not he shall defouled be.   

Jpolitus saw well this thing before,  
Kept him at large from such contagiositie  
His green youth he would not have it lore,  
To be defouled for lack of chastity.  
For he lived ever in virginity,  
And never did (Bochas will not vary)  
Nothing that was unto God contrary.   

Thus of intent he kept his body clean,  
During his life both in thought and deed:  
Whose mother was Jpolita, the queen  
Of Amasones, in ovid ye may read.  
But woe alas that Theseus took heed,  
For a tale of Phedra full of guile,  
Without guilt his son so to exile.   

After whose death some poets sayne,  
How that Dyana for his chastity,  
Restored him unto life again  
By Esculapius, and gave him liberty  
In her forests to hunt and to go free:  
For which restoring (as write ovidius)  
As twice a man men call him Virbius.   

But Bochas here I not what he doth mean,  
Maketh in his book an exclamation,  
Against women, that pity is to seen:  
Saith how their life, and their generation,  
Ben of their nature double of condition.  
And calleth them also, divers and unstable,  
Beasts resembling, that been insatiable.   

He meaneth of women borne in Crete,  
And nothing of them that dwell in this country.  
For women here all doubleness they let,  
And have no tatche of mutability:  
They love no changes, ne no duplicity.  
For their husbands in causes small or great,  
Whatsoever they say, they can not counterplete   

Blessed be god that them hath made so meek,  
So humble and fearful of their conditions:  
For though men would cause and matter seek  
Against their patience, to find occasions,  
They have refused all contradictions.  
And then submitted through their governance,  
Only to meekness and womanly sufferance.   

I speak not of one, I speak of everichone  
That been professed unto lowliness,  
They mai have mouths, but language have they none  
All true husbands can bear hereof witness.  
For wedded men, I dare full well express,  
That have assayed, and had experience,  
Best can record, of wifely patience.   

For as it longeth to men to be sturdy,  
And somewhat froward as of their nature:  
Right so can women suffer patiently,  
And all wrongs womanly endure.  
Men should attempt no manner creature.  
And namely women, their meekness to prove,  
Which may well suffer, if no man them grieve.   

Every thing resorteth to his kind,  
(As Bochas writeth) sometime of the year:  
And who searcheth by process he shall find,  
That truth & virtue may never fade of there:  
For rightwiseness will always shine clear.  
Truth and falseness in what they have to done,  
They may no while assemble in one person.   

Fear and flattery they been contrary,  
They may together hold no long soiour:  
Neither simplesse which that can not vary,  
May never accord with a baratour.  
Neither innorence with a lesyngour,  
Neither chastity can not herself apply,  
Her to conform unto no ribaldry.   

Each thing hath a proper disposition,  
By the ordinance set in their courage:  
And each man followeth his condition,  
As of the stock the fruit hath the tarrage.  
pilgrims may go full far in their passage  
But I dare say how far that ever they go,  
They bear some tarrage of that they came fro.   

Bochas maketh an introduction  
In this chapter, of high noblesse  
That princes have in their possession:  
And by a manner laughing doth express,  
How for toset them in great sickerness  
They have servants upon them abiding,  
And men of arms day and night awaiting   

That no man may enter but he have licence.  
The froward porters standing at the gate,  
Put men aback by sturdy violence:  
It were full hard against them to debate.  
Their watches kept early and also late,  
Them to assure on nights when they sleep,  
The chamberlains their doors straightly keep.   

Men assigned their meats to assay,  
To taste their wines lest there were treason,  
Such mortal dread these lords do affray,  
So is their sureness meynt with suspection:  
Who feedeth him glaoly that feareth poison▪  
But poor folk franchised from such dread,  
Such as god doth send, with mirth they feed.   

But poets that writ tragedies,  
Their complàyning is all of high estates:  
Rehearsing ever their piteous jeopardies,  
Their sudden changes, & their woeful fates,  
Their divisions, and their mortal debates.  
And ever conclude, their ditties who so canrede,  
High estates stand aye most in dread.   

Ground and rote of all this mortal trouble,  
As Bochas writeth and beareth witness,  
Ben these liars with their tongues double,  
Themself aye forcing truth to oppress:  
With whom flattery is a chief mistress,  
And worst of all, to their dreadful sentence,  
Is when princes be hasty of credence.   

Hasty credence is root of all error,  
A froward stepmother of all good counsel:  
Ground of great hindering, a dreadful disceyvour,  
Fair of face with a perilous tail.  
Gladly concluding which full great disavail.  
Next neighbour unto repentance,  
To all that trust & have in her pleasance.   

¶ Envoy.  

Princes, pricesses consider how in every age  
Folks been divers of their condition:  
To ply & turn and change in their courage,  
Yet is there none to mine opinion,  
So dreadful change ne transmutation,  
As change of princes, to give judgment,  
Or hasty credence without advisement.   

It is well found a passing great damage,  
Known and expert in every region,  
Though a tale have a fair visage,  
It may include full great deception,  
Hide under sugar ga●e and fell poison,  
With a fresh face of double entendem cut:  
Yet give no credence without advisement.   

Let folks beware of their laugage,  
Keep their tongues from oblocution:  
To hinder or hurt by no manner outrage,  
Preserve their lips from all detraction,  
From champarty, and contradiction,  
Lest that fraud were found in their intent,  
Ne give no credence without advisement.   

princes princesses of noble and high parage,  
Which have lordship and do nination,  
Void them aside that can flatter and fage:  
Fro tongues that have a terrage of ●reason,  
Stop your ears, from their bitter sound,  
Be circumspect, not hasty but prudent,  
And give no credence without advisement.     

¶ The xiiii Chapter.  
¶ Of queen Althaea, and how Hercules by women was brought to confusion.  

When Bochas had showed his sentence  
And declared his opinion  
Against them that were hasty of credence,  
He begun anon to make a digression  
Fro that matter: and of entention  
To search out more his purpose to contune,  
That were down cast & hindered by fortune.   

And as him thought he saw a company  
Of many worthy which did appear:  
And among all first he did espy,  
Queen Althaea, as she 'gan nigh him near,  
All be wept her face, and also her cheer,  
With salt tears that pity was to seen,  
Which some time was of Cale●dony queen.   

She was the daughter of king Thestius,  
Wedded to Oene of Calsidony king,  
Of cheer and face appearing full piteous,  
Her here to torn, and frowardly lying:  
And in token also of complaining,  
As writeth Bochas, whereof he took heed,  
Black was her habit, & torn was her weed   

A son she had Melliager he height,  
In earth was there none fairer to see:  
Right well favoured in every man's sight,  
And as I find, at his nativity  
Present were the fatal sisters three,  
With their rocks, and began to spin fast,  
And took a brand, and in the fire it cast:   

And in that hour this was their language:  
touching this child we full accorded be,  
And have disposed also, the term of his age  
The space concluded of his destiny,  
As long time who so list to see,  
Till this brand among the coals reed,  
Be full consumed into ashes dead.   

But when Althaea espied their intent,  
And conceived the fine of their sentence:  
She rose up, and the brand she hent  
Out of the fire with full great diligence.  
Quenched anon the fires violence,  
The doom of Parche she 'gan thus disobey,  
The brand reserving under lock & key.   

Touching the father of this Melliager,  
Oeneus, of him thus I read,  
How that he sought nigh and far  
Gods & goddesses, whose list take heed,  
In hope only for to have great meed.  
For to them all, poets thus devise,  
Save to Diana he did sacrifice.   

Whereof she caught an indignation:  
Cast she would on him avenged be.  
Sent a Boor in to his region,  
Full savage and full of cruelty.  
Which devoured the fruit of many a tree,  
And destroyed his corns and his wines,  
That such scarceness of victuals & of wines   

Was in his land upon every side,  
That the people of necessity,  
Compelled were among to provide  
Some mean or way to save their country:  
And at the last they condescended be  
That Melliager lusty of his courage,  
Should choose with him folks fresh & young of age   

This dreadful Boor mightily to enchase.  
And forth they went echon devoid of dread,  
With round spears they 'gan him to menace  
But Melliager made first his sides bleed,  
And with a sword than smote of his heed.  
Whereof the country was glad and fain,  
And in this wise the tuskye bore was slain.   

Some books tell of this hunting,  
That a lady which was borne in Irge,  
Called Athalanta daughter to the king,  
To slay this Boor took on her the charge.  
And with an arrow made his wounds large,  
Also in ovid, like as it is found,  
Because that she gave the first wound,   

Melliager anon for a memory,  
As he that was her own chosen knight,  
Gave her the heed in token of this victory.  
But his two uncles against all skill and tyghte,  
Raft her the head of very force and might:  
Having despite that she in her advice,  
Of this victory should bear away the price.   

With which injury. Melliager was wroth,  
Against them proudly 'gan disdain:  
Pulled out a sword & upon them goeth,  
And through his manhood slew his uncles twain:  
And after that did his busy pain  
To take the heed, and with humble intent  
To Athalanta again to be present.   

One of his uncles was called Flexippus  
A manly knight but young of age,  
That other brother named Theseus.  
But when their sister heard of that outrage,  
How they were slain, she 'gan in her visage  
Wax deed and pale, alas, for her blood:  
When she espied the cause how it stood.   

She had no matter god wot to be fain,  
Queen Althaea to stand and behold,  
Her brethren twain of her son slain  
At the hunting, of which tofore I told.  
first things twain she 'gan poise & unfold,  
Of her brethren the love and nigh kynted,  
And of her son the hasty cruel deed.   

And remembering she casteth in balance  
Of heartily woe that she did endure,  
Thought if she did upon their death vengeance  
To slay her son it were against nature:  
Thus in a war long time she did endure,  
Her deadly sorrow peysing every dell,  
whether she shallbe tender or cruel.   

Thus tender I mean, her son for to spare,  
Or punish the death of her brother twain.  
Thus comfortless all destitute and bare,  
In languishing she endured forth her pain:  
And temedy can she none ordain,  
Save feign she would avenge her if she may,  
But than came forth nature and said nay.   

It was her son, against all kindly right  
Of whom she cast avenged for to be:  
To women all an ugly strange sight,  
That a mother devoid of all pity,  
Should slay her child so merciless pard.  
Nay not so, nature will not assent,  
For if she did full sore she should repent.   

But O, alas, all fatal purveyance  
Keepeth his course, as some clerks sayne:  
But the writing of doctors in substance,  
And these divines reply there again,  
And affirm the opinion is in vain,  
Of them that trust in fate or destiny,  
For God above hath the sovereignty.   

And of fortune the power may restrain,  
To save and spill like as folk deserve:  
Against his will they may nothing ordain,  
Of necessity what course that they conserve.  
But this matter all holy I reserve  
Unto divines, to determine and conclude,  
Which not pertaineth unto folks rude.   

But Althaea of Calcidony queen,  
Began sore muse and hinge in balance:  
Her brethren deed when she did them seen,  
Than was she moved anon to do vengeance  
Upon her son, by full great displeasance.  
But as poets list for to compile,  
Nature her made withdraw her hand, a while.   

Thus between ire and affection,  
She held her long of every party stable:  
Till that she caught in her opinion  
A sudden rancour which made her be vengeable.  
And hasty worth, which is not commendable,  
Against her son made her with her hand  
Out of her chest to take the fatal brand,   

●nd suddenly she cast it in the fire,  
And waxed cruel against all womanhood,  
To execute her venomous desire.  
The fatal bronde among the coals read  
Consumed was into ashes deed,  
And furiously in her melancholy,  
The vengeance done, she thus 'gan to cry.   

O ye Parce froward sisters three  
Which of Jove keep the library,  
And of children at their nativity  
Await the sentence which may not vary,  
Wherso it be wilful or contrary,  
Upon his domes alway taking heed,  
How that ye shall dispose the fatal thread,   

Thou Cloto takest thy rock on hand,  
And Lachesis after doth begin,  
By great avise, who so can understand,  
The thread of length to draw and to spin.  
But when the spirit shall from the body twin,  
Thou Atropos dost thy busy pain,  
Full frowardly to part the thread in twain.   

I may well plain in such perdition,  
Not for a day, but woe alas for ever:  
Ye have untwined and made division,  
Of my two brethren, & caused them dissever,  
That here on live I shall see them never:  
And I of haste, alas why did I so?  
Tavenge their death have slain my son also.   

O ye daughters of Cerberus the fell,  
Whose ugly mother was the black night,  
All your kindred and lineage live in hell,  
And for to avenge the wrong & great vuryght  
Which I have accomplished in your sight,  
I will with you perpetually complain,  
Like my desert, tendure sorrow and pain.   

And while she 'gan which herself thus strive  
Upon her sorrows that were endless:  
She made a sword through her heart to rive,  
Of herself she was here reckless.  
And Bochas after among all the press,  
Saw as him thought with a full hideous cheer,  
Deed of visage, Hercules appear.   

Whose father was Jupiter the great,  
His mother daughter of Amphitrion,  
Called Alcumena sometime borne in Crete.  
And as poets rehearse one by one,  
So excellent was there never none  
To speak of conquest, of victory and fame,  
Here in this world that had so great a name.   

Dreadful of look he was and right terrible,  
His beard also black which hang low down:  
And all his here as bristles were horrible,  
His rob also full marvelous of fashion,  
Was of the skin of a fierce lion,  
Which from his back of very force he rend:  
Within a forest alone when he went.   

In his hand he bore a mase of steel,  
Which to behold was wonder long & huge,  
By appearance as Bochas felt weal.  
Deemed of reason a rightful judge,  
That Hercules had to his refuge,  
Wisdom with force, for to increase his fame,  
As beasts wild for to make them tame.   

And unto Bochas he 'gan loud cry:  
Take right good heed for it is no fable,  
I for my merits to speak of chivalry  
And noble triumphs, am most commendable:  
To be preferred most worthy and most able.  
Which have accomplished all that may excel,  
Through high prows that any tongue can tell.   

Also of my birth in heaven full yore ago,  
Fully conceived my constellation:  
Mighty Jupiter said unto Juno,  
On such a day in such a region,  
One shallbe borne most mighty of renown,  
Noblest of nobles both in war and peace,  
Of whom the name shallbe Hercules'.   

The which doom when Juno understood,  
Of Jupiter conceiving the intent,  
And knew my fate should be so good,  
To Lucina her messenger she sent:  
But some saith how herself down went,  
To this goddess, goddess of childing,  
And her besought to grant her her asking.   

That she would from Hercules translate  
The influence of his nativity,  
Help to rescue his name and his fate,  
And grant it holy to young Euristee.  
And that Lucina present would be  
The same hour by Jupiter provided,  
It to possede all hole and undivided.   

Thus to the mother of this Euristee,  
Juno the gods granted her favour:  
Thereby disposing that he should be,  
Mighty of puissance like an emperor.  
But of his nobles the conquest & labour,  
And of his manhood the prows & pursuit,  
By Hercules was fully execute.   

This Hercules had the travail,  
And Euristeus bore away the name.  
Also Hercules fought in plate and mail,  
And high emprises proudly died attame,  
But the report of his noble fame  
To Euristeus fully was ascrived,  
Thus of his thank was Hercules deprived.  
Full oft in arms some man doth weal,  
And oft causeth that the field is won,  
And another that did never a deal,  
The price out spreadeth like as shineth the son.  
And oft it happeneth he that hath best run,  
Doth not the spear like his desert possede,  
Where false favour giveth every man his meed   

Fame in her palace hath trumps more than one,  
Some of gold that giveth a fresh sound:  
Some man hath laud and deserveth none,  
And some have be full worthy of renown  
Nothing preferred by commendation.  
As by report of states high and low,  
So frowardly Fame her trump hath blow.   

Touching arms, the poor ne the rich  
Be not of hearts eachone courageous:  
Neither all men may not be yliche,  
Neither of their name equal ne gracious.  
And though the poor have been victorious,  
Of adventure to do full well some day,  
Other have pinched to take his thank away.   

On slayeth the dear with an hooked arrow,  
Whose part is none yet of the venison:  
One beateth the the bush another hath the sparrow  
And all the birds in his possession.  
One draweth his nets in rivers up & down,  
With sundry baits cast out line and hook,  
And hath no part of all that ever he took.   

An evidence hereof ye may see  
Full notable to be put in memory,  
Of Hercules and of Euriste:  
For Hercules' gate aye the victory,  
And Euristeus received hath the glory.  
Thus the palm departed was in twain,  
That one rejoiced, that other bare the pain.   

Euristeus was prince of Athene,  
Son and heir by dyscent of line,  
Unto the king that called was Stellene  
Under whose might as Bochas doth determine  
Hercules through knightly discipline,  
Proved so most manly and most wise,  
That from all other he bore away the prize.   

But woe alas that ever it should fall,  
So manly a knight so worthy and notable,  
That any spot should his price appall,  
Or cause his courage for to be unstable.  
Which is a thing doleful and lamentable,  
From his knighthood as a thing strange,  
That ever a woman should his heart change.   

I will excuse them because their nature  
Is to change hearts and corrages:  
Against their nature no force may endure,  
For their flattery and sugared fair languages,  
Like Sirens full fresh of their visages,  
For to change of princes the noblesse,  
more than Hercules can bear hereof witness.   

Thus Hercules astonished and ashamed,  
Unto Bochas showed his presence:  
Said, alas my knighthood is defamed  
By a full false amorous pestilence.  
So sore constrained by mortal utolence,  
Whereby alas my manhood was applied,  
By slay of women oppressed & maistried   

To take their habit & cloth me in their weed,  
To shear my beard, and farce my visage  
With ointments against all manhood,  
To make it souple, & change my language:  
And to complain more of mine outrage,  
Upon my fingers five twice told,  
I had rings richly wrought of gold.   

Thus was my courage changed feminine,  
For love of one called jolee:  
Of conditions though she were serpentine,  
Me thought she was fairest unto see,  
That all my joy was with her to be.  
And that none should aperceive my trespass,  
I changed both habit look and face,   

And was a woman outward in appearance,  
Of intent to have more liberty  
To use my lusts, and have experience  
Of appetites, which that unleeful be:  
Whereof the slander reboundeth upon me.  
That I dare say my outrageous trespass  
Doth all my knighthood & prows difface.   

Whereof Bochas, I pray the take good heed,  
For to descrive in terms plain & clear,  
Mine infortune like as it was in deed:  
That when other conceive the manner  
Of mine unhaps, contagious for to here,  
They may by example of me do their pain,  
From vicious life their hearts to restrain.   

For these folles that all wisdom despise,  
And be contrary to bertuous discipline,  
May give example to folks that been wise  
And been to them a lantern of doctrine,  
Vices to eschew, and prudently decline  
Fro fleshly lusts: for it is taught in schools,  
That wisemen all day ben ytaught by fools.   

When Bochas had conceived the plaint  
Of Hercules in his appearing,  
And how his nobles by women was ataint,  
Through his disordinate living:  
He thought anon him remembering,  
It had be ruth for to put in mind  
His vires all, and virtues left behind.   

Considered also it was impartinent  
Either by language to write against all right,  
Any thing that should in sentment  
The fame amenuse of so noble a knight,  
Or to discrese in any man's sight  
His glorious prows, sith poets for his wars  
Reise his renome, so high above the stars.   

For he was both knight and Philosopher,  
And for his strength called a giant:  
For comen profit he 'gan promptly proffer.  
Of manly courage give thereto full grant,  
To enter in to Egypt to slay the giant  
Called Busyris, who of full false intent  
Slew all strangers that through his kingdum went   

For under a colour of liberality,  
Unto his palaces gladly he would call  
Strangers eachone that came through his country,  
And solemnly receive them one and all:  
And like a king, both in chambre and hall  
Make them such cheer in all manner thing  
As appertained to a worthy king.   

But while his gests lay a night to sleep,  
This false tyrant in full cruel wise,  
Murdered them ethone or they took keep:  
And after that, this was also his gise,  
With their blood to make a sacrifice  
To Jupiter god of that country,  
Of hole intent to please his deite.   

That in his kingdom of fruits & grain,  
The land increased by great abundance:  
Down from heaven he would send them rain,  
This mean he made & this chevisance.  
To murder and slay he had so great pleasance,  
For of all thing him thought it did him good  
To murder his gests, and to shed their blood   

When this murder of Busiris was couth,  
That no strangers might pass his land i peace:  
This manly knight yet flowering in youth,  
This noble, famous, this worthy Hercules,  
Among other he put himself in prees:  
And like a gest outward in showing.  
Came to the palaces of Busiris the king.   

Rebuked him of his great outrage  
Done to his gests, by cruel violence.  
And for to make peaceable that passage,  
And for to avenge that his importable offence,  
And of his murder to make a recompense,  
This Hercules slew Busiris in deed,  
And took the blood which he did bleed,   

Offered it up Jupiter to please,  
For this victory him to magnify.  
And all Egypt thus was set in ease,  
Their lands and fruits 'gan also multiply,  
Their grain increased about on each party,  
And to abound by influence of rain,  
Which afore time of victual was barren.   

Another giant called Antheus,  
King of Libye and governed all the land,  
Whom Hercules most strong and courageous,  
Suntime outraid, & slew him with his hand.  
For as they wrestled by experience he found,  
Touching the earth this giant (it is true)  
His force, his might, did always renew.   

But when Hercules the manner did espy,  
How his strength renewed again so oft:  
thereagainst he shope a remedy,  
high in the air he poised him up a loft,  
And with strokes hard and nothing soft,  
Back and bone so sore he did embrace,  
That he fill deed tofore him in the place.   

But some books of this giant tell,  
Within his kingdom who did him assail,  
He would of new his chivalry compel  
Eft again to meet him in battle:  
And in this wise full seld he did fail  
To aforce of new as ye shall understand,  
His strength, his might, all enemis to with stand.   

But Hercules of high discretion,  
The field on him manly to recure,  
Had him by sleight out of his region:  
And as they met there of adventure,  
The said Anthens might not endure,  
But was discomfited by Hercules anon,  
Maugre his might, and his men eachone.   

After this conquest Hercules is gone  
For exercise, his prows for to use  
Against the mighty strong Gereon,  
King of Spain, of Melleager, and Ebuse,  
The which tyrant might him not excuse,  
That all his labour as poets list compile,  
Was from these realms his people to exile.   

His tyranny might not long endure,  
For Hercules that noble worthy knight,  
Made upon him a great discomfiture,  
And slough the tyrant as they met in fight:  
And after that through his great might,  
Of high prows and magnanimyte,  
Sloughe Cerberus with his heads three.   

The famous bull of the land of Crete  
Which that destroyed all that region,  
He slough also when that they did meet:  
And in Nemea he slough a feirse lion.  
And for a record of his high renown,  
Of manly force his skin away he took,  
And to his body a cote thereof he shope.   

To his enemis to show him more dreadful,  
Therefore he ware that hideous garment.  
And for he was in arms never found dull,  
But ylike fresh ever in his intent,  
In to a mountain anon he made his went,  
Called Erimanthus: & there in his passage,  
He slew a boar most wild & most savage.   

Beside a river called Styphalus,  
Of furious birds he slew a great number,  
Within the kingdom of king Pheneus,  
All the country they did encumber:  
For with their shadow & contagious umbre  
On seed, on fruits, where ever they alight,  
All was devoured in every man's sight.   

Upon the mountain called Auentyne,  
Which is not far from Rome the city,  
There is a wode, as chronicles determine,  
Right fresh of light and goodly on to see:  
And Hercules' passing by that country,  
Fro Spaynward passing by italy,  
Cachus the giant did him there assail.   

While Hercules among the leaves green  
Laid him to sleep by sudden adventure,  
And his beasts, against the son shine  
While that he slept, went in their pasture,  
Came Cachus forth full hideous of stature,  
Thought he would these beasts which him have  
Stolen them eachone, and hid them in a cave.   

And like a thief he made them go backward  
That no man should y● traces of them know:  
Neither of their passage have no regard,  
For by their tails he led them on a row,  
In to his cave which that stood full low.  
And for they were of excellent fairness,  
To keep them close he did his business.   

Out of his sleep when Hercules awoke,  
And perceived his oxen were away  
He rose up and cast about his look,  
Began to aspye in all the hast he may  
To what party the traces of them lay:  
And while he stood thus musing in the shade,  
He herd the lowing that his oxen made.   

And by their lowing he 'gan anon approach  
Toward the part where they were kept close,  
Fond the cave under a mighty roche:  
And proud Cachus which had them in depose,  
Against Hercules he sturdily arose,  
But for all that he might himself not save,  
For he him sloughe at thentering of the cave.   

And thus his beasts he hath again recured,  
That sempte afore inrecuperable.  
After the mountain byforce he hath assured,  
Which for brigantes afore was full doutable.  
But by his knighthood it was made habitable,  
That men might for dread of any foe  
When ever they would freely come and go.   

Touching his conquest upon Feminye,  
Against Amasones with Theseus he went:  
The queen Ipolyta through his chivalry,  
For his pray anon to him he hent.  
And Ipolita of full true intent  
Gave unto him in token of victory,  
A girdle of gold to have her in memory.   

After to Africa he went a full great pace,  
Only of purpose the gardin for to se,  
Which appertained to king Athlas  
That brother was to the king Promothee:  
In astrology full well expert was he,  
And of this garden of which I have told,  
The rich branches & apples were of gold,   

Through magic made by great advisement,  
Full strait kept and closed environ,  
And y watched with a fell serpent,  
That no man entered that rich mansion.  
But Hercules most mighty of renown,  
The serpent slough through his manly pursuit,  
And fro the gradeyn he bore away the fruit.   

This said Athlas as books specify,  
And poets also of him indite,  
He was cunning in astronomy,  
And therein did full greatly him delight:  
And many a book he made and did write  
With great labour and great diligence,  
In his time upon that science,   

The which were more precious than gold,  
And more rich in his opinion:  
But Hercules in sooth as it is told,  
Gate all the books through his high renown:  
Bore them by force out of that region,  
And to Grece like a conqueror,  
With him he brought them for a great treasure.   

Of Trace he slough the giant outrageous  
That sumtime was called Diomedes,  
Which murdered all that came to his house,  
And with their flesh his horse he did feed.  
And through his wit labour and manhood  
Of Achelous, which was a great wondre,  
He made the streams for to depart a sondre.   

And by his wisdom did them so divide,  
In two parties disceveringe his passage:  
For afore no man might abide  
Of his course the furious fell outrage.  
For in countries it did so great damage,  
Turning upward there was none other boat,  
Where ever it flowed of trees, crop and rote.   

A great emprise he did also undertake  
When that the mess hideous and horrible  
Arrived up of Archadies the lake,  
Called Learn the beasts full audible,  
Which with their teeth & mouths terrible  
Fruit, grain, & corn did mortally devour.  
But Hercules the country to succour,   

Came like a knight their malice for to let,  
And by his prudence destroyed them everichon:  
With in the lake the worms up he shut,  
Save among all behind was left one.  
And against him this Hercules anon,  
Of knighthod reached so great advantage,  
That to the country he did no more damage.   

Thus all that ever may rehearsed ●e,  
Touching knighthood, prows, or prudence,  
Or glorious fame, or long felicity,  
This knightly man had most excellence,  
And in arms longest experience:  
And for his triumphs and acts martial,  
He set up pillars for a memorial.   

Which remembered his conquest most notable  
And his deeds by graving did express,  
Beyond which no land is habitable,  
So far abroad spread his noblesse.  
But as the sun leaveth his brightness  
Sumtime when he is freshest in his sphere,  
With unware clouds that suddenly appear:   

Semblably the nobles and the glory  
Of Hercules in this unstable life,  
Eclipsed was, and shadowed his memory  
By Dianyra, that sometime was his wife:  
For by her fraud came in the mortal strife,  
As ye shall hear the manner and the case,  
Whereby that he lost his life, alas.   

Yet for her sake this most manly man,  
Fought as I find in singular battle  
With Acheloes' son of the Occian,  
Like as poets make rehearsayle:  
And as each other proudly did assail,  
This Hercules of knighthood sovereign,  
Sent from his head one of his horns twain   

Of king Oene she was the daughter dear,  
To Hercules joined by marriage:  
And as they came to a great river,  
With sturdy waves where was no passage,  
Nessus the giant ugly of visage,  
To Hercules proffered his service,  
And full falsely against him 'gan devise.   

Made his promise to Hercules in deed  
To put his life in great adventure,  
Over the stream Dianyra to l●de,  
Because he was large of his stature.  
And for she was a right fair creature  
When they passed and came to land,  
Nessus falsely would upon the str●nd   

Have know her fleshly, like as write ovid.  
Hercules having thereof a sight,  
As he abode upon that otherside,  
And for to avenge him of his great unright,  
●ake his how and ●ent it a●one right▪  
And with an arrow filed sharp and ground  
Gave to Nessus his deadly fatal ●●unde.   

Like a conduit gushed out the blood  
And when he saw that he must die,  
To Dianyra before him there she stood,  
With all his heart he her 'gan pray,  
That in one thing his lust she would obey:  
To take his shirt and be not reckless  
With blood distained, and send it Hercules.   

There through with him to be reconciled:  
And she to him anon the shirt hath sent,  
Through whose venom, alas he was beguiled,  
For what by touching and by enchantment,  
His flesh and bones were all to brent,  
And among his deadly pains all,  
Into a rage he suddenly is fall.   

And as a beast furiously he ran  
On valleys & hills among craggy stones,  
Semblably as doth a woodeman.  
Pulled up trees and roots all at ones,  
Broke beasts horns, & all to gnew her bones  
Was it not pity that a knight so good,  
Should among beasts run savage & wood?   

Thus overwhelmed was all his worthiness,  
And to de●iyne went his prosperity.  
Cause and root of all his wretchedness,  
Was for that he set all his felicity,  
To trust so much the mutability,  
Of these women, which early and soon  
Of their nature brayed upon the moon.   

Alas, alas, all nobles and prudence,  
prows of nature, force, and chivalry,  
foresight of wisdom, discretion, and science,  
Virtuous study profiting in clergy,  
And the clear shining of Philosophy,  
Hath through false lusts here be menaced,  
By sleight of women, darked and defaced.   

O Hercules I feel my pen quake,  
Mine ink full filled with bitter tears salt,  
This piteons' tragedy to write for thy sake,  
Whom all poets glorify and exalt:  
But fraud of women made thy renome halt,  
And froward muses thy triumphs all to ●end,  
For to describe alas thy fatal end.   

¶ Envoy.  

THe sole ve 〈…〉 savoury pason,  
The dreadful ioy●, the dolorous pleasance  
The 〈…〉, the furious 〈◊〉,  
faith dispay●●d, 〈…〉▪  
Virtue exiling where lust hath governance,  
Through false luxury diffasen all nobles,  
As this tragedy can bear full well witness.   

Where froward Venus hath domination  
And blind Cupid his subjects doth advance  
And wilful lust through indiscretion  
Is chosen judge to hold the balance,  
Their choice unleeful hath through ill chance  
darked of princes the famous nobles,  
As this tragedy beareth full well witness.   

O thou Hercules for all thy high renown,  
For all thy conquest, & knightly suffisance,  
Thou were by women brought to confusion,  
And by their fraud thy renowned puissance,  
disclandered was & brought to mischance  
I were ashamed to write it or express,  
Except this tragedy can bear well witness.   

princes princesses, of high discretion,  
This thing imprint in your remembrance  
Of others falling, make your protection  
You to preserve through prudent purueiaunce:  
Afore provided that your perseverance  
Be not perturbed by no false sorceress,  
As this tragedy of other beareth witness.     

¶ The xu Chapter.  
☞ A process of Narcissus, Byblis, Myrra, and of other their infortunes to Bochas complaining.  

Narcissus', Byblis, and Myrra all three,  
Tofore Bochas piteously did appear  
Their infortunes their infelicity,  
To him complaining with a deadly cheer:  
And of their coming to tell the manner,  
Narcissus with sorrow and dole attaint,  
Began first to declare his complaint.   

He was the son of Cephisus the flood,  
And his mother called Lyriope:  
And by descent borne of gentle blood:  
Of creatures fairest on to se.  
And as I find at his nativity,  
Tiresias by spirit of prophecy,  
Touching his fate thus 'gan specify.   

The gods have provided for him a space  
To live in earth, and so long endure  
Till that he know and see his own face:  
And for his sake full many a servitude,  
By ordinance of god and of nature,  
When they him se shall feel full great pain,  
If they in love his grace may not attain.   

But he shallbe contrary and dangerous  
And of his port full of strangeness:  
And in his heart right inly surquidous,  
By the occasion of his native fairness.  
And presuming of his seemliness,  
No woman so fresh ne so fair of face  
That able were to stand in his grace.   

And for the excellence of his great beantye,  
He purposed him in his tender age  
Never in his life wedded for to be,  
He thought himself so fair of visage:  
For which he cast through his great outrage  
Against all lusts of love to disdain,  
To hunt at beasts alone, and be slain.   

And in this while that he kept him so,  
In the forest and in wilderness,  
A water goddess, that called was Echo,  
Loved him full hot for his fairness:  
And sikerly did her business,  
To follow his steps right as any line,  
To her desires to make him to incline.   

He heard her weal but he saw her nought,  
Whereof astonished anon he 'gan to inquire,  
As he that was amarueyled in his thought,  
Said even thus: is any wight now here?  
And she answered the same in her manner.  
What ever he said (as longeth to Echo)  
Without abode she said the same him to.   

Come near (quoth he) and began to call.  
Come near (quoth she) my joy & my pleasance.  
He looked about among the rocks all,  
And saw nothing beside ne in distance  
But she abrayed and declared her grievance  
And to him said: mine own heart dear,  
Ne be not strange but let us dwell in fere.   

Nay nay (quoth he) I will nothing obey  
To your desires, for short conclusion:  
Well liefer I had plainly for to they  
Than ye should have of me possession,  
We be nothing of one opinion.  
I here you well though I no figure see,  
Go forth your way ye speak no more with me.   

And she ashamed fled her way anon,  
As she that might of him no succour have:  
But despaired this Echo is forth gone,  
And hid herself in an ugly cave,  
Among the rocks is buried in her grave:  
And though so be that men her voice may hear  
After that time she never durst appear.   

Thus Narcissus through danger & disdain  
Upon the lady did cruel vengeance,  
But when the Gods his cruelty had sei●e  
Towards him fill a great grievance:  
Of his unmercy they had displeasance,  
And right as he merciless was found,  
So with unmercy he caught his deadly wound.   

For all danger displeaseth to Venus  
And all disdain is loathsome to Cupid:  
For who to love is contrarious,  
The god of love will quite him on some side,  
His dreadful arrows so mortally divide,  
To hurt and maim all that be reckless,  
And in her service found merciless.   

And for Narcissus was not merciable  
Toward Echo, for his great beauty,  
But in his port was found untretable,  
Cupyde thought he would avenged be,  
As he that her prayer heard of pity:  
Causing Narcissus to feel and have his part,  
Of Venus' brand and of her fiery dart.   

And on a day when he in wilderness,  
Had after beasts run in hunting,  
And for long labour can fall in weariness,  
He was desirous to have some refreshing,  
And wonders thurstlewe after traveling  
Might not endure longer there to dwell,  
And at the last he found a crystal well,   

Right fresh springing & wonder agreeable,  
The water lusty and delectable of sight:  
And for his thirst was to him importable,  
Upon the brinks he fell down right,  
And by reflection in mids of the water bright  
Him thought he saw a passing fair image,  
To him appear, most angelic of visage.   

He was enamoured with the seemliness,  
And desirous thereof to stand in grace,  
And yet it was not but a lykelinesse,  
And but a shadow reflecting of his face,  
The which of fervence amorously tembrace  
This Narcissus with a piteous complaint,  
Start into the well and so himself dreynt.   

And thus his beauty, alas, was laid low,  
His seemliness put full far aback:  
Thus when he 'gan first himself know  
And seen his visage in which was no lack,  
Presumptuous pride caused all to wrack:  
For who to much doth of himself presume  
His own usurping will soonest him consume.   

And finally as these old poets tell,  
This Narcissus without more succour,  
After that he was drowned at the well,  
The heavenly gods did him so favour,  
They turned him into a full fresh flower,  
A water lily, which doth remedy  
In hot accesses as books specify.   

After that Narcissus was at the well dreynt,  
And to John Bochas declared had his woe,  
Biblis appeared with tears all be spreint,  
And toward him a great pace 'gan she go:  
And her brother Camnus came also.  
And of one womb as gemelles twain,  
But she tofore her fate 'gan complain.   

She in her love was not virtuous  
For against God and kinds ordinance,  
She loved her brother named Camnus:  
And when he saw her froward governance  
He unto her gave none attendance,  
Though she of sleight to accomplish her intent,  
In secret wise a pistle to him sent.   

She said it was an impossible thing  
Without his grace herself to save,  
And but he were to her assenting,  
She else plainly may not health have.  
But only death and afterward her grave:  
Thus in her writing to him she did attame,  
And to be covert she ne wrote no name.   

But when this pistle came to his presence,  
Virtuously thereat he 'gan disdain:  
And gave thereto no manner advertence,  
Neither took no heed of her furious pain,  
But suffered her eternally to plain.  
Till that she was, as Ovid can well tell  
With oft weeping transformed to a well.   

Next came Myrra with face full piteous,  
Which that sumtime loved against nature  
Her own father called Cynarus,  
For whose sake great pain she did endure.  
For she ●e durst her sorrow not discure,  
Till her nourish by signs did espy,  
The heartily constraint of her malady.   

For her nourice of which I have told,  
Conceived hath by open evidence,  
As she knoweth both of new and old,  
In such matters all hole the experience,  
That through long labour and great diligence  
divers ways and means out she sought,  
To her father's bed that she Myrra brought.   

With whom she had her lust and pleasance,  
For she unknow lay with him all night:  
He was deceived by dronklewe ignorance,  
And on the morrow long or any light  
She stolen away, and went out of his sight  
With her nurse which kept her long close,  
Till unto the time that her womb arose.   

But her father that was of Cypre king,  
Which as I told was called Cynarus,  
When he the truth espied of this thing,  
That by his daughter he was deceived thus,  
She waxed to him loath some and odious:  
Fled from his sight, so sore she was afeard,  
And he pursued after with his sword.   

In Araby the hot mighty land,  
King Cynarus hath his daughter found:  
And cruelly began enhance his hand,  
With his sword to give her a wound:  
But the gods of mercy most habound,  
Hath fro the death made her to go free,  
And through their power tranformed to a tree.   

Which after her beareth yet the name,  
Called Myrra, as she was in her life.  
Out of which, authors say the same,  
Distilleth a gome a great preseruatife:  
And of nature a full good defensife,  
To keep bodies from putrefaction,  
And them franchise from all corruption.   

By influence of the sun beams  
Myrrh is engendered by distilling of his kind  
With round drops against Phoebus' streams,  
And down descendeth through the hard rind,  
And through the rifts also I find  
The said Myrra hath a child forth brought,  
In all this world if it were sought,   

Was none so fair form by nature.  
For of his beauty he was peerless  
And as poets record by scripture,  
He called was the fair Adonydes.  
And to his worship and his great increases,  
For he of fairness bore away the flower,  
Venus him chase to be her paramour.   

The which Goddess gave to him in charge,  
That he should in his tender age,  
In forests while he went at large,  
Hunt at no beasts which were savage.  
But he contrary to his disadvantage,  
Through wilfulness, I can say no more,  
Was slain unwarely of a Tuskye boar.   

At the which he felly did enchase,  
But of folly in vain was his labour,  
For he lay slain full pale of cheer and face:  
Whom Venus turned to a full fresh stour,  
Which was as blood of purple the colour,  
A bud of gold with goodly leaves glade  
Set in y● mids whose beauty may not fade.   

And when Myrra from Bochas was withdraw  
And declared her great adversity:  
And of her fate told the mortal law,  
Came Orpheus full ugly unto se,  
Son of Apollo and of Calyope,  
And appeared with a full doleful face,  
Sumtime brought forth & yborn in Trace.   

Full renowned in arms and in science,  
Famous in music and melody:  
And full notable also in eloquence,  
And for his soot sugared armony  
Beasts and fowls as poets specify  
Woods & floods of their course most strong,  
Stint of course, to hearken his sweet song.   

An harp he had of Mercurius,  
With the which Erudice he wan:  
And to Bacchus as write ovidius,  
Sacrifices solemnly he began.  
And unto hell for his wife he ran,  
Her to recure with sote touches sharp,  
Which he made upon his heavenly harp.   

But when that he this labour on him took,  
I law was made which that bound him for●  
That if he backward cast his look,  
He should her lose and see her nevermore.  
But it is said sithen go full yore:  
There may no law lovers well constrain,  
So importable is their deadly pain.   

If some husbands had stand in the case  
To have lost their wives for a look sudden,  
●hey would have suffered and not said alas,  
●ut patiently endured all their pain:  
●nd thanked god that broken was the chain,  
●hich hath so long them in prison bound,  
●hat they by grace had such a way found.   

bolye in prison it is a full great charge,  
●nd to be stocked under key and lock:  
●t is merrier a man to go at large,  
●han with irons to be nailed to a block▪  
But there is a bond that called is wedlock  
bettering husbands so sore that it is wonder  
●hich with a file may not be broke asunder.   

But Orpheus father of harmony,  
Thought Erudice that was his wife so fair,  
For her sake he felt that he must die,  
Because that he when he made his repair,  
Of her in troth nothing embraced but air  
Thus he lost her there is no more to say,  
And for the constraint of his grievous pain   

At his heart her parting sat so sore,  
The green memory the tender remembrance,  
That he would never wine no more,  
So fair he was escaped his penance.  
For wedlock is a life of much pleasance,  
But who hath once infarnall pains seen,  
Will never after come in the snare I ween.   

This Orpheus gave counsel full notable,  
To husbands that have endured pain,  
To such as ben prudent and treatable,  
One hell is dreadful, but more dreadful is twain  
And who is once bound in a chain  
And may escape out of danger blyve,  
If he eft resort God let him never thrive.   

Upon this sentence women were vengeable,  
And to his writing full contrarious  
Said his counsel was not commendable,  
At the feast they hallowed to Bacchus,  
They fill eachone upon this Orpheus:  
And for all his rhetoric sweet,  
They slough alas this laureate poet.   

And of his harp if ye list to hear,  
The God Apollo made a translation,  
Among the images of the stars clear:  
Whereof men may have clear inspection.  
But fortune to his confusion  
Denied him froward of her nature,  
When he was slain freedom of sepulture.  
Next Orpheus there did appear also  
Of Amazons worthy queens twain:  
Merpesia and her sister Lampedo,  
Which in conquest did their busy pain,  
And great worship in arms did attain:  
Naming themselves by writing near & far  
Daughters to Mars which is god of war.   

Merpesia road out in regions,  
And conquered full many a great city,  
For covetise of great possessions,  
To increase her lordship if it would be:  
And her sister kept surely their country,  
Of all enemies so that there was no doubt,  
While Merpesia road with her host about.   

But while she was in conquest most famous▪  
And her enemies proudly did assail,  
Fortune anon wart contrarious,  
And caused that she was slain in battle.  
Lo what conquest or victory may avail,  
When that fortune doth at them disdain,  
See here ensample by these queens twain.   

☞ Envoy.  

THis tragedy remembreth things five:  
Of Narcissus the excellent beauty,  
And of Biblis doth also descrive,  
The great luxury and dishonesty,  
Myrra defamed, turned to a tree,  
To exemplify that lechery and pride,  
Ben from all virtue set full far aside.   

How Orpheus endured in his liue,  
joy intermeddled with adversity:  
In his youth when he did wive  
He felt in wedlock full great felicity:  
His worldly bliss meynt with duplicity,  
As fortune her changes can divide,  
Which from all virtue be set full far aside.   

Merpesia for her list to strive,  
With wilful wars to increase her country,  
But her pomp was overturned blyve,  
When in battle unwarely slain was shut  
For of all war death is the fine pardee.  
So furious Mars can for her folk provide,  
Which from all virtue ben set far aside.   

Ye mighty princes let wit and reason drive  
Your high nobles to consider and see,  
How fortune estates can deprive,  
And plunge them down from their prosperity,  
Pride and luxury I counsel that you fly,  
False avarice ne let not be your guide:  
Which from all virtue is clean set aside.     

¶ The xvi Chapter.  
¶ Of Priamus' king of Troy: and how the monk of Bury translator of this book wrote a book of the siege of Troy called Troy book.  

AFter these complaints and lamentations  
Which that Bochas did in his book compile  
Meddled among with transmutations  
Set in ovid by full sovereign style:  
When he on them had mused a long while  
Seen the manner both of forowe and joy,  
He began to remember of Priamus of Troy.   

First of his birth, and of his kindred,  
How among kings he was most famous:  
And as poets record of him in deed,  
He descended of worthy Dardanus,  
Which as his line declareth unto us,  
From Jupiter was lynially come down,  
Unto his father called Laomedoun.   

Of old Troy this Laomedon was king,  
Destroyed by Greeks he and his country.  
After whom this Priamus raining,  
Made there again a mighty strong city:  
Where he full long in full great royalty  
With wife & children most worthy of renown,  
With sceptre and crown held the possession.   

Governed his city in peace and rightwiseness,  
And Fortune was to him favourable:  
For of all asia the treasure and riches,  
He did assemble this king most honourable.  
And in arms, he was so commendable,  
That through the world as far as men gone.  
Of high nobles the ronoume of him shone.   

This Priamus had children many one,  
Worthy princes, and of full great might:  
But Hector was among them everichone  
Called of prows the lantern and the light.  
For there was never borne a better knight,  
Troilus in knighthood so manly was found,  
That he was named Hector the second.   

But I should rehearse the manhood  
Of king Priam, and of his sons all,  
And how his city besieged was in deed,  
And all the story to remembrance call,  
Between him and Greeks how it is befall,  
The circumstances rehearsing up & down  
To set in order the first occasion   

Of the siege why it was first laid  
By Hercules, and also by jason,  
The manner whole in Troy book is said,  
Rudely indited of my translation:  
Following upon the destruction  
Called the second, which by accounts cler●  
Fully endured the space of ten year.   

For as me seemeth the labour were in vain,  
Truly also I not to what intent  
That I should write it new again,  
For I had once in commandment  
By him that was most noble and excellent,  
Of kings all for to undertake,  
It to translate and write it for his sake.   

And if ye list to weet whom I mean  
Henry the fift most mighty of puissance,  
Gave me the charge of intent full clean,  
Thing of old time to put in remembrance▪  
The same Henry for knightly suffisance,  
Worthy for manhood, teken kings all,  
With nine worthies for to have a stall.   

To holy church he was chief defensoure,  
In all such causes Christ's chosen knight:  
To destroy heretics he set all his labour,  
Loved all virtues and to sustain right,  
Through his nobles, his manhood, & might:  
Was diligent and did his busy pain,  
To have set peace between realms twain.   

A mean in sooth England and France,  
His purpose was to have had a peace final:  
Sought out means with many a circumstance  
As well by treaty, as acts martial,  
thereon jeoparded life, goods and all.  
But woe, alas, against death is no boon,  
This land may say he died all to soon.   

For among kings he was one of the best,  
So all his deeds conveyed were by grace:  
I pray to God so give his soul good rest,  
With saints in heaven a dwelling place.  
For here with us to little was the space  
That he abode, of whom the remembrance,  
Shall never die in England ne in France.   

This worthy king gave to me in charge  
In English tongue to make a translation  
Out of latin within a volume large,  
How long the greeks lay tofore the town:  
And how that Paris first at Cithaeron,  
In Venus' temple sleighly did his pain  
There to ravish the fair queen Heleyne   

In which book the process ye may see,  
To him how she was wedded in the town:  
And of the siege laid unto the city  
By Menelay and king Agamennon.  
And many another full worthy of renown  
On either party which that in battle  
Fro day to day each other did assail.   

Whereto should I tell or what should I write,  
The death of Hector or of Achilles?  
Or whereto should I of new indite  
How worthy Troilus was slain in y● press?  
The end of Paris or of Pallamides,  
Or the slaughter of manly Deyphebus,  
Or how his brother called helenus   

Told afore how it was great folly  
That Paris should wed queen Heleyne.  
And how Cassandra in her prophecy,  
On this wedding fore began complain,  
And for the constraint of her heartily pain,  
How she wax mad, & ran about the town.  
Till she was caught & shut up into prison.   

All this matter ye may behold in deed,  
Set by and by within Troy book:  
And how Creseide loved diomed,  
When worthy Troilus she wilfully forsook.  
Of her nature a quarrel thus she took,  
To assay both, if need were also to feign  
To take the third, & leave them both twain.   

I pass over and tell of it no more,  
Ne by what means the greeks won the town,  
How Aeneas neither how Anthenore  
Against king Priam conspired false treason:  
Neither how Vlixes gate Paladion.  
The death of Priam ne of Eccuba the queen,  
Ne how Pyrrus flew pong Pollicene.   

Neither here to write it is not mine intent,  
Repeyre of greeks home in to their country,  
After the city at jiyon was brent:  
Neither of their mischief they had on the see.  
Neither how Vlixes found Penolope,  
A true wife though he were long her fro,  
Through all Grece I can read of no more.  
Of these matters thus I make an end,  
What fill of greeks after their voyage,  
To Troy book though folk I send,  
Which have desire to see the surplusage:  
How greeks made first their passage  
Towards Troy, besieging the cite,  
Bede the story ye get no more of me.    

The xvii Chapter.  
☞ Here speaketh Bochas the author of this book, against the surquedous pride of them that trust in richesse, saying these words unto them.  

ME proud folks that set your affiance  
In strength, beauty, or in high nobles,  
If ye consider fortunes variance,  
And could a mirror before your eyen dress,  
Of king Priam and of his great richesses,  
To see how he and his children all  
From their noblesse suddenly been fall,   

Hector of knighthood called source & well,  
Sad and demure, and famous of prudence,  
Paris also in beauty did excel,  
And Helenus in perfit providence.  
Troilus in arms had great experience,  
Also Deyphebus proved manly on his fone,  
Yet in y● war they were slain everichone.   

Had not this king also as I can devise,  
By noble Hecuba which that was the queen▪  
A daughter called Cassandra the wise,  
Her young sister fair Pollicene?  
Alas alas what may all such pride mean.  
For albeit their renome sprung full far,  
Yet are these women devoured in the war.   

Was he not mighty & strong in all things,  
And had also of his alliance,  
Right worthy princes & many rich kings,  
And nigh all asia under his obeisance?  
Hold in his time most famous of puissance,  
Most renowned of richesses and treasures,  
Till that fortune with her sharp showers   

When that he sat highest on his wheel,  
This blind gods began him to assail:  
Her froward malice he felt it full weal,  
His gold, his treasure, first it 'gan to fail,  
And darken 'gan his royal apparel.  
By which example at proud men mayse,  
The untrue trust, the mutability.   

Which in this world is seen & found alday.  
In mids of states in their magnificence,  
Ebb after flood maketh no delay:  
But hait her course, there is no resistance,  
The tide abideth not for no violence.  
Each man that standeth of changes here in doubt  
Must take his turn as it cometh about.   

Let Priam be to you a clear mirror,  
Ye proud folks that set your affiance,  
In such glory, which fadeth as a flower,  
And hath of beauty here none attendance.  
The world to you cast a full bitter chance:  
For when ye ween sit highest at full,  
Than will she soonest your bright feders pull.   

Ye have warnings for to take heed  
By ensample of other, clear & right visible,  
How worldly bliss is meddled all with dread,  
And if your wits and reasons be sensible,  
Thing seen at the eye is not incredible.  
And all this doctrine is to you in vain  
If in your time ye have no changes seen.   

Wherefore Bochas unto your avail,  
Full prudently put you at this issue:  
first of all he giveth you this counsel,  
To leave your byces and take you to virtue.  
And set your trust all wholly in Jesut  
For he may best in mischief help at need  
Of worldly changes that ye them not dread.    

The xviii Chapter.  
¶ Here also John Bochas putteth a great praising and commendation of surety that standeth in poverty under these words in sentence.  

THese great lordships, these great dignities,  
Chief thing annexed unto y● regaly  
When they sit highest in their sees,  
And round about stante the chivalry,  
dread entereth in with peril and envy  
And unware change, which none may know  
When fortune will make them lout low.   

They may well keep a stately household,  
With a vain trust their power should ever last,  
Clad in their mantel of purpul & of gold,  
And on the wheel of fortune climb up fast,  
Like as she might never down them cast.  
But aye the clymbinge highest at all,  
Alas the sorer is their unhappy fall.   

The fall of Priam and of Agamemnon,  
Ought of right more to be complained,  
When that fortune had pulled them down,  
And of malice hath at them disdained,  
Than if they never to worship had attained:  
But their falling was the more grievous,  
Because tofore they were so glorious.   

O thou povert, meek, humble, & debonair,  
Which that keepest the laws of nature,  
For sudden changes thou wilt not dispaite  
So art thou franchised from fortune's lure:  
All her assaults thou lowly dost endure,  
That she may have no jurisdiction,  
To enterupt thy possession.   

Thou settest little by all worldly richesse▪  
Nor by his treasures which been transitory:  
Thou scornest them that their sheltrons dress  
Toward battles, for conquest & victory:  
Thou dispysest all shining of vain glory.  
Laud of triumphs which conquerors have sought  
with all her pillage, thou setst them at nought.   

Thou dispreisest all superfluity.  
None infortune may change thy courage:  
And the ships that sail by the see  
With merchandise among the floods rage,  
Their adventures and perilous passage,  
Life, body, goods, all put in adventure,  
Only for lucre, great richesses to recure.   

Of all such thing thou takest little heed,  
Nor of the people that manners do purchase:  
Nor of pleaders which for lucre & meed,  
Meyntayne quarrels, and quests do embrace.  
Thou then beholdest with a full still face,  
Their subtle working sought out for the nonce  
And suddenly departed from all at once.   

Thou canst in little also have suffisance,  
And art content with full small dispense,  
For thy richesses, and thine abundance,  
Without grudging is humble patience.  
If any man do to the offence,  
Thou forgettest, and canst forgive,  
To the sufficeth so thou mayst live.   

The starred heaven is thy coverture,  
In summer season under the leaves green:  
Thou makest thy dwelling & dost thyself assure,  
Again great heats of the son sheen:  
Content with fruits, and water crystal clean:  
To staunch thy hunger, and thy thurstes sore,  
After the season, and carest for no more.   

povert eke lieth the cold winters night  
Wrapped in straw, without compleyning:  
Without dread, he goeth glad & light,  
And tofore thieves full merely doth sing.  
She goeth also without patising,  
Fro land to land among poor & rich,  
For friend and foe to him be both ylich.   

Moral Senecke recordeth by writing,  
Richest of things is glad poverty:  
Ever of one cheer void of all grudging,  
Both in joy and in adversity:  
Through all the world last her liberty,  
And her franchise stant in so great ease,  
That of freedom no man will her displease.   

She is norice of study and of doctrine,  
In virtuous labour doth her diligence:  
And of science which that been divine,  
She is called mother by clerks in sentence:  
Of philosopher's most had in reverence.  
Fortune and she so far a sunder vary,  
That each to other of custom is contrary,   

Her earthly joy is for to live in peace.  
Hateth tumult, noise, and disturbance:  
For her disciple called zenocrate's,  
In wilful poverty set holy his pleasance.  
Sober of his port, through whose attemperance,  
Full many a man by his teaching,  
Were brought to virtue fro vicious living.   

His diet was so measurable,  
And devoid of superfluite,  
That his courage he kept firm and stable,  
Fro fleshly lusts he was so attempre:  
Reason mastered his sensuality,  
Desires unleeful for to set aside,  
During his life poverty was his guide.   

His abiding and his conversation  
Was in places that were solitary,  
Among trees & wells he bylte him a dongion,  
With multitude he hated for to tarry:  
For poverty was his secretary,  
Sober of his cheer and stable of his intent,  
And in Athenes first to school he went.  
He was so mighty of authority,  
rightwiseness, and justice to observe,  
That rightful judges his sentence took at gre:  
He coude his mouth and tongue so preserve,  
That in the temple once of Mi●erue  
Without oath unto his sentence,  
To that he said the judges gave credence.   

He asked was among great audience,  
Why he was soleine of his dalliance:  
His answer was that never for silence  
Through little speaking he felt no grievance.  
Speech unadvised causeth repentance:  
And reckless tongues for lack of refreyninge,  
To many a man hath be great hindering.   

Diogenes' true heir and next allied  
To wilful poverty, by just inheritance,  
For all richesse he plainly hath defied:  
To him it was so great encomberaunce,  
With worldly treasure to have alliance.  
His dwelling made within a little tun,  
Which turned about with concourse of the sun.   

Himself refreshig which heat of Phoebus' beams,  
For he was content god wot with full light:  
King Alexander that conquered all realms  
Came riding down & 'gan himself delight,  
This philosopher to see and visit.  
Himself soquestred sole from all the prees,  
And came alone to see Diogenes.   

Proffered unto him great riches & treasure,  
Bad him ask what thing that he would,  
That might him please or do to him secure:  
But of all that he nothing ne told,  
But prayed him full lowly that he should  
Not draw from him that thing again all right  
Which for to give lay not in his might.   

What thing is that quoth Alexander again,  
I have by conquest all earthly treasure won?  
The philosopher said he spoke in vain,  
Thou hast (quoth he) no lordship of the sun,  
Thy shadow letteth his beams fro my tun:  
And sith thou hast no power of his light,  
I pray the heartily forbarre me not his sight.   

Though Alexander was mighty of puissance,  
And all the world had in his demeyne,  
Yet was his reason under the obeisance  
Of fleshly lusts, fettered in a chain:  
For in his person will was sovereign,  
His reason bridled by sensuality,  
Troubling the freedom of right & equity.   

For where that will hath domination  
In a prince, which should sustain right,  
And partial favour oppresseth his reason,  
And truths titel is bornedoun with might,  
And equal doom hath lost his clear light,  
Though for a season they sit in high cheyres,  
Their fame shall fade within a few years.   

In this make I comparison,  
between Alexander and Diogenes:  
That one endured but a short season,  
For that he loved war more than peace.  
And for that other was not reckless,  
But held him content with gifts of nature,  
Unto great age his poverty did endure.   

Alexander was slain with poison,  
In his triumphs when he did excel:  
But in a tun that lay full low down,  
Diogenes drank water of the well.  
And of their end their difference to tell,  
Alexander with covetous was blended,  
The philosopher with little was content.   

Blessed be povert that may endure long,  
Maugre the fraud & danger of fortune:  
Where as kings and emperors strong,  
In their estate no while may contune,  
And all virtues reckoned in common,  
between indigence and great abundance,  
Is a good mean content with suffisance.   

For with great plenty men be not assured,  
After their lust always to live in ease:  
And though y● men great treasure have recured,  
With their riches they feel many disease.  
Lords have not all thing that may then please,  
But heartily joy philosophers express,  
Is greatest treasure between poverty & riches.   

For this chapter showeth a figure,  
A manner likeness, and demonstration,  
How Diogenes longer did endure,  
Than mighty Priam, or king Laomedon.  
So to exemplify in conclusion,  
There is more trust in virtuous simplesse,  
Than in presuming of vicious false riches.   

For the adultery of Paris and Heleine,  
Brought all Troy to destruction:  
Pride and luxury were also means tweine,  
Why greeks laid a siege to the town,  
And finally cause of their confusion.  
To either party loss of many a man,  
The ground conceived why first that war 'gan.   

Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy piteous and lamentable.  
Full dolorous to write and to express.  
That worthy Priam of kings most notable,  
Was fall in poverty for all his great richesses:  
Fro kingly honour in to wretchedness:  
From sceptre & crown, and from his regaly,  
To mischief brought through false adultery▪   

Was not fortune froward and discevable,  
For to suffer by her doubleness,  
And by her course which ever is variable,  
That worthy Hector flower of all prowess,  
Should unwarly most famous of noblesse,  
Be slain, alas chief stock of chivalry,  
For a quarrel of false adultery?   

Agamemnon accounted incomparable  
Among greeks, for troth & rightwiseness,  
To govern most glorious and able,  
Within his paleis, the story beareth wines,  
His wife Clitimnistra through her cursedness,  
Assented was to murder him of envy,  
For the occasion of false adultery.   

Ye noble princes conceive how changeable  
Is worldly honour, through unsteadfastness,  
Sith of king Priam the glory was unstable?  
Fix in your mind this matter doth impress,  
And your courages knightly doth updresse:  
Again all titles holdeth champarty,  
Which appertaineth to false adultery.     

¶ The xix Chapter.  
Of mighty Samson which told his counsel to Dalyda, whereby he was deceived.  

WHo was more stronger than Samson?  
None more deliver, the bible beareth witness:  
Without weapon he slough a fierce lion,  
And for his enemies to him did express  
His uncouth problem anon he 'gan him dress  
Again Philistines, and slough of them thirty,  
To pay his promise spoiled them by & by.   

His problem was (the text thus rehearsing  
After the letter) in very soothfastness,  
There came out meet of a thing eating,  
And fro the strong there went out sweetness.  
But his wife of froward doubleness,  
Which ever wrought to his disavail,  
Of worthy Samson told the counsel.   

What is more strong than is a lion?  
Or more sweet than honey in tasting?  
But women have this condition,  
Of secret things when they have knowledging  
They bollen inward their hearts aye fretting  
either they must die or discure,  
So britel of custom is their nature.   

This was the case, the lion that was deed,  
Again the son gaping lay up right:  
Aswarm of been entered in his heed,  
Of whom there came honey anon right,  
And when Samson thereof had a sight,  
He fautasied in his opinion,  
Full secretly this proposition,   

As ye have herd, & 'gan it forth purpose,  
That philistines to him it should expone:  
Under a pain the troth to him unclose.  
But with his wife they privily 'gan rown,  
And she on Samson 'gan compleyn and frown,  
And faymngly so long upon him weep,  
That he could not his counsel fro her keep.   

Which when she knew made no tarrying,  
But plain and hole she 'gan it to declare:  
Such double trust is in their weeping,  
To keep their tongues women can not spare.  
Such weeping wives evil moat they far,  
And all husbands I pray god give them sorrow,  
That tell their counsel at even or morrow.   

She told them hole she told it them not half,  
And Samson than 'gan upon them smile:  
If ye not had herd it in my calf,  
Ye should not have found it a great while.  
Who may be sure where women list beguile?  
Though books Samson of strength so commend,  
Yet durst he not against his wife offend.   

This mighty Samson did also his pain  
Three hundred foxes once that he found,  
He took their tails, knit them twain & twain,  
And amid every he set a fire bronde.  
And as they ran in philistines land,  
So furiously up and down they went,  
That they their fruits & their wines brent.   

Eke by treason when he was once bound,  
With strong cords (as he lay a sleep)  
There iii M. which that Samson found,  
To have murdered him or he took keep,  
He broke his bonds and up anon he leap:  
Of an ass he caught a chaule bone,  
And a thousand he slough of them anon.   

He 'gan to faint, and had a sudden lust  
For to drink, faded face and cheer:  
And god sent him to staunch with his thirst,  
From the asses to the water crystal clear,  
Which that sprang out large like a river:  
Refreshed his spirit which afore 'gan dull,  
Till that he had of water drunk his full.   

After he went to Gasam the city,  
Among his enemies that were of great might  
To his pleasance where he did see,  
A full fair woman, lay with her all night,  
And on the morrow long or it was light,  
Maugre the watch on his shoulders square,  
The gates strong up to an hill he bore.   

And in a valley which called was Soret,  
Full hot he loved Dalyda the fair:  
On whom his heart was full sure set,  
She could her feign so meek & debonair.  
Make him such cheer when high list repair,  
But I dare call her Dalida the double,  
Chief rote & canuse of all his mortal trouble.   

He never drank wines white ne reed,  
Of Nazarees such is the governance:  
Razor, ne shear, touched never his heed,  
For in long growing standeth their pleasance.  
And this Samson most mighty of substance,  
Had all his force by influence of heaven,  
By hairs wearing that were in number sevyn.   

It was full secre in every man's sight,  
Among people told for an uncouth thing,  
Whereof Samson had so great might,  
Outward showing by force of his working:  
But Dalida with her false flattering,  
Would never stint inquiring ever among,  
Till that ● ●he knew whereby he was so strong.   

She like a serpent daring under flowers,  
Or like a worm that wroteth in a tre,  
Or like an adder of many fold colours,  
Right true appearing and fair upon to see,  
For shrouded was her mutability,  
With lowliheed and a fair pretence,  
Of true meaning under false appearance.   

He meant troth and she was variable,  
He was faithful and she was untre we:  
He was stead fast and she was v● stable,  
His trust aye one, she loved things new,  
She weared colours of many divers hew.  
In stead of blue which stead fast is & clean,  
She loved changes of many divers green.   

But to purpose for to condescend,  
When she of Samson knew all the privity,  
Her falsehood shortly for to comprehend,  
She made him sleep full soft on her knee,  
And a sharp razor after that took she,  
Shofe of his hairs large & of great length  
Whereby alas he lost all his strength.   

Damage in earth is none so grievous,  
As an enemy which that is secree:  
Nor pestilence none so perilous,  
As falseness where it is privee,  
And specially in feminitee.  
For if their wives be found variable,  
Where shall husbands find other stable?   

Thus Samson was by Dalida deceived,  
She could so well flatter, forge, and fain:  
Which Philistines when they have conceived,  
unwarely bound him in a mighty chain,  
Cast him in prison, put out his eyen twain,  
And of despite after as I find,  
At their quernes made him for to grind.   

They made a feast stately and solemn,  
When they had all this treason wrought:  
And to rebuke him, scorn him, & condemn,  
Blind Samson was afore them brought▪  
Which grieved him full sore in his thought,  
Cast he did privily in his mind,  
Cavenge his blindness some manner way to find.   

And when he had thus be thought him long,  
He made a child him privily to lead,  
To two posts, large, square, and strong,  
embraced them, or any man took hedet  
And 'gan to shake the without fear or dreaded  
So sturdely among his fone all,  
That the temple is upon them fall.   

Thus he was avenged on his fone,  
Which that falsely did agaynt him strive:  
Slough in his dying, god wot many one,  
More than he did ever afore in his live.  
And he was also, the date to descrive  
In Israel (the Bible is mine author)  
Twenty year their judge and governor.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

this tragedy giveth an evidence,  
To whom men shall their counsel 〈…〉 dyscure:  
For reckless tongues for lack of prudence,  
Have do great harm to many a creature,  
When harm is done full hard it is to recu 〈…〉  
Beware by Sampson your counsel well took 〈…〉  
Let Dalida complain, cry and weep.   

Whilom Samson for manhood & pruden 〈…〉  
Israel had in governance and cure,  
Daunted Lions through his magnifyeence▪  
Made on a thousand a discomfiture:  
But his most perilous adventure,  
Was when he lay with Dalida to sleep,  
Which falsely coude complain, cry & weep.   

Ye noble princes conceive the sentence  
Of this story remembered in scripture,  
How that Samson of wilful negligence  
Was shaven & shorn, diffaced his figures  
Keep your conceits under coverture,  
Suffer no nightworme within your co 〈…〉 ●cr●●  
Though Dalida complain, cry and weep.     

☞ The twenty Chapter.  
A chapter of Bochas discriving the malice of women.  

Mine author Bocas rejoiced in believe,  
I dare not say whether it was commendable,  
Of these women the malice to describe,  
Generally, and writ (it is no fable)  
Of these nature how they ●en variable,  
And how their malice best by evident  
Is knonws to them that have experience.   

They can aforce them all day men may se,  
By sp●guler freedom and domination,  
Ou●r●en to have sovereignty,  
And kept them low under subjection:  
And sor● labour in the● opinions  
By subtle ●ra●● that thing to return.  
Which is to them denied of nature.   

Bochas affirmeth and hold it for no tale.  
If they want freshness of colour,  
And have their face Jawne, swerte, and pale,  
Anon they do their diligent labour  
In such anede to help and do succour,  
Their riveled skin abroad to draw & strain,  
Forward frounces to make them smooth & plain.   

If no redness in their cheeks be,  
Nor no lilies delectable and white,  
Than they take t'increase their beauty,  
Such ointments as may most delight.  
Where kind faileth the surplusage to acquit  
They can by craft so for themself dispose,  
Show redness, though there be no rose.   

And for to show their face fair and bright,  
With hot spices and ointments sote,  
They can by craft counterfeit a right:  
Take in such case many an wholesome rote.  
Where kind faileth cunning can do boat.  
If their breasts up to high them dress,  
They can full well them bossing down repress.   

And if they be to soft or to tender,  
They have cunning to make them hard and round:  
Their coarseness they can eke make slender,  
With poignant sauces that been in physic found,  
Their subtle wits in sleights so habound,  
Thing that is crooked or wrong in man's sight,  
To make it seem as it went up right.   

They have strictories too make their skin to shine  
Wrought subtly of gums & of glaire,  
Crafty lies to die their here citrine,  
Distilled waters to make them seem fair.  
Fumigations to rectify the air,  
Stomagers and fresh confections,  
To repress false exhalations.   

Of all these things Bochas hath most despite,  
When these veckes far iron in age,  
Within themself have vain glory & delight,  
For to be fair and paint their visage:  
Like as a paintour on an old image  
Layeth his colours rich & fresh of hew,  
Worm frete storks for to make seem new.   

Their slack skin by craft abroad is strained,  
Like an orange from the galley brought:  
rich relics about their neck is cheined,  
Gold upon gold with pearl & stones wrought.  
And the their colour outward apeire nought  
with wind or sun which should then stain or fade,  
For unkind heats they usen Citrinade.   

What should I write their uncouth desires,  
sometime froward sometime debonair?  
Imageninge sundry fresh attires,  
Contrived of new many thousand pair.  
divers devils to make them seem fair:  
In their apport by counterfeit likeness  
For to resemble Venus the goddess.   

Of one devise they hold them not apaid,  
They must each day have a strange weed:  
If any be better than other arrayed,  
Of froward grudging they feel their heart bleed.  
For everich thinketh verily in deed  
A morrow prieng in a mirror bright,  
For to be fairest in her own sight.   

They can their eyen and their looks dress  
To draw folks by sleights to their lure,  
And some while by their frowardness  
And feigned danger they can of men recure  
What ever they list, such is their adventure:  
Against whose sleights force nor prudence  
May not avail to make resistance.   

With constraint weeping, & forged flattery,  
subtle speech, ferced with pleasance,  
And many false dissimuled malady  
Though in their hearts they feel no grievance,  
And with their covert sober dalliance,  
Though underneath the double serpent dare,  
Full many one they have brought in their snare.   

O sweetness full of mortality,  
Serpentyne with a pleasant visage,  
Unstable joy full of adversity,  
O most changeable of heart and of courage,  
In thy desires having this advantage,  
What ever thou list to daunt and oppress,  
Such is thy franchises, Bocas beareth witness.   

Of nature they can in many wise,  
Of mighty giants the power well aslake▪  
What wit of man can compass or devise,  
Their sleighty wiles dare well undertake,  
And if them list thereon an end make:  
Fro this conceit who so that discords  
A thousand stories the readers can accord.   

Remembering first how Hercules strong▪  
Was brought by women to his destruction:  
The queen Clitimnistra did also great wrong  
To murder her lord king Agamemnon.  
Dalyda also betrayed Samson,  
Amphiorax sank deep down in to hell,  
Because his wife his counsel did out tell.   

It needeth not make mention  
Though Phillis died through impatience,  
Of long abiding of her Demophoon,  
Nor how that Nisus king of Magarence  
Was by his daughters cursed violence  
unwarely murdered, in ovid it is told,  
When from his head she stolen the hear of gold.   

Bochas rehearseth of wives many one,  
Which in their werkinge were full contrarius:  
But among all he writeth there was one.  
Queen of Assirye & wife to king Ninus,  
And by descent daughter to Neptunus,  
Semitamis called in her days,  
Which of all men would make assails.   

She nouther spared stranger ne kindred,  
Her own son was not set aside:  
But with him had knowledging in deed,  
Of which the slander went about full wide,  
For with one man she could not abide,  
Such a false lust was upon her fall,  
In her courage to have a do withal.   

And truly it doth my wit appal,  
Of this matter to make rehersaile:  
It is no reason to atwyte women all  
Though one or two whilom did fail,  
It sitteth not nor it may not avail  
Them to rebuke that perfect ben and good,  
Far out of joint though some other stood.   

The rich Ruby nor the sapphire Ind  
Be not appaired of their fresh beauty,  
Though among stones men counterfetes find:  
And semblably though some women be  
Not well governed after their degree,  
It not diffa●eth nor doth no violence,  
To them that never did in their life offence.   

The white lily nor the wholesome rose  
Nor violettes spread on banks thick,  
Their sweetness which outward they unclose  
Is not appaired with no weeds wycke.  
And though y● breres & many a crooked stick  
Grow in gardens among the flowers fair,  
They may the virtue of herbs not apayre.   

And (I dare say) that women virtuous  
Ben in the virtue (of price) more commendable  
Than there be some reckoned vicious,  
And of their living found also stable.  
Good women ought not be partable  
Of their trespass, nor their wicked deed,  
But more commended for their womanhed.   

What is appaired of Hester the meekness,  
Though y● Scylla was sturdy & vengeable?  
Nor of Alceste the perfit steadfastness  
Is not eclipsed, but more acceptable,  
Though Clitimnistra was found variable:  
Like as when clouds their blackness do decline  
Phoebus' with his beams doth more clear shine.   

Full many one have clean been all their live,  
Vndefouled kept their virginity:  
And some coude against all vices strive,  
Them to conserve in perfect chastity,  
devoid of change and mutability.  
Though some other have there again trespassed▪  
The laud of them is not therewith diffased.   

And who ever of malice list accuse  
These silly women touching variance,  
Let them remember & in their wits muse  
Men be not ay stable in their constance:  
In this world there is no perseverance,  
Change is ay found in men & women both  
On other party be they never so wroth.   

No man should the virtuous at wit  
In stead of him that did the trespass,  
Nor for a thief a true man iudite,  
Nor for the guilty an Innocent menace:  
Good and wicked abide in every place,  
Their price, their lack, let them be reserved,  
To other party as they have deserved.   

Though John Bochas in his opinion  
Against women list a process make,  
They that ben good of condition  
Should against it no manner quarrel take  
But lightly, pass and their sleeves shake:  
For again good he nothing made  
Who can conceive th'effect of this ballad.    

¶ The xxi Chapter.  
The excuse of Bochas for his writing against misgoverned women, in stead of a Envoy.  

YE women all that shall behold and see,  
This chapter, and the process read,  
Ye that been good found in your degree,  
And virtuous both in thought and deed,  
What Bochas sayeth take ye no heed:  
For his writing if it be discerned,  
Is not again them that be well governed.   

For though it fall that one two or three  
Have done amiss, as thereof god forbed,  
That other women which stable & faithful be,  
Should be atwited of their ungoodlyhede:  
But more commended for their womanhed.  
For this scripture if it be concerned,  
Is again them that be not well governed.   

A galled horse (the sooth if ye list see)  
Who toucheth high boweth his back for dread,  
And who is know untrue in his country,  
Shrinketh his horns when men speak of falsehood,  
But good women have full little need  
To grudge or frown when the truth is learned,  
Though there be some that be not well governed.   

Of Dalida and queen Pasiphae  
Though doubleness did their bridle lead,  
Yet of Lucrece and Penolope,  
The noble fame abroad doth shine & spread:  
Out of good corn men may the darnel weed,  
Women rebuke in their defaults querned,  
And not touch them that be well governed.    

The xxii Chapter.  
¶ Of mighty Pyrrus that slough Pollicene, which for his pride and adultery died in poverty, slain at the last by Horestes.  

BOchas musing in his remembrance,  
And considering in his fantasy,  
The unsure trust of worldly variance,  
Of men & women the change and the folly:  
The same time he saw a company  
Of mighty princes full pitously weeping,  
To him appear their fortune complaining.   

Among other that put themself in pr●ase,  
Of mighty Pirrus first he had a tied:  
That was the son of worthy Achilles,  
Among Greeks the most famous knight,  
Most commended of manhood & of might.  
Son and next heir as books specify,  
Of peleus's king of Thessaly.   

This Achilles full manly of his heart  
Hurt of Hector and his wound green,  
Slough Hector after or he did advert:  
The which Achilles for love of Pollicene,  
By compassing of Hecuba the queen,  
Under treaty this greeks champion,  
Was slain of Paris within Troy town.   

Whose death to avenge, Pyrrus in his tene  
Furiously with face deed and pale,  
Slough afterward the said Pollicene,  
And dismembered her on pieces small:  
Which for to hear is a piteous tale,  
That a knight so vengeable was in deed,  
To slay a maid quaking in her dread.   

He could for Ire on her no mercy have,  
But with his sword most furious & wode,  
Merciless upon his father's grave,  
Like a tyrant he shed her chaste blood:  
The deed horrible diffaced his knighthood,  
That to this day the slander and diffame,  
By new report reboundeth on his name.   

poets say, and specially ovid  
Writes when Greeks fro Troy should sail.  
How their ships by an anchor did ride,  
Of their purpose which long did them fail:  
But in this while he maketh rehearsal,  
Out of the earth manacing of cheer,  
Of Achilles an image did appear.   

To greeks said with a deadly face:  
I feel well mine honour and my glory,  
And my nobles full lightly forth doth pace  
Unkind people, out of your memory.  
Which by me had your conquest and victory,  
Your devoir doth Pollicene to take,  
And on my grave a sacrifice to make.   

With her blood, look ye spare nought  
To spring it about my sepulture:  
Thus blood for blood with vengeance shallbe bought,  
And for my death the death she must endure.  
And hole the manner of this adventure,  
And how she died, in her maidenhead,  
Methamorphoseos the process ye may read.   

In hasty vengeance set was all his joy,  
with thirst unstaunched Trojan blood to shed,  
He slough Priam the worthy king of Troy:  
And into Grece with him he did lead  
Andromada, the story ye may read,  
wedded her, and after in certain,  
By him she had worthy sons twain.   

But in repairing home to his country,  
As Aeolus did his ships drive,  
I find he was a pirate of the se:  
And into Grece when he did aryve,  
Fortune unwarely 'gan again him strive,  
Forsook his wife let her live alone,  
Took another called Hermione   

Which was that time in marriage  
To Horestes son of Agamemnon:  
And he alas of loves wilful rage,  
Took her by force to his possession.  
But of adultery followeth this guerdon,  
Sudden death, poverty, or shame,  
Open disclaunder, great mischief or diffame.   

Eke in his time this Pirrus as I read,  
Fill into mischief and great poverty:  
And with such meinie as he did lead,  
He was a rover, and rob on the see.  
And as poets rehearse, ye may see,  
Of such robbing by slander and diffame,  
This word Pirate of Pirrus took the name.   

And as the story after doth devise,  
The said Horestes 'gan sickerly espy,  
Where that Pyrrus did sacrifice  
Tofore Apollo, that god to magnify:  
Full unwarely Horestes of envy,  
Took a sharp sherde or Pyrrus could advert  
Where that he stood & roof him to the heart.   

This was the fine of Pyrrus in substance,  
For all his pride and great presumption:  
Of false adultery followeth this vengeance,  
Loss of some member, poverty, or prison.  
Or hateful slander by some occasion,  
Or sudden death, shortly in sentence,  
Complete in Pyrrus, by full clear evidence.    

The xxiii Chapter.  
¶ Of Machayre and of his sister Canace.  

AFter this Pyrrus came Canace the fair,  
Tears distilling fro her eyen twain:  
And her brother that called was  
Machaire.  
And both they piteously 'gan plain  
That fortune 'gan at them so disdain,  
Hyndring their fate by woeful adventure,  
Touchig their love which was again nature.   

He was her brother and her love also,  
As the story plainly doth declare:  
And in a bed they lay eke both two,  
Reason was none why they would spare.  
But love that causeth woe and eke welfare,  
'Gan again kind so strangely devise,  
That he her womb made suddenly to rise.   

And finally mine author beareth witness,  
A child she had by her own brother,  
Which excelled in favour and fairness,  
For like to him of beauty was none other,  
But of their love so guided was the rother,  
That Charybdis' 'tween winds full contrary,  
Hath Canace destroyed, and Machayre.   

For when their father the manner did espy,  
Of their working which was so horrible,  
For ire almost he fell in frenzy,  
Which for to appease was an impossible:  
For the matter was froward and audible,  
For which plainly devoid of all pite,  
Upon their trespass he would avenged be.   

The cause known the father anon right,  
Cast for their death of rigour to provide:  
For which Machaire fled out of his sight  
And from his face his presence 'gan to hide.  
But woe alas his sister must abide,  
Merciless for their hateful trespass,  
And suffer death there was none other grace.   

First her father a sharp sword to her sent,  
In token of death for a remembrance,  
And when she witted plainly what he meant,  
And conceived his rigorous ordinance:  
With whole purpose to obey his pleasance,  
She grudged not, but lowly of intent,  
Like a meek daughter to his desire assent.   

But or she died she cast for to write  
A little letter to her brother dear,  
A deadly complaint to show & indite,  
With pale fate and a mortal there.  
The salt tears from her eyen clear,  
With piteous sobbing fet fro her hearts' brink,  
distilling down to temper with her ink.    

☞ The xxv Chapter.  
¶ The letter of complaint of Canace, to her brother Machayre.  

Out of her sown when she abreyde,  
Knowing no mean but death in her distress,  
Too her brother full pytouslye she said  
Cause of my sorrow, rote of my heaviness,  
That whilom was chief sours of my gladness,  
When both our joys by will were so disposed,  
Under one key our hearts to be unclosed.   

Whilom thou were support and sykernes,  
Chief rejoicing of my worldly pleasance:  
But now thou art ground of my sickness,  
Well of wanhope, and my deadly penance:  
Which have of sorrow greatest abundance  
That ever yet had any creature,  
Which must for love the death, alas, endure,   

Thou were whylon my bliss & all my trust,  
sovereign comfort, my sorrows to appease:  
Spring and well of all my hearts lust,  
And now alas chief rote of my disease.  
But if my death might do the any ease,  
O brother my in remembrance of twain,  
Death shall to me be pleasure & no pain.   

My cruel father most unmerciable,  
Ordained hath (it needs must be so)  
In his rigour he is so untretable,  
All merciless he will that it be do,  
That we algate shall die both two:  
But I am glad sith it may be none other,  
Thou art escaped my best beloved brother.   

This is mine end I may it not astart,  
O brother mine there is no more to say,  
Lowly beseeching the with all my hole heart,  
For to remember specially I pray,  
If it befall my little son to day,  
That y● mayst after some mind on us have,  
Suffer us both to be buried in one grave.   

I hold high straightly atween my arms twain,  
Thou & nature laid on me this charge:  
He guiltless with me must suffer pain,  
And sith thou art at freedom and at large,  
Let kindness our love not so discharge,  
But have a mind where ever that thou be  
Ones a day upon my child and me.   

On the and me dependeth the trespare,  
Touching our guilt and our great offence:  
But wellaway most angelic of face,  
Our child young in his pure innocence,  
Shall against right suffer deaths violence.  
Tender of limbs, god wot full guiltless,  
The goodly fair that lieth here speechless.   

A mouth he hath, but words hath he none,  
Can not complain, alas, for none outrage,  
Nor grudgeth not, but lieth here alone  
Still as a lamb most meek of his visage:  
What heart of steel could do to him damage,  
Or suffer him die beholding the mavere,  
And look benign of his two eyen clear?   

O thou my father to cruel is thy wretch,  
Harder of heart, than any tiger or lion:  
To slay a child that lieth without speech,  
Void of all mercy and remission,  
And on his mother haste no compassion.  
His youth considered with lips soft as silk  
Which at my breast lieth & souketh milk.   

Is any sorrow remembered by writing  
Unto my sorrowful sighs comparable?  
Or was there ever creature living  
That felt of dole a thing more lamentable?  
For comfortless and unrecurable  
Are thilk heaped sorrows full of rage,  
Which have with woe oppressed my courage.   

reckon all my mischiefs, in especial  
And on my mischief remember & have mind:  
My lord my father is my enemy mortal,  
Experience enough thereof I find.  
For in his pursuit he hath left behind,  
In destruction of the my child and me,  
All ruth, all mercy, and fatherly pite.   

And the my brother avoided from his sight,  
Which in no wise his grace mayst attain:  
Alas that rigour, vengeance & cruel right,  
Should above mercy be lady sovereign.  
But cruelty doth at me so disdain,  
That thou my brother my child & also I  
Shall die exiled, alas from all mercy.   

My father whilom by many a sundry sign  
Was my succour and supportation,  
To the and me most gracious and benign,  
Our worldly gladness our consolation:  
But love & fortune hath turned upsodoun  
Our grace, alas, our welfare & our fame,  
Hard to recure so slandered is our name.   

Spot of diffaming is hard to wash away,  
When noise abroad do folk menace:  
To hinder a man their may be no delay,  
For hateful fame flieth far in short space?  
But of us twain there is none other grace,  
Save only death, and after death, alas,  
Eternal slander, of us thus stant the case.   

Whom shall we blame or whom shall we atwite,  
Our great offence sith we may it not hide?  
For our excuse reports to respite  
Mean is there none except the God Cupid:  
And though he would for us provide,  
In this matter to be our chief refuge,  
poets say he is blind to be a judge.   

He is depaynt like a blind archer,  
To mark aright failing discretion:  
Holding no measure nouther far nor near,  
But like fortune's disposition,  
All upon hap void of all reason.  
As a blind archer with arrows sharp yground,  
Of adventure giveth many a mortal wound.   

At the and me he wrongly did mark,  
Felly to hinder our fatal adventures.  
As far as Phoebus shineth in his ark,  
To make us refuse to all creatures,  
Called us twain unto the woeful lures  
Of diffame, which will departed never,  
By new report the noise increasing ever.   

Odious fame with swift wings flieth,  
But all good fame envy doth restrain:  
Each man of other the defaults seeth,  
Yet on his own no man will complain.  
But all the world out crieth on us twain.  
Whose hateful ire by us may not be quemed.  
For I must die my father hath so deemed.   

Now farewell brother, to me it doth suffice  
To die alone for our both sake:  
And in my most faithful humbly wise,  
Unto my dethward though I trimble & quake,  
Of the for ever now my leave I take.  
And one's a year forget not but take heed,  
My fatal day this letter for to read.   

So shalt thou have of me some remembrance,  
My name imprinted in thy kalendere,  
By rehearsal of my deadly grievance:  
Wear black that day & make a doleful cheer.  
And when thou comest & shalt approach near  
My sepulture, I pray the not disdain  
Upon my grave some tears for to rain.   

Writing her letter wrapped all in dread,  
In her right hand her pen 'gan to quake:  
And a sharp sword to make her heart bleed,  
In her lift hand her father hath her take.  
And her most sorrow was for her child's sake  
Upon whose face in her barm sleeping,  
Full many a tear she wept in complaining.   

After all this, so as she stood and quoke,  
Her child beholdig amid her pains smart:  
Without abode the sharp sword she took,  
And rove herself even to the heart.  
Her child fill down which might not astart,  
Having no help to soccour him nor save,  
But in her blood himself began to bathe.   

And than her father most cruel of intent,  
Bad that the child should anon be take,  
Of cruel hounds in haste for to be rend,  
And be devoured for his mother's sake:  
Of this tragedy thus an end I make,  
The process of which men may read & see  
Concludeth on mischief & furious cruelty.   

remembering first as made is mention,  
How that Pyrrus delighted him in deed  
When Troy was brought to destruction,  
With cruel sword Trojan blood to shed.  
But of such slaughter se here the cruel meed.  
As right requireth by unware violence,  
Blood shed for blood is final recompense.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

When surquedy oppressed hath pity,  
And meekness is with tyranny bore down  
Again all right, then hasty cruelty  
To be vengeable maketh no delation,  
What followeth thereof by good aspection,  
See an example how Pyrrus in his tene  
Of hateful ire slough young Pollicene.   

King Aeolus to outrageous was pard,  
And to vengeable in his entention:  
Against his children, Machaire, & Canace,  
So importable was his punition,  
Of haste proceeding to their destruction.  
Worse in his ire as it was well seen,  
Than cruel Pyrrus which slew Policene.   

Noble princes, prudent and attempre,  
Defer vengeance of high discretion:  
Till your ire sum what as waged be,  
Do never of doom none execution.  
For hate and rancour perturben the reason  
Of hasty judges, more of intent unclean,  
Than cruel Pyrrus which slew Policene.     
¶ Thus endeth the first Book.   



TO some folk, percase it would seem  
Touchig the changes & mutabilities,  
By me rehearsed that they might dame  
Of fortunes strange adversities,  
To princes showed, down pulled from their sees  
These tragedies ought enough suffice,  
In complaining which ye have heard devise   

The story piteous, the process lamentable,  
Void of joy, all gladness and pleasance,  
A thing to grievous and to importable,  
Where as no mirth is meddled with grievance:  
All upon complaint standeth the alliance,  
Most when fortune, who y● her course knew  
Changeth old joys into sorrows new.   

For unto him that never witted of woe,  
Remembrance of his old gladness  
When his welfare and pleasance is go,  
And never afore knew of heaviness,  
Such unware change such uncouth wretchedness  
Causeth in prices through new deadly trouble  
After their falling their sorrows to be double.   

Old examples of princes that have fall,  
Their remembrance of new brought to mind  
May be a mirror to estates all,  
How they in virtue shall remedies find,  
To eschew vices of such as were made blind:  
From sudden falling the selves to preserve,  
Long to contune and thank of god deserve.   

The fall of one is a clear lantern  
To teach another what he shall eschew:  
peril of one, is (who so can discern)  
School and doctrine from peril to remue.  
As men deserve such guerdon must sue:  
In vice nor virtue no man may God deceive  
Like their deserts their meed they receive.   

Who followeth virtue longest doth persever,  
Be it in riches, be it in poverty:  
Light of troth his clearness keepeth ever,  
Again the assaults of all adversity.  
Virtue is cause of long prosperity.  
And when princes from virtue down decline,  
Their fame is shrouded under the cliptike line   

For false fortune which turneth as a ball,  
Of unware changes though men her atwite  
It is not she that gave princes the fall,  
But vicious living plainly to indite:  
Though God above full oft them respite,  
Long abideth and doth his grace send,  
To this intent they should their life amend.   

For their welfare and their abiding long,  
Who advertiseth, dependeth not on chance:  
Good life & virtue maketh them to be strong,  
And them assureth in long perseverance.  
Virtue on fortune maketh a defiance,  
That fortune hath no domination,  
Where noble princes be governed by reason.   

But such as list not corrected be,  
By example of other for vicious governance:  
And fro their vices list not for to fly,  
If they be troubled in their high puissance,  
They arette it to fortune's variance,  
Touching the guilts that they did use  
Their demerits full falsely excuse.   

Virtue conserveth princes in their glory,  
And confirmeth their dominations:  
And vices put their prince out of memory,  
For their trespasses and their transgressions  
And in all such sudden mutations  
They can no refute nor no better succour,  
But again fortune to make their clamour.   

Make an out cry of her doubleness,  
As no guilt were in their own deed:  
Thus untruly they call her a goddess,  
Which little or nought may help at such a need  
But if they had god in love and dread,  
Trusted his lordship, in heart, will, & thought  
They should fortune plainly set at nought.   

Evidence full expert and palpable,  
Tofore rehearsed told of divers ages:  
Worldly glory is vain and full unstable,  
With disceytes' double of their visages,  
Showing to princes firm of their courages,  
By these ensamples how & in what wise,  
By others falling they shall themself chastise.   

Signs showed and tokens in heaven,  
divers cometies, and constellations,  
Dreadful thunder fearful fiery leaven,  
Rumours in earth, and great dissensions,  
Disobey sans in sundry regions,  
Shown examples (full well affirm I date)  
To mighty princes then bidding to beware   

Their life to amend or the lord do smite,  
Through negligence or it be to late.  
And or the sword of vengeance carve or bite  
Anto virtues their vicious life translate:  
Cherishing right against all wrong debate,  
With dread of God make themself strong,  
Than in no doubt they shall endure long.   

Who is not ware by others chastising,  
Other by him shall chastised be:  
Hard is the heart which for no writing,  
For no doctrine, nor none authority,  
For none examples, will from his vices fly.  
To indurat is his froward intent,  
Which will not suffer his hardness to relent.   

The round drops of the smooth rain,  
Which that descend and fall from aloft,  
On stones hard (at the eye it is say)  
Pierceth their hardness, with their falling oft  
All be in touching water is but soft,  
The piercing caused by force nor puissance,  
But of failing by long continuance.   

Semblably of right I dare rehearse,  
Oft reading in books fructuous,  
The hearts should of prudent princes pierce,  
Soak in their mind & make them virtuous,  
To eschew all thing that is vicious.  
For what availeth the examples that they read,  
To their reading if contrary be the deed▪   

Cunning and deed who ran comprehend,  
In clear conceits they been things twain,  
And if cunning do the deed amend,  
Than at ween them is made a mighty chain,  
A noble thing and right sovereign.  
For than of cunning the labour is well spent  
When deed followeth, & both been of assent.   

Thus John Bochas proceeding in his book,  
Which in number is called the second:  
'Gan for to write and his purpose took,  
To set in stories such as he found,  
Of intent all vices to confound  
By examples which he did express.  
And at the beginning of his business   

Mighty Saul to him did appear,  
King of Israel piteously weeping.  
Deadly of face and with an hideous cheer,  
His voice ybroke by manifold sobbing:  
And to mine aucthout his sorrow complaining,  
Requiring him together when they met,  
First in his book his woeful fate to set.   

Anon after I of entention,  
With pen in hand fast 'gan me speed  
As I could in my translation,  
In this labour further to proceed:  
My lord came forth by & 'gan to take heed  
This mighty prince right manly & right wi●e  
Gave me charge in his prudent advice,   

That I should in every tragedy  
After the process made mention:  
At the end set a remedy,  
With a Envoy, conveyed by reason:  
And after that with humble affection  
To noble princes lowly it direct,  
By others falling themselves to correct.   

And I obeyed his bidding and pleasance,  
Under support of his magnificence,  
As I could, I 'gan my pen advance,  
All be I was barren of eloquence,  
Following mine auctor in substance & sentence.  
For it sufficeth plainly unto me  
So that my lord my making take in gre.   
Finis.   

¶ How Saul king of Israel borne of low degree as long as he dread God and was obedient to him, and ruled by good counsel, made many disconfitures: but at the last for his pride, presumption, and great disobedience, he lost his crown, and was stain by Philistines.  
¶ The first Chapter.  

THis said Saul of whom I spoke toforne,  
Full well compact, and large of his stature,  
Of the line of Beniamyn eke borne,  
His father Cis was called in scripture:  
Whose asses whilom left their pasture,  
Space of three days Saul had them sought,  
Lost his labour, and found them nought.   

For they were gone out so far on stray,  
So dissevered, he ne coude them meet:  
Till that a child him suing all the way,  
gave him counsel his labour for to let,  
And that he should go to the Prophet,  
Which was full famous hold in Israel,  
Of whom the name was called Samuel.   

Which made Saul in his house to dine,  
Received him of great affection:  
And by precept and ordinance divine,  
Samuel made no prolongation,  
But shed the holy sacred unction,  
Upon the head of Saul down kneeling,  
And full devoutly of Israel made him king   

Of God's people to have governance,  
With sceptre & crown and whole the regaly.  
And his noblesse more mighty to advance,  
With meekness to rule his monarchy,  
God gave to him a spirit of prophety,  
Which was great glory to his magnificence  
Of future things to have prescience.   

And while that he was meek & humble in deed,  
Void of pride, and false presumption,  
And prudent counsel with him did lead,  
Him to govern by good discretion,  
He found quiet through all his region:  
No foreign enemy durst him to warray,  
While he the lord meekly did obey.   

No enemy might again him recure,  
Through none emprises, but sore did him dread:  
Made many great discomfiture  
Through his force, knighthood, and manhood  
On philistines, and daunted eke in deed  
Two mighty kings, the one of Ammonites,  
And another that governed the Moabites.   

He was found strong and eke victorious,  
The Palestines bringing to mischance,  
Against Ydumeans so mighty and famous,  
Through his mighty prudent governance,  
That he their pride brought to mischance,  
Outrayed them of wisdom and manhood,  
Primo regum as ye may plainly read.   

He was the son called of one year,  
In Israel when his reign began:  
Stable of heart, and benign of cheer,  
froward nor sturdy to no manner man.  
All that while love of the people he won,  
The time I mean while he was just & stable  
And in his works not found variable.   

But when that pride 'gan his heart enhance  
Wilfulness and false melancholy  
Outrayed reason, to have the governance  
Of his old famous policy:  
And had forgotten in his fantasy  
To know the lord & meekly sue his law,  
God from his crown his grace 'gan wdrawe   

The unkind worm of foryetfulnes,  
In his heart had myned through the wall:  
When to God for his kindness,  
He gave no laud nor no thank at all,  
Which had him raised unto estate royal  
From poredegre, among all his kin alone,  
Of singular favour to set him in his throne.   

What thing in heart may be more froward thought  
Than is sudden false presumption,  
Of a wretch that came up of nought,  
To give him lordship and domination▪  
And for to make a plain comparison,  
Men should of reason dread a lion lass,  
Than the rudeness of a crowned ass.   

What thing to god is more abominable,  
Than pride upraysed out of poverty?  
And nothing gladly is found more vengeable,  
Than are wretches set in high degree:  
For from his stock kind may not fly,  
Each thing resorteth how far ever it go,  
To the nature which that it came fro.   

Fruit and apples take their tarrage  
Where they first grew, of the same tre,  
And semblably each kindred and lineage,  
Ones a year it will none other be,  
By token & sign at the eye as men may see,  
Draweth commonly in every creature,  
some tetche to follow after his nature.   

I writ not this in rebuke of poverty,  
But for such only as that it deserve.  
God of his might as men be well expert,  
May them in virtue increase and conserve,  
From all mischief a poor man preserve,  
Raise 'em on high to dominations,  
Through high noblesse of their conditions.   

By influence God may his grace shed,  
Where he findeth cause: only by meekness  
A poor man to raise him up in deed,  
Unto the estate of virtuous nobles,  
For out of virtue cometh all gentleness.  
In poor and rich make none exception,  
But them commend like their condition.   

A poor man which that is virtuous,  
And dreadeth god in his poverty,  
Each thing eschewing that is vicious,  
And to his power doth troth and equity,  
I dare right well say what ever that he be,  
Putting no rebuke unto his kindred,  
But call him gentle verily in deed.   

But king Saul was contrarious,  
Disobeysaunte found in his working:  
When God made him to be victorious  
On Amalech, where Agag was king,  
Him commanded to spare no manner thing,  
Man nor woman beast nor child succour,  
But y● his sword should all thing devour.   

But Saul wrought all in other wise,  
Each thing reserving that was fair to sight,  
And of intent to make a sacrifice,  
After his victory he shope him anon right:  
Fattest beasts he chase & hath them dight,  
Toward the fire to make his offering,  
And fro death he spared Agag the king.   

He was reproved afterward of Samuel,  
To gods bidding for he was contrary,  
As abject to reign in Israel,  
That all good hope in him 'gan despair.  
His grace, his might, 'gan pale and appair,  
His prophecy after hath him failed,  
And with a fiend he was also travailed.   

Thus from her wheel fortune cast him down,  
Aualed him from his royal se:  
And God also took away the crown,  
Both from him and his posterity,  
And set up David for his humility.  
Lo how the lord his domes can divide,  
To enhance meekness and to abate pride.   

Saul endured in his frenzy,  
A wicked spirit so sore him did assail.  
Unto David ever he had envy,  
That he was hardy to enter in battle,  
With a staff sling, void of plate and mail  
Slough Golyas without fear or dread,  
Pulled out his sword and smote of his head.   

At their repairing home out of the field,  
When David had slain this Goly,  
Young maidens when they beheld,  
The great victory, they in their armony,  
In laud of David thus 'gan sing and cry:  
Saul hath slain a thousand with his might  
David ten thousand, that lusty young knight.   

Saul disdained and said frowardly,  
They granted have a thousand to my name  
And to the son here of Isai,  
gave ten thousand to increase his fame,  
Which is to me a rebuke and a shame▪  
Whereupon this Saul frete with ire,  
Of young David 'gan the death conspire.   

In his heart he had a fantasy,  
Of their singing when that he took heed,  
Dempt it was a manner prophesy,  
That David preferred should be in deed,  
And to the crown after him succeed:  
Thought his children as he 'gan divine,  
Should be deprived of the royal line.   

Thus day by day Saul ways sought,  
To slay David plainly if he might:  
All be it so that he no malice thought,  
But ever kept him lowly in his sight.  
Therefore good ever & grace on him alight,  
For aye the lord of his magnificence,  
Again tyrants preserveth innocentes.   

And as the bible plainly doth us lere,  
This David had in his tender age,  
For his nobles the kings daughters dear,  
Called Mychol joined by marriage:  
And when that Saul fyli in any rage,  
David anon to assuage his woodness,  
Touched his harp & brought him in gladness   

Saul full oft 'gan David to enchase,  
And warray throughout all his lands:  
Through deserts him pursue & menace,  
Of intent to have shut him up in bonds,  
Or to slay him if he come in his hands,  
But finally god through his ordinance,  
Preserved his knight from all manner mischance   

Saul full oft was brought to mischief,  
Yet aye from death David did him save:  
And hereof this was a special proof,  
When David cut his garment in the cave,  
And more tokens if ye list to have,  
Another time David also kept,  
The life of Saul when he lay and slept.   

The case was this, as they were hosteing,  
Not far asunder Saul lay on sleep,  
All his people about him sleeping,  
And unpurveyed like a stock of sheep:  
Of which thing David took good keep,  
Down descended, and made no delay,  
Came to the tent where king Saul lay.   

The spete of Saul standing at his heed,  
David took it, and went his was anon:  
Of his coming there was no man took heed,  
For Saul slept and his men eachone.  
And when that he up to the hill was gone,  
Toward Saul again he cast his look,  
Made a noise that all his knights work.   

first to Abner prince of his chivalry,  
David said these words in sentence▪  
Abner (quoth he) thou hast done great folly,  
This day showed a great negligence,  
To suffer of Saul the magnificence  
In peril stand, and none heed take,  
About his person to make his knight's wa●●.   

Thou art to blame for thy retchelesue●●e,  
To leave the king stand in so great a dread,  
In sleep to have more savour and sweetness,  
Than of his life to take heed.  
Such negligence requireth for his meed,  
Death and torment by rightful judgement,  
About a prince when folk be negligent.   

And thou list to see an evidence,  
How that his life stood in jeopardy:  
See here his spear & give thereto credence  
How unprovided ye were on your party,  
Saul nor thou ye may it not deny  
Your life, your death, your power, your puissance  
This day god put whole in my governance.   

But me to acquit of pure innocence,  
As every man should unto his king,  
And to declare in me was none offence,  
Against his nobles in will nor in working,  
As God wots that knoweth every thing,  
That I never by no conspiracy,  
Wrought nor compassed again his regaly.   

LO here example of perfit patience,  
Again malice to show kindness:  
Where Savie showed his mortal violence  
David acquit him which sufferance & goodness,  
The tyrant vainquished by his prudent meekness  
Men again troth may well a warregyn,  
But at th'end the palm he doth aye win.   

For of this story if that ye take heed,  
Saul is fall for his frowardness,  
Into mischief, and into sudden dread,  
For philistines the bible beareth witness,  
With a great power 'gan thiderwards dress,  
Upon king Saul avenged for to be,  
Their tents pight beside Gelboe.   

Whereof king Saul astonished in his heart,  
Had lost his sprite of knightly hardiness:  
And specially when he did advert,  
Prophet was none his harms to redress,  
Of future things troth to express  
In Israel, which cast him in great dread,  
Because that time Samuel was deed.   

For Saul had cast out all divines,  
From Israel, and each divineresse:  
notwithstanding the palestynes  
Were risse again his power to oppress:  
And he ne knew no manner sorceress,  
Of whom he might any counsel take,  
And he of god that time was forsake.   

In this wise he stood disconsolate,  
Counsel of God nor prophet knew he none  
But as a man most infortunate,  
ungraciously he sped him forth anon,  
And secretly this Saul is forth gone,  
To a woman that should him read and wiss,  
In Israel called a phytonesse.   

Which is a name as clerks written all,  
And office who that taketh heed,  
Souls of men again to clepe and call,  
I mean such that tofore were dead,  
Which is a thing strange for to read,  
That women should, who so list to lere,  
Make souls of dead men to appear.   

Vnkouth and strange is their opinion,  
And to my wit a manner impossible:  
Not according me seemeth to reason,  
Nor like a thing which that is credible,  
That a soul of nature invisible,  
Might appear or show visibly,  
Unto the eyen which that been bodily.   

But or that I any further flit,  
Lest I were hold to presumptuous,  
To divines this matter I commit,  
And wise clerks that been virtuous,  
In their wits subtle and curious,  
To conclude as it doth them seem,  
In this matter a troth for to dame.   

Whether it was the soul of Samuel  
Or other spirit that she did call,  
Which that told the king of Israel,  
Of the battle that should after fall,  
His adventure and his mischiefs all:  
And of his death he told also in deed,  
And how David should after him succeed.   

Because only of his disobeisance,  
As it is written, and for his recklessness,  
On Amalech for he took not vengeance,  
Thus the spirit bore to him witness.  
Whereof Saul fill in great heaviness,  
Knowing no mean to escape out of this doubt,  
But take his fortune as it cometh about.   

Told him also his enemies were so wroth,  
The Philistines beside Gelboe,  
In that battle he and his children both,  
Should die that day of necessity:  
His chivalry shall discomfited be,  
Of his reign there is no longer date,  
For god from him his kingdom will translate   

And thus Saul returned is again,  
His meinie after brought to discomfiture,  
And when he saw all his people slain▪  
And how there was no mean to recure:  
In that deadly woeful adventure,  
He bade his squire take his sword as blyve,  
And through the heart that he should him rive.   

That his enemies which were uncircumcised  
Should have no power, in story it is found,  
To have upon him as they have devised,  
To give him his last fatal wound,  
His high noblesse at mischief to confound.  
But his squire for fear of god and dread,  
Would not assent to do so foul a deed.   

To slay his lord he greatly was afeard,  
A thing hateful in every man's sight.  
But Saul took the pommel of his sword,  
And in the ground full deep anon it pight,  
And in all haste possible that he might,  
Made the point in his furious pain,  
To pierce his heart and part it even in twain.   

The philistines anon as he was dead,  
spoiled him of his royal armure:  
Dismembered him, and smote of his head,  
And in token of their discomfiture,  
Took the spoils with all their busy cure,  
And thereof made in all their best intent,  
To Astaroth of pride a great present.   

Thus was Saul slain in sentence,  
Of philistines upon Gelboe,  
Forsake of God for inobedience,  
Abject also from his royal see:  
And thus for lacking of humility,  
Of god he was forever set aside,  
Lo here the end of surquedy and pride.   

¶ Envoy.  

Have mind of Saul which to estate ryal  
From low degree was called for meekness,  
But presumption made him have a fall,  
Of God abject for his frowardness,  
Lost his ●rowne the bible beareth witness,  
And cause was for his disobeisance,  
To gods bidding he gave none attendance.   

God not asketh no more of man at all  
But whole heart without doubleness,  
For all the gifts which in especial,  
He gave to man of his goodness:  
But he chastiseth all unkindness,  
Such as ben rebel for to do pleasance,  
And to his bidding yeve none attendance.   

Noble princes virtue most principal  
You to conserve in your high noblesse,  
Is to imprynt in your memorial,  
Faith, and equity, all wrongs to redress:  
To sustain troth and rightwiseness,  
And tofore God hold evenly the balance,  
And to his bidding give all your attendance.    

¶ Acommendation of Obedience.  

Virtue of virtues most of excellence,  
Which y● have most sovereign suffisance,  
Is the virtue of true obedience,  
Which set all thing in rightful governance,  
For ne were not this prudent ordinance,  
Some to obey and above to gye,  
Destroyed were all worldly policy.   

Where that virtue and high discretion  
Avoided have from them all wilfulness,  
By titles only of domination  
Truly leaning upon rightwiseness,  
Wrong and errors justly to redress,  
Of troth I may right well affirm and say,  
The people meekly their bidding should obey.   

This noble virtue of faithful obeisance,  
Established upon humility,  
Which includeth no double variance,  
In all regions and in each country,  
Causeth welfare, joy, and prosperity:  
And as virtue chief and sovereign,  
All vicious riot it plainly doth restrain,   

Obedience eke as men may see  
Falseness exileth and all rebellion,  
For by temperance, right, and equity,  
Stant the welfare of every region,  
For the meekness and low subjection,  
Of comonties, hold up the regalies,  
Of lordships and of all monarchies.   

And no doubt when lorshyps of intent,  
Busy been the sovereign lord to queme,  
To their subjects do right judgement,  
In conscience as right and reason dame,  
Than shall their crown and diadem,  
Upon their head persever and freshly shine,  
And make subjects to their bidding incline.   

Thus obeisance plainly at a word,  
In such as have lordship and sovereignty,  
Done of intent to their sovereign lord,  
Shall cause them reign in long prosperity,  
And their subjects of humility,  
For their noble famous governance,  
Ay to be ready under their obeisance.   

For who y● serveth the lord of lords all,  
And hath the people in his subjection,  
God will keep him that he shall not fall,  
Long preserve his domination,  
But agaynwarde when wisdom and reason  
Ben overmastred with sensuality,  
Farewell the flowers of their felicity.   

Obedience blunteth the sharpness,  
Of cruel sword in tyrants hands,  
And meekness appeaseth the felnes,  
Of hasty vengeance, breaketh on two the bonds:  
Eke patience set quiet in lands,  
And where these three contune in comonties,  
Long peace persevereth ● kingdoms & cities   

Obedience doth also restrain,  
Conspyrations and false collusions,  
When she stant unparted, not at wain,  
There is no dread of no dissensions:  
For she combineth the true opinions,  
In the hearts of people, full well afore provided  
Under princes to stand whole undivided.   

Where princes be meek, humble, and debonair  
Toward God of whole affection,  
Their subjects be gladly not contrary,  
In their service, by no rebellion:  
For there is found no division,  
But head & membres each for his party,  
Be so governed by prudent policy.   

Contrariously Saul was put down,  
Abject of God for his obstinacy,  
Put from his sceptre, his crown, his region,  
Of Israel lost all the monarchy,  
For he list not make his ally,  
Of frowardness and wilful negligence.  
This noble virtue called obedience.   

For as it longeth in kingdoms and cities,  
Under a key of true benevolence  
Princes and kings to govern their sees:  
So appertaineth due reverence  
To their subjects, by obedience  
To obey their lords as they be of degree  
By title of right in every comontee.   

For obeisance if it be discerned,  
(With Argus' eyen, who that taketh heed)  
As right requireth is not well governed  
When the membres presume again the head:  
Of governance there is no perfit speed,  
From unity they go a froward weigh,  
When subjects their princes disobey.     

The ii Chapter.  
☞ How king Roboam for giving faith to young counsel, lost the benevolence of his people, and died a fool.  

Unto Bochas in order next there came  
With full great dole and lamentation,  
The young king called Roboam,  
Son and next heir to Solomon,  
Entering by title of just succession:  
Besought mine author to make of his folly,  
And of his falling a piteous tragedy.   

First when he entered into his region,  
Twelve tribes governing in deed,  
Ruled himself by will and no reason,  
Kept his subjects plainly as I read,  
Not under love, but under froward dread:  
Of old wise (to his great disavaile)  
He despised the doctrine and counsel.   

He demeaned (as it was well couth)  
His sceptre, his crown and his regaly,  
By such folk as flowered in their youth,  
Can of custom their wits well apply  
To blind him falsely with their flattery:  
Which is a stepmother called in substance,  
To all virtue and all good governance.   

Alas, it is great dole and great pity  
That flattery should have so great favour:  
Which blindeth princes that they may not see,  
Misteth the eyen of every governor,  
That they can not know their own error.  
False honey shed aye on their sentence,  
A fool is he that giveth to them credence.   

They may be called the devils tabourers,  
With froward sows ears to fulfil:  
Or of Sireves the perilous bo●elers,  
Which gall and honey down distill.  
Whose drinks been both amorous and ill,  
And as clerks well devise cunne,  
Worse than the drinks of sirens tuune.   

Ears of princes full well they can enoint  
With the soft oil of adulation,  
And their terms most subtilely appoint,  
Each thing concluding with false deception:  
Ay blandishing with amorous poison,  
And finally as the Poet saith,  
Their faith of custom conciudeth with unfaith.   

flowering in words though there be no scute,  
Double of heart, pleasant of language,  
Of true meaning void and destitute,  
In mustering outward preted a fair visage:  
Who trusteth them findeth small advantage  
By appearance and glorious fresh showing  
Princes deceiving and many a worthy king   

Roboam can bear full well witness,  
From him avoiding folks that were true,  
How he was hindered by flattery and falseness  
By them that could forge out tales new:  
Whose counsel after sore did him rue,  
And with their feigned false suggestion,  
Greatly abridged his domination.   

He dempt himself of more authority,  
Of folly, youth, and of presumption,  
Than was his father in great royalty,  
And this pompous false opinion  
Came into his concept by adulation:  
For flatterers bare to him witness,  
How he excelled his father's high nobles.   

He did great rigour and oppression  
Upon his people as it was well proved:  
And to find some mitigation,  
They in matters which that have them grieved,  
Of their tributes for to be relieved,  
Besought he would release them in their need,  
But all for nought he took thereof no heed.   

All old counsel from him he set aside,  
And refused their doctrine and their lore:  
And by false counsel of folks full of pride▪  
His poor lieges he oppressed sore.  
And ten kindreds anon without more,  
For tyranny and misgovernance,  
From him withdrough the troth & lygeaunce   

Thus of the king conceived the rigour,  
The people anon of indignation  
Stoned Adoram, which was collector  
Of the tributes in all his region,  
From him departing by rebellion:  
Whereof astonished, to avenge his unright,  
Into Jerusalem took anon his flight.   

And when they were parted from Roboam,  
The ten kindreds by division,  
Chase them a king called Jeroboam:  
And Roboam within his royal town,  
To be avenged of their rebellion,  
And for to do on them cruel justice,  
An hundred thousand he made anon to rise.   

With Jeroboam he cast him for to meet,  
And all at ones set in jeopardy:  
But Sameas the prophet bade him let,  
And fro the war withdraw his party.  
And more the quarrel for to justify,  
Of his people's froward departing,  
It was gods will done for a punishing.   

Touching the surplus of his governance,  
His royal building of many a fair city,  
His great rich famous suffisance,  
Of wine and oil having great plenty,  
And how his empire increased years three,  
Eke how that time he rightful was in deed,  
In Josephus his story ye may read.   

Of his children borne in right line,  
eighteen wives (as made is mention)  
I find he had, and many a concubine:  
Sons and daughters by procreation,  
And how his riches and great possession,  
That time increased as it is well know,  
To god above while that he bore him low.   

But as mine author maketh rehearsaile,  
In his increase and augmentation,  
meekness in heart in him 'gan waste and fail,  
And pride entered with false presumption,  
Virtue despising and all religion,  
After whose vices as saith the same book,  
Wicked examples of him the people took.   

After the manners where they be good or ill,  
Used of princes in divers regions,  
The people is ready to use and fulfil,  
Fully the traces of their conditions:  
For lords may in their subjections,  
So as them list who so can take heed,  
To vice or virtue their subjects lead.   

Thus Roboam for his transgressions  
In Josephus as it is devised,  
And for his froward false opinions,  
Only for he all virtue hath despised,  
Of God he was rightfully chastised,  
In Jerusalem his chief royal town,  
Of his enemies besieged enuyroun.   

The king of Egypt a siege about him laid,  
With so great people that succour was there none:  
All be it so that Roboam abrayed,  
And prayed to god to deliver him from his sone  
To avoid of mercy his enemies everichove  
But god list not grant his prayer,  
But him chastised like as ye shall here.   

first his city and his royal town  
Delivered was, he knew no better succour,  
Under a feigned false composicioun:  
For at their entering void of all favour,  
Keeping no covenant took all the treasure  
Within the temple, having no pity,  
But lad it home to Egypt their country.   

And to rehearse it is a great dole,  
How Roboam as Josephus doth declare,  
Was inly proud and therewithal a foul,  
And of all wisdom destitute and bare,  
Vnmerciable his people for to spare,  
Hating good counsel, and so in his regaly,  
Reigning a fool, and so I let him die.   

¶ Envoy.  

Philosopher's conclude and devise,  
In their books of good experience,  
That counsellors, sad, expert, and wise,  
True of their word, stable of their sentence,  
Hasty nor reckless for no violence,  
Keep and preserve (the troth I dare attame)  
Noblesse of princes fro mischief and diffame.   

Hasty youth and rancour in contrariwise,  
Which have to will all their advertence,  
Except themselves all other men despise  
Through their unbridled furious insolence,  
Nothing acquainted with wisdom nor prudence,  
Bring ayenward whereof they be to blame,  
Putting his nobles in mischief and diffame.   

King Roboam against right and justice,  
To young fools gave faith and most credence  
Cruelly his subjects to chastise:  
Which put his people from his benevolence,  
Threw ten kindreds from his obedience,  
Which was to him by record full great shame  
Putting his nobles in mischief and diffame.   

Noble princes do wisely advertise  
In persevering of your magnificence,  
Of old expert, not blended with covetise,  
Take your counsel and do them reverence,  
Eyed as Argus in their high providence,  
Which conserve by report of good name,  
Noblesse of princes from mischief & diffame.     

¶ The iii Chapter.  
☞ The office and retinue of a King.  

What earthly thing is more deceivable  
Then of princes the pomp & vainglory▪  
Which ween to stand in their estates stable,  
As they the world had conquered by victory,  
And suddenly be put out of memory,  
Their fame clouded, alas, and their nobles  
With a dark shadow of foryetfulnes.   

Whereof cometh the famous clear shining  
Of emperors in their consistories?  
Or whereof cometh their laud in reporting,  
Save that clarks have written their histories.  
Or where be now conquests transitories,  
Or their triumphs where should men them find  
Nad writers their prows put in mind.   

reckon up all, and first the worthy nine,  
In high nobles which had never peers,  
The martial acts which clearly did shine,  
Their fame up borne, above all the nine sters  
With loud sounds of famous clarioners,  
Their glorious palms if they be well poised,  
By low labours of commons was first raised   

Make a likeness of these great images,  
Curiously corue out by entail,  
Head, arms, body, and their fresh visages,  
Without feet or legs may not avail,  
To stand upright, or needs they must fail:  
And semblably, subjects in commontees,  
Raise up the nobles of princes in their sees.   

As head and membres in images be of stone,  
Other on stock by compass undivided,  
And by proportion their features everichone,  
Set in true order as nature hath provided:  
So that all errors through craft be circumcided  
The head highest by custom as men know,  
The body amid, the feet beneath low.   

Mighty princes for their high renown,  
As most worthy shall occupy the head,  
With wit, memory, and eyen of reason,  
To keep their membres from mischief & dread,  
Like their degrees take of them good heed,  
With clear foresight of a prudent thought,  
Their feet preserve that they err nought.   

There must be hands and arms of defence,  
Which shall the image manly keep and gye  
From all assaults of foreign violence,  
Which shallbe named noblest of chivalry:  
Their true office justly to magnify,  
Sustain the church, & make themself strong  
To see the widows & maidens have no wrong.   

Prudent judges as it is skill and right,  
To punish wrong & surfeits to redress  
In this image shall occupy the sight:  
For love or hate by doom of rightwiseness,  
For friend or foe, his judgements dress,  
So equally the laws to sustain,  
In their works that none error be sayen.   

Amid this image there is a body set,  
a aggregate of people and degrees,  
By perfit peace and unity yknet,  
By the estates that govern commonties:  
As mayors, provosts, and burgeis in cities,  
Merchants also which seek sundry lands  
With other crafts which live by their hands.   

And as a body which stant in health,  
feeleth no grief of no froward humours,  
So every commonty continueth in great wealth  
Which is demeaned with prudent governors  
That can appease debates and errors,  
The people keep from all controversy,  
Causing the welfare to increase & multiply.   

This body must have a soul of life,  
To quick the membres with ghostly motions:  
Which shallbe made of folk contemplative,  
The church committed to their possessions.  
Which by their holy conversations,  
And good example should as stars shine,  
By grace and virtue the people tenlumyne.   

Upon the light of their conditions,  
Of this body dependeth the welfare:  
For in their teaching and predications  
They should troth to high & low declare.  
And in their office for no dread ne spare  
Vices correct like as they are hold,  
sith they been heerdes of Christ's fold.   

Following upon, of intent full clean  
Labourers as ye have heard devised,  
Shall this body bear up and sustain,  
As feet & legs which may not be despised:  
For true labour is justly authorized.  
And ne were the plough upholden by travail.  
Of kings, & princes, farewell all governail.   

Thus first, if princes governed be by right,  
And knights suffer the people to have no wrong,  
And troth in judges show out his light,  
And forth in cities which love he draw a long,  
And holy church in virtue be made strong,  
And in his labour the plough ne fail nought,  
Than by proportion this image is wrought.   

This matter hole for to exemplyfy,  
King Roboam for a false oppression,  
And for his wilful froward tyranny,  
Lost a great party of his region:  
Wherefore let princes considre of reason,  
God set the people for lords advantage,  
And not to be oppressed with servage.   

Upon some princes Bochas doth complain,  
Such as have a custom and manner  
Again their subjects ungodly to disdain,  
And of pride to show them froward cheer,  
counseleth them to remember and lere,  
As this chapter doth finally devise,  
first out of labour all lordship did arise.    

The four Chapter.  
How Mucius Scevola slough an innocent in stead of king Porcenna, that laid siege to Rome.  

When king Porcenna with his chivalry  
Again Romans a were first began,  
The town besieging on each party  
With great puissance brought out of Tus●an,  
In the city there was a knightly man,  
Mucius Scevola, which cast in their distress,  
To break the siege through his high prows.   

Let arm himself clean in plate & mail,  
For commune profit to advance his courage,  
King Porcenna proudly to assail:  
A time provided to his advantage,  
Through the siege to make his passage,  
And finally at his in coming,  
Jeoparte his person for to slay the king.   

But like as telleth us Tytus Livius,  
Where Porcenna sat in his royal see,  
This senator, this manly Mucius  
Saw a prince of great authority,  
The king resembling, clad in one liveree:  
Atwene dece●nyng no manner variance,  
Slough that prince of very ignorance.   

But when he knew that he did fail  
To slay Procenna enemy to the town,  
And saw he had lost all his travail,  
He made a pitouse lamentation,  
Because he did execution  
Of ignorance again his own intent,  
To spare a tyrant, and slay an innocent.   

For which he was with himself full worth,  
That he was found so negligent in deed:  
And with his hand unto a fire he goth,  
Made it brenne bright as any gleed,  
Both nerfe & bone and his flesh to shed,  
His hand consuming on pieces, here & yondre,  
And from his arm made it part a sondre.   

And as the story declareth unto us,  
This manly man this noble senator,  
Afore time was called Mucius,  
Which for the common profit did great labour:  
And for the uncouth hasty fell rigour,  
Done to himself, the Romans all  
Scevola they did him after call.   

As much to say by language of that land,  
Who take a right the exposition,  
As a man which is without an hand:  
And after him by succession,  
All his offspring borne in the town,  
In remembrance for to increase his fame,  
Of Scevola bore after him the name.   

By this example and many other more,  
If men list her corrages to awake,  
They should see what peril & what woe  
For common profit men have undertake:  
And whilom Brutus for Lucrecis sake  
Tarquin chased for his transgression,  
And kings all out of Rome town.   

Touching Lucrece example of wifely troth,  
How young Tarquin her falsely did oppress,  
And after the which was to great a routh,  
How she herself slough for heaviness,  
It needeth not rehearse the process:  
Sith y● Chaucer chief poet of Bretaine,  
Wrote of her life a legend sovereign.   

rehearsing there among other things  
Each circumstance and each occasion,  
Why Romans exiled first their kings,  
Never to reign after in their town.  
As old chronicles make mention:  
Remembering also the unkind great outrage,  
By Aeneas done to Dido of Cartage.   

Eke other stories which he wrote in his live  
Full notably with every circumstance:  
And their fates piteously did descrive,  
Like as they fill, put them in remembrance.  
Wherefore if I should my pen advance,  
After his making to put them in memory,  
Men would dame it presumption & vein glory.   

For as a star in presence of the sun,  
Lesyth his freshness & his clear light:  
So my rudeness under skies dun,  
Dareth full low and hath lost his sight,  
To be compared again the beams bright  
Of this poet, wherefore it were but vain,  
Thing said by him to write it new again.    

☞ The .v. Chapter.  
¶ How Lucrece oppressed by Tarquin slough herself.  

BUT at Lucrece stint I will a while,  
It were pity her story for to hide,  
Or sloth the pen of my rude style,  
But for her sake all matters set a side:  
Also my lord bade I should abide,  
By good avice at leisure to translate,  
The doleful process of her pitouse fate.   

Following the traces of Collucius,  
Which wrote of her a declamation,  
Most lamentable, most doleful, & most piteous,  
Where he discriveth the dolorous treason,  
Of her constrained false oppression:  
Wrought & compassed, by unware violence,  
The light untroubled of her clear conscience.   

Her father whilom called Spurius  
Her worthy husband named Collatyn,  
Which by the luxury & treason odious  
And vicious outrage of Sextus proud Tarquin,  
Oppressed was & brought to her fine,  
Whose deadly sorrow in english for to make,  
Of pitouse ruth my pen I feel quake.   

This said Tarquin this evil avised knight,  
This slandered man most hateful for his deed,  
Came like a thief alas upon a night,  
With naked sword when no man took heed,  
Upon Lucrece she quaking in her dread,  
Lying a bed far from her folks all,  
And knew no refuge, for help for to call.   

He manasing in his froward intent,  
On her beholding with a furious cheer,  
That with his sword but she would assent,  
Her and a boy he would preint yfere.  
Such one as was most ugly of manner  
Most unlikely of person and of fame,  
Thus he her thrat for to slander her name.   

But his intent when she did feel,  
And saw no mean of her woeful chance,  
The morrow after she list nothing conceal,  
Told her husband holy the governance,  
Him requiring for to do vengeance  
Upon this crime, said like a true wife,  
She would her heart pierce with knife.   

In this matter this was her fantasy,  
Better was to die than to live in shame:  
And lass ill to put in jeopardy  
Her mortal body, than her good fame.  
When honour dieth farewell a man's name.  
Better it were out of this life deceiver,  
Than slanderous fame to slay a man for ever.   

But to that purpose her husband said nay,  
Her father also was thereto contrary:  
Making a promise without more delay,  
To do vengeance how they will not tarry.  
To her declaring with reasons debonary,  
Under these words troth & right conserved,  
To slay herself she hath nothing deserved.   

For suddenly and also unadvised  
As a fool is trapped in the snare,  
By unware fraud upon the practised,  
Thou were deceived plainly to declare:  
Having this conceit, hard is to repair  
The name of them which falsely be defamed,  
When wrong report y● renome hath shamed.   

Touching thy person I dare affirm & said,  
That it were a manner impossible,  
And like a thing which never yet was seen,  
That thy worship was found corruptible.  
But steadfast aye and indivysible,  
Unparted, virtuous, and made strong,  
And now desirous to avenge thy wrong.   

On thy injury we shall avenged be,  
Considered first the deadly heaviness,  
Which thou sufferedest by great adversity,  
When the avoutrour thy beauty did oppress:  
And rejoicing by a false gladness,  
Maugre thy will as a thief by night,  
The encumbered of very force & might.   

But if thou wouldest leave all thy mourning,  
And restrain thy unportable woe,  
Soon shouldest thou se an equal punishing  
Upon thy most froward mortal foe:  
To warn all other they shall no more do so,  
In chastising of false adultery,  
The and thy renome of right to magnify.   

What was diffasing to thy true intent,  
Though his youth unbridled went at large?  
So for to aforce a silly innocent,  
Whose wickedness ought to bear the charge.  
And we of right thy conscience discharge  
The joy unleeful of his false pleasance,  
With double palm thine honour doth advance.   

Conceive and see, O thou mine Lucrece,  
How that reason and good discretion,  
Should thy trouble & thy mourning cece  
Of right, restrain thy opinion,  
So recklessly to do punition  
With knife in hand, to slay thyself, alas  
For others guilt and didst no trespass.   

Let be Lucrece, let be all thy dole,  
Cease thy complaint & thy woe restrain,  
Should I fro the live alone all sole,  
And thy death perpetually complain▪  
To put thy father in importable pain:  
Of our welfare be not so reckless,  
To die and leave our children motherless.   

Of prudence eke thou oughtest for to se  
And advertise only of reason,  
Though of force thy body corrupt be,  
Thy soul inward and thine entention  
Fraunchysed been from all corruption:  
Offence is none, consider in thine intent,  
But will & heart give thereto full consent.   

Thou were naked in thy bed, dying  
Alone, unware, sleeping & void of might,  
Suspeciouslesse all of his coming,  
That time namely because that it was night:  
A fearful woman, & he a manly knight,  
All be it so unknightly was his deed,  
With naked sword to assail thy womanhood.   

He might thy body by force well oppress,  
By sleighty ways that he had sought:  
But we'll wot I for all his sturdiness,  
He might never have mastery of thy thought.  
The body yielded the heart yielded him nought.  
Ye were twain, thou feeble & he right strong,  
Thy troth afforced, he worker of the wrong.   

Where mightest thou have greater price or laud  
All right considered, troth & equity?  
first counterpeysed his force & sleighty fraud,  
Than to persever in feminite,  
With thought enhanced & infragilitie  
Of womanhood, to have an heart stable,  
What thige in the might be more commedable:   

It is well know thou were of heart aye one,  
To all false lusts contrary in governance:  
More like an image kerued out of stone,  
Than like a woman fleshly of pleasance  
The tyrant found thee in cheer & countenance.  
Which ever after by womanly victory,  
shallbe ascrived to thine increase of glory.   

Thy father Brutus hath the well excused,  
Myself also, thy blood and thy kindred:  
On this matter let no more be mused,  
To slay thyself or do thy sides bleed.  
Certes Lucrece thou hast full little need,  
It were great wrong by all our judgement,  
To spare a tyrant and slay an innocent.   

Thy life to murder to some it would seem  
Thou were guilty, where as thou art clean:  
divers wits diversly will dame,  
Report thing thou none didst mean.  
For which thou shalt patiently sustain,  
Till thy chaste wifely innocence  
May see him punished for his violence.   

folk will not dame a person innocent,  
Which wilfully when he is not cuipable,  
Yieldeth himself to death by judgement,  
And never was afore of no gyit partable:  
His own doom upon himself vengeable,  
Causeth people, though their report be nought,  
To dame a thing that never was ywrought.   

To be avenged upon thine own life  
In excusing of thy deadly fame,  
To show thou art a true wedded wife,  
weening by death to get the a name,  
In this devise thou art greatly to blame:  
Where thou yet knowest thy honour clearly shine,  
To give the people matter to divine.   

And with that word Lucrece did abraid,  
Full deadly both of look and cheer,  
To them again even thus she said:  
Let be husband, let be my father dear,  
Speke no more to me of this matter,  
Lest men dempt in hindering of my name,  
Idred death more than false diffame,   

Your counsel is I shall my life conserve,  
To sorrow and slander, but no gladness:  
But less ill it is at an hour to starve,  
Than ever languish in sorrow & heaviness.  
Death maketh an end of all worldly distress,  
And it was said sith full yore ago,  
Better is to die than ever to live in wo.   

When that worship in any creature  
Is stain and deed by slaundrous report,  
Better is of death the dreadful pain endure,  
Than by false noise aye to live in discomfort:  
Where new & new diffame hath his resort,  
Never dieth but quickeneth by y● outrage,  
Of hateful tongues & venomous language.   

Do your devoir to hallow & make stable,  
The chaste chambres of wifely governance:  
For in this case if ye be variable,  
On false adultery for to do vengeance,  
There shall follow everlasting remembrance  
How true spousaile as ye have heard devised  
In your city is broke & not chastifed.   

If ye be found in such a case negligent  
To punish adultery of right as your charge:  
Through your sloth as ye were of assent,  
Luxury vubridled shall ren abroad at large,  
Who shall than your conscience discharge,  
Or what woman stand in sickernes,  
Of Lucrece afforced the cleanness?   

O dear husband what joy should it be  
To thine estate in any manner place,  
Like as thy wife to cherish me  
Or in thine arms me goodly to embrace?  
The gilt horrible considered & trespass,  
By Tarquyn don alas, and wellaway,  
Which i my person may never be waist away.   

And father mine how shouldest thou me call  
After this day thine own daughter dear;  
Which alas refuse of women all  
That to thy pleasance was whilom most enter,  
Within thy house when I did lere,  
By clear example of manifold doctrine,  
All that pertained to virtuous discipline,   

Which I have lost now in my days old,  
despaired it to recure again.  
Mine own children I dare not the behold,  
Because the womb in that they have lain,  
Diffouled is, and pollute in certain:  
Which was tofore in chastity conserved,  
Chastise the avoutrer as he hath deserved.   

And for my part, to speak in words few,  
Longer to live I have no fantasy,  
For where should I out my face show,  
Or dare appear in any company,  
Sith a dark spot of false adultery,  
Shall evermore whether it be false or true,  
In to mine hindering the slander to renew:   

Lust afforced hath a false appetite  
Offrelte, included in nature:  
Maugre the will there followeth a delight  
As some folks say, in every creature,  
Good fame lost full hard is to recure.  
And sith I may my harms not redress,  
To you in open my gilt I will confess.   

All be I was again my will oppressed,  
There was a manner constrained lust in deed,  
Which for no power might not be redressed,  
For feebleness I stand in so great dread,  
For which offence death shallbe my meed:  
Sith liefer I have with some edge toll  
To slay myself, than live in slander & dole.   

O father mine spare and have pity,  
And dear husband rue on mine offence,  
Gods & goddesses called of chastity,  
To my trespass grant an indulgence:  
For of my guilt to make a recompense,  
Where that Venus' gate in me a vantage,  
Death shall redress & chastise mine outrage.   

For if I should make a delay  
To pierce my breast with sharpness of a knife,  
Men would dame and say fro day to day,  
To make my slander more open & more rife,  
How that I was more tender of my life,  
Than of my worship, which is to great a shame,  
To love my life more than my good name.   

In this matter no witness is so good,  
To put away all false suspection,  
As with a knife to shed my heart blood,  
I might not make a better purgation,  
To all folk that have discretion,  
Than finally by my death to excuse,  
The guilt horrible of which men me accuse.   

Go forth my soul pure and immortal,  
Chief witness of mine innocence,  
Tofore though judges which been infernal  
first Minos king to dame my conscience,  
With Radamanthus to give a sentence  
Like my deserts that it might be seen,  
In wifely troth how that I was clean.   

Thou earthly body which through thy fairness  
Were to adultery full great occasion,  
Of thy blood shed out the redness,  
And by thy sides let it rail down:  
Steer and exite the people of this town,  
To do their devoir within a little while,  
For love of Tarquyn all kings to exile.   

And first I pray my husband most enter,  
Of this vengeance to make no delay:  
With help and succour of my father dear,  
To punish the avoutrer in all haste ye may.  
Let him take his wages and his pay  
Like as ye see, & plainly now conceive,  
For his offence the death I do receive.   

And suddenly or they might advert  
She took a knife, and with great violence  
Through the breast even to the heart  
She made it glide, there was no resistance:  
Full pale & deed fell down in their presence,  
And by occasion of this piteous deed,  
Tarquyn exiled and holy his kindred.   

For which cause by record of writing,  
Was there never in Rome the cite  
After that day no man crowned king,  
As in chronicles ye may behold and see:  
Thus for luxury, and their cruelty,  
Their tyranny, and false extortion,  
They were exiled out of Rome town.    

The vi Chapter.  
¶ How Rome was after governed, and Virginea by her father slain.  

Governed after by other officers  
As is remembered in Titus Livius,  
Called Decemuiri of divers chroniclers:  
Among which there was one Appius  
A Judge untrue, proud, & luxurious,  
Which through the city the story beareth witness,  
Behated was for his great falseness.   

And once it fill as he cast his look  
Upon a maid most inly fair of sight,  
A false desire within his heart he took  
Her to dysuse, again all skill and right:  
And she was daughter to a worthy knight,  
Full manly found in his deeds all,  
And Vyrginius the Romans did him call.   

Whose goodly daughter the story doth us lere,  
Was after him for his noble fame,  
Virginia called most goodly and enter,  
And for this cause she bore the same name.  
But Appius to greatly was to blame,  
Which hath conspired through his great falseness  
If that he might, her beauty to oppress.   

This judge untrue both in thought & deed,  
Of law unrightful, sought out occasion,  
Made a sergiaunt of his to proceed  
Again this maid to take an action,  
Claimed her his servant by false collusion:  
And this done was by Appius, of intent,  
That he on her might give a judgement.   

And by this mean in his false delight,  
Thought he might her beauty best disuse,  
So to accomplish his fleshly appetite,  
She being feeble the action to refuse:  
Whereupon her father 'gan to muse,  
Fully conceived of Appius the manner,  
In her defence wrought as ye shall here.   

When Appius had yeven his judgement  
Again this maid which afore him stood,  
Her manly father most knighty of intent  
Took her apart as he thought it good,  
And with a knife shed her heart blood:  
Dempt it better to slay her in cleanness,  
Than the tyrant her beauty should oppress.   

Thus hole conserved was her virginity,  
And undefouled was her maidenhead:  
For Vyrgynius to keep her honest,  
Spared nothing to make her sides bleed.  
But Appius for this horrible deed,  
And Decemuiri through his unhappy chance  
Had in that city never after governance.   

As the story also maketh mention,  
Appius ashamed of this deed,  
Slough himself fettered in prison,  
Of a false judge lo here the final meed.  
And though Tribuni in Rome 'gan succeed,  
between right and wrong truly to discern,  
And roman laws justly to govern.   

Men may here see as in a mirror clear,  
Estates changed for their great offences:  
And by some poor person singulere  
Princes put down from their magnificences,  
Which not considered in their great excellences,  
How god ordaineth his yard in sundry wise,  
The poor sunwhile the pompous to chastise.   

Here on to show example anon right,  
Marked in story for a notable thing,  
Pausanias of Grece a manly knight,  
Of Macedony slough Philip the King:  
At a table where he was sitting  
Atwene Alexandre and Olympiad's,  
His wrong to avenge amids all the prees.   

Eke Salmator a knight of low degree  
For wrongs done in especial  
Of manly force grounded on equity  
Slough of Cartage the Prince Hasdrubal  
Which brother was unto duke Hannibal,  
Beside a river as they met in battle,  
Called Metaure which runneth in Itaile.   

Wherefore ye princes if ye list long endure  
Be right well ware be ye never so strong,  
In your lordships not to much assure,  
Or of surquedy the porail to do wrong.  
In your discretion conceiving ever among,  
Greatest dread is that may your state assays,  
When subjection doth the people fail.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy declareth in party  
What mischief followeth of extortion,  
Eke of spousbrech and of adultery,  
By Tarquyn dove through false extortion,  
Unto Lucrece within Rome town:  
Kings exiled for such misgovernayle,  
And false outrages done to the porail.   

Eke Appius of wilful tyranny  
Again Virginia took an action,  
Through a false lust of froward lechery,  
Blent and far darked his memory & reason:  
Which was chief cause and occasion  
Why the estate of dizhom did fail,  
Through false outrage done to the porail.   

King Philip lost sceptre and regally,  
Of Macedon the famous region:  
unwarely slain amid his chivalry,  
Sitting at the table with in his chief dungeon.  
And greatest cause of his falling down,  
Was when fortune his pride did assail,  
For false outrages done to the porail.   

Duke Hasdrubal whom books magnify  
Up to the heaven for his high renown,  
Whose triumphs reached up to the sky,  
And had all Cartage in his subjection:  
Yet was he slain unwarely by treason,  
By a servant, lo what it doth avail  
Treason purposed afore in the porail.   

Noble princes your reason do apply  
Which over the people have domination,  
So prudently to govern them and gye,  
That love and dread by true affection,  
Preserve their hearts from false rebellion's  
sith to you nothing may more prevail,  
Than true subjection expert in porayle.     

The vii Chapter.  
❧ How Jeroboham king of Israel for Idolatry & disobedience came to a mischievous end.  

next these stories in Bochas as I find,  
There did appear unto his presence,  
Kings six, him praying to have mind  
Upon their fall by unware violence,  
From their estates of royal excellence.  
And to fore all I find that there came,  
Of all Israel king Jeroboam.   

Unto mine author he 'gan to declare,  
His deadly complaint with a pale face:  
His great mischiefs and his evil fare,  
And how he fell down from his kingly place,  
Through unhaps which did him embrace,  
And as this story plainly hath devised,  
For his offences how he was chastised.   

An Idolater he was as it is told,  
raised up auters of very force & might,  
Set thereupon two calves of pure gold,  
Did them worship again all skill & right:  
Gave evil example in the people's sight,  
When he did with fumes and incense,  
To false idols undue reverence.   

Fro the temple he made the people gone,  
Priests ordained after his own gise,  
Forsook the tribe of Levy and Aaron,  
And upon Bethel his offering 'gan devise:  
And while he did unleeful sacrifice,  
God that well knew of him the false intent,  
From Jerusalem a prophet to him sent.   

Which him rebuked of his misgovernance,  
And 'gan the parels to him specify:  
Told him afore for to do vengeance,  
Of David king there should come one Josye,  
Which should his priests that falsely could lie,  
Manly destroy & slay them all at ones,  
And into ashes bren them flesh & bones.   

And in token of their destruction,  
The prophet told among them all,  
How his auters should bow down,  
And his idols from their stage fall.  
Whom that fools their gods falsely call  
Which have no power to help in no manner,  
For they may neither see, feel, nor here.   

After this prophet Jadan had told  
These said signs plainly to the king,  
His altar fell on pieces many fold:  
And overturned backward his offering:  
For which the king furiously looking,  
Put forth his hand the story maketh mind  
Bad his men the prophet take and bind.   

And as he his arm reached out on length  
Had no power it to withdraw again,  
Wext unwieldy, contract, & lost his strength,  
And when the king these tokens hath say▪  
And how the prophet spoke no word in vain  
Greatly astonied coude say no more,  
But prayed Jadan his arm to restore.   

And by his prayer and mediation  
Of his arm, after this vengeance,  
There was anon made restitution,  
And of his pain feeleth aleyaunce.  
For which the king with full great instant  
Required him to be so gracious,  
That day to abide and dine in his house.   

But the prophet would not assent  
Nouther with him to eat nor to drink:  
Took his ass and forth anon he went,  
On whose departing the king 'gan sore think  
And fantasies 'gan in his heart sink,  
Specially when he took heed,  
Of all these tokens how they were true in deed.   

God ●ad Jadan in this great emprise  
To Jeroboham first when he was sent,  
Eat nor drink in no manner wise,  
In that city, while he was present:  
But another prophet of intent  
Full old and slygh on that other side,  
Compelled hath this Jadan to abide.   

Him aforsing by false collusion  
To resort again unto the city:  
And to make no contradiction  
With him to dine of fraternity,  
To him affirming it may none other be,  
For god sent him as to his friend & brother,  
To abide with him & plainly with none other.   

Of frendlyhede and true affection  
Within his house to show his presence,  
For a repast and refection  
This is god's will and fully his sentence,  
To whose words the prophet gave credence,  
And as they sat at dinner both in fere,  
God unto Jadan said in this manner.   

For the breaking of my commandment,  
Thy great offence & thy transgression,  
That thou hast be so wilful negligent,  
Thou shalt endure this punition:  
Be all to torn and rend of a lion,  
And in thy country thou shalt not recure,  
With prophets to have thy sepulture.   

Of which thing this Jadan nothing fain,  
'Gan to depart with full heavy thought:  
Of a lion amid of the way slain,  
But his ass harmed was right nought.  
A full great marvel if it be well sought,  
The lion sitting as in their diffence,  
And kept them both from all violence.   

All these tokens might not convert  
Jeroboam fro his iniquity,  
God's warning him list not to advert,  
Nor by his prophet corrected for to be.  
Wherefore god would that he should see  
Vengeance follow as it did in deed,  
Both upon him and his kindred.   

A son he had which fell in great sickness,  
Called Abia the book doth specify,  
For which the king bade the queen her dress,  
To go disguised without company,  
Unto a prophet which called was Achy.  
Him to require truly for to say  
Whether the child should live or dey.   

And in his inward sight contemplatife,  
God showed him by clear inspection,  
Of Jeroboam how she was the wife,  
For all her sleighty transformation:  
For neither fallas nor false deception  
May be of god but it be perceived,  
For he ●e his prophets may not be deceived.   

She came to him in strange weed,  
At the entering he called her by her name:  
Come forth (quoth he) for it is no need  
To hide thyself as it were for shame.  
For the troth truly to attame,  
God hath yeven me fully knowledging,  
What thou shalt answer & say to the king.   

Say plainly to him, & mark in thy thought,  
In thy repair these words rehearsing:  
sith god hath made thee & raised up of nought  
From a servant to reign as a king,  
Fro David's kin most worthy reigning,  
Parted the kingdom & yeven it unto thee,  
And thou unkind thereof canst nothing see,   

His great goodness is out of remembrance,  
Fully forgotten of thy froward pride,  
In false gods put thine affiance  
God above falsely set aside,  
Wherefore from the anon he shall divide,  
The kingdom hole without more delay,  
And fro thy line the crown take away.   

And for thou hast to thy confusion  
Thy faith unfaithful to false gods take,  
Wrongly refused thy religion  
Of god above, and plainly him forsake,  
This is the end which that thou shalt make:  
Thee and thy kin no man may succour,  
Flesh, skin, & bone, hounds shall devour.   

And at thy entering home to the cite,  
Thy son & his thou shalt find him deed:  
Of all his kin though there were none but he  
Found very good, take thereof good heed.  
Of which answer the queen fill in great dread  
Entering the city in especial,  
Her child was deed & lay cold by the wall.   

Of this warning the king took none heed,  
But made him ready with full great aparayle,  
Forty thousand with him he did lead,  
Of manly men armed in plate and mail,  
With king Abias' for to have a battle.  
The which Abias' that was of Juda king,  
Unto his people said at their meeting:   

O noble knights have one thing in memory,  
No man venquisheth platly to conclude  
With great people, nor getteth victory  
With numbers heaped nor great multitude:  
False idolaters god will them delude.  
Not suffer his servants that been true & sad,  
Of miscreants to be overlad.   

Triumph is none found of new or old,  
In these Idols of stone nor silver sheen,  
Nor in Calves of metal made, or gold,  
give to that party which untruly mean.  
And sith that god knoweth our quarrel clean,  
There is no hope, force none nor might,  
With them y● ground their cause against right   

Hope of victory standeth upon right wiseness,  
Of them that cast their sinful life to amend:  
And list forsake wrong and all falseness,  
And with hole heart unto the lord intend,  
Which shall this day his grace to you send,  
Our true cause truly to termine.  
And thus Abias' 'gan his tale fine.   

His priests 'gan their trumps for to blow,  
And king Abias' through his high renown,  
Gave to his people both to high and low  
Full manly comfort and consolation,  
And thirty thousand by computation  
Were slain the day which full proudly came,  
Upon the party of king Jeroboam.   

And all the party of Jeroboam,  
And all that were of his line borne,  
After this battle unto mischief came,  
When they were slain with hounds all to torn  
As the prophet had them told before:  
But for the king took thereof no heed,  
With sudden vengeance god quit his meed.    

¶ The viii Chapter.  
How zaras king of ethiop was slain in battle.  

AFter him to Bochas did appear  
Next in ordre plainly as I find,  
One zaras with a sorrowful cheer,  
And he was king of ethiop and Jude:  
Whose eyen were almost which weeping blind,  
praying mine author his unhappy chance,  
With other woeful to put in remembrance.   

And that he would record by scripture  
His sudden fall and dolorous distress,  
And his diffamous hateful discomfiture,  
With the dispoyling of his great richesses:  
And how king Asaph through his high nobles,  
And his people as he did them assail,  
Hath him venquished & slain in battle.    

The ix Chapter.  
How Adab king of Jerusalem lost sceptre and crown.  

OF Israel than came the wooful● king,  
Called Adab full piteously weeping,  
Unto Bocas his complaint rehearsing:  
How king Basa by subtle false working,  
With slaughter caused his falling,  
When fortune 'gan falsely frown,  
And took unjustly from him sceptre & crown.    

The ten Chapter.  
¶ How the vengeable prince zambrias set a tour on fire and brent himself.  

NExt came zambrias a prince vengeable,  
Which slough king Helam by false treason,  
That was found also full unstable:  
For this zambrias of entention,  
Hath murdered him within the chief dungeon,  
Of his castle with a full great rout,  
As he unwarely laid a siege about.   

But Amarin a prince of full great might,  
Came in to Tharse a famous great city,  
And cast him plainly like a worthy knight,  
On this zambrias avenged for to be,  
Him to destroy without mercy or pity:  
But in a tour as zambrias went,  
Set it a fire and so himself brent.    

☞ The xi Chapter.  
Of king Achab and Jezabel his wife.  

WIth sighs sore & wepig importable  
Came king Achab unto Bochas,  
Whose hertelie sorrow was incomparable,  
And complaining full oft said alas:  
beseeching him to write his woeful case,  
Compile his falling and the fate yfere,  
Of Athalia his own daughter dear.   

To god above most contrarious  
This Achab was in all his governance,  
And had a wife cruel and lecherous,  
Called Jesabel, which set all her pleasance  
On god's prophets for to do vengeance.  
In the bible their malice men may see,  
And Idolaters they were both he and she.   

God for their trespasses as it was well sayn,  
Afore showed by true prophecy,  
Sent three year neither dew ne rain  
Upon the earth their grain to multiply:  
Till eft again by prayer of Helye,  
Wholesome waters from heaven 'gan descend,  
Which gave them cause their life to amend.   

But his wife that cursed Jesabel,  
To each thing hateful which was divine,  
An hundred prophets she slough in Israel,  
Unto Baal for they would not incline:  
And she also slough Naboth for his vine,  
Through whose outrage & false oppression,  
Achab was brought to his confusion.   

Of his enemies outrayed in battle,  
With a sharp a-row caught his fatal wound,  
Tyi all his blood by bleeding did fail,  
About his char with many drops round:  
That the words were full true found  
Of Helias, which told him as it stood,  
That hungry hounds should lick his blood.   

In a city than called Israel  
Down from a tour joined to a wall,  
The said queen called Jesabel,  
Was over cast & had a deadly fall:  
Touching these mischiefs for she was cause of all,  
Beware ye princess remembering all your lives,  
To eschew false counsel yeven by your wives.    

☞ The xii Chapter.  
¶ How queen Athalia for her tyranny was slain.  

NExt to Achab in order did sue,  
Athalia with doleful countenance  
Bocas beseeching, as him thought due  
Her sudden fall to put in remembrance.  
Sours & chief rote of sorrow & mischance.  
Is usurpation and false covetise,  
Like as her story hereafter shall devise.   

She was upreised by favour in three things,  
For father, brother, & also her husband  
Were in her time eachone crowned kings,  
With sceptre & sword as ye shall understand.  
Many emprises in their days took on hand,  
And how fortune their highness did assail,  
I cast shortly to make rehearsal.   

She fell of fortune in the unhappy bounds,  
first when her father was with an a-row deed,  
His blood uplicked with cruel hungry hounds,  
About his char running down full read:  
His body pale lay who that took heed,  
Like a carreyne naked and despoiled,  
With foul black earth amid the field ysoyled.   

Cause of another unhappy heaviness  
And of her deadly desolation,  
Was the people felly did them dress  
Of araby in their rebellion,  
Again her husband, of entention  
To rob his treasure to their advantage,  
And take his richesses by outrageous pillage.   

Some of his meinie they put in prison,  
There was against them made no defence:  
Spared neither city, borough, ne town,  
Slough man & child through sturdy violence:  
Her lord infect with sudden pestilence,  
conceived fully by his malady,  
There was no gain but he must need die.   

After his death most wretched & audible,  
His body corrupt, his bowels fell down:  
Of his carrion the stench was so horrible  
The air infect about him environ,  
With so great horror and putrefaction,  
That no man might abide nor endure,  
To bring his body unto sepulture.   

Her third unhap whereof she was full fain,  
That fortune list her eft assail,  
Made her uncle king Joram to be slain  
With an a-row, as he fled in battle:  
She supposing greatly it should avail,  
Like a woman most furious & wode,  
She of king David slough all the rial blood.   

Her purpose was to govern all the realm  
Alone herself to have domination,  
To reign in Juda and Jerusalem  
This Athalia by usurpation:  
And for that cause in her entention,  
With mortal sword she made tho fine  
That were descended from David down by line.   

Except one Joas she left not one a live.  
Child of a year, son of king Och●sy,  
Whom Josaketh the story do the disctive  
Of very pity caught a fantasy  
The child to save that he shall not die,  
From the malice of Athalia  
And she was wife to bishop Joiada.   

She & this bishop with hole heart & enter,  
Kept this child in full secret wise,  
Within the temple the space of seven year:  
And in the seventh the story doth devise,  
Joiada took on him this emprise,  
Young Joas upon a certain day,  
By just title to crown him if he may.   

His messengers he sendeth out anon,  
Of princes, tribunes, 'gan a counsel call,  
Of priests eke and levites everichone:  
And when he had discured to them all  
Hole his intent, thus it is befall  
Sworn and assented as it was sitting,  
That young Joas shallbe crowned king.   

For by promise which y● is divine  
(Quod Joiada) if ye take heed,  
God hath behested to David & his line,  
And assured unto his kindred  
In Jerusalem how they shall succeed:  
And though Joas be young & tender of might,  
He to the crown hath never the lass right.   

In this matter I will not that ye sleep,  
But to show your true diligence,  
On four parties the temple for to keep,  
That no man enter by no violence:  
And in the mids by royal excellence,  
(Quod this bishop) no man shall us let,  
On Joas head a crown for to set.   

And when each thing was brought to point  
His high estate to increase and magnify,  
The people anon when he was anoint,  
Vivat rex they began to cry.  
And when Athalia 'gan this thing espy,  
For very ire and the sudden wonder,  
Of melancholy her clothes cut asunder,   

Ran to the temple, and 'gan make a fray,  
With her meinie and to cry aloud,  
Bade them go slay & make no delay  
The young king, in all the hast they could.  
Her venom hid under a covert cloud,  
All at once her purpose to recure,  
By sudden malice she 'gan the day dyscure.   

The temple was kept, entre had she none,  
People ordained awaiting for the nonce:  
And or she might any further gone,  
Cleanly armed the Centuriones  
The cruel queen assailed all at ones.  
And of her malice to write a short tale,  
They slough her after at Cedron in the vale.   

Lo here the end of murder & tyranny,  
Lo here the end of usurpation,  
Lo here the end of false conspiracy,  
Lo here the end of false presumption:  
Borne rightful heirs wrongly to put them down,  
O noble princes though god make you strong,  
To rightful heirs beware ye do no wrong,   

¶ Lenuoye.  

THese tragedies to estates & degrees,  
Fully declareth the deceptions  
Of fortunes false mutabilitees,  
showed in provinces cities and eke touns:  
Princes unwarely lost their possessions,  
Which for their sins in diverse wise,  
Had of god warning, & list not for to rise.   

Mighty princes cast down from their sees,  
Lost their lives and their regions,  
unwarely throw from their felicitees:  
Jeroboam for his oppressions,  
And for his froward false oblations  
Done to Idols, his story doth devise,  
Had of god warning, & list not for to rise.   

Achab also had great adversities,  
Through false counsel and exhortations  
Of jezabel rote of iniquities,  
Did to his people great extortions:  
She slough prophets, god's champions,  
Both he and she most cursed in their guise,  
Had of god warning, & list not for to rise.   

Athalia with her duplicitees,  
And conspired false intrusions,  
Slouh David's seed to enter their dignities,  
And possede their dominations:  
But for her hateful false collusions,  
unwarely slain for her great covetise,  
Had of god warning, & list not for to rise.   

Princes remember in your prosperities,  
And see afore in your discretions:  
Wrong climbing up of states or degrees,  
either by murder or by false treasons,  
Asketh a fall for their final guerdons.  
Namely of them that the lord despise,  
And for his warning list not for to rise.     

The xiii Chapter.  
¶ How Dydo queen of Cartage slough herself for conservation of her chastity.  

Now must I put my rude stile in prees,  
To queen Dido making my passage:  
Her Lord Siche was priest to Hercules,  
Her father Belus fall in great age,  
King of Tire & she queen of Carthage:  
And it is red in books that been true,  
How first in Tire was found purple hew.   

Chadmus found first letters for to write,  
Gave them to Greeks, as made is mention,  
Whose brother Fenix as clerks eke indite,  
Found first the colour of vermilion:  
And of Cartage the famous mighty town,  
This said Dido, her story doth express,  
How she was queen and founderesse.   

But her husband was chief lord & fire,  
Called Sichaeus full famous of renown,  
Of this noble city called tire,  
Had great treasure & great possession:  
And for envy king Pygmalion  
Brother to Dido this Siche slough in deed,  
Of false intent his richesse to possede.   

Dido this slaughter took grievously to heart,  
Sore complaining this unhappy chance:  
Cast she would if she might asterte,  
Fly out of Tire and her life advance,  
With all the treasure & the abundance,  
Behind left, when her lord was deed,  
Her ships entering went away for dread.   

She knew and dread the greedy avarice  
Of her brother king Pygmalion,  
And how that hateful unstaunchable vice  
Was ground, and rote, and chief occasion,  
Why that her lord was slain in that town:  
For whom she cried full oft well away,  
Whose death was cause why she fled away.   

She had also this opinion,  
Which caused most her heartily heaviness:  
That sith her brother Pygmalion  
Had slain her lord for his great riches,  
If she abode that he would him dress,  
Parcel for malice, parcel for covetise,  
To have treasure some treason to practise.   

And for to eschew his malice & treason,  
For her navy she maketh ordinance,  
By the avise of them in whom as by reason,  
She should of right set her affiance:  
And they full ready her to do pleasance,  
By one assent for nothing would fail,  
With fair Dydo out of that land to sail.   

In Cypress first was her aryvaile:  
And the●e she found by the river side,  
Of young maidens which full rich apparel,  
Sixty and ten in the same tide,  
Which in the temple of Venus did abide,  
After the custom as I can report,  
Of Cypriens, strangers to disport.   

And in their most faithful humble wise  
After the rights of Cypre the country,  
Unto Venus each day do sacrifice,  
Them to conserve in their virginity:  
During their life to live in chastity,  
Never to be joined in marriage,  
And with queen Dydo they went to Cartage.   

In their passage fill a great myrracle  
As Servius maketh mention,  
For Dydo took of Juno this oracle,  
either by apparing or by advision,  
Of Cartage to build that mighty town:  
And at reverence of that great goddess,  
She to the parties fast 'gan her dress   

The said city stately for to found.  
And her workmen as they the earth sought  
An ox's head of adventure they found,  
And to queen Dido anon the head brought,  
meaning whereof to search out they thought:  
And her clerks in their deumayle,  
Told it was token of servage & travail.   

For which she list not to build in that place,  
But removed as she ought of right,  
And fro thence but a little space,  
A soil she found full delectable of sight:  
And as her workmen with their full might,  
The ground 'gan search or they took heed,  
The story telleth they found an horse head.   

And by exponing of her diviners,  
Found this beast might greatly avail  
Unto princes and mighty conquerors,  
Necessary in were and battle:  
And for no wight her noblesse should assail,  
Cartage she builded of so great excellence,  
Again all enemies to stand at diffence.   

Some books declare and specify,  
Dydo did as much land purchase,  
As a skin in round might occupy  
Of an ox, thereon to build a place:  
The ground compassed took a large space,  
Which strongly builded thus it is befall,  
After the skin men Byrsa did it call.   

And when this city mightily was walled,  
After a skin wrought by good curray,  
The name took, Carta it was called:  
Leather of Birsa plainly this is no nay.  
Took eke his name during many a day,  
Carta and Birsa knit in their language,  
As much to say, as this word Carthage.   

And in africa stant this teritory,  
Where she builded this city delectable:  
Founded it in laud and memory  
Of mighty Juno, the goddess honourable.  
The city walled with tower's strong & stable,  
Time of king David, amid the fourth age,  
As I said erst, called it Cartage.   

With great worship she reigned in y● town  
Ever of purpose to live in chastity,  
And round about flowered her renown,  
Of her prudence and her honesty:  
Till the report of her famous beauty,  
Came to the ears, which gladly will not hide  
Of a king that dwelled there beside.   

Of Musytans' he was lord and sire,  
As poets plainly list decryve,  
Which in his heart greatly 'gan desire,  
The queen Dido by her assent to wive,  
Unto her grace if he might aryve:  
But for she had avowed chastity,  
She never cast married to be.   

The king surprised with love in his courage.  
For her wisdom, and her great bounty,  
Sent for the princes of Carthage,  
On this matter to have a treatee:  
To condescend if it might be,  
Like his desire in all their best intent,  
Do their devoir to make her consent.   

With his request he 'gan them eke menace,  
If he failed of his entention,  
Like his desire to stand in her grace,  
Said he would be enemy to their town:  
To ordain by force for their destruction,  
Not fully sober, nor fully in a rage,  
This was to them plainly his language.   

But for they knew her great steadfastness  
And her heart very immutable,  
They were afeard any word to express,  
Lest their answer were not acceptable,  
To his highness, for he was not treatable,  
Eke in their conceit they 'gan also record,  
To his desire the queen would not accord.   

With good advice an answer they purvey,  
To his purpose in party favourable,  
Afeard he would their noble town warray,  
Or of disdain upon them be vengeable:  
But queen Dydo in her intent aye stable,  
Cast she would whatsoever they her told,  
Her chaste avow faithfully to hold.   

She set aside of this cruel king  
His fell menaces, and his words great,  
And to her princes for their consenting,  
Which stood in fear of that he did them threat,  
She unto them gave a manner heat:  
For they were bold to attempt or attame,  
To treat of matter rebounding to her shame   

Nay rather die (quoth she) than assent  
To his desires, which thing god forbid:  
Or fro the tenter of my chaste intent  
For to remove other in thought or deed,  
Which were disclaunder to all womanhood,  
To condescend for any menacing,  
To break a vow for pleasance of a king   

Touching menaces made to the city  
For to destroy it with his great might,  
Without cause or title of equity  
To ground him a quarrel again right,  
Only for he is blinded of his sight,  
With froward lust my chaste avow to assail  
Be right well sure how he thereof shall fail.   

If ye were bold and manly of courage,  
For common profit your city to defend,  
And to withstand his vicious outrage,  
To treat with him ye would not condescend:  
But mine intent platly to comprehend,  
Whether it be to you joy or displeasance,  
In my promise shallbe no variance.   

My lord Sichaeus which, alas, is dead  
Unto the world, who list advert,  
Trust verily for menacing nor dread  
That he shall never die in mine heart:  
Nor he shall never my avow pervert,  
Thus advised while that I stand fire,  
Queen of Cartage to govern this city.   

Mine hasty answer I pray you not disdain  
But that ye list to give me liberty,  
With your support that I may attain,  
To have a space granted unto me:  
This is to mean, the space of months three,  
My lords will to accomplish of intent,  
Which whilom made in his testament.   

Under colour to her advantage,  
She took this space, books specify:  
That she might her city of Cartage,  
The mean time strongly fortify,  
Again her enemies, that for no sluggardy  
Of them that would her high estate confound  
Vnpurueyed her city not be found.   

When three months passed were and gone,  
She after would for heartily pleasance,  
With sundry rights many more than one,  
To all her gods do some observance:  
For a special singular remembrance  
Of him that was (as ye shall understand)  
Whilom her lord and best beloved husband.   

And more to exalt her glory and his honour,  
Held his exequtes by due reverence  
Of all Cartage in the highest tower,  
With brenning fire, fumes, and incense,  
Her princes all being in presence,  
To which she 'gan declare in complaining,  
Her deadly sorrow, down from her tower looking   

Farewell my friends, farewell for evermore,  
Unto my lord my husband I must gone,  
To him I mean that was my lord of yore,  
For of husbands god wots I have but one:  
Praying you to report everyone,  
After my death Dydo of Cartage  
Joined was but ones in marriage.   

Say to the king which you menaced,  
My chaste beauty that he would assail,  
Go tell him how that I am passed,  
And of his purpose how that he shall fail.  
His menacing shall not him avail,  
And say how Dydo died for the nonce,  
For she not would be wedded more than once.   

liefer I have my life now to lose,  
Rather than soil my widows chastity:  
Let him go further some other to choose,  
For in such case he shall not speed of me.  
And with the treasure of mine honesty,  
Which I have truly observed all my live,  
I will departed out of this world now blyue.   

And into fire that brent clear and bright,  
She ran in haste, there is no more to say:  
Save with a knife in every man's sight,  
Full suddenly she roof her heart in twain,  
Whose piteous death the city 'gan complain,  
Sore weeping for wonder and for ruth,  
In a woman to find so great a truth.   

After her death they did their business,  
To hold and hallow a feast funeral:  
Worshipped her like a chaste goddess,  
And her commended inespecial  
To heavenly gods, and gods infernal,  
And widows all in their clothes black,  
At this feast wept for her sake.   

Touching Dydo let there be no strife,  
Though that she be accused of ovid:  
After Bochas I wrote her chaste life,  
And the contrary I have set aside.  
For me thought it was better to abide  
On her goodness, than thing rehearse in deed  
Which might resowne again her womanhood   

To Aeneas though she were favourable,  
To italy making his passage,  
All that she did was commendable,  
Him to receive coming by Cartage:  
though some folk were large of their language,  
Amiss to expone, by report, or to express,  
Thing done to him only of gentleness.   

There shall for me be made no rehearsayle,  
But as I find written in Bochas:  
For to say well may much more avail  
Than froward speech in many divers case.  
But all Cartage oft said, alas,  
Her death complaining throughout their city  
Which slew herself to observe her chastity.   

¶ Envoy.  

OF air Dydo most stable in thy constancy  
Queen of Cartage mirror of high nobles  
Reigning in glory & virtuous abundance,  
Called in thy time chief source of gentleness,  
In whom was never found doubleness,  
Ay of one heart, and so thou didst fine,  
With light of troth all widows to enlumin   

chaste and unchanged in thy perseverance,  
And immutable found in goodness,  
Which never thoughtest upon variance,  
Force & prudence wardens of thy fairness,  
I have no language thy virtues to express:  
By new report so clearly they shine,  
With light of troth all widows to enlumine.   

O load star of all good governance,  
All vicious lusts by wisdom to repress,  
Thy green youth flowering with all pleasance  
Thou didst it bridle with virtuous soberness:  
diane demeaned so chastened thy cleanness,  
While thou were sole plainly to termine,  
With light of truth all widows to enlumine   

Thy famous bounty to put in remembrance,  
Thou slew thyself of innocent pureness,  
Lest thy sureness were hanged in balance,  
Of such that cast them thy chastity to oppress:  
Death was enough to bear thereof witness,  
Causing thy beauty to all cleanness incline,  
With light of virtue all widows to enlumine    

¶ Envoy, direct to widows of the translator.  

O Noble matrons which have suffisance,  
Of womanhood your wits to updresse  
How that fortune list to turn her chance,  
Be not to reckless of sudden hastiness:  
But ay provide in your stableness,  
That no such folly enter in your courage,  
To follow Dydo that was queen of Cartage   

With her manners have none acquaintance,  
Put out of mind such sottyshe wilfulness,  
To slay yourself were a great penance,  
God of his grace defend you and bless,  
And preserve your variant brotlenes,  
That your troth fall in none outrage,  
To follow Dido that was queen of Cartage.   

With covert colour and sober countenance,  
Of faithful meaning pretendeth a likeness,  
counterfeiteth in speech and dalliance,  
All thing that soundeth into steadfastness,  
Of prudence by great aviseness,  
Yourself restraineth young and old of age,  
To follow Dydo that was queen of Cartage.   

Let all your port be void of displeasance,  
To get friends do your business,  
And be never without purveyance,  
So shall ye best increase in riches:  
In one alone may be no sikerness,  
To your heart be divers of language,  
Contrary to Dydo that was queen of Cartage.   

Hold your servants under obeisance,  
Let them never have freedom nor largeness,  
But under danger do their observance:  
Daunt their pride, them bridle with lownes,  
And when the serpent of newefanglenes,  
assaileth you, do your advantage,  
Contrary to Dydo that was queen of Cartage.     

¶ The xiiii Chapter.  
☞ How vicious Sardanapalus king of Assirie brent himself and his treasure.  

OF Assirie to reckon kings all,  
Which had that land under subjection,  
Last of all was sardanapal,  
Most feminyne of condition:  
Wherefore fortune hath him cast down  
And complaining most ugly of manner,  
Next after Dydo to Bochas did appear.   

To vicious lust his life he did incline,  
Among assyrians when he his reign 'gan:  
Of false usage he was so feminine,  
That among women upon the rock he span,  
In their habit disguised from a man,  
And of froward fleshly insolence,  
Of all men he fled the presence.   

First this king chase to be his guide  
Mother of vices called idleness,  
Which of custom each virtue set aside,  
In each court where she is mistress,  
Of sorrow and mischief is the first foundress,  
Which caused only this sardanapal  
That to all goodness his wits did appall.   

He found up first riot and drunkenness,  
Called a father of lust and lechery:  
Hateful of heart he was to soberness,  
Cherishing surfetes, watch, and gluttony:  
Called in his time a prince of bawdry,  
Found reresuppers and fetherbeddes soft,  
Drink late, and change his wines oft.   

The air of meats and of bawdy cooks,  
Which of custom all day roast and seed,  
savour of spits, ladels, and flesh hooks  
He loved well, and took of them great heed:  
And folk that drank more than it was need  
smelling of wine for their great excess,  
With them to abide was holly his gladness.   

He thought also it did him good  
To have about him without skill and right  
Boisterous bochers all bespreint with blood,  
And watery fisher's abode aye in his sight:  
Their coats powdered with scales silver bright,  
Dempt their odour during all his life,  
Was to his courage best preservative.   

For there was no herb, spice, grass, ne rote,  
To him so lusty as was the bordelhouse:  
Nor garden none so wholesome nor so sote,  
To his pleasance, nor so delicious,  
As the presence of folk lecherous:  
And ever glad to speak of ribaldry,  
And folk cherish that could flatter & lie.   

Till at the last God of very right  
Displeased was with his conditions,  
Because he was in every man's sight  
So feminyne in his affections,  
And wholly gave his inclinations  
During his life to every vicious thing,  
Terrible to hear and namely of a king.   

But as Bochas list to put in mind,  
When Arbactus a prince of great renown,  
Saw of this king the fleshly lust blind,  
Made with the people of that region  
Against him a conjuration,  
And to him sent for his misgovernance,  
Of high disdain a full plain defiance.   

Bade him beware, & proudly to him told  
That he him cast his vicious life to assail,  
And in all haste also that he would  
Within a field meet him in battle:  
Whereof astonished his heart 'gan to fail,  
Where among women he sat making gauds  
No wight about but flatterers and bawds.   

And up he rose and 'gan himself advance,  
No company with him but servants riotous,  
Took the field without governance,  
No men of arms but folks vicious:  
Whose adversary called Arbactus,  
Made him proudly the field to forsake,  
And like a coward his castle to take.   

And for his heart frowardly 'gan fail  
Not like a knight, but like a loseniour,  
His rich pierrey, his royal apparel,  
His gold, his jewels, his vessel, & treasure,  
Was brought afore him down fro a tour  
And of his palace, & gave his men in charge  
Of coal and faggot to make a fire large:   

In which he cast his treasure and jewels,  
More like a beast than a manly man,  
And amid his riches, stones, and vessels,  
Into the fire furiously he ran:  
This triumph Sardanapalus wan,  
Which fire consumed for his final meed,  
Brent to ashes among the coals read.   

Tofore his death bade men should write  
Upon his grave, the book doth specify,  
With letters large this reason for to indite:  
My cursed life, my froward gluttony,  
Mine idleness, mine hateful lechery  
Hath caused me with many false desire,  
My last days to be consumpt with fire.   

This epitaph on his grave he set,  
To show how he in all his live  
busied ever to hinder and to let  
All manner virtue, and theragayne to strive,  
Who followeth his trace is not like to thrive:  
For which ye princes see for your avail,  
Vengeance aye followeth vices at the tail.    

The xu Chapter.  
¶ A commendation of Bochas, rehearsing the virtuous names of founders of divers sciences and cunnynges in reproof of idleness.  

THere were other that list to provide,  
False fleshly lusts, and dissolutions,  
riot, outrage, froward disdain and pride  
Vices to enhance in their affections  
With many unleeful crooked conditions,  
Reason avoiding as I rehearse shall,  
Themselves delighting for to be bestial.   

Two manner folks to put in remembrance,  
Of vice and virtue to put in a difference:  
The good always hath set their pleasance,  
In virtuous labour to do their diligence,  
And vicious people in sloth and negligence,  
And the report of both is reserved,  
With laud or lack as they have deserved.   

Men must of right the virtuous prefer,  
And truly praise labour and business:  
And again ward dispraise folk that err,  
Which have no joy but in idleness.  
And to compate by manner of witness▪  
Virtuous folk, I will to mind call,  
In rebuking of king sardanapal.   

THe old wise called Pitagoras,  
By sound of hammers, auctors certify,  
Example took, and chief master was  
That found out music and melody:  
Yet of Tubal some books specify,  
That he by stroke of smyths where they stood  
Found first out music tofore noah's flood.   

And Josephus remembreth by scripture,  
That this Tubal could forge weal,  
First imagined making of armure,  
With instruments of iron and of steel,  
And their temprures he found out every deal  
Lucius Tarquyn in story as I find,  
Found chains first folk to fetter & bind.   

The children of Seth, in story ye may see,  
flowering in virtue by long successions,  
For to do profit to their posterity,  
And first the craft of heavenly motions,  
Found of sundry stars the revolutions,  
bequeath their cunning of great advantage,  
To them that after came of their lineage.   

For their virtue god gave them great cunning  
Touching natures both of earth and heaven:  
And it remembered soothly by writing,  
To lasten aye for water or for leaven.  
Generations there were of them seven,  
Which for virtue without war or strife,  
travailed in cunning, during all their life.   

And for that Adam did prophecy,  
Twice the world destroyed should be,  
With water ones, and stand in jeopardy,  
Next with fire, which no man might flee:  
But Seths' children that all this did see,  
Made two pillars where men might grave,  
From fire and water the charects for to save.   

That one was made of tiles hard ybake,  
Fro touch of fire to save the scripture:  
Of hard marble they did another make,  
Against water strongly to endure,  
To save of letters the print and the figure.  
For their cunning afore 'gan so provide,  
Again fire & water perpetually to abide.   

They dempt their cunning had been in vain,  
But folk with them had been partable,  
And for their labour should after be sayen,  
They it remembered by writing full notable,  
And tofore god a thing full commendable,  
To them that follow by scripture and writing  
Or that men die departed their cunning.   

For by old time folk divers crafts found,  
In sundry wise for occupation,  
Virtue to cherish, vices to confound,  
Their wit they set and their entencien,  
To put their labour in execution,  
And to outrage, this is very troth,  
Fro man's life negligence and sloth.   

Old Enoke full famous of virtue  
During the age, found first of everich one  
Through his prudence, letters of Hebrew,  
And in a pillar they were kept of stone,  
Till that the flood of Noah was gone:  
And after him Cam was the second,  
By whom more of Hebrew letters was found.   

And Cathacrismus the first was that fande,  
Letters also, as of that language,  
But letters written by Gods own hand,  
Moses first took, most bright of his visage,  
Upon Syna as he held his passage.  
Which of characts and names in sentence,  
From other writing had a difference.   

Eke afterward as other books tell,  
And saint Jerome rehearseth in his style,  
Under the empire of zorobabel,  
Esdras of Hebrew 'gan letters first compile:  
And Abraham long erst a great while  
The first was in books men may see,  
That found letters of Ciria and Called.   

isis in Egypt found diversity  
Of sundry letters parted into twain,  
First for priests and for the comontie,  
Vulgar letters she did also ordain,  
And Fenices did their busy pain  
Letters of Greek to find in their intent,  
Which that Cadmus' first into Grece sent.   

Which in number fully were seventeen.  
When of Troy ended was the battle,  
Pallamides their language to sustain,  
Put three thereto which greatly did avail.  
Pitagoras for prudent governaile,  
Found first out y, a figure to discern,  
The life here short & the life that is eterne.   

First latin letters of our a. b c  
Carmentes found of full high prudence,  
Great Omerus in Isidor ye may see,  
Found among Greeks craft of eloquence:  
First in Rome by sovereign excellence,  
Of rhetoric Tullius found the stoures,  
Plea and defence of subtle orators.   

Callicrates a graver most notable,  
Of white yvore did his business,  
His hand, his eye, so just were and so stable,  
Of an ampt to grave out the likeness,  
Upon the ground as nature doth him dress.  
This craft he found, as sardanapal  
Found idleness mother of vices all.   

Of a scriveyn Bochas maketh mention,  
How in a scrowe of little quantity,  
Wrote of all Croy the destruction,  
Following Omerus by great subtlety.  
Which is had among greeks in great dainty  
Because he was found in his writing,  
So compendious the story rehearsing.   

Archimedes' made a char also,  
And a small ship with all the apparel,  
So that a Bee might close them both two  
Under his wings, which is a great marvel  
And nothing seen of all the whole entail.  
This craft he found of virtuous business,  
To eschew the vice of froward idleness.   

Pan god of kind with his pipes seven  
Of recorders, found first the melodies  
Of Mercury that sit so high in heaven,  
First in his harp found sugared armonies.  
wholesome wines through fined from their lies  
Bacchus found first on vines heavy lade,  
liquor of liquors, courages for to glade.   

Perdry by compass found tryangle & line,  
And Euclyd first found geometry:  
And Phoebus found the craft of medicine,  
Al●umasar found astronomy,  
And Mynerua 'gan chares first to gye.  
jason first sailed, in story it is told,  
Toward Colchos to win the fleece of gold.   

Ceres' the goddess found first tilth of land,  
D●onysius triumphs transitory:  
And Bellona by force first out fond,  
Conquest by knighthood, & in the field victory  
And Martis son as put is in memory,  
Called Etholus found spears sharp & keen,  
To run in war in plates bright & sheen.   

Eke Aristeus found out the usage  
Of milk and cruds, and of honey sote,  
Piroydes for great advantage  
Fro flyntes smote fire daring in the rote.  
And Pallas which that may to cold do boat  
Found out weaving this is very sooth,  
Through yet prudence of all manner cloth.   

And fido found first out the science  
Of measures and of proportions,  
And for merchants did his diligence  
To find balances by just divisions,  
To avoid all fraud in cities and in towns,  
On nouther party, plainly to compile,  
Of true weight that there were no guile.   

Compare in order clearly all these things,  
Found of old time by diligent travail,  
To the pleasance of princes and kings,  
To show how much cunning may avail:  
And weigh again ward the froward aquitayle,  
Contrariously how sardanapal,  
Found idleness mother of vices all.   

Let princes all hereof take heed,  
What availeth virtuous business:  
And what damage the reverse doth in deed▪  
vicious life, sloth, and idleness.  
And these examples let them eke empress  
Amid their heart, and how sardanapal,  
Found idleness, mother of vices all.   

¶ Envoy.  

NOble princes here ye may well see,  
As in a mirror of full clear evidence,  
By many examples more than two or three,  
What harm followeth of sloth & negligence  
Deep imprinting in your advertence,  
How great hindering doth wilful frowardness  
To your estate through vicious idleness.   

When reason faileth, and sensuality  
Holdeth the bridle of lecherous insolence,  
And soberness hath lost his liberty,  
And to false lust is done the reverence:  
And vice of virtue hath an appearance,  
Misleadeth princes of wilful recklessness,  
To great error of froward idleness.     

¶ The xvi Chapter.  
¶ How Amazias in juda king, for pride and presumption was vainquished in battle, and after slain.  

IN his study as Bochas sat musing,  
With many an uncouth solemn fantasy,  
To him appeared many a mighty king,  
And tofore all came worthy Amazie:  
His son also that called was Ozie,  
Of David's blood descended as I read,  
Each after other in Juda to succeed.   

First Amazias complained on fortune  
Causing his grcuous great adversities,  
The traitoress called in common,  
These kings twain casting from their sees:  
Whose overturning from their dignities,  
Unware falling, dreadful and terrible,  
Ben seriously remembered in the bible.   

Their end men may there read and see,  
How fortune their fates did entreat:  
Wherefore to eschew and fly prolixity  
Of tedious thing, in this process to let,  
And in substance to glea●e out the great  
Of their falling, I purpose not to spare,  
Compendiously the causes to declare.   

This Amazias having governance  
By ●ust title of succession▪  
The sceptre of juda with all the whole puissance  
Full peaceably held in his possession:  
Till that pride and false presumption,  
Most frowardly did his heart embrace,  
Which all at ones made him lose his grace.   

In heart he had a manner vain glory,  
Because that god made him to prevail  
In his conquest, and to have victory  
Amale●hites to vaynquyshe in battle,  
Eke Gabanites as he them did assail:  
Purposing after if he might,  
With Israelites of pride for to fight.   

Unto king Joas of Israel he sent  
Him commanding to obey his bidding,  
And be like subject as were in their intent  
His predecessors in all manner thing,  
Whilom to David the noble worthy king,  
This was his sonde to Joas plat & plain,  
Which by a problen thus wrote to him again.   

THe ugly thistle of the vales low,  
Proudly presuming above his degree,  
To make his pride openly be know,  
Sent his message to the cedar tre,  
That his son might wedded be  
To his daughter, although in substance  
atween them two was a great dis●ordauu●e   

But of the forest the beasts savagyne  
In their courages had thereof disdain,  
All of assent fiercely did incline,  
The thistle leaves abroad upon the plain:  
That there was nether lease nor prick say  
This was the problen which Joas by writing  
Sent in a pistle to Amazie the king.   

But Josephus in his original,  
The said epistle as he doth express  
Saith of the vale how the powder small  
Of pride sent to the high Cypress,  
That his daughter of excellent fairness,  
Unto his son plainly to describe,  
Might be delivered and have her to wive.   

But a fell beast which beside stood,  
Of cruel ire and indignation,  
With feet disdaining the powder cast abroad,  
High in the apre about him environ:  
The which ensample conceived of reason  
Who that attempteth to climb high aloft,  
With unware change his fall is full unsoft.   

atween the cedar of trees so royal,  
And a sharp thistle is no convenience:  
Nor between a cypress estately found at all,  
And loathsome powder is a great difference.  
For royal blood should have no assistance  
To be joined nor ●●yt in marriage,  
With such as been brought forth of low parage   

The cedar is strong & mighty of substance,  
In his upgrowing right as any line:  
And though the thistle have spots of pleasance,  
He hath eke pricks small as any spyne.  
And both natures plainly to termine,  
The cedar of kind who looketh well about,  
To no thistle should his branches lout.   

dolesome of odour is the fair Cypress,  
As books tell and virtuous of kind:  
Dust and powder plainly to express,  
Troubleth the air and maketh folks blind  
For which in spousal convenient to find,  
Let estates of their birth honourable,  
Void all rascaly and wed their semblable   

But Amazias would not beware  
For no warning nor for no prophecy,  
But still in heart great hatred bore  
Again king Joas, of malice and envy.  
Into a field brought all his chivalry,  
gathered them out both near and far,  
Against gods will on him to begin a war.   

And king Joas full like a worthy knight,  
Into the field fast 'gan him speed:  
And all the knights of Juda anon right,  
With stroke of vengeance with a sudden dread,  
To bid them fly god wots it was no need:  
And Amazias for all his great pride,  
Stood destitute, and no man by his side.   

With him was none left of all his meinie,  
So god and Joas against him wrought:  
Of Jerusalem entered the city,  
And Amazie of force with him he brought.  
And in the temple the treasure out he sought,  
Gold and silver and wholly their riches,  
And to Samaria home he 'gan him dress.   

And Amazias he let out of prison  
After all this, and suffered him go free,  
To his mischief and his confusion,  
And he was delivered from his captivity:  
For slain he was in Lachis the city,  
Among his friends by dissimulation,  
His death conspired under full false treason,    

The xvii Chapter.  
☞ How upon Ozias succeading king next in juda god took vengeance & smote him with lepry.  

AFter in Juda the mighty region,  
Next Amazias Ozias 'gan succeed,  
Wonder manly and famous of renown,  
In all his works full provident in deed:  
And of his knighthood vaiquished as I read  
The Palestines, for all their great puissance,  
With all Ambie he brought unto utterance.   

builded towns and many a strong city,  
And unto Egypt he his bonds set,  
Made castles besides the red see,  
And in his conquest whom that ever he met,  
Of manly pride he would let:  
I mean all though that were his adversaries,  
To his lordship to make them tributaries.   

He did his labour also to repair,  
Jerusalem after his ruin,  
The walls reared which on y● soil lay bare  
Made new towers right as any line,  
Fanes of gold their turretes to enlumine,  
And to force them, let workmen undertake,  
Square bastiles and bulwarks to make.   

He delighted to make fresh gardens,  
divers grain and herbs for to know:  
rejoiced to plant sundry wines,  
To graff trees and sedes for to sow.  
And strange fruits maketh them grow a-row  
And with him had his enemies to encumber,  
Three hundred thousand manly men in number.   

His noble fame 'gan to spread wide,  
And greatly dread for his prows:  
wherethrough his heart corrupted with pride,  
Because only of his great riches,  
And frowardly he did his business  
For to malign in estate royal,  
Against the lord which is immortal.   

To god above he 'gan wax obstinate,  
That by process full small he did win:  
And savour caught in his royal estate,  
To follow his father in unthrifty sin,  
That grace & virtue from him did twynne,  
In most shining of his magnificence,  
Fortune proudly assailed his excellence.   

Cast she would within a little while,  
His surquedy and froward pride assail:  
And full unwarely deceive him and beguile,  
To make his power to appall and fail:  
When that this king took on the apparel  
Of a bishop of very frowardness,  
And to the temple proudly 'gan him dress,   

Being in purpose on a solemn day,  
To take his way up to the high altar,  
Falsely usurping whosoever said nay,  
To sacrifice holding the censer,  
Tofore the altar that shone of gold so clear,  
For which offence (the bible saith the same)  
Azarias the bishop did him blame.   

'Gan withstand him in the face anon,  
Fourscore priests being in presence  
Of the kindred descended of Aaron,  
Which forbade him and made resistance,  
That with his hand he should put incense  
Upon the altar against god's law,  
Him charging boldly his presence to withdraw   

But of despite he made them hold their peace,  
In pain of death began them menace:  
And suddenly among all the prees,  
An earthquave fill in the same place,  
And therewithal in the kings face,  
Of the sun there smote a beam so bright,  
That all his face was scorched with the light.   

He warred a leper foul and right horrible,  
For his offence as god list ordain:  
To every man of look he was terrible,  
And but few his mischief 'gan complain.  
And a great hill the same hour carft on twain  
Not far aside from the town without,  
Cities destroying that stood round about.   

On king Ozie god took this vengeance,  
For all his lordship and his magnificence,  
To punish his pride and froward puissance  
And brought him low for his great offence,  
For his person was put out of presence,  
Perpetually as holy writ can tell,  
far from all people with lepers for to dwell.   

His flesh was troubled with divers passions,  
For his sickness avoided the city,  
In cry and sorrow and lamentations,  
His lise he lad in great adversity:  
And so he died in sorrow and poverty.  
Simply buried for all his great might,  
Within an island that stood far out of sight    

¶ The xviii Chapter.  
¶ In exhortation to Princes to be advised to do against God's precepts.  

LEt princes all in their providence,  
Be right well aware any thing to attame  
Which unto God should be offence,  
Lest that the fine conclude to their shame.  
Let them think for all their noble fame,  
But they repent god of his justice,  
Their froward pride unwarely will chastise   

Let them beware of malice to presume  
Again his church to do o●●encion,  
For god of right all tyrants will consume,  
In full short time for their presumption:  
Which will not suffer their domination  
To interrupt for all their great might,  
Nor break the franchises of holy church right.   

To prudent princes which can discern,  
Let king Ozias considering his offence,  
Be in your mind a mirror and lantern,  
To holy church to do due reverence,  
And conce●ue in their magnificence,  
God will of right be they never so s●●●ng,  
chastise their malice though he ●yde long.    

¶ The xix Chapter.  
How king Oseas was taken by king Salmanazer and died in prison.  

THere was another that called was Osce,  
Which whilom reigned as I affirm dare  
In Israel, whom fortune by envy,  
Made him be take or he was ware,  
besieged about of king Salmanas are:  
And into Assirie under his danger,  
The bible telleth he was a prisoner.   

His cities and towns brought to destruction  
And all his people under long servage,  
Were take and kept in strong Babylon,  
Suffered there great pain and damage:  
And in prison by furious outrage  
This said Oseas in chains bound sore,  
For sorrow died of him write I no more.    

The twenty Chapter.  
¶ How Senacheryb king of Assirie slew himself.  

WIth these foresaid woeful kings three,  
Senacheryb of Assirye king,  
Came to Bochas most ugly to see,  
Full piteously his fate complaining:  
And specially his unware changing  
He 'gan bewail oppressed in his thought,  
From high nobles how he came to nought.   

His renown spread through many a reme,  
And all people 'gan him magnify:  
A siege he laid unto Jerusalem,  
In the time of king Sedechye.  
But in his most froward surquedy,  
God's angel tofore the city,  
An hundred. M. slough of his meinie.   

And the more to make him afeard,  
Amid of his people the self same night  
God's angel shove away his beard  
With a sharp sword that shone full bright:  
Left his siege and took him unto flight,  
And in a temple his gods worshipping,  
Slough himself as he sat kneeling.    

¶ The xxi Chapter.  
¶ How king Sedechy as for false for swearing was slain, and made blind in prison.  

TOuching y● complaint of king Sedechy  
And of his sorrows to show the manner,  
Holy write doth clearly specify:  
Wherefore it were but vain to tell them here,  
For there men the process may plainly lere,  
How Joachim king of Jerusalem,  
His own brother was led out of his ream.   

Whereof in heart he felt full great sore  
This Sedechias as it is there found,  
Because the king Nabugodonosor  
His brother held strong in prison bound,  
Fully in purpose the Jews to confound:  
For this tyrant had in that mortal strife,  
His bothers' children in prison and his wife.   

And yet this tyrant in his tyranny,  
This favour did in his fell rage  
Unto this most woeful Sedechy,  
To suffer him rain in his great age:  
From year to year to pay him a truage  
By faith and oath▪ and composition,  
Raised of his people and brought to Babylon   

Yet Sedechias in especial  
By a manner of false felicity,  
Himself rejoiced in his see royal  
To occupy that noble dignity:  
And so forgot the great adversity  
Of his brother, and other friends all,  
Touching the mischief that they were in fall.   

Of pride he fell into presumption,  
When he remembered his brother & his lineage,  
Considered how fro king Solomon  
He was descended by title of heritage,  
'Gan disdain to pay his truage,  
And to malign in heart he was so wroth,  
And falsely broke his assurance and his oath.   

He had a manner indignation,  
Which he caught of old remembrance  
How time passed to king Solomon  
By his manly prudent governance,  
Kings about for a recognisance  
Paid tribute, and durst it not wythsay,  
Fro year to year his nobles to obey.   

Which thing remembered of king Sedechi●,  
As he wext great & strong in puissance,  
Of high disdain his tribute 'gan deny,  
Set aside his faith and assurance,  
So that his oath stood in no substance:  
For he against the king of Babylon,  
Presumptuously fill in rebellion.   

And his kingdom to strength and fortify,  
Thought he would to his advantage  
The king of Egypt have on his party:  
Of pride he fell into so great outrage  
That he no more would pay his truage,  
But finally such ways he hath sought,  
That of his oath little he ne wrought.   

But woe alas it is a doleful thing  
To be remembered in high or low degree,  
That any prince or any worthy king  
Should false his oath or untrue be,  
Or that men should such variance see  
In their courages which been so high borne,  
For any cause falsely to be forsworn.   

By report it doth their fame trouble,  
Infortuneth and clipseth their nobles,  
When a prince is of his hest double,  
And chargeth not of wilful recklessness,  
All be his promiss conclude on doubleness,  
Though god awhile suffer them and respite.  
At unset hour their falseness he will quite.   

His warning oft he sent to them afore  
Because they lacked prudent policy,  
Record I take of Nabugodonosor,  
Which came unware on king Sedechye,  
For he his tribute 'gan falsely him deny:  
With all his power as it did abrayed,  
To Jerusalem a mighty siege laid.   

They within constrained were of need  
The king himself, there was no better defence  
With man's flesh his people for to feed,  
While the Caldeys by mighty violence  
Of very force without resistance,  
On false forswearing for to take wreak,  
Their mighty towers & their walls break.   

To slay and kill they list none to spare,  
Who soever they met or came in their ●ight:  
Sedechias left the town all bare,  
But take he was as he him took to flight,  
In chains bound and fettered anon right,  
In whose presence t'increase his pains anon  
His young children were slain everyone.   

His wives most woeful in their cheers,  
Which in their time goodly were and fair,  
Delivered were in hands of straungeres,  
And more, alas, to put him in despair,  
Into his kingdom never to have repair,  
With sharp tongues it was to great a pain  
Out of his head was rend his eyen twain.   

Of Jerusalem his city was brent,  
Plain to the ground into ashes deed.  
His great riches his treasure wholly sent  
To Babylon, with stones blue and read,  
Vessels of gold which richest were in deed,  
Without mercy or remission,  
Caldeis took to their possession.   

And thus in sorrow and in wretchedness  
He died alas fettered in prison,  
Lo here the end of perjury and falseness,  
Lo how fortune can turn up so down  
Of mortal men the condition:  
Now richest shining in high prosperity,  
With unware change to hateful poverty.   

Now men lift up to royal dignities,  
Now high aloft by fulsum abundance,  
But what availeth to sit in royal sees,  
To folk that have therein none assurance▪  
Namely when fortune holdeth the balance,  
Which aye of custom unto high estates,  
Hath a false joy to show her checkmates.   

Record I take of princes more than one,  
Their woeful fates hanging in jeopardy,  
Remembered late, and among each one  
The woeful fall of king Amazie:  
His son eke lepre which called was Ozie,  
And last of all how in Babylon,  
King Sedechias died in prison.   

¶ Envoy.  

NOble princes consider the fallas  
Of fortunes froward flattery,  
Sith her disceits in many divers case  
How she first mocked manly Amazy,  
Which slain was for his surquedy,  
To give you warning by example ye may read  
When ye sit highest your fall is most to dread.   

And as it is remembered in Bochas,  
Eke in the Bible, of king Ozie,  
In his time how famous that he was  
Both of riches and of chivalry,  
Punished with leper books specify,  
For his presuming, remembering this in deed  
When ye sit highest your fall is most to dread   

All worldly glory flieth ●ence a pas  
I take witness of king Sedechye,  
For false forswering he slain was, alas,  
Made blind in prison the story can not lie:  
Thus showeth fortune through her froward envy  
To you princes if ye list take heed,  
When ye sit highest your fall is most to dread.     

¶ The xxii Chapter.  
☞ How king Astyages laboured to disherit Cyrus, but god suffered his malice not to prevail.  

AFter these kings one followed in y● prees  
And to Bochas his cōplat●t can discure,  
He was called the great Astyages,  
Which told in order his uncouth adventure:  
Lord of Asye, as books us assure,  
And had of treasure during all his life,  
Above all kings a prerogative.   

Most fortunate in all his governail,  
Felt of fortune none adversity,  
Save an heir male nothing did him fail:  
For he most gloriously sat in his se,  
Of worldly wealth he lacked no plenty,  
Except only as clerks on him write,  
He had no son his kingdom to inherit.   

Which to his wealth was great distress,  
Lest succession failed in his line:  
A daughter had he called Mundanes,  
Out of whose womb as books determine,  
He dreamt on a night how he saw a vine,  
In his avision with him so it stood,  
Over all Asye his branches spread abroad.   

He had also a revelation  
Sleeping a night after his soupere,  
Though he not knew the exposition,  
He thought he saw a cristallyn river,  
With lusty waters as any beryl clear,  
Out of her womb with his streams fresh,  
The soil of Asye make tender and nesh.   

Touching this river and this lusty vine,  
To him showed in his avision,  
Within himself he could not termine  
Thereof to find no clear conclusion:  
Without some manner exposition,  
To him declared by folks in sentence,  
Which of such dreams had experience.   

To him he called his astronomers,  
His philosophers, and his diviners,  
That knew the meaning of the nine spheres,  
Images of stars, their houses & their towers  
And such as were expert expositors:  
And they were assembled everichone,  
Touching his dream they corded all in one.   

To tell him troth they were not reckless,  
Said his daughter from whom there came a vine  
She that by name was called Mundanes,  
Should have descending from her line,  
Whose noble fame through Asia should shine:  
Which should put through his renown,  
Him by force of arms out of his region.   

This was his fate he might it not refuse,  
The heavenly course but it did fail:  
Whereupon he sore 'gan to muse,  
Such fantasies did his heart assail.  
Fill in great doubt of their diuy●ayle,  
Thought he would make purveyance,  
For to withstand gods ordinance.   

Full hard it is to make resistance  
Again thing ordained when god will that it be,  
And namely there where as influence,  
Of heaven above hath shape a destiny.  
Some men record that no man may it i'll,  
The doom of this where it hold or flit,  
To astronomers all wholly I commit.   

This said king of whom I spoke but late,  
Cast he would for his advantage  
The ordinance reverse, and the fate,  
Of the heaven with all the surplusage:  
And give his daughter as in marriage,  
To sum unworthy poor infortunate,  
That never were likely to rise to high estate.   

And in this wise king Astyages  
Married his daughter as in his intent,  
To one unworthy called Cambyses:  
deeming thereby by short advisement,  
Within himself that he was right prudent:  
weening the nobles came by descent of blood,  
And not by grace, nor as the heaven stood.   

In his reason was not comprehended,  
How Socrates master of Platon,  
Of full low bed by birth was descended,  
And not to inherit kingdom nor region:  
But for to have fully possession  
Of moral virtue and philosophy,  
During his life his wit he did apply.   

He sought countries for wisdom and science  
And secret cunning to search he did his pain:  
And he found out through his diligence,  
This philosopher as books ascertain,  
To joy reserved other to pain,  
By grace of god which is eternal,  
How men's souls be found aye immortal.   

The great Apollo in books it is found,  
Gave judgement of equity and right  
That Socrates in virtue most abound,  
And most preferred in every man's sight,  
Was called of wisdom the lantern and light  
And wisest named at even and at prime,  
Of philosophers that were in his tyme.   

The poet also called Euripedes,  
Most honourable named in that age,  
All be his mother of life was reckless,  
And contagious through vicious outrage,  
Yet was this poet for all his vile lineage,  
Most virtuous found at all assays,  
Of all poets that were in his days.   

Called in his time a great tragician,  
Because he wrote many tragedies:  
And would of troth spare no manner man,  
But them rebuke in his poetries.  
Touching the vices of fleshly fantasies,  
complain in princes their deeds most horrible  
A●d each thing punish that was audible.   

Another called clerk Domosthenes,  
The most subtle rhetorician,  
And most inventive among all the prees,  
That ever was sith the world began:  
All be of birth he was a poor man,  
Yet had he most sovereign excellence,  
Among philosophers of speech and eloquence   

By which example me seemeth doubtless,  
That royal blood nor high lineage  
To men's birth giveth but small increases,  
Nor unto virtue but little advantage:  
For high nobles taketh not his courage  
Of rich, nor poor, nor states sovereign,  
But of his grace as god list ordain.   

Wherefore of folly king Astyages  
Contrariously again all gentry,  
Bad that his daughter called Mundanes,  
first when folk with child her did espy,  
For to accomplish his froward fantasy,  
When it was borne charging above allthing,  
Of Ar●●anie to bear it to the ky●●e   

Which in that time was called Harpagus,  
And as I find he did in virtue flower:  
And spite had, the story telleth thus,  
That beasts should the little child deuou●:  
But god that may in mischief best succour,  
To keep the child was not reckless,  
Against the malice of king Astyages,   

Which had commanded of malice & hatred,  
How that this child green & tender of age,  
By Harpagus should be cast in deed,  
To be devoured of beasts most savage:  
But for he dread to do so great outrage,  
To his shepherd, himself to stand at large,  
The child to slay he fully gave the charge.   

This heerdman all be that he was loath  
To execute this woeful adventure,  
In to a forest forth with the child he goeth,  
And gave to beasts that little creature:  
Whom to foster by grace against nature,  
A wild bitch her whelps there forsook,  
And to her paps the little child she took.   

And with her milk she made him sup and dine,  
And busy was for him to enchase  
wild fowls, and beasts savagyne,  
That none ne durst nigh to that place:  
Lo, how that god dispose can his grace,  
Innocentes fro mischief to preserve,  
Again false envy which would make them starve.   

O blood unkind found in kindred,  
For covetise O blood disnatural,  
Of false malice O blood full of hatred,  
To murder a child borne of the stock royal:  
Where man's reason is turned bestial,  
Falsy transformed unto cruelty,  
To slay a child, where beasts have pity.   

The silly herd hath told his wife the case,  
And she anon of pity did arise:  
With her husband went a full great pace,  
In to the forest, beholding all the guise,  
As here to fore ye have herd devise.  
Seeing the child with lips tender & soft,  
The bitches paps how he soaked full oft.   

The said heerde called Sparagos,  
His wife also of whom tofore I told,  
This young child took in their depose:  
And in her arms ●he softly 'gan it fold,  
And he full goodly her face 'gan behold.  
And on his manner the same while,  
In childly wise on her 'gan to smite.   

The child's laughter when she did advert,  
With all her hole faithful diligence  
She 'gan to cherish it, & with all her heart  
She gave it soak with full great reverence,  
All be the bitch made resistance,  
complaining stood fully at a bay,  
The little child when she saw led away.   

Full piteously she 'gan to howl and cry,  
At their departing, dolefully complain:  
And after them full fast 'gan to high,  
The child to let she felt so great a pain.  
Lo, how that god of mercy can ordain,  
A cruel beast such sorrow for to make,  
And so to mourn for a child's sake.   

But every thing that god will have preserved,  
May not fail to stand in si●ernesse,  
His secret domes been to himself reserved  
There can no man expone them as I guess:  
For he shope first that this sheperdesse  
Of Sparagos the true poor wife,  
For to be mean to save the child's life.   

Home to her house the child she led anon,  
And it to foster did her business:  
Of other salary god wot knew she none,  
Save that her heart thereto did her dress.  
And more entirely the story beareth witness  
She tendered h●m, & with more busy cure,  
Than him that was her child borne of nature.   

And as the story plainly doth express,  
This young child as he wext in age,  
Fro day to day increased in noblesse,  
Like for to be right manly of courage:  
Cyrus he was called in that language,  
To say in latin plainly in substance,  
A man yborn to great inheritance.   

And when the renown of his excellence,  
By long process & of his great increases,  
Came by report unto the audience  
Of his ayel the great astyages,  
And how the king was found reckless  
Called Harpagus, for to do vengeance  
On young Cirus, he fill in displeasance.   

This is to mean Astyages was wroth  
That Harpagus was found merciable  
Cyrus to save, and for that he was loath  
Against all right for to be vengeable:  
To slay a child a thing not commendable,  
deeming of troth in his conscience,  
God was not paid to murdre innocence.   

Astyages cast him to be wreak  
On Harpagus by false collusion,  
Because that his bidding he did break,  
And was contrary to his entention  
Cyrus to slay again all reason:  
And for that cause Astyages I read,  
Of Harpagus let slay the child in deed.   

This is to say by false compassing,  
And covert murder wrought by Astyages,  
The son was slain of Harpagus the king  
And after roasted, alas, full causeless,  
And sith presented among all the prees  
Tofore his father, a thing most lamentable,  
With Astyages as he sat at the table.   

But when this king called Harpagus,  
conceived hath this murdre most terrible,  
And how his son & heir was slain thus,  
In his ire most furious and audible  
In all the haste that it was possible  
He is repaired home to his household,  
And all the case to Cyrus he hath told.   

And how his son was slain for his sake,  
In the most hateful odious cruelty.  
Exciting him with him to undertake  
On this false murdre avenged for to be,  
To him declaring of troth & equity,  
How he was borne by descent in deed,  
As right heir to reign in Perce & Mede.   

To him declaring the story by and by  
First of the dream of Astyages,  
And how that he by fraud full falsely  
Made his daughter called Mundanes,  
poorly to be wedded unto Cambyses,  
Which was his mother, & how in tedre age  
He was out cast to beasts full favage▪   

By a shepherd and sheperdesse  
Fostered he was in great poverty,  
And brought from beasts out of wilderness,  
Because god would he saved should be:  
For thilk lord which every thing may see,  
When that he hath a thing afore disposed  
Needs it must fall & may not be deposed.   

This said Cirus at his nativity,  
Ordained was by revolution  
Of the heavenly spheres in numbered thrice three,  
So stood that time his constellation,  
That he should have the domination,  
Over all Asye by influence divine,  
Afore figured by spreading of the vine.   

What may y● fraud of sleighty folk avail,  
Innocentes to put out of their right?  
Though troth be hid amongs the poraile  
Hard brought forth & dare nor show light,  
Yet god will ordain that the beams bright  
Shall some one day show out his clearness,  
Maugre all though that would his title oppress.   

For this Cirus as clerks of him write,  
Was by the title of his mother's side,  
Borne to be king all Asye to inherit,  
All be his ayel from him would it divide:  
But god that can for troth best provide,  
Hath for Cirus by process so ordained,  
That he of Asye the lordship hath attained.   

Cirus the time was grown up well of length,  
Well proportioned of membres & stature,  
Wonder deliver & passing of great strength,  
Strange emprises proudly to endure,  
And to ieoparte and put in adventure  
His own person, the fame was of him so,  
Was none more likely where men had ado.   

And by the counsel of king Harpagus,  
When this Cirus was well wox in age,  
With Perciens proud and surquedous,  
And Archanites cruel of courage,  
For to recure his rightful heritage,  
Began with Cyrus armed with plate & mail  
With Astyages to hold battle.   

And he againward 'gan to take heed,  
And with him took many a worthy knight,  
With all the puissance of the land of Mede,  
Hath take the field the same day forth right,  
To disherit Cyrus of his right:  
But god & troth was atween them twain  
Equal judge, their quarrel to darayne.   

The field ordained & splaied their baneres,  
On either party full proudly on they set:  
At th'assembling like lions of their cheers,  
In the face as they freshly met  
With round spears sharp ground & whet  
Till that Cirus of grace more than number.  
Of his ayel the party did encumber.   

This mighty Cirus this young champion,  
Throughout the field 'gan such slaughter make  
With his knights as he went up & down,  
That as the death, his foemen him forsake:  
Astyages under his banner take,  
The field vanquished for all his veynglorye,  
To show that right hath always the victory.   

A man of malice may a thing purpose  
By a manner froward providence,  
But god above can graciously dispose  
Again such malice, to make resistance.  
Men for a while may suffer violence,  
And wrongs great, where so that they wend,  
But troth always venquisheth at the end.   

Astyages found full sooth his dream,  
Though he again it made purveyance,  
To have deprived Cirus of his ream,  
He was deceived of his ordinance:  
For where that god through his puissance  
List for heirs justly to provide,  
Sleight of man in such case is set aside.   

Maugre the might of Astyages,  
Cyrus on him made a discomfiture,  
And all Asye rejoiced eke in peace,  
Of very right as was his adventure:  
And by just title he did also recure  
The land of Mede, like as was his fate,  
And in to Perce he did it hole translate.   

Again his ayel he was not vengeable,  
Which had wrought to his destruction:  
But was to him benign and merciable,  
And granted him of hole affection  
The fourth part of the region  
Of Archany, of which afore I told,  
Him to sustain in his days old.   

For king Cyrus would not in his live  
Suffer his ayel, of very gentleness,  
That men should him finally deprive  
Of kingly honour, for none unkindness:  
To give ensample to princes in soothness,  
Though god in earth have yeven them might,  
They should aye mercy meddle with the right.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

NOble princes your ears do incline  
And consider in your discretions,  
How dreams showed by influence divine,  
Be not like swevens, but like avisions,  
Or resemble to revelations:  
Which though men would disturb & make fail  
God will not suffer their malice to prevail,   

Astyages dempt he saw a vine  
showed of troth and none illusions,  
From his daughters womb right as line  
Spread in Asye over the regions,  
But to dish exite by false collusyons  
Young Cirus the king did his travail,  
But god not suffered his malice to prevail.   

Princes remember that in honour shine  
Upon this story in your intentions,  
And be well willed where god list further a line  
either to riches or dominations:  
To favour them to their promotions,  
Be not contrary in your acquitaile  
sith god will suffer no malice to prevail.     

The xxiii Chapter.  
¶ How Candalus king of Lyde was made cokolde and after slain.  

WHile John Bochas cast his look aside,  
In his study as he sat writing,  
To his presence came the king of Lyde  
Called Candalus, full piteously playninge:  
With slate tears full lowly beseeching,  
That he would to suage his grievance,  
His deadly sorrow put in remembrance.   

His complaint was most of unkindness,  
For false deceit against all skill & right,  
That where his trust was most of gentleness  
He mocked was, for all his great might:  
For of his house there was a certain knight  
Gyges' called, thing shameful to be told,  
To speak plain english, made him cokolde.   

Alas I was not advised well before,  
Vnkonnyngly to speak such language,  
I should have said how y● he had a● horn,  
Or sought some term with a fair visage,  
To excuse my rudeness of this great outrage:  
And in some land Cornodo men do them call,  
And some affirm that such folk have no gall.   

Thus was the case, when phoebus shone sheen  
The summer season in his ascension,  
When sweet branches were clad in new green,  
Heat importable had domination:  
When that the queen for recreation  
Unprovided that no man did her keep,  
Upon her bed lay naked for to sleep.   

And as clerks of her beauty write,  
There was on live no fairer creature,  
Nor more excelling like as they indite,  
Of semelynes her story doth assure,  
Called for beauty cousin to nature:  
And worthy eke, if I shall not feign,  
To be compared to Grisilde or Elayne.   

Kind in her forge list nothing to err,  
When she her wrought by great adviseness,  
To make of beauty the very load star,  
And give her beauty, favour & seemliness:  
But for nature had so great business,  
To form a woman that was so fresh of hue,  
She had forget for to make her true.   

Her eyen were very celestial,  
Her here untressed like phoebus in his sphere,  
A thing resembling that were immortal,  
So augelyke she was of look and cheer,  
An exemplary of port, & manner,  
There was no lack save nature through her sloth,  
Had left behind to give her faith & troth.   

And on a day as she lay sleeping  
Naked on bed most goodly to sight,  
Full unwarely came Candalus the king  
In to the cambre, where Titan shone bright,  
And showed her beauty to his own knight:  
Of intent he should bear witness,  
How she excelled all other in fairness.   

And when Gyges' 'gan in order se  
Of this queen the great excellence,  
He was enamoured upon her beauty:  
All the while he stood there in presence,  
'Gan imagine a treason in silence,  
To slay his lord without long tarrying,  
Wyn the queen, and after reign as king.   

This was the end doleful and piteous,  
To be remembered hateful and terrible,  
Of this noble worthy Candalus,  
For of his trust to much he was credible  
Unto Gyges, that traitor was audible,  
And yet more foolish whereby he lost his life,  
Outward to show the beauty of his wife.   

Though she were fair & goodly on to see  
There was no trust nor no syckernes,  
For other had as good part as he,  
Gyges coude bear thereof witness:  
Alas a queen or any great princess  
Assent should her fame for to trouble,  
But if nature excuse them to be double.    

The xxiii Chapter.  
How what thing king Midas touched was gold, yet died he in misery and wretchedness.  

But whosoever was therewith loath or fain,  
Gyges' was after crowned king of Lide  
When that his Lord was by treason slain  
Of him, the surplus Bochas set a side:  
And in his study as he did abide,  
There came of Frigie Midas the rich king,  
Told mine author his complaint weeping.   

For there was never by conquest nor labour  
No king afore that had more richesse,  
Nor more plenty of gold nor of treasure:  
At whose birth poets thus express,  
About his cradle amptes 'gan 'em dress  
While he slept, and 'gan about him lain,  
A full great numbered of pured wheat grain.   

Whereupon most expert diviners  
As they took heed in their attendance,  
Such as were best expositors  
Said it was a token of abundance,  
To have of riches all manner suffisance:  
And concluding plainly 'gan to tell,  
How he all other in treasure should excel.   

poets of him wrote that were full old,  
Bacchus gave him, the mighty god of wine,  
What he touched shall turn in to gold  
As good as that which came out of the mine,  
At all assays to be as pure and fine:  
This request, as writeth ovidius,  
Was unto Midas granted of Bacchus.   

He thought gold might him most avail,  
What he handled was gold with touching:  
But when hunger his stomach 'gan assail,  
His bread, his meet, was gold in showing,  
And when he 'gan to fail of his feeding,  
And found of gold no recure to escape,  
Besought Bacchus some remedy to shape.   

Bacchus bade him go bathe in a river,  
To wash away the colour aureate,  
Where yet is showed the goldy gravel clear.  
Which example declareth to each estate  
That gold alone maketh men not fortunate,  
For what may gold or treasure there avail,  
Where men in hungers find no victual?   

Or what is worth gold, pearl or stones red, bred  
Grene Emeralds, or sapirs Ind,  
When men enfamyned have no greyne, nor  
Nor in such mischief victual may none find,  
For to foster their nature & their kind?  
A barley loaf in such a distress  
More might avail, than all worldly riches.   

This knew Midas & was expert in deed,  
Though he of gold had so great plenty  
That with metal he might himself not feed:  
Which caused him of necessity  
To consider and clearly for to see,  
That bread more vaileth for fostering of nature,  
Than all riches that men may here recure.   

For which this king 'gan hate all richesse,  
Gold and treasure he had eke in disdain:  
Left his crown and his royal noblesse,  
And chase to keep sheep upon a plain:  
All worldly worship was to him but vain  
Of melancholy, and froward poverty  
Ended his life in great adversity.   

For of ire and impatience,  
Finally thus with him it stood,  
Furiously in his great indigence,  
As writeth Bochas how he drank the blood  
Of a bull savagine and wode,  
With love enchaufed: made no delays  
Most be stially ended thus his days.    

¶ The xxv Chapter.  
¶ Of Balthasar King of babylon, and how Daniel exponed Mane Techell Phares.  

NExt to Bocas or that he was ware,  
As he sat writing with full great labour,  
Of Babylon came great Balthasar,  
To declare his sorrow and his languor,  
Which had misused full falsely the treasure  
And the vessels brought from Jerusalem,  
Into Babilone, chief city of his reme.   

For at a souper with his lords all,  
When of the vessels he drank mighty wines,  
And solemnly sat in his royal stall,  
And round about all his concubines,  
Philosophers, magiciens, and divines,  
There came an hand, the bible doth assure,  
And on the wall 'gan write this scripture.   

Mane, techel, phares, written in his sight,  
Though he the meaning conceived never a deal:  
Which on the wall showed fair & bright,  
For whose sentence availed none appeal:  
But the prophet holy Daniel  
Fully exponed to Balthasar the king,  
The mystery of this dark writing.   

This word Mane plainly & not to tarry  
In latin tongue betokeneth in sustance,  
The days counted & reckoned, the numbrarye  
Of thy reigning & of thy great substance.  
And Techell soundeth a wayenge in balance,  
In token thy power & kingdom by me●ure,  
God hath poised, they shall no while endure.   

Phares also betokeneth a breaking,  
In roman tongue, in to pieces small:  
For thy power and froward rebelling,  
Shall from the high be brought in to the vale.  
This is holy writ and no feigned tale,  
For when princes will not their life redress,  
God will unwarely their surquedy repress.   

Thou wert by tokens warned long afore,  
By many examples, the story ye may read,  
By the falling of Nabugodonosore,  
And thou thereof took full little heed  
The lord to thank, & have his name in dread:  
For which thou shalt within a little throw,  
Lose sceptre & crown & be brought full low.   

Let princes all this story have in mind,  
And for themself notably provide,  
And namely though that been to god unkind,  
Their concubines for to set a side:  
And make virtue for to be their guide.  
Void lechery and false presumption,  
Which hath brought so many to destruction,   

Nabugodonosor had repentance,  
And was restored to his possessions,  
But god of right took suddenly vengeance.  
On Balthasar, for his trausgressions:  
Wherefore ye princes dispose your reasons  
After your merits, to have god merciable,  
For your demerits do find him vengeable.   

Against holy church take no quarrels,  
But advertise in your inward sight:  
For Balthasar that drank of the vessels,  
Stolen fro the temple of very force & might,  
He lost lordship and life upon a night,  
So that the kingdom of Assirieus  
Translated was to Medes & Perciens.    

The xxvi Chapter.  
¶ Home Croesus and Balthasar were vanquished by Cyrus, and the son of Croesus slain at the huntynge of a bore.  

NExt to John Bocas within a throw,  
Writing of princes many a piteous fate,  
He saw king Croesus with other on the row,  
Lowly beseeching his falling to translate:  
And how fortune again him 'gan debate,  
And of his mischief doleful for to read,  
For to descrive, anon he 'gan proceed.   

For as it is remembered in writing,  
As god and kind list for him ordain,  
Of Lide he was governor and king,  
And lordship had (the story can not feign)  
Of many kingdoms more than one or twain:  
Fame in that time so did him magnify,  
That he was called flower of all chivalry.   

And he was also in his time found  
The most expert in were & in battle,  
And of richesse was the most abound  
And most excelling in conquest to prevail:  
Plenty of people, with royal apparel,  
And with all this to his great advantage,  
Numbered of childre tenblysse his lineage.   

In the most highest of his royal see,  
And at was well & nothing stood amiss,  
Yet to amenuse his felicity,  
A dream he had, and truly that was this:  
How that his son which called was Athis  
Was take from him, & by mortal outrage  
Slain suddenly in his tender age.   

This woeful dream did him great distress,  
And put his heart in great despair,  
Standing in fear & great heaviness,  
Because his child, rendre, young, & fair  
Which that was borne for to be his heir  
Should causeless in such mischief die,  
So as his dream afore did specify.   

Of this process to declare more  
How Croesus' dream fulfilled was in deed,  
From Olympus there came a wild bore,  
Most furious and savagine of dread,  
With foamy tusks which fast 'gan him speed,  
Down descending & no where list abide,  
Till that he came in to the laud of Lyde.   

And 'gan destroy their fruits & their vines,  
Where ever he came in any manner place,  
Broke the nets & the strong lines  
Of the hunters that did at him enchase:  
But under support of the kings grace  
His son of whom I spoke tofore,  
Gate him licence to hunt at this bore.   

His father Croesus deeming of this ease,  
There was no cause of dread in no manner,  
Though his son were present at the chase  
With other hunters such game for to lere,  
But aye fortune with her double there,  
Is ready ever by some fatal train,  
At such disports some mischief to ordain.   

For one there was which had governance  
Upon this child to wait and to see,  
chasing the bore to save him fro mischance  
From all damage and adversity,  
With many lusty folk of that country,  
With horns, hounds, & sharp spears ground,  
Seeking the bore till they had him found.   

And as they 'gan fiercely the bore enchase,  
He that was charged to be the child's guide  
As with his spear he 'gan the bore menace,  
The head not entered but forth 'gan to glide,  
And on the child which that stood beside  
The stroke a light, and or he did avert  
The spears head roof him through the heart.   

But of this child when y● death was couth,  
Told and reported holy the manner,  
How he was slain in his tender youth,  
Borne to be heir unto his father dear,  
Croesus for sorrow changed look & cheer:  
And for constraint of dole in his visage,  
He resembled a very dead image.   

But every sorrow by long continuance  
At the last it somewhat must assuage,  
For there is none so furious grievance  
Nor so mortal importable rage,  
But long process giveth him advantage:  
I mean thus, there is none so great a sorrow,  
But it mought cese other eve or morrow.   

Philosopher's concluden and discern  
And by their reason's recorden by scripture,  
Thing violent may not be eterne,  
Not in one point abideth none adventure,  
Nor a sorrow may not alway endure:  
For stoundemele through fortune's variance,  
There followeth joy after great grievance.   

The sorrow of Croesus though it were intolerable  
And at his heart the grievance sat so sore,  
sith that his dole was irrecuperable,  
And mean was none his harms to restore,  
Bochas writeth of his woe no more:  
But of his fall how he fill in deed,  
To tell the manner forth he doth proceed.   

And for a while he set his style aside,  
And his process in party he forbore,  
To speak of Croesus that was king of Lyde  
And 'gan resort to write of Balthasar:  
Again rehearsing or that he was ware,  
How mighty Cirus of woeful adventure  
Made on him proudly a discomfiture,   

And as it is put in remembrance  
Of Balthasar to hold up the party,  
Croesus with him had made an alliance,  
With all his puissance & all his chivalry:  
His life, his treasure, to put in jeopardy,  
Sworn in arms as brother unto brother,  
By Cirus venquyshed the one after the other   

Both their mischief no longer was delayed,  
All be that Croesus fought long in his defence,  
He finally by Cyrus was outrayed,  
And deprived by knightly violence,  
Take in the field there was no resistance,  
And rigorously to his confusion,  
With mighty fetters cast in dark prison.   

And more to increase his great adversity,  
A son of his tender & young of age,  
That was dumb from his nativity,  
And never spoke word in no manner language,  
Cyrus commanding by furious outrage  
That Croesus should by vengeable cruelty,  
By a knight of Perce in prison headed be,   

And with his sword as he 'gan menace,  
Croesus to have slain without all reverence,  
The dumb child there present in the place  
Which never had spoken, thus said in audience:  
Withdraw thy stroke, & do no violence,  
Unto my lord thy fame so to confound,  
To slay a king that lieth in prison bound.   

The knight astonished hath his stroke forborn  
Greatly abashed in that dark habitacle,  
Which heard a child that never spoke toforne  
Against his sword to make au obstacle,  
Ran and told this marvelous miracle  
To mighty Cirus, with every circumstance,  
Hoping thereby to atempre his grievance.   

But where as tyrants be set on cruelty,  
Their crooked malice full hard is to appease:  
So indurate is their iniquity  
That all in vengeance is set their hearts ease,  
Themself rejoicing to see folk in disease,  
Like as they were in their froward danger,  
clearly franchised fro god & his power.   

This cruel Cirus most vengeable of desire,  
To execute his fell intent in deed,  
Let make in haste of faggots a great fire,  
And 'gan them kindle with many coals read,  
And made Croesus' quaking in his dread,  
For to be take where as he lay full low,  
And bad men should in to the fire him throw.   

But jupiter which hath his vengeance sayne,  
How cruel Cirus with malice was attaint,  
From heaven sent a tempest and a rain,  
That suddenly the horrible fire was quaint:  
Woeful Croesus' with dreadful fire made faint,  
Escaped is his furious mortal pain,  
God and fortune for him list so ordain.   

This adventure in manner marvelous,  
The heart of Cirus 'gan somewhat tenbrace,  
And caused him for to be piteous  
Again Croesus, and granted him his grate,  
To occupy while he hath life and space,  
The land of Lyde, except only this thing  
He should not after be called king.   

And thus of Lyde the king did fine,  
Which took his beginning of one Ardisius,  
And endured the space of kings nine,  
Look who so will the books tell thus:  
Hereof no more but forth unto Cirus,  
I will proceed with all my busy cure,  
For to translate his woeful adventure.    

The xxvii Chapter.  
¶ How the cruel tyrant Cirus delighted ever in slaughter and shedding of blood, and so ended.  

Heir by descent to great Astyages,  
Poorly brought forth as is made mention,  
And had all asia to his great increases,  
Holding that reign by just succession,  
In long quiet without rebellion,  
Till time he thought in full froward wise,  
The world was small to staunch his covetise.   

He had an ethic most contagious,  
freting upon him for desire of good,  
A dropsy hateful and furious,  
Of froward rage that made his heart wood,  
A woluyshe thirst to shed man's blood,  
Which overth warted by false melancholy,  
His royal courage, in to tyranny.   

But when he presumptuously did intend  
To rob & reave folk through his pillage,  
God and fortune made him to descend  
Full suddenly from his royal stage,  
deeming of pride it was a great advantage,  
To win lands of very force and might,  
though in his conquest were no title of right.   

To will he gave holy the sovereignty,  
And advertised nothing to reason:  
But preferred his sensuality  
To have lordship and domination  
Above sad troth and discretion,  
Which causeth princes from their estate royal,  
Or they be ware to have a sudden fall.   

For the lordship of all Asia  
Might not suffice to Cirus greediness,  
But thought he would conquer Cithia,  
And there were to increase his riches,  
Though he no title had of right wiseness,  
Save false lust whereof men should have ruth.  
That will in princes should oppress truth.   

first his Cirus all princes did excel  
Both in conquest, victory, & battle,  
Of gold & treasure, as books of him tell,  
Kingdoms to win he did most prevail:  
And yet two vices did his heart assail,  
first covetise ever to increase in good,  
With a desire to shed men's blood.   

With two vices he burned ever in one  
That never might from his heart twin,  
Made a great army toward Septentrion,  
And cast him proudly to set on and begin  
Cithia the mighty land to win:  
Queen Thomiris there reigning as I find  
Whose kingdom joineth to Ethiope in Ind.   

Toward the party which is oriental,  
The see of Surry floweth full plenteous,  
Down to the see called occidental,  
And southward runneth to Caucasus:  
And folk of Cithie that been laborious  
Which till the land hath not to their living,  
But only fruits which from th'earth spring.   

The land of Cithie is rich for the nonce,  
For greyne & fruit a land full covenable,  
Rich of gold pearl and precious stones,  
Right commodious and wonder delectable:  
But a great party is not habitable,  
The people dreadful to build their mansions,  
For fear of death because of the griffons.   

The noble fame nor the high renown  
Was not far know nor ysprad about  
Of Thomiris queen of that region,  
Nor of her noblesse within nor without,  
Till that king Cirus with a full great rout,  
In to Cithia 'gan him proudly dress,  
The hardy queen to spoil of her richesses.   

But she her fame more to magnify,  
'Gan in great haste with full rich apparel  
Full prudently assemble her chivalry:  
And took a field, if he would her assail  
Ready with him to have a battle,  
And of her meinie like as saith my book,  
Unto her son the third part she took.   

And gave him charge in the same place,  
Himself that day to acquit like a knight,  
And for to meet Cirus in the face  
And nothing dread with him for to fight:  
But when king Cirus of him had a sight,  
Cast him that day the young prince oppress,  
Rather by wiles than manhood or prowess.   

first he let stuff his large pavilions  
With great plenty of drinks delectable,  
divers meats and confections,  
Round about upon every table,  
And in his meaning passing deceivable,  
Like as he had in manner dreadful be,  
Took all his host and 'gan anon to i'll.   

This young prince of meaning innocent,  
Nothing deeming, as by supposayle,  
But y● Cirus was with his meinie went,  
And sled for fear he durst him not assail:  
And when he found such plenty of victual,  
He & his knights through misgovernance,  
To eat and drink set all their pleasance.   

They had of knighthood lost the discipline,  
Forsook Mars & put him out of sight,  
And to Bacchus their heads 'gan incline:  
Gorge upon gorge till it drough to night,  
And proud Cirus came on them anonryght,  
With all his host they out of their armure,  
On beastial folk made a discomfiture.   

Cruel Cirus left none alive,  
Of high nor low made none exception:  
They were to feeble again his might to strive,  
For chief cause of their destruction  
Was drunkenness, which voideth all reason,  
And wise men rehercen in sentence,  
Where folk be drunken there is no resistance.   

And when this slaughter by relation  
Reported was, & brought to the presence  
Of Thomiris queen of that region,  
Unto her heart it did full great offence:  
But of ire and great impatience  
Seeing her son slain in tender age,  
For sorrow almost she fill in to a rage.   

But for all her woeful deadly pain,  
She showed no token of feminite:  
But of prudence her weeping 'gan restrain,  
And cast her plainly avenged for to be  
Upon king Cirus, and on his cruelty,  
Sent out meinie to espyen his passage,  
If she him find might at advantage.   

And with her meinie 'gan feign a manner flight,  
Up to the mountains dreadful & terrible,  
And Cirus after 'gan haste him anon right,  
In hope to take her if it were possible:  
Among which hills more than it is credible  
Ben craggy roches most hideous of entail,  
Perilous of passage, & void of all victual.   

And Cirus there fell in great danger,  
All unpurveyed of drogemen or of guide:  
To foster his people victual was none there,  
Erring as beasts upon every side.  
And they of Cithie 'gan for him so provide,  
Whereof their queen god wot was full fain,  
At great mischief that all his men were slain.   

None of all was taken to ransom,  
Nor he himself escaped not her bounds,  
Such wait was laid to their destruction,  
And he through pierced with mortal wounds,  
On pieces rend as bears been with hounds,  
The queen commanding when he lay thus torn  
To her presence his body to be borne.   

first she hath charged to smite of his head,  
When she hath thus the victory of him won:  
And in a bath that was all blood red,  
She 'gan it throw within a little ton:  
And of despite right thus she hath begun  
Most tirauntly in her woeful rage,  
To dead Cirus to have this language:   

O thou Cirus that whilom were so wode,  
And so thrustlewe in thy tyranny,  
Again nature so to shed man's blood,  
So woluyshe was thine hateful dropsy,  
That mercy none might it modify,  
Thine ethic joined greedy and unstable,  
With thrust of slaughter aye to be vengeable.   

It is an horror in manner for to think,  
So great a prince rebuked for to be  
Of a woman, man's blood to drink,  
For to disclaundre his royal majesty,  
But gladly ever vengeable cruelty  
Of right requireth with unware violence,  
Blood shed for blood justly to recompense.   

Of mighty Cirus the imperial noblesse  
Was by a woman venquyshed & borne down,  
God made her chastise his furious woodness,  
And for toppresse his famous high renown:  
For where vengeance hath domination,  
In worldly princes, plainly to devise  
With unware stroke god can then chastise.   

th'end of Cirus can bear full well record,  
How god with standeth folk that been vengeable,  
Lordship & mercy when they been at discord,  
Right will not suffer their state to be stable:  
And for this Cirus was so unmerciable,  
He with unmercy punished was in deed,  
Death quit for death, lo here his final meed.   

In slaughter & blood he did greatly delight  
For in though twain was his repast in deed,  
He found no mercy his vengeance to respite  
Where he found matter any blood to shed,  
Such joy he had by death to see folk bleed▪  
And for the sight did him so much good,  
His fatal end was for to swim in blood.   

Lo here thexequies of this mighty king,  
Lo here the end of his estate royal,  
There were no flames nor brands shining  
To bren his body with fires funeral,  
Nor observances nor offerings martial,  
Nor tomb of gold with stones rich & fine,  
Was none ordained to make with his shrine.   

epitaphy there was none red nor song  
By no poet with their poetries,  
Nor of his triumphs there was no bell rung,  
Nor no weepers with sobbing tragedies:  
None attendance but of his enemies,  
Which of hatred in their cruel rage,  
Cast out his carrion to beasts most savage.   

Lo here of Cirus the final adventure,  
Which of all Asie was whilom emperor,  
Now lieth he abject without sepulture,  
Of high nor low he found no better favour:  
Lo here the fine of all worldly labour,  
Namely of tyrants which list not god dread,  
But set their lust to slaughter & blodeshede.   

Lenuoye.  

Right noble princes consider in your sight  
The fine of Cirus piteous & lamentable  
How god punisheth of equity & right  
tyrants eachone cruel and vengeable:  
For in his sight it is abominable  
That a prince, as philosophers writ,  
In slaughter of men should himself delight.   

This said Cirus was a full manly knight  
In beginning right famous and notable,  
Nature gave him seemliness & might,  
For in conquest was none seen more able,  
Till tyranny the serpent disceyvable  
Merciless his courage did atwite,  
In slaughter of men when him 'gan delight.   

Wherefore ye princes remember day & night,  
Tafforce your nobles & make it perdurable,  
To get you favour & love of every wight,  
Which shall your states conserve & keep stable:  
For there is conquest none so honourable  
In governance, as vengeance to respite,  
Mercy preferring in slaughter not delight.     

The xu Chapter.  
¶ How Amilius for covetise slough his brother, and Remus and Rumulus nourished by a wolves.  

AFter king Cirus Bochas did espy  
Two worthy brethren with faces piteous,  
Borne by descent to reign in Albany,  
Both of one father the story telleth us:  
The one of them called Amulius  
And to remember the name of that other,  
Numitor called was his brother   

They had a father which named was Prochas,  
King of the land the story doth devise,  
After whose death plainly this is the case,  
Amulius for false covetise,  
His brother slough in full cruel wise,  
That he unjustly by false tyranny  
Might have the kingdom alone of Albany.   

This Albany by description  
Like as Bochas affirmeth in certain,  
Is a city not far fro Rome town,  
Set on an hill beside a large pleine:  
The building stately, rich & well beseine,  
Strong walls with many a high tour,  
And Ascanius was first thereof foundour.   

Which called was in his foundation,  
Albania for the great whiteness,  
There kings after by succession  
Named Albanois princes of great nobles,  
And by descent the story beareth witness  
From king Prochas record on books old,  
Came these ii brethren Rea their sister told.   

Numitor slain as made is mention  
The kingdom occupied by Amulius,  
And Rea entered in to religion,  
For to be wimpled in that holy house,  
Sacred to Vesta with virgins glorious,  
There for to abide & be contemplatife,  
With other maidens during all her life.   

And this was done while she was young of age,  
By her brother, of false entention,  
That she should have no manner heritage  
Nor claim no title in that region,  
Of her kindred by none occasion:  
But stand professed in virginity  
To fore Vesta, and live in chastity.   

Yet not withstanding her virginal cleanness,  
She hath conceived by natural miracle:  
'Gan to increase in her holiness,  
Whose womb arose, in kind was no obstacle,  
Again such bolning availeth no treacle:  
But the gods for her so did ordain,  
That she at ones had sons twain.   

The temple of Vesta stood in wilderness,  
Where Rea had holy the governance  
Of priestly honour done to the goddess,  
With many strange uncouth observance:  
But by her brother's mortal ordinance,  
Her young sons might not be succoured,  
But cast out to beasts to be devoured.   

But a she wolf which whelped had late,  
To give them soak did her business,  
By god ordained or by some heavenly fate,  
Then to conserve fro death in their distress:  
For holy writ plainly beareth witness,  
God can defend as it is well couth,  
Children from mischief in their tender youth.   

But in this while this said Amulius,  
That was their uncle, as made is mention,  
Again his sister froward and furious,  
Made her be shut in a full dark prison:  
And there complaining the destruction  
Of her two children borne to her reproof,  
For very sorrow died at great mischief.   

These said children devoid of all refuse  
Beside a river lay piteously crying,  
From all succour naked and destitute,  
Except a wolves upon them waiting  
At whose womb full style they lay souking,  
Unto nature a thing contrarious,  
Children to souke on beasts ravenous.   

But he that is lord of every creature  
Right as him list can both save & spill,  
And beasts which been rage of their nature  
He can advert, & make them lie full still,  
Tigers & lions obedient at his will:  
The same lord hath made a fell w●l●esse  
Unto fifty children her bigges for to dress.   

And while this wolves had them in depose,  
There came an heard called Faustulus,  
Beheld their souking & saw them lie full close,  
Which shepherd was of king Amulius:  
Caught up these children the story telleth thus  
And brought them forth with great diligence,  
Unto his wife that called was Laurence.   

And she for love did her busy pain,  
Them to fostre, till they came of age,  
Gave them souke of her breasts swain,  
Fro day to day of heart and hole courage:  
And they were called as in that language,  
After the story that one of them Remus,  
And the second was named Romulus.   

Of which brethren briefly to termine,  
The town of Rome took original:  
Of false disclaundre first began that line,  
The rote out sought full vicious found at all,  
clearly remembered for a memorial  
Their beginning grew of such incontinence,  
As clerks call Incestus in sentence.   

Incestus is a thing not fair nor good  
After that books well devise con,  
As trespassing with kin or with blood  
Or froward meddling with her that is a nun:  
And thus the line of Rome was begun,  
For slaughter, murder, and false robbery  
Was chief beginning of all their ancestry.   

Of covetise they took their advantage,  
Lyggers of ways and robbers openly,  
Murderers also of their own lineage,  
And strong thieves gate to their company,  
Spoiled all tho that passed them forby,  
Under shadow of keeping their beastayle,  
All manner people they proudly did assail.   

To ●lee merchants they had no conscience,  
And for to murder folk of every age,  
Women to oppress of force and violence,  
In all that country this was their usage:  
Where they abode there was no sure passage.  
And these two brethren like as it is found,  
Fond first the manner of spears sharp groude.   

Aspeare in greek called is quiris,  
And for that cause the said Romulus,  
As books say, and soothly so it is  
He afterward was called Quirinus.  
Which with his brother that called was Remus,  
Was in all thing confederate & partable,  
That tofore god was vicious & damnable.   

And as it was according to their life,  
For lack of virtue they fill in great diffame,  
And atween them there was an uncouth stryte,  
Which of both should give the name  
Unto the city, atween earnest and game,  
After their names Rome to be called,  
Thus fill the case afore or it was walled.   

And thereupon full long lasted their strives,  
Which should of them have domination,  
Showing their titles and prerogatives,  
Who should of them give name to the town,  
And reign as king in that region:  
There was no reason who should go before,  
Because they were both at once borne.   

But to finish their fraternal discord,  
They have provided atween them anon right,  
Thus condiscending to put them at accord,  
Nouther by force, oppression, nor might,  
That which of them saw greatest flight  
Of birds flying high upon an hill,  
Should name the city at his own will.   

Of this accord for to be witness,  
They with them lad a full great multitude,  
Thereof to give a doom of rightwiseness,  
Both of wise and of people rude,  
All at ones this matter to conclude:  
And to an hill called Auentyne,  
They been ascended this matter for to fine.   

And birds six to Remus did appear,  
By augury as they 'gan proceed,  
Called vultures full fierce in their manner,  
But in numbered the double did exceed  
That Romulus saw when he took heed:  
Whereof there fill a great contraversy,  
Which of them should prevail on his party.   

Thus first of all Remus had a sight  
Of six birds called Vultures,  
And for to advance & prefer his right,  
He full proudly put himself in prees:  
But Romulus was not reckless  
His brother's claim plainly to entrouble,  
Afforced his title with the numbered double.   

Yet of his purpose one of them must fail,  
Though it so be that they ever strive:  
But Romulus 'gan finally prevail,  
And to the city he forth went blyve,  
And as auctors list eachone describe,  
And in their books as they rehearse all,  
After his name Rome he did it call,   

And all foreins to exclude out  
And again them to make strong defence,  
first he began to wall it round about,  
And made a law full dreadful in sentence,  
Who climbeth the wall by any violence,  
Outward or inward there is no more to say  
By statute made he must needs dey.   

This was enact by full plain ordinance  
In pain of death which no man break shall,  
But so befell Remus of ignorance,  
Which of the statute knew nothing at all,  
Of adventure went over the wall,  
For which a knight ordained in certain  
The said Remus hath with a pykeiss slain.   

His brother list not in no manner wise  
Again the law to be favourable,  
But assented parcel for covetise,  
Upon Remus to be more vengeable:  
Of this intent to make his reign stable,  
That he alone might govern & non other  
By no claim brought in by his brother.   

And that the people should then more delight  
There to abide and have possession,  
As old auctors of Romulus do write,  
Within the bounds of the same town,  
That he devised by great provision,  
In compass round so chroniclers compile,  
A teritory that called was Asyle.   

This Asylum by Romulus devised,  
Was a place of refuge and socours,  
Like a theatre with liberties franchised,  
For to receive all foreign trespassers,  
thieves, murderers, wayliggers, & robbers  
By great resort within the walls wide,  
To foster all bribers y● durst nowhere abide.   

And with fled people fro divers regions,  
The city 'gan to increase and multiply:  
And banished folk of strange nations,  
To find refuge thither 'gan them high.  
And thus by process 'gan their chivalry,  
First through tyrants reckless of working  
Till all the world obeyed their bidding.   

Of wilful force without title of right  
They brought all people under subjection,  
A claim they made by violence and might,  
And took no heed of troth nor reason,  
And the first author of their foundation,  
Was Romulus, that gathered all this rout  
Within the city and walled it about.   

And many day as made is mention  
He had this city in his governance,  
And was the first king crowned in that town,  
And reigned there by continuance,  
Full many years, till the variance  
Of fortune through her false envy,  
In Campania made him for to die.   

Upon a day when it 'gan thunder loud,  
His name forever to be more magnified,  
Some books say he was rapt in a cloud,  
High up in heaven to be stellified,  
With other Gods stately deified,  
There to be stalled by Jupiter's side,  
Like for his knights as Mars list provide.   

Lo here of paynims a false opinion,  
To Christ's law contrary and odious,  
That tyrants should by false oppression  
Be called gods or named glorious,  
Which by their liue were found vicious:  
For this plain troth I dare it well tell,  
They rather been fiends full deep in hell.   

For but in earth their domination  
Conveyed be by virtuous nobles,  
And that their power and high renown  
Be set on troth and rightwiseness,  
Like their estates in prince or princess,  
I dare affirm of them both twain,  
For vicious living they must endure pain.   

But when they been faithful of intent,  
Right and troth justly to maintain,  
And in their royal power be not blended,  
Wrongs redressing and poor folk sustain,  
And so contune with conscience so clean:  
Such life more rath than pomp of wars,  
Shall make them reign in heaven above the stars.   

For which let princes understand at once,  
And worldly princess's with all their riches,  
That their high horns fret with rich stoves,  
To heaven their passage doth not dress,  
But virtuous life, chatitye, and meekness:  
When they list pride out of their heart arace,  
That causeth them in heaven to win a place.   

There is no more strange abusion,  
Ne tofore god greater idolatry,  
Than when princes list catch affection  
Creatures falsely to deify,  
By collusion brought in by sorcery,  
Now god defend all princes well disposed,  
With such false craft never to be enoysed.   

And their eyen by none illusions  
Be not avieugled neither with hook nor line,  
Nor by no boytes of false inspections  
Wrought by Cyrene's by drink or medicine,  
Which of their nature resemble to a shrine,  
Through riches outward & beauty sovereign  
And who look inward be like to a caraine.   

God of his grace amend all such outrage,  
In noble princes, & save them from such were  
And them enlumine disposing their courage  
In such false worship they no more ne err:  
Like to Argus that they seen a far,  
That no false faging cause them to be blind,  
Gods nor goddesses to worship again kind.   

And though that Romans did worship & honour  
To Romulus by a constraint dread,  
Let no man take example of their error,  
But to the lord whose sides were made read,  
To save mankind and on a cross was deed.  
Let men to him in chief their love observe,  
Which can then quite better than they deferue    

¶ The xxix Chapter.  
☞ How Mecius' king of Albanoys being false of his oath and assurance, was drawn into pieces.  

NExt Romulus with tears all bespraint,  
Unto John Bochas appeared Mecius,  
Of cheer and look & of his port faint,  
His fall declaring froward & despitous,  
And he was called eke Sufficius,  
low of birth and simple in upgrowing,  
Of Albanoys till fortune made him king.   

Again whose pride the Romans 'gan warray  
Full mightily oppressing his country:  
And for king Mecius list them not obey,  
They cast them fully avenged for to be,  
Because his birth was but of low degree,  
And was risen up unto estate royal,  
They them purpose to give him a sudden fall.   

Hasty climbing of poverty set on height  
When wrong title maketh him to ascend,  
With unware poise of his own might  
A sudden fall maketh him to descend,  
When he list not of surquedy intend  
Fro whence he came, nor himself to know,  
Till god & fortune his pomp hath overthrow.   

For this Mecius of presumption,  
Thought again romans his pride might avail,  
'Gan war again them by rebellion,  
Was not fearful their nobles to assail,  
Till on a day was signed a battle:  
Both their hosts within a field to meet,  
To take their part be it sour or sweet.   

That time in Rome reigned Hostilius,  
A manly man and a full worthy knight,  
between him concluded and king Mecius  
They twain to meet in steel armed bright,  
For both battles to try out the right,  
By just accord and therein not vary,  
The party vanquished to be tributary.   

And wholly put him in subjection  
Without entreating or any more delay,  
And finally for short conclusion  
King Hostilius the triumph won that day,  
That Albanoy could not say nay,  
But that romans as put is in memory,  
By singular battle had won the victory.   

Thus had romans first possession  
Of Albanoys, to obey them and to dread,  
Mecius yielded and sworn to the town  
Never to rebel for favour ne for meed,  
But for he was double found in deed  
Of his assurance, and false to their city,  
He was chastised anon as ye shall se.   

Against Fidinates' a country of Itaile,  
King Hostilius for their rebellion,  
Cast he would meet them in battle,  
For common profit and for diffension  
Both of his city and of his royal town:  
And for to afforce his party in working,  
Of Albanoys he sent unto the king   

To come in haste with his whole chivalry,  
And tarry not in no manner wise,  
But make him strong to sustain his party,  
Like his behest as ye have heard devise.  
But king Mecius full falsely 'gan practice,  
A sleighty treason and a covert wile,  
Against his promise the romans to beguile.   

Yet he outward pretending to be true,  
Came to the field with ae full great meinie,  
Living in hope to see some changes new  
That he on Rome might avenged be:  
And specially that he might see  
King Hostilius of froward envy,  
That day outrayed with all his chivalry.   

First when he saw the romans enbattailed  
And Fydinates' on that other side,  
Their wards ready for to have assailed,  
He covertly did on an hill abide,  
And to nor fro list not go nor ride,  
Nor his person put in jeopardy:  
But who was strongest to hold on the party.   

Whereof the romans fill in suspection  
Of king Mecius when they took heed,  
Till Hostilius of high discretion  
Through his knighthood put them out of dread▪  
And 'gan dissunule of Mecius the falsehood,  
And to comfort his knights of intent,  
Said what he did, was done by his assent.   

He was full loath that his chivalry  
Should know the effect of Mecius treason,  
Which cause might in all or in party,  
Full great hindering by some occasion,  
To dame in him falseness or treason:  
Yet of troth the story beareth witness,  
All that he meant was untruth and falseness.   

Thus of manhood and of high prudence  
He to his knights gave heart & hardiness,  
Made them set on by so great violence  
That he the field gate of high prows  
On Fidinates', brought in so great distress  
And so outrayed of force on every side,  
Tofore romans that they ne durst abide.   

And when Mecius saw them thus outrayed  
By a manner of feigned false gladness,  
Like as he had in heart be well apaid,  
To Hostilius anon he 'gan him dress,  
Himself rejoicing by counterfeit likeness:  
And for his meaning plainly was conceived  
So as he came, right so was he received.   

Thus when Mecius stood in his presence  
With a pretence of faithful stableness,  
And all the apport of troth in appearance  
He shadowed hath his expert doubleness,  
Under sweet honey covert bitterness:  
Friendly visage with words smooth & plain,  
though mouth & heart departed were in twain.   

But Hostilius hath all his fraud espied,  
And his compassed falseness and treason,  
And thereupon hath justly fantasied  
A pain according ypeysed of reason,  
Him to punish by a double passion:  
This to mean, like as he was divided,  
A double torment for him he hath provided.   

This was his doom and his fatal pain  
By Hostilius contrived of justice,  
His feet, his arms, atwene charets twain  
Naked and bare the story doth devise  
To be bound and knit in travers wise,  
Contrariously the horse to draw and hale,  
Till all his body were rend on pieces small.   

And right as he was cause of great trouble,  
Found aye in deed most full of variance,  
Therefore his pain was in manner double,  
Right as himself was double in governance  
False of his oath, of hest, and assurance,  
And double in meaning as he hath persevered  
So in his end his membres were dissevered.   

His feet were draw from the head asunder,  
There was no joint with other for to abide:  
Here was a leg and an arm lay yonder,  
Thus each member from other 'gan divide  
And for he could hold in other side,  
By false pretence to other party true,  
Him to chastise was found a pain new.    

The xxx Chapter.  
☞ A Chapter how princes should of their oaths and promises be true, avoiding all doubleness and deception.  

SO here the end of double false meaning  
When word & heart be contrarious:  
Oath and behest false found in a king,  
Of Albanoys as was this Mecius,  
O noble princes prudent and virtuous,  
Let never story after more record  
That word & deed should in you discord.   

For king Mecius vigilant of courage,  
Whose inward menig was ever on treason set,  
Trains contriving with a fair visage,  
His thought, his heart, with double cords fret,  
By Bochas called disobeyed & false baret:  
Which vice discriving concludeth of reason,  
Fraud of all frauds is false deception.   

For with a face flattering and peaceable,  
Pretending troth under false pleasance,  
With his panteris perilous and terrible  
Trappeth innocentes which gryns of mischance:  
I mean deceit, that which her countenance,  
folks englueth simple and reckless,  
And than warreth under a face of peace.   

puissance of princes famous & honourable,  
Hath been deceived by this traytouresse,  
And folk most prudent in their estate notable  
Hath be distroubled by such doubleness:  
And many a knight victorious of prows,  
Hath been entryked for all his high renown,  
By trains found of disobeyed & treason.   

disobeyed deceiveth & shallbe deceived,  
For by disobeyed who is deceivable,  
Though his disobeyed be not out perceived,  
To a disceyvoure disobeyed is retournable:  
Fraud quit with fraud is guerdon covenable  
For who with fraud fraudulent is found,  
To a defrauder fraud will aye rebound.    

¶ The xxxi Chapter.  
☞ Of king Hostilius that first weared purple hew, consumpt with fiery leaven.  

WHat should I more of deceit indite,  
Touching the fraud of king Mecius,  
For I me cast now finally to write  
The fatal end of king Hostilius:  
Which was the first as saith Valerius,  
In Rome city that auctors knew,  
Among kings that weared purple hew.   

But after all his triumphal noblesse,  
And many uncouth knightly high emprise,  
Fortune to appall the prise of his prowess,  
Made him to be in full froward wise,  
reckless and slow to do sacrifice,  
To Jupiter, for which sent from heaven,  
He was consumpt with sudden fiery leaven.   

Here men may see the revolutions  
Of fortunes double purveyance,  
How the most mighty of Roman champions  
Have suddenly be brought unto mischance:  
And their outrages to put in remembrance,  
Great conquest turned to woe from joy,  
For a rebuke I send them this lenuoye.   

¶ Envoy.  

Room remember of thy foundation,  
And of what people thou took thy beginning:  
Thy building 'gan of false dissension,  
Of slaughter, murder, & outrageous robbing  
giving to us a manner knowledging  
A false beginning auctors determine,  
Shall by process come unto ruin.   

Where be thy emperor's most sovereign of renown  
Kings exiled for outrageous living?  
Thy Senators with worthy Scipton,  
poets old thy triumphs rehearsing?  
Thy laureate knights most stately riding  
In high honour▪ for all their noble line,  
Is by longprocesse brought to ruin.   

Where is now Cesar that took possession  
First of the empire the triumph usurping?  
Or where is Lucan that maketh mention,  
Of all his conquest, by serious writing?  
Octavian most solemnly reigning?  
Where is become their lordshypor their line,  
Process of years hath brought it to ruin.   

Where is Tullius chief lantern of thy town,  
In rhetoric all other surmounting?  
Moral Senec or prudent sad Caton  
Thy common profit alway preferring?  
Or rightful trajan most justly in his deining  
Which on no party list not to decline,  
But long process hath brought all to ruin.   

Where is the temple of thy protection  
Made by Virgil, most curious of building?  
images erect of every region  
When any land was found rebelling  
Toward that part a small bell heard ringing,  
To that province the image did incline,  
Which by long process was brought to ruin   

Where is also the great extortion  
Of consuls and prefects oppressing?  
Of dictators the false collusion?  
Of Decemuir the froward deceiving?  
The great outrage in their living?  
Of all echeone the odious ravin,  
Hath by process them brought unto ruin.   

Where is become thy domination,  
Thy great tributes, thy treasures shining,  
The world all whole in thy subjection,  
Thy sword of vengeance all people menacing  
Ever greedy to increase in thy getting  
Nothing by grace which that is divine,  
Which hath the brought by process to ruin.   

In thy most highest exaltation,  
Thy proud tyrants provinces conquering,  
To god contrary by long rebellion,  
Gods, goddesses, falsely obeying,  
Above the stars by surquedous climbing:  
Till vengeance thy nobles did untwine,  
With new complaints to show thy ruin.   

Lay down thy pride and thy presumption,  
Thy pompous boast, thy lordship's increasing,  
Confess thine outrage & lay thy boast adown,  
All false Gods plainly defying,  
Lift up thine heart unto the heavenly king,  
Which with his blood thy sorrows for to fine,  
Hath made thy raunsum to save the fro ruin   

From old Saturn draw thine affection,  
His golden world fully despising,  
And from Jupiter make a digression,  
His silueren time heartily dispraising:  
Resort again which will and whole meaning,  
To him that is lord of the orders nine,  
Which meekly died to save the fro ruin.   

Though Mars be mighty in his ascension,  
By influence victories disposing,  
And bright Phoebus giveth consolation  
To worldly princes their nobles avaunsing:  
Forsake their rights and thy false offering:  
And to that lord bow down thy chine,  
Which shed his blood to save the fro ruin.   

Winged Mercury chief lord and patron  
Of eloquence and of fair speaking,  
Forsake his service in thine opinion,  
And serve the lord that governeth all thing,  
The stirred heaven the spheres eke moving,  
Which for thy sake was crowned with a spin,  
His heart eke pierced to save the fro tuyne.   

Cast up of Venus the false derision  
Her fiery brand her flatteries renewing,  
Of Diana the transmutations,  
Now bright, now pale▪ now clear, now dreping  
Of blind Cupid the fraudulent mocking  
Of Jun●, Bacchus, Proserpina, and Lucine,  
For none but Christ may save the fro ruin.   

Void of Cirses the bestial poison,  
Of Cyrene's the furious chanting:  
Let not Medusa do the no treason  
And fro Gorgones turn thy looking.  
And let Sinderesis have the in keeping,  
That Christ Jesus may be thy medicine,  
Again such raskayle to save the fro ruin.   

Of false idols make abjuration,  
To Similachres do no worshipping:  
Make thy resort to Christ's passion,  
Which may by mercy redress thine erring,  
And by his grace repair thy falling:  
So thou obey his virtuous discipline  
Trust that he shall restore thy ruin.   

His mercy is surmounting of foison,  
Ever increaseth without amenusing,  
Ay at full cche time and each season,  
And never waneth by none eclypsing:  
When men list make devoutly their reckoning  
To leave their sin & come to his doctrine,  
He ready is to keep them from ruin.   

O Rome, Rome, all old abusion  
Of ceremonies falsely disusing,  
Lay them aside, and in conclusion  
Cry god mercy thy trespass repenting,  
Trust he will not refuse thy asking,  
The to receive to labour in his vine,  
Eternally to save the from ruin.   

O noble princes of high discretion,  
scythe in this world is none abiding,  
poise conscience against will and reason,  
While ye have leisure of heart imagining,  
Ye bear not hence but your deserving:  
Let this conceit aye in your thoughts mine,  
By example of Rome, how all goth to ruin.     
¶ Thus endeth the second book.   



LIke a pilgrim which y● goeth on foot,  
And hath no horse to relieve his travail,  
Hot, dry, weary, and may find no boat  
Of well cold when thirst doth him assail,  
Wine nor liquor that may to him avail:  
Right so far I which in my business,  
No succour find my rudeness to redress.   

I mean as thus, I have no fresh liquor  
Out of the conduits of Calliope,  
Nor through Clyo in rhetoric no flower,  
In my labour for to refresh me,  
Nor of the sisters in number thrice three:  
Which with Cytherea on Pernaso dwell,  
They never gave me drink of their well:   

Nor of their springs clear and cristallyn  
That sprang by touching of the Pegase,  
Their favour lacketh my making to enlumin  
I find their balm of so great scarcity  
To tame their tons with some drop of plenty  
For Poliphemus through his blindness,  
Hath in me darked of Argus the brightness.   

Our life here short of wit the great dullness,  
The heavy soul troubled with travail,  
And of memory the blazing brotilnes:  
dread & uncunning have made a strong battle  
With weariness my spirit to assail,  
And with their subtle creeping in most quaint,  
Hath made my spirit in making for to faint.   

And overmore the fearful frowardness  
Of my stepmother called oblivion,  
Hath a bastille of foryetfulnes,  
To stop the passage, & shadow my reason,  
That I might have no clear direction  
In translating of new to quick me,  
Stories to write of old antiquity.   

Thus was I set and stood in double were,  
At the meeting of fearful ways twain,  
The one was this who ever list to lere,  
Where as good will 'gan me constrain,  
Bochas to accomplish for to do my pain,  
Came ignorance with a menace of dread,  
My pen to rest, I durst not proceed.   

Thus myself remembering on this book,  
It to traunslate I had undertake,  
Full pale of cheer astonished in my look,  
My hand 'gan tremble, my pen I felt quake,  
That despaired I had almost forsake  
So great a labour dreadful & importable,  
It to perform I found me so unable.   

Twe ne the residue of this great journey  
And little thereof that was begun:  
I stood checkmate for fear when I 'gan see  
In my way how little I had ●onne,  
Like to a man that failed day and son,  
And had no light to accomplish his viage,  
So far I stood aback in my passage.   

The night came on darked with ignorance,  
My wit was dull by clearness to discern  
In rhetoric for lack of suffisance,  
The torches out & quenched was the lantern,  
And in this case my style to govern  
Me to further I found none other muse,  
But hard as stone Pierides and Meduse.   

Support was none my dullness for to gye,  
Poverty approached in stolen crooked age,  
Mercury absent and philology,  
My purse aye light & void of all coinage,  
Bacchus far of to glad my courage,  
An ebb of plenty, scarcete at full  
Which of an old man maketh the spirit dull.   

But hope and trust to put away despair,  
Into my mind of new 'gan them dress:  
And chief of all to make wether fair,  
My lords freedom & bounteous largesse,  
Into mine heart brought such gladness,  
That through relieving of his benign grace,  
False indigence list me no more menace.   

O how it is an heartily rejoicing,  
To serve a prince that list to advertise  
Of their servants the faithful just meaning▪  
And list to consider to guerdon their service,  
And at a need list them not despise:  
But fro all danger that should them noy or grieve,  
Beth ever ready to help them and relieve.   

And thus relieved by the goodly heed,  
And through the nobles of this most knightly man  
All mists cleared of despair and dread  
Trust, hope, and faith, into my hartran:  
And on my labour anon forthwith I 'gan,  
For by clear support of my lords grace,  
All foraynes letting fro me I did enchase.   

For folk that use to make great voyages,  
Which underfong long travel and labour,  
When they have done great part of their passages  
Of weariness to assuage the rigour,  
Against faintyse to find some fau●●●,  
Look oft again parcel to be releue●,  
To see how much their journey is achieved.   

Cause why they so oft look again  
Backward turn look, and eke visage  
Is only this, that it may be sayen  
To them how much is done of their viage:  
Eke weary folk that gone on pilgrimage,  
Rest them some while a full large space,  
Laborious sweat to wipe fro their face.   

Their heavy farthel among they cast adown,  
At certain bounds to do their backs ease:  
At wells cold eke of entention  
Drink fresh water their grievous thirst to appease  
Or holesum wines their appetite to please,  
reckoning the miles by computations,  
Which they have passed of castles & of towns   

It doth them ease the number for to know  
sith they began, of many great journeys,  
Of high mountains, and of valleys low,  
And strange sights passing by countries,  
The uncouth building of boroughs and cities  
Counting the distance from towns & the spaces  
This is their talking at their resting places.   

The residue and the surplusage  
They reckon also of their labour coming,  
Think it is a manner advantage  
To have and see a clear knowledging  
Of things passed, & things eke following:  
For to their hearts it doth full great pleasance  
When all such thing is put in remembrance.   

And semblably john Bochas as I find,  
'Gan turn back his look and countenance,  
And to remember appointing in his mind  
To the stories rehearsed in substance,  
In his two books of sorrows & displeasance,  
Himself astonished marueiling a great deal  
The fall of princes from Fortunes wheel.   

Of their unhap as he doth rehearse,  
Toward themself the cause doth rebound,  
Their climbing up the heavens for to pierce,  
In worldly riches to increase and abound,  
Their greedy etike doth themself confound:  
And their thirst of having unstaunchable,  
Cause● their nobles to be so variable.   

High climbing up of reason who can see,  
Dulleth of brains the memorial,  
Blunteth the sight of high and low degree,  
Which from aloft maketh them to have a fall:  
Men say of old, who that covet all  
At the unset hour such one shall not cheese,  
But all his gathering at once shall he lose.   

For worldly folk which so high arise  
With the great poise of worldly abundance,  
And with the weight of froward covetise,  
Namely where Fortune holdeth the balance,  
With unware turn of some unhappy chance,  
This stormy queen, this double Goddess,  
Plungeth them down from all their riches.   

Wherefore Bochas hereof to make a proof,  
showeth to purpose a sentence full notable:  
A clear example of such unware mischief,  
Writeth of an author by manner of a fable,  
Albe the meaning be full commendable,  
And well according in conclusion,  
To the clear purpose of his entention.   
Finis.   

¶ How Andalus doctor of Astronomy concludeth how Princes should not atwite constellations nor Fortune of their unhappy falling, but their demerits and vicious living.  
¶ The first Chapter.  

AT Naples whilom as he doth specify  
In his youth when he to school went,  
There was a doctor of astronomy,  
Famous of cunning and right excellent,  
Of him rehearsing shortly in sentment,  
His joy was most to study and wake,  
And he was called Andalus the black.   

He red in schools the meaning of the heaven,  
The kind of stars and constellations,  
The course also of the planets seven,  
Their influence and their motions:  
And held also in his opinions,  
The fall of princes the cause well out sought,  
Came of themself and of fortune nought.   

Nor the stars was nothing to wit  
By their moving, nor by their influence  
Nor that men should of right the heaven at wit,  
For no froward worldly violence:  
For this clerk there concluded in sentence,  
How men by virtue long may contune,  
From hurt of stars or of fortune.   

Their own desert is chief occasion  
Of their unhap who so taketh heed,  
And their demerits unwarely put them down,  
When vicious life doth their bridle lead:  
Course of fortune nor of the stars read,  
Hindereth nothing again their felicity,  
sith of free choice they have full liberty.   

God punished sin in many manner wise,  
Some he chastiseth for their own avail,  
Men may of reason in such case devise,  
Sin aye requireth vengeance at his tail:  
God of fortune taketh no counsel,  
Nor from her moving no man is more fire,  
As clerks writ, than is glad poverty.   

And unto purpose this author full notable,  
To his scholars there being in presence,  
Full demurely 'gan rehearse a fable,  
With many a colour of sugared eloquence,  
thereon concluding the sum of his sentence,  
Touching a strife which he did express,  
atween glad poverty, & this blind goddess.   

☞ A disputation between Fortune and glad poverty.  

HVod Andalus whilom of fortune  
In strait place there sat glad poverty  
Which resembled of look & of figure  
A reckless woman most ugly unto se,  
At a narrow meeting of high ways three,  
All to torn, to ragged, and to rend,  
A thousand patches upon her garment.   

She was hideous both of cheer and face,  
And in seeming void of sorrow and dread:  
And by that way as Fortune did pace,  
And of glad poverty suddenly took heed,  
She 'gan to smile and laughed at her in deed,  
By a manner scorning in certain,  
Of her array she had so great disdain.   

Whose froward laughter when poverty did espy  
How she of her had indignation,  
She rose her up of high melancholy  
Plainly to show her entention,  
Without good day or salutation,  
Doing to Fortune no manner reverence,  
Under these words, declaring her sentence.   

O thou Fortune most fool of fools all,  
What cause hast thou for to laugh at me,  
Or what disdain is in thine heart fall:  
Spare not a deal tell on let see,  
For I full little have ado with thee,  
Of old nor new I have none acquaintance  
Neither with the nor with thy governance.   

And when Fortune beholdeth the manner  
Of glad poverty, in her to torn weed,  
And knew also by countenance and cheer,  
How she of her took but little heed,  
Like as she had to her no manner need,  
The which things conceived and sayn,  
To poverty she answered thus again:   

My scornful laughter plainly was for thee,  
When I the saw so megre, pale, and lean,  
Naked and cold, in great adversity,  
Scabbed, scoruy, scalled, and unclean,  
On back and body as it is well seen,  
Many a beast walk in their pasture,  
Which day by day of new thou dost recure.   

Having nothing to wrap in thy head,  
Save a broad hat rend out of nattes old,  
Full of hunger for default of bread,  
Sleeping on straw in the frosts cold:  
And where thou comest as men may behold,  
For fear of thee, children them withdraw,  
And many a dog hath on thy staff ygnaw.   

To all estates thou art most odious,  
Men with the will have no dalliance,  
Thy fellowship is so contracious,  
Where thou abidest may be no pleasance:  
folk hate so deadly thy froward acquaitaunce  
That finally I dare conclude of thee,  
Where ever thou comest thy fellowship men i'll.   

When glad poverty 'gan plainly understand  
The rebukes rehearsed of Fortune,  
The rude reasons that she took on hand  
Which frowardly to her she did entune,  
As poverty were a refuse in commwe,  
By the repreves that Fortune on her laid,  
For which poverty, replied again & said.   

Fortune (quoth she) touching this debate  
Which of malice thou dost again me take,  
Be well certain touching my poor estate,  
I of free-will thy favour have forsake,  
And though folk say thou mayest men rich make  
Yet had I liefer be poor with gladness,  
Than with trouble posse de great riches   

For though thou seem benign & debonair  
By a manner counterfeit appearance,  
Fat and well fed with round cheeks fair,  
With many colours of troth as in pretence,  
As thereof faith were very existence,  
But under all thy flowers of freshness,  
The serpent glideth of change & doubleness   

And though thy clothing be of purple hew,  
With great awaiting of many chamberers,  
Of gold and pearl each day changed new,  
Cloth of gold and sundry fresh attires,  
And in thine household full many officers,  
Yet I dare well put in jeopardy  
With the to pleat and hold champarty.   

Thus glad poverty 'gan wax importune,  
Of there contrary of look and of language,  
Again this lady which called is Fortune:  
That of disdain she fill into a rage,  
Behold quod she of poverty the courage  
In wretchedness standing disconsolate,  
How again me she is now obstinate?   

She can not see how she stant outrayed  
far from the favour of my felicity,  
Yet of pride she is not dismayed  
Nor list not bow for to obey me,  
Though she be cast in mendicite:  
Farthest aback I do you well assure,  
In mischief set of any creature.   

But truly poverty for all thy truaundise  
Maugry thy pride and thine outrage  
I shall the punish in full cruel wise,  
To make the lout under my servage,  
Which resemblest a deadly image  
That were new risen out of his grave,  
And yet of pride darest against me rave.   

But when fortune had these words said,  
Glad poverty 'gan fall in great gladness,  
And again Fortune with a sudden braid,  
She 'gan her conceit out show and express:  
Fortune (quoth she) though thou be a goddess  
Called of fools yet learn this of me,  
From thy servage I stand at liberty.   

But if I shall algates have ado  
With the in arms most cruel & vengeable,  
Touching the quarrel that is atween us two,  
There is one thing to me right comfortable,  
That thy courage is flikering and unstable,  
And where an heart is in himself divided,  
Victory in arms for him is not provided.   

Me list nether flatter the nor fage,  
Nor the to anoint by adulation,  
Though flattery and feigned false language  
Appropred be to thy condition:  
And in despite of thy presumption,  
I have forsake of my free voluntie  
All the treasures of worldly vanity.   

Whilom I was as thou hast devised  
Servant to thee, and unto thy treasures,  
But from thy danger now that I am franchised  
Seeking of the nether for help nor succours,  
Menace kings and mighty emperors,  
For glad poverty late neither soon  
With thy riches hath nothing to done.   

For though thou have embraced in thy chain  
Worldly princes and goods transitory,  
And rich merchants under thy demeyne,  
givest to knighthood conquest and victory,  
The fading palm of laud and vainglory:  
But when eachone thy favour have recured,  
Than is glad poverty fire fro thy lure assured.   

All thy servants stand under dread,  
Quaking for fear of thy doubleness,  
For neither wisdom, force, nor manhood,  
freedom, bounty, love, nor gentleness,  
May in thy favour have no sickerness,  
They be so possed with winds in thy barge:  
Where as glad poverty goth free at his large.   

Thy menacing doth me no duresse,  
Which worldly princes dreden everichone,  
They may well quake for loss of riches,  
But I glad poverty thereof desire none:  
As flow & ebb all worldly things must gone,  
For after floods of Fortune's tide,  
The ebb followeth and will no man abide.   

flow and ebb to me both aliche,  
I dread nothing thy mutabilitee:  
Make whom thou list either poor or rich,  
For I nothing will require of thee,  
Nether lordship nor great prosperity,  
For with thy gifts who that hath to done,  
Of changes braydeth ofter than the Moon.   

Out of poverty came first these emperors  
That were in Rome crowned with laurere,  
Freedom and largesse made them first victors  
Causing their fame to shine bright and clear,  
Till covetise brought them in daungere:  
When they of folly in their most excellence  
To thy doubleness did reverence.   

For when freedom a prince doth forsake,  
And covetise put away largesse,  
And straightness into honsholde take,  
And nygardshyp exileth gentilues,  
Than is withdraw from their high noblesse  
The people's heart, and plainly to devise  
Of their servants farewell all good service.   

All such sudden changes in common,  
In this world used now fro day to day,  
eachone they come by fraud of false fortune,  
Experience hath put at assay:  
Love, troth, and faith, be gone far away,  
And if that trust with princes will not tarry,  
Little marvel though the people vary.   

For through thy changes of fraudulent fairness  
There is now used in every region  
Glad cheer outshewed with covert doubleness,  
Under the curtain of simulation:  
So secret is now adulation,  
That in this world may be no surety,  
But if it rest in glad poverty.   

Yet of thy perilous froward variance  
I set no store truly as for me,  
For all thy friendship concludeth with mischance,  
With sudden mischief of mutability:  
Which giveth me heart to have ado with thee,  
For suffisance in my poor estate,  
Shall to thy changes say suddenly chekmate.   

Fortune with anger almost despaired,  
Of these words took full great grievance:  
poverty (quoth she) which mayst not be appaired  
But I now show again the my puissance  
Men would little account my substance,  
O mighty poverty, O strong Hercules,  
Which against me puttest thyself in prees.   

Supposest thou it should the avail,  
Other by force or by hardiness  
To have ado with me in battle,  
Which am of conquest & of high prows,  
In arms called lady and princes?  
For there is none so mighty conqueror  
That may prevail without my favour.   

Of these words poverty nothing afeard,  
answered again thus plainly in sentence:  
Though I ne have spear, shield, nor sword,  
Nor chosen armure to stand at defence,  
polar, nor dagger, to make resistance,  
But bare and naked, anon it shallbe say  
If thou which me darest wrestle on the plain.   

Which shall be done under condition  
That none of us shall himself withdraw,  
But still abide of entention  
Till he that vaiquisheth ordained hath a law  
Such as him liketh against his fellow:  
The which law shall not be delayed  
To be accomplished on him that is outrayed.   

Of whose words Fortune again 'gan smile,  
That poverty proffered so proudly to assail,  
And upon this she stint a little while,  
And to poverty she put this opposayle.  
Who shall (quoth she) be judge of this battle,  
Or give doine justly atween us twain,  
Of this quarrel that we shall darayne?   

I ask also another question,  
Touching thy proffer of furious outrage:  
Where as thou puttest a condition  
And a law with full proud language,  
Where shalt thou find pledges or hostage,  
To keep the promise which thou dost ordain  
Thereof to abide the guerdon or the pain?   

I mean as thus if there be set a law  
atween us two, or a condition  
By surety which may not be withdraw,  
As under bond or obligation:  
But there is neither law nor reason  
May bind a beggar if it be well sought,  
When it is proved that he hath right nought.   

The sect of poverty hath a protection  
From all statutes to go at liberty,  
And from all law a plain exception:  
Than followeth it if thou bind thee  
To any law that may contrived be,  
It were fraud plainly to indite,  
Which hast right nought thy party to acquit   

Thou art so feeble if I came thereto  
That thou were brought unto utterance,  
For no power when that all were do  
Thou should fail to make thy finance,  
Both destitute of good and of substance:  
And sith no law now thy person may coart,  
It were folly with such one to ieoparte.   

If I would compulse the to wrack,  
To ask of the treasure of king Dary,  
On that party thou standest far aback,  
My payment so long should tarry  
Indigence would the to vary:  
And if I would thy person eke compare  
To Alysaunder, thy sides been full bare.   

And finally thou standest in such case  
Of misery, wretchedness, and need,  
That thou mightest of reason sing alas,  
Both forsake of friendship and kindred,  
And there is none dare pledge the for dread:  
Yet like a fool surprised with vainglory,  
Hopest of me to win the victory.   

Quod glad poverty I doubt never adele  
That the victory shall pass on my side,  
Pledge and hostages let them go, farewele,  
I ask no more of all thy great pride,  
But to th'end that thou wilt abide,  
Pledge thy faith, albe that some men saith,  
To trust in fortune there is full little faith.   

And for my part in this high emprise  
Sith I have pledges nether one nor twain  
More sure hostage can I not devise:  
But if so be the victory thou attain,  
Than yield I my body bound in a chain,  
Perpetually, like the condition  
With the to abide fettered in prison.   

Than Fortune laughed more than she did afore  
When she saw poverty so presumptuous,  
In his array all to ragged and to tore,  
And had neither rent, land, ne house:  
It is (quoth she) a thing contrarious  
Unto nature, who that can advert,  
To a beggar to have a sturdy heart.   

And if I the vainquished in battle,  
It were to me no worship nor advantage,  
What should thy body unto me avail  
The to enpryson straightly in a cage?  
It should be a charge and a costage  
Thine empty womb each day to fill,  
If thou mightest have victual at thy will.   

And if I would myself to magnify,  
Token of triumph after my char the lead,  
Men would dame it a manner mockery,  
And say in scorn take of that fool good heed,  
How she a beggar hath overcome in deed,  
Fought with her for to increase her name,  
Which conquest turneth to disclaunder & shame.   

Yet when I have brought the to utterance,  
My power shadowed and my great might.  
And thine outrage oppressed by vengeance,  
After all this as it is skill and right,  
It shallbe couth in every man's sight,  
Out declared the great difference,  
atween thy feebleness & my great excellence.   

Than to repress thy surquedy at ones,  
Cruel Orcus the tydogye infernal,  
Shall rend thy skin asunder from the bones  
To show my power which is imperial:  
And to declare in especial  
poverty reclaimed unto pride's lure,  
With me to plete may no while endure.   

And suddenly or glad poverty took heed,  
Fortune proudly first began t'assail,  
And unwarely hent her by the heed,  
deeming of pride that she may nat fail,  
Through her power to venquish this battle:  
But it may fall, a dwerye in his right,  
To outray a giant for all his great might.   

God taketh none heed to power nor strength,  
To high estate, nor to high noblesse,  
To square limbs forged on breed or length,  
But to quarrels grounded on right wisnesse:  
For out of wrong may growd no prowess,  
For where that troth holdeth champarty,  
God will his cause by grace magnify.   

Wherefore poverty strong in her intent,  
Light, and deliver, void of all fatness,  
Right well breathed, & nothing corpulent,  
Small of dyette, surfettes to repress,  
Again fortune proudly 'gan her dress:  
And with an ugly stern cruel face,  
'Gan in arms her proudly to embrace.   

povert was slender & might well endure,  
Fortune was round, short of wind, & breath:  
And wombs great oppressed with armure,  
For lack of wind the great stuff them slayeth,  
And many a man bringeth to his death:  
For overmuch of any manner thing,  
Hath many one brought to his undoing.   

A mean is best with good governance,  
To moche is nought, nor over great plenty,  
Gretter richesse is found in suffisance,  
Than in the floods of superfluity:  
And who is content in his poverty,  
And grudgeth nat for bitter nor for sote,  
What ever he be hath fortune under foot,   

covetise put him in no despair,  
Wherefore poverty in heart glad and light,  
life fortune full high up in the eyre,  
And her constrained of very force & might:  
For glad poverty of custom and of right,  
When any trouble again her doth begin,  
Ay of Fortune the laurer she doth win.   

Maugre Fortune in the eyre a loft,  
Constrained she was by wilful poverty,  
That to the earth her fall was full unsoft:  
For of povert the bony sharp knee,  
Slendre, and long, & lean upon to see  
hit fortune with so great a might,  
Again the heart, she might nat stand upright.   

To signify that poverty with gladness,  
Which is content with small possession,  
And giveth no force of treasure nor richesse,  
Hath over fortune the domination,  
And keepeth her ever under subjection:  
Where worldly folk with their rich aparaile,  
Live ever in dread lest fortune would fail.   

The poor man afore the thief doth sing,  
Under the woods with fresh notes shrill,  
The rich man full fearful of robbing  
Quaking for dread rideth forth full still:  
The poor at large goth where he list at will,  
Strongly fraunchysed from all debate & strife,  
The rich afeard always to lose his life.   

Thus glad poverty hath the palm ywonne,  
Fortune outrayed for all her doubleness,  
Upon whom poverty in haste is run,  
And strained her with so great duresse,  
Till she confessed & plainly did express,  
with faith & hand in all her great pain,  
To abide what law poverty list ordain.   

And in haste after this discomfiture,  
Fortune began to complain sore,  
But glad poverty which all thing might endure  
Charged fortune scorn her no more:  
For it was said sith go full yore,  
He that rejoiceth to scorn folk in vain,  
When he is loathest, shall scorned be again.   

Yet quoth povert though thou were despitous  
Words rehearsing which were nat fair,  
Strange rebukes full contrarious,  
And repreves many thousand pair,  
Thou shalt me find again ward debonair:  
For though a tongue be slanderous & vengeable,  
To slander again, is nothing commendable.   

Thou must consider touching our battle,  
The ordinance and imposytion  
That which of us in conquest do prevail,  
To bring his fellow to subjection:  
He shall obey the statute of reason,  
And accomplish of very due det,  
What law the victoure list upon him set.   

For which thou shalt the said law obey,  
With circumstances of the condition,  
By me ordained, and nothing again say:  
Make no grudging nor replycation,  
considered first the false opinion  
Of them that sayne all worldly adventure  
Of good and bad, abide under thy cure,   

Some poets and philosophers also,  
Would in this case make the a goddess:  
Which be deceived I dare say both two,  
And their error and folly to redress,  
I shall withdraw in very sickerness,  
Unhappy adventure away fro thy power,  
That she no more stand in thy danger.   

This law of new upon the I make,  
That first thou shalt all open in some plain,  
Juell adventure bind to a stake,  
Or to some pillar where she may be sayen:  
To show example to folk in certain  
That no man shall lose her ne discharge,  
But such as list with her to go at large.   

Hereof to make a declaration,  
Touching thy might of evil adventure,  
Thou shalt forego the domination,  
To hinder and harm any creature,  
But only fools which in thy might assure:  
They of their folly may feel great damage,  
Nat of thy power, but of their own outrage.   

For thilk fools which that list unbind  
This wretch called unhappy adventure,  
Of wit and reason they make themself blind,  
Like as the world stood in fortunes cure,  
As though she might assure them & unsure:  
And them dispose to wealth or wretchedness,  
In their error calling her a goddess.   

Such wilful wretches that themself betake,  
To put their freedom in her subjection,  
Of god above the power they forsake,  
And submit them again all reason,  
Under fortune's transmutation:  
Their liberty full falsely for to thrall,  
Namely when they a goddess list her call.   

With a dark mist of variation,  
Fortune hath clouded their natural light,  
And overshadowed their discretion,  
That they be blended in their inward sight,  
For to consider and behold a right,  
How god above put under man's cure,  
Fre choice of good his reason to assure.   

The lord enlumined of his bounteous largesse,  
With mind and wit his memorial,  
Toward all virtue his steps for to dress:  
Endued his reason for to be natural,  
Of frowardness till he wax bestial:  
To bind himself contrariously in deed,  
To serve fortune, atwene hope and dread.   

Thus bestial folk made her a goddess,  
Falsely weening she might them most avail,  
With her plenty's of abundant richesse:  
And some dame in their supposayle,  
with unware change she dare the great assail,  
Whose trust alway meddled is with trouble,  
And her pleasance includeth meaning double.   

And some affirm that she may advance  
Conquests great and discomfytures,  
And how it lieth also in her puissance  
To further and hinder all manner creatures,  
And call her princess of all adventures,  
The rich to enhance by royal apparel,  
And by disdain to hinder the porail.   

when she maketh most fulsome her proffers,  
Her blandisshing is farced with falsehood:  
when her riches been stuffed up in coffers,  
They been aye shut under a lock of dread.  
Wherefore ye rich of one thing take heed,  
As your gathering came in with pleasance,  
Right so your loss departeth with mischance.   

Your greedy thirst treasure to multiply  
Causeth an ethic of no suffisance:  
In you engendering a false dropsy,  
With a sharp hunger of worldly abundance  
Making of you a manner resemblance  
With Tantalus, when ye do deepest sink,  
Than is your nature most thrustlew to drink   

who climbeth highest on fortunes wheel,  
And suddenly to richesse doth ascend,  
An unware turn afore seen never a deal,  
When he least weeneth maketh him descend:  
Fro such changes who may him defend,  
But they that be with poverty not dismayed,  
And can with little hold themself apaid.     

The first Chapter.  
¶ How king Hostilius worshipping false gods was consumpt with fiery leaven.  

While Bochas 'gan muse in this matter.  
considered first all worldly thing must fail,  
With weeping eyen there did apere  
princes the whilom were famous in italy,  
Which 'gan their fall full pitously bewail:  
For more contrary was their falling low,  
That they tofore had no mischief know.   

For more uncouth is thilk adversity  
Namely to princes when it is sudden,  
Which ever have lived in prosperity,  
Having on Fortune no matter to complain,  
Than of a wretch that liveth aye in pain:  
Of custom causeth conceived the sentence,  
Of joy and sorrow a full great difference.   

Of joy passed the new remembrance  
When folk ben fall from their felicity,  
In triple wise it doth them great grievance:  
The unware turn from their tranquillity,  
The unsure trust and mutability  
In worldly power which they have found,  
Unto their hearts giveth a grievous wound.   

But to a wretch which in wretchedness  
Hath ever lived, & never was partable  
Of no welfare nor of wyelfulnesse,  
Nor never found Fortune favourable,  
His sorrow his mischief been so costomable,  
That of his pains long continuance  
Doth to his griefs a manner allegiance.   

But to Princes which sat so high aloft,  
A sudden fall is most contrarious,  
And their disending well the more unlofte,  
In their triumphs that they were glorious,  
Reccorde I take of king Hostylius,  
Which in Rome from his royal stall,  
When he sat crowned, most suddenly is fall.   

It is remembered of old and not of new,  
Of all Rome that he was lord and sire,  
The first of kings the weared purple hew,  
And of that City governed the empire:  
Had of Fortune all that him list desire,  
Till that he fill in all his regaly,  
In to a froward deadly malady.   

And of his pains to find alleyeaunce,  
To the temples he went on pilgrimage:  
His offering made with devout obeisance,  
Whereby somedeal his pains did assuage,  
And he was restored of courage,  
Felt himself that he did amend,  
To common profit again he 'gan intend.   

Upon the Albaynes reigning in his glory,  
To great avail of Rome the city,  
Through his knighthood he had a great victory:  
After the which by full great cruelty,  
He beraf●e them franchise and liberty,  
And made them after through his high renown,  
To be to Rome under subjection.   

After his conquest the story doth devise,  
In his noblesse full stately and royal,  
He 'gan make a rich sacrifice  
To queme and please for a memorial,  
After the rights ceremonial,  
To Jupiter, by full great reverence,  
Afore his auters with fires and incense.   

But for that he in his inward intent  
By circumstances of his oblation  
Was reckless found, and also negligent,  
By some froward false affection,  
The gods caught an indignation:  
And suddenly descending from the heaven,  
He was consumpt with a fiery leaven.   

His false gods might him nat avail,  
Jupiter, Saturnus, Mars, nor Venus,  
Let all christian defy such raskayle,  
For to our faith they be contrarious:  
And among gods a thing most outrageous  
Is when that princes bleut in their folly,  
List earthly things falsely deify.   

For unto God is hateful and audible  
A withdrawing of his reverence,  
To magnify things corruptible  
with undue honour, with false concupiscence:  
Wherefore ye prices beware, of high prudence,  
Lest god unwarely punish your noblesse,  
Make you in earth no false God nor gods.    

¶ The second Chapter.  
¶ How Anchus king of Rome was murdered by Lucinyo by the assent of his wife.  

Think on Anchus king of Rome town,  
Which was so noble shining in glory,  
Weared a crown, full famous of renown,  
Next Hostilius as put is in memory,  
Won the palm of many a great victory:  
But for all that with a full sharp knife,  
He murdered was by assenting of his wife.   

He loved her best above each creature,  
Considered not her statery nor falseness,  
Her double meaning under coverture,  
Falsely blended this prince's worthiness,  
To rob & reave him of his great richesses  
Was her labour, with counterfeit pleasance,  
In her intent to bring him to mischance.   

This anchus had a great affection  
Unto his gods to make sacrifices,  
And to augment the religion  
Of paganysme, made in sundry wises,  
Through his manhood & circumspect devices,  
Upon Latins rebel to his city,  
For common profit he made a great army.   

One of their cities called Polotory,  
He knightly won maugre all their might:  
And when he had of them full victory,  
He abode no longer, but anon forth right  
Made all the people in every man's sight,  
As prisoners, this roman champion,  
Brought afore him bound in to the town.   

Eke as I find this Anchus nolde cease  
For common profit in his affection,  
Their territories to augment and increase,  
In all the countries about environ,  
Toward the river where Tiber runneth down  
At the which place he let edify  
A full strong city, which called is Ostye.   

But not withstanding all his worthiness,  
He was deprived, the story telleth so,  
Of his kingdom and his great richesses,  
By a foreign, called Lucinio:  
His wife Tarquild assented was thereto,  
By whose outrage and greedy covetise,  
Anchus was murdered in full cruel wise.    

The iii Chapter.  
¶ How Lucinio that murdered Anchus was after murdered.  

THus fro the wheel of fortune he is fall,  
Lucinio in Rome is crowned king:  
And the romans after did him call  
Tarquin the old, by record of writing.  
Which hath atayned by fraudulent working,  
And by his subtle forged eloquence,  
Unto the state of royal excellence.   

He first ordained in his estate royal,  
Attorneys, jousts, in Castles and cities,  
And other plays called martial,  
With many famous great solempnitees,  
Sessions for states and degrees:  
This Tarquin eke was first that did his pain  
In open streets, taverns to ordain.   

Eke to preserve his city out of doubt  
If their enemies list them to assail,  
He was the first that walled Rome about,  
With mighty towers unlikely for to fail:  
And had also many a strong battle  
With sabines, in their rebellion,  
And made them subject unto Rome town.   

But for he was assented to deprive  
Worthy Anchus from his estate royal,  
And after that took Tanquylde unto wife,  
Which slough her lord by treason mortal,  
God would of right that he should have a fall  
The lord will not, which every thing may see,  
Suffer murdre long to be secre.   

For Lucinio for his great offence  
touching the murder of king Anchus,  
yslain was by sudden violence,  
Of two shepherds, the story telleth thus,  
Which of intent were contrarious  
Atwene themself by a feigned strife,  
To find a way to reave him of his life.   

For while the king sat in judgment  
Upon their quarrel for to do justice,  
Full suddenly they being of assent,  
Fill upon him in full cruel wise.  
And with an axe the story doth devise,  
One of them or any man took heed,  
On two parties roof the kings heed.   

This thing was done by the procuring  
Of two children, sons to Anchus,  
Which were exiled by false compassing  
Of Lucinio, again them most irous,  
To him their presence was so odious:  
But they shope though they were out of sight,  
Their father's death to avenge if they might   

For of nature blood will avenged be,  
To recompense the wrong of his kyntede:  
In this chapter like as ye may see,  
bloodshed for blood thus both did bleed,  
By which example let princes take heed  
how murder done for supplantation,  
Requireth vengeance for his guerdon.   

Lenuoye.  

This tragedy by clear inspection  
Openly declareth in substance,  
How slaughter of prices causeth subversion  
Of realms, cities put out of ordinance,  
Of mortal were long continuance,  
Blood by supplanting shed of kings twain,  
By example showed false murdre to restrain.   

The fine declaring of murder & false treason,  
The deed horrible crieth aye vengeance,  
To god above to cast his eyen down,  
To punish this sin through his puissance:  
For i● is mother of mischief and mischance,  
Wherefore ye princes do some law ordain  
Within your bounds three vices to restrain.   

The vice of slander, murder, and poison,  
Where ever these three have acquaintance,  
They bring in sorrow and desolation:  
Put at a proof by new remembranuce,  
Of falsehood used under fair countenance,  
Wherefore ye princes do your busy pain,  
Within your bounds these vices to restrain.   

God defend this noble region,  
With these three vices to have alliance,  
For slander first devoureth high renown,  
And slayeth good fame through false dalliance,  
Harm done, to late followeth repentance,  
Wherefore ye princes do a law ordain,  
To punish their malice falls tongues to restrain   

God hath of murdre abomination,  
And false poison doth to him displeasance,  
There is no pain in comparison  
Condygne to murder, poised in balance:  
Wherefore ye princes make an ordinance  
Within your bounds of some privy pain,  
By dae punishing false murdre to restrain.   

O noble princes provide of reason  
Again these vices to make purveyance,  
Of rigour show due execution,  
With your labour and heartily instance,  
Let death be guerdon for their final penance:  
To warn other by constraint of their pain,  
From these iii vices their courages to restrain.     

The four Chapter.  
¶ how for the offence done to Lucrece by Tarquyn, was never after crowned king in Rome.  

TOuching this Tarquin of whom I told  
As mine author maketh mention,  
He called was Tarqvinius the old,  
Which long in Rome had domination:  
Till his kindred and generation  
For the offence done unto Lucrece,  
Caused of kings the names to cece.   

For his son which after did succeed,  
For his outrages and his extortions,  
And for many an other cruel deed,  
For his hateful usurpations,  
His froward life and false conditions,  
Among the people both still and loud,  
He called was Tarqvinius the proud.   

Full obstinate he was in his intent,  
Ambitious taccroche great richesse:  
Till that fortune waxed impatient  
Against him, in all his great noblesse,  
'Gan her snares and her croaks dress,  
Thought she would but he kept him weal,  
All suddenly cast him from her wheel.   

A son he had full vicious as I find,  
To all virtue most contrarious:  
To be froward it came to him by kind,  
And of nature proud and despitous,  
Again the people fell and malicious,  
Nat loved but dread, for tyranny of right  
Is thing most hated in the people's sight.   

This proud Tarquin the story is well couth,  
Again Lucrece did a great outrage:  
Oppressed her beauty in his unbridled youth,  
Her troth assailing in a furious rage.  
For which his father and his lineage  
Exiled were, and for this hateful thing  
There was never after in Rome crowned king.   

Her body corrupt she clean of heart & thought,  
By force assailed was her innocence:  
Oppressed her beauty, but her spirit nought,  
Her chaste will did none offence,  
But entered is in to her conscience  
A great remorse, for all her wifely troth,  
To slay herself, which was to great a routh.   

And for that Bochas remembreth piteously  
Her deadly sorrow and lamentation,  
Writ her complaint in ordre ceryouslye,  
Which that she made for her oppression:  
I follow must and make mention,  
After mine auctor parcel rehearsing,  
Touching her words said in her dying,   

Albe it so by bidding of my lord,  
rehearsed have in my translation  
After Pierms here and there a word,  
Of a full doleful declamation,  
By him remembered of entention,  
For her sake men might see and read  
What wifely troth was in her womanhood.   

And John Bochas list nat set a side  
But that he would rehearse in sentence,  
Her woeful complaint, and thereupon abide,  
Of wrongs done to her innocence:  
And though I can nat follow his eloquence,  
I shall sue the troth of rehearsing,  
As in substance th'effect of his writing.   

THe morrow next after this foul deed,  
Lucrece up rose which a full deadly cheer,  
Out of her face gone was all the read,  
And darked were her heavenly eyen clear:  
All clad in black after the manner,  
Of thilk folk which in especial,  
Be wont to go to feasts funeral.   

All her friends being in presence  
Husband, Father, with other eke also,  
By and by rehearsing in sentence  
The circumstances of her heartily woe,  
And or that I any further go  
Under hope my Lord will me support,  
What that she said I will to you report.    

The .v. Chapter.  
¶ The grievous complaint of Lucrece upon her oppression.  

FOr as much (quoth she) as I Lucrece  
Am by the law joined in marriage,  
To the mi lord whose love shall a●e increase  
Towards thee, with all the surplusage  
Of wifely troth, to endure all mine age  
As humble subject with faithful obeisance,  
Under thy lordship & thy governance.   

O Collatyn my Lord and true husband,  
Best beloved, of hole affection,  
I will no more no quarrel take on hand  
Nor in no wise take none action,  
Without that thou list incline down  
Goodly thine ears to ye●e me audience,  
To that I shall rehearse in thy presence.   

Injury done or any manner wrong  
Again my worship or mine honest,  
By the law my sentence is made strong,  
It toucheth you also we'll as me,  
I am so holy yoleden unto thee,  
Thou art my heed who clearly can discern,  
Lord and husband my body to govern.   

Partial causes in sooth there may none be  
atween us twain nor no disseverance,  
For sote and bitter, joy and adversity,  
We must them way both in one balance:  
Counterpoise our sorrows, & our pleasance,  
intermeddle all thing that stant in doubt,  
receive our Fortune as it cometh about.   

There may atwen us be no meaning double,  
But one heart, one will, and one courage,  
And as a woman that standeth now in trouble,  
Without polysshing of any fair language,  
I must disclose to you the great outrage,  
Done unto me, and plainly it discure,  
Which to redress lieth holy in your cure.   

For the matter to speak in words plain,  
Aright out searched and the troth out found,  
As a just cause indifferent to twain,  
Toward us both the quarrel doth rebound:  
And more strongly your matter for to ground,  
Rehearse I will so that ye safe it vouch,  
A mortal wrong which ye & me doth touch.   

In a castle which called is Collace,  
Of which my lord here hath the governance,  
Tarquyn the young came in to that place,  
I full disware to make purveyance,  
Again his coming, or any ordinance,  
Tofore nat warned of his officers,  
Sat unpurveyed among my chamberers.   

Of intent to eschew idleness,  
We sat and span wols soft:  
For she of vices is a chief mistress,  
Where she is cherished and yset aloft.  
But of custom as I have done full oft,  
I and my women duly as we ought,  
To avoid sloth full busily wrought.   

His entering was meek and debonair,  
benign of port, of look and of visage,  
With a pretence of many words fair,  
In whose meaning was full great outrage,  
His cheer contrary unto his courage:  
In this wise there he was received,  
Whereby alas I falsely was deceived.   

At prime face, as me thought it due  
I him received at his in coming,  
Rose up meekly, and 'gan him to salve,  
As apertayned in all manner thing,  
Unto the son of a worthy king:  
And truly Tarquin, for which I say, alas,  
Me to traysh stood in the same case.   

A kings son should of duty,  
Be to women wall and protection,  
Preserve and keep them in all surety,  
That no man should of no presumption  
Do them no wrong nor oppression:  
Rather die than see them suffer unright,  
Aduertysinge the office of a knight.   

But contrary to knighthod he hath wrought,  
By false outrage done against me,  
Wrong ways and crooked means sought,  
Of laws twain to break the liberty:  
And to deface the authority  
Of law Civil and natural also,  
In my person offending both two.   

First by his subtle compassing  
He 'gan espy thestries of the place,  
And when a bed alone I lay sleeping,  
Like a lion, full stern of look and face,  
With his left hand my throat he did embrace:  
And in his other held again all law,  
Me to oppress, a naked sword ydrawe.   

Thus afforsing my wifely chastity,  
Again knighthod he did this great offence,  
My life, my worship, put in perplexite,  
Having no might to make resistance,  
Me manasing by deadly violence,  
The one of twain, to die in his intent,  
Or to adultery falsely to consent.   

Thus I stood sole atwene death & diffame,  
My body corrupt, my spirit abode clean,  
My spousal broken, and my good name  
For ever disclandered, that whilom shone sheen:  
evil fame of custom will always wax green,  
Never die, the people so them disport.  
The worst of things gladly to report.   

Alas, alas, among my sorrows all  
This one the most that doth my heart agryse,  
I am nat worthy that men me should call  
Or have the name in no manner wise,  
For the offence which ye have herd devise,  
To be called in this wretched life,  
Of Collatyn from henseforthe the wife.   

Mine eyen also be blinded with darkness,  
Only for shame to lift up their sight,  
Other their streams or beam up dress,  
Of the clear heaven to look upon the light:  
Nor I may never be of the number of right  
Of true matrons, among them far ornere  
For to be reckoned in their kalendere.   

Let mine injury, and this mortal crime  
Be so punished of right and equity,  
Without delay of any longer time,  
That ever after it may example be  
Through all the world, and eke in this city,  
With such a pain thereupon devised,  
That all avoutrors may be thereby chastised.   

And if it seem in your opinion  
In this case I should be unpure,  
I will receive just punition,  
And the pain patiently endure:  
If it so stand that peradventure,  
Ye dame of reason, that am so just and stable,  
In this matter that I be culpable.   

Her tale told when they long had mused,  
On this complaint in their inward sight,  
Of troth eachone they held her full excused,  
Made all behest, with all their full might  
To avenge her wrong, and Lucrece anonright  
Took a sharp knife or they might advert,  
And rove herself even through the heart.   

☞ The complaint of Bochas upon the luxury of princes, as by examples of many divers mischances.  

BOchas in heart brenning hot as fire,  
Of very ire and indignation,  
Again though princes which in their desire  
Have fully set their delectation,  
Their felicity, and their affection,  
To follow their lusts of false lechery,  
Froward spousebreche, and of adultery,   

He writeth again them that seeketh occasions,  
Places of lusts, to have their liberties,  
For to fulfil their delectations,  
And for taccomplysh their great dishonestees,  
devise out taverns in boroughs and cities  
And sitting there among their company,  
After the deed, they boast of their folly.   

If any man pyntche at their outrage,  
Or them rebuke for their transgressions,  
They will answer which froward false language,  
And for their party allege great reasons  
First how it longeth to their conditions  
By right of nature, as it is well couth,  
Freely to use lechery in youth.   

Affirm also how law of kind is free,  
And so afforce them to sustain their party,  
By example of David which y● took Bersabe,  
And for her sake how he slough Vrie:  
Did manslaughter, and false adultery,  
For them alleging, again right and res●,  
For Dalida the luxury of Samson.   

The story also they frowardly apply,  
How for a woman prudent Solomon  
The lord offending did idolatry:  
And in diffence of their opinion,  
Rehearse these stories for their excusation  
Of their error, thereby a price to win,  
As tofore God lechery were no sin.   

They not consider in their entention,  
Of these stories of every circumstance,  
First of king David the great contrition:  
Nor upon Samson how god took vengeance,  
First how he lost his force & his puissance,  
For his offence: they have not this in mind,  
Nor how both his eyen were made blind.   

Nor their reasons they list not to incline  
For to conceive in their discretion,  
The spirit of wisdom heavenly and divine,  
Was take away fro prudent Solomon,  
In chastising for his transgression:  
And some doctors affirm overmore,  
How Solomon repented him full sore.   

The play of youth folk calleth lechery,  
Say it is a game of nature,  
And to sustain and bear up their party,  
How it sit well, by record of scripture,  
Unto every lively creature  
That stant in health, and is courageous,  
Of very kind to be lecherous.   

Vicious report they have in remembrance,  
But virtuous thing is far out of mind:  
Fleshly lusts and lecherous pleasance  
In their desires be not left behind,  
Auaunting, lying, they can of new out find,  
And now a days they hold it courtesy,  
Oaths horrible, flattering, and ribaudy.   

In their avice they take little heed  
Unto the doctrine of noble Scipion,  
Which commanded in story as I read,  
To Massinissa full famous of renown,  
Not to touch by no condition  
Sophonisba fairest of visage,  
But it were by way of marriage.   

Though she were borne of the blood royal,  
Her youth was set to all honest,  
Daughter and heir to noble hasdrubal  
Duke of Cartage, the story ye may see:  
And for her virtues of feminyte,  
She wedded was of birth as she was like,  
To king Syphax, which reigned in Africa.   

And for to prove the great liberty,  
Which is in virtue conveyed by reason,  
And the false thraldom of dishonest,  
Of both to make a plain comparison,  
After the doctrine of Censorin Caton,  
showed by him to folks commune,  
That virtue never is subject to fortune.   

Virtue conserveth measure and reason,  
considereth things afore or they befall,  
Taketh none emprises but of discretion,  
And on prudence foundeth her works all,  
Ay to her counsel attemperance she doth call  
Warily providing in herself within  
The end of things, tofore or she begin.   

This was the doctrine taught forth of Caton  
Lecherous lusts to put them under foot,  
Granting to virtue the domination,  
Pluck up vices branch, crop, and rote:  
Fruit of goodness groweth up so sote  
When it is planted of youth in courage,  
It never appalleth in eld of his tarage.   

Caton of virtue was a chief offyter,  
Preferring ever common commodities  
Tofore profits that were singular:  
To enhance the common in kingdoms and cities,  
Their wits poised and their habylytees,  
Persons promoting in whom it was supposed,  
That they in virtue were naturally disposed.   

manly in heart he was aye to sustain,  
Indifferent troth, and all justice:  
Fleshly delights of folk that were unclean,  
He was aye ready by rigour to chastise.  
And set laws in full prudent wise  
For to punish flaterours and lechers,  
And such as were open avoutrours.   

He had of women none opinion  
With them to deal, for lust nor for beauty,  
But if it were for procreation,  
So stable he was found in his degree:  
The book reading of immortality  
Which Plato made, the troth well sought,  
Therein concluding how souls die nought,   

But liveth ever in joy or in pain,  
Thus wrote Plato in his original.  
Men may the body by death full well constrain,  
But the soul aye abideth immortal,  
For which this Caton steadfast as a wall,  
For common profit to die was not afeard,  
When he himself slew with a naked sword.   

But to fortune afore his death he said:  
O thou princes of worldly goods vain,  
To thy flatteries I never did abraid,  
Thy favour is so false and uncertain,  
That never I fought no franchise to atain,  
As for myself no partial syngulerte,  
But all for profit touching the comonte.   

Again Cesar I made resistance,  
To conquer freedom to me, and to the town,  
Freely to eschew his mortal violence,  
This world despising in mine opinion,  
Our franchise thralled under subjection  
justly forsaking the variance of this life,  
My soul conveyed to be contemplatyse.   

This philosopher this prudent old Caton  
Tendering in heart common comodytees,  
Tofore his death wrote of compassion  
To them that sat in royal dignities,  
Which had of virtue lost the liberties,  
Princes be seching that were luxurous,  
To take ensample, and follow king Drusus.   

The which Drusus by succession,  
Was heir to Augustus & next him emperor  
Set all in virtue his affection,  
And it to cherish did holy his labour:  
To lust unleeful he never gave favour,  
And touching love, during all his life,  
He never had lust, but only to his wife.   

And in his palace amid of his royal se,  
Of noble princes dwelling in Rome town,  
He asked was for all his dignity,  
What manner courage of temptation,  
Or what fervence or delectation  
Within himself he had of loves play,  
Sole by his wife when he a bed lay.   

And like a prince fulfilled of high nobles,  
Answered again with sober countenance,  
Touching such lust as followeth fleshlynes,  
Like as nature me put in governance,  
In one alone is set all my pleasance:  
For with none other for no concupiscence,  
Save with my wife I never did offence.   

Princes eachone follow nat the trace  
Of noble Drusus, as ye shall understand.  
For some have stand all in another case,  
Such as can hold two or three in hand,  
Now here, now there, as botes come to land:  
Not consydring their degrees nor disavail,  
When newfangylnes bloweth in their sail.   

Eke Bochas writeth, some prices have be found  
which viciously have done their busy pain  
Virtuous women by flattery to confound,  
And tender maidens to bring in a train,  
Such menaces and torments to ordain,  
Then to transform from their perseverance  
And interrupt their virginal constance.   

But of such folk that give no force of shame,  
Nor dread God, such trains to devise,  
Husbandmen forsooth are most to blame,  
with foreign women to trespass in such wise:  
I trow their wives than may enough suffice,  
For many be feeble their debts for to quite,  
Though they in charge themself falsely delight.   

Some affyrine for themself alleging,  
To such outrage that they have licence  
Freely of nature to use their own thing,  
And in such case to no wight do offence:  
But froward is their error in sentence,  
Fro bond of wedlock when they be so unstable,  
And tofore God most hateful and damnable.   

For she that is through her high noblesse,  
Named of clerks which clearly can concern,  
Daughter of God, Lady and princess,  
Reason called to guide folk and govern,  
Atwene good and evil justly to discern,  
She hath departed plainly to conclude,  
The life of man from life of beasts rude.   

This Lady reason sith ago full yore  
Gave unto man wit and discretion,  
Taught him also by her sovereign lore,  
between vice and virtue a great division:  
And that he should in his election  
Unto all virtue, naturally obey,  
And in contrary all vicious life warray.   

And to enprinte in his memorial,  
How of luxury the great dishonest  
Dissourme a man, and make him bestyal,  
And disfigure, of what estate he be:  
For when that reason of high or low degree  
Is fled away, folk may affirm than  
He is like a beast, rather than a man.   

wherefore let princes that have ben defectife,  
To follow their lusts of sensuality,  
Shape them by reason for to amend their life,  
And to conserve and keep their chastity,  
Both of virgins and wifely honest:  
And to punish all though that list labour,  
The honest fame of women to devour.   

For when a lecher by force, or by mastery,  
Defouled hath of virgins the cleanness,  
Widows oppressed, and by adultery  
Assailed wives that stand in stableness,  
who may than their sclaundrous harm redress,  
When their good name is hurt by such report?  
For fame lost once can never have his resort   

A thief may rob a man of his riches,  
And by some mean make restitution:  
And some men may disherit and oppress  
A poor man from his possession,  
And after make satisfaction:  
But no man may restore in no degree,  
A maiden rob of her virginity.   

A man may also beat a castle down,  
And build it after more freshly to the sight,  
Exile a man out of a region,  
And him revoke where it be wrong or right:  
But no man hath the power nor the might,  
For to restore the palace virginal  
Of chastity, when broken is the wall.   

Men may also put out of service  
And officers remove from their place,  
And at a day when fortune list devise,  
They may again restored be to grace:  
But there is nouther time set nor space.  
Nor never in story nouther read nor say,  
That maydenhed lost recured was again.   

For which men should have a conscience,  
rue in their heart and repent sore,  
And have remorse in their great offence  
To ravish thing, which they mai not restore:  
For it is said, and hath been said full yore,  
The emeraud green of perfit chastity,  
Stolen once away may not recured be.   

And hard it is to ravish a treasure  
Which of nature is not recuperable,  
Lordship may not of king nor emperor  
reform a thing which is not reformable,  
Rust of diffame which is not separable,  
And maydenhed lost of new or yore,  
No man alive may it again restore.   

romans old through their patience,  
Suffered tyrants in their tyrannies  
And in their cities to do great violence,  
The people to oppress with their robberies:  
But to punish they set straight espies,  
On false avoutrours, as it is well couth,  
Widows to ravish & maidens in their youth.   

Upon this matter the story beareth witness,  
Touching the exile of king Tarqvinius,  
Afore rehearsed by writing full express:  
The hateful death of Apias Claudius,  
For his trespass done to Virginius,  
The judgements rehearsed and the pain,  
And fro their office deprived both twain.   

Was nat the city whilom desolate  
Of Sychemites for the ribaudry  
Of one Sichem which 'gan a great debate,  
To have accomplished his foul lechery,  
When young Dyna as books specify,  
Went recklessly walking up and down,  
To see the maidens of that royal town?   

But when Sychem this Dyna did espy,  
Sole by herself, walk in the city,  
He began anon assail her by mastery,  
And for to aforce her virginity,  
Because she had no leisure for to i'll:  
Whose great offence and transgression,  
The city brought unto destruction.   

Her father Jacob and holy her kindred,  
Again this Sichem 'gan inwardly disdain:  
When the fury of Mars was most to dread,  
To be venged they did their busy pain:  
And specially her worthy brethren twain,  
Fill on the city, simeon, and Levy,  
To avenge their sister, and stroy it finally.   

So mortally they 'gan with them strive  
with their sword, ground sharp, and keen,  
Of male children they left none alive,  
They were so vengeable in their furious tene:  
The Sychemytes might not sustain  
That day against them to stand at defence,  
So importable was their violence.   

For where that God list punish a man of right  
By mortal sword, farewell all resistance:  
When grace faileth force goth away & might,  
feebleth of princes the magnificence,  
Changeth their power into impotence,  
Reverseth the kings their stately regaly,  
Example in Sichem for his false adultery.   

It was an hard dreadful punition  
That one princes trespass in lechery,  
Caused afore God that all a region  
Destroyed was without remedy:  
This story is told for to exemplify  
When noble princes to women them submit,  
Grace & all favour anon doth from them flit.   

Of this matter what should I write more  
In Genesis the residue ye may read,  
The death of Sichem and of king Hemore,  
And how their kingdom destroyed was in deed  
Of Sychemites, lo here the final meed  
Of lechery & of his false pleasance,  
Which many a realm hath brought to mischance.   

What should I eft rehearse again or write  
The false adultery of Paris and Helen?  
Their woeful fate Gu●do did indite,  
poets eachone eke did their busy pain,  
To declare how only by these twain  
The worthy blood, for short conclusion,  
Of Troy and Grece came to destruction▪   

But oft it falleth that much abundance  
Of worldli good, with great ease and riches,  
In folk that set all holy their pleasance  
To follow their lusts, & froward wilfulness,  
Hath caused in lands great mischief & distress:  
When vicious life their courages did encumber,  
Destroyed kingdoms, & people out of number   

For when the people through false obstinacy  
Is indurate to amend them and correct,  
And will not turn them from their lechery,  
But aye be ready their souls to infect:  
And unto purpose my style I will direct,  
To examplify how Gabaa the town,  
Was for his sins brought to confusion.   

Whilom this people called Gabanytes  
From Benjamin descended in their line,  
Were aye disposed to follow their delights:  
And of custom their wits did incline  
In worldly plenty to flower and to shine,  
And dempt always to them it was most due,  
Of wilfulness their lusts for to sue.   

In lechery was set all their pleasance,  
And in that vice they lad moste their life:  
Whereby they were brought unto mischance,  
And many slain by full mortal strife,  
When the levity came forby with his wife,  
Full excellent of features and beauty,  
And took his lodging within the great city.   

He was full old, and she was inly fair,  
He impotent, and she but tender of age,  
Through Gabaa making their repair,  
The citizens of importune rage,  
Showing the fury of their great outrage,  
So long that night her beauty did assail,  
Till life and breath at once did her fail.   

Contagious the slander and the diffame,  
In Judicum the story ye may read:  
Which to rehearse is a manner shame,  
To here the abusion of that foul deed,  
And how the Levite a morrow 'gan take heed,  
With piteous cheer, and saw his young wife,  
Tofore the gate deprived of her life.   

He hent her up and laid her on his ass,  
To noise this crime upon every side,  
Thought in such case he might do no lass,  
Took a sharp sword, & list no longer abide,  
On twelve parts he 'gan her to divide:  
And to each tribe of Jacob he hath sent,  
A certain part, to see their judgement.   

Which thing to them was hateful & terrible,  
And in their ●ight full abominable,  
And in all haste likely and possible,  
All of one will and one courage stable,  
On Gabaonytes for to be vengeable,  
They gathered have shortly to conclude,  
Tassail that town, a full great multitude.   

when they first met atwen them thus it stood,  
The twelve tribes were twice put to flight  
On either party great quantity of blood  
was shed among them in that mortal fight:  
For sixty thousand (who that co●pt a right)  
Were slain there, the story will not lie,  
To avenge the slander of false adultery.   

Lo here the guerdon of the froward fires  
In lecherons folk, that will not staunched be,  
That brent so hot through bestial desires,  
In Gabaa the mighty strong city:  
Which was destroyed for his iniquity,  
And almost brought of Benjamin the line,  
Through his offence to eternal ruin.   

Eke for his fervent drunken lechery,  
Holophernes by Judith lost his heed:  
And all his host and all his chivalry  
Left the field, and fled away for dread,  
And he lay bathed in his blood all read,  
Thus through their vice if it be well sought,  
Full many a price hath be brought to nought.   

These said stories ought enough suffice,  
If men would consider and take heed,  
The great vengaunces in many sundry wise  
Which God hath take for this sin in deed,  
As in their books they mai behold and read:  
warnings afore full oft put at proof,  
How they themself shall save fro mischief.    

Lenuoye.  

This tragedy giveth us great warnig  
Biclere examples of manifold reason,  
How many a prince for their 〈…〉 ve  
And many rich royal mighty town,  
Many a city and many a region,  
Have been ever sith full notable infamous,  
For sin of princes that were lecherous.   

The chosen of god David the worthyking,  
Prophet of prophets most sovereign of reno●,  
On Bersabe for a sudden looking,  
To slay Vrye caught occasion,  
For which he suffered great punition:  
chastised of god, he and all his house:  
For cause only that he was lecherous.   

Great repentance he had & great sorrowing,  
And made psalms of great contrition,  
with woeful tears and manifold weeping,  
To make a sheath for his transgression:  
giving to princes full clear direction,  
For to eschew the flattery odious  
And the false fraud of women lecherous.   

Where was there ever of science or cunning  
So renowned as was king Solomon?  
yet women made him through false flattering  
To foreign gods done oblation,  
Which clipsed his honour & brought his fame down,  
That was whilom most virtuous,  
Till he through women fell to be lecherous.   

Is it not eke remembered by writing  
Of Israel how the chief champion  
Which gods people had in his leading,  
I mean the famous mighty strong Samson,  
That through his force torent the lion?  
But Dilada with tears plenteous,  
His grace bereft him, & made him lecherous   

Sichem was slain eke for the ravishing  
Of young Dyna, as made is mention:  
His father Hemor brought to his ending,  
Lost his richesse in that dissension,  
And his kingdom brought to destruction:  
Lo here the end of princes vicious,  
Which them dispose for to be lecherous.   

It is in earth one the most perilous thing,  
A prince to be of his condition  
E●●emynate, his wits inclining  
By false desires of fleshly motion  
To put himself under subjection,  
And thrall reason, his treasure most precious  
To the unleeful lusts hateful and lecherous.   

This is the sentence full plainly in meaning,  
Where women have the domination  
To hold the rain, their hokes out casting,  
That sensuality hath jurisdiction,  
To enter on reason by false intrusion,  
War against virtue most contagious,  
To be vanquished, of lusts lecherous.   

It taketh fro men their clearness of seeing,  
Causeth great sickness and corruption:  
And to all virtue it is greatest hindering,  
Maketh men seem old as by inspection,  
Appalleth their mind and disposition,  
Shorteth their life, thing dreadful & piteous,  
When they dispose them to be lecherous.   

Noble princes in your imagining  
conceive of women the false deception,  
Namely of them that love but for winning,  
And labour aye for your possession:  
Whose sugared flattery is false collusion,  
Like to Sirens, with voice melodious  
Enoint your ears to make you lecherous.     

¶ The vi Chapter.  
☞ How Cambyses assenting to the murder of his brother Mergus, at the last slough himself.  

AFter the death of mighty king Cirus,  
Next came his son called Cambyses,  
Heir by succession, full victorious,  
Which tofore Bochas put himself in prees,  
And 'gan his complaint, this is doubtless,  
That they of Egypt in many uncouth wise,  
To sundry Gods did sacrifice.   

First unto Apis they did Sacrifice,  
Called Serapis their greatest god of all,  
Reigning in Egypt most of excellence,  
And god of god's fools did him call:  
And of his nobles thus it is befall,  
Slain by his brother, which is a wonder,  
severed on pieces, and full far east asunder.   

And they of Egypt made their ordinance,  
Upon pain of death in their statute old,  
A god to call him, and do their observance  
Within his temple, like as they were hold:  
Whereof Cambyses tofore as I you told,  
All the temples of that region  
Cast him by force for to throw down.   

The temple of Jupiter to rob it by ravin,  
Called Hammon, without exception  
His knights sent to bring it to ruin,  
But they echove for their presumption,  
With sudden leaven were smit and beat down:  
Whereof Cambyses in Jsye though reigning,  
Had this dream as he lay sleeping.   

He dreamed his brother that called was Mergus  
Should in the kingdom after him succeed,  
Whereof in heart he waxed so envious,  
That he purposed of rancour and hatred  
By some mean to make his sides bleed:  
And that his purpose should take avail,  
A magician he took to his counsel.   

And he was hold a full great Philosopher,  
Called Comares, full sleighty and cunning:  
To whom Cambyses made a full large proffer,  
Of gold & treasure, to make him assenting  
To execute this horrible thing,  
And that he would in most cruel wise,  
The murder of Mergus to compass and devise.   

And while Cambyses ordained this treason  
To slay Mergus his own brother dear,  
God from above cast his eyen down  
Him to punish in full cruel manner:  
For he waxed wode who so list to lere,  
Caught a sword, & rove his thigh on twain  
And suddenly he died for the pain.   

For two causes god took on him vengeance,  
As mine author Bochas doth express,  
For his presumptuous & false disobeisance,  
Spoiling the gods of their great riches:  
And for the froward great unkindness  
To give assent to the contagious case,  
When that Mergus his brother murdered was.   

The death of whom was chief occasion  
Of full great war, strives, and debate,  
Eke final cause why all the region  
Of mighty Perce, stood disconsolate:  
For heir was none of high nor low estate,  
By title of right, through his unhappy chance  
To be their king and have the governance.   

For the magycien called Comares,  
Which ●lue Mergus as ye have herd express,  
Took his brother called Dropastes,  
And made him king, the story beareth witness:  
Because that he resembled in likeness  
Unto Mergus, of face and of stature,  
To crown him king therefore he did his cure   

The death of Mergus outward was not know  
Nor plainly published in that region,  
His body buried, and cast in earth low,  
Of whom the murder, & fraudulent treason,  
The piteous slaughter wrought by collusion,  
And all the manner by process was espied,  
So openly, it might not be denied.   

And in what wise the noise 'gan out spread  
Touching this murder, odious for to here,  
When that Oropastes occupted in deed  
The crown of Perce, the story doth us lere,  
There was a prince full notable and enter,  
Called Hostanes that 'gan his wit apply,  
Of high prudence this murder out to espy.   

While that Oropastes under a false pretence  
Of Perciens was received for king,  
The said prince did his diligence  
By inquisition to have knowledging,  
By what engine, or by what sleighty thing,  
The said Oropastes caught occasion,  
In stead of Mergus, to occupy the crown.   

On this matter he had a conjecture,  
That his title was neither whole ne clear:  
The troth to try he did his busy cure,  
And to search out wholly the manner,  
He sought so far, that he came right near,  
And in this case letted for no sloth,  
Till that he had found out the very troth.   

The case was thus plainly to termine,  
He had a daughter full fair of her visage,  
Which of the king was chiefest concubine,  
By whom he thought to catch advantage,  
And unto her he hath sent his message,  
Secretly to inquire how it stood,  
Where that the king were come of Cyrus' blood.   

And bade that she should secretly take heed,  
While that he slept to do her busy pain,  
With her hands for to feel his heed,  
And to grope after both his ears twain:  
And if it fill, there is no more to say,  
Upon his head that she none ears found,  
To tell her father of troth as she was bound.   

This mighty prince Hostanes knew weal,  
Right as it is recorded by scripture,  
Touching this case how it stood every deal,  
How king Cambyses of sudden adventure,  
By his liue for a forfeiture  
Made of Oropastes, the story saith not nay,  
Both his two ears to be cut away.   

And hereupon to be certified,  
He was desirous to have full knowledging,  
Which by his daughter when it was espied,  
Upon a night lying by the king,  
Groping his head as he lay slaping:  
Full subtly felt and took good heed,  
How he none ears had upon his heed.   

And to her father anon she hath declared  
The secrenes of this adventure,  
And for no fear ne dread he hath not spared,  
How that it stood plainly to discure:  
And first of all he did his busy cure,  
All the princes of Perce land yfere,  
To counsel call to entreat of this matter.   

And when they were assembled everichone,  
Of Oropastes he told them all the chance:  
And how that Mergus was murdered yore ago  
As here tofore is put in remembrance:  
Whereupon to set an ordinance,  
And to redress these wrongs done toforne,  
Of Perce land were seven princes sworn.   

Of one assent in their intention,  
By bond of oath they made their assurance,  
And a full secret communication,  
To put Oropastes from his royal puissance,  
Which had all Perce under his governance  
By a full false pretence of heritage,  
For he was like to Mergus of visage.   

These seven princes of which tofore I told,  
All of one heart, and by their oath ybound,  
Prudent, and manly, and of years old,  
Have sought a time Oropastes to confound:  
And which their swords sharp whet & ground,  
Under covert in their apparel,  
Came of intent Oropastes to assail.   

And in the palace whom ever that they met,  
Or again them made resistance,  
All of accord they fiercely on him set  
But the magicien that was there in their presence  
Came against them by sturdy violence,  
And at the encountregan them so constrain,  
That of the princes they have slain twain.   

But finally the other princes five,  
When that they saw their two feres bleed,  
In all the palace they left none alive,  
And king Oropastes quaking in his dread,  
Full unwarely or that he took heed,  
Was slain, there guerdoned for all his might,  
Of pretence kings that reign & have no right.    

The vii Chapter.  
¶ How Dary obtaining the kingdom of Perce by sleight, ended with shame.  

AFter the death of these Magicyens,  
Was left no king to have the governance,  
Nor for to rule the land of Perciens,  
Save five princes full famous of puissance:  
Which made a statute and an ordinance,  
Of one accord by record of writing,  
thereon concluding who should be chose king.   

Their sort, their hap, and all their adventure  
Was give to fortune of this election,  
And thus the prince the crown shall recure  
Among these five, by their convention,  
For to govern the mighty region,  
And in that land to reign and contune,  
Like as the favour list ordain of fortune.   

This was the statute, upon a morning  
All at once early for to ride  
atween Aurora and Phoebus' uprising,  
Up to a hill to hove and to abide,  
All rancour & discord set aside,  
Whose horse among them was first herd neighing,  
Without grudging, should be crowned king.   

Upon this matter what should I leger tarry?  
Hereon was made an oath in sickerness,  
Among these princes one which was called Da  
Aprince of Perce excelling of noblesse,  
Which had a servant the story beareth witnessery  
That kept his horse, & thought in very deed  
His lord he would prefer at such a need.   

The said servant full slightly in working,  
His diligence list nothing to spare,  
The day to tofore of their meeting,  
At a place, smooth, plain, and bare,  
His lords horse, he made leap a mare:  
And on the morrow when the princes met,  
On horseback there his lord he set.   

And when the horse thither came again,  
Nature anon afforced his courage,  
To neye loud upon the same plain  
Where as the mare had used her passage:  
Kind in such case had great advantage,  
By which sleight plainly to rehearse,  
The said Dary was crowned king of Perce.   

The princes all like their convention,  
Or Phoebus showed his fiery beams bright,  
Without strife or contradiction  
From their horse suddenly alight:  
And unto Dary as lowly as they might,  
Said in greek or they up rose,  
Policromtudo Basileos'   

Which is in latin to spoke in words plain,  
And in english by exponing of scripture  
After the Greek, as much for to say,  
As long time might the king endure  
And live in health with good adventure,  
By the grace and favour of fortune,  
Upon all Perce to reign and contune.   

Who will consider every circumstance,  
It is a marvel nat grounded on prudence,  
By such sleight a king to have governance,  
Through title or claim as of just evidence,  
So to be raised to kingly excellence:  
But when fortune favoureth such assay,  
Till that she change there can no man say nay.   

Thus was king Dary borne of low lineage,  
Set up by sleight in estate honourable,  
Thought that he would for his advantage,  
To make his kingdom & his reign stable,  
Wed such a wife as to him was most able:  
deeming of troth his claim were well amended,  
Of Cirus line if she were descended.   

To weed such one was all his covetise,  
Stable for to reign upon the Perciens,  
And as I find, in full cruel wise  
By the counsel of false magicyens,  
A were he 'gan upon the Egipciens,  
Eke foolily he 'gan for to warray  
Them of Athenes, which list him nat obey.   

And as mine auctor maketh rehearsal,  
He for his pride and false presumption,  
Was discomfited twice in battle:  
And never after, as made is mention,  
He was nat had in reputation  
Among Perciens, so 'gan his honour fade,  
With sleight he 'gan, with shame an end he made.    

¶ The viii Chapter.  
¶ How Corolian by Romans exiled 'gan war against them, and how after they sent out his mother withother for peace: which had, they eft him exiled, and after was slain.  

AFter this Dary, as I rehearse can,  
And mine author liketh to conclude,  
To john Bochas came Corolian,  
The most woeful of that multitude:  
Which 'gan complain upon the ingratitude  
Of the romans, how they whilom in deed  
Exiled his person of rancour and hatred.   

Which in his time would never cease  
Through his noblesse & his high renown,  
Their common profit to augment & increase,  
And for to bring to their subjection  
Many a city, and many a noble town,  
Yet they agaynward for all his chivalry,  
Him exiled of malice and envy.   

But when this Marcus called Corolian,  
Saw of romans the great unkindness,  
Toward a country that called was Tuscan  
Of high disdain anon he did him dress:  
And them entreated of manly fell prows,  
To begin a war sith they so manly be,  
Through his conveiing, again Rome the city.   

And for to put them more in assurance  
To have victory through their high renown,  
He told them plainly of a great distance  
Of a false strife, and a dissension  
That was of new fall in Rome town:  
Wherefore they should (if it be provided)  
Conquer them lightly because they were divided   

By their assent they made a great army,  
With stuff for war richly appareled,  
pight his tents tofore that great city,  
And in the field stood proudly battayled:  
But the hearts of romans have them failed,  
And durst not pass the gates of their town,  
There was among them so great division.   

Their city stood that time destitute,  
With fear surprised for lack of governance,  
Them to defend they found no refute,  
So far enfeblished was their old puissance  
For ever gladly where strife and variance  
In any kingdom have an enteresse,  
Touching a defence, adieu all hardiness.   

Within themself they stood at debate,  
Afore their enemies ready for to assail,  
Comfort was none in high nor low estate,  
For where discord is what availeth counsel?  
Their fone without, within themself battle  
Brought in alas, to their confusion,  
By the false serpent of dissension.   

But at the last afforced and constrained,  
They were co-act after peace to seek,  
The case stood so, of need they were pained  
Maugre their might their hearts for to meek:  
And their mischief more to increase and eke,  
In augmenting of their cruel fates,  
They saw their enemies armed at their gates   

They sent out first priests of the town,  
With their enemies for to entreat of peace,  
With humble proffers, & low subjection:  
But Corolian this is doubtless,  
Again the romans was so merciless  
That grace none might in his heart mine,  
To their request his ears to incline.   

Than the romans, the story tell can,  
To Venturia made their prayer  
Which was the mother of Corolian,  
And to Volumnia his faithful wife enter,  
That they should both go in fere  
Unto that prince, beseeching at the lest  
Benignly to hear their request.   

His mother first full prudently abraid,  
Unto her son making this question,  
At their meeting to him thus she said:  
Shall I (quoth she) for short conclusion,  
Of faithful heart and true affection,  
To thy presence, declare finally,  
Be now received as mother or enemy?   

After thine answer I must myself dispose  
And my wits specially apply  
Cause of my coming clearly to unclose,  
And tell the effect of mine ambassatry:  
And my speech so govern and gye,  
After I am received to thy grace,  
Myself declaring if I have time and space.   

For like thy mother if thou receive me,  
And me accept unto thy presence,  
I must thereafter so governed be  
To tell my tale plainly in sentence,  
So that thou give me friendly audience:  
And if I be not received in such wise,  
More strongly my tale I must devise.   

This noble prince, this Corolian,  
When that he heard his mother thus complain  
Full like a lord and a knightly man,  
'Gan her embrace in his arms twain,  
In lowly wise, there is no more to say,  
Save like a son of due and right  
To her he said full like a manly knight:   

Madame (quoth he) be it to your pleasance  
To hear my conceit, as in this matter,  
With faithful heart & humble attendance  
I you receive as for my mother dear:  
But and ye like benignly to here,  
The ingratitude done in most cruel wise  
To me of romans, I purpose to chastise.   

Ah son (quoth she) touching their offence  
Done to thy nobles, & their great outrage,  
They shall by means their trespass recompense,  
And think thou art borne of their lineage,  
And suffer that mercy thy rigour may assuage:  
And think of nature thou mayst not well withsay  
Thing for the which thy mother doth pray.   

Thou shalt not close thine entrails of pity  
To the requests of me and of thy wife,  
Nor gin a war again thy country  
To stroy thy line by new mortal strife,  
Thy children and me to make us lose our life:  
Wey in balance to romans thy hatred,  
Against the love of me and of thy kindred.   

Send home again thy strange soldiers  
Which been so ready the Romans blood to shed,  
Let stand in peace our walls & our towers,  
Suffer thy grace thy rancour to exceed,  
So that thy pity may put away all dread:  
And condescend to receive for hostage,  
Me to be pledge for their great outrage.   

Behold the womb in which thou were borne,  
And see also my naked sides twain,  
By which thou were fostered here toforne,  
If there were lack thou wouldest cry & plain:  
Remember thereon and at me not disdain,  
But unto mercy receive this city,  
At the request here of thy wife and me.   

Whilom my milk thy chrishing was & food  
To stint thy cry when thou didst weep,  
Their sote drops full wholesome were and good  
Thy tender youth for to preserve and keep:  
And like a mother to bring the a sleep,  
I work full oft to the I was so kind,  
Wherefore dear son on my request have mind.   

If that thou list this city now torment,  
Their demerits by rigour recompense,  
punish me for them, and I will assent  
To bear the guilt of their great offence:  
But dear son let thy magnificence  
Suffer of knighthood that mercy may in deed,  
Attemper thy rigour or thou to doom proceed   

Suffer romans to live in quiet,  
Grant them peace again their great outrage  
Some drop of pity let in thine heart fleet,  
And think thou art borne of their lineage:  
Look upon them with merciful visage,  
Which offer themselves as they shall fulfil,  
Their life, their death, all wholly at thy will.   

Remember of nature how that the lion  
Set aside his rage and his woodness  
To them that meekly afore him fall down,  
His royal kind will do them no duresse,  
To exemplify to knightly noblesse,  
with rigorous sword thou shalt no more menace  
Them that be lowly yelden unto thy grace.   

And when this prince, this Corolian,  
Had heard all that his mother list to say,  
He goeth to her in all the haste he can,  
Besprent with tears that on his cheeks rain,  
And her embraced with his arms twain,  
And said mother there may be no letting,  
Me hole of heart to grant your asking.   

The siege he made for to avoid away,  
And to repair home to their country,  
And with his mother and wife he was that day  
With great gladness and solemnity,  
Anon received into that city:  
Like as fortune him never would have failed,  
But she fone after of new hath him assailed.   

The gery romans, stormy, and unstable,  
Which never in one still could abide,  
Against this prince most knightly & notable,  
For to conspire of new they 'gan provide:  
And banished him to Tuscan there beside,  
Where he was slain within a little space,  
For he the romans afore took to grace.    

☞ The ix Chapter.  
¶ How Melciades Duke of Athens with small number vanquished vi C. M. Perciens and after by his comonte that aye of custom desireth a change of princes new, he was chained in prison, and so died.  

Among other that put themself in prees.  
For too bewail their grievous heaviness,  
Came of Athens Duke Melciades,  
which through his manhood & high prowess,  
And through his knightly renowned noblesse,  
Like as auctors his triumphs list commend,  
fought many a battle his city to defend.   

And of victories, as it is compiled,  
For common profit of that noble town,  
fought with a tyrant that was tofore exiled  
Called Hippias, which by false treason  
Had to king Dary made a suggestion  
Upon Athens in all the hast he might,  
To raise all Perce again the town to fight,   

Six hundred. M. accounted was the number  
Of Perciens armed in plate and mail.  
Them of Athenes by force to encumber,  
eachone assembled them proudly to assail:  
But this Duke for nothing would fail  
Melciades, but knightly took his place,  
With ten thousand he met him in the face.   

For both he was manly and right wise,  
And of his hands proved a full good knight,  
Set upon them with so prudent advice,  
That they of Perce for all their great might,  
Were four times put unto the flight  
By thilk Duke, if I shall not fain,  
And by the noblesse of other knights twain.   

Themystocles called was the tone,  
Which of his hand as auctors list describe  
Was in a field proved on his fone,  
The manliest knight in his time alive.  
Which thilk day so proudly did strive,  
Again them of Perce, & such a slaughter make  
That finally the field they have forsake.   

Cynegirus a knight eke of that town  
The same day through his chivalry,  
With bloody sword, as he went up and down,  
without number in his melancholy  
Slough Perciens, books specify:  
That for the time they no refute can,  
Save to their ships for dread of death they ran.   

And there he wrought a strange marvel  
As writeth Bochas, affirming it certain:  
The greatest ship that bore largest sail  
with his right-hand he 'gan it so restrain,  
Like as it had be fastened with a chain,  
Maugre Perciens which did then sore grieve  
That by no craft they could it not move.   

But when that they none other refute wist,  
Freely to escape out of his daungere,  
Till they his right hand cut of by the wrist:  
But with his left hand he 'gan approach near,  
And held it still, an uncouth thing to hear,  
That he had force so great a ship to let,  
But than alas his left hand of they smet.   

Yet maugre them when he their malice seeth,  
All were it so that he had lost each hand,  
The ship he still held with his teeth  
That they ne might depart from the land,  
Like as their vessel had fall upon sand:  
Caused that day, mine author doth rehearse,  
Two hundred. M. were slain of them of pierce.   

And when this singular mighty champion  
Cinegirus most uncouth of courage  
Had done this marvel, as made is mention,  
Of very anguish he fill into a rage,  
Like a be'st furious and savage  
Ran about, alas for lack of mind,  
In Bochas book no more of him I find.   

But in this process after I beheld  
Ay how that fortune can her friends fail,  
For Melciades leader of that field  
And governor of all that great battle,  
Causing victory as made is rehersayl,  
yet his people of malice and of ire  
Again his nobles, falsely 'gan conspire.   

They of Athenes set him in prison,  
And in chains mightily him bound:  
Unkindly they gave him this guerdon  
For all the knighthod they in him found,  
Yet had he suffered many a mortal wound  
In their diffence, and for their liberties,  
To save their lives, their town, & countries.   

This was the end of duke Melciades,  
Through the constraint of his strong bonds,  
Eke they exiled the knight Themystocles  
Out of their town to live in strange lands,  
That was so worthy proved of his hands,  
To show the change and mutabylite  
Found in fortune, and every comonte.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

THe stormy trust of every comonte  
Their gery courages and troubled constance,  
In this tragedy men may behold & see:  
Now up, now down, as fortune cast her chance  
For they of custom have joy & most pleasance,  
In their desires unsteadfast and untrue,  
To see each day a change of princes new.   

Corolyan of Rome, a chief city,  
Was there protector through his mighty pusaunce,  
Venquisshed their enemies, set them in surety,  
Brought in rebels to their obeisance:  
But they againward of wilful variance  
banished him twice, and no cause knew  
Save for to see a change of princes new.   

The knightly noblesse, the magnanimity,  
The policy, the prudent governance  
Of Melciades duke of the country  
Where that Athens is chief town in substance,  
When he their common 'gan most to advance,  
The more unkindly in honour that they grew,  
Most they were busy to change him for a new.   

Themystocles having the sovereignty  
Of knights all that bare spear or lance,  
During his time, I take no more on me,  
For comparisons do oft time great grievance:  
Six hundred thousand he put to utterance,  
Unto Athens never found untrue,  
Yet they conspired his exile for a new.   

What thing may here flower in felicity  
Or stand stable by long continuance?  
In high estates other in low degree,  
Now flow, now ebb, now joy now mischance,  
After as fortune holdeth the balance,  
And specially false feigning and untrue,  
Commons desire a change of princes new.   

Noble princes in your prosperity  
On sudden changes set your remembrance,  
Fresshnesse of flowers, of branches the beauty,  
Have aye on change a trembling attendance:  
In trust of commons is no perseverance,  
As winter & summer be divers of their hew,  
So be they divers in change of princes n●w.     

The ten Chapter.  
☞ How Xerxses' king of Perce for his ravin and covetise was dismembered in to small pieces.  

ANd tofore Bochas pitously weeping  
For to declare his deadly heaviness,  
Came xerxes next of Perce king,  
And 'gan complain his dole and his distress:  
Which in three things, the story beareth witness  
And as the chronicle clearly can us tell,  
All other princes in earth he did excel.   

In high estate was none so great as he,  
Neither in riches, nor worldly abundance,  
Nor none that time of so great dignity,  
For as it is put in remembrance  
He had all Perce under his obeisance:  
Nor never prince as auctors do conclude,  
Hosteyed at once with such a multitude.   

Space of five year he had his ordinance,  
Seven hundred thousand people he did raise:  
Dempt of pride again his great puissance  
None earthly power might counterpoise:  
But some authors allow him nat nor praise,  
Because that he people to encumber,  
Set all his trust to conquer with great number.   

But manly princes have this opinion,  
In multitude standeth nat victory,  
For knightly prowess of every champion  
Which manly cast them in arms to have victory,  
imprinted hath fix in his memory,  
Martial triumphs god ne doth nat show,  
In number great, no rather than in few.   

This said xerxes by record of auctors,  
Had also, in chronicles as I read,  
Three hundred thousand strange soudeours,  
Without other that were of Perce & Mede:  
Which 'gan the earth for to cure and spread,  
Dried rivers that they did attain,  
Karfe down hills, & made valleys plain.   

This was chief conceit of his fantasies,  
To have all earth under subjection:  
Thought his power reached above the skies,  
Of surquedy and false presumption:  
For as he deemeth in his opinion  
How in his power plainly that it lay,  
Fro god of heaven the heaven to take away.   

But thilk lord that can the meek enhance,  
And from their sees the proud put down,  
And namely them that have no remembrance  
To advertise of wisdom and of reason,  
To know the lord most mighty of renown,  
The lord of lords which plainly to compile,  
Will suffer tyrants to reign but a while.   

And one the marvel that ever I did read  
Greatest, and uncouth plainly unto me  
Is how xerxes king of Perce & Mecde  
For to show a special syngulerte,  
Out of asia over the great se  
As saith mine autour, whom I dare allege,  
In to Europe made a mighty bridge.   

Some men peradventure will there at disdain,  
And say it is a marvel nat credible,  
Yet craft in case to such thing may attain,  
Which by nature seemeth an impossible:  
And as to me, it is a thing audible  
Things to inpugne authentic and old,  
Which notable clerks in their days told.   

These new men that have but little sayen  
Nouther expert in craft nor in nature,  
For lack of reason hold all such thing vain  
Though that it be remembered in scripture:  
For every marvel and every adventure  
Is strange to him, as I rehearse can  
That lacketh the cause whereof the ground began.   

This said xerxes had eke possession  
By the title of his father Darye  
Of all Egypt, as made is mention:  
But they of Grece were to him contrary,  
Wherefore he cast no longer for to tarry  
This proud prince, but mightily warray  
Lacedemonoy, which would him nat obey.   

But one that was called Demaratus  
Which of that country had afore be king,  
And was exiled the story telleth us,  
That time which xerxes in household abiding,  
Which loved that land for all his exyling,  
Gave them warning to save them fro mischance,  
Of Xerxses' power and all his ordinance.   

He wrote them letters graven in a table,  
All themprise of xerxes out of doubt,  
Of all his stuff, and people incomparable,  
And of his number and his great rout:  
The which table covered was without,  
Full subtly with wax yplaned plain,  
That of his sonde there was no letter say.   

Thus was th'intent of xerxes first discured  
Unto the greeks, and all his false working:  
But in one thing they greatly were assured,  
Of trust they had by expert knowledging  
In Leonidas their noble famous king,  
Which among greeks of prows & foresight,  
Was in though days hold for the best knight.   

Of chivalry called the load star,  
The son of knighthod that shone so bright & sheen,  
The bearer up both in peace and war  
And strongest pillar, his party to maintain:  
The greeks right hand their noblesse to sustain,  
Carboncle of arms, mirror of policy,  
And surest captain a field to rule and gye.   

And as mine author remembreth in his book  
How in this case he was nat reckless,  
But in all haste four thousand men he took  
To let the ways and coming of xerxes:  
And by an hill called Thermophiles,  
Where Perciens began first their voyage,  
He knightly cast to stop their passage.   

And secretly espying the coming  
Of king xerxes with strong apparel,  
He like a knight made no tarrying  
Chase out vi hundred armed in plate & mail,  
Which in such case might moste avail,  
And in defence and help of their country,  
Would rather die, than from the field to i'll.   

And covertly they took their lodging,  
And kept them close till it drough to night,  
And at their dinner themself refreshing  
So as they sat in steel armed bright,  
The king abraid like a manly knight,  
In to the field afore they should gone,  
Right thus he said among them everyone:   

Sirs (quoth he) now dine merely,  
And with good wine afforce your courage:  
Like good knights in purpose finally,  
For life nor death nat turning your visage,  
But of assent cast in your passage,  
As ye here dine now in especial,  
To sup at night with gods infernal.   

This to mean ye shall yourself ieoparte  
As hardy knights proudly to provide,  
Within the field asondre not depart,  
But keep close and for no dread divide,  
Desire of worship make to be your guide,  
Your expert noblesse eternally to advance,  
By quick report of new remembrance.   

And have this day nothing in memory  
Nother your riches, blood, ne your kindred,  
Save only hope and good trust of victory,  
And hardi prowess you to conduct and lead:  
And think knightli what shallbe your meed  
With martial palms your renome & name,  
In the highest place set in the house of fame.   

And though ye be but a few in number  
Let in your hearts one thing be fantasyed,  
While division do the you nat encumber  
Victory in arms may you nat be denied:  
For nothing is to conquest more applied,  
Than true accord among yourself to show,  
Though you in number be but very few.   

But by this counsel singularly notable,  
And by this knights kingly good language,  
They recomforted held themself able  
Again their foemen to hold their passage:  
And first of all of hertelye proud courage,  
The Perciens more mortally to grieve,  
Within their tents, they fill on them at eve.   

They of Perce ydrowned were with wine,  
This to say, through their great excess,  
They lay and slept like as dronkenswyne,  
Their watch nat kept: lo how y● drunkenness  
Causeth oft of very recklessness,  
Full many a man that will nat take keep,  
For to be murdered a nights when they sleep   

And as this king did his knights lead,  
The Perciens tents assailing suddenly,  
Or they were ware or took any heed  
Them for to affray they made an hideous cri:  
Defence was none upon their party,  
For men may know by old experience,  
In folks drunk may be no resistance.   

Out of number they slough of their fone,  
And ceased nat of all the long night,  
Till on the morrow that the son shone,  
That to behold it was an ugly sight:  
And proud xerxes put anon to flight,  
Ever the last that would his fone assail,  
And aye the first that fled in battle.   

In his flight so fast away he ran,  
For therein was holy all his trust,  
And of great travail anon this Xerxes 'gan  
Of coward dread, to have so great a thirst,  
So dry he was of salt, fond, and dust,  
And by the way searching far and near,  
He neither found well ne river.   

Of adventure amyery ground he found,  
The water troubled, and bloody of colour,  
And xerxes there drank water with his hand  
Him to refresh in his deadly labour:  
And as he thought he never drank liquor  
To him more wholesome, so straight stood the case,  
confect with spices, payment, nor hippocras.   

This was the first mischief and the dread  
In which Xerxes the mighti prince stood,  
Here men may see such as list take heed  
How gery fortune furious and wode,  
Will not spare for riches nor for good,  
Mighty princes which list not God to know,  
From their estates to bring them full low,   

O hateful serpent of high presumption,  
Ay unstable with greedy usurping,  
By new trouble of false sedition,  
Which list of pride receive no warning,  
For now xerxes of Perce & Mede king,  
Purposed hath with odious apparel,  
The temple of gods contagiously t'assail.   

For as him thought it might nat suffice  
To great example of his contrarious pride,  
How here toforne god did him chastise  
By man's hand, to set his pomp aside:  
But now of new he 'gan again provide  
By sacrilege his mighty hand to dress,  
To spoil Apollo, & reave him his richesse.   

There was in Delos a temple thilk day,  
Most stately builded and set up by masons  
Great images, relics, and rich array,  
Of gold and stones in sundry mansions:  
And there Apollo to sundry questyous  
gave ready answer, the story telleth thus,  
And he was called Apollo Delphicus.   

Four thousand men xerxes thither sent  
By his avice chose out for the nonce,  
Full cleanly armed, and as they thither went  
To spoil the temple of gold and rich stones,  
with sudden leaven they were brent flesh & bones,  
With tempest, thunder, hail, & hideous rain,  
Consumpt eachone, and never after say.   

The great Apollo which shineth bright in heaven  
Had of this Xerxes great indignation,  
Which made his people be consumpt with leaven  
In cruel punishing of his presumption:  
Yet he purposed to his confusion,  
sith on the land he nothing might win,  
Upon the see a new were to begin.   

'Gan to make so great an ordinance,  
That his navy covered all the see:  
Yet Neptunus thought him not to enhance  
Within her bounds to have no liberty.  
For Themystocles with a small meinie  
Beside a city called Salamine,  
Him and his ships brought unto ruin.   

Yet as I find this proud king xerxes  
Had on his party Themydora, the queen  
Of Halcarnois which put herself in prees  
Armed in plates that shone full bright & sheen,  
And thenarme of xerxes to sustain,  
This woman fought like a fell woluesse,  
And many a greek that day she did oppress.   

It was a strange marvel for to here:  
To see a woman so sturdy of visage,  
Yet men expert all day may see and lere,  
They be by nature full cruel of courage,  
And no cowards found of their language:  
Set at assay and than it shall be seen  
Where they be fearful their quarrel to sustain.   

They mai of meekness show a fair pretence,  
Some serpent is of colour silver sheen:  
And some flowers full fresh of appearance  
Grow on thistles rough, sharp, and keen.  
And some that been angelic to seen,  
And very heavenly with their golden tresses,  
Ben at a proof very lionesses.   

To say the sooth a poor man may be shent,  
I dare no more speak of this matter,  
But king xerxes for all his proud intent,  
All his navy and his people yfere  
Were put to flight, & outraied of their cheer:  
Their ships drowned among the waves rude  
That none abode of all that multitude.   

King xerxes hurt and wounded mortally,  
Vnnethes he might the great pain endure.  
His quaking heart quit him so cowardly:  
On see and land such was his adventure.  
And yet again his damages to recure,  
Three hundred. M. of feyghters he 'gan call,  
Upon greeks of new for to fall.   

A mighty Duke called Mardonyus,  
Was captain made his people for to lead,  
But Themistocles (min auctor telleth thus)  
Knowing of xerxes the cowardness & dread,  
A letter made for to be sent in deed:  
Enfourming him by greeks great outrage,  
How of his bridge was broken the passage.   

Of which marvel when there came tiding  
To king xerxes, he after anon right  
As he that was afeard of each thing,  
Full like a coward took him to the flight:  
Fled in a boat like a coward knight,  
Of all his people there were no more yseyne,  
To await upon him save a chamberlain.   

All his people departed here and yonder  
Standing in mischief & great indigence,  
To many a coast they went and road asunder,  
Pined with hunger, lacked their dispense:  
Punished also with unware pestilence,  
Feeble of travail, might not endure  
For impotence to carry their armure.   

Alas each way lay full of caraynes,  
The soil with blood stained, and the green,  
The air terrible of paths and of plains,  
That no man might it endure nor sustain,  
The savour was so odious and unclean:  
Ravenous fowls full homely in their sight,  
Themself to feed upon the corpse alight.   

Three hundred. M. of Perciens were slain,  
Which Mardonyus afore full proudly lad,  
Of which tiding king xerxes was not fain,  
But for distress and sorrow 'gan to mad:  
And one the last mischief that he had  
Was when Thimon, a noble greekish knight,  
Xerxes discomfited, and put his men to flight   

This Thymon was son to Melciades,  
His father whilom of Athenes king,  
Which last of all outrayed hath xerxes,  
Save of his end there fill another thing:  
Artabanus full sleighty of working  
Which to xerxes was not suspect in deed,  
Compassed his death, in Bochas as I read.   

This Artaban was provest of his house,  
And an officer most especial:  
With his seven sons, strong, and despitous,  
Upon a night furious and fatal,  
Fill upon xerxes in his palace royal:  
And in his story as it is remembered,  
On pieces small they have him dismembered.   

This was of xerxes the last final meed,  
Of his high pride the funeral guerdon:  
From his two kingdoms of Perce and Mede  
Froward fortune hath him plucked down:  
What may avail the domination  
Of such princes as hold themself even  
For to be equal with gods high in heaven?   

Men list not know such changes for no proof,  
And namely princes in their puissaunces,  
Against earthly parels & all worldly mischief  
They can provide them, & set ordinances,  
As they that dread fortunes variances:  
But to God ward they take full little heed,  
For the great riches which they do possede.   

If they may hear of an earth quave  
Tofore it fall, or any token se,  
Than will they go anon themself to save  
Out of their houses, & from the towns i'll  
To put their life the more in surety,  
Lest their building made of so great costage,  
Fill upon them in that mortal rage.   

Or if an horse run out of his stable,  
Break his colere, thick, double, and long,  
Men will ordain a lock of iron able  
To keep him in, be he never so strong:  
And thus men can redress every wrong  
Touching the body by great adviseness,  
Save for the soul they will nothing redress.   

When a river passeth far his bounds,  
Boileth upward, findeth no resistance,  
winneth land, and overfloweth grounds,  
Drowneth towns with his violence,  
Yet men will travail to find a defence:  
To turn her course some way shall be sought,  
But toward god men think little or nought.   

Against sickness men seek medicines,  
Letwaries, and divers potions,  
search in physic sundry disciplynes,  
Them to diet in their transgressions,  
Restoratyves, and eke confections,  
But unto Godward in this present life,  
Men not travail for no confortatyfe.   

Men their bodies will put in distress  
Of false desire, and covetous fervence,  
Only cacroche and win great riches,  
Suffer cold, labour, and violence,  
And neither spare for gold, nor for dispense,  
To underfang perils, of vainglory  
Only for things that been transitory.   

They pass mountains, & many hideous roch,  
In hope it should to their intent avail,  
To many mortal monster they approach,  
And many uncouth sea they sail,  
Jeopart their life in war and in battle,  
By many a danger, & many strait they ride,  
For worldly treasure which will not abide.   

But toward goods that been perdurable,  
Full little or nought their hearts they incline:  
Nor to the heavenly company most notable,  
They will not life up neither heed ne eyen,  
Toward the spheres of Phoebus and Lucine,  
Casting their streams to us from far,  
Which to consider all worldly men done err.   

What might avail the great covetise  
Of king xerxes, in his estate royal?  
Of the great people which ye have herd devise  
Ten hundred. M. the people was nat small,  
But for all that he had an hideous fall,  
When that he was (as tofore is remembered)  
On pieces small piteously dismembered.   

☞ Lenuoye.  

THis tragedi put us in remembrance  
Of the unsiker flattering & blindness  
Both of fortune, and of her vatiaunce,  
And of her ugly froward doubleness,  
In xerxes showed for all his riches:  
To us declaring plainly in figure,  
A ravenous prince may no while endure.   

King xerxes had under his obeisance  
Al Perce and Mede (the stori beareth witness)  
Thought all earth to little in substance  
To staunch the ethic of his greediness:  
A fret of having put him in such distress,  
Whose fine declared by record of scripture,  
A ravenous prince may no while endure.   

He made also an odious ordinance,  
Of surquedy his power for to dress,  
To rob the gods, maugre their puissance,  
And spoil the temples, of their frowardness  
Take their treasures again all rightwiseness:  
But they him showed, of sudden adventure,  
A ravenous prince may no while endure.   

Great Apollo took on his men vengeance,  
With unware tempest for all their sturdines,  
Levin & thunder brought them to mischance:  
Guerdon most able again the falseness  
In princes hearts, aye plainly to express  
Who by ravin riches will recure,  
God will nat suffer him long to endure.   

Noble princes stable in your constance,  
Ye that desire to stand in sikerness,  
Remember oft upon the fatal chance  
Of proud xerxes, and his cursedness,  
Your life disposing in your high nobles:  
If that ye list your states to assure,  
Eschew ravin, and ye shall long endure.     

The xi Chapter.  
¶ How Artabanus murdered king xerxes, and how himself was murdered after.  

NExt these tragedies weeping & dolorous  
While Bochas stint & would have be in peace,  
A knight appeared called Artabanus.  
Which had aforne murdered king xerxes,  
And 'gan his complaint for to put in prees:  
Full concluding, to speak in words plain,  
Who useth murdre by murdre shall be slain.   

This Artabanus by record of writing,  
With Xerxses' provost whilom as I read,  
Falsely conspired by sleight of his working,  
For to be king both of Perce and Mede:  
Having seven sons which that were in deed  
Worthy knights, manly, and right strong,  
Albe their father was set to do great wrong.   

For he presumed by usurpation,  
In Perce and Mede to quench the clear light:  
And trouble the line of just succession.  
For so as he of force, and nat of right  
Nothing resembling to a true knight,  
The murder of xerxes falsely did ordain,  
Right so he cast to murdre his sons twain.   

And to conclude plainly, and not tarry,  
This said king that called was xerxes,  
Had two sons, the youngest called Dary,  
And that other colled Artaxerxses:  
which as the story rehearseth, doubtless  
Were by descent borne to succeed  
After their father, to reign in Perce & Mede.   

The murder of xerxes outward was unknow  
Nor how Artabanus had the treason wrought,  
Till afterward within a little throw,  
He had of new forged out and sought  
Falls odious trains, that were never thought,  
Told Artaxerses as he 'gan with him rown,  
How Dary cast to occupy the crown.   

And how the death of xerxes was ordained  
Only by Dary, and by none other wight.  
where upon, which ought be complained,  
Artaxerxses provided anon right  
The slaughter of Dary, & so again all right  
This young brother in his innocence,  
Was falsely slain and did none offence.   

Ye wot by whom this treason was compassed,  
between brethren twain to make division,  
The younger slain and nothing trespassed,  
Most ready way to the destruction  
Of Artaxerxses, for in conclusion,  
When the brethren murdered were in deed,  
Artabanus thought to succeed.   

But Artaxerxses by plain instruction  
Of one that was called Baccarus,  
By tokens knew the covert false treason  
Of this aforesaid double Artabanus:  
And how that he by trains outrageous,  
Had xerxes slain (as ye have herd toforne)  
And Dary appeched, whereby he was lost.   

But this uncouth strange treason wrought  
When Artaxerxses had knowledging,  
By great advise ways he hath sought,  
Artabanus to bring unto reckoning:  
But specially he dread him of one thing,  
He feeble was to bring this thing about,  
Of his seven sons he had so great doubt.   

But for to accomplish fully his intent  
Full secretly this was his ordinance,  
To all the worthy he hath his letters sent  
Dwelling in Perce, under his obeisance,  
Without excuse or longer attendance  
Armed eachone, and in especial  
To come in haste, unto his court royal.   

Cause of their coming was to them not know  
The kings purpose was holden secre,  
And kept so close both from high and low,  
That to his meaning no man was prive:  
Except the king said he would see  
What number of men, if it come to need,  
In his defence he might gather and lead.   

And among other came Artabanus  
Unto the court, and list not for to fail,  
A man that was cruel and courageous,  
Full of sleights in all his governail,  
Which thilk time armed was in mail,  
For he with him none other armure lad,  
Save on his back an haburion he had.   

Than Artaxerses being in his strength,  
To him abrayed of false affection,  
For that my mail wanteth of his length,  
I would with the change mine haburion:  
The t'other having none evil suspection,  
Vngyrt himself would no longer abide,  
Both sword & dagger cast them far aside.   

And while that he threw of his haburion  
And with the mail stopped was his sight,  
He being naked, for short conclusion  
The king out pulleth a sword keen & bright  
And through the heart he rove him anon right:  
And after that of indignation,  
Took his seven sons, & cast them in prison.   

Of their end what should I more indite,  
Nor of their death make digression?  
God may his vengeance a while respite,  
But murder will out & all such treason:  
And for Artabanus had a condition  
Falsely to murder (as ye tofore have say)  
which unware murder guerdoned was again.   

Thus ever murder requireth for his wages,  
Slander importable odious to hear,  
A word diffamous most foul in all languages  
The sound horrible by report to appear,  
A clips during whose darkness may not clear  
For this word murder most ugly & unfair  
By a rehearsing infecteth all the air.    

¶ The xii Chapter.  
¶ How duke Palantes & Spartenoys warred them of Missene for ravishing their maidens.  

AFter the death and fatal case,  
And piteous murder of Artabanus,  
Next in order appeared to Bochas  
A mighty duke called Palautus,  
Son of a knight named Arathus,  
Which was exiled, though he no treasonment  
Out of his city that called was Tarent.   

Upon his exile he sore 'gan complain,  
beseeching Bochas to get him a space  
Within his book to write his grievous pain,  
Albe though he whilom stood in grace,  
By glad aspects of fortune's face:  
For she him raised by favour of her might,  
To duke's estate from a poor knight.   

But cereously this matter to convey,  
How he was made duke and governor,  
When Sparteyns 'gan mortally warray  
Against Missenes, as saith mine author,  
With great costage and diligent labour,  
And cause was this, for they which mighty hand  
Ravished by force all maidens of the land.   

For this people now named Spartenois,  
As the story clearly can devise,  
Were called afore Lacedemonois,  
In arms proved manly and right wise:  
And while they did a solemn sacrifice  
Unto their gods, the people of Messeny.  
Ravished their maidens or they it did espy.   

On which wrong for to do vengeance,  
The Spartenois caught indignation,  
And of assent with all their whole puissance,  
They laid a siege round about the town:  
And of one will and one affection  
They made a vow the siege when they begun,  
Never to departed till the town were won.   

Afore the town fully ten year they lay,  
And fro the siege as they had made their oath,  
They not departed neither night nor day,  
But still abode and not a sunder goeth:  
Thereof their wives at home were wroth,  
To their husbands a messengere they sent,  
Under these words, declaring their intent.   

Said it was not according with reason  
They like widows to live disconsolate,  
Without comfort or consolation,  
far from their husbands to stand desolate,  
mischiefs considered that fall in each estate,  
By long absence (which each man should dread)  
Through divers sickness the fall in womanhood.   

The tide abideth nat for no manner man,  
Nor stint her course for no creature:  
And hard it is as we rehearse can,  
Thing to withstand that cometh of nature:  
harm done by kind is froward to recure,  
And there is found full little sikerness,  
Where as nature afforceth brotylnesse.   

This little sonde aught enough suffice,  
To declare damage that may fall  
By long absence, folks that been wise  
Sometime departed again men may nat call.  
That seldom is seen in love doth appall.  
And nothing maketh more wives err  
Than disceveraunce of folk that be in were.   

This was th'effect plainly insubstaunce,  
Sent to their hasbandes which at y● siege lai,  
Complaining they had had no pleasance  
Space of ten year, as in loves play:  
But desolate, in sorrow, and great affray,  
Their life they lad, affirming in sentence,  
Cause of their csntraint, was their long absence.   

And when the letters were at the siege rad  
Tofore the city in all their mortal strives,  
They were astonished and 'gan to wax sad,  
And very weary almost of their lives,  
For to consider the complaint of their wives:  
Till their captain a remedy out sought,  
By whose counsel even thus they wrought.   

First old knights that the siege sworn  
It for to accomplish, and cast them to be true  
His counsel was as they had height before  
To hold their promise, & therefore nothing rue:  
But young knights that were come of new,  
Might as they list freely at their will  
Those whether they would go or bide still.   

And hereupon for their most avail  
In haste their captain as made is remembrance  
Of high prudence gave them this counsel,  
hat knights old, ly●h their assurance,  
Should of the siege have the governance:  
And young knights most fresh & welbeseyne,  
Should from the siege home be sent again.   

They made among them a strange ordinance,  
At their home coming, without difference  
To interchange their wives for pleasance:  
And take her first that came to his presence,  
This was thaccord among them in sentence,  
Most ready way to their opinion  
To engendrute and procreation.   

There was among them quarrel neither strife  
In this matter, nor no variance,  
For everyman misused others wife,  
To their desires as was to them pleasance:  
And thus children through this ordinance  
That were engendered, the case is thus befall,  
Parthenois men did them after call.   

Which in our tongue to speak in words plain,  
After the greek who list consider and se,  
Is no more plainly for to say,  
Than thilk children which engendered be  
In adultery: wherefore in that country  
Parthenois of custom they were named,  
Borne of wombs which that were defamed   

The false occasion of this adultery  
Caused after great mischief and damage,  
That no man coude as for his party,  
By succession when he came to age,  
By title of right claim his heritage:  
For where a line falsely doth proceed,  
Hard is to know by right who shall succeed.   

The disturbance of false succession,  
And titles claimed afforced with great might,  
Where that adultery hath domination  
And is supported of will and not of tight,  
And claim of troth hath lost his clear light:  
Though their parties mighti be and strong,  
God will nat suffer they shall endure long.   

And Parthenois paysing all these things  
How false assurance was in their lineage,  
The gentle blood troubled first of kings,  
For no man knew of high nor low parage  
His own father, by likeliness of visage:  
Nor father none by his great error,  
Coude give no title to his successor.   

Whereupon followed a great mischance,  
Hateful to hear, through the country:  
Echeman troubled in his countenance  
Who should claim by any liberty  
To enter his land, or to stand free:  
Such doubt they had echeman for his party,  
So importable was their adultery.   

This great mischief, who so taketh heed,  
By long process made them to know and see  
How they were able, as by likelihede,  
For their outrages to fall in poverty:  
And of assent they cast them for to fly  
Under a captain by strong and mighty hand  
For that country to win some other land.   

And as I read, they chase duke Palantus  
Of whom I spoke, to govern the passage,  
Taking no leave the story telleth thus:  
At their departing beginning their viage,  
They were so confuse of cheer and of visage,  
For there was none of that great rout,  
To choose his father but that he stood in doubt.   

They held themselves very ashamed,  
And for shame out of the land they went,  
Like people disclaundered and defamed,  
Through the adultery to which they did assent:  
And to a city that called was Tarent,  
Which stant in Poile a mighty strong country  
This duke Palantus came with his meinie.   

And there he put through his great might,  
The citizyns out of that city,  
And gate Tarent full like a manly knight,  
And there abode in long prosperity,  
As governor and duke of that country,  
Till that his people by false collusion,  
Him to deprive sought out occasion.   

They him exiled when he was fall in age,  
Lo what it is in commons to assure,  
Stormy of heart, unsure of their courage,  
That seld or never their friendship doth endure▪  
Men may to day their favour recure,  
And to morrow (let set it at a proof)  
They rathest hinder when men be at mischief.    

¶ The xiiii Chapter.  
☞ Of Ceson Quincius exiled, and Graccus taken prisoner.  

I Can no more rehearse of Palantes  
Duke and leader of Parthenois,  
But I will tell how Ceson Quincius  
Came before Bochas with a full piteous voice,  
His tale 'gan how Graccus prince of Equois,  
Both at once 'gan their song entune,  
Most dolefully to plain on fortune.   

This mighty prince Ceson Quincius  
Complained first as made is mention,  
How they of Rome were contrarious  
And felly wrought to his destruction,  
And full unjustly banished him the town:  
And not withstanding he was a dictator,  
Him to confound they did their busy labour.   

Cause of his exile compassed as I read,  
That he was slow they said and negligent,  
Him to defend, touching appeal in deed  
Which again him was brought of falce entet:  
Yet Cyncinatus his father, by assent  
Paid for amends as saith cronyclers,  
Met out of land draft of three arblasters.   

Yet his enemies would not be content,  
But proceed that he was exiled,  
Did extortion of his judgement,  
As in his story full plainly is compiled:  
He after never might be reconciled,  
Which I have pity to put in remembrance,  
So little offence should have so great vengeance   

Graccus of Rome called Cloellus  
Prince of Equois mine author saith the same,  
Was in his time notable and glorious,  
And a great duke full renowned of fame:  
But how the people of Equois took their name  
Under support that no man have disdain,  
I will the process here declare in certain.   

John Bochas saith there is a nation  
Which that first were called Hunoys,  
And secondly also by succession  
Of full long time named Anathois:  
And alderlast men called them Equois,  
Like as I trow (mine auctor saith the same)  
Of horse most swift, they took first the name.   

And as it is remembered in sentence,  
By their manhood, and famous hardiness  
Again Alexander they made strong defence  
On horseback through their great swiftness:  
Beside the hill (plainly to express)  
Which in chronicles is called Caucasus,  
This people of Equois were victorious.   

To their nobles plainly as I find,  
Nothing in earth was more expedient  
In their conquest of Ethiope and Jude,  
As horse most swift, serving their intent:  
Thereby conquering all the Orient,  
So great prows was in their passage,  
That Equois brought all Egypt to servage.   

Thus where ever Equois did abide,  
They gate great good to their possession:  
And Graccus was their governor and guide  
Which by his strength and false suggestion,  
Again the romans fill in great rebellion,  
But to which stand him they sent out anonryght,  
Cincinatus proved a full good knight.   

He was well trusted and know in the town,  
And for his prudence chosen a dictator,  
His livelihood small and his possession,  
Albe he was a worthy warrior:  
Which hath vainquished by his knightly labour,  
The said Graccus, for all his worthy power,  
And home to Rome brought him prisoner.   

Cyncinatus in his char was set,  
Called Quincius for this great victory,  
And most solemnly with Senators met,  
Which gave to him for to increase his glory,  
Laud of triumph, to put him in memory:  
And Graccus after for his rebellion,  
With chains bound, cast in dark prison.   

And there he died in full great mischief,  
After his conquests, first famous & notable,  
An evidence to us and a great proof  
How fortune is aye false and unstable,  
Ever double, froward, and deceivable,  
The fall of Graccus declare 'gan full weal,  
That whilom sat so high upon her wheel.    

¶ The xiiii Chapter.  
¶ Here Bochas rehearseth the tyranny of Apyus, and falseness of judges.  

NOt with standing Bochas before hath told,  
Of Apias the falseness importable,  
And his outrages & surfeits many fold,  
To be remembered hateful and reprovable,  
Yet as him thought it was here convenable,  
To more rebuke and spotting of his name  
New to rehearse his slander and defame.   

The great offences of this Apias,  
And oppression that he upon him took,  
Made him grow so inly covetous,  
Through his ravin that all the people quoke:  
As ye may see in the second book,  
Where mine author doth clearly specify  
His fraud in domes, and his lechery.   

Eke this tyrant remembered ye may read,  
Chief judge he was with other officers,  
Called decemvir, & through his pride in deed  
Again the custom of them that were his feres,  
He made be borne standards and baneres,  
In otherwise, of high presumption,  
Then used were before in Rome town.   

These judges had a custom and manner  
Like their estates, in their governance,  
Each after him to have borne a banner,  
Where they went, such was their ordinance  
By twelve sergeants numbered in substance:  
But Apias of pride and great outrage,  
Y changed hath that custom and usage.   

He first ordained each should in his place  
Of Decemvir, have a banner borne  
In their walking the people to menace,  
An hundred men of arms them before,  
And twenty over (by a statute sworn)  
Whereby the city bore great cost in deed,  
And all the people were put in fear & dread.   

To see the sargeauntes walk in plate & mail  
They thought it was a maveylous working  
Judges to go with such apparel  
In their proceeding as each had been a king:  
And whole the intent of Apias meaning  
Was that he should of power and might,  
Do what him list were it wrong or right.   

The rightful punish, and the guilty spare,  
Favour wrong for bribes and for meed,  
The people oppressed stood in sorrow and care,  
Found no succour to help them at their need:  
Law was there none, for reason lay by dread,  
Will was judge, and pleasance equity,  
And thus by mastery was governed the city.   

And as it is remembered by Bochas,  
Apias was lecherous of nature,  
And caught a quarrel as ye have herd the case  
Against Virginia, a maid clean and pure:  
And for he should nothing in her recute  
Touching his lust, her father in that strife  
With a sharp sword made her lose her life.   

And for this tyrant by false ribaldry  
Caused her death by hasty violence,  
And for he should her beauty not mastery  
dying a maid in her chaste innocence,  
Therefore he was deemed in sentence  
As is tofore made clear mention,  
For to be chained and die in prison.   

Eke Decemvir lost their power,  
And never in Rome after bore no name,  
Nor of that sect was made none officer:  
And among all Apias bore the blame,  
Whose crime reboundeth to his eternal shame  
As ye have heard, who that can discern,  
And than Tribunes were chose for to govern.   

And in Bochas like as it is found,  
The said judges in mischief did fine,  
While Apias lay in prison bound  
Exiled were all that other nine,  
The good, the treasure of them & their line,  
Acheted was for short conclusion,  
To common profit and increase of the town.   

¶ Envoy.  

THis little tragedy doth shortly devise  
What mischief followeth for the great unright  
Used in judges, in many sundry wise:  
For when favour blinded hath their sight,  
And innocence is borne down with might,  
In his quarrel poverty may not proceed,  
Bicave that troth oppressed is with meed.   

A judge should of equity despise  
To take gifts of any manner wight,  
And ready be all wrongs to chastise,  
From all gifts turn away his sight,  
His hands close, his ears stop aright,  
And be aye aware for friendship, hate & dread,  
That troth be not oppressed with meed,   

The noble doctrine and virtuous emprise  
Of philosophers that had so great insight,  
Was to these judges the prudent were & wise  
For friend or foe their domes be so dight  
Of right wiseness that the sun bright  
eclipsed never, lest men for their falsehood,  
Report the right was put aback for meed.   

Noble princes supportours of justice,  
Called load stars to give the people light,  
On Apias let judges not practise,  
Let truths lamp be clear both day & night,  
Your office poised that longeth to a knight,  
Hold up the balance of doom in your manhood,  
That law in judges be not corrupt with meed    

¶ Bochas' against the untruth of judges.  

Sving upon the death of ●pius,  
And his rebukes for his great outrage,  
Bochas by writing wext some▪ what irous,  
Again judges false, & thought in his courage,  
They should be sad and demure of age,  
And their life by virtue should draw  
To keep the precepts & statutes of the law.   

They ought of reason themself to habyle  
To have science of philosophy,  
And know their texts of canon and civil,  
And thereupon their wits whole to apply:  
For cunning judges by prudent policy  
Cause ordinances in law comprehended,  
Through rightful doom greatly to be commended   

Justice of law doth realms enlumine,  
sustaineth troth, supporteth innocence,  
Of ravynours boweth down the chine,  
punisheth robbers for their great offence:  
Sluggy truants for their negligence,  
And feigned beggars that greatly disavail,  
Constraineth them to labour and travail.   

Founders of law by antiquity,  
Caused in lands was suffered none erroute,  
And made of princes the royal majesty  
To shine in worship, by diligent labour:  
Wrested courages of many conqueror,  
That their triumphs no further should attain  
Than law of god and nature did ordain.   

Will was that time under subjection  
Of right wiseness, by troth full well conceived:  
sensuality was servant to reason,  
And froward lust was under lock ykeyed,  
Sentence of statutes was not disobeyed:  
The rich did right through every land,  
Poor folk lived by labour of their hand.   

Lordship the time anoyded maintenance,  
Holy church lived in perfitness,  
knighthood though days for troth whet his lance  
And false extortion had none entresse,  
Merchants winning came all of rightwiseness  
Artificers the work day were not idle,  
And business of labour held the bridle.   

Women that age farced were nor horned,  
Nor their tails were not serpentine,  
Wise men of folly, nor clerks were not scorned  
Which in science most freshly did shine,  
Law disherited none heirs from their line:  
Lesyngmongers found the time no socours,  
And flatterers were made than no confessors.   

This golden world flowering in virtue,  
Borne up by love, grounded on stableness,  
Of adultery sprang out none issue:  
Prices with doctrine established their nobles,  
Preesthod in prayer, knighthod in worthiness  
Each thing by law stood under governance,  
Merchants by measure & just peis of balance.   

First Phoroneus by diligent labour  
Fond out laws, that king was of Argyues,  
The greeks study he giit with great honour,  
This politic prince avoided them from strives,  
His statutes kept during all their lives,  
Found first the manner (Bochas doth devise)  
How to Jupyter was made sacrifyse.   

Eke mighty Minos whilom king of Crete,  
Ordained laws again transgressions,  
To fear by rigour fools that were unmeet,  
And staunch of surfeits all occasions,  
Made for robbers mighty strong prisons:  
And Dedalus his chief artificere,  
Made labyrinths by diligence enter.   

And Mercury borne by the stood of Nile  
As writeth Lactance, was of Egypt king,  
Unto merchants did law first compile  
Of weight and measure, to use in chaffaring:  
And for his wisdom and excellent cunning,  
Of old poets that whilom were so wise,  
He called was God of merchandise.   

Solon also the best laws made  
As Valery writeth, himself to magnify:  
Athenienses thereof were full glad  
His great wisdom when they did espy,  
They fond therein so much policy,  
And ever he was ready for to debate  
Again tyrants, so sore he did them hate.   

King Lygurgus yet whilom did his cure  
To make laws to common advantage,  
And that they should perpetually endure  
He made his people be sworn of every age,  
While that he went out on pilgrimage  
Fro point to point to keep them in certain,  
Unto time that he came home again.   

And for his laws were of great substance,  
And profitable to every comonte,  
He chase to live in exile and penance,  
Never to resort again to his cite:  
That his statutes by eternity  
Should nat be broke, as ye have herd toforne,  
By the convention to which they were sworn.   

To common profit had he such tenderness,  
That he forsook his kingdom and kindred  
To live in exile, his story beareth witness:  
But or he died, as he lay bedrede,  
He bade his bones should be cast in lead  
Amid the see, far out from the strand,  
That his statutes might in their strength stand.   

He eschewed everich occasion  
As a thing hateful, which was not fair,  
That his foresaid royal mighty town  
Should break their oath, because of his repair:  
But touching that he put them in despair,  
Cast him never resort in their days  
Lest they would break the sentence of his laws.     

The xu chapter.  
¶ Here Bochas maketh an exclamation of the extortion of the officers of Rome.  

JOhn Bochas here maketh a digression,  
And by rebuking cast him to assail  
Thilk officers the were in Rome town,  
Which by extortion oppressed the porail,  
And again judges also of italy,  
And namely them that for lucre or meed  
Set troth aside and took of it none heed.   

He maketh again them an exclamation,  
Such as to virtue were contrarious:  
And under colour and occasion  
Of their office list to be lecherous,  
Like conditioned unto Apias,  
And finally as it was after seen,  
False in their domes, & of their life unclean.   

O (quod Bochas) O troth, o thou justice,  
Which in your nobles whilom did excel,  
Where in effect is now your exercise,  
Where is your woning alas where do ye dwell,  
Of your practic full few men can tell,  
So far put back is now your discipline,  
Your kin exiled, and your noble line.   

Advocates that now done occupy  
Your old sees, and places full royal,  
All to falsehood their wits they apply,  
Such covetise now reigneth over all:  
Causes of civil, and causes crymynall  
Their domes take, where they be falls or true,  
All after will, by statutes changed new.   

There been eke other called accessours,  
sitting by judges, to give them counsel,  
Which may full well be called raveners,  
For they nat labour but for their avail:  
A number of robbers follow at their tail,  
To pill the people, as ye have hard to forne,  
Bare as a sheep, that is but new shorn.   

There is no more in this matter to say  
Save only this, troth stant desolate,  
And rightwiseness dare to no wight complain,  
With wrong oppressed, weeping & desolate,  
Wherefore ye princes that sit in high estate,  
Such thing to mend, but ye better heed take,  
God shall with you a full hard reckoning make.   

Your office is in your magnificence  
between man & man all wrongs to redress,  
And where a matter is again conscience  
It to reform only of rightwiseness,  
To stand by truth, maintain no falseness,  
And let wise counsel such matters examine  
Or ye of haste thereon determine.   

Have such things in your mind among  
Think god will quite like as ye deserve,  
Ye spot your noblesse if that ye do wrong  
His sword of punishing dread or it carve:  
Let your reason and conscience conserve  
Your noble estates, & think like your werking  
The lord of you will ask a reckoning.    

The xvi Chapter.  
❧ Of Alcibiades exiled, and after brent in his bed.  

AFter other that put themself in prees  
Tofore Bochas their complaints to discure,  
Came of Athenes Alcibiades,  
That time alive the fairest creature:  
And as it is remembered by scripture,  
He was discrete, and was at all assays  
One the strongest and manly in his days.   

He was first borne of full high lineage,  
Above all other of most seemliness,  
Well proportioned and hardy of courage,  
Loved and favoured for his great fairness:  
Famous in knighthood for his worthiness  
subtle witted, and could by cloquen●●,  
Boche comprehend under short sentence.   

His wit inclined to manifold sciences,  
Had of cunning a passing retentife,  
Loved clerks, & fond them their dispenses,  
Such as in practife he saw most inventive,  
To read in books rejoiced all his life,  
Kept what he red in his memorial,  
And of wise counsel was none to him equal.   

An uncle he had called Perycles  
Which stood in danger of excessife spending,  
Yet in his youth this Alcibiades  
Seeing his uncle pensiefe in looking,  
Cast of wisdom to remedy that thing,  
And for to assuage his hearts heaviness,  
Gave him this counsel by great aviseness.   

first to rehearse how the matter stood  
And of his uncles woeful high distress  
There was to him delynered a sum of good  
To repair the temple of a goddess  
Called Minerna, but for the great excess  
Of his dispenses he stood somewhat in dread,  
Touching thaccount, that he must yield in deed.   

Alcibiades here upon musing,  
To his uncle gave counsel in sentence:  
Uncle (quoth he) let be your thinking,  
And for yourself shape this diffence,  
Nat for tacoumpt by mean of your prudence:  
Afore provided, with face & cheer unfeigned,  
To such duresse, that ye be nat constrained.   

And when Pericles his counsel advertiseth  
Fond to his worship it was reasonable,  
And by good leisure, himself full well aviseth,  
And by provision prudent and notable  
Saved his estate from each thing reprovable:  
So that he stood, touching this matter,  
As for accounts out of all danger.   

Alcibiades of Athens chief captain  
From day to day waxed up to great increases,  
Such another was there nowhere say,  
Them to govern, both in were & peace:  
And all the city by assent him cheese  
Of their navy in especial  
Upon the see, to be their admiral.   

For his knighthod they sent him out afar  
To Cathenoys to be their governor,  
gain Cyracusenes for to gin a were:  
First there received with glory & great honour,  
But in the end of his great labour,  
Fortune that is aye variant and unstable,  
Was to this duke nat found favourable.   

He was accused to them of the town,  
Which in Athenes had governance,  
That he was guilty in party of treason,  
By them revoked for all his great puissance  
Of Capitaynship, and by their ordinance  
And fortunes false mutabylitie  
unwarely deprived from all dignity.   

But for himself thus he 'gan provide,  
Went into exile not fer from that country,  
In to a city that called was Elyde,  
There for to have freedom and liberty,  
And of his life, to stand in surety:  
For in Athenes they would have him deed,  
Unto their gods to offer up his heed.   

But when he was of their intent certain,  
To Lacedemone he took the right way,  
And by relation there he herd sayne  
How Cathemenses were put to afraye  
In a battle upon a certain day,  
Which that they held to their adversity  
gain Cathenoys, as they fought on the see.   

But the cause of this discomfiture  
As was told Alcibiades,  
Was by three captains through misadventure,  
Which in their leading were found reckless,  
The chief of them named Demosthenes  
The t'other called the story telleth us,  
The tone Niceas, the t'other Eurilocus.   

Alcibiades having hereof tiding  
To avenge his wrong put himself in prees,  
Of Lacedaemon he goeth first to the king  
Which of troth was called Agydes,  
Beseeching him to grant to his increases  
Certain soldiers out of his country.  
For to warray of Athenoys the city.   

Thus he waxed strong of noble providence,  
Had great people under his governance,  
And like a duke made strong in his defence,  
The people gathered to his obeisance,  
That other princes that were of high puisaunce  
'Gan have envy of wilful frowardness,  
And to malign again his high noblesse.   

For seld or never in any region  
Prowess of arms, noblesse of chivalry,  
Increase of riches, report of high renown,  
Fame of cunning in craft or in clergy,  
May no where dwell without some envy:  
From whose malice as folk expert may see,  
Save only wretches no man hath liberty.   

For which this prince as put is in memory,  
Escaped nat for all his high parage,  
But that some envy at his glory:  
For in this life no man hath advantage  
Again tongues, nor odious false language,  
To stop such venom this is the best obstacle  
That men with sufferance tempre their treacle,   

The clear prowess of Alcibiades  
Stained the nobles of other princes all,  
His eure him raised up to so great increases,  
To the highest throne of fortune's hall:  
Such fatal grace is unto him fall  
That in though days plainly this is no fable,  
There was no knight to him resemblable.   

In his exile so clear his renome shone,  
And through Grece gave as great brightness,  
As doth a ruby above each other stone:  
Yet for to clips and shadow his worthiness  
Lacedemonois did their business,  
Such as not might to his nobles attain,  
By false report his renome to restrain.   

await was laid to take him at mischief,  
And many trains were searched out & sought  
Of intent to put him at reproof,  
But all that ever again him they have wrought  
At the end the purpose came to nought:  
For God provideth of his magnificence,  
Again such malice to save innocence.   

He was likely to fall in great daungere  
Lacedemonois 'gan so at him disdain,  
Because his honour & nobles shone so clear,  
That to his fone it was a deadly pain:  
And thus his life stood in no certain  
For all be it he manly was and wise,  
He knew nothing their purpose nor malice.   

He had almost ywarned be to late,  
And like to have stand in great perplexity,  
And more his grace and fortune to abate  
By thoccasion of his great beauty,  
He with the queen was waxen full prive:  
For in her grace so well stood there none,  
Which gave to him warning of his fone.   

And by the counsel only of the queen  
Fro Lacedaemon he wisely took his flight  
Toward Athenes, & thought he would seen  
His own country, full like a manly knight,  
And though they had nat governed them a right  
Towards him, being in distress,  
To avenge his wrong, he did them no duresse.   

For he thought it was against nature  
To be vengeable, or show his cruelty  
By thoccasion of any adventure,  
Or gin a were upon his country:  
His native blood moved him to pity,  
And of very natural gentlynesse  
Was debonair, again their unkindness.   

The case was this, for short conclusion,  
How king Dary with great apparel  
Thought to warray, of indignation  
Them of Athenes, & their town t'assail,  
And in purpose proudly to prevail:  
Thessifernes, a prince of great puissance  
Of Daries power had all the governance.   

Final cause and ground of all this were  
That Darius 'gan on them so hastily,  
And that he sent his puissance from so far  
For to destroy Athenes utterly,  
Was to hold up and sustain the party  
Of Lacedomone, which of old hatred  
Were ever envious them to oppress in deed.   

But by mean of Alcibiades  
And his treaty founded on prudence,  
Thessifernes, inclined to the peace,  
Thereby in party to appease his violence:  
And all was done of noble providence,  
And fro the place, to which he was exiled,  
He to Athenes should be reconciled.   

Unto the city he did signify  
How Darius, had made his ordinance,  
And by his letters he 'gan them specify  
If they would stand at his governance,  
To condescend plainly in substance:  
He would labour, and no longer tarry,  
To make accord atween them & king Dary.   

This was the mean that he meant:  
Within Athenes that the senators  
Should of the city, after their intent  
Have full lordship, & be their governors:  
But as clear wedder troubled is with showers,  
Right so unwarely, within that royal town  
Through his treaty fill a dissension.   

The ●ōmeners 'gan suddenly disdain  
To be thralled under subjection,  
And so by assent the commons did ordain  
Only t'appease all false dissension,  
For to revoke again into their town  
Aicibiades, as they thought it meet,  
Through this prudence to set them in quiet.   

First in his coming mine author doth report  
He was made duke again of the cite,  
And 'gan the party of commons to support,  
And them restore to their old liberty:  
Where through the senate dreading the commonte  
Fled to exile, full far out of all prees,  
Only for dread of Alcibiades.   

They stood that time in so great disjoint  
Their town divided, & out of governance,  
That they were brought even to the point  
To yield the city unto the obeisance  
Of Lacedaemon's, through their unhappy chance,  
Within themself, when they can debate  
Under their duke, the senate bore such debate.   

But the commons chase in their dyffence  
Alcibiades, to govern that voyage,  
And to the see with cost and great dispense  
Without abode he holdeth his passage,  
In mighty ships, made for advantage:  
Well enarmed, and cast if he might  
With Lacedemonois proudly for to fight.   

Three mighty captains were on the other side  
The first zestro, Bochas telleth thus,  
And the second that was their lord & guide,  
Called Mydare, the third Pharbanasus  
Oh the see & land, in arms full pompous:  
But of knighthood and magnanimity  
Alcibiades took them all three.   

Strong was the fight or that they were take,  
Of all their meinie away there scaped none,  
The duke the day, 'gan such a slaughter make  
Of high prowess upon his mortal fone,  
Cast over board almost everichone:  
And after that, when he came to land,  
A new battle met him on the strand.   

Such wait was laid about him environ  
Of his enemies, by sudden adventure,  
But of Athenes this mighty champion  
Which might in arms most sovereignly endure  
Made of his fone a new discomfiture:  
Thus in short time this prince in his estate,  
On land and water was twice laureate.   

And after that he list nat for to cease  
Nor to abide the space of half a day  
The common profit of his town t'increase,  
Toward Asye he took the right way  
Towns & castles that were take away  
Which appertained to Athenes of right,  
He gate again full like a manly knight.   

Maugre all that to him were contrary  
Or wrought again him by rebellion,  
Throughout Asye in the land of Dary  
He knightly brought them to subjection:  
Again whose sword holp no protection,  
And final labour was of his intent,  
The common profit of his town to augment.   

And with this glory and with this noblesse  
He to Athenes repaired is again,  
And all the city with joy and great gladness  
Came out to meet him upon a fair plain:  
And that his triumphs should openly be said,  
Both old and young with full glad visages,  
Of their gods brought out the images.   

This was their cry and noise of all the prees,  
Victorious prince whose triumphs martial  
Shall ever be song with laud and new increases,  
To fore the gods which been immortal,  
Welcome, welcome, our protector and wall,  
Shield of our welfare, again all violence,  
Phoebus of knighthod, & sword of our defence.   

Thus which their gods they made him equal,  
By uncouth praising of paganismes rights,  
Like as he had been very immortal  
And song refreytes to commend his merits:  
And to enhance his glory they set all their delights,  
And with the light of eternal fame,  
Set up torches to enlumine with his name.   

Thus certain days they hallowed of intent  
Through all the city, for his high prowess,  
Till fortune hath his eyen blended  
With new favour of worldly false sweetness,  
For all her sugar is meynt with bitterness:  
A bait of honey shed out at prime face  
With mortal venom hid under to menace.   

For in his highest climbing up aloft  
And in thascent of fortunes wheel,  
After her custom, as she hath full oft,  
When he best wend for to stand weal,  
She drew her favour from him every deal:  
Made the people under his obeisance,  
To fall in mischief for lack of governance.   

Thus fro this duke fortune 'gan to vary  
And his noblesse go back and eke fail,  
When king Cirus successor to Dary  
Full unwarely fill on him in battle,  
And 'gan his knights proudly to assail:  
When he dispurveyed void of providence,  
Was overlayed to make resistance.   

For finally this Alcibiades  
At mischief take which he might nat recure,  
When through veynglory he was made reckless  
His noble estate testablysh and assure,  
Lack of foresight caused his discomfiture:  
And to increase of more adversity,  
Banished again out of his city.   

Thus diffaced and eclipsed was his glory,  
His city put in strange governance  
By Lacedemonoys, after this victory,  
So that he knew no manner chevisance  
To reform his unhappy chance,  
Save for refute mine author doth rehearse,  
How that he fled unto the king of Perce.   

From Athenes of new he was exiled,  
And thirty persons all furious and vengeable  
Chase in their city, as Bochas hath compiled,  
The town governed albe they were not able:  
Using a manner hateful and reprovable,  
Through their tavyne tempoverish their cite,  
A thing most odious to all comonte.   

A worm of dread was bred up in their heart  
Which suffered not them to live in peace,  
Among themself when they did advert  
The great prudence of Alcibiades,  
How in manhood he was peerless,  
Lest he would after for all their multitude,  
Knightly acquit their ingratitude.   

And of assent to abridge his live days,  
They again him of malice have conspired,  
After his exile to make no delays,  
For to accomplish that they long have desired  
With brenninge hate their hearts falsely fired  
To murder by envy causeless again right.  
Alcibiades the noble worthy knight.   

Thus the time approached, and the date  
Term afore set by constellation  
Of his periody, and his lives fate,  
Which was concluded (as made is mention)  
By cruel murder to his destruction:  
Alas what prince with gold or soldiers  
May him provide again false conspirators?   

Fortune of new 'gan at him enchase  
From her trains that he ne scape might,  
Daily pursued from place aye unto place  
In Perce and Mede, though he were out of sight  
Till that his enemies fill on him by night,  
Sleeping, alas, to soon they were sped  
When they him found they brent him i his bed.   

Thus by murdre their purpose was achieved  
Alas it was to horrible a deed,  
So good a knight so well in arms proved,  
So renowned, so famous in manhood,  
For to be brent among the coals read,  
First unwarely in his bed tale,  
And so consumed among the coals black.   

This was the end of Alcibiades,  
Which in knighthod was most sovereign:  
In were a lion, and a lamb in peace:  
As Mars victorius, his fate so did ordain,  
To fames palaies he flieth with wings twain,  
Son to Mynerua to speak of high prudence,  
And like Mercury by notable eloquence.    

The xvii chapter.  
Here Bochas maketh an exclamation upon the death of Alcibiades.  

OFatal sustrens which span y● lives thread,  
So short a term, why did ye determine▪  
To suffer him burn among the coals read?  
Ye were to hasty to break and untwine  
His web of knighthod that so clear did shine,  
And cast of noblesse his beams out so clear,  
Alas that ever he fill in your daungere,   

Out on Styx and on Attropose,  
That have of malice slain so good a knight  
Out on you three that keep yourself so close  
Daughters called of the dark night:  
And thou Letum that queyntest eke the light,  
Of Alcibiades, mirror & l●tern,  
To speak in knighthod, how men should them govern.   

Yeslee the worthy, and wretches ye do spare,  
Thercites liveth Hector is slain in deed,  
Your funeral smokes maketh relmes so bare  
To raze up Cedris their branches may nat spread  
Ye pull the laurer, ye make the sirs sede,  
Full little thank in kingdoms ye deserve,  
caitiffs to foster and do the worthy starve.   

Alcibiades is passed into fate,  
Light of knighthod lieth clipsed in the shade  
The Parca's susterne to soon set his date,  
Of his high noblesse to make the laurer fade:  
Lacedemonois of his death were glad,  
Funeral fire his body hath dyffied,  
For high prowess his soul stellified.   

¶ Lenuoye  

ALas this tragedy doth my heart to bleed  
My pen quaketh of ruth and of pity,  
In my writing, when that I take heed  
To see the strange fearful diversity  
Of all worldly vusure felicity:  
How from their sees shortli to comprehend,  
Froward fortune doth princes down descend   

Alcibiades of courage and of manhood  
As is rehearsed (in books ye may see)  
Of genltylnes, and of goodly heed,  
Of semelynes, of freedom, and of bounty  
Of high prudence, and magnanymite,  
Was most famous as auctors him comed,  
yet from his seat fortune made him descend.   

All the people both of Perce and Mede,  
While he governed Athenes the city  
Stood in his danger and 'gan his sword to dread  
And all that were rebel to his country  
He chastised them in their most cruelty:  
But when his fame 'gan highest up tascend,  
From her wheel fortune made him descend.   

Murdre & treason, with prudent frendlihede,  
Outward fair cheer, covert iniquity,  
pleasant in speech, and under that falsehood  
Hovyshed out sharp tailed like a be,  
Song of sirens to drown men in the see,  
In one combined their malice can extend,  
To cause princes from their sees descend.   

Noble princes that see so much and read,  
Remembering stories of antiquity,  
Afore providing that treason not proceed:  
Be aye most dreadful in high prosperity,  
Let others falling a mirror to you be.  
The turn of fortune all authors reprehend,  
That who sit highest is red●est to descend.     

The xviii Chapter.  
☞ Here Bochas writeth against the desires of people.  

AFter this process, if ye list to lere,  
Like as Bochas maketh mention,  
That worldly folk most soverainlye desire  
To have in lordship great exaltation,  
And up to climb in their entention  
Of worldly worship to the highest place,  
All earthly treasures at once to embrace.   

The fervent flame of their greedy desires  
In much gathering findeth no suffisance,  
Their hungry ethic kindleth so the fires  
Of avarice, by long continuance,  
That their thirst with worldly abundance  
On Tantalus river abraydeth ever in one:  
Drowned in drinking, & dame their parts none.   

There may no treasure their dropsy staunch,  
The more they drink the more they list in deed:  
In Tagus floods the deeper that they launch  
The greater dryness doth ● their breasts breed.  
The higher water an ebb most they dread:  
False indigence their heart hath so confounded,  
At the full sees seem their barge is grounded.   

Thus every man would to riches attain,  
With suffisance but few hold them content,  
Who most aboundeth rathest will complain  
For lack of good, alas how they be blended:  
Where shall their gadring & their good be spent?  
Some one percase shall then thereof discharge,  
whom they most hate, & spend it out at large.   

Within a body full little of stature  
Courage's grow up to their magnificence,  
Which up tascend do their busy cure,  
And in their climbing & transitory ascence,  
Having an hope of worldly appearance,  
Like as nothing their puisaunce might trouble,  
Nothing adverting how fortune is double.   

Some set their joy in conquest & in wars  
To embrace all earth under their puissance,  
Like as they might ●eche above the stars,  
To bring down heaven unto their obeisance:  
But if their power were weighed in balance,  
And counterwayd aright in their memory,  
They should find that all is but veynglory.   

What may avail them their featherbeds soft,  
Sheets of reins, long, large, and wide,  
divers devices or clothes changed oft,  
Or vicious meinie walking by their side,  
Void of virtue, ambitious in their pride▪  
Which causeth princes by report of such fame,  
For their mis●uing to have an evil name.   

And thus for lack of virtuous diligence,  
Through false luxury and idleness  
And upon flatterers the outrageous expense  
Support of wrong, oppressing right wiseness  
Where lesyngemongers have an entresse:  
Whom to sustain when princes do their cure,  
God will nat suffer that they shall long endure.   

Office of princes is to support right,  
His sword of knighthood fro wrong to redress,  
The poor releving not toppres them which might,  
His old servants well proved nat disdain:  
His hasty rigour, & his vengeance sudden  
Let mercy temper, to doom or he proceed,  
And God shall quite him at his most need.    

The xix Chapter.  
Here John Bochas speaketh against idleness, rehearsing how some men have joy in one science, and some in another.  

MIn auctor Bochas maketh a rehearsal  
In eschewing of froward idleness,  
That unto virtue may moste avail  
Good diligent labour, and honest business:  
And so concluding full plainly doth express,  
Every man rejoiceth (this sentence is nat glossed)  
To do such thing to which he is disposed.   

Some have joy by heavenly influence  
To know the course above celestial,  
And some of knighthod do their diligence  
To prove themself in acts martial,  
And some rejoice in their intent final  
In eloquence, some in philosophy,  
Some above all to study in poetry.   

The hardy knight is servant to faint George  
Meaning of planets searcheth thastronomer,  
Martes smith laboureth in his forge,  
harness of steel maketh tharmourer,  
But the devisor by diligence enter  
By fresh contriving out of the old entail,  
Findeth new devices of plate and of mail.   

The labourer setteth wholly his pleasance  
To tilth of land, in time to sow his grain:  
To increase his seed by yearly abundance,  
And that his plough labour not in vain,  
Casting his seasons of drought & eke of rain  
And poets to sit in their library,  
Desire of nature to be solitary.   

Such as men love such things they undertake  
Fish or foul to hunt with their hounds,  
Some of wool sundry clothes make,  
By philosophers was found out the grounds,  
And of all study they set out first the bounds:  
Caused poets plainly to conclude,  
Out of all press to live in solitude.   

Logiciens delight in arguments,  
Philosophers in virtuous living,  
And legisters following the intents,  
Greatly rejoice in lucre and winning:  
Phisiciens travail for getting,  
And of poets this is the subtle form  
By new invention things to transform.   

poets should eschew all idleness,  
Walk by rivers and wells crystallyne,  
To mountains a morrow their course dress,  
The mist diffied when Phoebus first doth shine,  
Study in books of moral discipline:  
Nothing covet but set their intent,  
With moderate food for to be content.   

Their chief labour is vices for to fage  
With a manner covert similitude,  
And none estate with their language  
By no rebuking of terms dull and rude:  
What ever they writ on virtue ey conclude,  
Appayre no man in no manner wise,  
This is the office of poets that be wise.    

The twenty Chapter.  
¶ How Malleus duke of cartage for oppression and tyranny was hewn into pieces.  

When Bochas had rehearsed of poets  
Their strange study, and solayne writings,  
And their desires of solitary seats,  
In pleasant place to make their dwellings  
Beside rivers and wholesome well springs,  
Which accomplished, he 'gan his pen advance,  
Princes of Africa to put in remembrance.   

And while he did his busy diligence  
Their piteous falls to put in memory,  
First there came twain unto his presence,  
Their old noblesse appalled, and their glory:  
Which as him sempt within a territory,  
Of africa bounds longing to Cartage,  
Did first appear, most deadly of visage.   

The one of them was named Malleus,  
Duke of Cartage, of africa lord and sire,  
His son also called Cartalus,  
Whilom chief prince and bishop eke of tire:  
But Malleus which held the great empire  
Of all africa, for his pompous outrage  
Exiled was for ever out of Cartage.   

Which caused him in heart he was not merry.  
But aye remembered upon his fell banishing,  
gathered his people win the land of Surry,  
And in the field while he lay hosting  
Cast him fully to make no tarrying,  
But in all haste of knightly fell courage,  
Maugre his enemies resort unto Cartage.   

To avenge his exile his heart was set a fire,  
And his intent more to fortify,  
He sent in haste his letters down to tire  
To Tartalus, that he should him high  
And bring with him all the chivalry  
Of his city, in steel armed clean,  
His father's party to hold up and sustain.   

But when this bishop knew holly the manner  
Of this purpose which ye have heard devise,  
He considered how that time of the year  
Ordained was to do sacrifice  
After the rites of their panym wise  
To Hercules, which in that city  
Above all gods had the sovereignty.   

Whose feast was hold space of certain days  
Which for to hallow he needs must intend,  
And by the custom make no delays  
But that he must thereto condescend,  
And leaver he had his father to offend  
As in such case then through negligence  
Unto his gods for to do offence.   

Wherefore his father had indignation  
The case aretting to unkindness,  
And thereof caught a great occasion  
Again his son, of froward wilfulness:  
For princes oft of furious hastiness,  
Will pike a quarrel causeless in sentence,  
Again folk absent, though there be no offence.   

And some tongues venomous of nature,  
When they perceive that a prince is moved,  
To agreg his ire do their busy cure,  
With false language to make him more grieved  
But there is no poison so well expert nor proved  
As is of tongues the hateful violence,  
Namely when princes list give them audience.   

The feast accomplished of mighty Hercules  
All innocent of double and false meaning,  
This said bishop of will not reckless,  
Came to his father without more tarrying,  
Changed neither habit nor clothing,  
With all the ensigns, & in the same wise  
As he tofore had done sacrifice.   

Anon his father made no delay  
Without excuse it would be no bet,  
Of hasty rancour the self same day  
Made him be hanged upon an high gibbet:  
Law and justice were both aside set,  
And tyranny most furious and wode,  
To do vengeance in truths place stood.   

Who can or may tyrants well describe  
Whose sword been whet aye for vengeance  
Their bloody thirst doth their hearts rive,  
Their ears aye open to hear of him mischance  
Their furious mirth, their mortal pleasance  
Their pale smiling, their laughter of hatred,  
Concludeth ever upon some cruel deed.   

They be ministers to Parca's sister three,  
To untwynd the threads of folks here mortal  
And very cousins through hasty cruelty,  
Unto the wode furies infernal,  
Children to Pluto of vengeance martial:  
Which for their vices but they bear them weal,  
Shall turn in hell on Ixion's wheel.   

Thus Malleus father most unkind  
Like such a tyrant, shed out his cruelty  
As ye have heard, and after as I find  
Of furious heart and of old enmyty:  
By force is entered Cartage the cite,  
And slough all though in his hateful ire,  
That him afore had exiled into tire.   

Wrought after will & nothing after right,  
'Gan rob & spoil that noble famous town,  
Which made him hated in the people's sight  
For his outrage and great extortion:  
Having no joy nor consolation  
Within his heart, plainly nor gladness,  
Save like a tyrant the people to oppress.   

The people of Cartage sore 'gan to complain  
Upon their mischief and desolation:  
As Bochas writeth, rehearsing in certain,  
Will is stepmother of wit and of reason,  
And where that princes have domination,  
And by false pillage to riches climb up fast,  
Trust right well their lordship may not last.   

Their great power of worldly excellence,  
To their accroching of temporal riches,  
When they be tyrants, may stand in no defence:  
And froward will ruleth their highness,  
For what is lordship plainly to express  
In this world here if it be discerned?  
Love of the people when they be well governed   

For tyranny and false oppression  
Causeth princes to stand in great hatred,  
And what is worth their domination  
Without love? let prove it at a need,  
Men for a time may suffer them and dread,  
But when that dread constrained is & gone,  
Than is a prince a man but alone.   

See an example how Malleus of Cartage  
For all his castles & towers made of stones,  
For his oppression, vengeance, and outrage  
The people of africa rose on him all at once,  
And cut asunder his flesh and also his bones  
Cast them plainly (on him they were so wode)  
Unto their gods to offer up his blood.   

The people dempt, of mortal cruelty,  
There was no offering so pleasant nor convenable  
Unto their gods to please their deity,  
As blood of tyrants which that be vengeable:  
Thus cruel princes make the people unstable,  
Of necessity which ought be complained,  
To wreak their wrong that they be constrained   

Lo here the end of Malleus the tyrant,  
Which doth to princes full well exemplify  
To God above how it is not pleasant  
Them to delight in no such robbery,  
Nor pill the people by no false tyranny,  
Nor for no tales be hasty of vengeance,  
For all such thing to god is displeasance.   

¶ Envoy.  

Read & considered, this said tragedy  
showeth to Princes a mirror full notable,  
How they their rigour shall temper & modefy,  
Or they proceed for to be vengeable:  
For in a prince it is right commendable,  
Rancour of heart, of cheer, and of courage,  
For to defer till that their ire assuage.   

Their hasty ire, their sudden melancholy,  
Their colorike fumes, your fury unrestraynable  
Their unqueint fires which flame of tyranny,  
Their freting ethic of hate incomparable,  
Like beastial Tigers, like lions untretable  
Ne will not suffer that infernal rage,  
Defer their domes till their ire assuage.   

The royal Lion of moral gentry  
Among beasts of force incomparable,  
proveth not his power nor his regaly  
Gain beasts prostrate, which be not defensable  
And mighty princes should in case semblable  
For innocentes take mercy in mortgage,  
Respiting rigour till that ire assuage,   

The sparkle of vengeance is quycked in party  
By winds four, fell and abominable,  
Blast of detraction, and blast of flattery,  
Blast of false rowners' that forge many fable,  
And blast of brybours vicious and culpable:  
which smoky slanders, and felons false visage,  
Causeth ire of princess' that it may never assuage   

For which let princes of noble policy  
Beware of tongues double and deceivable,  
Which with their venom infect each company,  
Their poynaunt poison is so penetrable:  
To folk absent it is mischevable,  
So deep fretteth their serpentine language,  
Causig in princes their ire may not assuage   

Noble princes let virtue magnify  
Your high estate, to make you merciable,  
For moral Seneke doth clearly specify,  
The throne of princes by clemence is made stable  
Vengeance delayed to God is agreeable,  
And hasty rigour doth outrageous damage,  
When humble requests your ire may not assuage     

¶ The xxi Chapter.  
¶ How the substance of the host of Hymilcho duke of Cartage going to conquer Cecile died of pestilence, and after he himself slain.  

AFter these mighty princes twain  
Next in order with pale and dead visage,  
Tofore Bochas Hymilcho 'gan complain  
The unhappy fall of his fatal passage,  
When he was sent by authority of Cartage  
To conquer through his mighty puissance,  
The land of Cycile, unto their obeisance.   

They of Cartage had an opinion,  
That it was leeful (after their intent)  
Without title of right and of reason  
Their territories and bounds to augment:  
And for that cause Hymilcho they sent  
The mighty duke their nobles to advance,  
Which of Cartage had hole the governance   

And for he must pass by the see  
Toward Cicyle, this noble worthy knight,  
With him he had a full great enarmee,  
Chose out of Cartage in steel armed bright:  
Their fone to conquer of very force and might  
But Fortune 'gan at him so disdain,  
That to his purpose he never might attain.   

Ground and ginning of his destruction  
To be remembered shortly in sentence,  
There fill of the air a great corruption,  
Which caused a full great pestilence  
Among his meinie, by unware violence  
And sudden mischief that is upon him fall,  
He lost almost his worthy knights all.   

nigh all his people was slain in y● morayne,  
That but a few be left of his main:  
Infortunate he turned is again  
Home to Cartage, and they of the city  
All causeless of hasty cruelty,  
Hath slain this duke as Bochas doth compyle  
Lo who may trust Fortune any while?    

The xxii Chapter.  
☞ How Heynon duke of Cartage was dismembered.  

AFter whose death a man there 'gan succeed  
A mighty duke that called was Haynon,  
Which purposed for to change in deed  
His name of duke by false ambition,  
And to be called throughout the mighty town,  
King of Cartage, and thereupon of pride  
To find out ways he felly 'gan provide.   

He was not content a duke men should him call,  
But of Cartage for to be named king,  
And like as his purpose that it should fall,  
Fro day to day the means compassing  
How he might fulfil this uncouth thing,  
For to be crowned and reign in that land,  
And at the last this mean way he fond.   

He had a daughter young and tender of age,  
Which of the people stood in great favour,  
And he him cast to give her in marriage  
To a young knight son to a Senator,  
Which in the city was a governor:  
And that his purpose might be attained,  
Day of the marriage & time was ordained.   

And in his palace chief and principal  
This said duke let make his ordinance,  
To hold a feast full solemn and royal,  
And with great cost made his purveyance,  
Of sundry daintyes, which that in substance  
Were necessary in all manner thing,  
Unto the feast of a worthy king.   

He gave in charge unto his purveyors,  
That all were ready again a certain day,  
And to his feast came all the Senators,  
dwelling in Cartage there durst none say nay  
And of his purpose to make no delay,  
Thought his fraud was not apperceived,  
He cast that day that some should be deceived.   

He conveyed in his inward intent  
He to be king and reign in Cartage,  
The Senators would never assent  
To break their custom nor their old usage  
He durst thereof utter no language,  
Kept him secret without noise or sound,  
And fully cast him to proceed by treason.   

The next way, he knew no better read  
To his desire than plainly to ordain  
That of Cartage the senators were deed,  
Than were he likely his purpose to attain,  
For to be crowned lord and sovereign:  
So to accomplish his lust in all thing,  
And in Cartage to reign as lord and king.   

For if the senate were utterly destroyed  
He should find no manner resistance,  
Whereby his purpose should be annoyed  
None dare say nay to his magnificence:  
For in the porail there was no defence,  
And at this feast he cast him to proceed,  
All his intent to conclude in deed.   

His officers he made to be sworn  
To help destroy falsely by poison  
The senators of whom I spoke to forne,  
And that their victuals & dainties in foison  
And eke their wines for short conclusion,  
Should with venom be intoxicate,  
Through all the palace, & spare none estate.   

These officers had a conscience  
For to accomplish so horrible a thing,  
And secretly under great providence  
To the Senate thereof they gave warning:  
And when they knew this mortal compassing  
Of Duke Haynon to show all the affray,  
They put of prudence the wedding in delay.   

Whereof this duke 'gan have suspection,  
And of this matter fill in a manner dread,  
Thought he would by some collusion  
Again Cartage more mortally proceed:  
And 'gan call to help him at his need  
Of Mauritayne, a king of great renown,  
With him by force to fall upon the town.   

Made him promise, to his advantage  
For to make free distribution  
Of the riches, treasure, and pillage,  
Which that he might find in the town,  
For utter fine of his entention  
Was to destroy of wilful cruelty,  
The famous Cartage the mighty strong city.   

Of all the thralls in the town dwelling  
And such as were borne of low lineage,  
To strength his party this was his working:  
He made them all by mortal fell outrage,  
Within the mighty castle of Cartage  
To keep them close of malice and envy,  
Again the city himself to fortify.   

But all for nought, the mighty Senators,  
Thereof ware, and of high prudence  
Gain his malice & all his false robbers  
They made them strong, & through their providence  
In especial to ordain a defence  
First on their party to let the coming,  
Of Mauritayne, the strong cruel king.   

And of assent they list nat delay,  
But rose a tones by great ordinance  
Their false duke to venquisshe and outray:  
Him & his churls they brought to utterance,  
Fill upon him with a great puissance,  
And finally proceeding of reason,  
This was his doom, by advice of all the town.   

First of this duke, as it is remembered,  
He was despoiled, his doublet eke unlaced,  
joint fro joint hewn and dismembered,  
And from his heed out his eyen araced:  
And right as he had afore compassed  
To have destroyed his own mighty town,  
As ye have herd, he received the guerdon.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy doth pitously complain,  
And maketh a manner lamentation  
Of these mighty rich princes twain,  
Slain in Cartage as made is mention:  
causeless the tone, save by thoccasion  
That pestilence in his froward voyage,  
Slew all his people that were borne in Cartage.   

Fortune also 'gan frowardly disdain  
Again this rich mighty duke Haynoun,  
When of malice he 'gan mortally ordain  
The Senators to murder of his town:  
At his feast by craft of false poison,  
As ye have heard rehearsed his outrage,  
He was agaynwarde dismembered in Cartage.   

Who doth vengeance vengeance shall attain,  
In high estate without exception:  
And who of pity vengeance doth restrain,  
He shall of mercy receive the guerdon.  
For right requireth of troth and reason,  
Cruel princes shall have for their wage,  
Death like this duke dismembered in Cartage.   

Noble princes do your best pain,  
For to preserve fro rebellion  
The common people which stand in no certain,  
With every wind turning upsodoun,  
After fortune they change affection,  
Turning their hearts with tryst or glad visage,  
Like as y● people did whilom in Cartage.    

❧ The autour again covetous people.  

NAture that is content with little thing  
The wise, ware, circumspect gods  
Which under god in heuin above reignig  
The world to govern, is called thempresempress:  
Mother of richesses, the first founderesse  
Which searched out by her artyficeres,  
The strange treasures hid in the my neres.   

This noble lady, this princess most famous,  
Knowing of man the uncouth conditions,  
Saw by experience richesses were noyous,  
In him to eclipse the disposyons,  
And convey his inclinations  
By a wrong way virtue to set aside,  
How covetous was a full perilous guide.   

For avarice is to all virtues contrary,  
The greedy worm, the serpent unstaunchable  
Man to betraisshe with promises debonair,  
At prime face sote and agreeable,  
Taught him of nature by craft most deceivable  
Through subtle searching as it were for y● nonce  
First out of earth to delve precious stones.   

Of rich miners they search out the entrails,  
To find out metals for worldly advantages,  
contrived ships with their broad sails,  
By divers sees to make their passages:  
And covetise ordained first voyages,  
Caused princes to ride in lands far,  
Each again other for to begin a were.   

Of avarice 'gan first these robberies,  
Await of brigantes, & all extort pillages,  
Murdre, slaughter, and covert briberyes,  
Of old contrived furious fell damages,  
Wrought and achieved in all manner ages:  
Now in these days let set it at a proof,  
False covetise caused all such mischief.   

She was first rote of false extortion,  
To spoil the temple mother of ravin,  
And sterer up of oppression,  
To take by force this was her doctrine:  
And as mine auctor doth plainly determine,  
And concludeth in full piteous wise,  
Rote of all evil is false covetise.   

She is eke norice of conteke and of strife,  
mistress of murder and wilful violence,  
Made men to ieoparte body, good, and life,  
Caused dissension and disobedience:  
grudging of commons withdraught of reverence,  
By rigorous constraint sudden rebellions,  
Rumour in realms, unware subvertions.   

This froward dragon full of ydropisy  
Whose freting etike there may no plenty feed,  
To staunch his thirst there is no remedy,  
The more he drinketh the more he hath need:  
And the more treasure the more he stant in dread  
With Tantalus though he swim in y● floods  
In Midas well plaineth for lack of goods   

This worm eke causeth y● men in riches  
Have dread of thieves a night in their waking  
And if they hear on coffer, bed, or press,  
Cat, rat, or mouse, or any worm moving,  
He weeneth anon within himself deeming  
That there were come with great apparel,  
Some uncouth pillar, his treasure to assail.   

The woeful soul standeth ever in dread,  
And aye abideth in labour and travail:  
And of the goods which he doth possede,  
Falleth in despair lest they would him fail,  
between hope & dread there is such battle,  
Through entermining each other to confounded  
To be most greedy when they most abound.   

Hope unasured with dread despaired  
Meeting in hearts make a mortal war,  
When hope presumeth, which dread he is appaired,  
And like a coward maketh him stand afar  
Dull of his cheer as is a cloudy star:  
Which dare not show the light of his treasure  
But ever to increase set wholly his labour.   

He dare not touch thing that he loveth most,  
His coffers close be shut under key,  
Though he have much he maketh thereof no boast  
Lest for his treasure men would him warray:  
plaineth for need like as he would they,  
Feigneth false poverty to spare his dispense,  
Oppressing plenty with froward indigence.   

And though his chests heaped be with gold  
With iron bars fast shut and closed,  
False scarcity governeth his household,  
That by none excess he is not undisposed:  
His indigent heart so straightly is enosed,  
To Herebus heir & yet well worse in deed,  
In greatest riches to complain upon need.   

This Herebus hath of iron & not of stone,  
For avarice built a foul city,  
Where as the wheel turneth of Ixion  
Under the bounds of Thesephone,  
Where zisiphus may never a day go free  
But with his stone continually travaileth,  
And the more busy his labour lest availeth.   

Thus avarice to virtue most contrary,  
Found among vices full contagious,  
Ever busy their restless stone to carry,  
Now up now down with weary zisiphus:  
Whose endless labour braydeth on Theseus,  
Which held the bridle of fruitless business,  
Condemned in hell to live in idleness.   

Of covetise the cruel mariner  
Is called Charon, which with Flegetonte  
By many a straight and many fell daungere,  
Saileth in the floods of furious Acheronte,  
Under that darked and cloudy Orizonte:  
Where avarice chose whilom nygardshyp,  
For treasurer, his coffers for to keep.   

First to declare the labour in gathering  
Of covetous men, as it is in deed,  
And counterpoise how their straight keeping  
Is ever meynt with importable dread,  
Sorrow at departing for their mortal meed,  
Which may be called of troth and equity,  
Of Cerberus the wakers heads three.   

The first head is unstaunchable desire  
Of worldly goods, great riches to attain,  
The more increase the hotter is the fire:  
The second head is the dreadful pain  
Which in keeping his heart doth constrain,  
Unware departing, that suddenly doth fall,  
Is the third head, that grieveth most of all.   

This wakyr worm that beareth this heads three  
Is called the worm of greedy covetise,  
Whose busy constraint, restless perplexite  
Troubleth the soul in full furious wise,  
Which froward monster plainly to devise,  
Braydeth on Hydra (of whom poets sayne)  
One head cut of, there groweth three again.   

Ever at the tail of plenty and riches  
Of custom followeth grudging and envy,  
For he that hath of treasure great michnes,  
Is seld glad, as for his party,  
Thus both twain stand in jeopardy,  
The rich with plenty hold him not appayed,  
And the needy with poverty is afraid.   

And yet in poverty is full great sikerness,  
Which is treasure that no man will assail,  
As mine author Bochas beareth witness:  
Amiclates among the porayle  
Lived in peace sure from all battle,  
Held him content with such as God him sent,  
When rich were armed & to the were went.   

Virtuous poverty standeth ever in siker case,  
To watch his house he hath full little need,  
But proud Pompey assieged in Duras  
For fear of julius stood in great dread:  
But people rude hereof take none heed,  
Such as rejoice them for to shed blood,  
In strange wars wrongly to get good.   

Stories old full well rehearse con  
divers studies of folk here mortal,  
First how Diogenes was content in his ton  
In which he made his lodging principal,  
And saw the course above celestial,  
Lived gladder among philosophers,  
Than king Croesus' with all his stuffed coffers.   

And if men would unto mind call  
The great mischiefs following i abundance,  
And think also how sardanapal  
For all his treasure came unto mischance,  
And how Sophoclius poorest in substance,  
Had but a garden full of lekes green,  
And right nought else himself to sustain.   

This Philosopher was ever glad & light,  
There was no watch made in his tours,  
Full surely slept he all the long night  
Having no dread of thieves ne robbers,  
In summer walking among the green flowers,  
And in cold winter full merely and oft,  
On dry straw he lay and slept full soft.   

Cyntinatus a poor laborere,  
Feyed dichesse to get his sustenance,  
without grudging ever glad of cheer  
Both in port and in his countenance,  
Dempt he had as much suffisance  
To his pleasance as Croesus' king of Lyde,  
Content with little nature was his guide.   

This poor man in his poverty assured,  
With little food and clothes but a few  
Had hearts ease, & gladsome peace recured:  
It liked him nat over his head to hew,  
Which thing conceived clearly doth us show,  
That joyous poverty conveyed with gladness,  
grudging avoided, surmounteth all richesse.   

And if that folk consider a right  
Their piteous sighs, their thoughtful business,  
Their great labour, their little sleep a night,  
Which they endure for worldly richesse,  
And of the abiding the dreadful sickerness,  
Which thing poised and called to memory,  
All earthly power is double and transitory.   

And by stories which been credible  
Topreve their power is nat abiding  
But at a point sliding and fallible,  
Whilom Massinissa of Numidy king,  
That was so mighty by record of writing,  
For fear of Syphax only his life to save,  
fled into mountains & hide him in a cave.   

And there he found full small victual,  
Constrained narrow of indigence and need  
When other dainties in mischese 'gan him fail  
He gathered roots, and eat them in his dread:  
Eke proud Xerxes king of Perce & Mede,  
Drank blood & water, to staunch with his thrust,  
dread and travail gave him such lust.   

Yet some men would say of adventure,  
They were compelled again their volunte,  
These kings twain such mischief tendure,  
Maugre their will, of necessity,  
For casual chance refte them their liberty,  
So that the rigour of this sudden rage,  
Came in by constraint and of no courage.   

But for all that folk in their poverty  
On great meats that themself feed,  
Ben all strong, whole, and fair to see,  
And also lusty proved at a need,  
Upright of limbs their journeys to speed,  
As long lyfed, the cause to express,  
Is only this they do not use excess.   

To poor men the best medicine  
Is due labour, with moderate abstinence,  
Good air in fields where Phoebus' lust shine,  
Voydinge dark mists that causeth pestilence:  
Of heavy stomach they feel no violence,  
They nat enrich leeches nor potyquares,  
Themself to save with uncouth lectuares,   

But folks rich work the contrary  
Which in them causeth maladies strong,  
Fro their diet every day they vary  
With divers meats, & their sitting long▪  
And with all this their appetites wrong,  
Take out of time, which they mai nat endure,  
Which by custom oppresseth nature.   

And thus mine author, shortly to devise,  
Seeth glad poverty standeth most in sekernes,  
And of all evil he seeth how covetise  
Is rote and ground, with false extort riches,  
Riot annexed, engendering long sickness:  
thereon concluding how moderate diet,  
Setteth body and soul in rest and in quiet.     

The xxiii Chapter.  
❧ How Euagora king of Cypre, was by Artaxerses outrayed and put from his kingdom.  

FOlowingi order the process of Bochas,  
As he remembreth next in his writing  
To him appeared rehearsed thus the case,  
Euagora that was of Cypre king,  
His eyen darked by manifold wriing:  
Because he had lost that rich land,  
Which he tofore had conquered with his hand.   

This land of Cypre as made is mention  
Of divers metals is passingly abound,  
Hath of riches great plenty and foison,  
And of this city like as it is found,  
It standeth far south with many hills round,  
And hath also many commodities,  
Within the bounds of towns and cities.   

Touching this Cypre I can no more say,  
Of which land Euagora was king,  
Till he 'gan proudly for to warray  
With Lacedaemon's their party sustaining,  
gain Artaxerses, and at their meeting  
The said Euagora was brought to uttraunce  
Put fro his kingdom & fro all governance.    

The xxiiii Chapter.  
¶ How Theo king of Egypt, by Artaxerses was driven from his kingdom and fled into Araby.  

NExt Euagora came king Theo  
Of all Egypt long time possessor,  
And to John Bochas 'gan declare his woe,  
How fortune did her froward labour,  
And fro him drew her friendship & favour:  
And suddenly through her iniquity,  
She cast this king down fro his royal see.   

She list her malice from him nat differre,  
Ne would not suffer him for to live in pe●s,  
But caused him for to begin a were  
Again the said mighty Artaxerses:  
weening thereby to have had great increases,  
gathered ships and made a great army,  
In his intent to have met him on the see.   

To Lacedaemon's he was favourable,  
Sent them vessels stuffed with victual,  
Dempt of pride that himself was able  
With Artaxerses to hold a battle:  
But hasty trust doth fools often fail,  
For this Theo was after anon right  
driven out of Egypt and yput to flight.   

Artaxerses pursued him so sore  
Tofore his face he durst nat appear,  
Fled into Araby, mine author saith no more,  
Banished from Egypt, deadly of face & cheer:  
And of his fate who so list to lere,  
He was deprived from kingly dignity,  
And by fortune cast from his royal see.    

The xxv Chapter.  
¶ How Amynta of Macedon king, had by Erudice his wife, Alysandre, Perdica, and philip, that were slain.  

ANd among other their fates complaining  
Through fortunes dreadful violence,  
There came Amynta, of Macedon king,  
And to John Bochas showed his sentence,  
And to declare his magnificence  
To Alysandre, grand father in his life,  
Having four children by Erudice his wife.   

The first of them was Alysandre called,  
And Perdica named the second,  
The third philip in Macedon stalled,  
King of Grece like as it is found,  
Which in riches greatly did abound,  
And was eke father this noble warrior,  
To Alysandre the mighty conqueror.   

And or mine author further doth proceed,  
He maketh a manner of disgression  
From his matter, like as ye may read,  
And gineth in order a description  
Of Macedon, the famous region,  
Among Greeks writeth in especial,  
Of seven provinces, it is the principal.   

And so proceeding he saith how that country  
Stretches his bounds about him environ  
Toward the see, which called is Egee,  
Forth by achaia toward Septentrion,  
And to Messene, westward it goeth down:  
And who that can by craft the costs cast,  
To Dalmacia the name thereof doth last.   

In Macedon he doth also us lere  
Of Olympus standeth the great mountain,  
And in that kingdom is many great mynere  
Of gold and silver, like as books sayne:  
And on that hill is nouther wind ne rain,  
For thilk mountain so high doth attain,  
That it may nouther blow there ne rain.   

The king Amynta of whom I spoke toforn,  
Had in Grece many great battle  
Olympiens in Macedon borne  
And illyrians together he did assail,  
Through his wisdom he did always prevail  
But with his enemies while he stood in strife  
His death was shapen by Erudice his wife.   

Mine author Bochas of her doth define,  
She imagined his destruction  
Because she had another concubine,  
On whom she set all her affection:  
Day set and time to his confusion  
Fully ordained at a marriage,  
He to be slain of one of his lineage.   

He had a sister called Vryone  
Which prudently espied the manner  
Of Erudice, and secretly alone  
Goth to the king and told him all yfere:  
And as the story in order telleth here,  
Though she failed that day of her emprise,  
She thought to fulfil it in another wise.   

This to mean, of her iniquity  
Of her fraud, and false imagining  
She was in cause through her contrariouste,  
Of the destruction of their mighty king:  
For the conclusion of her false working  
was to have slain the king and all his line,  
She to have reigned with her concubine.   

But when she saw she might nat achieve  
Her furious purpose by none adventure,  
Her venomous malice upon her lord to prove  
On other parties she did her busy cure,  
Enmitees and mischiefs to procure  
Again the king by mortal fell assays,  
With sorrow & trouble for to short his days.   

Night and day his life stood ever in dread,  
Him to betray she cast out hook and line,  
And who is he that can or may take heed,  
Freely to escape, to eschew, or decline  
Malice of women, when they be serpentine▪  
See an example of this queen Erudice,  
Void of all virtue, and full of every vice.   

Alas no prince can beware by other,  
To bridle their nobles with reins of reason:  
Such as commit, alas both ship and rother  
Unto sirens to row them up and down  
Throughout Charybdis to their destruction,  
By craft of Cyrces' alas they were made nice  
Blind to remember upon this Erudice.   

Which made Aminta to live i sorrow & dread,  
To rest in peace suffered him to have no space  
In thought & trouble his life 'gan he lead,  
Till by long process death 'gan him menace,  
Yet or he died fortune gave him grace,  
His eldest son by wisdom to ordain,  
Called Alysandre his crown to attain.   

Thus Alisandre was his successor,  
For Cathynenses 'gan their rancour let  
Against him, for he with great labour  
By their sufferance came to his royal seat:  
And for to set his realm in quiet  
First with Athenes the mighty strong town,  
Provided a peace, of high discretion.   

And for to avoid all ambiguity  
Of old debates, and of old outrage,  
First he sent into that strong cite  
His son Philippe, young and tender of age,  
On peace assured to lie there for hostage,  
And in that city, the story beareth witness,  
He 'gan to grow unto full high nobles:   

He was committed unto the discipline  
Of a great duke called Epaminondon,  
Which to all virtue his youth made incline:  
For of this duke Justine maketh mention,  
By a manner recommendation  
Tofore nor after as by his advice,  
Was never no prince more excellent nor wise   

first he commendeth his virtuous courage,  
His high noblesse, his virtuous excellence,  
And by descent he borne was of high lineage,  
And in two things concludeth his sentence:  
Sayeth that he was of most magnificence,  
Equal to Mars by famous chivalry,  
And son to Phoebus through high philosophy   

And Bochas here doth his style advance  
Full notably, with excellent language,  
And saith no treasure attaineth in substance  
To thilk richesse, avoiding all outrage:  
As when there is by bond of marriage  
Knit up a knot atween excellence  
Of famous knighthood, & of dame prudence.   

This knot availeth more than gold in coffer,  
And is more glorious perpetually to abide:  
A mighty prince ought be a Philosopher  
Which can by prudence all vices set aside,  
For when to manhood providence is guide,  
And virtuous force is captain in the were,  
Let men well trust that party may not err.   

This Epaminonda of knighthod sustenour,  
Carbuncle of virtue as books tell con,  
Of gentle manners called the famous flower,  
And of high noblesse a very worldly son,  
Whose knightly triumphs be so high up run  
To Martes palais, with the blessed souns  
Of famous trumpets & golden clariouns.   

For he was called the bright mirror  
Of rightful quarrels the party to sustain,  
Of extort wrongs most just reformatour,  
Ay equal judge of intent most clean:  
Which never coude nothing but truth meaane,  
Would of custom for hate nor alliance,  
On nouther party decline the balance.   

And to commend his virtuous prowess,  
His proved triumphs, his magnanimity,  
His martial acts, his knightly business,  
In the getting of many strong city,  
And all his labour was for the commonte:  
Which to augment he would never cease,  
Such joy he had the common we'll tencreace.   

This was also his usance evermore,  
What ever he gate to part it in largesse:  
Of gold nor coin he set but little store,  
For all his heart was set on gentleness,  
By manly freedom, and plainly to express,  
He spared no good, it showed well in deed,  
His true servants to help in their need.   

He kept nat in coffers his treasure,  
Of his nature he was so liberal  
For to relieve each manly soldier,  
Such as were proved in acts martial,  
And for to hold his feast funeral,  
After his death, his story maketh mind  
He was so free, he left nothing behind.   

All his offices and famous dignities  
And great emprises in his time wrought,  
increased franchises through Grece in his cities  
With liberties by his prudence out sought  
For common profit, and for himself nought:  
With great augmenting of strange territories,  
All this came in by mean of his victories.   

And among all his knightly excellences,  
By divers auctors unto mind is brought  
How all his life he studied in sciences,  
And upon cunning set holy his thought:  
By manly prowess of death he feared nought,  
That was showed as it is well found,  
The day when he received his deaths wound.   

He was home borne unto his pavilion,  
All his armour with blood stained reed,  
And on a couch by his men laid down,  
And 'gan abraid as he lay half deed:  
Sirs (quoth he) of one thing take heed,  
Hath any enemy this day in the field  
When I was wounded, taken up my shield?   

And when his knights had told him nay,  
By a manner of knightly rejoicing  
He them commanded without more delay  
To his presence that they should it bring,  
And thereupon full pitously looking,  
Full like a knight and with mortal cheer,  
He kissed it, and said as ye shall here.   

Thou were my fellow in arms & my brother  
That never wouldst my fellowship forsake,  
Sure & abiding, there was nat such another,  
In every journey that I did undertake:  
To me welcome an end I must now make,  
After my death my soul shall have pleasance,  
The to be kept yet for a remembrance.   

Afore his death (as it is put in mind)  
The same hour it came to his memory,  
To inquire he left it nat behind,  
Have we (quoth he) this day had victory?  
Or in the field who hath the palm of glory?  
His knights he prayed the day he should they,  
The plain truth they would to him say.   

And they him told plainly all the case,  
How his party had won the field of might,  
And with that word he so rejoiced was  
That he his spirit yield up anon right,  
And so he died like a worthy knight:  
In whom is showed what availeth in sentence  
Nobles of knighthood, joined with prudence.   

And by the mean of his wise doctrine  
philip that lay with him in hostage,  
'Gan increase in knightly discipline,  
He wext in virtue right as he wext in age,  
Whose father was by furions' outrage,  
(Called Alysandre) as made is mention,  
Slain by his mother by false treason.   

After whose death Perdicca in deed  
The younger brother, the story doth devise,  
To the crown 'gan lineally succeed,  
Slain anon after in full cruel wise:  
Such false murder every man should agrise,  
As ye have herd first of Amynta,  
Of Alysander, and of king Perdicca.    

The xxvi Chapter.  
☞ How the proud tyrant Aman was hanged, and the innocent preserved.  

THe horrible fall furious for to read,  
That followeth after of y● great Aman,  
A full false tyrant found in word & deed,  
And was of birth a Macedonian,  
Which as the bible full well rehearse can  
Was chief master (who can well conscerne)  
With Assuerus his people to govern.   

He was exalted high in pride  
To god's people most contrarious,  
His hateful venom he list nat for to hide,  
But like a tyrant most malicious  
Of wilful rancour fell and despitous,  
Fully disposed, and could him nat withdraw  
To destroy the Jews and their holy law.   

To his intent he gate authority  
By his subtle false compassing,  
Sent out letters into each country  
Through all Perce by bidding of the king  
That high and low within the land dwelling  
No wight except, that people all about  
Should unto Aman obey, kneel, and lout.   

This was the bidding of king Assuere  
When queen Vasty was voided for her pride  
And Hester chosen a maid most enter,  
Was brought to court with y● king to abide  
Which had in youth for to be her guide  
A worthy jew, called Mardoche  
Within Susis a fair large cite.   

By whose counsel every thing she wrought  
Passing fair, and of great meekness,  
And when the Enukes to y● king her brought  
She was accepted for her great fairness  
Unto his grace, her story beareth witness:  
And there cherished in especial,  
Above all the maidens in the court royal.   

And of all Pierce she was crowned queen,  
A peace commanded through all though regions,  
During the feast that men might seen  
The kings nobley in cities and touns,  
And of this feast the rich royal souns  
Came to the ears of simple Mardoche,  
Which came with other the manner for to se.   

Tofore the palace as he did abide  
With other Jews in his company,  
Of hap as he cast his ear aside,  
He of two porters the counsel did espy,  
How they them cast by false conspiracy  
To slay the king, some day of the year,  
Like their intent when they found best leisere.   

When Mardocheus prudently 'gan feel  
The secret malice of their compassing,  
Of compassion he would it nat conceal,  
But made Hester discure it to the king:  
Whereof convict they were led to hanging,  
As me seemeth a competent guerdon  
For all that falsely imagine such treason.   

By which mean the said Mardoche  
Was well accepted to the king Assuere,  
Likely also to stand at liberty  
Out of the malice and fell daungere  
Of cursed Aman, which made him no cheer:  
But compassed in full fell manner,  
Him to destroy and Jews all yfere.   

This Mardocheus the Bible tell can,  
Withdrew himself to do reverence  
Unto this tyrant this froward Aman,  
Like as the statute commanded in sentence:  
Which thing t'avenge by froward violence,  
This Aman made of hatred to be set  
Afore the palais, a mighty strong gibbet.   

But who that cast him to do vengeance,  
And innocentes for to oppress with might,  
And wilful malice, tagrege their grievance  
As God were blind & had of them no sight,  
But at the last he will of very right  
Punish the proud for furious violence,  
The poor supporting for their patience.   

As Mardocheus by innocent living  
By mean of Hester, and her great meekness,  
Accepted was to Assuere the king,  
The law of Jews set in more sureness:  
froward Aman for his cursedness  
Vengeable of pride (in the bible ye may see)  
Was high enhanged upon a gallow tree.   

Mardocheus of prudence and reason  
The furious danger of Aman set aside,  
Preserved his people fro destruction  
The tyrant hanged for his froward pride:  
Thus can our lord his judgements divide  
When he seeth time, most mighty & puissant,  
Support the simple & punish the tyrant.    

The xxvii chapter.  
Of the two brethren Artaxerses and Cyrus, and how Artaxerses slew his children and concubines, and how they ended.  

AFter the fall of Aman doubtless,  
When he best wend to have be in his flowers,  
Tofore John Bochas came Artaxerses,  
Most renowned in his time of conquerors:  
Which 'gan declare his sudden sharp showers,  
With all the parcels of his mortal pain,  
Which that fortune again him 'gan ordain   

This Artaxerses, as put is in memory,  
All other princes excelled in richesse,  
Which in his char famous of glory,  
And with his throne of worldly high noblesse,  
Sat in his time (the story beareth witness)  
Highest exalted that was of any king,  
That he should fall was it nat an uncouth thing?   

Kings he had under his obeisance,  
An hundred, provinces, twenty & eke seven,  
Son unto Dary, prince of most puissance,  
His fame dread more than fiery leaven:  
None so mighty under the starred heaven  
Accounted was that time in war and peace  
As was this king called Artaxerses.   

He had a brother that named was Cyrus,  
Out of one stock came their both lines,  
But Artaxerses (the story telleth thus)  
Was lord of grains, of oil, and of wines  
And had also by divers concubines  
An hundred children, like as it is told,  
And fifteen over, tofore or he wax old.   

Of both brethren the power last far,  
During their time stood in full high estate,  
Yet atween them was full mortal war,  
Again nature, an unkindly debate:  
For thilk wars be most infortunate  
When blood with blood (let no man dame other)  
List warray, as brother against brother.   

And finally cause why this war 'gan  
atween these brethren as made is mention,  
Through which debate died many a man,  
The ground of all and first occasion  
Was only this, for succession:  
After king Dary reigning in Perce & Mede  
Which of them twain should next succeed.   

But Artaxerses by a manner providence  
Put his brother privily in prison,  
That he ne should make no defence  
Nor gather people to his destruction:  
This young Cyrus, as made is mention,  
Was fast stocked and eke as it is told,  
That his stocks and fetters were of gold.   

And though it be nat remembered in Bochas  
How that Cyrus escaped fro prison,  
Yet also soon as he delivered was  
Through Perce & Mede riding up & down,  
He gathered people, of intention  
Through old hatred his brother t'assail,  
The field assigned, they met in battle.   

Where Cyrus proudly put himself in prees  
To show his manhood in special,  
Sought his brother called Artaxerses,  
And gave to him a wound full mortal,  
Without friendship or favour fraternal:  
That Artaxerses his wound 'gan so ache,  
Constrained was the field to forsake.   

And Cyrus than furious as a Lion  
His adversaries 'gan mortally to wake,  
But false fortune full of collusion  
Under faint smiling a mow 'gan him make,  
Which caused, alas, that he that day was take,  
Afore ywounded it would be none other,  
And then presented to his unkind brother.   

And though this Cyrus had afore be found  
young, fresh, lusty, and manly of his hand,  
By the constraint of his mortal wound,  
He died anon for he no succour fond:  
Than the two kingdoms within Perce land  
Fill to the hands of Artaxerses,  
In which after he lived long in peace.   

Thus a great space like a mighty king  
All Pierce he held under his obeisance,  
By famous nobles full gloriously shining,  
Having of riches most fulsome abundance:  
And as it is put in remembrance,  
To more increase of his prosperity,  
In true wedlock he had sons three.   

The first of them called Darius,  
Arobratus named the second,  
And the third named was Othus,  
Manly princes, like as it is found:  
And of nature like as the king was bound,  
Unto Dary, as made is mention,  
Above eachone he had affection.   

And for he dempt him able to the war  
By likelihood, of years young and green,  
He cast fully his nobles to prefer  
Of high prudence, thus he died mean,  
His impotence to support and sustain:  
For he was feeble in Perce to reign alone,  
He set up Dary with him in his throne.   

Which was a thing strange & contrarious  
Again the custom of Perciens usance,  
But he supposed his son Darius  
Should in such case increase and advance  
His father's party, of natural attendance,  
And show unto him troth and kindness,  
His impotence to cherish of gentleness.   

But in estates oft it doth thus fall,  
When that princes be run far in age,  
Their children's love again them doth appall,  
Showing no friendship save for adauntage,  
How that they may rejoice their heritage:  
And in such case when they wax strong,  
Think their fathers live all to long.   

And Artaxerses stood in the same case,  
As in the story plainly ye shall find,  
By rehearsayle and writing of Bochas,  
How this Dary was false and eke unkind,  
Forgetful, and had nothing in mind  
How his father, the troth to rehearse,  
Hath made high equal with him to reign in Perce   

And to declare the first occasion,  
To his father how the said Dary  
By a false manner of rebellion,  
'Gan in his working for to be contrary,  
Which to discure I will no longer tarry:  
But with my pen in all haste proceed,  
Here to descrive how it fell in deed.   

Artaxerses among his concubines  
It is remembered how that he had one,  
Which for to reckon wives and virgins,  
Was fairest hold of them everichone,  
Called Arthasia of full yore agone:  
And was that time, her beauty to describe,  
Among the Perciens the fairest hold alive.   

And though she were yrun far in age  
Like as books list of her express,  
Both of colour and also of visage  
She kept her beauty, & her native freshness,  
Which was afore for her seemliness  
To the said Cyrus briefly to termine,  
Chose long afore to be his concubine.   

But when this Cyrus was passed into fate  
Which for his brother might not live in peace,  
Anon upon without longer date  
She was take up for king Artaxerses,  
Because she was of beauty pearls,  
After long time when he fell in age,  
She claimed was by title of heritage   

Of king Dary by his fathers live,  
Feigning his claim by succession,  
And though his father again it did strive:  
And thus began, as made is mention,  
Of their debate the first occasion:  
For Dary cast all be he bore it still,  
Her to rejoice again his father's will.   

And to accomplish falsely his intent  
Of her to have full possession,  
To afforce his party he made this argument  
Cyrus (quoth he) as made is mention  
Reigning in Perce that mighty region,  
And this story do the plainly determine,  
For her beauty made her his concubine.   

And after time when Cyrus was deed  
Artaxerses his father ye may see,  
Next him succeading in Perce it is no dread,  
List her to claim eke for her great beauty:  
And so (quod Dary) she longeth now to me  
Because she is so pleasant to my sight,  
By succession I will her claim of right.   

Thus king Dary to his father said  
He would have Arthasia the fair,  
And therewithal Artaxerses 'gan abraid  
And answered with face debonair:  
My son (quoth he) I will not be contrary  
To thy desire, but of affection,  
Deliver her to thy possession.   

Of his promise he after 'gan repent  
Cast him to make another chevisance,  
And secretly his concubine he sent  
Called Arthasia (as made is remembrance)  
And through his sleighty purveyance,  
Unto the temple, such means he hath sought,  
Of great Apollo that she in haste was brought   

Where she was veiled & made a presteresse  
After the rites, plainly and the guise▪  
Of old paynims, by a manner holiness,  
And there professed for to do service▪  
As their statutes constrain and devise:  
During her life it might none other be,  
She bound was to live in chastity.   

This thing was wrought by compassing  
Of Artaxerses by froward jealousy,  
Whereof Dary the young lusty king  
Wext almost wooed when he did it espy,  
And 'gan compass of melancholy  
Furious rancour, and hasty cruelty,  
Upon his father avenged for to be.   

And his party of force to sustain  
With him he had (the story maketh mind)  
His brethren in baste an hundred and fifteen,  
Which to their father were false and unkind:  
Of all this number were left none be hind  
That from this purpose ones list dissent,  
His death of one will they all assent.   

Yet of this strange false conspiracy  
Artaxerses had a knowledging,  
Although the story doth not specify  
How, ne by whom he had thereof witting:  
For which in haste he made no tarrying,  
To gader meinie & make himself strong,  
Himself to avenge of this disnatural wrong.   

For Artaxerses like as the case though stood,  
Thought it sat well to his high nobles  
To be venged upon unkind blood,  
For law, nature, decrees, rightwiseness,  
And all statutes damn unkindness:  
Whereby this king occasion did find  
Again his children, because they were unkind.   

Some men dame how great multitude  
Of many children maketh a man strong,  
But thereupon plainly to conclude,  
Virtue is cause if she dwell them among:  
But if their courage inclineth unto wrong,  
And vicious life do their bridle lead,  
The greater number the worse they do speed   

A progeny borne of a cursed line,  
May through his froward false infection,  
Outward of troth though they shine  
Under appearance and simulation,  
Infect and corrupt all a region:  
For it is said of full old language,  
Fruit of sour trees take a sour tarage.   

This was well showed in Artaxerses,  
That suffered his brother die at mischief:  
bleeding his wound left him helpless,  
Which to his name shall ever be reproof,  
Thus blood unkind hath ever evil proof,  
For all the children fro his stock descended  
Were cursed everyone as here is remembered.   

Their stock was first contagious of nature,  
The griefs froward were great in number,  
Which of assent did their busy cure  
By false treason their father to encumber:  
But there is no shade nor no covert umber  
So closely kept namely of false guile,  
But the venom will show out some while.   

And thus the death contagiously conspired  
Of Artaxerses sith ago full yore,  
Whereon to avenge his heart was so fired  
Of furious ire and ybrent so sore,  
That he not could defer it now no more:  
But with his meinie fill on them anon,  
Or they were ware, & slew them everichone.   

He slough also all his concubines,  
That were their mothers of whom I told toforn  
Suffered none to live of their lines,  
So of the lineage he hath the weed upshorne:  
Found among all no grain of good corn,  
Couy●t by doom when they were presented,  
To his death how eachone they were assented.   

His clothes sprent with the unkind blood  
Of his children which he did shed,  
After whose death in great mischief he stood,  
And so in sorrow his life he did lead,  
Died after in mischief and in dread:  
Death quit with death, & rage with rage,  
Lo here the fine of his unwieldy age.   

¶ Envoy.  

THis tragedy afore declareth here  
The great outrage of unkindness,  
Between two brothers reigning both yfere,  
In Perce land, as ye have heard express:  
Till division of all mischief mistress,  
'Gan enter in through fraternal hatred,  
Which again kind destroyed their kindred.   

The war arose contagious for to lere,  
Through all Perce of mortal frowardness,  
Of Cyrus' death rehearsing the manner,  
How helpless he died in distress:  
And how the number of brethren did them dress,  
To slay their father, the story ye may read,  
Causing an end of all their whole kindred.   

King Artaxerses with a froward cheer  
His injuries and wrongs to redress,  
Slough his children, their mother eke yfere,  
Spared not one of froward cursedness:  
By which occasion took a great sickness,  
After died in mischief and in dread,  
Causing an end of all his whole kindred.   

Lo here a sorrow not particulere,  
For through all Perce ran the cursedness,  
The crooked fame spread both far and near  
Of this vengeable hasty fell woodness:  
The air enfecting with slanderous blackness,  
To show of vengeance the contrarious meed  
Of blood unkind borne of one kindred.   

Noble princes lift up your eyen clear,  
And consider by great aviseness  
The woeful strives, the odious fell daungere,  
Sown in kindreds of wilful strangeness:  
Of all rancour your courage do redress,  
Peysing the mischiefs following in deed,  
Of blood unkind borne of one kindred.     
☞ The end of the third book.   



Fruit of writing set in Chronicles old,  
most delectable of freshenesse in tasting,  
And most goodly and glorious to behold,  
In cold and heat longest abiding  
Change of seasons may do it no hindering:  
And where so be that men dine or fast,  
The more men taste the longer it will last.   

It doth courages renew again & glade,  
Which may be called fruit of the tree of life,  
So parmanable that it will never fade,  
To the five wits greatest restoratyfe:  
And to their pleasance most chief confortatife  
For of nature when they be quick & good  
They of this fruit take their natural food.   

auctors hereon concluden and eke assent  
How that writing of his kindly right  
Doth loved persons & likenesses represent  
Of friends absent severed far from sight,  
Darkness of absence is cleared with the light  
Thus fruit of writing hath his advantages,  
Of folks far of to present the images.   

Law had perished nad be writing,  
Our faith appalled near virtue of scripture,  
For all religion and order of good living  
Taketh their example by doctrine of lecture:  
For writing causeth with help of portraiture  
Things darked of old that were begun,  
To be remembered with this celestial son.   

God set writing and letters in sentence  
Again the dullness of our infirmity,  
This world to enlumine by craft of eloquence  
Canon, civil, philosophy: these three  
Confirmed franchises of many strong city:  
covenants asseled, truths of old assured,  
Nad writing be might not have endured.   

Diligence chief tryumphatryce  
Of slogardy, negligence, and sloth,  
Eke of memory upholder and nurse,  
And registrer to supposayle of truth  
Hath of old labour & else were great ruth  
Brought things passed notable in substance,  
Only by writing to new remembrance.   

Writing is cause that hereto is remembered  
Life of Prophets and patriarchs old,  
How the apostles & martyrs were dismembered  
For Christ's faith his banner up to hold:  
And writing showeth tofore as I you told,  
Of confessors the great steadfastness,  
And of virgins the virginal ciennesse.   

Like to a tre which every year beareth fruit  
Showing his beauty with blossoms and flowers,  
Right so the food of our inward refute  
By diligence of these old doctors,  
And daily fruit of their faithful labours,  
Have our courages fostered and pastured,  
By writing only which hath so long endured   

The Epigrams whilom perished had  
Of prudent Prosper that was so virtuous,  
And of Senecke the tragedy's sad  
The stratagems of Vegecius  
Rebuke in vices of noble Percius  
If in old writing had been found a lack,  
These said things had far be put aback.   

Writing caused poets to recure  
A name eternal, the laurer when they won,  
In adamant grave perpetually to endure:  
Record I take of Vyrgyll Mantuan,  
That wrote the arms & prows of the man  
Called Aeneas when he of high courage,  
Came into italy from Dido of Cartage.   

Three famous books this auctor list compile,  
Eneidos' first, which that did excel  
In rhetoric by sovereignty of style:  
He drank such plenty, this poet as men tell,  
Of the streams that ran down from the well  
Wrought by the sisters that be in number nine,  
prows of knighthood most clearly to termin   

For in that book he cast not for to fail  
With voice melodious to descrive aright,  
The great conquest of Rome and of italy  
Wrought by Enee the manly trojan knight,  
Whose verse notable gave so clear a light  
Through all the world as in rhetoric  
That among poets was none to him like.   

He wrote also this poet with his hand  
By humble style other books twain,  
One of pasture, the next of tilth of land,  
The verse conveyed with feet of metres plain:  
By which three labours a palm he did attain  
To make his name through ditties delectable  
Above poets to be most commendable.   

Writing of poets hath set with in his clos  
Conquest of knighthood, their triumph & renouns  
Read in ovid Metamorphoseos  
The great wonders, the transmutations,  
The moral meaning, the uncouth conclusions  
His book de Ponto, and with great diligence  
Full many a pistle complaining for absence.   

Of craft of love a book he hath compiled  
Whereof Cesar had full great disdain,  
Which was cause that he was exiled  
To abide in Ponto and never turn again:  
And yet he did his labour in certain  
In hope of grace his wits to apply,  
To write a book of loves remedy.   

Writing of old with letters aureate,  
Labour of poets doth highly magnify,  
Record on Petrarke in Rome laureate  
Which of two fortunes wrote the remedy:  
Certain egloges and his cosmography,  
And a great conflict which men may see,  
Of his quarrels within himself secre.   

He wrote seven psalms of great repentance,  
And in his africa commended Scipion,  
And wrote a book of his ignorance  
By a manner of excusation:  
And set a notable compilation  
Upon the life called solitary,  
To which this world is froward & contrary.   

Thus by writing he gate himself a name  
Perpetually to be in remembrance,  
Set and registered in the house of fame,  
And made epistles of full high substance,  
Called Sine titulo: & more himself to advance  
Of famous women he wrote the excellence  
Gresylde preferring for her great patience.   

Writing also remembered hath how Troy  
Destroyed was scythe gone many a year  
The death of Ector chief pillar of their joy  
And for the party of Greeks wrote Omere,  
Which in his writing was particulere:  
For to Achilles that wrought all by fraud  
Above Ector he gave a singular laud.   

Writing causeth the chapelet to be green  
Both of Esope and of Juvenal,  
Daunts labour it doth also sustain  
By a report very celestial,  
Song among Lombard's in especial,  
Whose three books the great wonders tell,  
Of heaven above, of purgatory, and of hell.   

Men by writing know the miracles  
Of blessed saints and of their holtnes,  
Medicine, salve, and eke obstacles  
Geyne mortal wounds & great sickness  
Recreation and solace in distress  
Quiet in labour, in poverty patience,  
And in riches right, troth, and conscience.   

Shortness of life and forgetfulness,  
The wit of man dull and aye sliding,  
Negligence and froward idleness,  
eachone stepmother to science and cunning,  
That I dare say nad be for writing  
Only ordained for our advantages  
Dead were memory and mind passed of ages   

And thus in chief the causes afore told  
moving the heart of Bochas to writing,  
And to remember by many stories old  
The estate of princes in chares high sitting,  
And for vices their unware falling:  
giving example as I affirm dare,  
Of false fortune how they shall beware.   

His first three books be full clear mirrors  
Fully accomplished as Bochas undertook,  
The cause of falling of many conquerors  
Only, for troth and virtue they forsook:  
For which min auctor toward his fourth book  
'Gan sharp his pen to his eternal fame,  
Only by writing to get himself a name.   

Mine author Bochas that so much coude,  
Beginneth here to make a process  
Again the outrage of princes that were proud,  
Which were brought low for their frowardness  
And notably remembreth that meekness  
Which standeth whole in one & doth contune,  
Is aye franchised from danger of fortune.   

But he in manner doth recapitle again  
The fall of many that sat in high stages,  
How they for vices stood aye in no certain:  
Came to mischief for their great outrages  
remembering first of Priam's the damages  
How he lost sceptre and regaly  
For sustaining of false adultery.   

The fall rehearsing of Astyages  
That gave his daughter whilom in marriage  
To one that was called Cambyses,  
A poor man borne of low lineage:  
For he should have none advantage  
In no manner nether in right ne wrong  
By rebellion again him to be strong.   

For me to forne had had a bysion  
How there should one proceed of his line,  
Which should him put out of his region  
And cause him in mischief for to fine:  
But yet fortune could him undermine  
That all his wisdom stood in none avail,  
For again god prevaileth no counsel.   

It needeth not his story to rehearse,  
Nor the manner of his unhappy chance,  
Nor the falling of Cyrus' king of Perce,  
Nor of king Tarquin for his misgovernance:  
Though Bochas here put them in remembrance,  
For as me seemeth it were a thing in vain  
A thing once told to tell it new again.   

And he list not now to be reckless  
New again to make rehearsayle  
Of the king called Artaxerses,  
Scythe it is told what should it more avail▪  
But he proceedeth straight unto italy,  
To their stories and beginneth here,  
At Marchus Manlius a roman consulere   
☞ The end of the Prologue.   

How Marcus Manlius wrought and did for Rome town, and at the last he was by the commons cast into Tybre, and there drowned.  
¶ The first Chapter.  

Whilom in Rome there was a great lineage  
Called Manloyes of renowned noblesse,  
And of that stock, right fair in his young age,  
Came this Marcus, the story doth witness:  
Which by process for his worthiness  
Was three times by just election,  
Made Consuler of that worthy town.   

Which to the commons greatly did avail:  
He divers times for the towns right  
fought in his days many strong battle,  
And aye prevailed through his great might:  
And in the field by a singular fight  
Outrayed his enemy, like as it is told,  
And took from him a tyche buy of gold.   

Torques in latin in english is a buy  
Acercle of gold which that Marcus won,  
Brought it home through his chivalry:  
And of Torques he was called than  
Marcus Torquatus, & thus the name 'gan  
He to be called the story telleth us,  
Among romans Torquatus Manlius.   

And he would oft ieopart good and life,  
For the city, enter the field alone,  
And there conquered for a prerogative  
Sundry crowns with many a rich stone:  
won tunicles of gold many one,  
For thilk time for divers high emprises  
Were crowns made, in many sundry wises.   

For as Aul. Gellius maketh mention,  
There were in Rome devised strange crowns  
For such as had fought for the town,  
●y for their labour received their guerdons:  
By a prerogative called champions,  
Which sundry times of manhood & of might,  
jeoparded their lives for the towns right.   

Like their deserts the crowns took their names,  
For some of thenwer called Triumphal,  
you unto knights for their noble fames:  
Other also called Obsidionall  
In Roman tongue, & some there were Mural,  
Eke other twain Naval and Castrence,  
And all they were of great excellence.   

The triumphal made were of gold  
Offered in triumphs to worthy emperors,  
Set with sapphires and rubies manifold,  
Upon the hedes of mighty conquerors:  
And when Rome was shining in his flowers  
That crown called with branches burned fair  
In their vulgar the Aureate coronayre.   

The Obsidionall of which I spoke toforne,  
Devised weet as books specify,  
Crowns notable wrought like greyne or corn  
you unto princes which through their chivalry  
Rescued sieges, and saved the party:  
Of them that were closed strait within,  
Through their prows a crown for to win.   

Another crown that called was Mural,  
Was given and granted by the emperor  
To him that first won upon the wall  
At any siege, and there abode the shower  
fighting alone in hope of some succour:  
And he that might such a brunt sustain,  
Should of Laurer wear a crown of green.   

Naval crowns whilom were ordained  
For them that fought manly on the see,  
When their ships were together chained:  
He that of manhood and martial surety  
Upon his enemies made first entre  
receive should in all the people's sight,  
Korue like a rother, a crown clear & bright.   

The crown next which called is Castrence,  
Was given of custom to the manly knight  
That list advance him through his magnificence,  
Hosts assembled ieopart would of might  
Toforne all other entre into fight:  
Should eke receive his nobles for to queme  
A starred crown made like a diadem.   

The crown also which called was oval  
Took first name of joy and gladness,  
Which kings & princes in acts martial  
Used sometime in thyr joyous noblesse,  
At sudden scrimishes of casual hastiness:  
As when they venquished proudly in battle,  
Such as their highness unwarly would assail.   

And for they were of power invincible,  
Their noble crowns were seriously wrought  
Of myrte branches which been imputrible,  
enduring ever and corrupt nought:  
For this word oval, if it be well sought  
Is said of gladness as put is in memory,  
Ordained for princes after their victory.   

Another crown called Cy●ica  
Of oaken bows was made round & plain,  
Ordained for them which pro re publica  
Coude in battle rescue a citezeyn,  
And slay his enemy that was a foreign:  
Of mighty oak he should for manhood  
Claim to wear a crown upon his heed.   

And like as knights in martial delights  
For common profit did 'em self advance,  
So for their noble victorious merits  
The Roman people had a great pleasance,  
With sundry crowns mercial in substance,  
For to guerdon their knights most famous,  
Mine author record called Aul. Gellius.   

Among other that did his busy pain  
such crowns manly to recure,  
Marcus Manlius in manhood sovereign  
Put oft his life in mortal adventure:  
For in his force so much he did assure,  
That he deserved full yore agone  
Of these said crowns many more than one.   

And to thincrease of his noble fame,  
He did a thing both manly and divine,  
Whereby that he gate him a surname  
To be called Marcus Capitolyne:  
Which above all his names did shine,  
When he alone, whereby he is commended,  
The capitoled from enemies hath defended.   

When they of France had take the cite,  
Put all Rome at mischief unto flight,  
And laid await with a great main  
The capitol for to take at night,  
By a passage that lay fat out of ●yght,  
Under a roche called Carmenton,  
Their cave entered into the chief dungeon.   

They were shrouded under a dark vale  
With ordinance, and mighty violence,  
Toward midnight the wall for to scale,  
Most covertly them keeping in silence,  
Dempt plainly for ●ackyng of resistance,  
That they should maugre tho within  
Their hour assigned the capitol to win.   

But the geese that were within close,  
The waker fowls by noise of their coming  
'Gan beat their wings, & up anon arose,  
Whereby this Marcus in his bed lying  
'Gan tabrayde and made no tarrying,  
Took his harness most furious and wroth,  
And to the walls in all hast he goeth.   

And he that came first upon the wall  
Of very force without more tarrying  
Down into Tybre he made him to fall,  
And all his fellows busy in scaling  
With shield or pavis or ladders up raising,  
This manly Mark shortly to comprehend,  
Into the flood made them to descend.   

Unto the death of him they were abaved,  
For by his knighthood and his high renown  
Maugre all them the capitol he saved,  
And afterward rescued all the town:  
For the fortune in conclusioun  
Which that time did unto him fall,  
Capitolinus men did him after call.   

And for he was so victorious,  
Himself alone by this high victory,  
This name he gate to him and all his house,  
Perpetually to be in memory:  
And registered in the consistory,  
In their chronicles his name determined,  
With golden letters to be enlumined.   

And the geese of whom I spoke also,  
That so well kept watch upon the night,  
ytake were and offered unto ●uno  
solemnly with great torches light:  
To whom also it granted was of right  
When a famine made their store to fail,  
They spared were and take for no victual.   

And thus was Mark a mighty conqueror  
worshipped in Rome, all being of assent,  
But when some folk be set in great honour  
Sontime it happeth they hold them nat content,  
With covetise their hearts be so blended:  
Fro suffisance above their degrees  
To surmonte to higher dignities.   

This Manlius was fret in his courage  
To greater worship suddenly to ascend,  
Deminge so to have had advantage  
And in himself 'gan frowardly pretend  
In that cite all other to transcend,  
Beside triumphs which were to him reserved,  
Higher to climb than he hath deserved.   

But there was one as made is mention  
Called Camillus' alord of great substance,  
Which in the cite and in that mighty town  
Above all other had the governance:  
And as it is put in remembrance,  
To his greatness no man might attain,  
Ay whose nobles Marcus 'gan disdain.   

In his heart he had a great envy,  
Which caused him by outrage for to err  
Against Camillus, which for his chivalry  
The town governed both in peace & were:  
And for Marcus would himself prefer  
Above that prince in worship and honour,  
First of the people he gate him great favour.   

And by a manner of conspiracy,  
He gathered hearts of the commonte,  
And drew also unto his party  
Great multitude throughout the city:  
And thus arose first the dreadful enmity  
Within Rome, the story telleth thus  
atween these prince's Camyll and Manlius.   

Thus first the venom atwene hem was sow  
Of hasty hatred by false occasions,  
Which in the city at ween high and low  
Caused of new divers dissensions:  
After the uncouth strange opinions,  
For every wight drew to his party,  
As they were moved in their fantasy.   

But for to stint this outrageous error  
And these hasty strives furious,  
Again fro Tuscan came a dictator  
That time called Cornelius Cassus  
Which of wisdom blamed Manlius,  
For he caused such rancour in the town,  
And for his guilt commanded him to prison,   

Which was in manner hindering to his name  
And appalled in party his noblesse,  
For a time 'gan to eclipse his fame,  
But afterward the cloud of that darkness  
By common favour was turned into ciernesse  
For as it had be right for the nonce  
In his defence the commons rose at once.   

first when they had among their rumours,  
Amid of their fell hateful contention  
Shortly rebuked the worthy senators,  
Because Marcus was set in prison▪  
Which had been ay so helpful to the town,  
Whom to deliver they many ways sought  
And as I find even thus they wrought.   

first they clad them in clothes black,  
Pale of their faces pitously weeping  
Their beards unshave & their heads slack,  
Like furious men up and down running,  
Tofore the prison all the night waking:  
And on his harms plainly to be wreak,  
They 'gan menace the prison for to break.   

And for to stint their outrageous clamour,  
The senators made anon ordain  
To deliver him out of his soiour,  
Lose his fetters and to break his chain,  
And when he was delivered out of pain,  
He list nat stint of hasty cruelty,  
Of proud courage avenged for to be.   

And in his furious fell presumption,  
Maugre the Senate and tribunes eachone,  
Said he would govern Rome town:  
At whose outrage they 'gan disdain anon,  
The people's hearts from him were agone,  
And for his pride they by advisement,  
Assigued him to come to judgement.   

Forsake he was throughout the cite,  
There came nat one with him of his kindred,  
He found no help in his adversity,  
Save a few came with him in deed  
Of the commons, full feeble at such a need:  
And thus (alas) he found no resistance,  
That was veylable to him in his defence.   

But for secure constrained, and in dread  
Away he put his clothing and vesture,  
And naked stood verily in deed,  
Showing his wounds which he did endure  
At many a scrimyshe and discomfiture,  
And for rescuse to speak in words few,  
The capytole to them he did show.   

And in supporting eke of his quarrel  
moving the people to rue on his complaint  
first to his gods loud he did appeal  
Topreserue him of that he was attaint:  
The people about him with tears all bespraynt,  
That the Judges atoned were in deed,  
Where as they sat again him to proceed.   

But secretly he was led out of the prees  
To a place called Froumentyne,  
And there, alas, they were mercylees  
His doom by rigour fully to termine:  
Spared neither nobles nor live,  
Fro the capitoled out of the chief dungeon,  
Low into Tybre for to be cast adown.   

This was his end void of all favour,  
Which no man would redress nor amend,  
By cruelty cast out of that high tower  
Which he whilom most knightly 'gan defend:  
But what man can by writing comprehend  
The unsure succour, found in necessity,  
To them that labour for any commonte?   

Let men behold the trust in worldly things,  
And namely they that be proud and hauteyne  
Open their eyen, cast up their lokynges  
To consider and see well in certain,  
Who trusteth fortune his trust is in vain:  
And yfhe list a clear ensample find,  
Among remember on Marcus in your mind.   

What might avail his nobles in battle?  
Bees of gold▪ crowns of laurere,  
His rich plates or his uncouth mail,  
His mighty shields that shone so clear,  
Or his triumphs song far and near,  
Or his victories for the city wrought,  
In his mischief availed him right nought.    

The ii Chapter.  
Here Bochas writeth in part against such as can nat be content with suffisance, but usurp to high dignities.  

HEre john Bochas calleth to memory  
The strange salayre, the famous guerdon  
Of them that gate by conquest & victory  
Honour and triumph within Rome town,  
How it was used he maketh mention:  
Seriously rehearseth the manner  
Which I shall write if you list to here.   

Advise was take first of estates three,  
Of men of arms which that were present  
That saw in deed the magnanimity  
Of him that shall have it by judgement,  
Of the clergy they must have eke assent,  
And of the senate the people most notable,  
By prove sought out that he were found able.   

This prince also other the captain  
Which that the triumph receive of very right,  
Within a char full richly be●eyne  
He shallbe set of gold burned bright,  
Fret with stones, which shall give a light  
As Phoebus doth in his mydoaye sphere,  
That no darkness about him shall appear.   

This heavenly char shall for more delight  
To show th'increase of his knightly glory,  
Be led and draw with four steeds white  
Through the city, in token of his victory,  
And he shall have for a singular memory,  
In his right hand a palm of gold full sheen,  
And on his head a crown of laurer green.   

He shall eke have above all his armure,  
Powdered with palms a cote of purple reed,  
In his left hand his quarrel for tassure  
A standard round, declaring his manhood:  
And all about set upon the bead,  
The prince's arms full rich of apparel,  
In whose quarrel he accomplished the battle.   

And of custom the said standard shall  
Be richly depaint with reed colour,  
And so this knight this man most martial  
Shallbe conveyed like a conqueror:  
And yet for more increase of his honour,  
Upon their feet his prisoners eachone  
Take by his manhood about his char shall gone,   

The most worthy fast by his side,  
All the remnant after, on him looking,  
eachone of the poets which in the town abide  
Shall on him wait at his home coming,  
Ditees devise and of his conquest sing,  
And strange minstrels, to be also record  
Thierry instruments shall touch at accord.   

All of intent to give him more courage  
To the capitol so he shallbe brought,  
And lest of pride he fall in none outrage  
Nor surquedy within his own thought,  
The most wretch shall of the town be sought,  
Which of custom shall have a staff in hand  
And in the char behind his back up stand.   

Gnotos Eolytos, in Greek he should say,  
Which in our tongue plainly doth express  
Know thyself, remembering in certain  
Upon fortunes froward doubleness,  
On whom thou trust may be sickerness:  
And who that doubteth where that it be thus,  
Let him remember the end of Manlius.   

What availed his triumphs or his bees,  
Crowns of gold, & perled fresh tunicles,  
His high prows or all his chivalryes,  
Singler fighting or martial particles  
Newly remembered or fed in old chronicles:  
poise his merits, and see now at the last  
How into Tybre their champion they cast.   

To his excuse availed never a deal  
Favour of commons, characts of his wounds,  
Nor to the gods his lamentable appeal,  
Nor remembrance of their fraunchised boudes,  
Territories nor winning of the grounds  
Which that he won which spending of his blood,  
All knit in one to him no stead they stood.   

Here ye may see how fortune suddenly  
clearness of fame can change to darkness,  
Glory to reprothe, worship to villainy,  
And joy passed to mortal heaviness,  
Swytnesse of favour into bitterness,  
And soberness into furious rage,  
And old franchise to thraldom and servage.   

For there was neither request nor prayer  
That availed to his deliverance,  
In chains fettered deadly of look and there,  
Abode the sentence of his final governance,  
Pale of face with trembling countenance,  
When he alas 'gan mortal approach  
Of Terpeya to the hideous roche.   

Of Terpeya this roche bore the name  
After a lady, as made is mention  
Called Terpeya, which fell in great defame  
Because she was assented to treason  
To have brought enemies into Rome town:  
Whereof convict her story is well know  
Under that roche she was ydolue full low.   

This roche also was called Carmentoun  
After a woman of great authority,  
Called Carmentes which through her high reno●●  
The capitol made in that cite,  
And she found letters first of our a b c,  
And cunning had among her works all,  
Declare afore thing that should befall.   

And on this hard sturdy roche of stone,  
Fro the capitol Marcus was cast down,  
Other favour nor friendship found he none,  
For all his battles fought for the town:  
The commons hearts were turned upsodoune,  
Whose love is like proved at assay,  
A blaze of fire now bright and now away.   

The common people may hot and cry fast  
As their hearts steadfast were and stable,  
But at a need their promise will nat last  
Of their courages they be so removable,  
To follow reason gerysh and untreatable,  
lightly declining & that is full great ruth  
After opinions and nothing after truth.   

This Manlius was of his trust deceived,  
Whose lust unleeful was departed in twain,  
When he of pride would have be received  
To high estate which he might nat attain,  
Where through the senate 'gan at him disdain,  
And the commons aye false at such a need,  
Left him in mischief, & took of him no heed.   

¶ Lenuoye  

IN this tragedy men may behold & see  
The perilous damages of false ambition  
Of them that be nat content with their degree  
But would up climb (like their opinion)  
To high estate, by usurpation:  
Which not consydre the sentence of scripture.  
In a good mean men longest may endure.   

Who that usurpeth to higher dignity  
Than appertaineth to his condition,  
In royal chares for to make his se,  
And hath no title of line nor of reason,  
Through froward pride full oft he is put down,  
For lack he seeth nat every creature  
In a good mean longest may endure.   

When Dedalus taught his son to flee  
He bade him first of high discretion,  
Fro Phoebus' heat keep his wings free,  
And fro Neptunus' cold congelation:  
Meaning hereby, for short conclusion,  
That who that list with joy his state assure,  
In a good mean he longest shall endure.   

Remember the manhood and magnanimity  
Of Marcus Manlyus, which by presumption  
Would have governed Rome the cite,  
Maugre the senate, ruled that mighty town,  
Which turned after to his confusion:  
For he saw nat, such was his adventure,  
In a good mean men longest may endure.   

Some in their greatest high prosperity,  
Of froward courage and furious motion,  
In their great weal by false duplicity  
Have a manner strange condition,  
Nat to be content with plenty nor foison:  
By a false ethic which of their nature  
In a good mean can nat long endure.   

But in this earth is greatest felicity  
In hearts ease, richest possession  
With suffisance content for to be,  
Of worldly trouble t'eschew thoccasion,  
moving no quarrels, causing no dissension:  
Nor cleyme nothing which hard is to recure,  
Sith in a good mean men longest do endure.   

Princes remember in your most majesty  
Envy of climbing causeth division,  
Be of accord, trust in no commonte,  
Which at a point is but disception:  
And specially flee simulation,  
Ye may in Marchus see a plain figure,  
Which for ambition might no while endure.     

The iii Chapter.  
☞ How Nectanabus king of Egypt, was by xerxes constrained to fly his kingdom.  

AFter the fall of Marchus Manlius  
Bochas anon 'gan his style dress  
Briefly to tell of Nectanabus,  
King of Egypt and of his great richesse,  
Seeing afore in all his noblesse  
By uncouth craft, how he ne might cheese,  
That in all hast his crown he should lose.   

For he was cunning in especial  
And right expert as made is mention,  
In all the sciences called liberal,  
And knew afore by calculation  
How God would make a transmigration  
Of his kingdom, and plainly to report,  
The land of Perce to Greeks full transport.   

For by king xerxes out of his country  
Maugre his treasure his cunning & might  
This Nectanabus constrained was to fly,  
Durst nat abide to have of him a sight,  
But into Grece he drew him anon right:  
not like a king, but after old writings  
Like a magician he wrought wonder things   

Upon fortune further to proceed,  
By his cunning he greatly furthered was,  
And by his sleighty working eke in deed  
He was acquainted with queen Olimpyas:  
And so secre, plainly this is the case,  
That openly her men said by deeming,  
He gate Alysandre the great mighty king.   

But how he fled out of his region,  
Of his images nor of his illusions  
Bochas maketh no manner mention,  
Nor how he wrought by incantations,  
Nor of his subtle operations:  
Nor how that he like a man by night,  
Whilom appeared in the queens sight.   

Save of his death Bochas writeth nought,  
Remembering no time nor date  
How he and Alexander, together have sought  
The course of stars toward even late,  
Nor how his son, like as was his fate,  
Down from a bridge by full mortal wreck  
Cast him backward, and so his neck broke.    

The four Chapter.  
❧ How Pausanias' duke of Lacedaemon was exiled by them of Athenes.  

This was his end, & after this Bochas  
'Gan in hast his style advance  
Of Pausanias to tell the piteous case,  
And all the manner of his woeful chance:  
Which was a duke, & had in governance  
Lacedemone there founding a cite,  
Which of old time was called Bysaunce.   

They of Athenes that cite gate with might  
And it conquered by their chivalry,  
And afterward were it wrong or right  
They exiled the same Pausany  
And thus fortune through her false envy  
Caused that duke without more delays  
In pain & poverty for to end his days.    

☞ The .v. chapter.  
❧ How Heliarchus the tyrant for extortion and oppression was slain by the knight Leonides.  

AFter the fall soothly of these twain,  
john Bochas was moved of courage  
For to rehearse with all his busy pain,  
The great fury and the odious rage  
Of Helyarchus, which by great outrage  
Though he ne were famous in chivalry,  
He noyed all Perce with his tyranny.   

Wherefore Bochas 'gan at him disdain,  
Cast he would only for his sake  
touch of tyrants more than one or twain,  
And by writing again then a war make:  
And in his hand he 'gan a pen take,  
Told in order the perilous pestilence,  
Which they wrought by mortal violence.   

First he declareth how fortune of right  
Again tyrants furious and wode,  
Hath full cause for to show her might,  
To appal their dignities in which they stood:  
Such as rejoice for to shed blood,  
Do nought else but labour and devise,  
To spoil the temple in many sundry wise.   

And Helyarchus through his cruelty  
And his contrived false extortions,  
Was mortal enemy to a fair city  
Called Heraclye, and many other towns:  
And by extort false oppressions  
As the deed concluded at a proof,  
All that country he brought to mischief.   

Turning his grace and favour to hatred  
Mercy, and pity, unto cruelty,  
Franchise of people to servitude and dread,  
Oppressed their freedom and old liberty:  
And all their statutes by which they were free,  
He interrupted of force and not of right,  
Which made him odious in all men's sight.   

But to restrain his great extortions,  
Fortune this while was not reckless,  
For his horrible abominations  
She 'gan to avail him, this goddess merciless  
By a good knight called Leonides,  
Which with a fellow borne of that country  
Cast on this tyrant avenged for to be.   

They dempt it was an alms deed  
To set their land in quiet and in ease,  
Of a tyrant the furious blood to shed,  
His importable malice for to appease,  
Which to their city did so great disease:  
And of assent with their swords keen,  
They slew the tyrant in their mortal tene.   

Of whose death many a man was fain,  
And specially of Heraclie the cite,  
Dempt it was meedful that he was so slain,  
To set in quiet all a commonte:  
Lo here, men may the rightful guerdon see  
Of tyrants, which by their violence,  
To oppress the people have no conscience.    

The vi Chapter.  
☞ How the vicious Dyonis king of Cycyle slew his brethren and kindred, and after exiled died at mischief.  

AFter this tyrant, with a full heavy cheer  
And countenance piteous & lamentable  
Unto Bochas Dionys did appear,  
Which in tyranny most was importable,  
Through his land hateful and reprovable:  
But for all that he 'gan mine author pray  
Of his manners somewhat to write and say.   

Bochas list not rehearse his lineage,  
Nor make no process of his genealogy,  
Because he was with all his great outrage  
Full of all vices pride, and lechery,  
Of avarice, ofyre, and of envy:  
In Cicyle held his royal see,  
At Cyracusis a mighty strong city.   

This Dyonis was cursed of nature,  
Most malicious both of thought & deed:  
For as it is remembered in scripture,  
He slew his brethren, his cousins, & kindred  
That he alone in peace might possede  
Without trouble or interruption,  
Of all Cicyle the mighty region.   

Among all vices, Bochas doth specify,  
He 'gan draw unto idleness,  
Followed his lusts of foul iechery,  
And oft of custom he fell in drunkenness,  
And thought it was most sovereign blessedness  
Like as he had be master of fortune,  
To follow his lusts and aye therein contune.   

He waxed right fat and right corcious,  
And his eyen 'gan dark of his sight,  
That uneath this man most vicious  
Ne might not well behold the days light,  
And of malice this tyrant again right  
With help of robbers & of false foreigns,  
Slough of his city nigh all the cit●zeyns.   

His vicious life in order to rehearse  
Were contagious to the audience,  
His extort pillages done in Grece & Perce  
For to write or tell them in sentence,  
Would infect the air with pestilence:  
But I will briefly remember and descrive,  
The sacrileges which he did in his live.   

In Venus' temple beside Cithaeron,  
A great number of women he did call,  
F●ll well be●eue, and by oppression  
He made his meinie unwarely on them fall,  
Despoiled them, so that one and all  
By his outrage and froward violence,  
They naked stood eachone in his presence.   

And when he saw their shape and feytures,  
He such chose out as were to his pleasance,  
Robbed the other and took their vestures,  
And let them go without ordinance:  
And for this uncouth abominable chance,  
Their city Lo●roys arose with strong hand,  
For his outrage banished him their land.   

another time also he did sojourn  
Within the temple, like as it is told,  
Of Jupiter son unto Saturn,  
There beholding his relics manifold:  
Saw among other a mantle large of gold,  
Whereupon when he cast his look,  
That rich jewel unto his use he took.   

And thus he said himself to excuse,  
It was to heavy and to comerous  
In summer season that mantle for to use,  
Because it was to large and ponderous:  
And overmore he alleged for him thus,  
sith the garment forged was of gold,  
For winter season how it was to cold.   

And when he 'gan away this mantle pull  
Than right anon this tyrant deceivable,  
Gave him another single made of wulle,  
Affirmed soothly it was more convenable  
To other season more me●e and agreeable:  
Concluding thus for summer it was ●yght,  
And warm for winter in the cold night.   

another time this tyrant eke also  
Which was of heart most avaricious,  
Entered once the temple of Apollo,  
And of his son Esculapius,  
And when this tyrant fell and contrarious,  
Beheide Apollo, beardless that was old,  
And Esculapius with a long beard of gold,   

Quod Dionis than, as seemeth unto me,  
Here is a strange froward convenience,  
That the father beardless should be,  
The son bearded standing in his presence.  
Made anon by sturdy violence  
To take away the beard which in his sight  
Of most fine gold shone so clear and bright.   

Through Grece & Perce where he did gone  
In all the temples this was his usance,  
The stately relics with many rich stone  
And massy tables of full great substance,  
To take them all that were to his pleasance:  
He spared none, thus living like a thief,  
Till he by vengeance was brought to mischief.   

Ciracusanes where he was crowned king  
All of assent, there is no more to say,  
For his outrageous and vicious living  
They banished him, never to come again:  
And so this tyrant vacant went in vain  
About the world, like a false fugytyfe,  
And so at mischief this Dionys lost his life.   

¶ Envoy.  

THis tragedy giveth a warning  
To all though that have domination,  
Over the people, prince, duke or king,  
To eschew ravyn and false extortion:  
Let them consider how by the occasion  
Of foul pillage, and froward tyranny,  
This said Dionys at mischief must die.   

First he compassed, falsely imagining  
To slay the citizyns of his royal town,  
His brethren, his cousins, his kin not sparing  
Brought all his blood to destruction:  
In slaughter he had such dilectation,  
Rejoicing ever in murder and robbery,  
Which caused him at mischief for to die.   

To spoil temples was his rejoicing  
Took all their treasures to his possession,  
Tables of gold with stones fresh shining,  
Eke fro other gods the relics he took down,  
Where ever he road in any region:  
Whose sacrilege and compassed felony,  
Caused him unwarely at mischief to die.   

In Venus' temple, by record of writing,  
He did a foul froward abusion,  
All gentlewomen that came there to offering  
Them he despoiled as made is mention,  
Let them be naked without exception,  
For which diffame and great ungentry  
He banished was, and did at mischief die.   

Noble princes remember on this thing,  
Compassed malice and false collusion  
Must have evil ending, & come to reckoning  
Fraud aye with fraud receiveth his guerdon:  
Have this in mind concluding in reason  
That all tyrants plainly to specify  
Hath short life or doth at mischief die.     

The vii Chapter.  
¶ The author again presumptuous people and princes holding themselves as Gods.  

YE folks that been astonied in your advice,  
To see Tyrants that be incorrigible,  
Lift from their sees, that then held so wise,  
Though their power was very invincible,  
Yet to fore god nothing is impossible,  
Wherefore remember & do nothing marvel  
With unware falls though fortune them assail.   

For when tyrants be set in high stages  
Of dignities, reigning like wode lions,  
Full hard it is to wrest their courages,  
Other to tempt their dispositions:  
Worldly felicity so blindeth their reasons,  
As they to god were equal of power,  
And had fortune under their danger.   

Record of Dionys that oft was afraid  
By assault of fortune, like as was his fate:  
For vicious living three times dismayed,  
As his story remembreth of old date,  
Next on the ring now cometh Pollicrate,  
With one Viturbius tyrants of I tail,  
Reigning like wolves to oppress the porail.   

For when tyrants in divers regions  
Of surquedy catch an opinion,  
That their estates and dominations  
Should ever endure by long succession,  
As god nor fortune might put them down:  
But as they were in her estate royal,  
This world to rule to both two equal.   

Toward god they have lost shame and dread  
Touching his guerdons, other of joy or pain:  
Indifferent atwene troth or falsehood,  
Their lust iserued noforce who laugh or plain  
God is forgotten, and they disdain  
As both were recleymed to their lure,  
Falsely transcending the bounds of measure.   

For which sometime (as books specify)  
God list suffer as made is mention,  
That fortune by a manner mockery  
Favoureth some folk, like their opinion  
To enhance their power by false deception,  
As she were set plainly for to say,  
To serve their lust, and durst not disobey.    

¶ The viii Chapter.  
¶ How king Pollicrate for extortion and tyranny was hanged till every joint fill from other.  

Record I take on proud Pollycrate,  
Tyrant of Samos beside the sea Egee  
Which sore laboured early and eke late,  
Again conscience, of furious cruelty,  
To abound in riches, and for to have plenty  
Of worldly treasures: deeming that fortune aye,  
To his desires ne durst not say nay.   

Fortune to him by many a divers sign,  
showed outward great tokens of pleasance,  
Was to him eke favourable and benign  
In all her port, by a manner attendance,  
As she had been under his obeisance  
To stuff his coffers with treasure locked fast,  
Of false intent to mock him at the last.   

All worldly riches his lusts did obey,  
And when he found she was so favourable  
For a season as she list to play,  
This blind gods unsure and unstable  
Set him so high up at Fame's table,  
Of false intent in his estate royal,  
When he sat highest, she made him to fall.   

For in himself of pride he 'gan to dame  
How that he stood most in prosperity,  
Of them that weared crown or diadem,  
Above all other in most felicity:  
And thus enhanced in his royal see,  
Thought him equal with gods in common,  
far from all danger of fate or fortune.   

And for to attempt of gods the power,  
And of fortune the variant doubleness,  
He took a ring of gold full bright and clear,  
Therein a ruby of excellent redness,  
Seeking an occasion of new heaviness:  
Which never afore had know of such thing,  
Into the sea anon he cast his ring   

Despaired again it for to recure,  
For he dempt it was an impossible,  
But right anon fishers of adventure,  
Like a marvel very incredible,  
Among the wawes hideous and horrible  
Cast in their nets, if it would avail,  
Taking a fish the ring in his entrayle.   

Which was presented at a solemnity  
To Pollicrate with great reverence,  
When he sat crowned in his most dignity  
At a feast of famous excellence:  
The fy●●e undone, anon in his presence  
Amid the entrails his carver found the ring  
Of adventure, and took it to the king.   

Which dempt of pride & high presumption,  
That Neptunus' god of the salt see  
Had of his ring made restitution,  
And durst not offend his majesty:  
Whereupon a fantasy caught he  
Nether heavenly gods, nor fortune blid of sight  
Were both unhardy, to attempt again his might   

His great outrage to god was not unknow,  
And his presumption fortune hath well spied:  
For which she made adversity be her bow  
And of her wheel the spokes she hath so gyed,  
Whereon he sat most richly magnified,  
That he unwarely from his high nobles,  
Was brought full low into great heaviness.   

In worldly joy is nothing more to dread  
Than when fortune is most blandishing,  
And that her flattery is fret with worldly meed,  
High on her wheel to make fools sing,  
Than of her nature sorrow she doth bring:  
witness of princes of old or new date,  
And record also of proud Pollicrate.   

Sometime he sat high on fortunes wheel  
Of prosperity with beams clear shining:  
Whose temple is made of glass & not of steel,  
His castle i'll, unwarely dissolving:  
Though it be fresh outward in showing  
Unsure to stand on, and bryttel for to abide,  
Who trusteth most most likely is to slide.   

The geryshe queen of cheer & face double,  
withdrew her favour and began to vary  
Fro Pollicrates, & set him in great trouble,  
Wext again him maliciously contrary,  
Causing Orontes constable with king Dary,  
Maugry this tyrant, in his most cruelty,  
To begin a war on Samos the city.   

And when his glory was most clear of light,  
And his nobles shone highest at the full,  
Fortune 'gan through her changeable might,  
Of his prosperity the feathers for to pull:  
And than at erst his courage 'gan to dull,  
And all his pride unwarely for to appall,  
When he was spoiled of his riches all.   

First when Orontes his country 'gan assail  
This Pollicrate of sudden adventure  
Outrayed was, and taken in battle  
By a full perilous mortal discomfiture:  
Thus fortune could bring him to her lure  
Through her unware ugly false disdains,  
Led into prison & bound in strong chains.   

The people dwelling within his region  
rejoiced in heart to see him suffer pain,  
His tyranny his false extortion  
Caused that they did at him disdain,  
For of his death no man list complain:  
Men through the world have great pleasance,  
To see a tyrant brought unto mischance.   

Four things his torments did augment,  
Sudden departing from his riches,  
And that he saw each man in his intent  
Of his mischief have so great gladness,  
Hanged he was, mine author doth witness,  
And hung so long in tempest, rain, & thunder,  
Till every joint from other went a sunder.   

To beasts wild and fowls ravenous  
Naked he hinge, such was his adventure  
To all folks he was so odious,  
Had in despite of every creature,  
At his departing denied sepulture,  
Guerdon for tyrants, vengeable & reckless,  
That can not suffer the people to live in peace.   

Thus many tyrants exceed far their bounds  
By false outrage, and well resembled be  
To cruel wolves or to furious hounds,  
Fret with an ethic of greedy cruelty,  
To staunch their hunger availeth no piente:  
Which for their surfeits froward to read,  
with Polycrates in hell shall have their meed.    

☞ The ix Chapter.  
☞ How the tyrant Alexander slough his Philosopher Calisthenes with other, for saying troth.  

Among all stories to tell the piteous case,  
Of woeful plaintiffs that put themselves in prees,  
With weeping eyen, mine author Bochas  
Was moved in heart not to be reckless  
To write the fall of Calystenes,  
Which, alas, as it is remembered,  
Was for his troth on pieces all dismembered.   

For when Bochas his story 'gan advert,  
He dempt anon in his fantasy  
No man had so hard a stoned heart,  
That might of right his eyen keep dry  
To see the process of his tormentry:  
Yet 'gan mine author his woeful pen prefer,  
To write the wrong done to this philosopher.   

This Calystenes in youth right well thewed  
His green age promoted to doctrine,  
By influence of heavenly fate endued  
Greatly to profit in moral discipline:  
Disposed of nature by grace which is divine,  
To conquer, as books do specify,  
The noble surname of philosophy.   

Of his merits famous and notable,  
Philosophy did her busy pain  
To give him su●ke, because that he was able  
The sote milk of her breasts twain  
most precious liquor who might thereto attain  
For balm is none, the virtue well declared,  
Of worldly riches may be thereto compared.   

This precious payment is give to no fools,  
Above all liquors it doth so far excel,  
Whose original sprang in the holy schools  
Of Athenes, as famous books tell:  
For of philosophy there sprang first the well  
Where Calystenes (th'experience is couth)  
With fulsum plenty was fostered in his youth.   

Though he was borne of a good lineage  
Virtue made him more high for to ascend,  
To be enhanced for nobles of courage  
More than for blood, who can comprehend:  
For philosophers & clerks more commend  
The moral virtues entresured by writings,  
Then all the treasures of worldly kings.   

Of gentle stocks reckon out the issues,  
That be descended down from a royal line,  
If they be vicious & void of all virtues,  
And have no tarage of virtuous discipline,  
With temporal treasure though they shine,  
As for a time sitting on high stages,  
Without virtue they are but dead images.   

For though princes have conquered by battle  
This world in roundness by their chivalry,  
What may their triumphs or nobles avail  
Without that virtue by right their titles gye  
To be compared unto philosophy▪  
For philosophers apply all their intents,  
To know heaven and course of elements.   

They set no store of things transitory,  
Nor of fortunes expert doubleness,  
To heavenly things is set all their memory  
How the vii planets in their course them dress  
Meuing the stars sparking in their brightness  
With revolutions of the spheres nine,  
Mother of music, as auctors determine.   

And in the noble twaye famous houses  
flowering in Grece, richest of everichone  
Called by old date the fair true spouses  
Of philosophers many more than one,  
In Achademie and Athenes shone  
The bright lanterns of most reverences,  
This world tenlumine by liberal sciences.   

And among other this Calystenes  
Was in his youth put for to scholey  
In the two schools of prudent Socrates,  
And of Plato which that bare the key  
Of lecre mysteries, and of divine Ida:  
In which two schools of great abilitee,  
Was no●e profited half so much as he.   

These old clerks these old philosophers,  
Were in though days for doctrine sovereign  
Called in this world the rich precious coffers  
And treasures, that kept the chests twain,  
Amid their breasts wherein god did ordain  
Most clear possession put in their depose,  
Of all sciences under a key close.   

This Calisthenes scholar and auditor  
Of Aristoteles, by cunning conquering  
The noble gemine and most precious flower  
Of philosophy, all flowers surmounting,  
wherethrough he was chosen in his living,  
As his master list for him provide,  
On Alexander to await and abide.   

For Alexander of kings most enter,  
And most worthy to speak of high prows,  
Did Aristoteles humble reqire  
To provide and do his business  
By expert knowing and aviseness,  
To send him one which of philosophy,  
Might by good counsel his conquest magnify.   

To write also his triumphs dign of glory,  
And to remember his acts martial,  
Put his palms of knighthood in memory,  
And to direct in especial  
His royal nobles in virtue moral,  
That no error be seen here nor there,  
In him that should all the world conquer.   

But it fell so of knightly adventure,  
When of fortunes high promotion  
That he by arms proudly 'gan recure,  
Of Perce & Mede the mighty region,  
Brought king Dary unto subjection,  
Gate hole his treasure that no man might express  
To account the number of his great riches.   

Which unsure treasure & sliding abundasice,  
With wasting shadows of goods transitory,  
In surquedous pride 'gan so his heart advance,  
By false ambition & outrageous vainglory,  
That made him lose mind and eke memory,  
To know of nature he was man mortal,  
But like to gods that were celestial.   

Above the palm of old conquerors,  
Knightly triumphs & conquests martial  
He usurped by title of his labours,  
To heavenly gods for to be equal,  
And through his merits most imperial  
He 'gan presume, by fine he was allied,  
With the seven gods for to be deified.   

Through all his palace and his royal hall,  
A law ne set, upon pain of life  
That men of custom should him call  
This world's monarch, not mortal nor passive  
Son to Jupiter for a prerogative,  
Which had th'earth as god most of puissance,  
Conquered by sword unto his obeisance.   

By full advice purposed for the nonce  
Of pompous outrage & surquedous intent,  
Full great treasure of gold & precious stones,  
Unto the temple of Jupiter he sent,  
That the bishops and priests should assent,  
Him to receive at his home coming,  
Like as a god and no mortal thing.   

Thus by extort dread & usurped might  
Was first brought in false idolatry:  
Causing princes to receive again right  
Godly reverence of froward mammetry.  
But when Calisthenes this error did espy  
In Alexander, he busily did intend,  
This false opinion to correct and amend.   

Put five causes notable to rehearse  
This Calystenes in especial:  
Though he was king of Egypt Mede & Perce  
He proved of reason he was a man mortal,  
His birth eke earthy and not celestial,  
Father and mother, as of their natures  
Borne for to die like other creatures.   

His father Philip of Macedony king,  
His mother called Olympyades  
Worldly folk, and heavenly nothing:  
With kings, queens, upset by high increases,  
Yet again death they could have no releases,  
Laws of nature maugre their will to obey,  
Not like gods but only borne to dey.   

Kind made them subject to sundry passions,  
And many uncouth divers infirmities,  
Now glad, now heavy of conditions,  
Following the form of their humanity's:  
But of their false usurped deities  
I can not say save dread and flattery,  
Wrongly in earth did them deify.   

Eke Alexander following ever his lust,  
For all his lordship and his great might  
He suffered passions of hunger and of thirst:  
Now hole, now sick, now heavy, now light  
Whose enterchaunging in every man's sight  
Clearly showeth, as clerks rehearse can  
He was no god but like a mortal man.   

It fill once mine auctor doth compile  
In a great heat (long or he was old)  
He bathed himself in the flood of Nile,  
Where of fortune he suddenly took cold,  
His pores opened on parts manifold:  
Lay long after, his story beareth witness,  
Or he was cured of that great sickness.   

But at the last by craft of medicine  
Delivered he was of that infirmity,  
Nothing amended by his power divine  
By might of Juno nor Jupiter's postye,  
Nor by his own usurped deity:  
For by the passions which he did endure,  
It showed he was a deadly creature.   

Of him also it is made mention,  
He had a custom to fall in drunkenness,  
Through vynolence lost oft his reason,  
Than of ire and furious hastiness  
He would smite and hurt in his woodness:  
Which tokens were, plainly to termine,  
In his person not heavenly nor divine.   

When the philosopher called Calystenes  
'Gan first consider all these conditions  
In Alexander, he put himself in prees  
Void of dissimuling and dylations,  
For to reform such false ambitions  
Of godly honour, which men did on them fain,  
And from all vices his courage to restrain.   

In this purpose as any centre stable,  
He cast him fully of true entention  
To correct all that was reprovable  
Used in his person or in his region,  
Troth gave him heart like a champion,  
To tell the king in his estate royal,  
He was no god but a man mortal.   

For which the king of indignation  
Caught a quarrel again Calystenes,  
Put upon him unjustly false treason,  
Only to slay his master causeless:  
And for to attaint him afore all the prees  
Said how he had of his iniquity,  
Conspired again his royal majesty.   

And feigned also the self same time,  
How he had made a conspyration  
Again his lord, by an horrible crime,  
Interrupting the religion  
Of his divine institution:  
That in such case there was no better read,  
But Calisthenes by law must be dead.   

And to prolong of his death the pain  
Upon a board he was laid a long,  
His feet smytte of and his hands twain,  
His eyen rend out, were not his pains strong▪  
Thus can tyrants when they list do wrong  
Slay philosophers without any ruth,  
Which spared not for to say them truth.   

This cruel vengeance might not suffice,  
But Alexander more to increase his woe,  
Did cut his lips in full cruel wise,  
His nose thyrles, his ears eke also,  
And with the body he bade men should go  
Tofore his host, as it is remembered,  
To show the trunk how it was dismembered.   

In a cave deep and wonders low,  
Solitary darked all the bounds,  
After the pains he made him to be throw  
The place stuffed with wode barking hounds,  
Of false intent to rend his bloody wounds.  
Till Lisymachus of great compassion  
To short his torment gave him poison.   

Who red ever of torments more terrible?  
O Alexander thou oughtest be ashamed  
To slay thy clerk with pains so horrible,  
For thy vices because he hath the blamed,  
Thy royal name thereby is defamed:  
But ever tyrants when them list be wood,  
Of innocentes rejoice to shed the blood.   

Against his knight gentle Lisymachus  
Because he had of him compassion,  
King Alexander was melancolious  
Without cause, title, or affection:  
Let shut him up with a fierce Lion,  
Void of all help for to be succoured,  
Of entention he should be devoured.   

But Lisymachus quit him like a knight  
Against this Lion in the same place,  
Ran fiercely on him, & of his martial might  
Out of his head his tongue he did out race:  
Reconciled to the kings grace,  
Because that he so knightly hath him borne,  
Better cherished than ever he was toforne.   

Another knight that called was Clitus▪  
Famous in arms for his chivalry,  
One the greatest of the kings house,  
And most commended of prudent policy:  
Most familiar as books specify  
About the king, as it was oft proved,  
To tempre his courage when he was grieved   

The king and he walking hand in hand  
Within the palace, being in presence  
Princes and dukes of many divers land,  
Where they began by notable eloquence  
Remember of arms the famous excellence  
Of conquerous, and other knights old  
And every man about his tale told.   

Among which Clitus the gentle knight  
'Gan to commend and greatly magnify  
Philip of Macedon, as him ought of right:  
Both of his wisdom & of his chivalry,  
Till Alexander had thereat envy,  
'Gan disdain of furtous cruelty,  
That any should be commended more than he.   

Caught occasion ofyre and false hatred  
Again his knight, that was to him most true,  
With a sharp sword unwarely made high bleed  
His heart blood hot and red of hue  
By his sides railing down of new,  
Thereby to prove this story tell can,  
He was no god nor reasonable man.   

Thus in princes furious and cruel,  
Men may clearly an evidence see  
How that lordship is not perpetual,  
But full of change and mutability:  
Of there now friendly, now sudden enmity,  
Record on Clitus most in the kings grace,  
unwarely slain, and did no trespass.   

Was he worthy to be deified  
This Alysander, most double of his courage?  
Or was he worthy to be stellified  
This furious prince, for his fell outrage  
That slew his friends in his mortal rage?  
Thus far tyrants when they list be wode,  
To seek occasion for to shed blood.   

Calystenes slain for moral discipline,  
And Lisymachus for his compassion:  
Eke this tyrant of false greedy ravin  
Slew gentle Clitus again all reason,  
As ye have heard for commendation  
Of king Philip, the story well conceived,  
Who trusteth tyrants shall soonest be deceived.   

¶ Envoy.  

THis tragedy of Calisthenes,  
Declareth us by notable remembrance  
He was with Plato and old Socrates  
In his youth put under governance,  
Drank of the milk of plenteous abundance,  
Of their two schools, ever devoid of sloth,  
Last by Alexander dismembered for his troth   

First he was sent by Aristoteles,  
For to await by prudent purveyance  
On Alexander, lest he were reckless  
By presumption in his royal puissance,  
To take upon him by goodly attendance:  
Which he withstood alas it was great ruth,  
To be so slain because he said the truth.   

Who with tyrants list put himself in prees  
To have their favour and acquaintance,  
He must flatter and fage doubtless,  
Be double of heart with feigned countenance,  
With there contrived done his observance,  
For faithful meaning slain, & that was ruth,  
Was Calystenes because he said truth.   

Noble princes your subjects keep in peace,  
Be not to has●y for to do vengeance,  
For to tyrants that be merciless  
God sent short life, & sudden mischance:  
Who sayeth troth have no displeasance,  
print in your heart how it was great ruth,  
That Calystenes was slain for his truth.     

☞ The ten chapter.  
❧ How Alexander king of Pyrothe adventuring to pass the flood of Acheron, there at his back by his most trusty was deadly wounded.  

AFter the complaint of Calystenes  
Slain tyrantly, and did no trespass,  
Came Alexander king of Pyrothes  
His wounds bleading unto John Bochas:  
To him declared how he drowned was  
In Acheronte, a river of great fame,  
Beside a town Pandosia was the name.   

And (as it is remembered) and ytolde  
Of this notable mighty strong cite,  
It was in Grece built of days old,  
And after Pyrrus called Pyrothe:  
Where as the king held his royal se,  
And as books also determine,  
This Alexander came of the same line.   

Of whose kindred is made plain mention,  
Son to Achilles was king Pyrrus,  
And next in order by succession  
Father to Alexander was Neoptolomus,  
Which had also mine author telleth thus,  
A full fair daughter, the story ye may seen,  
Olympiades', of Macedony queen.   

And she was wedded to Philip of Macedo,  
Whilom mother this queen of most renown  
To Alexander, the story telleth so,  
Which all the world brought in subjection:  
Whose father Philip of great affection  
Let crown the brother of Olympiades',  
Called Alexander to reign in Pyrothes.   

To whom Philip for his great beauty,  
Because he was so fair a creature  
Had such affection and specialty  
As it is remembered in scripture,  
Of false foul lust against nature  
As saith Bochas, I can him not excuse,  
Vnlefully he did his beauty use.   

And by mean of that horrible deed,  
Which to rehearse is to foul a thing,  
This said Philip (in Bochas thus I read)  
In Epirothes he made him to be king:  
And of extortion by record of writing,  
Causeless from thence he did enchase,  
The king Arabba though reigning in that place.   

And it fell after the story telleth so  
Of this Alexander by serious rehearsayle,  
Upon the death of Philip of Macedo  
With a great host came into italy,  
Supposing greatly for to avail,  
To occupy after his proud intent  
Wholly the bounds of all the occident.   

And though so be that fortune be changeable,  
Double also by course of her nature,  
At his ginning he found her favourable:  
Made him twice proudly to recure  
gain them of Luke, to their discomfiture  
To have the field, & maugre all their might,  
Of very force to put them unto flight.   

Against Itaile when he 'gan this war  
Fully in purpose the romans to assail,  
Of high presumption proceed he 'gan so far  
With many a prince that was in his battle,  
To know afore by certain divinaile  
Of his conquest, the bounds for to cast,  
And of his life how long it should last.   

And in the temple of Jupiter the great  
By diviners that expert were and old,  
Serving this god within the land of Crete,  
This was the answer which they to him told  
And it affirmed by tokens manifold:  
How he ne should eschew the dreadful date,  
Over the day assigned to his last fate.   

And they also assigned a place  
Thereby to have knowledging more clear,  
Under a city long and large of space  
Called Pandosia, and for to go more near,  
By Acheron a famous great river,  
Told him plainly & could no farther say  
But of necessity there he must needs dey.   

And though it were an earnest and no jape  
Of god ordained not to be set aside,  
He thought of wisdom his destiny to escape  
And otherwise for himself provide:  
Cast in Grece no longer to abide,  
weening this river nor that fair city  
Save in Grece should no where else have be.   

And for to set himself in assurance  
Of intent to eschew his destiny,  
Into three battles departing his puissance,  
Came to italy tofore Luke the city,  
They with help of Samoys the country,  
With a great power came out anon right  
Slew all his knights & put him to flight.   

At the back they pursued him so near  
That his enemies were almost on him fall,  
Unto a bridge broke with the river,  
And overturned with his planks all:  
And Acheronte men did that river call,  
As was told him by a certain knight,  
Which road before him the river in his sight   

For by a rain that fill the same night  
The river waxed to a dreadful flood,  
And not far thence in the kings sight  
Upon the water a little town there stood,  
Which made the king to change his blood,  
And specially his pride 'gan attame,  
When he wist Pandosia was the name.   

And than he 'gan most dreadfully remember,  
Calling to mind the priests divinal,  
Which made him quake in every member  
For very fear, and his breath to fail:  
No man could him wish nor counsel,  
On every party he stood so on the wrack,  
The flood tofore high his enemies at his back   

To take the river he stood in mortal dread,  
And if that he his enemies did abide  
He wist well that he was but dead,  
Passage was none for to turn aside:  
Thus dissolate he stood withouten guide,  
Thought it better to jeopardy the river,  
Than which his enemies that followed him so near.   

These mortal dreads his heart 'gan constrain  
dread of the flood for to have passage,  
Behind his enemies the 'gan at him disdain,  
Lest he were slain in that mortal rage,  
His fate approaching he but young of age,  
The town Pandosia the tokens did express,  
With ●cheronte that bore thereof witness.   

And when that he put in adventure  
To pass the flood, or else to be dead,  
One whom he most trusted of any creature  
Took a spear square and sharp the head,  
And at his back he quaking in his dread  
Traitorously through plate and mail,  
Pierced his heart, the blood abroad 'gan rail.   

And as it is also of him remembered,  
The Luca●oyes by vengeable violence  
They have his carrion on pieces dismembered,  
Till an old lady being in presence,  
Required them of humble patience  
That she of grace gather might anon,  
His membres all, and join them into one.   

And after to send them unto his sister dear,  
Olympyades, the stately great queen,  
That of affection and love most enter  
When it befell that she did them seen,  
Should of nature as it must needs been  
We●e and provide in his estate royal,  
To bury the body with feast funeral.   

See here example of this proud king,  
Which would have scaped his fatal destiny,  
Change of places auayle● him nothing,  
Periodie of princes may not changed be,  
The term set fro which they may not i'll:  
For when heaven of death hath set the date,  
No mortal man may eschew his fate.    

The xi Chapter.  
☞ How Dary king of Perce and Mede was outrayed by Alexander king of Macedon.  

IN Alexander called Epirothes  
Me list as now no longer for to tarry,  
Slain at mischief for he was reckless  
Double of courage for he could change & vary,  
For turn I will my pen to king Dary  
Which that whilom who so list take heed,  
Most mightily reigned in Perce and Mede.   

And among other notable warriors  
Like as I dame by heavenly influence,  
Only by title of his predecessors,  
And through his prudent excellence,  
To great increase of his magnificence,  
He had all asia, as made is mention,  
Under his lordship and domination.   

And as mine auctor Bochas doth define,  
He was descended from the imperial blood,  
Of Artaxerses, and borne eke of that line:  
Passed all princes of treasure and of good,  
In Perce & Mede his great empire stood,  
An hundred provinces t'increase of puissance,  
And seven & thirty he had in governance.   

Over all asia toward the orient  
His lordship last, books make mind,  
And he had eke toward the occident  
Over Egypt power (as I find)  
The red sea was not left behind,  
deeming himself of all earthly treasure,  
Was none but he lord and governor.   

Toward Septentrion under the midday spear,  
His power reached and his regaly,  
Over Ind, in chronicles ye may lere,  
And to the bounds of great Armeny,  
Lord of the kingdom that called is Parthy:  
Worldly folk dempt him which god equal▪  
Master to fortune, & she not but his thrall.   

But in his highest exaltation  
Of worldly glory, he could not prevail  
For all his riches and vain ambition,  
But fortune durst him well assail:  
In his most royal rich apparel,  
Cast in her changes to give him a sharp shower  
By Alexander of Grece inheritor.   

Unto purpose I will my pen dress,  
For to declare and make mention  
How proud Dary in his most nobles,  
Was by Fortune from his seat ●ast down:  
For anon after the coronation  
Of Alexander, in Macedon king,  
This was the process of his working.   

He not delayed nor made no long date,  
In purpose fully of ire to proceed,  
Of Perce & Mede the sceptres to translate,  
All their riches to conquer and possede,  
Perpetually for no abide in deed,  
Under greeks mighty obeisance,  
In Macedon, to have the governance.   

And (as mine author) well rehearse can,  
He set in Grece the mighty strong city  
Of Corinthe, the metropolitan  
There to establish his imperial see:  
In regalibus when he list crowned be,  
As man whom god list of his might to mark,  
The world to conquer, & be thereof monarch.   

At the ginning of his conquest famous,  
Through out Grece in every region,  
First he chose out of his father's house  
Knights that were most sovereign of renown,  
Notable in arms, and of condition  
Faithful & true, which had of high prudence  
Foresight in arms, of martial providence.   

To them he did full notably assign  
As men expert in knightly apparayles,  
To make his stuff with many a rich sign,  
And forge of steel his plate and his mails:  
Gave them the rule to govern in battles,  
For providence (of yore it hath be told)  
Full much availeth of knights wise & old.   

All this accomplished he list no longer tarry,  
This worthy king, but which his ordinance  
Purposed to begin on king Dary,  
And (as it is put in remembrance)  
In most proud wise he 'gan himself advance,  
First in his way to burn and beat down,  
Of hasty ire, Thebes the mighty town.   

After he gate two mighty regions  
The one of Frigie, the other called Lyde  
Set by old time were their foundations  
Upon two rivers, running there beside,  
whose golden gravels their brightness mai not hide  
Paceolus, and Euxyne men them call  
Richest of streams though men reckon all.   

And of his conquest farther to termine,  
He won Isauria a province wonder strong  
In Asia one chiefest of the nine,  
And Pamphile a kingdom large and long,  
He gate also were it right or wrong:  
For where that conquest have any title of right,  
My cunning it passeth my reason & my might.   

I took no party nor me list not tarry  
In this matter, but forth I will proceed,  
How Alexander hasted toward Dary  
To achieve his conquest of Perce & of Mede:  
But first he came to Frigia I read,  
Into a city the name to specify,  
Thilk days it named was Gordy.   

After mine author affirm well I dare,  
There was a temple in Frigia (thus saith he)  
Of Jupiter, in which there stood a char  
With ropes bound of stones and pyrre,  
Among which men might behold and see  
A fatal knot, by craft made so subtle,  
That no man could undo it by no wile.   

For who that had science or cunning  
That curious knot to lose or untwine,  
Over Asye he should be crowned king:  
And Alexander as books determine,  
seeing this char, knit with many line,  
And how it seemed a manner impossible  
To sever it, which was indivisible.   

The char with cords was so interlaced  
That richly stood in ●oues tabernacle,  
Which by his wit could not be embraced,  
Neither by craft nor no solemn miracle:  
Till Alexander by a divine oracle  
Drew out his sword, whereof men had wonder,  
Carfe the knot & cords all asunder.   

Whereby he wist that he was ordained  
Over all Asye to be lord and king,  
Which to rejoice this story is not feigned  
He road like Mars, his battles conveying,  
Through Perce & meed, his standards splayig  
Toward his conquest, where I let him dwell,  
And of his char & knots I will you tell.   

Prudent Justinus an old croniclere,  
In his chronicles rehearseth this story,  
Now Gordius a poor labourer  
Beside the city that called is Gordie,  
●ryng his land did his oxen gye:  
And all manner fowls that hath flight  
high in the air appeared in his sight.   

Unknown to him the token what it meant,  
With diviners cast him to counsel,  
Called augurs, which holy in their intent,  
Known the process of such divinal  
Where it shall profit either disavail:  
And at the gate of Gordy the city,  
He met a maid excelling of beauty   

Which from above by heavenly influence  
Had from her birth a manner knowledging,  
In such augury, great practic and science,  
Which to Gordius exponed every thing:  
Said of asia he should be lord and king,  
And reign there during all his life,  
In hope whereof, she became his wife.   

After his wedding he waxed fortunate,  
The chronicle can bear me well record,  
There till in Frigy a sudden great debate  
Among the commons a mortal discord,  
Knowing no mean to bring them at accord,  
Till their gods by notable providence,  
Taught them a way to appease their violence.   

How that debate should among them last  
Unto the time they had chosen a king:  
And they 'gan cry & pray their gods fast  
By some sign or miracle out showing,  
To give to them a manner knowledging,  
That they might to their notable increase,  
Chose such one, that should them set in peace.   

They had answer to wait, & be well aware  
To set spies by busy attendance  
On whom they met riding in a char  
To Jove's temple to do his observance,  
And him receive by god's ordinance:  
Upon his head withouten more tarrying,  
To set a crown in Frigie to reign king.   

And Gordius in his chair riding,  
Toward the temple they on the way him met  
And awaiting, chose him to their king,  
And solemnly home they did him fet,  
Upon his head a rich crown they set:  
And he to them so equal was and meet,  
That he them brought into rest and quiet.   

Thus to the crown Gordius did attain  
By tokens showed unto his great avail,  
And their discords and strives to restrain,  
He to his lieges gave notable counsel,  
That they should with royal apparel,  
Take his chair, as he did them devise,  
And offer it up in most lowly wise   

In the temple that was consecrate  
To Jupiter, a full solemn place:  
And more to make their offering fortunate,  
They should it set (without longer space)  
Tofore the goddess that was called Grace,  
Which by miracle their hearts to appease  
Set all the people in quiet and in ease.   

And when the king Alexander had  
Loosed the knot of which I have you told,  
And of the chair which Gordius lad  
The secrets say & mysteries manifold,  
Worldly presumption 'gan make his heart bold,  
Without title of any rightwiseness,  
The city Gordy to spoil of his riches.   

And all Affryke he rob eke also  
Up to the mountain that called was Taurus,  
The which hill hath famous names two  
For it is also named Caucasus:  
Where this prince most victorious,  
Ordained first with spear and shield,  
Against king Dary for to hold a field.   

Upon a mountain they together met,  
The martial plain named Horestes,  
And most proudly their wards there they set  
All for the war and nothing for the peace:  
Where Alexander, in knighthood peerless,  
All the Perciens battayled in his sight,  
And Darius party were put unto flight.   

King Alexander shortly to conclude,  
In his most stately royal magnificence  
Set not his trust in no great multitude,  
But in his knights, which long in his presence  
Had had in arms long experience:  
Were well proved in martial discipline,  
Tenha●ce his conquest by their prudent doctrine   

Which in y● journey have them so well borne,  
That in their nobles found was no lack,  
For sixty thousand of footmen them before,  
They slew of Perce, and men on horseback  
Other ten. M, so mortal was the wrack:  
And xl thousand as made is mention,  
Were prisoners, and put to their ransom.   

On Greeks party the story doth well show,  
Macedonoys on Alysanders' side,  
In comparison were slain but a few:  
For of foot men and men that did ride  
Through the fields that were so large & wide,  
There were that day in their mortal strives,  
Nat full three. C. which y● lost their lives.   

Dary coude none other rescue make,  
Fled at mischief in full great distress,  
His wife, his daughter, led away and take,  
His tents spoiled, his story beareth witness:  
Greeks made glad with full great richesse,  
His coffers spoiled, he fond no better secure  
And he enpoverished of his whole treasure.   

When Dary saw his deadly adventure,  
Full pitously in heart he did mourn,  
And anon after this discomfiture  
To Babylon in haste be 'gan return:  
And while that he did there sojourn,  
Knowing no recure to him that might avail,  
With Alysandre to hold more battle,   

Than of purpose to set himself in ease,  
And for taleye his deadly fell grievance,  
In his intent king Alysander to please,  
Cast for to send him letters of pleasance,  
give him gifts in full great abundance,  
But all the sleight which darius hath wrought,  
King Alysander set them eachone at nought.   

This manly king kept his conceit close,  
List nat show what he meant in deed,  
But cast fully after his purpose,  
Upon his conquest farther to proceed:  
After the getting of Perce and eke of Mede,  
To win Surry, Egypt, and Libye land,  
deeming fortune ready to his hand.   

And of his conquest farther to indite,  
When his glory 'gan most freshly shine,  
The temple of Jupiter cast him for to visit,  
Which stood in Libye, auctors determine,  
Said how he was descended from the line  
Of thilk god, borne to be his heir,  
As lord of heaven, fire, water, earth, & air.   

And that the priests fully should assent  
With heavenly gods to make him equal,  
Great richesses and treasure he them sent,  
Thus dread and meed made him celestial,  
Falsely forg●t that he was mortal:  
And of ambition by Martial apparel,  
Cast with Dary again to have battle.   

And as I find how they did meet,  
The two princes with people innumerable,  
In the confront of the land of Crete,  
And king Dary of folks defensable  
Brought to the field a people incomparable  
Four hundred M. of footmen fet fro far,  
With Alysander for to hold war.   

An hundred. M. there came with him also  
On horseback, in steel armed bright,  
And all this people when they had a do  
(All be that day full long last the fight)  
Were slain and take and yput to flight:  
Where Alysander to his increase of glory,  
Had of king Dary that day the victory.   

And Perciens to their final mischief,  
Without mercy or paying of ransom,  
With king Dary were put to great reproof,  
Void of all hope and consolation,  
F●ed as I find into the region  
Called Parthe, where as it is told,  
He of that people was take and put in hold.   

And though his fetters were of gold rich,  
He had thereof god wot no pleasance:  
Fortunes gifts be nat aye ylyche,  
In her false wheel there is such variance,  
divers of there, strange of her countenance,  
Made Alysander with a little numbered,  
The multitude of Dary to encumber.   

Within a town called Tharsa he was take,  
In a chariot with chains strong ybonde,  
Of all his friends pitously forsake,  
Led, & hurt with many a mortal wound:  
And this murdre contrived was and found  
By one Bessus, a froward reckless knight,  
Which stood afore most furthered in his sight.   

And was assured by faith of his legiaunce  
To king Dary to be true in deed,  
But this false traitor god send him mischance,  
Caused his wounds mortally to bleed:  
Yet or he died, he sent in all his dread  
A Percien knight sad and of great age,  
To Alysander, to tell him his message.   

To thank that prince of his high noblesse,  
Which of his grace & mercy most abound  
Him list to show so great gentleness  
Unto my wife, and children as it is found,  
For which to him I am so much bound,  
That he mine enemy of his benignity  
In their distress list have of them pite.   

And sith I see that needs I must they  
Through bloody wounds, which I may nat recure,  
Say Alexander of grace that I pray  
For to have ruth of mine adventure,  
Next to ordain for my sepulture:  
And condescend to grant mine asking,  
For to be buried as longeth to a king.   

Praying the gods which be immortal  
When he hath done to quite him his meed,  
That of his mercy most imperial  
Him list of grace for to take heed  
To bury me king of Perce and Mede:  
For if this tavour be in his heart found,  
To his noblesse the fame shall aye rebound.   

requiring him of his imperial might,  
Of my foul murder to see each circumstance:  
For murder always calleth to god of right,  
Never ceasing but by continuance  
Up to the heaven to cry for vengeance,  
Namely on murder compassed and thought  
Which by advisement is execute & wrought.   

And sith I have laid on the this bond  
To Alysander to do my message,  
And him conjured here with my right hand  
Tavege my death wrought by great outrage,  
My blood out shed with pale & deed visage,  
Here boude in stocks to gods most benign,  
With right hole heart my spirit I resign.   

Thus he lay stark, there was found no abode  
Like as another mortal creature,  
When Alysander the murder understood  
As ye have heard remembered by scripture,  
He did ordain for his sepulture  
The funeral feast to hold in all things  
As by old time longed unto kings.   

¶ Lenuoye  

THis tragedy piteous for to here,  
showeth of tortune the changes lameble,  
Of royal trones, of gold & stones clear  
Of worldly princes how they be unstable:  
Their fatal wheel most divers & changeable,  
With unware turn list nat her course tarry  
To throw them down, record of king Dary.   

Who can or may be full assured here  
To make fortune to be so treatable,  
To find out a way or search out the manner  
By obligation to find her immutable?  
Her double face, the world aye deceivable,  
Show each day how falsely they can vary,  
By covert fraud, record of king Dary.   

Example how Phoebus with his beams clear  
showeth some day his light most agreeable,  
But long or eve darkness doth appear  
Through cloudy mists, & rains durable:  
To us declaring by tokens full notable,  
Worldly dignities now fresh now contrary,  
Can change her tides, record of king Dary.   

Through all Asye, Perce, and Mede yfere,  
His lordship last, a thing incomparable,  
To Ethiope under the midday spear,  
Full of treasure with gold innumerable  
His bounds reached, fortune eke serviceable  
To obey his lusts till she 'gan falsely vary,  
By expert fraud to prove her might in Dary   

Noble princes with hole heart and enter  
lift up your courages, hold this no fable,  
Though ye sit high conceive with good there  
No worldly lordship in earth is perdurable:  
And sith ye be of nature reasonable,  
Among remember as thing most necessary  
All stant upon change, record of king Dary.     

The xii Chapter.  
¶ Here Bochas remembreth the battles and loss of realms of antiquity, with the falling of divers nobles.  

HEre gineth Bochas remember in certain  
The great sorrows, the mortal disaveyls  
The loss of realines, the blood shed i vain  
Begun of wars and martial appareyls,  
Called to mind of old the fell battles  
Gone of antiquity, as made is mention,  
First atween Greeks & them of Troy ●ou●.   

A piteous heart it would make bleed,  
To have in memory the great outrage  
As ye have heard wrought in Perce & Mede  
atween Dary and Alysandre in their age,  
Eke at ween Romans & them of Cartage,  
The woeful troubles of wars first begun,  
Causeth all mischiefs that been under the son.   

On other party who can remember aright  
Now loss, now lucre, cometh of division:  
Now disencrease, now heavy & now light,  
Now life now death, for short conclusion,  
For Bochas saith such false dissension  
Hath many kingdoms that stood in high estate,  
Turned to tuyne, and made them desolate.   

Remember of Troy the walls broke down,  
In Grece destroyed manyla strong city,  
In Perce and Mede great desolation,  
Rome dispurveyed of martial surety,  
Castles and tours of old antiquity  
Made ruinous, in africa and Cartage,  
Caused by wars & Martes cruel rage.   

Who list consider wrought by days old  
The course of conquest of these warriors,  
In Alysander he clearly may behold,  
By remembrance of his progenitors,  
And of his blood, how all the successors  
Had fatally or they did hence wend,  
A sudden death or a shameful end.   

Full many reckoned that were of his lineage  
For to succeed in his possessions,  
To two and thirty parting his heritage  
To each assigned their royal portions,  
First as he made his divisions  
He gave of Frigie the prefecture of right  
To Leonatus that was so good a knight.   

But a little while last his possession,  
For the countries list him nat obey,  
They of Athenes had indignation  
With Antipater for he did warray:  
Yet in that war, plainly for to say,  
Leostenes their duke, their governor,  
Was slain the day he found no better succour.   

And Leonatus that was his adversary,  
Of Antipater the party to sustain,  
Found fortune that day to him contrary:  
For in the field though he road armed clean,  
With a spear his wound was made green  
At mischief slain, mine author doth compile  
Thus his lordship last not but a while.   

Antipater another successor  
Of Alysander as made is mention,  
Was by record the same false traitor  
That for his death tempered the poison,  
His son Cassander accomplished the treason,  
Bore the cup which that made him starve,  
With the strong poison when he did him serve.   

Antipater of this crime culpable,  
Greatly desired in his opinion  
Upon all though than to be vengeable,  
That likely were to espy his treason:  
dread him sore having suspection  
Lest he were accused to the estates,  
Of crime called lose maiestatis.   

His soon assented to that horrible deed,  
Which to Alysander being in babylon,  
Most traytourly without shame or dread  
As ye have heard, presented the poison:  
And yet the king as made is mention,  
Though he to him false was and contrary,  
He made him perfect, lord of the land of Cary.   

And among other notable warriors,  
There were three more full worthy & famous,  
Set in the numbered of his inheritors,  
Polycarpus, and Neoptolonius  
And each of them to other envious:  
Within a field the story doth us lere,  
Eueriche slew other as they met yfere.   

Of Perdiccas what should I write or say,  
Which among all was one the best knight▪  
That when Alysander lay dying certain  
And 'gan to feeble of his force & might,  
Dempt afore that it sat full well of right,  
How this Perdiccas for wisdom & manhood,  
In Macedon should after him succeed.   

And unto him with look & cheer benign  
Upon his heed for sickness complaining,  
With full whole heart, for a notable sign  
Of succession he gave to him a ring,  
After his day to be crowned king  
Of Macedon, sith he most might avail  
Through all his empire to have the governaile   

And yet saith Bochas plainly in sentence,  
Though he of knighthood and high prowess,  
Of manly force, and also of prudence,  
Passed all other, the story beareth witness:  
By vicious pride & froward boystousnesse,  
He was more hindered through his outrage,  
Than all his enemies might do him damage.   

For through his pride and great extortions,  
Fro Macedon the people of that country  
Fled into other strange regions,  
And of presumption the story saith how he  
Began a war again king Tholome:  
Where he was slain in all men's sights,  
Nat of his enemies but of his own knights.   

Eke of Anaxarchus of Capadoce king  
Which province joineth unto Surry,  
Touching the bounds by record of writing  
Toward the Orient, the land of Armeny,  
Having two countries Scilice and Isaury,  
Toward Cypre & a great river  
running amids with streams fresh and clear.   

This Anaxarchus were he loath or fain,  
In days few hath his kingdom lost,  
For by Perdiccas proudly he was slain,  
Of whom that I have you told before:  
Thus worldly prices though they had it sworn,  
For all their lordship and domination,  
By fraud of fortune unwarly be put down.   

And among other princes of that age,  
Upon Alysander duly abiding,  
Bochas rehearseth Amylchar of Cartage,  
Duke of that cite by record of writing,  
After the death of that worthy king,  
As ye have heard ymurdred by poison,  
This said Amylchar repeyringe to his town   

Was slain in Cartage, shortly to conclude,  
Of cruel malice and conspiration,  
Within that cite of false ingratitude,  
When he of knighthood franchised had that town,  
And nat withstanding all his high renown,  
When he stood highest in his felicity,  
He by the commons was slain of that cite.    

The xiii Chapter.  
❧ How Eumenydes was twice outrayed by Antigonus and at the last died in prison.  

When Alisader in his royal estate  
Had all conquered tofore as ye have herd  
He like a god most pompous & elate,  
As sovereign prince of all myddleerde,  
To take upon him was nothing afeard,  
To claim in countries a thing that was nat fair,  
Of Jupiter to be both son & heir.   

One of the principles, who so taketh heed  
That first brought in false idolatry,  
Was thilk time that priests for false dread  
His name with gods 'gan to magnify,  
And so to call him of feigned flattery:  
And mid their temples in Libya on a stage,  
Of his likeness they set up an image.   

But little or nought to him it might avail  
Again his death for to do succour,  
When the fell poison his heart did assail  
Which made him fade as doth a flower,  
Of whose empire was none inheritor,  
Save in his death thus stood the woeful case,  
between six & thirty his land divided was   

And in his story full plainly it is told,  
This departition to make it ferme & stable  
He was laid forth upon a couch of gold,  
To rehearse by tokens full notable  
Whom he dempt of very sooth most able  
Of all his princes plainly to discern,  
When he was deed, his kingdom to govern.   

First there was one among all that prees  
Next Alysander the knightlyest man,  
The worthy knight called Eumenides,  
Whose high renown full well rehearse can  
Prudent Justinus, the great historian,  
Ordained afore to govern realms two,  
All Capadoce and Pafflagony also.   

His high nobles as made is mention  
In especial more to magnify,  
Him lacked nought of commendation  
That apparteyned unto chivalry,  
To high prudence, or noble policy:  
Except three things mine auctor saith the same  
A crown, a sceptre, and a kings name.   

But for that he all other did excel  
Both of prudence and famous chivalry,  
It is remembered as some books tell,  
That there were some had thereat envy:  
For when fortune list to set up an high  
Any person aloft upon her wheel,  
Some are beside that like it never a deal.   

Who holdeth him ever upon high mountains  
Findeth great experiece of blasts & showers,  
Oft is troubled with storm wind & rains,  
So of Alysander the proud successors  
When they sat freshest in their flowers,  
Wind of envy, fortune held so the rother,  
That each was busy to destroy other.   

On hills high it is an impossible  
A man to abide without wind or rain,  
A thing expert and very visible,  
high climbing up is meddled with disdain:  
Press hath envy as it is oft sayn,  
And through preferring of fortune ● estates,  
Is ever cause of great war and debates.   

This same thing was well expert & proved  
Among these said royal inheritors  
Of Alysander, for each of them was grieved  
To see his fellow reign in his flowers:  
And thus atween these mighty successors  
Of false envy there 'gan so great a strife,  
That each made other for to lose his life.   

And as it is afore made mention,  
Pollicarpus and Neptolonyus  
By a manner false conspiration  
Again Eumenides were only envious,  
Of whose falseness he was suspicious,  
Till on a day there is no more to say,  
Meeting in battle slew them both twain   

For which slaughter proud Antigonus,  
Of Macedon perfect and governor,  
Wext in his heart so fell and despitous,  
And was withal a noble warrior,  
With his knights did wholly his labour  
Again Eumenides by martial apparel,  
A field assigned to hold great battle.   

Made upon him a great discomfiture,  
As they met armed bright in steel:  
And thus Eumenides of mortal adventure  
Fled at mischief into a strong castle,  
Whereof his knights liked never a dole:  
For as the story plainly maketh mind,  
That day he fled and left his men behind.   

In which castle for he stood destitute,  
Fro thencehe cast in all haste to fly,  
In his great mischief to find some refute  
That time he drew him to a strange country,  
Some succour to get avenged for to be,  
Called Argyre, by Greeks of intent,  
The latin corrupt of this word argent.   

Of Argiraspedes a people that there dwell  
The name they took after that region,  
The which land as old books tell  
Hath of silver plenty and foison:  
For which cause by old description,  
It took the name of nature and of right,  
Because the soil like silver shineth bright.   

And of this isle which hath so great a prise  
As mine author maketh rehearsal,  
How the people be provident and wise,  
Prudent in arms, and manly in battle,  
Both to defend and proudly to assail:  
Which by their wisdom & good counsel,  
To king Alysander stood in great avail.   

And Eumenides one of his successors,  
As ye have herd drew to that country,  
There to find some refute and succours  
In his mischief and great adversity:  
And for his words of great authority,  
His noble language and his fair eloquence,  
The people had him in full great reverence.   

And for they were manly and courageous,  
Able to assemble both plate and mail,  
He made them rise against Antigonus,  
By their prows with him to have battle:  
But of fortune his party 'gan to fail,  
Where thilk people, the story telleth thus,  
Had afore been full victorious.   

Antigonus hath the field recured,  
That day his knights fought like wodelyons  
In furious tene of his courage assured,  
Broke their tents and pavilions,  
Spoiled their castles rob their dudgeons,  
Where that country unwarely thus afraid  
Had never afore in battle ben outrayed.   

And of despite this people reckless,  
Caught in their heart great indignation  
Again their prince, this said Eumenides,  
Which had them brought to their destruction:  
And all the people of one opinion  
Presented him it was nat after long,  
To Antigonus bound in chains strong.   

In this process briefly to proceed,  
At great mischefehe died in prison:  
He found no mercy plainly as I read,  
For all his noblesse nor his high renown,  
Yet of his manhood made is mention,  
Who that story list to look aright,  
With Alysander there was no better knight.   

In his conquest every hour and space  
He was most cherished for his high noblesse,  
Above all other stood most in his grace,  
To help and relieve folk in their distress:  
All be that he died in wretchedness,  
To us declaring the great variances,  
That all day fall in fortunes chances.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

This tragedy of duke Eumenides  
showeth of fortune the great doubleness,  
How worldly princes that been reckless  
With unware changes fall into distress:  
And there may be no greater heaviness  
After prosperity, nor greater pain  
Than adversity which that is sudden.   

Greatest envy where is greatest press,  
Greatest await where is most richesse,  
And greatest ease where is rest and peace,  
Where most discord most is heaviness:  
And of all sorrow sorrow fullest excess,  
Is thilk sorrow that doth a man constrain,  
After prosperity with adversity sudden.   

Princes in earth of power peerless  
Which excelled all other in noblesse,  
Had in this world by conquest most increases,  
As Alysander the story beareth witness:  
Remember the fine of all their high prowess,  
And the triumphs to which they did attain,  
After prosperity adversity sudden.   

The strong inheritors which that he out cheese  
Six & thirty, the number to express,  
Which had possession of kingdoms doubtless,  
Each thing obeying to their worthiness,  
Till fortune through her wunted doubleness  
showed her might unwarely to ordain,  
After prosperity adversity sudden.   

Noble princes to avoid all disencrees  
Among yourselves discords to repress,  
Be nat envious, nor irous causeless,  
Work nothing of hasty wilfulness:  
Let discretion be your governeress,  
For there must follow if ye part on twain,  
After prosperity adversity sudden.     

The xiiii Chapter.  
❧ How Queen Olympiades', for she delighted in vices, murder, and vengeance, died at mischief.  

NExt in order to Bochas did appear  
After the mischief of Eumenides,  
The great queen with a full piteous cheer  
Mother of Alysander, Olympiades',  
Borne of the line of Gaades  
Among queens (her story beareth witness)  
Excelled all other in beauty and richesse.   

She was daughter to Neoptolomus  
The mighty king of Epirothes,  
And had suspect how Neptanabus  
By enchantment put himself in prees  
Of wifely troth to make her reckless:  
But Bochas here for to save her name,  
Writeth but little of her disclaunderous fame.   

This said queen right fair of her visage,  
Was first brought forth in thilk regions  
Where all the worthy of blood and of lineage,  
Held their sceptres, and their rich crouns,  
Through all Grece with full possessions:  
So that this queen that time near and far  
Was of beauty, called the load star.   

But among all her great prosperities,  
Her youth flowig in most sovereign noblesse  
Her joy was meddled with great adversities,  
When Philip Maredo in her great heaviness  
Was mortally wounded in distress,  
In Cythia by a certain nation  
Called Triboloys, as made is mention.   

For in that country upon a certain day,  
Where as he fought and did his best pain,  
To get a cite, and at a siege lay,  
And for thassault did his stuff ordain,  
He lost unwarely one of his eyen twain:  
That when the queen beheld his wound,  
For sorrow she fell plat unto the ground.   

Another thing, books specify  
Troubled her fame by great heaviness,  
The suspect slander of adultery  
Wrought by Neptavabus, enchanting her fairness,  
The light eciipsing of high nobles,  
By swift report for to hinder her name,  
What flieth more swift than wicked fame?   

In womanhood (as authors all write)  
Most thing commended is their chaste honest,  
Thing most slanderous their nobles to atwite  
Is when princesses of hasty freeite,  
Exceed the bounds of wifely chastity:  
For what availeth lineage or royal blood,  
When of their living the report is nat good?   

The holy bed defoiled of marriage  
Or once soiled may nat recured be,  
The voice goth forth & the froward language  
By many realms and many a great cite,  
Slander hath a custom (and that is pite)  
Crew other false by contagious sown  
Ones raised it goth nat lightly down.   

And to more hindering of Olympiades',  
Philippe away did from her deciyne,  
And of the king of Epyrothes  
The wife he took to his concubine  
Called Cleopatra plainly to termine,  
And thus in mischief t'increase of her trouble  
Their false adultery 'gan to wax double.   

Of this process write will I no more  
Cause the matter is abominable,  
For king Philip the bargain bought sore  
As is remembered by chronicles full notable,  
Slain on a day sitting at his table  
Full suddenly or he took any heed,  
Pausanias did that cruel deed.   

Of which slaughter followed a strange case  
As ye have herd by Pausanias wrought,  
Olympiades' full glad and merry was,  
heavy outward her heart void of thought:  
Yet faynyngly she hath ways out sought  
For him to hold solemn and royal,  
Like Greeks rights, a feast funeral.   

After whose death wrought of great cruelty,  
King Alysander made no longer let  
Made Pansonias taken for to be,  
And to be hanged upon an high gibbet:  
Upon whose head there was a crowneset  
Of gold and pearl, and rich stones Ind,  
By Olympiades' in story as I find.   

For he stood greatly in the queens grace,  
And as folk dempt of suspection,  
They met together in many privy place,  
Which greatly turned to her confusion:  
For noise arose through all that region  
That by thoccasion of their mislyving,  
How Pausanias' slough Philip the king.   

But she anon in her malice fervent,  
Fro the gibbet made him to be take down:  
Made his body solemnly to be brent  
Kept his exequys with great oblation,  
After the rights of that region:  
Nat left behind in party nor in all  
That appertained to feasts funeral.   

Upon king Philip as it were for the nonce  
To do her lord a shame or a despite,  
solemnly she made burn the bones,  
Of Pausanias, for a false appetite:  
Unto no man she had so great delight,  
For which this feast was like in all things,  
To thexequies of princes and of kings.   

She made his sword also to be take  
With which he slough Philip the king,  
Offered it up only for his sake  
Tofore Apollo, by record of writing:  
Which to her was slander & hindring,  
Caused folk dame in their intent  
To slay king Philip, how she was of assent.   

To be cruel was set all her pleasance,  
For merciless void of all pity,  
On Cleopatra causing this vengeance,  
That she herself hinge upon a tree:  
Murdered her daughter the story ye may see,  
What malice may, if it be declared,  
Unto the malice of women be compared.   

Speke of them that be malicious  
And list of custom for to be vengeable,  
Among a thousand one may be virtuous  
And in two thousand some one is merciable,  
But when they be of rancour untretable,  
There is no Tiger more cruel doubtless,  
Record I take, of Olympiades'.   

And she of malice was more set of fire  
To execute boldly her vengeance,  
By the occasion of the great empire  
Of Perce & Mede, full famous in substance,  
Which stood by conquest under the governance  
Of Alysander, whereby she thought her strong  
Ta●heue each thing were it right or wrong.   

Dempte her power should aye contune  
By the mean of his high majesty,  
God is stronger than the queen fortune  
Which suffered her son in her most dignity  
In babylon, poisoned for to be:  
As is remembered in many old stories,  
After his triumphs and his victories.   

But for to pass briefly to the writing  
Touching the queen as made is mention,  
When deed was Philip the famous king  
She had of Macedon full possession:  
And governed that mighty region  
Where like a wolves as auctors of her write  
To shed blood she 'gan herself delight.   

In her tyranny most fervent and irous  
rejoiced in slaughter and to see men bleed,  
For serpent none was more malicious  
Than was this queen, in books ye may read:  
Yet after all this she received her meed,  
For though fortune favoured her a while,  
Yet with her trains she coude her well beguile.   

th'end of tyrants and eke of tyrannesses,  
And of murderers be they never so wood,  
Of poysonmongers, and enchauntresses,  
Of false supplantours contrary to all good,  
And of conspirers, & them that thirst blood:  
All these must have by god's purveyance,  
Here short life or sudden vengeance.   

In Macedon this queen was most behated  
For her vengeable mortal oppression,  
And Cassander against her hath debated,  
And gun a war upon her region,  
Which to Alysander ministered the poison,  
As ye have herd tofore of him devised,  
By Antipater most mortally practised.   

She found no refute but took her to flight  
This cruel queen, this Olympiades',  
Into a mountain that stood far out of sight,  
And of her kin there followed great prees,  
Supposing to have lived there in peace,  
For on that hill stood a great dungeon,  
Strongly walled about environ.   

Which that marched to a great cite  
Called Epidua, standing in great doubt,  
Because Cassander of old enmity  
Had for her laid a siege about,  
And none so hardy for to issue out,  
Till Cassander of false compassed treason,  
Made with them a composition.   

His faith was laid that time for hostage,  
By oath assured to Olympiades',  
By covert fraud under fair language  
To suffer her with him to live in peace:  
But of his promise he false was & reckless,  
For under treaty as made is mention,  
The queen he took, and cast her prison.   

But will ye see a royal high courage,  
How boldly delivered fro prison  
She descended, imperial of visage,  
With all her maidens about her environ:  
Her enemies present, woder than Lion  
Seeing her stand so stately of her face,  
When they were proudest to arrest her & menace   

She was of purpose arrayed for the nonce  
(As saith Bochas) in most stately wise,  
In rich purple gold and precious stones,  
Like an empress in the greekish guise:  
Herlyst nat fly, the story doth devise,  
With cry nor noise passed nat her bounds,  
When the bloody railed from her wounds.   

She nat afraid in all her mortal showers,  
Void of all fear list nat bow her chine,  
Make no prayer to her tormentors,  
Nor no token of courage feminine:  
Upright she stood list nat down decline,  
Gave evidence as it is comprehended,  
Of what line and blood she was descended.   

For unto the time she gave up the breath,  
Was never say prince nor princess  
That more proudly took their fatal death,  
For as I dame her martial hardiness  
Came from Bellona, of arms chief goddess,  
Or she had it by influence of courage,  
you by the gods to her and her lineage.   

Force is a virtue, as books specify,  
Again all vices to make resistance,  
But froward rancour, and proud melancholy  
Gave her a spirit of feigned patience,  
A false pretence of her magnificence,  
As scaunce she had been in virtue strong,  
For troth to have endured every wrong.   

Contrarious force made her despitous,  
Strong in her error to endure pain,  
Of obstinate heart she was fell and irous,  
In deaths constraint list nat to complain:  
counterfeit suffrance made her to feign,  
Nothing of virtue plainly to termine,  
Nor of no manners that be feminine.   

In her entrails all malice was enclosed,  
And all contagious venom serpentine,  
Nat like a woman but as a fiend disposed,  
Able to destroy all virtuous discipline:  
Thus she began thus she did also fine,  
In vicious murder she did her aye delight,  
Wherefore of her me list no more tendyte.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

ALye that shall this tragedy see,  
Of ruth & mercy have compassion,  
To see a princes from her imperial see  
So unwarely by fortune thrown down:  
Of whose mischese this was thoccasion,  
In three things was set most her pleasance  
In vicious life, in murder, & in vengeance.   

Alas that ever the mortal cruelty  
Of bloody sword, by execution  
Should be appropried to feminite,  
Again the nature of their condition,  
Causing the final slanderous confusion  
Of Olympiades', here put in remembrance,  
For vicious life, murder, & false vengeance.   

Under fresh flowers sote and fair to see,  
The serpent dareth with his covert poison,  
In christ all waters that calm and sote be  
Are perilous pits full of deception,  
Men see all day by clear inspection,  
In feigning faces angelic suffisance,  
hid underneath rancour & great vengeance.   

Though she excelled of her native beauty  
All other princesses of that region.  
Yet was never none feller seen than she,  
To execute like her opinion  
The perilous trains contrived of treason:  
And specially in her pompous grievance,  
Where she hated, for to do vengeance.   

Noble princes set high in dignity,  
Do advertise of discretion,  
In your most power and largest liberty  
Be merciable, and do remission:  
Sugar with pite your indignation,  
Let grace & mercy tempre your puissance,  
Of Olympiades' eschewing the vengeance.   

Exile rigour far out of your country,  
give him with you no jurisdiction,  
To womanheed longeth not pard  
Of cankered rancour new execution:  
Where mercy reigneth of grace there is foison,  
Have this in mind by long continuance,  
Of Olympiades' forgetting the vengeance.   

Let patience by virtuous plenty  
Within your hearts purchase a mansion,  
Let your compassion attempre equity  
That right exceed nat the bounds of reason  
So that your feminine humble entention  
Be always bridled by provident sufferance,  
Voiding all excess of rigour and vengeance.   

For it is said of old authority  
To women longeth by disposition  
meekness in language, in port humility,  
In all virtue humble subjection,  
Void of menaces strife and contention:  
So that no man in your attendance  
Espy no token of rancour nor vengeance:   

The special mean, the partiality  
Should of all mercy by description  
Rebound to women, for of antiquity  
The lamb nat used to play the Lion:  
Nor no meek dove envy the falcon,  
Nor to your degree by natural accordance,  
Sit nouther rigour nor hasty vengeance.   

This simple envoy receive it at gre,  
And have thereof no indignation,  
Lowly direct to your benignity,  
Only of meekness, and no presumption,  
Knowing of kind your inclination  
Disposed is by natural purveyance  
To all mercy, and nothing to vengeance.     

The xu Chapter.  
¶ How Agathocles of low birth borne, attained unto royal dignity, ended in poverty and wretchedness.  

I Have heard said full yore agone  
A whirl wind blowing nothing soft,  
Was in old english called a rodyon,  
That raiseth dust and straw full high a loft,  
And in thascending it falleth so full oft  
Though it be borne almost to the sky,  
Where it becometh there can no man espy.   

Out of forges by fire that smiths make,  
By clear experience it is full oft yseyne  
That these infernal ugly smokes black  
Transcende the top of many great mountain,  
But oft sith by a full sudden rain  
All such ascensions by rage of wind up blow,  
With unware turn be reversed full low.   

And semblably to put it at a proof,  
And execute it by clear experience,  
One the most contrarious mischief  
Found in this earth by notable evidence,  
Is only this, by fortunate violence  
When that wretches churlish of nature  
The estate of princes unwarely doth recure.   

A crown of gold is nothing according  
For to be set upon a knaves heed,  
A foltyshe clerk for to wear a ring  
Accords nat who that can take heed:  
And in this world there is no greater dread  
Than power give (if it be well sought)  
Unto such one that first rose up of nought.   

There is no manner just convenience  
A royal carbuncle, ruby, or garnet,  
Nor a chaste emerald of virtuous excellence,  
Nor Ind sapphires, in copper to be set:  
Their kindly power in foul metal is let,  
And so the state of politic puy sans,  
Is ever lost where knaves have governance.   

For a time they may well up ascend  
Like windy smokes their fumes spread,  
A crowned ass plainly to comprehend,  
Void of discretion is more for to dread  
Than is a lion, for that one in deed  
Of his nature is mighty and royal,  
Void of discretion that other bestial.   

The gentle nature of a strong lion  
To prostrate people of kind is merciable,  
For unto all that fall afore him down  
His royal puissance can nat be vengeable:  
But churlish wolves by rigour untreatable,  
And foltyshe asses eke of bestialyte,  
Failing reason brayed ever on cruelty.   

None is so proud as he that can no good,  
The leuder head the more presumption,  
Most cruelty and vengeance in low blood,  
With malapertness and indiscretion:  
Of churl and gentle make this division,  
Of other of them I dare right well report,  
Fro thence they came thereto they will resort.   

The Rose is know by colour and sweetness,  
And violettes for their fresh tarage,  
The nettle rough for his fell sharpness,  
Thistles, briars pricking by great outrage▪  
And thus considered the rote of each lineage,  
froward tetches be ever in churls found,  
Where unto gentiles aye virtue doth rebound.   

Let men beware in especial of one thing,  
How great deception is in false coinage,  
The plate may be bright in his showing  
The metal false and show a fair visage:  
All is nat gold to speak in plain language,  
That shineth bright, concluding on reason  
Under fair there is oft hid false poison.   

For as a sky or an ugly cloud  
Which that ascendeth low out of the see,  
With his blackness doth the sun shroud,  
That men may nat his great brightness see,  
Nor have no comfort of his clear beauty:  
So vicious tetches I do you well assure  
Difface full oft the gifts of nature.   

God unto some hath given by nature  
For to excel another in fairness,  
Yet in vices by record of scripture  
They were disclaundred Bochas doth witness:  
Outward sugar in ward bitterness,  
By which ensample to purpose I may call  
Agathocles fulfilled with vices all.   

In this story he cometh now on the ring  
Which of beauty had great excellence,  
But to declare the vicious living,  
And to descrive his outrageous offence,  
If I should write fully in sentence  
Like his demerits wholly the manner,  
It would through pierce & blot my paper.   

Touching his birth of low bed descended,  
Son of a porter, the story ye may see,  
In no virtue I find him nat commended,  
Except nature gave him great beauty:  
Fostered in mischief and great poverty,  
Had eke disdain I can him nat excuse,  
Of hateful pride his father's craft to use.   

By the mean of his great fairness  
To high estate he came from low degree,  
Yet in a vice which I will nat express  
He disused cursedly his beauty  
Again nature, that evil moat he thee:  
And soiled he was shortly to specify,  
With all the spices of pride and lechery.   

Yet nat withstanding his false conditions  
God suffered him to come to high estate,  
And to govern divers nations,  
I find a while how he was fortunate,  
In his lechery aye pompous and elate:  
And in a cite called Cyracuse,  
The said vices he frowardly 'gan use.   

And for he had beauty and great might,  
To all vices his youth he did incline,  
And could also further himself aright  
Of eloquence expert in the doctrine:  
And as it is said though he came of low line,  
Yet as it is put in remembrance  
An hundred knights he had in governance.   

Of Centuryen he purchased an office,  
And that time he took the order of a knight,  
After chosen a tribune of great price,  
And gate great favour in the people's sight:  
And this while it fell so anon right  
Of Cyracuses he was made duke & head  
By election, because their lord was dead.   

Which with Ciciliens held a mortal strife,  
But Agathocles made him victorious,  
Took their duchess after to his wife:  
By mean whereof he wext full glorious,  
And in his glory he grew right despitous,  
Forgot himself thus growing in estate,  
wherethrough his cite and he were at debate.   

His conditions when they 'gan espy  
And saw him work all of presumption,  
The people anon knowing his tyranny,  
Exiled him out of their region:  
In his exile, as made is mention,  
He could not find no better chevisance  
But came to a cite that called was Murgaunce.   

Where by his sleighty subtle false advice  
He so demeaned him in the people's sight,  
That of a Praetor they gave him an office,  
He moving them in all that ever he might  
Gain Cyracuses to make them strong to fight,  
Of intent of them avenged to be,  
Cause, for his exile out of that cite.   

But in his exile (the story saith none other)  
It was so wrought by mediation  
Of duke Hamilchar that was his sworn brother,  
Cyracusans of one intention  
Called him home again into their town  
And there was restored to his place,  
And reconciled to the kings grace.   

And unto him they gave by great avice,  
By assent of lords and all the commonte,  
Of a praetor newly an office:  
For Praetors of custom called be  
officers that dwell in the cite,  
And have full charge by doom & judgements  
To put all guilty to pain and torments.   

Than of new this Agathocles  
Because he had more authority  
Cast for to trouble the quiet and the peace  
Of Cyracuses, and out of that cite  
All the senators greatest of dignity  
Of mortal vengeance this titant made anon  
Without exception, to be slain everichon.   

This hasty slaughter wrought by tyranny,  
Might nat assuage nor stanche his fell courage,  
Till he their treasure took by robbery  
And all Cicile he spoiled by pillage,  
Cast of pride upon an high stage  
For to ascend by sleighty false working,  
Of all that region to be crowned king.   

Made his subjects maugre him dreading  
To call him king, and in especial  
One the most worthy prince tho living,  
That sat in chair of majesty royal:  
Till fortune shope he must have a fall,  
For of Cartage the duke a worthy knight  
Fought with him twice, & put him to flight.   

wherethrough he stood in mischief despaired,  
And of all people he was had in disdain:  
To Cyracuse in haste he is repaired,  
And to his cite returned home again,  
There abiding in dread and uncertain:  
For when fortune 'gan again him take,  
His friends old of new have him forsake.   

In that mischief he bode nat long  
As the process maketh rehearsayle,  
gathered people and made himself strong  
Only in purpose all africa to assail,  
With them of Cartage had a great battle,  
Th●n discomfited as fortune list ordain,  
By high prowess of his sons twain.   

Archagatus called was that one,  
Wonder deliver, a man of great might,  
The second brother most worthy of eachone  
Called Heraclydes, which in that mortal fight  
proved himself that day a manly knight:  
For by their manhood in which was no lack,  
They of Cartage, were felly put a back.   

For though so were by fortune of the war  
Agathocles had that day the victory,  
False covetise made him for to err  
And eclipsed the light of his glory:  
For as it is remembered in his story,  
Like as in his birth it is determined,  
To all falseness his courage was inclined.   

Cruel of custom, of heart merciless,  
His will was law were it wrong or right,  
Contrary to accord, froward unto peace,  
Proud and surquedous in his own sight:  
Where his power stretched & his might  
Like a tyrant, naturally disposed  
To execute vengeance afore purposed,   

He thought he had power for to bind  
Fortunes wheel for to abide stable,  
Which is a thing contrary to her kind,  
Whose property is to be variable:  
His pride alas was to abominable  
For mortal Prince is none that may restrain,  
Her unware turn nor her course sudden.   

By influence of the heavenly stars  
The uncouth course above celestial,  
By fortune and favour of the wars  
This Agathocles of birth full rural  
Promoted was unto estate royal,  
Till pride, outrage, & froward engendrure,  
Caused in his lordship he might nat endure.   

Fortune of kind is so flaskysable,  
A monstrous beast departed manifold,  
A sliding serpent turning and unstable,  
Slipper to gripe on whom there is no hold,  
As in this book declared is and told:  
Her power proved on princes reckless,  
Record with other on Agathocles.   

As ye have heard rehearsed in sentence  
simple and bare was his nativity,  
Brought up and fostered in great indigence  
Out of a stock springing of poverty,  
Rose to the estate of royal dignity:  
The rising uncouth marvelous tattayne,  
The fall more grievous because it was sudden   

From Cyracuse he was exiled twice,  
Vengeable of heart where he had might,  
Of Africans disconfited thrice,  
Ever in battle of custom put to flight,  
Had an usance to rob day and night:  
And like a tyrant again conscience  
To spoil his subjects by great violence.   

Hindered by fortune whereof he was nat feign  
Her stroke again him sudden and violent,  
His sons two in Africa were first slain,  
He of his limbs wext feeble and impotent,  
With a consumption his entrails brent:  
And by an ague continual of fervence,  
He was suppressed by stroke of pestilence   

All his treasure hath from him take  
His proud port, and his worldly glory,  
His wife, kin, and friends hath him forsake,  
His conquest dark and put out of memory,  
His name yclipsed of his old victory:  
And as he 'gan in poverty and distress,  
So he made an end in wretchedness.   

Hasty rising and thriste that is sudden,  
And surmounting by violent ravin,  
And extort power may for a while attain,  
In rich chair of lordship for to shine:  
Sudden ascending doth suddenly decline,  
And by untruth wherever there be increases,  
Men wait of custom a sudden disencrees.   

Of Agathocles men may ensample take  
What is th'end of every false tyrant,  
Wrong climbing up doth a foul end make  
For a season though tyrants be puissant,  
Fortune to them giveth no longer grant:  
But when they sit on her wheel most royal,  
By unware change to have a sudden fall.   

Agathocles was first a sympleman  
Brought forth in mischief and in poverty,  
Son of a porter, the story tell can,  
By vicious living came to great dignity,  
Of all folk hated for his cruelty,  
clomb fro poverty up to great richesse.  
Made poor again died in wretchedness.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy showeth a figure  
Both by story and by authority,  
How man, and beast, & every creature  
Tarageth the stock of his nativity,  
Herb of the rote, and each fruit of his tre:  
For both of virtue and also of outrage,  
Followeth some tetche or taste of the lineage.   

Agathocles by record of scripture  
Borne of low bed, brought forth in poverty,  
Yet Fortune made him to recure  
Up to high estate from full low degree,  
His reason blended with sensuality,  
Forgot himself, to speak in plain language  
Through a false tetche that came fro his lineage.   

There is a difference of colours in picture  
On table or wall, as men all day may see,  
between gold & gold, atwene byse & azure,  
All is not gold that shineth bright pard:  
Some noble is false that hath great beauty,  
Let men beware of counterfeit coinage,  
Tetches eschewing of churlish lineage.   

Some man is furthered of sudden adventure,  
Set in a chair of royal dignity,  
weening his empire should ever endure  
And never to be troubled with no adversity,  
With royal Eagles a kite may not fly:  
A jay may chatter in a golden cage,  
Yet ever some tetch must follow of his lineage.   

Gentle blood of his royal nature  
Is ever inclined to mercy and pite,  
Where of custom these vyllains do their cure  
By their usurped and extort false post,  
To be vengeable by mortal cruelty,  
Through hasty fumes of furious courage,  
Following the tetches of their vile lineage.   

O mighty princes your nobles do assure,  
Your passions rest with tranquillity,  
See how there is no mean of measure  
Where a tyrant catcheth the sovereignty:  
Let Agathocles your worldly mirror be  
To eschew the traces of his froward passage,  
As royal blood requireth of your lineage.     

The xvi Chapter.  
☞ How Cassander slew the wife of Alexander and Hercules her son, and how Antipater slew his mother, & of other murders.  

THE great mischief of Fortunes might,  
The woeful falls fr● her wheel in deed,  
Of princes, & princesses, who so look aright,  
Ben lamentable and doleful for to read:  
But for all that Bochas doth proceed  
In his rehearsayl, remembering thus him selue  
To him appeared of men and women twelve.   

After the death of king Agathocles  
There came tofore him worthy queens twain,  
The first of them was called Bersanes,  
And of her mischief 'gan to him complain,  
Wife of Alexander (the story list not fain)  
The mighty king greatest under son,  
Which by conquest all this world hath won.   

Wife to Alexander was this Barsanes  
By his live, as made is mention,  
Which with her son named Hercules,  
Whereby Cassander brought to destruction:  
And of her death this was the occasion,  
Cassander dread the Bersanes the queen,  
Would with her son on him avenged been   

For his treasons which he tofore wrought  
On Alexander and on his lineage:  
And specially if that she were brought  
To Macedon for her advantage,  
With her son that was but young of age,  
Cassander thought and dread as I have told  
They would avenge his treasons wrought of old   

He cast afore of malice causeless  
This Cassander most falsely working,  
That if this knight, this young Hercules  
Son of Alexander by record of writing,  
In Maredone were take and crowned king,  
How that he would of equity and right  
His father's death avenge like a knight.   

Which thing to eschew Cassander 'gan provide  
And by false fraud was not reckless,  
But on a day he list not long abide,  
Slew first the queen this said Bersanes,  
And than her son called Hercules:  
Thus by Cassander of murder crop and rote.  
They murdered were there was nonother beat   

This cruelty might not suffice  
Unto Alexander by record of scripture,  
But like a tyrant in vengeable wise  
He did them bury by froward adventure,  
Where no man should know their sepulture:  
And thus alas, which pity is to read,  
He murdered four out of one kindred.   

To Alexander he ministered the poison,  
Slew the queen called Olympiades',  
And of hatred by full false treason  
As I have told, he slew queen Bersanes,  
Wife to Alexander, mother to Hercules:  
Which in his youth by Bochas rehearsing,  
In Macedoyne was like to have be king.   

After all this he could not live in peace,  
But ever ready some treason for to do  
Slew eke the queen called Roxanes,  
Upon a day, and her young son to:  
And she was wife to Alexander also,  
Cassander dreading in his opinion  
Lest they would venge them upon his treason.   

Thus ever he lived in murder, sorrow, & strife  
By way of fraud came all his increases,  
And as I find how he had a wife  
And she was called Thessalonices:  
And this story remembreth doubtless  
A son they had borne atween them twain  
To stea his mother which after did his pain.   

Shortly to pass (mine auctor writeth nonother)  
Antipater was her sons name,  
And because that she loved his brother  
Better than him, he to his great defame  
Compassed her death, the story saith the same:  
notwithstanding to appease his cruelty,  
She asked mercy kneeling on her knee.   

Her breasts open white and soft as silk,  
All bedewed with tears her visage,  
Required meekly at reverence of the milk  
With which he was fostered in young age,  
For to have mercy and to appease his rage,  
And to accept goodly her prayer,  
To save the life of his mother dear.   

But all for nought he heard her never adele,  
He was to her surmounting all measure  
Like his father, bengeable, and cruel:  
I trow it was you him of nature,  
For by record of kind, and eke scripture,  
seld or never no branch that is good,  
springeth of custom, out of cruel blood.   

Of her death cause there was none other  
That Antipater slough his mother dear,  
But for she loved Alexander his brother  
Better than him, the chronicle doth us lere:  
Which Alexander, if ye list to here,  
Had in his succour I find by writing  
Demetrius, that was of Asye king.   

Thessalonices was in this while dead  
By Antipater, he most infortunate  
Bathed in her blood, her sides were made red  
Without compassion of her high estate:  
And her two sons living at debate,  
Till Lisymachus that perfect was of Trace  
Them reconciled, each to others grace.   

When Demetrius knew of their accord,  
God wots the sooth, he nothing was fain,  
But by his fraud the story beareth record  
That Alexander maliciously was slain:  
This while Antipater standing in no certain  
Till he by sleight of Lisymachus,  
Was murdered after, the story telleth thus   

To write the process and the manner hough  
That Lisymachus by fraudulent working  
His son in law Antipater thus slough,  
False covetise was cause of all this thing:  
And Demetrius took on him to be king  
Of Macedon, remembered time and date  
When both brethren were passed into fate.   

During this murder & all this mortal strife,  
In this process like as it is found,  
Of Antipater Erudice the wife  
Daughter of Elenchus was in chains bound.  
Cast in prison, dark, hideous, and profound:  
And for a while I leave her there sojourn,  
And to Demetrius I will again return.   

Which made himself to be crowned king,  
Of Macedon, through his great puissance,  
But to destroy his purpose in working  
There were three princes notable in substance  
Confederate and of alliance,  
eachone assented for short conclusion,  
To bring Demetrius to destruction.   

One the first was worthy Tholome  
King of Egypt, in arms full famous,  
Other twain, the story ye may see  
Called Seleuchus, and next Lisymachus,  
And of Cypre came the king Pyrrhus,  
Lord of province as it is eke found,  
They made them strong Demetrius to confounded.   

Shortly to tell with their apparayls  
Of Macedove they did him first deprive,  
Game upon him with four strong battles,  
That he was never so overset in his live,  
Take of Lisymachus, the story doth describe:  
chained in prison, of his life in doubt,  
For I not find that ever he issued out.    

☞ The xvii chapter.  
¶ Of the two prefects Perdiccas and Amintas.  

NExt in order Perdiccas did appear  
Whilom perfect of great Babylon,  
And with him came Amintas eke yfere  
An other perfect as made is mention,  
Which Bactry had in his subjection:  
A great province you him by judgement,  
Mid of Alia toward the occident.   

These said twain for their worthiness  
And for their manhood in acts martial,  
Assigned were by diligent business,  
To wait and keep in especial  
Upon the majesty in his estate royal  
Of Alexander, for trust as chamberlayns,  
Again the assault & dread of all forayns.   

After whose death for singular guerdon  
Made perfect both they were in deed,  
As ye have heard that one in Babilone  
The other in Bactry the story ye may read,  
Yet in quiet they might hem not succeed,  
For Seleuchus 'gan a war again them make,  
That they were fain their lordships to forsake    

¶ The xviii Chapter.  
❧ How Sandrocottus borne of low degree, cherished robbers and thieves.  

OTher prefects there were also I find,  
Which held the people in full great servage,  
In Macedon, and in other Ind,  
Till Sandrocottus a man of low lineage  
Cast he would redress their outrage,  
Of intent poor people to restore  
To their franchises that plained on them sore.   

Sandrocottus author of this working,  
Behight the people throughout all countries,  
When he by sleight was crowned king,  
Them to restore to their old liberties:  
But when he had received these dignities,  
All his behests made with a fair visage,  
Turned after to thraldom and servage.   

Thus when a wretch is set in high estate,  
Or a beggar brought up to dignity,  
There is none so proud, so pompous, nor elate,  
None so vengeable, nor so full of cruelty,  
Void of discretion, mercy, and pity:  
For churlish blood seld doth recure,  
To be gentle, by way of his nature.   

He may dissimule and for a time fain,  
counterfeit with a fair visage,  
Out of one hood show faces twain,  
Contrary of heart, double of his language,  
Still of his port, smooth of his passage:  
Under flowers like a serpent dare,  
Till he may sting, & than will not spare.   

And ever like of his conditions  
Was Sandrocottus set up in high estate,  
Vexed people, and troubled regions,  
Set cities and towns at great debate:  
Whose governance was infortunate,  
As it was seen and found at all preves,  
Cherished no man, but robbers & thieves.   

And to declare how he caught hardiness:  
And occasion people to govern,  
By a pronostike which I shall express,  
Right marvelous & uncouth to discern,  
Which was this, as I shall tell as yearn:  
Right wonderful & uncouth for to hear,  
And it was this, if ye list to lere.   

There was a man called Procatales  
Borne in Ind, which of his living  
Was wonders poor, came but seld in prees,  
Because he had trespassed in one thing  
Again Venandrus, that was that time king:  
Commanding to slay him anonryght,  
But he escaped (the story saith) by flight.   

God had given him of feet swiftness,  
By mean whereof he saved him fro daungere,  
Through long travail fill in weariness,  
And refreshed him beside a well clear,  
He lay sleeping that face and all his cheer  
Dropped of sweat, a lion came foreby,  
And licked his face as saith the story.   

With which affray the man anon awoke,  
And suddenly life up his visage,  
The lion rose softly and the way took  
Toward the forest, & did him no damage,  
Forgot his felnesse and his cruel rage:  
Of which prognostic 'gan the occasion,  
Whereof Sandrocottus took an opinion   

Cast and thought in his fantasy,  
sith that the Lion is beast most royal  
Which not disdained himself to apply  
To lick the face of a man rural,  
In his nature to show him bestial,  
He dempt well that it was sitting  
To take on him the estate of a king.   

His opinion of reason was right nought,  
For where the Lion left his cruelty,  
He contrary wext proud in heart and thought,  
Void of mercy, barren of pity,  
For when that he was set in dignity,  
Brought from a wretch to domination,  
Again nature he played the lion.   

Sum time a lion forgetteth all felnesse,  
Where as a wolf will naturally devour,  
So royal blood hath ruth by gentleness,  
On poor playnufes, to help them & secure,  
Where as a tyrant doth naturally labour  
When he hath power catching advantage,  
To rob subjects and spoil them by pillage.   

Sandrocottus thus borne of low kindred  
In high estate by fortune when he stood,  
'Gan make him strong & vengeable in deed,  
With number of robbers, furious, and wooed,  
Cast him to destroy all the gentle blood  
That was in Ind, and by his ordinance,  
To stea all the prefects that had governance.   

And with the commons when he was made strong  
And 'gan the manner of their death devise,  
Like a false tyrant although he did wrong  
Again his lords when he 'gan arise,  
An Oliphant came in full uncouth wise,  
Him obeyed which was a great wonder,  
When their battles were not far asunder.   

Though he was wild (the story saith the same)  
Sandrocottus leapt upon his side,  
And on his back as on a beast tame  
Toward the battle anon he 'gan to ●yde,  
Was their captain that day and their guide  
With his robbers, as it is made mind,  
Slew all the prefects & gentle blood of Ind.    

The xix Chapter.  
☞ How Seleuchus the mighty prince was slain by the great Tholome king of Egypt.  

THen came Seleuchus to Bochas complaining,  
A mighty Prince and a manly knight  
Son of Antiochus the famous king,  
Was most favoured in Alexander's sight,  
Which Seleuchus for wisdom & for might,  
Borne of a princes the chronicle ye may seen,  
Called Leodice the great famous queen.   

The birth of him strange & marueylons,  
For his mother upon the same night  
That she conceived, dreamed, & thought thus  
As it seemed plainly in her sight,  
Of great Apollo the heavenly god most bright  
How she the time of her conceiving  
received that night, of gold a rich ring.   

In which ring was set a precious stone  
give unto her for a great guerdon,  
Grave with anchor, her commanding anon  
After the birth without dilation,  
To give the ring of whole affection  
To Seleuchus, whereby in especial,  
He should excel in acts martial.   

The same morrow after the child was borne,  
Within her bed was found a rich ring  
With all the tokens rehearsed here toforne,  
The anchor grave like in every thing  
Which that the queen took in her keeping:  
And of intent for her advantage,  
Kept it secret till he came to age.   

Another marvel fill also withal,  
This Seleuchus, which was a wonder thing  
Had imprinted eke in special  
Upon his thigh, an anchor and a ring:  
So had all by record of writing,  
Such characts the story doth determine,  
That after him were borne of that line.   

When Seleuchus as made is mention,  
The tender years had of his age run,  
And came to years of discretion,  
He by this ring full many land hath won:  
Whose knightly fame shone sheen as the son,  
He well advised, hardy, of great might,  
Time of Alexander hold one the best knight.   

In war and arms he his time hath spent,  
Brought all Ind to subjection,  
Gate all the kingdoms nigh of the Orient,  
Held them long in his possession:  
But here alas Bochas maketh mention  
All his victories that did in honour shine,  
With sudden change were turned to ruin.   

For when Seleuchus was most victorious,  
Had all Ind conquered in substance,  
atween him and king Lisymachus  
Of whom tofore is made remembrance,  
Began a war and a great distance:  
And as they met with their apparayles,  
In a great field ordained their battles.   

On Lisymachus fill the discomfiture,  
Whereof Seleuchus glad in especial  
Dempt his winning came not of nature,  
But by influence very celestial:  
'Gan wax proud in his estate royal,  
Not supposing in his victorious stall,  
Of his mischiefs that should after fall.   

For as the process declareth unto us,  
How of Egypt the great Tholome  
Brother in law to Lysimachus,  
Fill on Seleuchus by full great cruelty,  
Slew him at mischief the story ye may see,  
Lost his life as made is mention,  
In Macedoyne, the mighty region.   

And it is know of antiquity  
By rehearsayle of the old auctors,  
That this foresaid great Tholome  
Was to Alexander one of the inheritors,  
King of Egypt there reigning in his flowers,  
After whose name desceding down by grease  
Were all the kings called Tholomees.   

As I find touching his lineage,  
By procreation he had children three,  
The first of them to speak in plain language  
I named was Ceraunius Tholome,  
Next Philadelphus, a daughter Arcynoe  
That wedded was by her fathers consenting  
To Lisymachus of Macedon king.    

The twenty Chapter.  
❧ How the two sons of Queen Arcynoe were by their mother's brother traitorously slain, and she exiled.  

ANd thus remembered in books old  
Death of Seleuchus wrought by Tholome,  
unwarely slain tofore as I have told,  
Next in order came Arcynoe  
To John Bochas, by great adversity,  
All with tears bedewed her visage,  
And 'gan complain the constraint of her rage.   

This mighty queen the said Arcynoe  
Had sons twain, full famous of renown,  
The tone Lisymachus excelling of beauty,  
That other Philip, as made is mention:  
And her joy and dilectation  
In worldly bliss there is no more to sayne  
Was holy set upon these children twain.   

For by the occasion of their great fairness  
Men delighted greatly them to see,  
Namely women the story doth express,  
And their mother this queen Arcynoe  
Stood in great hope that they should be  
Mighty kings by just succession,  
In Macedony the mighty region   

Only by the title of their father's right:  
Which to her heart gave full great gladness,  
For she dempt that none other wight  
To succeed should have no entresse.  
But Fortune the blind false goddess  
Disposed so for her children twain,  
That none of them their purpose should attain.   

For when their father Lysimachus was slain  
The said queen called Arcinoe  
To save her life could none other gain  
But with her sons fearfully to i'll  
Into Cassander a mighty strong city:  
Only for dread of one Antigonus,  
Which then pursued, the story telleth thus.   

But the brother of queen Arcynoe  
Called Ceraunius rescued her party  
Again Antygonus, ye may the story se,  
Yet in his heart he had great envy  
Albe that they were near of one ally,  
That her two sons should kings ●e  
Of Macedoyne, and reign in that country.   

For he was set only of covetise  
To be crowned in Macedoyne king,  
And of his false treason, the story doth devise,  
Them to dis●●yue this was his working:  
First to the queen full humbly kneeling,  
He made promise under great surety,  
In Macedoyne she should crowned be.   

And her children so fair of their visage  
Should be kept under governance,  
Unto time that they came to age:  
And for to put her in more assurance  
Ceraunius swore, god give him sorry chance  
He purposed for all his false working,  
To crown her queen & make her sons king.   

Took all the gods thereunto witness  
And swore again with a plain visage  
Unto the queen, of fraud and doubleness,  
His purpose was to have her in marriage,  
Crown her queen to her great advantage,  
Thus he swore all be he was her brother,  
Yet in heart god wots he thought another.   

Under colour of this assurance  
She let him enter Cassandre the cite,  
Came again him to do him more pleasance  
With all her lords of high and low degree:  
Made the streets hanged for to be  
With clothes of gold, & in solemn wise  
To all their gods she did sacrifice.   

And thus he was received solemnly,  
The day was hallowed and hold feastival,  
The queen for joy ordained richly  
Her two sons that were so fair in all  
To be crowned with crowns full royal,  
Go afore her in the master street,  
Gloriously their uncle for to mete.   

With felonous heart under a friendly face,  
This Ceraunius rote of all treason  
'Gan his cousins ben●igly embrace,  
Him purposing by false collusion  
To proceed to their destruction:  
And finally first he did his pain,  
The queen texyle, & slay her children twain.   

But or this treason was brought to a proof,  
When the queen apperceived his falseness  
And saw her sons brought to mischief,  
She conjured him 〈◊〉 her mortal distress  
To have pity, of natural gentleness  
Spare his cousins afore him where they stood  
Of royal mercy so near borne of his blood.   

And with a cry pa●yng 〈…〉  
She fell afore him, swooning 〈◊〉 ground,  
Like as she had be 〈◊〉 culpable,  
Seing her sons bleading with many wound:  
But all for nought there was no mercy found,  
For with their blood, this story is not feigned  
Her garment was dolefully distained.   

Her face fair was foiled with ordure,  
Her golden here was all to torn & rend,  
And like a thrall this woeful creature  
With mortal weeping had her sight blended:  
And after that I find how she was sent  
To bury her children, for there was no space,  
Into an isle called Samothrace.   

Is any story which maketh mention  
That a princess of so high degree  
Found so great cause of lamentation,  
She being daughter to great Tholome,  
Her children slain by vengeable cruelty,  
And to behold the death most dolorous,  
Of her husband called Lisymachus▪   

She after banished in exile made her end,  
with sorrowful complaint her life thus draw along,  
Till into fate her spirit did wend:  
It is no dread her pains were full strong,  
And if I should rehearse all the wrong  
That she suffered it would grieve me to sore,  
Therefore of her now I writ no more.   

¶ Envoy.  

THis tragedy showeth an appearance,  
And a likeness of faithful assurance  
Excyte men to give false credence  
Unto fortunes false variance,  
Which cast her baits & angles of pleasance  
An hook hid under of vengeable cruelty,  
As this chapter put in remembrance,  
Of Lisymachus and of Arcynoe.   

Is there any greater evidence  
Of worldly trouble or worldly constance,  
Than to see princes from their magnificence  
And from their mighty royal puissance  
unwarely brought by fortune to mischance,  
And overwhelmed from their tranquillity?  
See here a mirror full notable in substance,  
Of Lisymachus and queen Arcynoe.   

The ring, the anchor of great excellence  
ye●● to Seleuchus for martial suffisance,  
When App●●● by heavenly influence  
List with his mother make his alliance:  
Sent him these relics of singular acquaintance  
To set his manhood in more surety,  
But in all such quavering acquaintance  
Think on Lysimachus and Arcinoe.   

The uncouth treasure, the gold, ne the dispense  
Of them that have this world in governance,  
Nor all the subjects up reckoned in sentence,  
Nor all the regions under their obeisance,  
Prince's princesses with all their attendance  
May again fortune give them no liberty,  
Who not knoweth her unsure gery chance  
Think on Lysimachus and Arcinoe.   

Her children & she slain by violence  
Of Ceramius, god give him sorry chance,  
That by false colour did her reverence  
And pretended a manner observance,  
The treason close of venomous purveyance,  
Purposed afore to outray them all three:  
The children slain which knew no chevisance,  
The mother exiled called Arcinoe.   

Noble princes beware, of high prudence  
Among yourself that there be no distance,  
hide no rancour of hateful violence  
Under a curtain of double dalliance,  
Like your heart show out your countenance,  
Void of dissimulinge and duplicity:  
Wisely way this chapter in balance,  
Of Lysimachus and queen Arcinoe.     

The xxi chapter.  
¶ How Ceramius of Macedoyne king that murdered his cousins, was slain in battle by them of France.  

THe Noble Poet John Bochas, in his book  
proceeding forth complaineth of pite,  
With quaking hand when he his pen took,  
And 'gan to written the woeful destiny  
As ye have herd of queen Arcinoe,  
And how Ceramius the story maketh mind,  
Was to her false, traitor, and unkind.   

Of whose treason is made a great process,  
And how he after was slain in battle,  
Punished by vengeance for his falseness,  
Like as his story maketh rehearsal:  
Which to remember I cast me not to fail,  
Following mine author & proceed in writing  
How Ceramius was slain, being king.   

For while that he by his false working,  
In Macedoyne had the governail,  
Three hundred. M. accounted by writing  
Went out of France to conquer italy,  
The host departed in many strong battle,  
Gate by conquest through their high renown  
Full many a province, and many a region.   

And as they road through many a great country  
This people of Gaul in steel armed clean,  
They founded castles & many strong city,  
Toward Rome they builded Myl●n & Sene  
Upon the Alpes their armour shone full sheen  
And some of them up to Rome went  
By very force, and the city brent.   

Some parted up to the grekyshe see,  
Had a custom to cheese their dwelling place  
By Augury, as birds did i'll,  
Following their flight they 'gan after trace,  
Holding their way within a little space  
With mighty hand, the book doth specify,  
They came to a country called Pannony.   

This folk of Gaul, which is called France,  
To conquer lands put themself in prees,  
As most notable people of puissance,  
Following the example of their knightly increase  
In their riding, of worthy Hercules,  
Which was worshipped in their acts mercial  
Like as a god, and called immortal.   

Through grace of fortune in their chivalryes'  
Conquered countries alway forth riding  
Themself departing in divers companies  
Who them withstood they consumed by brennig:  
Came to Macedon where Ceramius was king  
Of presumption weening it should avail,  
Out of ordinance he met them in battle,   

This Ceramius of outrage and of pride  
Dempt him able to meet with them of France,  
But for he was through murdre an homicide  
He lacked grace, and power in substance:  
Yet they of Gaul by prudent governance  
Offered unto him, though he was reckless,  
With Macedonoys for to treat of peace.   

But for presumption and melancholy  
Against his enemies he the field hath take,  
And discomfited anon was his party,  
His men 'gan fly, and have their lord forsake,  
His heed smit of and set upon a stake:  
But all his mischief was to light in deed  
To recompense his fraud and his falsehood.   

There is no pain again so great offence  
May be devised in no book that men read,  
Equivalent murder to recompense,  
Duly to punish so outrageous a deed,  
Of him that made young children bleed:  
As did Ceramius, which of false covetise  
His cousins slough as ye have heard devise.   

To think on murder it is to foul a thing,  
To god and man hateful and terrible,  
The infernal fraud, the devilish compassing  
To each creature of nature is audible:  
Which to redress is an impossible,  
O cursed Ceramius I leave thy story here,  
Thy name no more shall blot my paper.    

The xxii Chapter  
❧ How the prince Belgius was discomfited, and brought to nought.  

AFter this tyrant as ye have heard the eaas  
Slain in battle, this traitor odious,  
Anon in order came to John Bochas  
A mighty prince, called Belgius,  
Deadly, pale, with face furious:  
Which complained among this woeful prees  
His discomfiture done by queen Softenes.   

This sudden mischief grieved his heart sore,  
For all the folk that were in his battle  
Were put to flight, Bochas writeth no more  
Of his knighthood nor of his apparel,  
Save only this, he maketh rehearsaile  
Of the French host he telleth in certain,  
How he was chosen for a chief captain.   

And how he came into the rich land  
Of Macedoyne with his people of France,  
Till Softenes the queen with mighty hand  
discomfited him, & brought to mischance:  
Of whom I find none other remembrance  
Save when he wend to be most glorious,  
He was outrayed by force of Brennus.    

☞ The xxiii chapter.  
¶ How duke Brennus delighting to rob and steal mischievously ended.  

THis Brennus full knyghtlye in working,  
which by conquest gate many great city  
And as I read of Danes he was king,  
Disployled regions, & many a great country,  
Rob people of high and low degree,  
Spared no gods, but by violence  
Took their treasures, did them no reverence.   

There was a temple great and marvelous,  
Built on a roche and on an hill of stone,  
Sacred to Apollo, called Delphicus  
In all Grece so great a god was none:  
And oft sith the people would gone  
Up to a Theatre, which that stood without,  
To have answer of that they stood in doubt.   

Their trust & hope was to that god applied,  
Having to him singular affection,  
As though he might have holp & magnified,  
And done to them great consolation:  
For by a spirit of false deception  
He gave answer of sundry questions,  
To folk that came from divers regions.   

King Brennus had no fantasy  
In their temples after their panym guise,  
Neither to worship nor to magnify  
Their Grekysh gods, to do them sacrifice:  
For in his heart he 'gan them to despise,  
Caught a joy with all his false robbers,  
Them to despoil & rob of their treasures.   

Behyght his men & said in plain language  
That his desire and his entention  
Was, to be boty with them of such pillage,  
As Gods had in their possession:  
And part with them for singular guerdon,  
For their labour and great travails,  
That they had had with him in battles.   

He gave his people a manner hardiness,  
Made them trust in great multitude,  
Having despite of the innocent simpleness  
Of his enemies, because they were but rude,  
I mean though folk shortly to conclude,  
Which had in keeping the jewels precious  
Of great Apollo, called Delphicus.   

The people also which was with Brennus  
Had all the day drunk mighty wines,  
To fill their paunches they were so desirous  
That they forgot their martial doctrines:  
To ascend the mountain feeble were their chines  
Their heads totter, & their brain 'gan fail,  
The temple aloft to spoil or to assail.   

In their ascending by ways that they cheese,  
Upon the roche they were beat down,  
Priests of the temple put themselves in prees  
One bare a standard, another a penoune,  
Clad in chesibles for high devotion,  
And with their other uncouth apparayles,  
Both on the roche & low in their battles.   

The people of Brennus was incomparable,  
Spread all the field the story beareth witness,  
But it is said of old and is no fable,  
That no defence is in drunkenness,  
And wisdom faileth where is great excess  
And in a field plainly to conclude,  
Victory always standeth not in multitude.   

For they were set as Bochas doth devise,  
Not to knighthood but to false outrage,  
To spoil and rob by greedy covetise,  
And stuff their somters with great pillage,  
Furious ravin hath brought them in a rage,  
And farewell knighthood & martial noblesse,  
Where covetise is lady and mistress.   

Two mighty dukes were with Brennus  
Which that were chief of his counsel,  
Euridanus that one, that other Thessalonus,  
Which, as they thought to their great avail,  
Began a purpose, and it was disavail  
To rob the people, the country, & each town,  
Which turned after to their confusion.   

Thus avarice which stomach unstaunchable  
Hath strangled the power of many a worthy knight  
And covetise her sister untretable  
Hath of high nobles full oft acquaint the light,  
Where Tantalus reigneth a lion hath no might  
This to mean hunger and covetousness  
Turneth all nobles into cowardness.   

For by the counsel of these dukes twain,  
Brennus set all his opinion  
To spoil and rob, did his busy pain  
To pill the cities of all that region:  
But in this while as made is mention,  
Mid their battles Bochas doth me lere.  
The God Apollo and Pallas did appear.   

Apollo first showed his presence  
Fresh, young, & lusty, as any sun sheen,  
Armed all with gold, & with great violence  
Entered the field as it was well seen:  
And Diana came with her arrows keen,  
And Mynerua in a bright haberion,  
Which in their coming made a terrible sound   

The noise was herd of their bright armure,  
Which made their enemies almost to rave,  
That they might afore them not endure:  
Fled the field for dread themself to save,  
And there was herd an hideous erthquave:  
And from heaven in this mortal battle  
Of cold constraining, great stones do hail,   

Their adversaries beat down & grounded,  
And afore them durst not abide,  
And Brennus so mortally was wounded  
Both breast & heed & hurt through either side:  
Lo here the end of covetise and pride,  
For Brennus for constraint of his smart,  
Rove with a dagger himself to the heart.   

This was his end vengeable & marvelous,  
And his dukes slain both twain:  
Called Euridanus and Thessalonus,  
The greekish gods 'gan at him so disdain,  
Of sacrilege see here the grievous pain:  
For to gods who list do no observance,  
Shall unwarly be punished with vengeance.   

It is not wholesome with gods to play,  
Nor their puissance presumptously to attame,  
For where as they by vengeance list werray  
who list assay shall find it no game:  
For his presumption Brennus found the same,  
For Apollo, Diana, and minerve  
For his outrage unwarly made him starve.   

❧ Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy declareth who list here  
Of duke Brennus many great battle,  
His extort conquest and holy the manner  
How by force he road through all italy:  
After how he the romans did assail,  
His fall in Grece by vengeable violence,  
For he to gods would do no reverence.   

Took all the treasures & jewels most enter  
Out of their temples, and richest apparel,  
Gold and pearl, and all that yfere  
To his increase which that might avail:  
The rich he rob, oppressed the porail,  
Of very pomp and froward insolence,  
And list to gods do no reverence.   

This mighty tyrant most surquedous of cheer  
With covetise brent in his entrayle  
Whose greedy fret there might no measure steer,  
Till that fortune at mischief did him fail:  
He lacked might her variant wheel to nail,  
Again whose fall there was no resistance,  
For he to gods list do no reverence.   

Noble princes conceive and do lere  
The fall of Brennus for misgovernayle,  
And prudently paysing this matter  
Virtue is stronger than other plate or mail,  
Afore considered what Brennus doth counsel  
Chief preservative of your magnificence,  
Is to god to do due reverence.     

The xxiiii Chapter.  
❧ How Pyrrus king of Pyrothe list nat live in peace, but of pride and presumption in war, came unto mischance.  

IN Bochas book next following on y● rig  
Came young Pirrus son of Earides  
Borne by descent to reign & be king,  
And to inherit the land of Pyrothes:  
Yet in his youth and his tender increases  
The froward people dwelling in the place,  
Without his guilt 'gan his death purchase.   

But to preserve him as made is mention  
He was committed and take in keeping  
Certain years for his salvation  
To one Glaucus, of Illirie king:  
Whose wife was cousin, by record of writing,  
To the said famous Earides,  
And she in story called Beronices.   

He nigh of blood to this noble queen,  
Both twain borne of one lineage,  
Wonder gracious to all that did him seen,  
And well favoured of features and visage:  
And in the while of his tender age,  
One Cassander of Macedon king,  
Compassed his death by subtle false working.   

And his purpose for to bring about  
He sent for him by false collusion,  
Putting Glaucus plainly out of doubt  
But if he came like his entention,  
He would work to his destruction:  
Gather people both nigh and far  
And on Glaucus, begin a mortal war.   

But king Glaucus took hereof no heed,  
Having to Pyrrus so great affection  
Of him received verily in deed  
To be his son by adoption,  
Purposing of whole entention  
To make Pyrrus plainly if he may,  
To be his heir and reign after his day,   

Pyrrus always up growing by increases  
Full amiable both of there and face,  
And in this while the people of Pyrothes  
Knowing that he stood in Glaucus' grace  
Changed their hearts, cast them in short space  
For to restore all of one courage,  
The said Pyrrus to his heritage.   

Thus by assent he was crowned king,  
young, fresh, and lusty, & seemly there withal,  
Wonders well thewed in his up growing,  
Like his lineage of courage wext royal:  
The which was cause in especial,  
He was beloved offrendes about,  
And of his enemies greatly had in doubt.   

The name of him 'gan to spread far  
Through all Grece about in each country,  
The land of Tarent 'gan in his time war  
Again the Romans as ye may see,  
Requiring Pyrrus that he would be  
Favourable and helping of intent,  
To the party of them of Tarent.   

To their request he can condescend,  
And of purpose cast him not to fail,  
If that fortune would him grace send  
With mighty hand, & martial apparel,  
For to be lord and conquer all italy,  
As did his uncle whilom doubtless,  
King Alexander, called Epirothes.   

First he began his conquest in italy  
Toward Heraclye a mighty great city,  
Where with Brennus he had a great battle  
Consul of Rome and lord of that country:  
And to the increase of his felicity,  
As it is remembered in his story,  
Upon romans he gate that victory.   

The elephants with castles on their back  
Caused Pyrrus the young manly knight  
With his wisdom wherein there was no lack  
To put his enemies that day to flight:  
And in this while it happened forthright  
The Sicilians (Bochas beareth record)  
Among themselves were fall at discord.   

There was atween them great division  
Each to other contrary in working,  
But to reform their false dissension  
They prayed Pyrrus to come, & be their king  
To whose request he fully assenting  
By them made strong, list not to defer  
Against the romans for to begin a war.   

Beside a castle called Esculus  
Within Poyl his banner he 'gan splay,  
The same day not happy nor eurous  
Contrarious fortune his power 'gan affray,  
Wounded to the death 'gan greatly him dismay  
By which occasion this Pyrrus anon right  
Leapt on his courser, and took him to flight.   

A son he had called Helenus,  
Borne of the daughter of king Agathocles  
Whom he ordained mine auctor telleth thus,  
For to be crowned to his great increases,  
Of sicilians to reign there in peace:  
weening thereby to have had advantage,  
And in this while came to him a message   

Out of Tarent, which stood in adventure  
For his absence out of that region,  
If he not came they might not endure,  
Again the power of them of Rome town,  
Which of assent were descended down  
Against them, they standing in despair,  
Save in abiding upon his repair.   

Pyrrus this while stood in full hard point,  
Waxed abashed and dull in his courage,  
atween twain hanging in disjointe:  
Werreyed of romans, hated in Cartage,  
Had a battle to his final damage,  
Within a field called Arusius,  
There put to flight by one Fabricius.   

Destitute by Fortune and appayred,  
Void of succour, barren of richesse,  
Like a man of hope despaired  
Toward Epire in haste he 'gan him dress,  
Where he was first, his story doth express,  
As ye have heard rehearsed by writing  
By succession whilom lord and king.   

But when he came to Epire the city,  
He 'gan of new against Antigonus  
King of Macedoyne, a full strong country,  
Him to warray, he was so desirous:  
And by conquest the story telleth thus,  
Within a while there was no great letting,  
By help of Fortune he was crowned king.   

Not seven months reigning in quiet,  
By Lisymachus maugre all his might  
He was put down, & removed from his seat:  
Yet of presumption though there was no right,  
He took on him to begin a new fight  
gain Lacedemonois, & felly them warray,  
Only because they would him not obey.   

Whose presumption when they beheld  
Both of prudence and policy  
Women were armed, to make a large field,  
With multitude to oppress his party,  
For common profit put them in jeopardy:  
And finally such was their ordinance,  
That Pyrrus was brought to mischance.   

His son there slain called Tholome,  
And many other lost there their lives,  
And for all that of pride and cruelty  
He 'gan a war again the Argyues,  
And at the end of his mortal strives,  
For conclusion, this was his last fall,  
Slain with a stone as he came to their wall.   

His head smit of in the same place,  
And thereof made an oblation  
To Antygonus, for a great solace:  
Thus list fortune quite his presumption,  
After his wars with many region:  
Lo here the end of folks reckless,  
That followed war, & list not live in peace.    

¶ The xxv Chapter.  
☞ How the tyrant Aristotimus by treacherous working, set aside the right line, and was crowned king of Epirothes and after slain.  

FOr the proceeding following John Bochas,  
I will rehearse in full plain language  
How Aristotim a tyrant (this the case)  
Cast and compassed by full great outrage,  
(Having no title of right nor heritage)  
Of Epyrothes by treacherous working,  
Voiding the line, there to be crowned king.   

Living two children the story telleth thus,  
Borne by descent to reign in that city,  
The eldest of them called was Pyrrus,  
And the second named Tholome:  
And both twain by the cruelty  
Of Aristotym, were falsely set aside,  
He made king this tyrant through his pride.   

And while that he thus 'gan occupy  
Like a tyrant cruel and vengeable,  
Of false rancour and melancholy  
Slew all the citizyns that were most notable,  
And exiled (this story is no fable)  
Only of malice within his heart close,  
All that were contrary unto his purpose.   

Unto the women by fraudulent sentence,  
He made ordain after that anon  
Of feigned pity, gave to them licence  
To their friends freely for to gone  
With their riches, but they were everichone  
By his bidding and by his false treason,  
Take by the way, and fettered in prison.   

Or they were ware was set on them arrest,  
And after that of vengeable cruelty  
The children slain sucking at their breast,  
Maidens oppressed of their virginity:  
But in this while at Cypre the city  
There was a knight passing of great age,  
Which cast of purpose to avenge his outrage   

The same knight, mine author telleth thus,  
In the story plainly as I read,  
Was in Greek tongue called Helematus,  
Right wise & manly both in word and deed:  
And things twain put him out of dread  
To execute his purpose in certain,  
Maugre all though that would be him again.   

For common profit he dread not to be dead,  
A cause was this for he was fall in age,  
And another that put him out of dread  
For he no children had of his lineage:  
His quarrel rightful gave him advantage,  
And here upon gathered him of new  
such as he knew, that manly were and true.   

This purpose held with circumspect avise,  
And thereon made full prudent ordinance,  
This Helematus old, hardy, and right wise  
Afore provided, by knightly purveyance  
The said tyrant brought unto mischance,  
By help of them that were to him assented,  
unwarely slain, whose death was not repent    

¶ The xxvi Chapter.  
☞ How queen Arcinoe for the adultery done with Demetrius husband of her daughter Beronices, ended in sorrow.  

AFter this story Bochas 'gan apply  
To turn his pen, like as ye shall here,  
To write and tell the froward lechery  
Of Arcynoe, pleasant of look and cheer:  
Which of her port and eke of her manner  
Was in her days, like as it is found,  
For craft & beauty called Venus the second.   

For her fairness yeven in marriage  
To noble Agas of Cyrene's king,  
atween them while they were young of age  
They had a daughter by record of writing,  
Called Beronices, the king at his ending  
In his testament bad that she should be  
Wedded to the son of king Tholome.   

And this was done of entention  
To cease the wars that had endured long,  
Atwene Egypt, as made is mention,  
And the Cyrene's, both realms strong:  
By this marriage that he might underfonge  
In his dying to set a final peace  
between these ii realms, for their both encrece   

After whose death thus the matter stood,  
Queen Arcynoe most subtle in working,  
Again this matter so cruel was and wooed,  
Married her daughter which out more letting  
Called Beronices, against the bidding  
Of her father that called was Agas,  
As heretofore, rehearsed is the case.   

She married her to one Demetrius,  
That brother was, by Bochas rehearsing,  
Unto the mighty great Antygonus,  
Being in Grece of Macedoyne king:  
But infortunate was she after her wedding,  
As in this story suing ye shall see,  
By the false working of queen Arcynoe.   

And to conclude shortly this matter,  
When this queen this double Arcynoe  
Saw of Demetrius the visage & the there  
His look, his colour, his language, & beauty,  
His manly port, and his liberality,  
She was enamoured of fleshly pleasance,  
Like her desire, to have his acquaintance.   

Of her nature she was most lecherous,  
And of her froward inclination  
She brought about that Demetrius  
Assented was, by her suggestion,  
For to accomplish like her opinion,  
All her desires of fleshly appetite,  
Thus of accord there followed their delight.   

Left his wife called Beronices  
The queens daughter, & again all right  
In a place secret out of prees  
They lay together almost every night,  
Taking no heed of god nor of no wight:  
Till of fortune the case is so befall,  
That he was hated of his knights all.   

despite they had of Arcynoe,  
The deed horrible when they deed espy,  
His wife Beronices eke when she did see  
Holy the manner of their ribaudry,  
In heart she caught a great melancholy,  
Ordained knights in steel armed bright  
In their adultery to take them on a night.   

Lying a bed slept and took no keep,  
After false lusts which they had used,  
They fell up on them while they did sleep,  
The deed open might nat be excused,  
To all the world thus they were accused:  
With sword draw the knights thilk night  
To slay them both were purposed anon right.   

Out on Beronices (crieth John Bochas)  
Because she bad spare Arcynoe  
Ground & ginning of this horrible case,  
Saith her mercy was very cruelty,  
To save such one it was a false pite:  
As saith mine author, a thing contrarious  
Her to preserve and slay Demetrius.   

O Beronices small is thy discretion  
To save the queen that hath the treason found,  
First to Demetrius she gave occasion  
For which she should have had the first wound  
Take for them both and in chains bound,  
And after that this false Arcynoe,  
To example of other should have punished be.   

And while they were taken thus in close,  
The said Arcynoe made no delay  
But fro her bed anon she up rose,  
Without clothes, naked as she lay,  
Ran to their sword in all their great affray,  
Went atween them, did her busy pain  
To bear of strokes with her arms twain.   

To save Demetrius naked as she stood  
Void of all dread did her busy cure  
Her white body all bespreynt with blood  
'Gan to cry out on every creature:  
Alas (quoth she) let me alone endure  
Death by myself, ye be to despitous  
To save my life and slay Demetrius.   

To the earth anon she fill adown  
To stand upright she might nat abstain,  
Deed, pale, & wan, with many piteous sown  
death of Demetrius 'gan wofullye bemene:  
Embracing him with all his wounds green,  
And in her arms albe that he lay deed,  
She kissed his mouth, blue & nothing reed.   

In sorrow & complaint thus she made an end,  
I writ no more of this Arcynoe  
But to Beronices again I will now wend,  
For Bochas sayeth in the story ye may see  
She after wedded was to worthy Tholome  
Like as it was her father's first intent,  
When y● he died, and made his testament.    
☞ Thus endeth the fourth book, and hereafter followeth the fift.   


Here Bochas writeth against them that delight in beauty and seemliness, calling to purpose how a man borne in Tuscan, which excelled in beauty and fairness, and for his beauty should nat give other occasion to sin, he disfigured his visage and body, with many a great wound and spot.  
The first Chapter.  

HEre Bochas scorneth & hath disdain  
Of three manner of folk he did see,  
In this world which that in certain  
Set at their joy and all their felicity  
For to excel in fairness and beauty:  
Nat withstanding as ye well tell can,  
It hath undone full many a worthy man.   

Record he taketh of Demetrius,  
Which in his time was fairest in certain,  
Which caused him to be contrarious  
To all virtue, his story ye have sayn:  
But of though folk Bochas hath most disdain  
That busy been to conquer and recure  
beauty by craft, which cometh nat of nature.   

The third is he that grudgeth again kind  
For lack of stature and of seemliness:  
And all these three been ignorant and blind,  
And again reason their courages they dress,  
Yet above beauty virtue is mistress,  
And little worth is fairness in certain  
In a person where no virtue is say.   

Unto purpose he telleth of a man  
That excelled all other in fairness,  
Called Spurnia & borne was in Tuscan,  
And folk had joy and great gladness  
To behold him for his seemliness  
Whose beauty brought women in dotage,  
When they cast her look on his visage.   

wives & maidens dwelling in that country  
pressed fast on him to behold,  
By theccasion of his great beauty  
Nat only young but some that were old  
With loves axcesse now were they hot now cold,  
Thus was his beauty to many a creature,  
Found in effect a perilous lure.   

husbands old caught a fantasy  
And had a manner suspection,  
stirred by the serpent of false Jelosye  
Toward Spurnia, as made is mention:  
But for to avoid all cruel occasion,  
Of any people that such malice thought,  
Ye shall here how wisely that he wrought.   

To put away false delectation,  
And all occasions of Cupid's rage,  
He of prudence and discretion  
With many wound diffaced his visage:  
For he dempt it was great damage  
That by thencheason of excellent beauty,  
Any creature hindered should be.   

Philosophers and poets that were wise,  
Gave unto him a great commendation,  
That he could so notably devise  
To find a way within his reason  
To set aside all occasion  
Of such unleeful fleshly fantasy,  
That might stir women unto lechery.   

He knew afore and saw by experience  
That all beauty shall waste away and fade,  
Like summer flowers in their most excellence,  
That grow on hills or below in shade:  
The rose, the lyllye, when they be most glad  
Upon their stalks, their proof is daily say  
Been beaten down with a stormy rain.   

And semblably in every creature  
Of low degree or of high estate,  
Beauty abideth nat nor longer doth endure  
Than youths ceson, with age is full checkmate:  
Who thinketh hereon I hold him fortunate,  
And can afore in his reason cast  
No worldly beauty, in earth mai always last.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

YE worldly folk that rejoice in beauty,  
Se with the eyen of your advertence  
How with a small sudden infirmity  
When death & age list she we their presence,  
Disdain all freshness with unware violence  
Again whose might there is no other grace  
Process of years all beauty doth deface.   

Though Demetrius was fair upon to see  
As ye have heard rehearsed in sentence,  
gain law and right he loved Arcynoe  
Thoccasion found by her false insolence,  
Because reason made no resistance,  
Nat adverting how every hour and space  
Process of years, all beauty doth difface.   

Full horrible was their iniquity,  
And tofore god hateful their offence,  
For through false lust and sensualite  
Lost was the bridle of inward providence,  
Sharp mortal sword made the recompense,  
Drowned in tears when she did high embrace,  
With bloody wounds disfigured all his face.   

O noble princes let this story be  
A clear mirror to your magnificence,  
Therein considered the false fragility  
Of worldly fairness which is but appearance,  
And transitory, but so be that prudence  
Govern the passage vicious lust to enchase,  
Process of years, all beauty doth difface.     

The ii Chapter.  
¶ How the two brethren, Seleuchus and Autiochus, each desirous to excel other, fill at discord and ended in mischief.  

THere is no man that can in story read  
Of more mischief nor of more debate,  
Than of debate that is atween kindred,  
between blood & blood, gain kide infortunate,  
Namely in persons which been of high estate,  
As it fill ones, the story beareth record,  
atween two brethren that were at discord.   

That one Seleuchus, Antiochus the other,  
As the story hereafter shall devise,  
Each desirous for to excel other  
In worldly worship, & wonderly they were wise,  
And both blended by worldly covetise  
For to climb up to high estate  
Which caused them to be at debate.   

Both mighty kings Bochas maketh m●cion,  
And of one womb soothly they were borne  
Under a cursed fell constellation,  
Of froward seed may grow no good corn:  
And through covetise both they were lost,  
And destroyed by the mortal were  
That was atween them, in asia nigh & far.   

It is to me very courageous  
To read the battles and dissensions,  
The false promises of Antiochus,  
With the deceits and conspirations:  
brethren of birth, and of conditions  
Contrarious ways ever they did wend,  
Frowardly they began, & so made an end.   

Their mother was called Leodices,  
And in Asya Seleuchus was reigning,  
Ever in were, coude not live in peace:  
And in Surry Antiochus was king,  
And among robbers they made their ending,  
Where ever they fought in wrong or right,  
Never they bode but took them to flight.   

Though Seleuchus was at his ginning  
Shining in glory and in high prowess,  
And of Asya he was lord and king,  
With great diffame was darked his noblesse:  
Because that he of great unkindness  
Full falsely slew without judgement,  
His younger brother that was innocent.   

And by the bidding of Leodices  
Which was his mother of hateful cruelty  
Falsely to murder the queen Beronices,  
Wife to the king called Tholome,  
reigning in Egypt, but it stood so that he  
For all his power failed of his prey,  
Because that she was ware, & fled away.   

Yet afterward of old hate and envy  
This Seleuchus by full false treason,  
Murdered Beronices by conspiracy,  
Her son also, as made is mention:  
The slander arose through many a region,  
And was reported unto his diffame,  
wherethrough he lost his worship & his name.   

And on this murder avenged for to be  
For the horrible great abusion,  
The king of Egypt the said Tholome  
'Gan make him strong, & came with people down  
But for there was so great dissension  
Through all his land, the story saith certain,  
He was constrained to return home again.   

Seleuchus than made a strong army  
Gathered ships, stuffed them which victual,  
Toward Asye he taken hath the see,  
But such tempest 'gan his people assail,  
That hearts and power of them 'gan fail,  
which thundering & lightning vengeably distrained  
To take the land of need he was constrained.   

The people of Asye seeing this mischief  
Had of Seleuchus great compassion,  
And their succour to set at a proof  
They him received into that region,  
Though it stood (as made is mention)  
That aforetime for his cruel deed  
They had his person in full great hatred.   

And for he fond fortune favourable  
not considering her mutability,  
He cast of rancour for to be vengeable  
And begin a were again Tholome:  
His men outrayed he was constrained to i'll,  
knew no refute nor secure of none other,  
But for great mischief sent to his brother.   

I mean his brother called Antiochus,  
Behesting him for to crown him king  
Of all Asye, his story telleth thus,  
Took truce this while by subtle false working  
With Tholome, for ten year enduring:  
And when his brother came with his power  
Falsed his promise, double of heart and cheer.   

Thus of new they fill at debate  
Each 'gan other mightily werray,  
False covetise to increase their estate  
Caused that neither list other to obey,  
Met in a field there is no more to say:  
Fought hand for hand, their hosts both two  
Seleuchus fled as he was went to do.   

Thus a false were of hatred fraternal,  
Again nature set them at discord,  
Each busy was in especial  
As their story remembreth by record,  
Never their life to be at one accord:  
But when Seleuchus was put thus to flight,  
The people of Surry 'gan dame anonryght   

That he that day was either take or deed,  
And Gallougreis a people of great post,  
Of covetise 'gan hast them in great speed  
To entre Asye and spoil all that country:  
To Antiochus they had eke enmity,  
That he was fain for his favation,  
To pay to them a full great ransom.   

Their heart was give only to pillage,  
Taking of him of gold a great quantity,  
And he seeing of robbing the outrage  
Drew to the pillars, & one of them was he:  
And through all Asye they rob each country,  
For Seleuchus they 'gan so purchase,  
That he not durst abide in no place.   

Than Antiochus drew to Tholome,  
Void of saveconduyte or any assurance,  
Though that atween them was great enmity  
For a season as made is remembrance,  
To have found succour in his great grievance:  
But all for nought, for in conclusion  
Tholome him took and cast in dark prison.   

There constrained of necessity  
Knowing no mean to make his ransom,  
By a woman that lived in poverty  
He was holp out of that dark prison:  
Lo here of fortune a false condition,  
That could make a king without peer,  
Of a woman to stand in daungere.   

To proud folk this may be a mirror,  
To see a prince thus suddenly brought low,  
That shone in riches like an emperor,  
Which of disdain list no man to know,  
Now is he cast, now is he overthrow:  
Now hath he cause to plain, weep, & mourn,  
Knowing no friend for secure him to turn.   

He was afeard to hold his passage  
By high ways, or for to come in sight,  
Fill among thieves & they by great outrage  
All merciless, slew him anon right,  
And his brother for all his great might  
Called Seleuchus, which was a wonder,  
Fill from his courser, & broke his neck asunder.    

The iii Chapter.  
¶ How the noble Queen Laodomya, was in the temple slain, and vengeance take upon him that slew her.  

SYxe of estates princes and princesses  
showed them to Bochas pitouslye plaining,  
To him declaring their mortal heavinesses,  
And first of all there came to him weeping  
The noble queen her sorrow rehearsing,  
Called Laodomya which with heavy cheer  
Complained the mischief of her sister dear.   

Called Nereis, young and tender of age  
That wedded was of Cycile to the king,  
And on the day of that great marriage  
There fill a strife and a great moving  
Among the commons, by a manner rising:  
And when the queen thereof had a sight,  
To Diana's temple anon she took her flight.   

The people was party & rose again the king,  
For which rumore and sudden strife  
Laodomya full fearfully quaking,  
Ran to the temple for to save her life,  
Supposing in her ymaginatyfe  
That for the temples chaste reverence,  
Men would spare to do there violence,   

But there was one by whom the strife began  
And was first ground of this great motion,  
Called Milo, a false Cecylian  
Void of all reverence and devotion,  
Ran to the temple feirser than a Lion,  
And where the queen the altar did embrace,  
With a sharp sword slew her in the place.   

This sacrilege was punished by vengeance,  
Gods were wroth through this great offence,  
And Diana by full great displeasance  
Made in the court a sudden pestilence,  
And Mylo was by unware violence  
Turned bestial, made wode in that affray,  
And slew himself suing the twelft day.    

The four Chapter.  
☞ How Cleomenes king of Macedon was slain with his wife and children.  

AFter this vengeance taken on Mylo,  
Came Cleomenes of Macedoyne king,  
And to Bochas 'gan show his deadly woe  
His great injuries of enemy's assailing,  
His high emprises, his kingdom defending,  
And alderlast how he in his city,  
Was by the son slain of Tholome.   

First in his country, the story doth devise,  
Again his enemies he had a great battle,  
Of his people defending the franchise,  
Of knightly prowess as he that list not fail  
For his right to fight in plate and mail:  
His lieges eachone being of one assent,  
To live and die with him in their intent.   

Men, women, and children young of age,  
Were in one heart as in that matter,  
Which made them strong & gate advantage  
That undivided they stood eachone yfere,  
Of one courage, of one will, & of one cheer,  
Greatly assured in their opinion,  
Because among them was no division.   

Their common profit they did more prefer,  
Than they did treasure, life, or good,  
For their freedom aye ready to the war  
Not afraid to spend their own blood:  
And finally so together they stood  
That of one thought each 'gan him ready make  
To live and die for his brother's sake.   

He had an enemy borne of that region  
The name of whom was Antigonus,  
And he had wedded the book maketh mention  
The old queen of king Demetrius:  
And had her son the story telleth thus,  
Called Phylyp, fro youth in his keeping,  
Thereby pretending a title to be king.   

Of Lacedemonoys claimed again right  
There to reign and take possession,  
Like a tyrant usurping of great might  
For to be crowned in that region:  
But for all his false presumption  
He was put of and yset a far,  
Though he with them held a mortal war.   

And Cleomenes that was rightful king  
Was in the field armed every day,  
Hardy as Lion, dread him nothing,  
gain his enemies he stood s● at a bay  
That fro the field he made them fly away:  
His dreadful sword ground was so keen,  
That to abide him they might nat abstain.   

And on a day descending from his cite  
Held in the field a full strong battle,  
With little people made his fone to i'll:  
Returning home full weary of travail  
Thought in his heart that it should avail  
To stint the were, hanging in no certain  
Till that his people refreshed were again.   

Set ordinance through all the country  
gain all enemies to make resistance,  
And into Egypt he goth to Tholome  
With wife & children withdrawing his presence,  
There received with great benevolence,  
Like his estate out of care and dread,  
And there abode till Thotome was deed.   

But the son of king Tholome  
Which reigned after by succession,  
Of false envy and vengeable cruelty  
Slew Cleomenes in that region,  
His wife, his children, void of compassion,  
Alas it was to strange a cruel thing,  
Within a kingdom to murder so a king.    

The .v. Chapter.  
☞ Of king Nero, Cornely, and Hanyball.  

AFter whose death thus wrought by violence,  
The story remembreth proceeding  
Forth came Nero and showed his presence,  
Of Siracuse the mighty strong king,  
Tofore Bothas' full pitously plaining:  
beseeching him with a full piteous cheer  
Of his mischief to write the manner.   

The which Nero, wilful and furious  
List to presume of false rebellion,  
For to debate with Appius Claudius  
And to malign again Rome town:  
But he anon for his presumptioun  
Constrained was in all his most pride,  
Like a coward to fly and nat abide.   

No more of him mine author writeth here,  
But in his book as he doth proceed,  
There came Cornely, of Rome a consulere  
Himself complaining of y● great falsehood,  
Which unto him accomplished was in deed,  
By assurance broke of Hannibal,  
Which of Cartage was chief admiral.   

To this Cornely Hannibal was sworn,  
With the Africans by a manner flattery,  
To secure him as we have told toforne,  
With the Romans to hold up his party:  
But when they met, the book doth specify,  
Cornely was take and fettered in prison  
At mischief died, there gained no ransom.   

Than Hannibal entered of intent  
With his knights into a great cite  
Of Cicile called Agrigent,  
Where Julius Silva of old enmity  
Laid a siege with a great main,  
That he constrained the said hannibal  
For very hungers to leap over the wall.   

By a postern he took him to the fliyght  
Gathered ships, and took the large see,  
And Julius Silva like a manly knight  
fought with him, and made him for to flee  
Upon the water, anon after he  
Was of his knights stoned to the death,  
And so constrained he yielded up the breath.    

The vi Chapter.  
❧ Of the duke zantipas cast into the see.  

AFter that hannibal was stain thus  
And put to flight as made is mention,  
Tofore Bochas came worthy zantipus  
A famous duke full notable of renown,  
And he was lord of the strong region  
Lacedemoyne, and was come a far  
Into Cartage, to help them in the were.   

By whose prowess to his increase of glory  
The proud romans were put to flight,  
Cartaginences had of them victory,  
And there was take the wise manly knight  
Marcus Regulus, and brought anonryght  
Into Cartage, and led as prisoner  
By zantipus, as Bochas writeth here.   

This noble duke for all his high prowess  
Done in Cartage, and showed to their town,  
And for all his notable kindness  
They most unkindly quit him his guerdon:  
For sailing home toward his region,  
In a ship stuffed of their country,  
Of false envy they cast him in the see.   

To his noblesse and famous chivalry  
When he of knighthod sat highest i his flowers,  
They of Cartage by hatred & envy  
Maligned again him, chief sun of their socours,  
Taclipsed his light, but theragayn auctors  
Have by writing perpetually set his name  
And it registered in the house of fame.    

The vii Chapter.  
☞ How Marcus Regulus of his free-will, died for the common weal.  

WHo can tell or rehearse the ground of wars  
The first cause of such mortal outrage  
Whether it began by influence of stars  
between man and man, or of wilful rage  
atween romans and folks of Cartage,  
To great hindering, considered the manner  
Of both parties, as Bochas doth us lere.   

italians therewith were grieved oft,  
Namely when fortune was their adversary  
And Africans felt full unsoft  
When she to them list be contrary:  
Whose course of custom stoundmeale doth vary,  
By experience it hath be proved weal,  
In the overwhelming of her untrusty wheel.   

The most worthy and the most famous  
Afore remembered upon each party,  
Fortune to day made them victorious,  
And to morrow she did their might defy:  
Now up, now down, all stood in jeopardy,  
Like as she list them favour nigh or far,  
Their loss & winning called fortune of were.   

To some well willed, happy, and eurous,  
To some also full strange of acquaintance,  
reckon among other Marcus Regulus,  
On Roman party a Prince of great substance:  
To be preferred and put in remembrance,  
One the most worthy & true found in deed,  
Of knightly policy that I can of read.   

To common profit was aye his advertence,  
between love and hate standing so upright  
To nouther side declined the balance,  
Of his domes, for favour of no wight:  
Till that the eye of his inward sight,  
conceived had where the troth stood,  
Than gave he sentence, and thereon he abode.   

In all this world there was no better knight  
Better named, and borne of good lineage,  
A seemly person deliver & of great might,  
Hardy as Lion, right manly of visage,  
Wal of Romans, sharp yard to Cartage:  
Demure not hasty saying all thing toforne,  
And in Papinia I find that he was borne.   

And for he had so great discretion  
This worthy knight, this Marcus Regulus,  
Chosen he was a Consul of the town  
And had a fellow called Manlius,  
In arms manly wise and virtuous,  
Which for their notable high constance  
Of Roman wars had the governance.   

Their ships stuffed made a great army  
Full prudently with knightly apparel,  
These princes twain taken have the see  
First with Ciciliens had a great battle,  
Discomfited them at their arrival,  
Outrayed Amylchar, the story is no fable,  
That was of Afrique captain & constable.   

won in that country castles many one  
Took prisoners, stuff, and great richesse,  
And all that party to Rome he sent anon  
By Manlius the story beareth witness:  
And the romans for his worthiness  
All of assent because he was so wise,  
Prolonged have the term of his offy●e.   

Of knightly noblesse was none to him like,  
Nouther in arms, nor politic ordinance,  
And for the conquest of Cartage and Africa  
To him they gave whole the governance:  
Brought cities & towns to the obeisance  
Of the romans, this noble worthy knight  
Where ever he road maugre their foes might.   

By his faithful laborious diligence  
Gate all the countries to Cartage town,  
Till tidings came unto his presence  
Beside a river there was a great dragon  
So horrible (as made is mention)  
That all the country of him stood in such doubt,  
No man durst neygh him far about.   

An hundred foot & twain was his length,  
Like as writeth Tytus Livius,  
Was none so hardy man nor of such strength  
That durst approach he was so venomous:  
But by the manhood of Marcus Regulus,  
Slain was this monstrous serpent,  
And for a marvel the skin to Rome sent.   

Thus in conquest while he did his pain  
To get castles & mighty strong towns,  
Again him were sent Asdruballes twain,  
Called of Africa the hardy champions,  
With all the power of their regions:  
But as the story maketh rehearsal,  
They were discomfited in battle.   

Amylchar after came with spear & shield  
In defence of Africa and Cartage,  
And he was also destroyed in the field  
With all his host maugre his visage:  
Thus Marcus had alway the vantage  
Making the Romans this knight virtuous,  
Through his prowess to be victorious.   

And where that he in his tender age  
List do labour and till his own land,  
For exercise, and virtuous advantage  
To hold the plough & lead it with his hand,  
Avoiding sloth as ye shall understand:  
Now through Afrique with many noble knight  
In steel and mail he rideth armed bright.   

Thus noble Mark what ever he had ado,  
He was in arms sovereign singulere,  
And in the temple at Rome of Apollo,  
For him was kept a crown of fresh laurere:  
Forged of gold, fret full of stones clear,  
And in the temple of jove was reserved,  
A rob of victory, which he hath deserved.   

To these gods who can consider well  
Of old custom the rights to maintain,  
As for a thing being perpetual  
Which fadeth never, of nature, thus I mean,  
Ysacred is the fresh laurere green  
For causes twain, granted to conquerors,  
In martial acts by conquest made victors.   

For the noblesse of this tre divine,  
showeth his odour in wisdom & excellence,  
By the greenness which never doth decline,  
Long abiding of virtuous prudence:  
The round crown betokeneth providence,  
In sign only of knightly governance,  
Taketh his guerdon of long continuance.   

Their strength granted them nat the crown,  
Nor a proud ginning stablisheth nat their  
But perseverance who list muse & room  
Granteth to them and putteth in memory glory,  
The triumph, and palm of their victory:  
The crown of laurer in story it is told,  
And of Jupiter the rich crown of gold.   

Who can discern, of all these gifts three,  
Most appertaineth unto chivalry,  
Manly prowess & wisdom, anon let see,  
Strength, hardiness, conquest, and policy,  
For the Romans caught a fantasy,  
For his merits notable and glorious,  
To magnify this Marcus Regulus.   

For this Marcus during his lusty years  
Prince of the wars gain Africa & Cartage,  
Took all their young knights prisoneres,  
Sent them to Rome for common advantage:  
But o alas when he was fall in age,  
The gery goddess among her changes all,  
Again this prince her favour did appall.   

For to withstand the prowess of this knight  
In help of Africa as made is mention,  
Came zantipus of whom I spoke now right  
A mighty duke the which was sent down  
Fro Lacedemone, which through his renown  
When the power of Marchus 'gan to fail,  
His meinie slain, took him in battle.   

Into Cartage sent him prisoner,  
And there he lay in strong chains bound,  
Lo how fortune change 'gan her cheer  
Falsest of trust, when she is most iocounde:  
First favourable after froward found,  
This is her manner with her double face  
folk that sit highest to change them fro their place.   

For he that whilom had in subjection  
Almost all Afrique, and Cartage the cite,  
Now lieth he bound and fettered in prison:  
Whilom in glory, now in adversity,  
Cast in misery from high prosperity,  
Fortunes be made who so looketh weal  
Of brotyll glass rather than of steel.   

This manly knight albe that he lay chained  
Which had brought Rome to so high increases  
That they of Africa & Cartage were constrained  
Unto Romans to pursue for a peace,  
And for to accomplish this matter doubtless,  
Under assurance made in Cartage toun  
They took Marcus anon out of prison.   

Bound by his oath there is no more to say,  
He to be changed for Afrique prisoneres,  
There for to abide & they to come again,  
The young knights fresh & lusty of their cheers:  
So that Marcus feeble & old of years,  
By Africans were to Rome sent,  
Both assured to accomplish their intent.   

For the Romans had in such dainty  
This noble Mark for manhood & prudence,  
And for the furthering of their commonte,  
They had his person for wisdom i reverence,  
Called in y● town their wall & their defence:  
Had in more cheerte for knighthood in that age,  
Than all their prisoners of Africa & Cartage.   

romans greatly rejoiced of his coming  
And specially for his deliverance,  
All at ones of heart and true meaning  
Said welcome home our joy and suffisance,  
Welcome mirror of knightly governance:  
This was their voice, & this was their language,  
At his repair fro Africa & Cartage.   

And thus was he received like to his estate,  
And conveyed through all the cite,  
Nobly presented unto the Senate,  
Began his tale anon as ye shall see,  
As he that had more in cheerte  
The common profit, than his deliverance,  
Said unto them these words in substance.   

Sirs by the advice of you eachone present  
First by the estates, next by the commonte,  
As prince & Consul to Africa I was sent,  
And as ye know seven year there I have be,  
To chastise rebels of that country,  
And by the favour and help of gods might,  
To your city have quit me like a knight.   

In this matter it needeth nat to tarry  
Ye know yourself I am now wexen old,  
And fortune is to me right contrary  
Whereby your enemies in Africa be made bold,  
And they desire me for to be sold  
In erchaunge by short conclusion,  
For prisoners which they have in the town.   

And by the favour of gods high in heaven  
And by my fellows wise mediation,  
Countries & provinces more than six or seven  
I have in Africa made subject to this town,  
Maugre their might and their rebellion:  
And them constrained like as ye desire,  
For to obey unto your empire.   

To make your empire more glorious  
And to increase the bounds of your cite,  
Whilom by grace I was victorious,  
vanquished your enemies where I did thence,  
Now through fortune's mutability,  
Made unhappy, and desolate of cheer,  
Sometime a prince, & now a prisoner.   

Afore my power by fortune was franchised,  
Now am I thrall and fettered in prison,  
Mine old triumphs be newly now disguised,  
And victories oppressed and borne down:  
With this considered the transmutation  
Of youth passed, and mine unwieldy age  
little wonder though dull be my courage.   

Yet there is a thing that draweth a length my life,  
Which in my heart hath set great gladness,  
To your increase how this mortal strife  
By my labour and knightly business  
The martial princes famous in worthiness  
with all the knights most sovereign of renown,  
Sought through Africa be in your prison.   

By whose absence feebled is Cartage,  
The country poverished, brought to disencreace,  
saying that I am dull and fall in age  
gain Africans to put myself in press,  
Causing your enemies to pursue for peace,  
By exchange of me that may but small avail,  
For Afric knights most expert in battle.   

They stand in hope of their deliverance,  
By exchange of me now sent out of prison,  
Of intent to increase their puissance,  
Of new to gin a were upon your town:  
Now take good heed in your discretion,  
Poise of prudence this thing that I have told,  
Their youth considered and how I am old.   

I am consumed and weared in the wars,  
Fortune contrary, I feebled to bear armour,  
They lusty, fresh, their name spread far is,  
And in the field they able to endure:  
I unwieldy, and like a creature  
More seemly to draw home to my grave,  
Than be armed this cite for to save.   

And in effect I have more cheerte  
Of very faith without variance,  
Unto the profit of your commonte  
Than to the matter of my deliverance:  
Two things poised and weighed in balance  
Of Afrique knights expert worthiness,  
In me the constraint of age's feebleness.   

And to conclude upon this matter  
I might never as seemeth unto me  
As of knighthood deserve the laurere,  
Nor the triumph in this famous cite,  
Better than die to increase the commonte:  
And thus advised of heart and hole courage  
Yield up the spirit of my unwieldy age.   

In this purpose he steadfast as a wall,  
Of one will and one perseverance,  
Himself commending to gods immortal,  
Chase for to die of politic constance,  
And to prefer by notable purveyance  
The common profit, this was his motyfe,  
Set aside his good, his treasure, & his life.   

Right well cheered, stable of his visage,  
Of perfit love he had unto the town,  
He is repaired again unto Cartage,  
The articles kept and the condition  
At the departing from Afrique region:  
This to say, texplete their lust certain,  
Or prisoner he for to resort again.   

At his departing the Roman senators  
'Gan wax pale of compassion,  
To see the pavis of all their old soccours,  
As prisoner depart out of the town:  
Princesses and ladies fill in a sown down,  
Children wept, and cried for pite,  
Farewell upholder, chief wall of their cite.   

Was ever found any truer knight  
Which of his own faithful motion,  
Where he was free & had power and might  
To have stand at large, by his election  
To keep his promise repaired to prison▪  
What shall I write of his noblesse or show,  
To find one like him I read but of a few.   

And when he came again with his message,  
Knowing th'intent of this worthy knight  
Most furiously the people of Cartage  
In the presence of every manner wight  
Ordained have to torment anonryght,  
First the lids of his eyen twain  
They cut of, to increase his pain.   

That he not should sleep in prison,  
But ever watch with pain intolerable,  
And for the constraint of his passion  
Cry and complain with sighs lamentable:  
And after this took a plain table  
Fret full of nails, sharp whet & ground  
And thereupon naked they him bound.   

Another table they laid on him aloft  
Nailed also, and atween these twain  
They couched him, this bed was full unsoft,  
Most importable so hideous was the pain,  
The blood ran out of every senow and vain:  
This was his torment, alas a cruel death,  
Of worthy Marcus till he yield up the breath.   

Who red in books or ever did see,  
Of any princes so steadfast and so stable  
As whilom were in Rome the cite?  
Or in their conquest so long perdurable  
Of virtue found, of courage unstaunchable?  
reckon up all that ever were in that town,  
And to this Marcus make no comparison.   

reckon Camillus, Papyrius, Scipions,  
Notable & worthy for many great victory,  
reckon up all the worthy champions,  
Cursius, Fabricius, famous of memory,  
But this Regulus eclipseth all their glory,  
And surmounteth by report of renown  
All these for said in comparison.   

reckon up the four that whilom were so rich  
The first of them called Lucius,  
Other twain of condition lyche,  
As was Scaurus, and Gayus Delius,  
And forget nat the great Emilius,  
But for all their great possession,  
Make to Marcus no comparison.   

Remember of Crassus of whom it is told  
The assyrians to staunch his covetise  
powered in his throat strangled him with gold,  
So he died the story doth devise:  
And though these four wend have be wise,  
Greatly commended through false opinion,  
Of them to Marcus make no comparison.   

Touching this Mark let men behold & see  
He left his treasure, freedom and richesse  
And for the profit of the commonte  
Forsook his friends, Bochas beareth witness,  
To further his town died in distress,  
To keep his faith resorted to prison,  
Make of none other to him comparison.   

Mine author here putteth in remembrance  
Some that had gold, stones, and pierre,  
Some that had of richesse abundance  
And of other that stood in dignity,  
And some that had worldly prosperity,  
Set all aside and conclude of reason,  
between them and Marcus is no comparison.   

princes may live after their intents,  
After their power frowardly in vices,  
Of gold and purpur wear rich garments,  
After their lusts and their delyces,  
Grant their ministers great offices:  
between all their pomp and vain ambition  
And atwene Mark make no comparison.   

All these things remembered in certain,  
Well considered and yput in mind,  
There was in Rome but few such sayen  
To common profit that found was so kind:  
And till I may such another find  
In all this book turning up so down,  
I will to him make no comparison.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

This tragedy who that can take heed  
Is intermeddled with woe and gladness,  
Joy for worship and singular manhood  
That was in Mark by excellent noblesse,  
To read his fall it is great heaviness:  
Which chase to die where as he stood free,  
Only for profit of the commonte.   

To keep his oath plainly as I read,  
Made in Cartage, there being in distress  
This noble prince constrained of no need  
But of free-will, mine author doth express,  
Fro Rome again thither 'gan him dress,  
To suffer torment of his free volunte,  
Only for the profit of the commonte.   

This story should crowned be in deed  
With golden letters, for to bear witness  
How the said Mark, having of death no dread,  
To set Rome fro were in sickerness:  
Whose high renome most sovereign of prowess  
May never eclipse by none antiquity,  
Which chase to die to further the commonte.   

He deserved for to have the meed  
Of triumph, and martial worthiness,  
And of Jupiter to wear the purple weed  
Fret full of stones, most heavenly of brightness,  
The laureate crown conserving his greenness:  
Granted to victors who list consider & see,  
Which chase to die for the commonte.   

Noble princes which that govern & lead  
All worldly people, take heed in your hynesse  
To this story true as is the creed,  
Taking example to do your business,  
Ay to support & maintain right wiseness:  
And let Marcus to you a mirror be  
Which chase to die to further the commonte.     

The viii Chapter.  
¶ How Tholome king of egypt, called Philopater slew father and mother and his wife, in lechery spent his life, and mischievously ended.  

NExt in order to Bochas complaining,  
Vicious of life there came Tholome  
Called Philopater, & was of Egypt king,  
In tender age by horrible cruelty  
Slew father, mother, & sister ye may see:  
He to be crowned, as it is made mention,  
To reign alone in that region.   

He was disposed unto every vice,  
froward to virtue and to all doctrine,  
Slew his wife called Erudice,  
Left his spouse and took a concubine,  
Wasted his life and 'gan himself incline  
To all riot, surfeit and outrage,  
And in this wise he spent his young age.   

Thus was disclandered his royal majesty,  
In lecherous lusts watched all night,  
In bed till noon again all honest,  
Of false excess shope him anonryght  
When he arose to drink again might,  
Gorge upon gorge, to afforce his lechery,  
The long day he spent in gluttony.   

I wax weary the process for to write  
Of this tyrant vicious and wode,  
It is contagious the process to indite  
Because the example doth harm & no good:  
And of vengeance thus with him it stood,  
Of sudden mischief I read he did fine  
embraced in arms of his concubine.   

Agathoclia plainly was her name,  
And had a son called Agathocles  
Vicious both and slandered by diffame  
Noised by report they were so reckless,  
Both at once take in a sudden prees,  
With their allies all at ones fet,  
And by just doom led to the gibbet.    

The ix Chapter.  
¶ How Brythomarus and Viridomarus dukes of France after great battles were by romans slain.  

next Philopater called Tholome,  
Theridamas came in order a worthy duke of Frau●ce,  
Brythomarus, & out of that country  
Road into Grece with a great puissance,  
And first he 'gan to make his ordinance  
Again romans albe they were far  
Proudly with them for gynne a were.   

But they of Rome to their confusion,  
By their bys● oppes and priests 'gan devise  
To use a cursed false superstition,  
Unto their gods, in full cruel wise  
To offer up men by a new sacrifice,  
To bury them quick, in Bochas thus I read,  
By a false hope the better for to speed.   

Of france & Grece they took ten in number  
Half men & women together twain & twain,  
And by false murder they did them encumber,  
Buried them quick their death was sudden:  
At this sacrifice the gods 'gan disdain  
And to the romans wexte contrarious  
For their false rights superstitious.   

And by record of old Croniculers  
The year five hundred fro their foundation  
And one and twenty, though being consulers  
Three in numbered as made is mention,  
Which governed and ruled all the town  
The first called Lucius Emilius,  
And the second Catullus Gaius,   

Actilius Regulus the third consulere,  
By all the senate ordained were these three  
As I have told the self same year,  
For to govern and rule the city:  
And to preserve them from all adversity  
Again two peoples of Gaul & Lumber●y  
Which them warred of malice and envy.   

Of which were the romans stood in doubt,  
The Senators & all the citisayns,  
Because against them there came so great a rout  
Of Lombard's, by this half the mountains,  
Joined together with many fell forayns,  
Which stood departed as made is remembrance  
Fro them of Rome and their obeisance.   

The people rude bestial and unstable  
Together assembled wode and furious  
Of multitude very innumerable  
Vengeable of heart of courage despitous,  
Void of all reason suddenly furious,  
As saith Bochas I can no further gone  
Their soldiers bare gisarmes everichone,   

And gisarmes of gisarmes they were called,  
Toward Rome them hasting day by day,  
Of great labour the footmen sore appalled  
But aye their trust on muintude lay,  
Of whose coming Rome stood in afray,  
And specially the Consulers three  
That out were sent to fight for the cite.   

Four score thousand as write the croniclere  
Mighty and strong to stand at defence  
In his fellowship had each Consulere,  
And of the gisarmes numbered in sentence  
Three hundred thousand by sturdy violence  
Going on foot, I find that they had,  
Eight thousand over, that all the field spread.   

I reckon not them that road on horseback,  
Which six & thirty thousand were in numbered,  
Six hundred over purposed for the wrack  
Finally the romans to encumber:  
The shadow of them gave so great an umbre  
That on the soil which tofore was green  
There was uneath any sun sheen.   

Their captain was Brythomarus,  
A manly man and a full worthy knight,  
And with them went Viridomarus  
Another captain in steel armed bright,  
between them & Romans long last the fight  
But on the party of Rome the city  
Was slain a Consul one of the three.   

After whose death of fortune, anonright  
On the party of them of Rome town  
Eight hundred thousand took them to flight,  
And thus began the fame and the renown  
Of Brithomarus, as made is mention:  
Of which victory his heart was made fain,  
And on his party were three thousand slain.   

But the romans resorted be again  
And after that had a strong battle,  
And in the field so manly they were say  
And so proudly their enemies did assail,  
That as mine author maketh rehearsal  
Of the Gisarmes long or it were night,  
Forty thousand were slain in that fight.   

The third time with help of them of France  
Joined to Lombard's & folk of Gaul also,  
They fought again all out of ordinance,  
Beside the river that called is the Po,  
Where both battles together had ado:  
And as I find Consulers twain  
Two Roman sheltrons knightly did ordain   

Manlius Torquat called was that one,  
Flaminius Flaccus was with him yfere,  
And with the Romans forth together they gone  
Toward that river with a full manly cheer:  
In which battle the story doth us lere,  
Nine & forty thousand slain on that day  
Of their enemies, that none ne went away.   

Brithomarus was taken prisonere,  
In token of triumph brought to Rome town  
To the capitoyle, with a full pale cheer  
Bound in chains, there gained no ransom:  
Thus hath fortune appalled his high renown,  
And in token of his discomfiture,  
Offered to the gods was his cote armure.   

Thus Lachesis his lives thread 'gan draw  
Till Atropos it broke with full great pain,  
Viridomarus that was his fellow  
Slain in the field by Romans in certain,  
And of these worthy princes twain  
This was the end, and the mortal fall,  
The feast accomplished called funeral   

And in the time of these mortal wertes  
atween these dukes & them of Rome town,  
Many tokens were showed in the stars,  
marvelous lghtnings fro the heaven down,  
And many an uncouth constellation:  
Sundry comets did in the welkin appear  
Who seeth the stories may the troth lere.   

The water Pytene that runneth in italy  
Which in that country is a famous flood  
The same hour & time of their battle  
Is sayeth the story, was turned in to blood:  
Fires in the eyre most furious and wood,  
That mighty ●owrs were with the flames brent,  
Three moans appearing in the Orient.   

The people for fear fled in to low caves,  
For dread wext pale & deadly of their cheer,  
And in three days were three earth quaves  
During this wars, and in the same year  
Of great Apollo fill down the pyllere  
Of marbyl white, large & of great strength,  
That sixty cubits account was the length.   

And in that time, the story sayeth not nay,  
Of Rome a Consul with a great puissance  
Called Claudius slew upon a day  
thirty thousand, & brought to mischance  
Of the soldiers that came out of France:  
And there was slain with many a captain lorn●  
Viridomarus, of whom I spoke to forne.   

To his great shame and confusion  
As it is remembered by scripture,  
The Romans made a great oblation  
Up to Jupiter, of his cote armure:  
And in token of his discomfiture  
Within that temple of gold beaten clear,  
To his despite they hang up his banner.    

¶ The ten Chapter.  
¶ How Syphax king of Numedy was take, and died in prison.  

HEre Bothas briefly for a remembrance,  
Writeth wars, debates, and battles  
That were that time in italy & France  
In Spain, champagne, with martial apparels  
And among other in his rehersayles  
He telleth in Africa the great dissension  
atween Hanyball, and worthy Scipion.   

He toucheth their names & abideth not long,  
Upon their stories he bide not but a while,  
Here not rehearsing their wars strong  
Nor of their strives he doth not here compile,  
But down discendyng directeth forth his stile  
For to rehearse and tell by writing  
The fall of Syphax, in Numedy king.   

This said Syphax, battles had twain,  
One with king Galba, he of very might  
Had eke an other in which he did his pain  
To meet Massinissa after anonright,  
And both kings he put to the flight:  
And of Messulie I find by writing  
How Massinissa was governor & king.   

This said Syphax through his chivalry  
Made Massinissa to fly his region,  
Constrained him to live by robbery,  
To walk in forests with beasts up & down,  
And for diffaute as made is mention,  
To save his life he found no better refute.  
But fed himself on roots and on fruit.   

Out of his realm Massinissa was enchased  
And constrained to ●●e fro his country,  
Fro mind of folk his name was out razed,  
For no man witted where he should be:  
His liegemen and folk of his city  
Through all Afrique knew no better reed  
Of his person, but dempt that he was deed.   

Thus of king Syphax increase 'gan the glory  
Which by force two kings hath outraied,  
And upon them won the victory,  
Put them to flight & the people afraid,  
That Rome & Cartage were of him dismayed  
And each of them did their busy labour,  
Of their wars to make him governor.   

Unto Syphax out of Rome town  
As it is written for a memorial,  
To Numedy was sent Scipion  
For this matter in especial:  
Out of Cartage was sent Hastrubal,  
And at the Castle where Syphax lay,  
Both twain arrived at one day.   

And by plain writing as I have conceived  
And as the story remembreth in sentence,  
At their coming both were received  
Of king Syphax with great reverence:  
And through his notable manly diligence,  
As it is written by good record,  
He made these Captains heartily of accord.   

That they together lay the same night,  
They had of Syphax so great surety  
By promise made, as he was true knight,  
That neither of them should deceived be:  
But there was found great duplicity  
Following after, who so can take heed,  
Like as this story shall devise in deed.   

For by the fraud & falseness most mortal  
Compassed before, it is thus befall  
That by the sleight of this Hastruball  
As africans be nigh double all,  
Under sugar can hide well their gall,  
So Hastrubal by false deception,  
Under fair cheer deceived Scipion.   

He brought in Syphax by false subtlety,  
And by his sleight painted fair language,  
That he should with him allied be,  
By full assent to have in marriage  
Sophonisba a maiden of Cartage,  
Which was daughter young & fair withal  
As sayeth Bochas, to this Hastruball.   

The which thing by craft was brought about,  
And accomplished verily in deed,  
And by this mean plainly out of doubt  
There first began rancour and hatred,  
Simulation feigned, and falsehood  
That atwene Syphax & Hastruball alas,  
Scipion was desceived in this case.   

And after that done was this marriage,  
Syphax full enemy to this Scipion,  
With Hastruball road in to Cartage,  
And 'gan werray again Rome town:  
And in this while, as made is mention,  
King Massmissa out of wilderness  
Toward Scipion in all haste 'gan him dress.   

With his people 'gan to make him strong,  
Through help of Scipion and of Belgius,  
Went again Syphax, & abode not long  
His heart again him was so envious:  
And on a day the story telleth thus,  
With Africans and folk of Cartage,  
Syphax the Romans met in the visage.   

Of Massinissa the people were so wood  
Upon Syphax avenged for to be,  
Through their battles came to him there he stood,  
And maugre him and his cruelty,  
Of very manhood, space was none to i'll,  
They brought him home through their high renown,  
Into the hands of worthy Scipion.   

Syphax was take thus or he was aware  
Under his banner, maugre all his might,  
And in to Rome led afore the char  
Of Scipion the noble worthy knight,  
That won the triumph granted him of right:  
And Sophonisba afore to Syphax wife,  
Wed to Massinyssa at th'end of all this strife.   

Lo how fortune change can her tides,  
To one this day she can be favourable,  
Mark captains and these great guides  
Which wend have found her wheel stable:  
But she is aye froward & changeable,  
Friendly to day to morrow at discord,  
If this be true Syphax can bear record.   

This Syphax was sent out of the town,  
In chains bound without more tarrying,  
And at Tyburny lay fettered in prison,  
died at mischief made there his ending:  
And for because that he was a king,  
The romans made of martial pity  
Him to be buried, within their city.    

☞ The xi chapter.  
❧ How Nabyn having no title but by ticannye, took on him to be king of Macedoyne and was slain.  

next came Nabyn full piteously weeping  
Tofore John Bochas, which by tyranny  
Of Macedoyne took on him to be king,  
Having no title save title of robbery,  
Only by force himself to magnify:  
Which with strong hand took full possession  
For to be crowned in thilk region.   

This Macedoyne as by old writings  
Whilom was had in full great reverence,  
Because only it flowered in two things,  
Both in knighthood & sovereign Sapience,  
Mars there by manhood Pallas by prudence:  
And while these two had governance,  
Or all welfare they had suffisance.   

And while noblesse of these things twain  
That is to say the flower of high clergy  
The high renome most famous & sovereign  
Of martial prowess and of chivalry  
Governed that land by new policy,  
Than stood that kingdom auctors rehearse con,  
Among the Greeks like an heavenly son.   

But at the last eclipsed was the light  
B●th of knighthood and Philosophy,  
When covetise 'gan enter again right  
For to usurp upon the regaly  
By intrusion of false tyranny,  
And by extort force made their enterings  
Having no title there to reign as kings.   

This was chief cause for short conclusion  
That the noblesse of Grece was brought baas,  
And Macedoyne brought to confusion  
By covetise that set them in such case:  
Thereby their knighthod translated was  
And their policy, in Chronicles ye may see  
Out of Grece into Rome the city.   

And among other by clear remembrance  
Of such tyrants by ordre rehearsing,  
Nabyn was one that had governance  
In Macedoyne, & was there crowned king,  
Without title there falsely reigning:  
And for his froward contagious cruelty  
He was behated of Rome the city.   

The romans sent a mighty Consulere  
Tytus Flamminius of their wars guide,  
To Macedoyne, he 'gan to approach near  
Toward Argos where Nabyn did abide,  
Of intent for to abate his pride:  
But while Nabyn stood highest in estate,  
Of Grece his lieges with him were at debate   

A Duke yealled Philopomenes  
With the people that dwelled in Grece land,  
To strive with Nabyn put himself in prees.  
discomfited him fighting hand for hand▪  
And at great mischief ye shall understand,  
Alexamenes a knight of that country,  
Slew this Nabyn the Cronycleye may se.    

The xii Chapter  
¶ Here Bochas rehearseth the mortal wars between romans & Africans.  

AFter this Nabyn Bochas doth proceed  
To tell the wars and the mortal strives  
between Romans and Africans in deed,  
Whereby full many lost their lives,  
Caused widows, maidens, & eke wives  
To weep & wail, in such dis●oynte they stood  
On other party to see the loss of blood.   

For the party of them of Rome town  
Were made captains and divers officers,  
Which into Afric which people were sent down,  
And specially there were two Consulers  
Notable in arms, & famous in though years,  
Marcus Manlius borne of the Roman lie,  
That other called Lucius Censorine.   

With them was sent a tribune full notable  
Of whom tofore I made mention  
For the wars most worthy & most able,  
I mean of Rome proud Scipion,  
Which of their cite was chiefest champion:  
Of intent the africans tanoye  
And specially Cartage to destroy.   

And nigh by Cartage there was a city strong  
Mightily builded, and stood upon the see,  
The walls thick, round, square, & long,  
Chief diffence called of that country  
To save and keep them from adversity,  
And forty cubytes with crests martial,  
Like as I find, of height was the wall.   

And in the front raised for the were,  
Of stones square was an high dungeon  
Called Birsa, fro which wonder far  
Men might behold the courtreis' environ:  
And ss I read for their salvation  
The Africans of purpuse did ordain  
For their captains Hastrubalies twain.   

The said dungeon mightily battailed  
Again all sautes to stand and endure,  
But worthy Scipion for all that hath not failed  
For to approach and do by bu●y cure  
With his engines mighty strong & sure,  
So that by force this knight most martial  
A great quantity broke down of the wall.   

And Lucius called Sensorine  
Departed is with Marcus Manlius,  
And by the Counsel of Scipion & doctrine  
Both of assent in arms virtuous  
They took their way, mine author telleth thus,  
With Hastrubal soothly and they might  
Where as he lay that same day to fight.   

These Consulers assailed the city  
Called City, and beat down the wall,  
Slew forty. M. the chronicle ye may see,  
Of Africans by vengeance full mortal:  
And their constable called Hastruball  
Was slain that day, by him it is no doubt  
That he most trusted & next was him about.   

And this while most manly of courage  
The worthy Tribune Publius Scipion  
By very force is entered in Cartage,  
And six days, as made is mention  
He & his knights constrained so the town  
That despaired with their deadly cheers  
They of the town yielded them prisoneres   

Meekly requiring unto Scipion  
To receive them in this mortal rage,  
That men & women dwelling in that town,  
With the cite sins young and old of age  
Might abide and live in servage  
Under the Romans, there was no better refute  
And year by year pay them a tribute.   

And of Africa that other Hastruball  
Which among them afore was crowned king,  
Left his estate and his power royal,  
Yielded him prisonere humbly kneeling,  
And his wife most piteously weeping,  
When that she saw her lord taken so,  
Ran in to fire and brent herself for wo.   

Six and twenty thousand as I find  
Where led of women into captivity,  
Thirty thousand of men came behind  
Take prisoners in great adversity,  
And seventeen days brent that city:  
That in their walls was none so hard stone  
But to poudre it was brent anon.   

And this was done briefly to conclude  
By the prowess of Publyus' Scipion,  
Sold in servage was a great multitude,  
Their old lords led fettered to prison,  
This was of Cartage final destruction:  
On their complaints Bocas abideth no while  
But into Grece turneth again his style.    

☞ The xiii Chap.  
❧ How king Perseus was by Romans outrayed and after take.  

IN Lacedemoyne remembering on a king  
Called Perseus, a full proud werryrour  
Claiming a title upon him usurping  
For to succeed as true inheritor  
To great Alisaundre most mighty conqueror,  
Fully affirming again a certain day  
He will be crowned maugre who saith nay.   

And his name to put in memory,  
Cast in his person to renew the prowess  
Of king alexander, & to increase his glory,  
To follow his traces in knighthood & nobles  
And first of all of hasty wilfulness  
That his conquest might spread far,  
'Gan of purpose which Romans to have were.   

But after this he was better advised  
When he perceived the Marcial apparel  
Of the romans, whereof he was agrised,  
Wext afeard their noblesse to assail,  
Which aye were found victorious in battle:  
And where afore he had been reckless,  
Sent ambassadors which them to treat of peace.   

They had perceived his presumption  
And how he was proud and surquedous,  
Sent a Consul with a great power down  
The name of whom was Sulpicius,  
Which deadly hated the said Perseus,  
Through rancour again him wext solayne  
Of his ambassade having but disdain.   

And their party for to fortify,  
With their said Consul Sulpicius  
They sent another expert in chivalry,  
A Consul also Paulus Emylius  
Among Romans notable and famous:  
And following after the self same night  
The moan eclipsed fully of her might.   

A clear token as made is mention  
That king Perseus should have a sharp shower  
And that his lordship & his region  
Should be oppressed void of all succour,  
And that Macedons should have no favour  
Again the Romans, together when they met  
With round spears & sword sherpe whet▪   

The day of battle to his increase of glory  
For the party of them of Rome town,  
There was a knight that caused the victory,  
Young fresh & lusty that called was Caton,  
Which brought their enemies to confusion:  
For Macedonoys through his great might  
Outraied were, & Perseus put to flight.   

But Emplius the noble Consulere  
Sent a captain called Octavius,  
To pursue after in costs far and near  
The proud king the said Perseus,  
And he was take for there was no rescus  
With his sons, that were in numbered twain,  
Philip & alexander the story is certain.   

Mine author telleth here of kings many  
thirty in numbered, the first Gramaus,  
Which have reigned within Macedony,  
And last of all was this Perseus:  
The numbered of years, Bochas writeth thus  
Was nine hundred as I remember here,  
Space of their reigning with xxiiii year.   

After translated was the region  
With all their yles unto the obeisance  
Of them of Rome without exception:  
To great lords that were of most pu●saunce  
Abode there long under governance.  
And Perseus discomlate of cheer  
During his life abode there prisoner.    

The xiiii chapter.  
¶ How the people of Achaia with their chief city Corinthe by Romans was destroyed.  

THus the lordship weared out and spent  
Of Macedoyne, as made is mention  
The two countries thereto adjacent  
That one Achaia a little region,  
And Spartonoyse going environ,  
Mighty of people, and of great substance,  
In one confederate, and of one alliance,   

They were conjoined, & both made all one  
By a manner faithful convention.  
And when the Romans knew them for their fone  
Having their friendship in suspection  
They cast to make a disjunction  
between these lands in bread and length,  
For thing dyscevered is weked of his strength.   

Ordained cities & towns here & yonder,  
Whereon the romans 'gan make a decree  
That their lordships should be set a sunder,  
Which made the people in every great city  
When they knew their subtylite  
To rise at ones, most cruel of their cheers  
And would have slain the roman messengers.   

And finally by this occasion  
romans again them 'gan wax furious,  
Took hardiness of their division:  
And a Consul called Mevius  
A manly knight in arms full famous,  
In to achaia was from Rome sent,  
It to destroy by great advisement.   

They of achaia by their negligence  
And by their froward wilful recklessness,  
Of very pride list make no diffence,  
Thought themself, without aviseness  
Of power able and stronger in southnes  
Than were Romans verily in deed,  
Thus were they stroyed afore or they took heed.   

They stood in hope in their sturdines  
By that battle to have had great pillage,  
Of the romans to have won great riches,  
And for a pomp of wilful false dotage  
They took their wives & women young of age  
And set them upon an high mountain,  
That their manhood might in the field be seine.   

When the Romans met them in battle,  
They dispurveyed and out of ordinance  
Slain like beasts, their power 'gan to fail  
Of froward pride & reckless governance,  
That achaia was brought to mischance:  
Women & children for sorrow almost mad,  
To live in servage were to Rome lad.   

Corinthe that time was their chief city  
Destroyed by romans & brought to ruin,  
Which among cities (in Bocas ye may see)  
Above all other did in honour shine:  
Of all Sciences there flowered the doctrine,  
And of crafts artificers most wise,  
reckon all the world there was chief merchandise.   

Thus unwarly in their most noblesse  
sitting of fortune in the high stage,  
They were destroyed of treasure & richesse  
Brought to nought by slanghter & pillage,  
Their walls broke in that cruel rage:  
And in that brenning Bochas saith the leaven  
Reached a great part upward to the heaven.   

Plain with the earth the walls broke down,  
The people slain merciless young and old,  
And there was made a great division,  
Some led in servage & some of them were sold:  
images of copper, of silver, and of gold  
Where suddenly in all that violence  
Together molte, so hot was the fervence.   

Of which metal thus after it is fall,  
Gold silver and copper meddled in to one,  
Coper of Corinthe men did it call  
Through all the world of custom everyone▪  
Fame of which metal is so far gone,  
That the vessels forged of the same,  
Corinthoyse called is the name.   

After Corinth was thus brent to nought,  
A prince called Philip Phylermene,  
To Bochas hath his complaint brought,  
In whose face and cheer it was well seen  
The woeful constraint of his mortal tene:  
And he was whilom (Bochas doth specify)  
Lord of a city called Vallaquy.   

Marcus Actilius took him prisonere,  
Brought him to Rome, list him not respite,  
Next to Bochas with an heavy cheer  
Appeared a knight called Democrite,  
Of Etholys mine author doth so write  
He was chief lord, but he and his country  
Translated were unto Rome the city.   

This Duke was cast & chained in prison,  
Escaped once in story as I find,  
Take again, throw in a dark dungeon,  
There for sorrow we went out of his mind,  
Slew himself at mischief again kind:  
Lo how these princes proud & reckless,  
Have shameful end that can not live in peace.    

The xu Chapter  
❧ Now great Antiochus using riot and vicious living by Marcus Actilius was outrayed and died suddenly.  

touching the story in order here following  
Of Seleuchus & great Antiochus,  
Of his mother Leodices and the king,  
With other tokens & signs marvelous,  
And how also the same Seleuchus  
Had in his thigh as written is toforne,  
print of an anchor the day when he was borne,   

And all the children by succession  
Had by dyscent borne of his lineage,  
Print of an anchor, as made is mention,  
In the fourth book with all the surplusage  
Of other tokens there told in plain language,  
And of the said same Seleuchus  
Came by descent the said Antiochus.   

Whose heart was set of high covetise  
To follow his lusts and dilectations,  
And specially he cast 'gan and devise  
To win in Grece divers regions:  
And of the people he caught occasions  
By their favour to conquer their country,  
And rebel again Rome the cite.   

With multitude and great apparel  
He gate in Grece castles and eke touns,  
Longing to Rome, conquered by battle,  
Took upon him in his presumptions  
Falsely to follow the inclinations  
Of his birth, while he did abide  
In a city that called was Talcide   

For cause of sloth he left his chivalry,  
Forsook Mars and took him to Cupyde,  
Resting the winter he spent in lechery,  
In watch, & riot, chase Venus to his guide:  
Sensuality made reason stand aside,  
And by these means for short conclusion,  
He was conveyed to his destruction.   

And when y● winter with his frosts cold  
Passed was and all his storms keen,  
In riot spent and wasted as I told,  
And Veer came in with his new green,  
And fresh Flora which is of flowers queen  
Of custom gineth her motles out dress,  
In which season as auctors all express   

Kings & princes with martial apparel  
Time when Phoebus in the ram doth shine,  
They them dispose to go out to battle,  
For exercise of martial discipline:  
And down from Rome expert in y● doctrine  
descended is Marcus Actylius  
Again this vicious proud Antiochus.   

This noble Mark proved in arms weal,  
Which in his time was so good a knight,  
With all his host armed in bright steel  
Again Antiochus came to the field right:  
Upon a morrow when Phoebus shone bright  
Set his wards by captains that he cheese,  
Upon a hill Called Thermophyles.   

Antiochus upon that other side  
Whom gluttony and riot did oppress,  
And drunken Bacchus with him did abide  
with Morpheus wife of slumber chief goddess,  
Which caused him thorough sloth & idleness  
That providence out of his court was gone,  
Causing y● day the slaughter of many one.   

When the Consul Marcus the worthy knight  
His adversaries proudly 'gan assail,  
They unpurveyed took them to the flight,  
disarrayed, they might not avail:  
Thus Antiochus fled out of battle,  
For again Romans he might not endure,  
Therefore on him fell the discomfiture.   

Thus rebuked fled to Ephesie  
Far in Grece, & there to dwell he cheese,  
Sent to Romans a great ambassadrye  
With the said Marcus for to treat of peace:  
But in this ambassed this is very doubtless  
When they attained of Marcus the presence  
They were refused, and had no audience.   

Of which Antiochus greatly was ashamed,  
Cast again Rome of hate and enmity  
To raise a power, & hath of new attamed  
To gather ships & make a great arm,  
Gin a were again them on the see,  
Having an hope under a cowardedrede  
Better on the water than on the land to speed.   

Made his ships be stuffed with victual,  
And his captains hath the land forsake,  
But when y● romans of new 'gan high assail  
His ships brent, & all his stuff was take,  
And as mine auctor compendiously doth make,  
Thus on the see the Romans werraying  
He was outraied, the story witnessing.   

Yet eft again to his confusion  
Upon the land he 'gan make him strong,  
Met with Cornely called Scipion  
With veins & carts made for that were strong,  
Shod with iron, sharp scythes set among  
In travers wise by great ordinance,  
But for all that he was brought to mischance.   

With Oliphauntes & Castles on their back  
That day was slain many worthy knight,  
Upon his host so cruel was the wrack  
That he constrained took him to the flight,  
Forsook the country fled out of men's sight:  
To the romans, he could it not delay  
Each year constrained a tribute for to pay.   

But he of fraud because of his tribute,  
For covetise feigned sore poverty.  
Gathered robbers, and by false pursuit  
Oppressed Merchants, spoiled the country  
Robbed temples of hateful cruelty,  
And fro Jupiter called Dodanon  
Took all the relics the story telleth con   

Did sacrilege, and entered in that close  
Without reverence or any observance,  
For which the temple again him rose,  
And as it is put in remembrance  
By the gods there fill a great vengeance  
Upon this tyrant, quaking in his dread  
All suddenly he fell to ground deed.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy of Antiochus  
Who list in order his froward story see,  
First to all virtue he was contrarious,  
And rebel ever to Rome the cite:  
Justly accused of vicious things three,  
Of pride, sloth, and of gluttony,  
And of disordinate superfluity,  
Of night excess, riot, and lechery.   

On him the Romans were victorious  
Twice on the land, one's on the see,  
He was not hardy, but malicious,  
In every battle his custom was to flee:  
There vices reign there may no grace be,  
To all surfettes his lust he did apply,  
Noised & disclaundred through his country  
Of night excess, riot, and lechery.   

Among his lieges wooed and despitous,  
And for a coward know in the field was he,  
The poor toppresse a wolf most furious,  
And by deceit a fox for subtlety:  
No man more froward of high nor low degree,  
Nor more delighting in falsehood nor flattery,  
What was his ende● a sudden death pard,  
For his outrages of pride, and lechery.   

Noble Princes of prudence full famous  
In all your greatest royal majesty,  
Remember plainly if ye be virtuous  
Ye shall persever in long prosperity:  
Where the contrary causeth adversity,  
As this story afore doth specify,  
Of Antiochus cast from his dignity  
For this great pride, riot, and lechery.     

☞ The xvi Chap.  
How Jeronimus kig of Ciracuse was slain, & how Scipio African that laboured for common weal of Romans was exiled by them, and so died.  

After the death of this Antiochus,  
Theridamas came a price to Bocas complaining,  
Which that was called Jeronimus  
Of Cyracuse whilom lord and king:  
Which of his lieges he nothing trespasing  
Slain was, with his three sisters dear  
Of hatred, mine author writeth here.   

Ciracusanes had a condition  
Through changes new aye to be unstable,  
Of wilful malice void of all reason  
On their kings for to be vengeable:  
They loved not to have them perdurable,  
But every year of custom, this is true,  
Them to govern to have a prince new.   

And for their changes & their uncouth strives  
With variance of their conditions,  
Because no fruit is found in their lives  
Nor in their stories nor in their successions,  
I will pass duer and speak of Scipions,  
And first to write of the worthy man  
Called in his time Scipio African.   

A famous knight in all nations  
For his conquest shortly to conclude,  
Which had brought full many regions  
More by wisdom than by multitude  
To obey the romans: but for ingratitude  
Which that he fond in them (as I read)  
How he wrought, to tell I will proceed.   

It is remembered of his worthiness  
While that he was flowering in young age,  
How Rome was made lady & mistress  
Of many a land, to their advantage:  
And specially all Afrique & Cartage  
By his prowess as made is mention,  
Were brought of Romayas under subjection.   

But they againeward were to him unkind,  
By accusations fond out by their falseness  
Said again him (as it is put in mind)  
By record of many a false witness,  
That he should have embezzled the richesse  
Of Cartage and Africa the country,  
Which appertained to Rome the city.   

But againeward this noble African  
Proudly gave answer to his accusers,  
He never wythhelde fro time that he began  
Toward himself, no part of their treasures:  
Save as the manner is of conquerors  
For to conserve his worship & his name,  
As most was profit to the towns fame.   

This is to mean plainly and not tarry,  
He never accroched treasure near nor far  
Toward himself, but that was necessary  
For their worship to maintain their were:  
And yet that time he was their load star,  
To increase their bounds & fully his delight  
Was all hole set to the common profit.   

He took none heed of all the surplusage  
Of their treasures nor their great richesse,  
The name reserved of Africa & Cartage  
To his knighthood and his high noblesse:  
But their malicious expert unkindness,  
Was in cause briefly to compile,  
His body fro them perpetually to exile.   

Cast him never within Rome town  
After that day among them to be sayen,  
Vnkyndenesse gave him occasion  
To absent his person, & of high disdain  
To exile himself & never to come again:  
But for to abide in a small village  
Called Lynterne, when he was fall in age.   

And for men should mind on him have,  
By a manner of indignation  
An epitaphy he set upon his grave,  
Which said thus to them of Rome town:  
O people unkind, unkind again reason,  
My funeral ashes nor my bones deed  
In thy walls thou shalt never possede.   

In thine unkind froward teritory  
My bones shall not rest nor abide,  
But thine unkindness to put in memory  
To remembrance shall be red full wide:  
Of these letters grave on every side  
By report only of this small scripture,  
Which here is set upon my sepuiture.   

Lo here the cause by brief description  
Set on my grave, for a memorial  
Why that my bones out of Rome town  
Be buried here low under this wall,  
In exile hold my feast funeral:  
unkindness me drove out of that city,  
That wrought so much for the commonte:    

¶ The xvii Chapter.  
¶ How Scipio Asian lord of Asye that laboured ever for the common weal was murdered.  

AFter the end of this African  
Called i his time worthy Scipion,  
Came next his brother Scipio Asyan,  
Which in asia had domination:  
gain whom was made an accusation  
To all the Senate, that he untruly should  
Certain treasures toward himself which hold   

Which that he in Asie had won  
In his conquest, by many strong battle:  
Which accusation falsely was begun  
Of old envy causeless, this is no fail,  
Whose worthiness, full much did avail  
To common profit, by these two conquerors  
By great richesse increasing their treasures.   

The tone in Africa as ye have hard me tell  
By his wisdom and his chinalry,  
That other in Asia which did excel  
In high prowess, as books specify:  
Flalsly hindered of hatred and envy,  
By compassing of one Antiochus,  
Him to destroy he was so desirous.   

Not withstanding these twain Scipions  
Had in their time, by manifold battles  
Brought unto Rome so many regions  
To obey their city with martial apparayls:  
And ever more to their great avails,  
Brought in treasures to increase with their town  
Yet have they wrought to their destruction.   

The tone in exile as made is mention  
died alas, when that he was old:  
The second was murdered in prison,  
Their both stories remembered here & told,  
To give example to princes manifold,  
That who that laboureth for a comonte,  
loseth oft his thank, by Scipions ye may se.    

☞ The xviii chapter.  
¶ How the Duke Philopomenes was take, put in prison, after drank poison, and so died.  

AFter the process of these two Scipions  
between two people's wilful and reckless  
Began in Grece new dissensions,  
between Acheoys and Etholois doubtless,  
And a great Duke Philopomenes,  
A Prince the time of full great puissance,  
Had of Messenois holy the governance.   

This said Prince Philopomenes  
Leading his host upon a full fair plain,  
As he road armed and put himself in prees,  
Mid his people as governor & wardaine,  
folk out of rule for to call again,  
Upon his stead as he 'gan them fet  
In due order, his wards for to set,   

And this Prince of port most martial  
In the pursuit which that he 'gan make,  
Among his enemies he had a sudden fall,  
Void of all rescue unwarely he was take:  
Of all his friends like a man forsake,  
Among his enemies brought unto prison,  
There made an end by drinking of poison.   

Of Philopomenes this was the fatal case,  
Out of governance his people desolate,  
Except a captain called Ligorias,  
Which in the wars was wonder fortunate  
Of Acheoys took on him the state  
Them to govern and the people lead,  
Of him no more in Bochas I do read.    

The xix chapter.  
❧ Of the third Scipion Nasica that ever wrought much for the commonty.  

WIne author here maketh a digression,  
And rehearseth for a memorial  
Of the third worthy Scipion  
Called Nasica, which in especial  
By disposition very natural  
Hold among Romans by report of laugage,  
Passing all other in wisdom and courage.   

Old of discretion & not but young of years,  
For a miracle mine author doth express  
When Senators sent messageres  
In to Frigia by great adviseness,  
For Berosynthia most famous goddess,  
When she was brought by them that did her guide  
In house nor temple she would not abide   

Save in the palace of this Scipion,  
To put his name more in remembrance.  
The which also through his high renown  
Gallogrois he brought to utterance,  
A people of Grece far out of governance:  
But Scipion 'gan them so warray  
Maugre their malice the Romans for to obey.   

Whereby his name was put in memory,  
And full great thank he hath in Rome deserved,  
Because only of his great victory  
For which the triumph was to him reserved:  
But at last full falsely he was served,  
Of the Romans, after their old manner  
In this tragedy anon as ye shall here.   

After he had augmented their treasures,  
Conquered in Asia many regions,  
Caused of their fone that they were victors  
Appeased of Graccus the false occasions  
Compassed of malice by new dissensions,  
atween the people and also the Senate  
He ofhye wisdom hath stint all that debate,   

trusting the Romans Scipion was beguiled,  
Lost their favour & offended nought:  
By them unwarely banished and exiled,  
Clean forgotten, put out of their thought.  
For common profit all that he hath wrought  
The guerdon lost, thus princes can not see,  
Of all that done for any comonte.   

Like a blaze for a while light  
Which showeth clear & is never after say,  
Or like a son for a moment bright  
Vnwarly shrouded with a shower of rain  
Right so the windy favour blowing vain  
May be resembled for mutability,  
Of them that do for any comonte.   

The people followeth their own opinions,  
In their conceits they be so wonderful,  
Will holdeth the bridal of their discretions,  
Their hasty deeming so bestial is & dull:  
Like blind bayard they brayed at a pull,  
To quite the guerdons of martial bounty  
Of them that done for any comonte.   

This day a price standeth in the people's grace  
Like as they would his name deify,  
Above the stars in Jupiter's place  
With Mars & Phoebus his name to stellify  
But by to morrow there cometh a sudden sky  
Showing there is a full faint surety  
Of them that do for any comonte.   

And for to affirm that it is truly so,  
Call three Scipions to remembrance,  
First of Africa and Asie both two  
Note ● chronicles their knightly governance,  
Their restless labours Romans for tavaunce:  
reckon agaynwarde how these princes three,  
Were full ungodly quit by the commonty.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy of three Scipions,  
So worthy in knighthood & eke notable  
Made so many famous regions  
Subject to Rome (this story is no fable)  
Where the romans double & deceivable  
showed agaynward to these princes three,  
The thank lost and guerdon covenable  
Of him that doth for any comonte.   

reckon up in Africa the cities & the touns,  
Great Cartage with castles defensable,  
reckon in asia the great possessions  
With revenues very innumerable,  
reckon their triumphs of prize incomparable,  
Which considered ye may a mirror see  
How the guerdons be false & flaskysable,  
Of them that do for any comonte.   

They were whilom the romans champions  
Of Senators to set the honour stable,  
To avoid discord and all dissensions  
atween the commons and states honourable:  
But she that is of custom aye changeable,  
Fortune, in whom may be no surety,  
showeth in her wheel the guerdons mutable  
Of them that done for any comonte.   

Noble princes poise in your reasons  
All worldly thing in earth is transmutable,  
Faint and unsure your dominations,  
Charter is there none to make them perdurable  
Sorrow at departing your bodies corumpable  
A thing resembling that never had be,  
Record on Scipions by guerdons semblable  
Of them that dove for any comonte.   

Trust never in your opinions  
But the your power is each day removable,  
Be not made blind in your discretions  
But consider by examples reasonable  
The eye of fortune like hazard, retournable:  
With sudden change of false felicity  
Unto the guerdons daily comparable,  
Of them that done for any comonte.     

The twenty Chapter  
❧ How Duke Hanyball after many victorious deeds murdered himself with poison.  

NExt, to John Bocas as I read  
Out of Africa & Cartage therewithal  
There came a Duke that had most hatred  
Again the romans in especial,  
This famous prince called Hanyball,  
By whose prowess as it is well know  
The said Romans were brought full low.   

And among other worthy Dukes all  
As old Chronicles maketh mention,  
Of Hanybal the fate is so befall  
At his birth by disposition  
That of his natural constellation,  
Set in the heaven that he should be  
Perpetually enemy to Rome the city.   

As the story of him doth devise,  
While his father Duke whilom of Cartage  
Called Amylchar, did once sacrifice  
To his gods, and he nine year of age  
Sworn and avowed of heart & of crrage  
During his life without exception,  
Ever to be enemy unto Rome town.   

This Martes child this lusty young knight  
Was to Cartage the strong mighty wall,  
Which succeeded in his father's right  
After the death of worthy Hastruball:  
first he made a were full mortal  
gain Saguntinois, as it is specified,  
Cause with romans that they were allied.   

A dream he had and was thus in sentence,  
That he should conquer in battle  
Maugre all though that stand at diffence  
Two mighty countries, first Spain & than Itaile,  
Down discendig with great apparel  
Passing the famous river Iberus  
And where he road alway victorious.   

With him, of Africa many chefetayns  
Road through Gaul, found no resistance,  
Of Pyrenes by the high mountains  
To show the rigour of his magnificence,  
Over the Alpes by sturdy violence,  
Not tstanding the passage was full wycke  
Of slydinge frosts, and of shows thick.   

A great party of his people lost  
By the constraint of that fell passage,  
Horse & elephants that many besaunt cost,  
Found great daungere of them in his carriage:  
Assault of brigantes when they found advantage  
And as Bochas put in remembrance,  
Felt great loss of all his ordinance.   

The Alpes passed with travail & great woe,  
This hannibal with all his chivalry  
Approached is the river of the Po,  
Came to a town that called is Cursye  
Which standeth upon the city of Pauye,  
Where a Consul called Scipton  
Gave him battle even afore the town.   

The same Consul Gneus Scipion  
Which by prows of manly Hanybal  
Was discomfited, as made is mention  
Tofore Pauye had a right foul fall:  
The first victory in especial  
That he had beyond the mountains,  
When he pursued t'assail the romans.   

Sempronius another Consulere  
That was fellow to the said Scipion,  
Sent ●ke fro Rome with a full proud cheer  
gain Hanyball: but in his coming down  
Tofore Tresbie a large mighty town  
Outrayed was by fatal adventure,  
And after never his fall might recure.   

Of two Consulers this was the woeful fine,  
Sempronius and Gneus Scipion:  
Over the mountain called Appenyne:  
Went Hannibal through his great renown,  
To great damage and great confusion  
Of his people that passed the mountains,  
Destroyed with cold, snow, & hideous reins.   

Lost his knights, his treasure & his goods,  
There might as tho be made no defence,  
His great steeds drowned in the floods  
By the waters mighty violence,  
Fond for the time no better resistance,  
Save he escaped fro that sudden wrack  
On an Oliphaunte, he riding on the back.   

So importable was his grievous pain  
Only borne up of martial courage,  
Yet there he lost one of his eyen twain  
Kept of knighthood one cheer & one visage:  
Through italy held always his passage,  
Slew a Consul called Flaminius,  
Thus in three battles he was victorious.   

But in this while as saith mine author  
Quintus Fabius subtle and deceivable,  
Which was in Rome a famous dictator  
And he apperceived by tokens full notable  
No Roman captain was in though days able  
As it was showed by experience  
gain Hanyball to make resistance.   

Yet in his conceit he subtly 'gan search  
To find a way he did his busy pain,  
Day by day 'gan fully thereon werche  
either by fraud or some compassed train  
To lie in wait, and secretly ordain  
Embusshmentes to his advantage,  
Of hannibal to stop the passage.   

But all his trains served him of nought,  
For hannibal this worthy African  
In his conquest so proudly hath wrought,  
So like a prince and a knightly man  
For thilk time that he wars 'gan  
Again the romans both on see & land,  
That they were feeble his power to withstand.   

This Quintus fabius kept him always close,  
lying a wait to fall on Hanihal,  
And of assent eke to his purpose  
There was one Varo manly & wise withal:  
And these twain in especial  
Within Poyle a large great country  
Fought with Hanybal at Cannas the city.   

As the story maketh rehearsal  
The Roman party of worthy werriours  
Where forty thousand slain in battle,  
Emilius Paulus & thirty senators,  
Twenty in numbered that had been Pretours,  
And three hundred captains of estate  
Slain by Hannibal, in that mortal debate.   

And by the slaughter of Emilius  
The noble consul, Romans despaired,  
And Hanybal that day victorious  
To his lodging is again repaired:  
His fone outrayed and mortally appayred  
knew no refute again this manly knight,  
But at mischief took them to the flight.   

The which day if that hannibal  
Had them followed proudly to the town,  
By the counsel of one Marthaball,  
A manly knight a prince of high renown,  
He should have had full possession  
That day of Rome like to his intent,  
But I suppose fortune list nat assent.   

In this process plainly as I read  
This hannibal wexte proud & right pompous,  
Of four victories dempt himself in deed  
Above all other to be most glorious,  
Of his courage most inly surquedous:  
But o alas a little sloth and pride  
For lack of pursuit his conquest set aside.   

Yet in his conquest of knights that lay deed  
Of Consulers old and young of age,  
With Senators the process who list read  
Slain in the field in that mortal rage,  
Duke Hanyball sent unto Cartage  
Of clean gold by record of writings,  
Out of the field three bushel full of rings.   

After four victories here remembered,  
By and by the process who list see,  
In which many worthy were dismembered  
Both of Africa and Rome the cite,  
Abate 'gan the great prosperity  
Of Hanybal by froward adventure  
Set once back fortune is hard to recure.   

After the flowers of his felicity  
His noblesse drew to declination  
To Capne he went a mighty strong cite,  
There to sojourn as made is mention,  
All the time of winter cold season:  
Where to his lust and bodily pleasance,  
Of all victual found great abundance.   

Which made his knights slow to y● were,  
For wine, women, and plenty of victual  
Full oft sith cause men to err,  
Make them feeble their enemies t'assail:  
Gorges agroteied enbossed their entrayle,  
Disposeth men rather to rest and sleep,  
Then of their enemies for to take keep.   

But when winter with his frosts cold  
Was overgone in thilk region,  
Hanyball 'gan his purpose hold  
To lay a siege unto Rome town,  
But so great rains fill fro heaven down,  
So great tempest upon every side,  
For the constraint he might nat abide.   

To fortify the said hannibal  
Again his enemies where he had ado,  
Sent letters unto Hastruball  
In right great haste for to come him to:  
But fortune her wheel hath turned so  
That Hastruball were he loath or fain,  
By Salmator venquished was and slain.   

Of which mischief and discomfiture  
Hanybal 'gan dull in his courage,  
Complained sore of his misadventure,  
knew no refute again this mortal rage:  
Heard eke say that Afrique and Cartage  
Were of new to his confusion,  
Strongly werryed by worthy Scipion.   

Syphax also of Numedy king  
Which again romans 'gan a were make,  
Maugre his might and all his fell working  
Was by force of Scipion tale,  
wherethrough his courage greatly 'gan aslake:  
And how Cartage chief of that region  
Besieged was also by Scipion.   

Thus Hanyball constrained was of need  
Home to repair for rescue of Cartage,  
And was also in books as I read  
The same time fall far in age:  
And at mischief and great disadvantage  
Again Scipion full little might avail,  
By whom he was discomfited in battle.   

Cartage constrained of necessity  
Them to submit unto Rome town,  
And for their more adversity  
Gneus Gernilius was fro Rome sent down  
Only of purpose for this conclusion,  
For to procure in especial  
Final destruction and death of Hanyball.   

After all his martial labours  
His old felicity wext froward & unmeet,  
In hollow images put all his treasures,  
Took his passage into the land of Crete,  
And fortune contrary and unswere  
Made officers keep his richesse,  
In the temple of Diane the goddess.   

Some what for trust and parcel eke for dread  
To find succour, he went to the king  
Of Bithinye, to help him in his need,  
Called Prusias, but of his coming  
The sleighty romans had knowledging,  
To Bithinye down their letters sent  
If Hanybal escaped they should repent.   

The letters red the king the same day  
Made his people besiege the dungeon  
Where duke Hannibal of trust alone lay  
All destitute, when he knew this treason  
Tescape his enemies drank wilfully poison:  
Chase rather so (other escape was none)  
Then in the hands to fall of his fone.   

Tofore his death said this orison  
To all the god's devoutly down kneeling,  
That they would of this false treason  
Take vengeance of Prusias the king:  
Which was cause by his false working  
Of the destruction and death final  
Of this famous worthy hannibal.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy froward to write or read  
Of this foresaid manly hannibal,  
My pen quoke my heart I felt bleed  
For to behold the woeful piteous fall  
Of him that was the defensable wall  
Of Cartage, the mighty strong town  
Which slew himself by drinking of poison.   

It was to him he thought more manhood  
To slay himself by vengeance most mortal,  
Than his enemies by constraint should him lead  
In chains bound, he to be thrall:  
So great despite he had of them at all  
That liefer he had than bide in their prison,  
To murder himself by drinking of poison.   

As me seemeth in this horrible deed  
He resembled the furies infernal,  
Of cruel Pluto I trow he took his meed,  
Void of all reason became bestial,  
It whose terrible feast funeral  
Goddess Proserpina came with Manes down,  
The same time when he drank poison.   

Noble princes consider and take heed,  
Leaving the surplus his deeds martial,  
knightly remember, & have in heart hatred  
Of his enpoysoning in especial,  
Abominable to god and man withal:  
That a prince so famous of renown  
Should murder himself by drinking of poison.     

The xxi Chapter.  
☞ How Prusias king of Bithinye, that betrayed Hanybal would have disherited his son and heir, went a begging in strange lands.  

Following in order there came to Bochas  
Of Bithinye the great mighty king,  
Which in his time was called Prusias  
Greatly slandered and noised of one thing,  
That he was false and double in working  
Again the noblesse of his estate royal,  
Because that he betrayshed hannibal.   

This diffaute derked the brightness  
Of his fame and his knightly renown,  
And eclipsed his passed old prowess  
By report in many a region:  
Alas that ever the condition  
Of doubleness by falseness or feigning,  
Should be found and namely in a king.   

Of this Prusias further to proceed  
Which again Hanyball wrought this treason,  
A son he had called nicomede  
Borne to be heir by just succession:  
But his father by false collusion,  
Purposed him, for he was young of age,  
To put him out of his heritage.   

In this matter there grew up a great strife  
By Prusias again this nicomede,  
Cause that he by his second wife  
Had a young son in books thus I read,  
Whom he purposed to prefer in deed:  
For which he cast by short conclusion  
Of nicomede the destruction.   

And for tacomplyshe this froward falsematere  
By full great deliberation,  
King Prusyas 'gan show heavy cheer  
gain nicomede seeking occasion  
To deprive him of possession:  
After his days by subtle false working  
In Betheny he shall nat reign as king.   

The people saying this great iniquity  
Wrought by the king gain good conscience,  
Through all the land of high and low degree  
To nicomede all of one sentence  
Gave their good will & their benevolence:  
For every lord and every great baron  
Stood whole with him through all the region.   

Thus by just title he was crowned king,  
Prusias for shame and heaviness,  
In strange countries lived by begging,  
All desolate cried for alms:  
Lo here the end of treason and falseness,  
Left at mischief, mine author saith the same,  
Of poverty forsook his own name.   

See here two things & take right good heed  
Of Prusias the unware sudden mischance,  
The disheryting done to nicomede,  
After following on him the great vengeance,  
As the story putteth in remembrance:  
For treason done odyble and mortal  
Again the foresaid famous hannibal.    

The xxii Chapter.  
❧ How Perses of Macedon king, that enpoisoned his brother, was by Emilyus outrayed and died in prison.  

BEspreynt with tears pitouslye weeping  
As Bochas sat in his study alone,  
Next came Perses of Macedon king,  
And mortally he 'gan sigh and groan,  
And furiously for to make his moan,  
That he was whilom of so great renown  
Constrained after to die in prison.   

This said Perses of nature was froward,  
Yuyll disposed eke of his condition,  
Though he of birth was but a bastard  
He compassed by false collusion,  
After his father to have possession  
(As mine author remembreth by writing)  
Of Macedon to be crowned king.   

His father Philip the story telleth thus,  
Had a son which was young of age,  
wise and ready called Demetrius,  
Borne and begot truly in marriage:  
But Perses cast by furious outrage  
Him to destroy and murder by poison,  
He of that kingdom to have possession.   

Falsely compassed to his advantage,  
In his intent Demetrius to deprive  
Of Macedon which was his heritage:  
And thereupon he letters 'gan contrive  
To prove him traitor while he was alive,  
Whereof king Philip greatly was annoyed,  
That he and Perses should be destroyed   

By Demetrius, that thought no damage,  
Meant no harm in his opinion:  
Yet his father suspicious of courage  
(For Perses gave him false information)  
Made him be slain by drinking of poison,  
Upon a day, a thing abominable,  
Sitting at meat at his father's table.   

King Philip after when he knew the troth,  
Had of his death great compassion,  
But all to late and that was great routh:  
Which caused after his own destruction,  
For sorrow died, and of presumption  
Perses after falsely usurping,  
In Macedon was crowned for the king.   

With divers countries made his alliance,  
In Grece & Trace gate friends near & far,  
And of pride and wilful governance  
Cast with romans for to hold were:  
Vngrace and youth made him for to err,  
Till a Consul sent fro Rome toun  
Brought this Perses unto destruction.   

Called Emilius was this Consulere  
Sent again Perses to have a great battle,  
saying his daughter heavy of her cheer  
When he went out his enemies to assail,  
Made unto her this uncouth apposayle:  
Why weep ye so what thing doth you aggrieve  
At my departing, taking of meleve?   

Father (quoth she) and ye take good heed  
A whelp I had that did great pleasance  
Called Perses, the which right now is deed,  
And this chief cause is only of my grievance:  
Her father than 'gan change countenance,  
This is a token to mine increase of glory  
That I of Perses shall have the victory.   

In Macedon he and Perses met,  
And quit him there like a manly knight,  
Conquered the land none might him withlet,  
And manly put Perses to the flight:  
After to Trace he took the way right,  
Of which conquest short process to make,  
With his two sons Perses was there take.   

Emilius after this victory  
Asketh the triumph to his guerdon,  
And as it is remembered in his story  
Perses followeth his chair through Rome town,  
Condemned after to die in prison:  
The which death he did well deserve  
For he by poison made his brother starve.   

Thus can fortune early and eke late,  
Down from her wheel and high stage  
Of proud princes the surquedy abate:  
When to her lust she seeth most advantage  
She frowardly 'gan turn her visage,  
And suddenly the estate of them consume  
Above their office that wrongly list presume.   

amongs which a king of Israel  
Again the precept and law of Moses,  
Called Ozias, the bible can well tell,  
Of presumption wilful and reckless  
To sacrifice put himself in prees,  
Like a bishop in the temple arrayed,  
But or he passed greatly he was afraid.   

Lost his speech, smyt with meselty  
During his life, lo here a great vengeance:  
Of his crown and his regaly  
Impotent to use the governance,  
peril for pride and disobeisance:  
For he list nat meekly the law obey,  
For which at mischief he did a leper dey.    

The xxiii Chapter.  
¶ How Amonyus a prince of Antioch, delighting in pillage and robbery with other vicious living, fled in woman's clothing, after taken and slain.  

NExt in order complaining his distress  
Came Amonius, a notable warrior,  
To John Bochas to show his heaviness  
In Antioch prince and governor:  
Of which country while he was possessor,  
Had a custom and this was his travail  
To rob the rich and spoil the porail.   

Spared neither old nor young of age,  
Took fro merchants treasure and richesse,  
And in delights of lecherous outrage  
Was all his lust with watch & drunkenness:  
Will in his court of reason was mistress,  
Causing the people through all the region  
To rise again him by rebellion.   

Contrary he was to all good discipline,  
The people arose again him on a day,  
And he for fear in habit feminine  
Like a wretch fled cowardly away,  
Take at mischief there was made no delay:  
Falsely confessing, hearing many a man,  
Again nature that he was a woman.   

The troth know and the slander rife  
All of assent the people Antiochene  
Rose at once, and so he lost his life,  
They were so wooed again him in their tene:  
Thus of fortune the change is always seen,  
Fro better to worse she can so well transmue  
The state of them that will no virtue sue.    

The xxiiii chapter.  
❧ How Andriscus of low birth borne, having no title became king of Macedon, and was after taken, and died in prison.  

But of one thing fortune is to blame,  
That she is so changeable of courage  
To set a boy unknown of birth and fame,  
By false error upon a royal stage:  
For one Andriscus by surquedous outrage,  
Without title, by subtle compassing  
Of Macedon took on him to be king.   

Colour was none his claim to make stable,  
Except that he of there and of visage  
Was to king Philip of features most semblable,  
Whereby the people in their furious rage  
Caught opinion of wilful false dotage,  
Again reason Bochas doth descrive,  
That king Philip was risen fro death to live.   

Whilom father of Perses as I told:  
And for Andriscus brought up in wretchedness,  
In presence both of young and old  
Was bold to claim by title of rightwiseness  
Showing no ground but personel likeness,  
Mocking the people which by their favour  
Of royal dignity received the honour.   

Thus he that was fostered as a wretch  
In misery and eke in poverty,  
Fro poor bed his horns did up stretch  
To hold a sceptre of kingly dignity:  
And by the support of the commonte  
'Gan wax pompous and elate  
Brought up of nought when he stood in estate,   

Nothing more cruel nor nothing more vengeable  
Nor more hasty to do execution,  
Nor more deynous nor more untreatable  
Than when a beggar hath domination:  
I cur more froward than a strong Lion,  
And semblably none so great cruelty,  
As when a wretch is set in dignity.   

This Andriscus in all his royal cheer  
To execute his hateful cruelty,  
Gathered people in countries far & near,  
In Macedon, and of old enmity,  
Began malign gain Rome the cite:  
But to withset his froward false intent,  
One Inuencius a Praetor was down sent.   

But because that he was negligent,  
And of despite took of him no heed,  
He was outrayed and by Andriscus shent,  
With all the people that he did lead:  
But the romans of hope better to speed  
Have sent Metellus a full manly knight,  
To Macedon, to meet anon right   

This worthy man list nat long to tarry,  
Set proudly on in hope it should avail,  
Made Macedon to Rome tributary,  
Took Andriscus manly in battle,  
Brought him to Rome with mighty apparel,  
And made him lie fettered in prison,  
For his outrageous false presumption.   

Thus for his froward usurpation  
That was haute in his prosperity,  
knew not himself by false abusion  
Blent with a mist of blind felicity,  
List nat remember of his first ponerte:  
Whom to chastise fortune brought him low  
Because he list nat himself for to know.    

The xxv Chapter.  
¶ How Alysander Ballast king of Surry, for extortion, pride, and unkindness died at mischief.  

THus can this lady play her pageant  
By a manner of deynous mockery,  
Her entermesse forth served them of intent  
To folk that trust her only of folly:  
And to purpose whilom of Surry  
There was a king like as write Bochas,  
Called Alisader whose surname was Ballast   

Of which Ballast to tell the process  
First of his rising and after of his fall,  
Antiochus the story beareth witness  
Called Eupator which in especial  
Claimed title to th'estate royal  
After his father named Antiochus  
Epyphanes, the story telleth thus.   

After whose death the kingdom of Surry  
Should long by succession  
To Eupator, and eke for his party  
Demetrius hostage in Rome town  
Claimed a title in that region  
Of Surry, because Epiphanes  
Was brought to him the story is no les,   

Demetrius fro Rome is come down  
Into Surry to claim his heritage,  
received the crown, took possession,  
'Gan wax proud presumptuous of courage:  
Thus Eupator that was but young of age  
Excluded was in Surry to succeed,  
Of Demetrius' ferther thus I read.   

outrageous he was above measure,  
Right vengeable and full of cruelty:  
Hateful also to every creature,  
And heavy borne of worthy kings three,  
first in Egypt of worthy Tholome,  
And of Actilius in Asy though reigning,  
And Aryrarches in Capadoce king.   

All of assent again him have conspired,  
Found a way Demetrius to deprive,  
His undoing so sore they have desired:  
And their intent to execute blyve  
They 'gan a fable of purpose to contrive,  
As ye shall here, together as they went,  
To which all Surry at once did assent.   

They took a galaunt borne of low lineage,  
Called Ballast, of their acquaintance,  
And affirmed all of one courage  
How he was son & just heir in substance  
To Epiphanes, and next heir in alliance,  
To succeed by tokens affirming  
Next in Surry to be crowned king.   

Alysander of purpose they him call,  
Because they thought of person he was able,  
Set him up in his royal stall  
Maugre Demetrius, cruel and vengeable:  
And fortune was to them favourable,  
Made their purpose finally to avail,  
With whom Demetrius had a great battle.   

This Alysander which named was Ballast,  
By Demetrius as put is in memory,  
first overcome, and after fill the case  
He of Demetrius had the victory:  
And to increase of his royal glory,  
Of fortune by sodayve adventure  
Ballast the field of him did recure.   

Thus by promotion of these kings three,  
When he was crowned king of all Surry,  
To false extortion and hateful cruelty  
This Alysander did his wits apply  
To robbing, pillage, and eke tyranny:  
And despised shortly to conclude,  
The said king of ingratitude.   

He had forget his estate of poverty  
knew not himself of false ambition,  
Wedded the daughter of worthy Tholome  
Called Cleopatra as made is mention:  
And all his labour in conclusion  
Was only this, in Bochas as I read,  
All the kingdoms about him to possede.   

Who all coveteth sometime all doth lose,  
One again all seld hath sovereignty:  
And for Ballast frowardly 'gan cheese  
To hold were with king Tholome,  
And with the foresaid worthy kings three,  
All of assent have such ways sought  
That by their working he came to nought.   

first Tholome fro him took his wife  
Cleopatra, and took her in marriage  
To one Demetry, causing full great strife  
For he that time was but young of age:  
But Ballast after by full great outrage  
With all his power gathered nigh and far,  
gain Demetry 'gan to hold were.   

Together they met proudly in battle,  
Ballast constrained cowardly to i'll,  
And when he saw his power did fail  
In araby a mighty strong country  
●abydus, a prince of great post  
Took him by force quaking in his dread,  
To king Tholome sent anon his heed.   

Men may two things consider in this case  
Pride punished and unkindness,  
And presumption in this man Ballast  
Without title or claim of rightwiseness  
Made king of Surry, set i great worthiness:  
What was his end ye get no more of me,  
His heed smit of and sent to Tholome.   

Lenuoye.  

This tragedy doth naturally complain  
Upon this vice called unkindness,  
Which to punish is torment none ne pain  
Rigour condign, flagell nor duresse,  
Emprisoning nor none earthly distress  
That may suffice brifely to conclude,  
Again the vice of ingratitude.   

All creatures on this vice complain,  
Law, nature, decrees, rightwiseness,  
This monster in kind doth the light distain  
Of every vertne derketh the brightness,  
Alexander can bear hereof witness,  
Which to his furthers he of his tetches rude,  
showed again ward great ingratitude.   

Of Cerberus th'infernal treble chain  
Nor of Tantalus hunger nor thrustinesse,  
Of Ixion or Ticius both twain  
reckon the torment remember the sharpness,  
All to little to chastise or redress  
The hateful vice of them that can delude  
Their friends old, by false ingratitude.   

Noble princes which in your demayne  
Have governance of all worldly richesse,  
gain folk unkind look that ye dudayne,  
Suffer them nat to have none entresse  
For to approach to your high noblesse:  
For there is no vice more hateful to conclude  
Than is the vice of ingratitude.     

The xxvi Chapter.  
❧ Here Bochas writeth of the rebellions and seditions in Rome between Tribunes and the commons.  

Following mine author in stories marvelous,  
I must now write the strong rebellions  
Of Gayus first, and of Tiberius,  
And of the great hateful secious  
moved in Rome between tribunes & commons,  
And by their strives how they 'gan conspire:  
For to attain falsely to the empire.   

The year two hundred by computation  
Gayus Graccus made tribune in that age  
After the cities first foundation,  
Which turned after to full great damage  
Of common profit, for by their mortal rage  
tumult and noise of commons in the town,  
Caused a great part of their destruction.   

For in departing of champagne heritage,  
atween the worthy and poor of the cite  
By equal portions Graccus with fair language  
Haddit greatly moved all their commonte:  
By which occasion in story men may see,  
Another Graccus called the second  
Was slain in Rome, & low laid in ground.   

After the death of Graccus as I read  
Was chosen a tribune called Munycius,  
Which fordyd the laws all in deed  
Of old Graccus called Gayus:  
But he that was named Tiberius  
With help of Flaccus Tribunes of estate,  
In the Capitoyle began a great debate.   

They were supported by the commonte  
By voice of people the word of no man know,  
For Graccus party high upon a tre  
A trumpet stood and proudly 'gan to blow,  
Which slain was & fro the tre down throw:  
By which slawter y● book maketh rehersaile,  
Flaccus wext feeble his party 'gan to fail.   

For dread he fled into the teritory  
Of Janus temple ran up to a tour,  
When Tiberius as put is in memory  
Saw in the cite he had no favour,  
Despaired, knew no better succour:  
Sword set at breast in presence of Myncrue  
Fully purposed afore her for to starve.   

There stood one by & drew his hand a back,  
Fro that purpose made him to decline,  
Thus Graccus party goth day by day to wreck  
And Flaccus took the temple of Lucyne:  
His son, his friends, almost all his line  
They kept them strong, but maugre their defence  
They were there slain by sturdy violence.   

While Graccus friends fought for his party,  
And he himself constrained was of dread  
He 'gan to pray a boy of his company  
To take a sword and smite of his heed,  
Set on a spear with the blood made read,  
Sent it his mother complaining in her tene,  
Into her castle that called was Missene.   

Named Cornelya his mother was in deed,  
Whilom daughter to great Scipion,  
Her ch●oren all slain as I read,  
And Graccus goods acheted to the town:  
Thereof after made a division  
By judgement, thorughout the cite,  
Where most was need among the commonte.   

Of Graccus side five hundred slain & twain  
Upon an hill called Auentyne,  
And Oppinius a consul did his pain  
Of their conspiring the ground to search & mine:  
And Flaccus party to bring to ruin,  
He slew two thousand by hasty judgement,  
Among which was many an innocent.    

The xxvii chapter.  
☞ How the wife of Hastruball brent herself and her children.  

HEre John Bochas list in especial  
To remember how Cartage new again  
Destroyed was, and how Hastruball  
Came to mischief, the troth was well sayne:  
Which to rehearse of new it were but vain,  
sith here tofore is made clear mention  
Both of their brenning & their destruction.   

Save here he telleth how Hastrubals wife  
Only to eschew to live in servage,  
Chase with her children for to lose her life,  
And wilfully of furious courage  
She and her sons tender and young of age  
Among the flames and the coals reed,  
Consumed was into ashes deed.   

Dydo the first that bylte that cite  
And made tours and the strong wall,  
Which was betrayshed also of Even,  
Afore remembered the fires funeral,  
And after long the wife of Hastruball  
Chase rather to die with her children twain,  
Than among romans for to live in pain.    

The xxviii chapter.  
☞ Of Machabeus Jonathas take by the king of Surry.  

IN order suing, unto John Bochas  
There appeared an heavy man of sight  
Machabeus, the worthy Jonathas,  
Which occupied for wisdom & for might  
Office of prince, priesthood, and of knight  
By title of Juda of wars took themprise,  
By claim of Levy as priest did sacrifice.   

The law of Jew's manly to defend  
With all the land of promission,  
This Jonathas full knightly did intend  
Again all enemies about them environ,  
Till of Surry the false king Tryphon  
By trains compassed & promise falsely hold,  
Took Jonathas of whom right now I told.   

In Machabeorum is rehearsed all  
Of his knighthood, and of his worthiness,  
With all the treasons in especial  
Wrought by Tryphon by great falseness,  
His subtle sleights and his doubleness,  
Them to rehearse ye get no more of me,  
For in the bible the story ye may se.    

The xxix Chapter.  
❧ How Demetrius the second lost at the last his head.  

But I will return to Demetrius  
That called was Demetrius the second,  
Which by descent came fro Antiochus,  
And by his manhood as it is well found  
Did the pride of king Ballast confound  
Called Alysander which by great out rage,  
Had put his father fro his heritage.   

This Demetrius famous and notable  
Upon Parthoys had many great victory,  
Till king Arsacides double and deceivable  
Himself delighting greatly in vainglory,  
By his sleighty frauds deceptory  
Under a shadow of feigning and false cheer,  
Took Demetrius unwarely prisonere.   

And to great hindering & slander of his name  
Arsacides by a manner mockery,  
Made Demetrius for despite and shame  
Poorly arrayed of hate and great envy  
For to be led through all Jury:  
Made him after by great advisement,  
To wed his daughter again his own intent,   

This Demetrius was kept out of prees  
That but few had of him sight,  
Unto time that Arsacydes  
Was deed and passed for all his great might,  
Than he cast to escape away by flight,  
And secretly to accomplish his intent  
He gate him counsel that was of his assent.   

Gallymandrus a lord of that country  
Which that was of his assent in deed,  
In their flight to keep them more secre  
Made Demetrius for to change his weed,  
And privy ways forth he did him lead:  
But all for nought his flight was in vain,  
For by strong pursuit he was taken again.   

After by constraint presented to the king,  
That he 'gan wax weary of his life,  
Kept more straightly folk on him waiting,  
And maugre him presented to his wife  
With her to abide full heavy and pensive:  
But when they had children atween them twain  
To go more at large loosed was his chain.   

And thus he had space and free licence  
To go and come at his advantage,  
For while his wife held with him residence  
They dempt his children were suffissant hostage,  
But he was ever unstable of his courage  
With Gallymandrus the foresaid knight,  
Three times take & brought again by flight.   

And for he was so divers many fold  
King F●aha●es in token he was unstable,  
Sent him three dice forged square of gold  
To play raket as a child changeable,  
His disposition was so variable  
But for to restrain his condition  
He was est take and fettered in prison.   

But when fortune had given him a pull  
By many a divers strange adver site,  
To punish him more Phrahates waxeth dull  
And Demetrius of prison was made free,  
Full restored again to his country,  
Wext proud again of new it is so fall,  
That he was hated of his lieges all.   

Cleopatra his mother that was queen  
Of all Egypt and wife to Tholome  
Was with her lord at strife, who list seen,  
Which turned after to great adver sue:  
But to strength her party thus wrought she,  
Made her son for to take on hand  
For her to fight again her husband.   

But Tholome called Euergetes,  
gain Demetrius defended his country,  
Made zebenna to put himself in prees  
Son of a merchant borne of low degree,  
To make a claim by false subtlety  
Of all Surry to have possession,  
For him alleging title of adoption   

He to be son to Antiochus  
Claiming thereby the kingdom of Surry,  
Only texclude the said Demetrius:  
And Tholomeus to sustain the party  
Of zebenna, with all his ch●ualry  
Gathered in Egypt and countries environ  
Again Demetrius, proudly is come down.   

And fortune with her double face  
Caused the country rise by rebellion  
That Demetrius stood clean out of grace,  
Whereby the people of that region  
Were whole again him in their opinion:  
That by Tholomes' wonderful working  
zebenna there received was as king.   

Thus zebenna by false intrusion  
Of all Surry was made lord and king,  
Title was there none but collusion  
Texclude Demetrius by subtle compassing,  
Yet as I find his party defending  
How Demetrius zebenna 'gan assail,  
Their quarrel darreyned with a great battle.   

Great people slain upon other side,  
Demetrius put from his region,  
And overcome for his great pride  
At great mischief, to his confusion:  
Having no succour nor consolation,  
But with a few chose of his main  
Fled by water to tire the cite.   

Like as he would have lived there in peace  
By a faint manner of perfection,  
Within the temple of mighty Hercules  
Under a shadow of religion:  
But suddenly at his coming down  
Into tire, and at his arrival  
His heed smit of, what did his pride avail?    

❧ The xxx Chapter.  
¶ How zebenna king of Surry, by entrusion entering, had mischievous ending.  

Touching zebenna of whom I spoke toforne,  
Poorly brought up and of low lineage,  
And of kindred but a beggar borne,  
Came tofore Bochas trist of his visage,  
sore weeping, mute of language,  
'Gan complain his woeful adventure  
Unware and sudden, impossible to recure.   

His conditions somewhat dull and rude,  
first in poverty proud and presumptuous,  
appeached after of great ingratitude  
showed in his life to king Autiochus,  
His first furtherer the story telleth thus:  
For which Antiochus greatly was annoyed  
Cast a mean by which he was destroyed.   

There was a cousin that called was Grispus  
To Antiochus and of the same line,  
Which by title of Demetrius  
Claimed as heir by many uncouth sign  
To reign in Surry, & proudly 'gan malign  
Again zebenna, whose party to support  
Stood Antiochus chief as I can report.   

This said Grispus young and tender of age  
By the furthering and supportation  
Of Antiochus, had in marriage  
His own daughter with great possession:  
That zebenna for short conclusion  
Compelled was for all his great might,  
To Antioch for to take his flight.   

And there he fill in so great poverty,  
Failed money for to pay wages,  
The soudyous which in that country  
Abide upon him of all manner ages  
Strange folk and sundry of languages,  
thieves, inurdres, mansteers, & pillars  
First of Jupiter assailing the treasures.   

To his disclaunder perpetual of memory  
The diffame arose so many fold,  
In Jovis temple the banner of victory  
He took away that was of massife gold,  
With a great image that stood there of old  
Of gold also, with other more treasures,  
With which pillage he paid the soldiers.   

Of sacrilege having no conscience  
To escape away he entered is the see,  
But Aeolus by great violence,  
With wind and tempest as he did flee  
Did unto him full great adversity:  
And all his meinie forsook him of intent,  
And he was take, and to Grispus sent   

King of Surry, to whom when he was brought  
Gave on him by judgement this sentence,  
For sacrilege that he had wrought  
Spoy●●g temples by great violence,  
Doing to gods no manner reverence  
For which Grispus commandeth hath as judge,  
He to be slain there was no better refuge.   

Of birth a boy clomb up to royal stage,  
Brought up of nought and set in dignity  
Knew nat himself, wext cruel of courage,  
Arose fro povert to great prosperity:  
But through fortune's mutability  
That blind lady so made her power stretch,  
As he began to end like as a wretch.   

reckon the estates of worldly regaly,  
Number of meinie, gold, treasure, & richesses,  
Stately castles palace on each party,  
Conquest by fortune, cumbinge to high noblesse,  
Cruel sword conveyed by wyifuinesse,  
Power extort, with covetise oppressing,  
Causeth destruction of many earthly king.   

But in contrary who list himself know  
And is by grace inclined to meekness,  
Though he in poverty be brought up low  
And is by virtue inclined to worthiness,  
With sceptre of peace, & sword of rightwiseness  
Indifferently his domes demeaning,  
Such one is able to be cleped a king.   

What is chief cause ground and occasion  
That princes oft stand in jeopardy  
Of worldly changes, in such division  
reigning among them that serpent of envy  
simulation, feigning flattery,  
The south out searched who so list to look,  
By many tragedy expert in this book.    

The xxxi Chapter.  
¶ How Bitynctus king of Auergnoyes, by the Romans was taken and died in prison.  

BItynctus next of Auergnoyes king  
Came tofore Bochas ginnig his complaint,  
Of his distress th'order rehearsing,  
And how that he was made feeble and faint,  
Again the Romans mischievously attaint:  
Nat withstanding to maintain his quarrel,  
He cast of pride again them to rebel.   

But it is first put in remembrance  
How Auergnoyes is a nation  
Hanging on Gaul longeth unto France,  
Of which Bityncte stood in possession:  
Having despite in his opinion  
To the Romans in any wise to obey,  
But proudly cast again them to warray.   

His labour was to stand in franchise  
And be at large from their subjection,  
Gau of pride their lordship to despise,  
gathered people of presumption:  
Whom for to meet Fabius was sent down,  
A mighty consul which knightly took on hand  
For their party Bitynctus to withstand.   

Of whose coming Bytictus took disdain  
By cause the folk which Fabius did lead  
Were but few, and when he hath them say  
He said of scoru: this people who taketh heed  
May not suffice my hounds for to feed  
When they be slain, to few they be in number  
With multitude that I shall them encumber.   

An hundred thousand in his vaoward he had  
That pass should of Auvergne the river,  
And fourscore thousand beside that he lad,  
the Consul Fabius met him with good cheer,  
When he was passed of Rodanus the da●gere,  
Fought all the day till it drew to night,  
The romans wan, their fone put to flight.   

At the river like as saith the book,  
There were drowned & brought to mischance  
thirty thousand, as they water took,  
Through fortunes froward variance:  
And by attaint t'increase of his grievance,  
Biti●●tus take was of the romans,  
Dampened to prison there to die in chains.    

☞ The xxxii Chap.  
How the tyrant Euergetes wedded queen Cleopatra, slew her eldest son, exiled his wife and wedded her daughter.  

AFter whose death pitously to read & seen  
Of Epiphanes the great Tholome  
Came the daughter, Cleopatra's the queen,  
'Gan complain her great adversity,  
Her sorrow furious diffaced her beauty:  
Her cheeks white of blood & tears meynt  
Rent with her hands were pitously bespreint.   

To Philometor she wedded was aforne  
Whilom son to Tholome the king,  
And by her lord in true wedlock borne  
Two sons she had, as by old writing:  
After whose death anon up suing  
To Euergetes a prince young of age  
She was again joined in marriage.   

By title of her in Egypt lord and sire,  
King of that land, cruel, and dispiteous,  
Whose story showeth no kigdom nor Empire  
May of themself make no man virtuous:  
For like a tiger this tyrant furious  
Her eldest son day of their marriage  
Borne to be heir he slew of mortal rage.   

Not long after this extort cruelty  
Albe they had children atween them twain,  
Out of Egypt he made her for to i'll  
And of malice he 'gan at her disdain:  
I trow she had matter for to plain,  
He took her daughter when that she was gone  
Again nature and wedded her anon.   

She called was Cleopatras also,  
But Euergetes to she we him more vengeable  
Again her mother that was fro Egypt go,  
The city which was to her favourable,  
The people exiled, he wooed & untretable,  
In her despite gave that notable town  
Of hateful malice to a strange nation.   

But when he know through his cruel deeds  
And 'gan conceive how he was culpable,  
Saw again him that many fold hatreds  
And conspiration of states honourable,  
He at large to be more vengeable  
Game Cleopatras, to begin an uncouth strife  
Went in to exile with his new wife.   

gathered people his old wife to assail,  
On her children to show more vengeance,  
A day assigned held with her battle,  
But which of them was driven to utterance  
Mine author plainly put not in remembrance  
But suing after thus of him I read,  
How of malice he wrought a cruel deed.   

Which to rehearse is nouther good ne fair,  
But terrible and abominable:  
He dismembered her son and his hair  
On pieces small, this tyrant most vengeable,  
And when the mother sat at her royal table,  
With body and heed at a solemnity,  
Let her be served of froward cruelty.   

Whereof all Egypt had indignation,  
And for to avenge his cruel great outrage  
They took his plates, bassinet, & haberion,  
And his cote armour wrought of great costage  
Fro their temples rend out his image,  
In token he was a tyrant most attaint  
Each thing diffaced, that was of him depaint.   

Whose hateful story replete of wretchedness  
Full of vengeance & fro ward mischiefs,  
Therefore I dame Bochas list not express  
More of his life fulfilled of all repreves:  
Of Cleopatra wrote not the final griefs  
In this chapter, what fatal way she took,  
Lest the matter should difface his book.    

¶ The xxxiii Chapter.  
¶ How Jugurtha by entrusion was king of Numedy, slew the rightful heirs & after he himself was drowned.  

AFter this woeful deadly adventure  
Of Cleopatras, whose story is full old  
Came Jugurtha the manly man to lure,  
And to John Bochas hath his tale told  
Of his conquests, and deeds manifold:  
subtle of wit, & as mine author sayeth  
Gave little force for to break his faith.   

But in order the story to convey  
Of Jugurtha and of his kinted,  
Massmissa king of Numedy soothe to say  
His uncle was and also as I tede  
The said king had a son in deed,  
Called Mysipsa eldest in writing  
After his day to reign as king.   

This Massinissa ordained afterward,  
Tofore his death of hole entention  
By cause Jugurtha was borne a bastard,  
To deprive him of all succession.  
In his Testament, but in conclusion  
His son Mysipsa afterward made king,  
Was to Jugurtha friendly and loving.   

Mysipsa had two sons as I find  
The tone of them called Adherbales,  
The second the story maketh mention  
Was that time named Hyempsays,  
With whom Jugurtha put himself in prees  
For to abide & dwell in especial  
Like as their cousin in their corte royal.   

Cherished full well because the he was wise  
And right likely of disposition,  
Chosin afterward for a singular prize  
To go to Spain to help Scipion  
Gain Numentaynes, a famous mighty town  
And there Jugurtha so knightly hath begun  
That by his nobis the town anon was won:   

And to remember his knighthood of intent,  
His worthiness and his high renown,  
To Mysipsa letters were down sent  
By the foresaid worthy Scipion,  
Which gave so great a commendation  
To Jugurtha, him calling in that were▪  
Of manly prowess the young load star.   

Of king Mysipsa received notably,  
Called him son by adoption,  
The king dead, soon Jugurtha traitourly  
Slew Hiempsales heir by succession,  
He of that realine to have possession:  
This was his custom how ever the title stood  
By slaughter and murder for to get good.   

He list to gods do no reverence.  
Of his nature wilful and reckless,  
Having nouther remorse nor conscience  
Touching the slaughter of Hiempsales,  
Falsely practised for his own increases:  
For which murdre Romans have set down  
A Consulere to do correction.   

Calphurnius he called that was sent  
Only to punish that horrible deed,  
But with treasure his eyen were so blended  
Of execution that he took none heed,  
The romans overcome with meed  
Gave to Jugurtha by collusion  
Of this murore a coloured false pardon.   

By which he took a manner hardiness  
Of tyranny which he did exercise,  
Gathered people of hareful cursedness  
And in himself 'gan curledly devise  
To execute the leaf same guise  
Of false murdre (I mean now none other)  
To slay Adherbales the second brother.   

That he alone by false intrusion  
Of Numedy might be lord and king,  
Thus of his cruelty, murder, & false treason  
The noise was borne by language & writing:  
Of which the graffs flasly abroad spreading  
Brought forth in hyndring of his name  
Fruit of disclaundre, & report of diffame.   

Mortal treason was covered under flowers,  
To save himself by some subtlety,  
And specially with his great treasures  
To appease the Senate if it would have be:  
But theragayne all the commonty  
Made again him a conjuration,  
On his false murdre to do correction.   

Four. M●men of arms were down sent  
With a praetor called Actilius,  
The which praetor set all his intent  
To gather treasure, for he was covetous:  
And covetise is contrarious  
Unto knighthood, as auctors all express,  
And stepmother unto worthiness.   

A siege he laid about a mighty tour  
Wherein Jugurtha put all his richesse,  
The siege was laid for love of the treasure  
More than for worship, or for worthiness,  
Whereby his name and his noblesse  
There discomfited, brought unto mischance:  
After for meed made his alliance   

With Jugurtha, to his increase of shame,  
Caused Africa through false chevisance  
(They together disclandered by diffame,)  
Them to withdraw fro the obeisance  
Of the Romans: & more themself tavaunce,  
To their purpose corrupted with treasure  
Many a Tribune and many Senator.   

Of new again all the comonte  
Fro Rome sent Gayus Marius,  
For the murders and horrible cruelty  
Wrought by Jugurtha the tyrant furious:  
Which to reform the said Gayus  
A Consulere of purpose was sent down,  
A manly knight, and famous of renown.   

Full notably the wars he began,  
Wrought every thing of high providence,  
And fortune which helpeth hardy man  
Gave him great favour by her influence:  
And alderfirst he did his diligence  
For to avoid all that were vicious,  
Delicate people, and folks lecherous.   

A day was set and taken a battle,  
But Jugurtha by false subtlety,  
Proffered much good which might not avail  
To have corrupt, if it would have be,  
The said Marius but ever in one degree  
He stood aye stable upright as a wall,  
And took none heed to his proffer at all.   

Than Jugurtha in party despaired  
Greatly astonied within himself musing,  
But like a man hindered and appayred  
He 'gan purpose anon a new thing,  
Of Mauritaine he went to the king  
To get help which called was Boccus,  
Him to secure again this Gaius.   

between them was made of new an alliance  
The which last but a little space,  
For king Boccus 'gan fall in repentance  
Cast he would resort to the grace  
Of the romans, and no more trespass:  
And to perform his entention  
He made to Gayus this mediation.   

There was one Scylla called a Questour  
Of Gayus host had governance,  
For king Boccus he was mediator  
That there was newly accordance  
between him & Gayus: and by the purveyance  
Of this Boccus, Jugurtha anon was hent  
Maugre his might, and t● Gayus sent.   

And all his kingdom without resistance,  
Gain to Romans came under obeisance,  
And Marius forgave them their offence,  
received them under assurance,  
That he shall by doom do no vengeance,  
To punish the trespasses that they did aforne  
The space counted fro time they were borne.   

Jugurtha taken almost for anger mad  
Brought to Rome and fettered in prison,  
To Terpeya an high hill he was lad  
judgement give for his false treason,  
Bound to a stone and after throw down  
Fro the place full high where he stood,  
Without mercy in to Tibre flood.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

THis may be well called a tragedy,  
By description taking authority,  
For tragedy, as poets specify,  
Ginneth with joy endeth with adversity,  
From high estate cast in to low degree:  
Example taken this story saith aright  
Of jugurtha that was first a good knight   

At his ginning famous in chivalry,  
Gate Numentaigne, of Spain a great city,  
But in repairing home to that party  
I mean when he came home to his country  
He changed knighthood into cruelty,  
With covetise so blinded was the sight,  
Of jugurtha that first was a good knight.   

His wit, his power he holy did apply  
To hateful murdre, fraud, and subtlety,  
By extort title himself to magnify  
Slew rightful heirs, reft them their liberty,  
By false intrusion clomb up to their se,  
And gave no force were it wrong or right  
A thing contrary to every worthy knight.   

Noble princes lift up your hearts eye.  
Within yourself remember and do see  
Of this murder the hateful tyranny,  
With oppression done to the commonty,  
His ginning good a cursed end had he:  
Murdre asketh vengeance day and night,  
A thing contrary to every worthy kyght.     
❧ Here endeth the fift book and here after followeth the sixth.   


¶ Here Bochas sitting in his study alone writeth a great process how Fortune like a monstrous Image having an. C. hands, appeared unto him and spoke, and Bochas unto her: making between them both many great arguments and reasons of fortunes chances.  
¶ The first Chapter.  

IN his study alone as Bochas stood  
His pen in hand, of sudden adventure  
To remember he thought it did him good  
how that no man may himself assure  
In worldly things fully to recure  
Grace of fortune to make her to be stable  
Her daily changes be so variable.   

She braydeth ever on the chauntipleure  
Now song now weeping, now woe now gladness,  
Now in mirth now pain to endure,  
Now light now heavy, now in sweetness  
Now in trouble, now free now in distress,  
Showing to us a manner resemblance  
No worldly wealth hath here non assurance.   

While Bochas pensyfe stood in his library  
With cheer oppressed, pale in his visage,  
somedeal abashed, alone, and solitary,  
To him appeared a monstrous image  
Parted on twain of colour and courage,  
Her right side full of summer flowers,  
The other oppressed with winter stormy showers.   

Bochas astoined full fearful to abraid  
When he beheld the wonderful figure  
Of fortune, thus to himself he said:  
What may this mean is this a creature,  
Or a monster transformed again nature,  
Whose brenning eyes spercle of their light  
As do the stars the frosty winter night?   

And of her cheer full good heed he took,  
Her face seeming cruel and terrible,  
And by disdain manasing of look,  
Her hear untrussed, hard, sharp & horrible,  
froward of shape loathsome & audible  
An hundred hands she had of each part,  
In sundry wise her gifts to depart.   

Some of her hands life up men aloft  
To high estate of worldly dignity,  
Another hand gripped full unsoft  
Which cast another in great adversity,  
Gave one richesse an other poverty,  
Gave some also by report a good name,  
Noised an other of slander and diffame.   

Her habit was of many fold colours  
Watchet blue of feigned steadfastness,  
Her gold allayed like son in watery showers  
Meynt with green for change & doubleness,  
A pretence reed, dread meynt with hardiness,  
White for cleanness like soon for to fail  
Faint black for mourning, russet for travail   

Her colours meynt of wols more than one  
Some while eclipsed, some while bright,  
Dull as an ass when men had haste to gone,  
And as a swallow geryshe of her flight,  
between slow & swift, now crooked now upright,  
Now as a cripple low corbed down,  
Now as a dwery and now a champion.   

Now a coward durst not come in prees,  
Now somewhile hardy as a lion,  
Now like Ector, now dreadful Thersites,  
Now was she Croesus, now Agamennon,  
Now Sardanapallus of condition,  
Now was she mamnishe, now was she feminyne,  
Now could she rain & now falsely shine.   

Now a Mermaid angelic of face,  
A tail behind very serpentine,  
Now debonaire now froward to do grace,  
Now as a lamb treatable & benign,  
Now like a wolf of nature to malign,  
Now sirens to sing folk a sleep  
Till Charybdis drown them in the deep.   

Thus Bochas considringe her figure,  
All her features in order he 'gan behold,  
Her breadth her length, her shape & her stature  
An hundred hands & arms there he told,  
Whereof astoined his heart 'gan wax cold:  
And among all her membres everichone  
Him sempte she had no feet upon to gone.   

And while that he considered all this thing  
between them as it were in a trance,  
She suddenly toward him looking  
He conceived by her countenance  
Were it for ire were it for pleasance,  
either for favour other for disdain  
By the manner she would somewhat say.   

Looking as coy as she had had disdain  
Bochas (quoth she) I know all thine intent  
How thou travailest, busiest the in vain  
In thy study ever diligent,  
Now in the west now in the orient,  
To seche stories north and meridien  
Of worthy princes that here toforne have been.   

Some dwelled under the pole arctic  
By my favour up raised to the stars,  
Other under the pole A●tartyke  
Which in contrary fro us so far is,  
Some encreced and set up by the wars:  
Like as me list their triumphs tavaunce  
Frownig on other I brought than to mischance.   

I see the busy remembering by Scripture  
Stories of princes in every manner age,  
As my favour followeth their adventure,  
By humble style set in plain language,  
Not made curious by none advantage  
Of rhetorics, with muses for to strive,  
But in plain four me their deeds to descrive.   

In which process thou dost great diligence.  
As they deserve to give them thank or blame,  
Settest up one in royal excellence  
Within my house called the house of Fame,  
The golden trumpet with blasts of good name  
Enhanceth on to full high parties,  
Where Jupiter sitteth among the heavenly skies.   

Another trumpet of sows full vengeable  
Which bloweth up at feasts funeral,  
Nothing bright but of colour sable  
Far fro my favour, deadly, and mortal,  
To plunge princes from their estate royal  
When I am wroth to make them lout low,  
Than of malice I do that trumpet blow.   

Thou hast written & set together in gross  
Like their deserts worldly men's deeds,  
Nothing concealed nor under covert close,  
Spared the crowns nor their purple weeds,  
Nor golden sceptres, but gave them their medes:  
Crowned one with laurer high on his head set,  
Other with pervinke made for the gibbet.   

Thus diversly my gifts I depart,  
One accept another is refused,  
Like hazarders my dice I do ieoparte,  
One well furthered another is accused,  
My play is double my trust is ever abused,  
Though one to day my favour hath won,  
To morrow again I can eclipse his son.   

Cause of my coming plainly to declare  
By good avice, unto thy presence,  
Is to show my manners and not spare,  
And my conditions briefly in sentence  
proved of old and new experience:  
Plainly to show me list not for to rowne,  
To day I flatter, to morrow I can frown.   

This hour I can show me merciable,  
And suddenly I can be despitous,  
Now well willed, now hastily vengeable,  
Now sober of cheer, now hasty & furious,  
My play uncouth, my manners marvelous  
Brayed on the wind, now glad & now murne,  
Like a wedercock my face each day I turn.   

Wherein Bochas I tell the yet again  
Thou dost folly thy wits for to ply,  
All thy labour thou spyllest in vain  
gain my manners so fully to reply,  
By thy writing to find a remedy  
To interrupt in thy last days,  
My statutes, and my customable ways,   

All the labour of Philosophers old  
Travail of poets my manners to deprave,  
Hath been of yore to say like as they would,  
Over my freedom the sovereignty to have:  
But of my laws the liberty to save  
Upon my wheel they shall them not defend,  
But when me list than they shall descend.   

Why should men put me in blame  
To follow the nature of my double play?  
With new buds doth not Ver the same  
When primroses appear fresh and gay?  
To day they show to morrow gone away:  
Summer after of flowers hath foison  
Till june with scythes after mow them down.   

Now is the see calm and blaundyshing,  
Now are the winds comfortable & still,  
Now is Boreas sturdy in blowing  
Which young sheep & blosomes grieveth ill:  
Why also should I not have my will,  
To show myself now smooth, & after trouble  
sith to my kind it longeth to be double?   

No man so far is fall in wretchedness  
But that he standeth in trust to rise again,  
Nor none so deep plunged in distress  
Nor with despair nor wanhope over lain,  
But that there is some hope left certain  
To give him comfort, serving his intent,  
To be relieved when me list assent.   

The earth is clad in motlayes white & read,  
When Estas entereth with vyolettes sote,  
The greves are green, & in every meed  
The vawm fleeteth which doth to hearts' boat:  
Angust passed, again in to the rote  
By course of nature the virtue doth resort,  
To revolution of kind I me report.   

Who should than debar me to be double,  
Sith doubleness longeth to me of right▪  
Now like summer now with winter trouble,  
Now blind of look dark as the cloudy night,  
Now glad of there of heart merry & light:  
They be but fools again my might to muse  
Or me atwite though I my power use.   

seld or never I bide not in one point,  
Men must at lowpes take me as they find,  
And when I stand furthest out of joint  
To set folks backward far behind  
Than worldly men with their eyen blind  
Sore complain upon my doubleness,  
Call me than the froward false goddess.   

Thus by your wrytig & marvelous language  
I am disclandered of mutability,  
Whereof by right I catch great advantage  
sith doubleness no slander is to me,  
Which is a parcel of my liberty:  
To be called by title of rightwiseness  
Of changes new lady and princess.   

Thus when fortune had said her will  
parcel declared of her governance,  
Made a stint and soberly stood still,  
John Bochas sat & heard all her dalliance,  
Fearful of cheer, pale of countenance  
In order enprinted each thing that she said,  
Full demure thus he did abraid.   

He took upon him virtue and courage  
Upon a point for to abide stable,  
Certes (quoth he) like to thy visage  
All worldly things be double & changeable,  
Yet for my part by remembrance notable,  
I shall perform southly if I con,  
This little book that I have begun.   

And lest my labour die not nor appall  
Of this book the title for to save,  
Among mine other little works all  
With letters large above upon my grave  
This books name shall in stone be grave:  
How I John Bochas in especial  
Of worldly princes written have the fall.   

Of which emprise the cause to descrive  
This was first ground, I will not deny,  
To eschew sloth and vices all my live,  
And specially the vice of gluttony,  
Which is norice unto lechery:  
This was chief cause why I undertook  
The compilation of this little book.   

Yet by thy talking as I understand  
Each thing here of nature is changeable,  
After thy sentence both on see & land,  
Yet could I reckon things that be stable  
As virtuous life abiding unmutable,  
Set hole to godward of will & thought,  
Maugre thy power, & ne changeth nought.   

Thou mayst eke call unto remembrance  
Things made stable by grace which is divine  
Hast thou not herd the perseverance  
Of holy martyrs which list not to decline  
Fro Christ's faith till they did fine?  
Thy wheel in them had none interest  
To make them vary fro their stableness.   

A man that is enarmed in virtue  
Again thy might to make resistance,  
And set his trust by grace in Christ jesus  
And hath all hole his heartily advertence  
Ou right wisnesse, force, and on prudence,  
With their sister called attemperance,  
Hath a savecondute again thy variance.   

They set no store by thy double wheel,  
With supportation of other ladies three  
Their trust stand not in plate, mail, or steel,  
But in these virtues faith hope & charity,  
Called virtues theologice:  
Watch with the four afore here specified  
Thy wheel and the have utterly defied.   

If I with wings might fly to heaven,  
There should I see thou hast nothing adone  
With Jupiter, nor the planets seven,  
With Phoebus, Mars, mercury, nor the moan  
But worldly fools early late and soon  
Such as be blended or dyrked with lewdness,  
By false opinion call the a goddess.   

Gifts of grace, nor gifts of nature,  
Almesse deed done with humility,  
Love and compassion be far out of thy cure  
seemliness strength bounty or beauty  
Virtuously used in their degree,  
Gain none of these thy power may not stretch  
For who is virtuous little of thee doth reach.   

Of thy conditions to set another proof,  
Which fools use in their adversity  
For excusation, as sometime sayeth a thief  
When he is hanged it was his destiny,  
A●witeth fortune of his iniquity,  
As she had power & domination  
To rule man by will again reason.   

For which quoth John Bochas in party desolate  
To determine such heavenly hid fecrees,  
To though that be divines of estate  
I remit such uncouth privities:  
And with poets that be of low degrees  
I esche we to climb to high a fit  
Lest for presumption I should not fall soft.   

But if I had hid in my courage  
Such mysteries of divine providence,  
Without envy I would in plain language  
Vttre them by writing with huble reverence:  
predestination neither prescience  
Not appertain fortune unto the  
And for my part I will excuse me.   

And proceed like as I undertook  
After that I told my matter  
Of fall of princes for to write a book,  
But yet afore if thou wouldst hear  
I desire of hole heart and enter  
To have a copy of princes names all,  
Which fro thy wheel thou hast made to fall.   

Thy secre bosom is full of stories  
Of sundry princes how they their life have lad  
Of their triumphs and victories  
Which old poets and Philosophers sad  
In metre and prose compiled have an rad,  
Song their laudes their faults eke reserved,  
By remembrance as they have deserved,   

Of which I have put some in memory,  
thereon set my study and labour  
So as I could to their increase of glory,  
Though of language I had but small favour,  
Cause Calliope did me no succour,  
For which thou hast during all this while  
Rebuked me of my rude style.   

Men would account it were a great dullness  
But if language conveyed be by prudence,  
Out declared by sober adviseness,  
Under support favoured by defence  
Of Tullius chief prince of eloquence,  
Should more profit shortly to conclude,  
Than my style spoke in terms rude.   

Yet oft time it hath be felt and sayen  
Under husks growing on land arable  
Hath be found and tried out good greine,  
Under rude leaves shaking & unstable  
Pulled fair fruit wholesome & delightable:  
And semblably where rhetoric hath failed,  
In blunt terms good counsel hath availed.   

Philosophers of the golden ages,  
And poets that found out fresh ditties,  
As king Amphion with his fair languages  
And with his harpig made folk of low degrees  
And labourers tenhabyte first cities:  
And so by music and Philosophy  
'Gan first of commons noble policy.   

The chief of music is melody & accord,  
Well of Philosophy sprang out of prudence,  
By which two means 'gan unity & accord  
With politic virtue to have their asistence,  
Wisemen to reign, subjects do reverence:  
And by this ground in stories men may see,  
Were bylte the walls of Thebes the city.   

Accord in music causeth the melody  
Where is discord there is diversity,  
And where is peace is prudent policy,  
In each kingdom and every great country  
Strife first induced by thy duplicity:  
For which thou mayst as clerks thee discryves,  
Be called lady of contekes and of strives.   

first were found out hateful divisions  
By thy contrived false mutabilitees,  
Slaughter, debate, froward dissensions,  
In regions, provinces, and cities:  
Desolations of towns and of countries,  
Where of men had first experience  
By thy changeable gery violence.   

Thus by the opinion of thy wheel double  
As fair by nature as it was possible,  
Ouerthwertly thou broughtest men in trouble,  
Madest each to other froward and audible,  
By thy trains uncouth and terrible,  
Like as a corser maketh colts that be wild,  
With spur & whip to be tame and mild.   

Thus by the tempest of thine adversities,  
To make men more tame of their courages,  
In their discords between kingdoms & cities  
After the sharpness of thy cruel rages,  
Only by speech & mean of fair languages,  
Folk by thy fraud fro grace far exiled  
Were by fair speech to unite reconciled.   

People of Grece, of Rome, & of Cartage,  
next in italy with many a region  
Were indused by sweetness of fair language  
To have together their conversation,  
To build castles and many a royal town:  
What caused this to tell in brief the form,  
But eloquence rude people to enfourine▪   

Afore time they were but beastial  
Till they to reason by laws were constrained,  
Under discretion by statutes natural  
Fro wilful lusts by prudence were restrained,  
By assent made one & together enchained  
In golden chains of peace and unite  
Thus 'gan the building of every great cite.   

But when thou meddlest to have an entresse,  
They that were one to bring them at discord  
To interrupt with thy doubleness  
cities & regions that were of one accord:  
Like as this book can bear me well record  
Fro the time that thou first began,  
Thy mutability hath stroyed many a man.   

Thou causedst men to be obstinate  
In their courages, and incorrigible,  
Wilful, & froward, causeless at debate,  
Each to other contrarious and audible,  
Them to reform almost impossible,  
Till fair speech voiding division  
Peace reconciled between many a region.   

For there is none so furious outrage  
Nor no matter so far out of the way,  
But that by mean of gracious language  
And fair speech, may a man convey  
To all reason meekly for to obey:  
By an example which I rehearse shall,  
We'll to purpose and historial.   

The hardy knight the cruel Achilles  
When hateful ire assailed his courage,  
There was no mean with him to treat of peace,  
To still the tempest of his doleful rage,  
Save only this which did his ire assuage,  
By attemperance to obey to reason  
When of an harp he heard the sweet sound.   

Which instrument by his great sweetness  
Put all rancour out of his remembrance,  
Wrested him again to all gladness  
From him avoiding all rancour & grievance:  
Semblably fair speech and dalliance  
Set men in rest in realms here & yonder,  
By good language that were far asunder.   

With these words Bochas wext debonair  
Toward fortune as he cast his look,  
Withdrew his rancour and to speak fair  
Touching his labour that he upon him took  
Beseeching her for to further his book,  
That his name which was but little know,  
By good report might be further blow.   

That his name might ferther spread  
Which stood as yet shrouded in darkness,  
By her favour his name forth to lead  
His book to further do her business,  
By good report to give it a brightness,  
with laureate streams shed forth to people all  
By forgetfulness that it never appall.   

This was the hill which that John Bochas  
Made unto fortune with full humble style,  
When fortune had conteived all his case  
Soberly stood and 'gan stint a while,  
And glad of cheer after she 'gan smile  
On mine author, and with a fresh visage  
In sentence spoke to him this language.   

soothly (quoth she) I see the business  
Of mortal men, how curious that they be,  
How they study by great adviseness  
Of my secrets for to be prive:  
To know the conceits hid within me,  
And my counsels, ye men do all your pain  
Albe that lightly ye may not thereto attain.   

In this matter your wit doth never faint  
imagining my likeness in your mind,  
Like your conceits ye forge me & paint  
Sometime a woman with wings set behind,  
And portrayen me with eyen that ben blind:  
Cause of all this briefly to express,  
Is your own covetous blindness.   

Your appetites most strange & divers  
And ever full of change and doubleness,  
froward also malicious and perverse,  
By hasty climbing to worship & riches,  
Always void of troth and stableness:  
Most presumptuous, search out in all degrees,  
Falsely to attain to worldly dignities.   

Bochas Bochas I perceive every thing,  
And know full weal the great difference  
hid in thyself of words and thinking,  
atween them both the disconuenience:  
Hast thou not written many great sentence  
In thy book to slander with my name,  
Of hole intent my manners to defame▪   

Thou callest me stepmother most unkind,  
And sometime a false enchantress,  
A mermaid with a tail behind,  
Of scorn somewhile me naming a goddess,  
Sometime a witch, sometime a sorceress,  
finder of murder and of deceits all,  
Thus of malice mortal men me call.   

All this is done in despite of me  
By accusation in many sundry wise,  
Ye oft appeche my mutability  
Namely when I your requests do despise,  
For to accomplish your greedy covetise:  
When ye fail ye lay on me the wite  
Of your adversities, me falsely to atwite.   

And thou of purpose for teslaundre me  
Hast written ungodly a contrarious fable,  
How I wrestled with glad poverty,  
To whose party thou were favourable,  
Settest me a back, gain me thou were vengeable  
Now of new requirest my favour  
The for to help and further thy labour.   

Askance I am of manners most changeable,  
Of conditions very feminine,  
Now here now there as the wind unstable,  
By thy description and by thy doctrine,  
To every change ready to incline:  
As women been young and tender of age,  
Which of nature be divers of courage.   

But for to further in party thine intent  
That of thy book the process may proceed,  
By my favour to the accomplishment  
I am well willed to help the in thy need,  
Like thy desire the better thou shalt speed,  
When I am toward with a benign face  
To speed thy ioruey by support of my grace.   

That thy name and also thy surname  
With poets and many an old author,  
May be registered in the house of Fame,  
By supportation of my sudden favour,  
By assistance also of my succour  
Thy work texplete the laurer for to win  
At Saturninus I will that thou begin.    

The first Chapter.  
¶ Here rehearseth Fortune her conditions unto Bochas, showing how many one she enhanceth for a time, and anon after them suddenly overthroweth.  

Among romans this said Saturnyne  
Was outrageous of conditions,  
Caused in Rome when he 'gan malign  
Great debates and great seditions:  
And by his froward conspirations  
He was sharp enemy again the prudent judge  
Called Metellus, devoid of all refuge.   

Fro the capitol set with mighty hand  
Found no succour Metellus in the town,  
The same time thou shalt understand  
How by my help and supportation  
One that was small of reputation  
Called Glaucus, in poverty brought low  
Made Consulere, the story is well know.   

A servant first and almost set at nought,  
And afterward I made him fortunate,  
Left never till I had him brought  
By a prerogative chose of the Senate,  
To be a praetor an office of estate,  
Which also wrought by conspiration  
To bring Metellus to destruction.   

Of whose assent there was also another  
Called Marius being the same year  
Texplete this treason their sworn brother,  
which was also that time a Consulere:  
I fortune made them full good cheer  
Like their desires gave them liberty,  
To banish Metellus out of their cite.   

Of these three Romans the first Saturnine,  
And Glaucus was called the second,  
And Marius laid out hook and line  
As I have told Metellus to confound,  
To their purpose I was also found  
Favourable, to bring them to mischief  
As their story showeth an open proof.   

They banished him out of Rome town,  
And Saturninus by his subtle working  
clomb up fast of presumption  
To be called of Rome lord and king,  
I gave him favour by a manner false smiling  
Till at the last plainly to declare  
Of his destruction I brought him in the snare.   

The Senators knowing the malice  
Of Saturn which made a great gadring  
Of sundry folk, casting in his advice  
By their favour he might be called king,  
All this while of his upclymbing  
I showed him during a long space,  
Him to deceive a full benign face.   

Till Marius a mighty Consulere  
To withstand his presumption  
Rose with strong hand, & with a knightly cheer  
Beset his palace about environ,  
Broke his gates amid of the town:  
And Saturninus void of all favour  
To the Capitoyle fled for secure.   

He was forbarred by Marius of victual,  
The Capitoyle besieged round about,  
At the entering was a strong battle  
On other party slain a great rout:  
Thus of my favour he 'gan stand in doubt,  
Thus Saturninus brought in great distress  
His good acheted lost all his richesse.   

Experience full openly men leareth  
Such as highest thereupon ascend  
Like as the turn of my wheel requireth  
When they least ween, down they shall descend:  
They have no power themself to defend  
Again my might, when they be overthrow  
What do I than but laugh & make amow.   

Drusus also borne of great lineage  
And descended of full high noblesse  
Unto virtue contrary of his courage,  
froward found to all gentleness,  
Yet chose he was the story doth express  
Questour of Asye an office of high degree,  
For his birth to govern that country.   

But oft time virtue nor gentleness  
Come nat to heirs by succession,  
Example in Drusus the story beareth witness,  
Which both of courage and disposition  
Was ever froward of condition:  
For which let men dame as they must needs,  
not after birth but after the deeds.   

Virtues all in him were set aside,  
Slow to be armed, hated chivalry,  
Most covetous, deynous, full of pride,  
His deeds froward, full of treachery,  
To high estate I did him magnify:  
Yet all my gifts in him ne might stretch,  
For here tofore thee he cometh like a wretch.   

He dare for shame nat show his visage  
So far disclandered is his wretchedness,  
His covetise, and vicious outrage,  
Falsely caused by his doubleness:  
Maguldusa a prince of great noblesse,  
Betrayshed was for meed to the king  
Called Boccus by Drusus false working.   

What manner torment or what grievous pain  
Were competent covenable or condign  
To him that can outward flatter & feign,  
And in his heart covertly mal●●●e▪  
As Drusus did which showed many sign  
To Maguldusa of love and frendlyhede,  
Underneath false treason hid in deed.   

But Maguldusa like a manly knight  
gain king Boccus hath himself soccoured,  
When he by doom was judged again right  
Of an elephant for to be devoured:  
Scaped freely, and after that laboured  
To acquit himself through his high renown  
Slew false Drusus mid of Rome town.   

Bochas also men put the lack in me  
That I was cause of the destruction  
By my contrarious mutability  
Of the notable famous Scipion,  
Which in the time of Sensoryn Caton  
Gate the triumph for many great victory,  
To put his name perpetually in memory.   

For his merits chose a Consulere  
And chief bishop to govern their cite,  
To all the Senate patron most enter,  
Most famous of name and dignity,  
Saved romans from all adversity:  
Time when the were dreadful & despitous  
'Gan atween Pompey and Cesar Julius.   

Thus when the said famous Scipion  
Was through my favour accounted most notable  
He fro my wheel suddenly was throw down  
Which never in word nor deed was culpable:  
But the Romans malicious and unstable,  
By their hangman first chained in prison,  
After racked, there gained no ransom.   

Thus he that had availed them so oft,  
To save himself found secure on no side:  
His dead body they hinge it high aloft  
For a spectacle long there to abide,  
Thus geryshly my gifts I denied  
Stoundmeale now friend now adversary,  
Reward good with guerdons full contrary.   

This was expert full well in Scipion,  
'Gan with joy and ended in wretchedness:  
Bochas remember make hereof mention  
And of Fanaticus how I of gentleness  
Made him ascend to notable high prowess,  
Yet books say touching his kindred  
Manly of person, a churl borne in deed.   

For my disport with a glad visage  
I set him up 〈◊〉 high upon my wheel,  
Gave him lordship out of low servage,  
To do him favour it lie kedine full weal:  
Wherefore Bochas his story every deal  
Note it well, and in especial  
How he by sleight came to estate royal.   

By sleighty feigning to divers folk he told  
How that he spoke with Scirra the goddess,  
At every hour plainly when he would,  
Of presumption discrived her likeness:  
Said also how she of her goodness  
Had granted him (his stare to magnify)  
During his life a spirit of prophecy.   

And furthermore the people for to blind  
He fantasied by a craft uncouth  
Within a shalt the story maketh mind  
Of a nut to have fire in his mouth,  
Blew it sparkling north and south:  
Affirmed (wherewith folk were blended)  
It was a spirit to him from heaven sent.   

By which he wrought many great virtue,  
gathered people till he had in deed  
Two thousand churls at his retinue,  
Which afterward his purpose for to speed  
To sixty thousand increased as I read:  
I suffered all, served him at the tide  
Till all the court grudged at his pride:   

Though of birth he was but a vileyne  
Rose up of nought by sudden adventure,  
My gery favour made him to be sayn  
Royal of port, did his busy cure  
To raise his banner ware a cote armure:  
And by gracious supportation,  
Brought great people to his subjection.   

At the last my lust 'gan appall  
Toward him not being favourable,  
Down fro my wheel anon I made him fall:  
For by Romans was sent a great constable  
Called Porpenna a prince full notable,  
Which fill on him, venquisshed him anon,  
Slew & outrayed his churls everichone.   

Himself was hanged upon an high gibbet,  
Some of his meinie was cast in prison,  
Thus to his pride I gave a great tripet,  
And fro my wheel I cast him low down  
In his most highest domination:  
Took no heed, where he did laugh or mourn  
For with no man, I do always sojourn.   

Bochas quod fortune, take good heed also  
How I can both further and disavail,  
For ensample see how Athenyo,  
That whilom was a shepherd in italy  
A brigaunt after merchants to assail  
Say in wait beside a great mountain,  
Of fugitives he was made a captain.   

Slew first his lord a rich Senator,  
By violence broke many a strong prison,  
And for a time I gave him great favour  
To gather robbers about him environ:  
All the churls of that region  
He assembled through his iniquity,  
To hold a were with Rome the cite.   

Besieged castles broke down mighty tours,  
Slew and rob about in each country,  
spoiled palaces of worthy Senators,  
Title had he none save title of volunte:  
Took upon him of pride and cruelty  
For to be clad in purple like a king,  
Bore a sceptre among his men riding.   

Upon his head ordained for the nonce  
His golden hear tressed like an emperor,  
A coif enbrouded all of rich stones,  
Me list to laugh that a false robbour  
By supportation of my gery favour  
Which last not long, for after in short while  
As is my custom I did him beguile.   

I suffered him and made him feigned cheer  
As I have done to other more full oft,  
Till down fro Rome was sent a Consulere  
Which took him proudly, & hinge him aloft,  
His churls slain, & some of them nat soft  
In chains bound, for short conclusion  
Were dempt by law to die in prison.   

By which story Bochas thou mayst lere  
A great party of my condition,  
But now in haste a story thou shalt here  
How in the year fro the foundation  
More than sixty. C. I mean of Rome town,  
Was a gathering a great company  
Together sworn, by false conspiracy.   

Them to withdraw fro the obeisance  
Of a Tribune called Clodove,  
Which for knighthood had governance  
And was sent down from Rome city  
With mighty hand to rule a great country  
Called champagne, and plainly for to say  
The people there list him nat obey.   

Three score and four were of them in numbered  
That named were chief conspirators,  
Which y● cast them their captain to encumber  
with multitude of thieves & robbers:  
Which chase among them to be their supportours  
Three mighty captains, of which there was one  
Called Spartharcus chiefest of eachone.   

gathered churls made themself strong,  
On an high hill took their dwelling place,  
Having no regard were it right or wrong  
To spoil the country, beasts to enchase:  
I cherished them with a benign face  
For a season, and gave them liberty  
By false ravin to rob the country.   

What thing is more cruel in comparison,  
And more vengeable of will & not of right  
Than when a churl hath domination▪  
Lack of discretion blindeth so the sight  
Of commoners for default of light,  
When they have power countries to govern,  
Far like a beast that can nothing discern.   

Gladiators folks did them call,  
For their sword were with steel made fine  
For to fight gain wild beasts all,  
As lions, bears, bores, and wild swine:  
And the mountain where they did line  
Called Venuse, and through their cruelty  
Slew and rob about in each country.   

Spartharchus was their chief captain  
Brought up of nought & borne of low degree,  
But Claudius a mighty strong Roman  
Was sent with power fro Rome the cite  
For to defend and save the country:  
The hill besieged before them as he lay  
He was rebuked, beat, and driven away.   

Many of them that kept the mountain  
Were hurt that day, the story telleth thus,  
amongs which was slain a great captain  
That was fellow unto Spartharchus,  
As I find he hight Inomaus:  
For whose death was take so great vengeance,  
That all the country felt thereof grievance.   

They of the mountain all of one assent  
Without mercy or remission,  
Most vengeable have rob and brent  
All the country about them environ,  
Till two Consulers came fro Rome down:  
The first of them called Lentulus,  
Both put to flight by the said Spartharchus.   

Whereof the romans greatly dismayed,  
The Senators of indignation  
Both ashamed & in themself afraid  
Sent one Crassus a great lord of the town,  
With the number of a legion:  
And when that he on Spartharcus first set  
Slew of his men, six. M. when they met.   

And afterward beside a great river  
Called Salayre they had a great battle,  
Where Spartharcus stood in great danger  
For his cheer and countenance 'gan fail:  
thirty thousand clad in plate & mail  
Were slain that day, there gained no ransom  
All their captains assigned to prison.   

Without all this as made is mention  
Sixty thousand in the field lay deed,  
And six thousand were sent to prison:  
The field with blood stained & made read,  
And fourscore. M. quaking in their dread  
Were thilk day after the roman guise  
Take to mercy, received to franchise.   

And Spartharcus at mischief put to flight,  
When I from him turned my visage  
He lost cheer, he lost also his might  
When I appalled the fine of his passage:  
And for he was a churl of his lineage,  
Of his increases I liked nothing weal,  
Therefore unwarly I cast him fro my wheel.   

Of my manners to make a greater proof  
There was another famous great robbour  
Which through Spain, was a disclandered thief  
And for he dread of justice the rigour,  
Trusting he should find in me succour  
Called Vrinatus he Spain anon forsook,  
And to Rome the right way he took.   

gathered meinie of his condyrion  
Of every sect to make himself strong,  
thieves and robbers of every region,  
Many a churl was medied them among:  
His name tencreace were it right or wrong  
What ever he gate in city or village,  
With his soldiers he parted the pillage.   

Thus by my help he came to great richesses,  
Which brought in pride and presumption,  
He nat provided of my doubleness  
'Gan to malign again Rome town:  
But by the prudence of last Scipion  
Son of Lepidus, making thereof no boast,  
He slain was by them he trusted most.   

By which ensample notable of remembrance  
showed heretofore John Bochas unto thee,  
Thou mayst know in party my puissance,  
My sudden changes, my mutabylite:  
And for to avoid all ambuguite  
To declare the sum of mine intent,  
Great Marius to thee I do present.   

Black his weed and his habit also  
His heed unkempt, his locks door and grey,  
His look down cast in token of sorrow & woe  
On his cheeks the salt tears lay,  
Which bare record of his deadly affray:  
Wherefore Bochas do thy pen dress  
To describe his mortal heaviness.   

His rob stained was with roman blood,  
His sword aye ready whet to do vengeance  
Like a tyrant most furious and wode,  
In slaughter & murdre set all his pleasance:  
Yet nat forty I gave him governance,  
Over the people, rose on my wheel up fast  
But as unwarely down I did him cast.   

between him & Scylla the woeful deadly strives  
At large hereafter Bochas thou shalt write,  
How many romans lost by them their lives  
I will also in order that thou indite,  
And if I shall rebuke them and atwyte  
As I fro nought made them in honour shine,  
So I again ward made them in mischief fine.   

Forget nat also, the deadly piteous fate  
Of him that was so notable in his life,  
I mean the great famous Mithridate  
Whose name is yet full couth and rife,  
To whom I gave a great prerogative,  
Forty winter, the deed was well seen,  
Again romans the were to sustain.   

For which hereafter I give it the in charge  
Of Mithridate, the story set along  
When thou haste leisure & a space large,  
Remember his conquest & his deeds strong:  
And how that I meddled me among  
For all his noblesse and his felicity,  
To give him part of great adversity.   

Next in order after her own choice  
Fortune untrusty upon each party,  
To John Bochas both conveyed fro Parthoys  
Strong Herodes, reigning in Parthy,  
Lo John (quoth she) take heed of this story:  
All his kindred if it be well out sought  
Were by Scithiens chased & brought to nought   

And yet for all my mutabylite  
Some of them while they stood despaired  
I restored unto their dignity:  
Unto which when they were repaired,  
This Herodes was hindered and appaired  
By changes, for his hateful pride,  
When he lest wend unwarely set aside.   

Suing after within a little while  
This geryshe lady of condition,  
'Gan an ill laughing falsely for to smile  
Looking on Bochas brought with her down  
A mighty prince which in Rome town  
Had in his days notable price and fame,  
All be that she expressed nat his name.   

Bochas than his head 'gan down decline  
Seeing that prince of face disfigured,  
Of suspection 'gan to imagine:  
When he his mind fully hath recured  
By certain tokens & signs well assured,  
It was Pompey surquedous of estate  
Which with Cesar so long was at debate.   

Disconsolate through his unhappy case,  
His face soiled with water of the see,  
Time when Fotynus and cruel Achyllas'  
Drowned his body of furious enmity,  
His face disfigured at the solemnity  
With smokes black deadly and mortal,  
Called of clerks the feast funeral.   

Codrus caused the corpse was brent  
And consumed into ashes deed,  
To Cesar after his head was borne and sent  
Upon a pole, his story who list read:  
After all this Bochas took good heed  
How fortune by a manner mockery  
In scorn of him, 'gan thus to specify.   

Up to the heaven after his devise  
I 'gan enhance and increase his glory,  
By my favour I gave him many a prise  
Conquest of kings with many great victory,  
And more to put his noblesse in memory,  
By my support through his chivalry  
With Cesar Julius to hold champarty.   

And while that I my favour did apply  
Toward him his victories to assure,  
His fame arose till that in thessaly  
I 'gan withdraw his party to succour,  
Suffering his enemies make discomfiture  
Upon this Pompey, hindered in my sight  
When to Lesbos at mischief took his flight.   

By the servants of young Tholome  
reigning in Egypt, Pompey in his dread  
Was take & slain, he found no help in me,  
I gave him up and so he lost his heed:  
Yet of my changes no man taketh heed,  
Nor how unsurely I cast my dreadful look,  
Save thou art busy to set them in thy book.   

Bochas' astonished parcel of her presence,  
Both of cheer, face, and countenance,  
And this while having his advertence  
Thought he saw a manner resemblance  
Of a person which stood in great grievance:  
Till at last fortune cast her sight  
Toward Bochas, and told what he height.   

This is (quoth she) plainly to termine  
The famous man prince of eloquence  
That gave to latins the school & the doctrine  
Of Rhetoric, as well of that science:  
For which I will thou do thy diligence  
To write with other of this Tullius,  
All the case, and begin at Marius.   

These words said fortune made an end,  
She beat her ●ynges and took her to flight,  
I can nat see what way she did wend  
Save Bochas telleth like an angel bright  
At her departing she showed a great light:  
But assoon as she 'gan disapere,  
He took his pen and wrote as ye shall here.    

The ii Chapter.  
¶ How Gayus Marius of low birth borne, came to high estate, which blended with covetise, after many great battles died at mischief.  

HEre Bochas gineth to tell of the man  
Called in his time Gayus Marius,  
Borne at Aprina a castle of Tuscan,  
Son of a carpenter the story telleth thus  
Pursued arms manly and virtuous:  
Through all Room nor in that country,  
Was there no man hold so strong as he.   

Discyplyne and great subtylite  
He had also as books specify,  
Prudence, manhood, and habylite  
Both in arms and in chivalry,  
Most famous hold toward the party  
within a while, mine author saith certain,  
Chose a Tribune, and a great captain.   

But fro the ginning of his tender age  
As histories put in remembrance,  
He was pricked so sore in his courage  
By a greedy fret, of long continuance,  
Never to staunch with none abundance:  
The world, nor fortune with all their richesses,  
Suffyled not to appease his greediness.   

Entering a temple he found a divynour,  
counseled him there by his divynayle  
To entre Rome, and hold there soiour,  
By good avice, and knightly apparel:  
Made him promise that he should nat fail  
To attain by favour of the commonte,  
To great office and state in the city.   

Favour of commons brought high to high estate,  
By them received unto dignity  
Of Consulere, albe that the Senate  
Had disdain of his felicity,  
Because he was borne of low degree:  
Granted to him after by the town  
To conquer realms by a commission.   

He gate the province, through his high renown  
Of Numedy, as he did them assail,  
And took the king of that region  
Called Jugurtha, proudly in battle:  
For which emprise by martial apparel  
He gate the triumph, through the town riding,  
Because only for taking of that king.   

And for he was a person so notable  
For many a famous sudden victory,  
Namely in conquest proved profitable  
To all the commons, as put is in memory,  
And for thincrease of his renome & glory  
By the opinion hole of the city  
In his hand lay all their prosperity.   

Again a people that called was Cymbroys  
Then to conquer from Rome he was sent down  
Also against the boisterous Tigurnoys  
gathered together of many nation,  
All them he brought to subjection,  
Like as Romans had afore desired,  
Because they had again their town conspired.   

They took upon them of false presumption  
To pass all the mountains of italy,  
First discomfited as made is mention  
Three Roman dukes felly in battle,  
Fourscore thousand clad in plate and mail  
Slain of romans the story is well know,  
Under the Alpes at mischief overthrow.   

This Marius of martial adventure  
In Germany had a great battle,  
With Tewtobochus a giant of stature,  
Put first to flight with all his apparel:  
For Marius did him so sore assail  
At the chase proudly borne to ground,  
Maugre his might take & in chains bound.   

Marius after with his host him drew  
Toward the people of Cimbroys for to fight,  
Two hundred people I find of them he slew,  
Eight thousand take, three. M. put to flight:  
King Bolerus a full famous knight.  
Slain in the field for all his great pride,  
Again Marius like as he did ride.   

That day of Cibroyes was all the people slain,  
The women after he list nat to reserve,  
Yet they proffered & would have been full feign  
Their chastity devoutly to observe,  
In the temple of Vesta for to serve:  
But their request for he list nat here,  
With him they fought eachone slain yfere.   

Except some when they saw none other  
Remedy, of purpose they were set  
every of them to slay & murder other:  
And some thought also it was bet  
To hang themself upon an high gibbet,  
Than to abide of Marius the outrage  
Perpetually to live in servage.   

Thus Marius of three nations  
Through his conquest accomplished the victory,  
With prisoners of sundry regions  
Entered Rome to his increase of glory,  
With special laudes notable of memory:  
First the triumph, a guerdon singulere,  
He times six was chosen a Consulere.   

Thus fortune was to him favourable  
To set him up in worldly dignities  
For a season, but for she was changeable  
Among her gifts, and great prosperities,  
She gave him part of great adversities:  
And specially the time accounted, than  
between him & Scylla when the were 'gan.   

Lucius Scylla abiding in champagne  
Marius at Rome though present,  
When the division 'gan atween them twain  
Each to other contrary of intent,  
Melancolous and impatient,  
Which of both (the story well conceived)  
To govern, should soonest be received.   

All suddenly were it right or wrong  
Toward Rome taking his passage,  
Again Marius to make himself strong  
'Gan slay and burn, and of great outrage  
wilful, and hasty, furious of courage  
For sudden coming and unware violence,  
Again him found no resistance.   

Two mighty battles he did with him lead,  
Entering the cite 'gan through the wall mine,  
With one battle fast 'gan him speed  
To pass the gate called Aquylyne,  
That other gate named was Colyne:  
At whose entering by record of the book,  
Scylla by strength the capitoyle took:   

But when Marius had knowledging  
That Scylla had so great power & might,  
Without arrest or longer abiding  
In to a marish, Gayus anonright  
With all his people took suddenly his flight:  
Fet out by strength, coude him nat defend,  
Scylla after to prison did him send.   

Thus the prowess for a while slept  
Of Marius lying in prison,  
Scylla that time the capitoyle kept  
Whereby all Rome stood in subjection:  
And of hatred in haste he sent down  
A sturdy churl to Marius in his dread  
While he lay bound to smite of his head.   

This churl well compact of brawn & bones  
Set of purpose Marius for to oppress,  
For his strength ordained for the nonce:  
To the prison the churl 'gan him fast dress  
Where Marius was fettered in distress,  
Fully in purpose without more delay  
To behead him in prison there he lay.   

Losing him first lying on his couch  
And Marius rose up like a man,  
The churl fearful to ●inite him or to touch,  
And Marius full proudly though began  
To enter a place beside of a woman,  
Found an ass there of adventure  
Upon whose back the see he 'gan recure.   

Toward Africa there he fond passage,  
By enprisoning though he were wext faint  
Yet there abode still in his courage  
high worthiness, with prudence meynt:  
Which in his person were nat quaint  
Again the malice to make a countertayle  
Of proud Scylla, the malice eft t'assail.   

Of italy road through the country,  
Took his voyage through Rome tou, n  
With four battles entered the city,  
Six hundred knights by computation  
Slain in the field as made is mention:  
Where men may see, who list look afar  
What damage division doth in were.   

First by the manhood of this Marius  
In this division the story who list read,  
The great Consul called Octavius  
Lost his head and his life in deed,  
Upon a pole while it did bleed:  
Was cruelly presented of intent  
Before the judges, sitting in judgment.   

Of whose death some of them were fain,  
Some sorry of love as they were bound,  
And in this were Merula was slain  
Priest in the temple, like as it is found,  
Of Jupiter, with many mortal wound:  
The roman slain that called was Crassus,  
With fire consumed was proud Catullus.   

All his enemies Marius dydencombre  
Which again him by conspiration  
Were assented with a full great number  
In their avise for to have put him down,  
Take from him his domination:  
But he abode the torment and the showers,  
Strong to condemn all his conspyratours   

Six times aforne rehearsed here  
Of condition though he were despitous,  
He was chosen so oft consulere  
Till fortune 'gan wax envious,  
Again this said cruel Marius  
Which made the Senate with all the chivalry  
To grudge again his hateful tyranny.   

In this time the story maketh mind  
Damasippus a Praetor of the town  
Friendly to Marius & helping as I find,  
Under a shadow of deception  
Unto their cite for to do treason,  
Causing four romans come in fere  
Tofore Marius a certain day taper.   

And their names to put in memory  
Scevola, Carto, and Domicius,  
The fourth of them as saith the story  
Called in Rome the wise Antistius,  
Together assembled tofore Marius:  
He of rancour again judgement or law,  
Made then be slain, & through the cite draw.   

Their bodies after were in Tybre cast  
By cruelty of the said Marius,  
All this while the cruel were last  
between him and Scylla, till duke Companeus  
Came to the party hardy and despitous  
To help Scylla their banners first displayed,  
Whereof all Rome was suddenly afraid.   

At the gate that called was Collatyne  
Marius and Scylla had a great battle,  
Four score thousand the numbered to termine  
On Marius' side slain, it is no fail:  
Scylla victorious with martial apparel  
Entering the town again his oath pard,  
Three thousand citezius slew of that cite.   

Of folk disarmed and naked in the town  
They neither spared old nor young of age,  
The cruel murderers walking up & down  
By Scylla sent in that mortal rage:  
Till Catullus a prince fall in age  
Said unto Scylla we can no difference  
between rebellion nor atwene innocence.   

We murder and slay without exception  
Both high and low holding no manner,  
Again all knighthood to mine opinion  
We do proceed in our conquest here,  
Our title is lost the triumph to reqire  
Of high prowess, when we can nat observe  
No difference to slay nor to reserve.   

And in this while of hateful cruelty  
Scylla contrived letters diffamable,  
Whereby five hundred out of that cite  
Were falsely banished citizens notable,  
against them he was so untreatable  
All their goods atche●ed in that rage,  
Of avarice and of false pillage.   

Another roman named Marius  
Brother to Marius of whom tofore I told,  
For dread of Scylla fled and took an house  
Which unto Goats was set up for a fold,  
Found and rend out in his days old,  
With cords draw no rescue might him save,  
Of cruel vengeance to Catullus grave.   

Where Scylla made by cruel judgement  
With a sharp sword forged forto bite,  
After time his eyen were out rend  
Both at once his hands of to smite:  
His head of smit, no rannsom might high quite,  
Set on a pole it would be none other,  
And of despite sent unto his brother   

To Marius of whom I spoke now right,  
The great duke so mighty and so huge:  
Which had afore take him to the flight  
For fear of Scylla in that mortal deluge,  
Into a city to find there refuge,  
Called Preneste there standing in great dread,  
Namely when he beheld his brother's heed.   

Forasmuch as he no succour fond  
Despaired this was his purpose,  
To slay himself with his own hand  
In thilk place where he was kept close,  
Drew out his sword and up anon he rose  
Constrained his servant in that sudden affray,  
Smit of his head the self same day.   

Men say how death is fine of all mischief,  
End of adversity that doth wretches tarry,  
Fortune here maketh another proof  
In Marius how she her course 'gan vary,  
By an evidence hateful and contrary,  
To show her malice and ungoodlyheed  
Again this duke, alas, when he was deed.   

This froward lady of malice most vengeable  
When her list furiously to rave,  
And show herself cruel and unstable,  
To none estate she list no regard have:  
Caused Marius to be take out of his grave  
By cruel Scylla, in story it is found,  
His ugly carrion smit on pieces round.   

And after more to show his cruelty  
Marius should have no burying place,  
Cast his carrion of cankered enmity  
Into Tybre there was none other grace:  
Lo thus can fortune for her folk purchase,  
By which example touching Marius,  
Of worldly changes Bochas writeth thus.   

Maketh in this chapter a description  
First what thing is very gentleness,  
To set a proof and a probation  
Nothing attaineth unto high nobleness  
But the clear shining of virtuous cleanness:  
Which may nat show i hie nor low parage,  
But where it groweth out of a pure courage.   

Worldly power, oppression, tyranny,  
earthly treasure, gold, stones nor richesse.  
Be no means unto gentry  
But if virtue rule their high prowess:  
For where vices have entresse  
In high birth, mean, or low kindred,  
deem no man gentle but only by his deed.   

In royal places of stone & metal wrought  
With galaryes or stately cloisters round,  
Gentleness nor noblesse is nat sought,  
Nor in selers nor in vaults round,  
But only there where virtue doth abound:  
curious clothes nor great possessions  
Maketh nat a man gengle, but conditions.   

Philosophers conclude in their intent  
And all these worthy famous old auctors  
No man may que the in his testament  
Gentleness unto his successors,  
Of wicked weed come no wholesome flowers:  
Concluding thus of good men & of shrews,  
Call each man gentle after his good thews.   

Duke Marius of whom I spoke toforne  
Of nature (the story beareth witness)  
As by descent poor and needy borne,  
By disposition of courageous noblesse  
Had in his person wit, strength, & hardiness:  
Under all this there did his heart mine  
A worm of avarice his worship to decline.   

What 'vaileth plenty, that never may suffice:  
Or what the flood that stauncheth no thirst:  
Or what an appetite which ever doth arise  
Always to eat, and ever to eat hath lust:  
Of cankered hungers so freting is the rust  
That the river of Tantalus in his rage  
Of greedy ethics the fret may nat assuage.   

Of Marius ye have herd the end  
His woeful fall and his unhappy case,  
In to fate, how he did wend:  
Now will I follow mine auctor Bochas,  
How unto him three Cleopatras  
With look down cast, woeful face & cheer,  
All at once did to him appear.   

The first of them by process of writing  
Had three husbands, Bochas doth express,  
Wedded in youth to alexander the king,  
Called zebenna a prince of great noblesse:  
After that for her great fairness,  
She wedded was unto Demetrius,  
And last of all to king Antyochus.   

Of her three husbands woeful adventure,  
And of her sons great unkindness  
Bochas afore hath done his busy cure  
Curyously the manner to express,  
Which to rehearse again were idleness,  
sith all the process here tofore is found,  
Of the first, and eke of the second   

Which wedded was to king Tholome  
Like as afore eke made is mention,  
Both of their joy and their adversity,  
The first slain by drinking of poison,  
And the second to her confusion  
By Euergetes were she woe or fain,  
Was with her child served that was slain.   

The third wedded was to king Crispus  
Slain in a temple by full great outrage,  
For dread and shame 'gan wax furious  
To save herself knew none advantage,  
Save she embraced of Jupiter an image:  
In the story as here tofore is found,  
Or she was dead suffered many a wound    

❧ The iii Chapter.  
❧ How king Mithridate bode vii year in wilderness, had great torments both on sea and land, by his blood brought to utterance, slew himself with a sword.  

I Will pass over these Cleopatra's three,  
Forth proceed to the hasty fate  
soon execute by Parca's cruelty  
Upon the duke called Mithridate,  
First rehearse the great unkindly hate  
Of them that were his tutors as I read,  
Him to destroy by assent of his kindred.   

Which of purpose did his death provide  
By many uncouth strange occasion,  
In his tender youth first they made him ride  
Upon an horse wilder than a lion,  
Of purpose only for his destruction:  
But all be so that he was young of age,  
The horse he ruled in all his most rage.   

Nat of doctrine but even of nature  
He was disposed cunningly to ride,  
Over him the mastery to recure  
Maugre the horse of wit he was his guide:  
What way he took forward or aside  
He daunted him, that where so ever he road  
Bridled him and on his back he bode.   

His own kin and his next alyes  
Most laboured to bring him to mischief  
With venomous drink, set on him espies  
At good leisure as doth a covert thief,  
Of their fell poison for to make a proof,  
In their intent this is well couth,  
Him to murder in his tender youth.   

But when that he apperceived their treason,  
To save himself made great ordinance,  
Anon as he 'gan have suspection  
Of their unkindly hateful purveyance,  
For remedies made chevisance:  
Was provided their malice to decline  
By many notable proved medicine.   

And their malice prudently to eschew  
Is remembered while he was young of age,  
With certain friends which y● did him sue  
He disposed of custom his courage  
To hunt and chase beasts most savage:  
Under that colour he did it for a wile,  
Far fro his country tabsent him for a while   

Of one courage, one heart and one cheer  
Suffered manly, took none heaviness,  
In deserts space of seven year  
Among high hills bode in wilderness,  
Set in Asia, the story beareth witness:  
Found no lodging trasing the countries,  
Save in caverns, & great hollow trees.   

The book remembreth how that his diet  
Were beasts wild enchased with great might  
Fled ydienesse eschewed all quiet,  
And little sleep su●●ised him at night:  
By exercise his body was made ●yght  
There was neither, when him list pursue,  
Heart nor hind that might his hand eschew.   

He neither dread tigers nor lions,  
He was so swift, though they did him assail:  
Like of strength to old champions  
No wild beast of great nor small entail  
Tescape his hand might not countrevayle:  
If he were ware, early other late,  
So great swiftness had this Mithridate.   

Among he had in arms exercise,  
Among to tourney and ren on horseback,  
All delicate far he did also despise  
Of greedy excess in him there was no lack:  
A nighter time his sleep full oft he broke  
Stoundmeale the hours for to mark,  
In the dawning rose up or the lark.   

The space accomplished fully of seven year  
He is repaired home to his country,  
showed himself of manhood and of cheer  
Full like a knight, his story who list see:  
Whereof his enemies astonished be,  
Caught of his coming in heart a manner dread  
Supposing afore that he was deed.   

In whose absence his wife Leodyces  
conceived a child (as made is mention)  
For the diffame should nat come in prees  
Him for to murder she sought occasion,  
Fully in purpose to slay him by poison:  
Of which defaults her lord was nat fain,  
Knowing the troth made her to be slain.   

Took on him after many knightly deed  
First to conquer all Paflago●ye  
By the help of worthy nicomede  
That time called king of Bithinye,  
Together assured to be of one ally:  
In loss or lucre fortune to be their guide  
And thereto sworn never to divide.   

To Mithridate Legates were down sent  
Fro the Romans, him lowly requiring  
That he would like to their intent,  
Paflago●ye restore to their king,  
Which he had won the cite assailing:  
But he list nat advertise their prayer,  
Nor on no parties their requests here.   

He dread nat their threats nor menaces,  
Gate proudly after the land of Galathye  
In his conquest won many other places,  
Capadoce took to his party,  
Slew their king of hatred and envy,  
Ariarectes a full manly man,  
And in this wise his conquest he began.   

Again thassurance between him & nicomede  
All suddenly he 'gan fall at debate,  
Thought he would warray him in deed  
Because that he pompous and elate,  
In Capadoce took on him thestate  
To reign as king against his intent,  
He neither being of counsel nor assent.   

Yet nicomede or they 'gan debate  
Had long afore to his own increases  
The sister wedded of the Mithridate,  
When they as brethren lived in rest & peace:  
And she also was called Leodices,  
Having two sons borne for to succeed  
After disease of the said nicomede.   

And by process these said children twain  
In Capadoce by help of Mithridate,  
Claimed a title justly for to attain  
Unto the crown, their father died but late:  
For which they 'gan felly to debate,  
Till Mithridate falsely 'gan contrive  
His two nephews ungodly to deprive.   

All Capadoce he took into his hand,  
His own son he hath crowned king,  
Capadociens by assent of all the land  
'Gan disobey of purpose his working:  
When the Romans considered all this thing  
Artaberzanes in haste they sent down  
gain Mithridate to keep that region.   

The son of whom fro them they have refused,  
Out of their kingdom 'gan him to enchase,  
For they sempte their franchise was abused  
To see a foreign occupy that place:  
Mithridate 'gan newly them menace,  
And took with him to sustain his party  
Tygranes the king of Armeny.   

Artabarzanes that was fro Rome sent  
To Capadoce, to help them and counsel,  
Of Mithridate knowing the intent  
How he came down proudly him t'assail,  
With Tygranes, set in the first battle:  
Of Capadoce that all the region  
Was brought that day to their subjection.   

Thus Mithridate having his intent  
In short time countries conquering,  
Was mightiest prince of all the orient,  
And in though days one the greatest king:  
And as it is remembered by writing  
He delighted most in astronomy,  
In sortilege, and in sorcery.   

And with all these he did his busy cure  
For to learn uncouth conclusions,  
And secrets sought out by nature,  
knew the languages of divers regions,  
Of two and twenty sundry nacious:  
And held women many more than one,  
Loved Hipsycrata above them everichone.   

To the Romans this manly Mithridate  
As books old record of him and say,  
Upon a day of very cruel hate  
Through all Asya he bade that each Roman  
Should of his men merciless be slain:  
Twenty thousand he slew eke on a day  
Of Roman merchants, durst no man say nay.   

To him he drew divers nations  
To increase his party by puissance,  
Kymbrois, Gallois, with other regions,  
Bostornois took to his alliance,  
With strange people made his acquaintance:  
Where that ever he road nigh or far  
With them of Rome for to hold were.   

In Grece also he gate many an isle,  
All Cyclades to his subjection,  
Conquered so that within a while  
Of Athenes he gate the famous town:  
But when Romans knew his entention  
They sent Scylla in a furious heat  
With Mithridate in Grece for to mete.   

Archelaus which that was constable  
Leading the host of king Mithridate,  
'Gan again Scylla trusting he was able,  
Maugre the Romans with him to debate:  
As they met in their furious hate,  
Beside Orthonia of Grece a great town,  
Of Archelaus the party was brought down.   

There 'gan Scylla to be victorious  
gain Mithridate, and by great violence  
Gate all Ephesie a kingdom full famous,  
Road through Asye, found no resistance:  
By his knighthood and manly providence  
Capadoce, and Bithinye eke also  
To Roman hands he gate them both two.   

When Mithridate perceived hath this thing  
How the conquest of Scylla took increases,  
Anon he cast without long tarrying  
For a time with him to have a peace,  
Of high wisdom he was nat reckless  
To dissimule till he found time and space  
In double fortune to find better grace.   

Abode his time, kept himself close,  
Till he found leisure like his opinion,  
In this while of adventure arose  
Within Rome a great dissension,  
between two consuls being in that town:  
Which to appease by his authority,  
Scylla came up again to the cite.   

When Mithridate his absence did espy,  
To his purpose found opportunity,  
gathered people and with his chivalry  
A siege laid unto Cyzite the cite  
Of all Asye moste of authority:  
Till Lucullus a mighty Consulere  
To break the siege approach 'gan full near.   

Mithridate had on five captains  
Tofore the town made a discomfiture,  
Of high despite he had to romans:  
But Lucullus the damages to recure,  
To enclose his enemies did his busy cure,  
To his minors gave anon in charge  
About the siege to make a ditch full large.   

They within had knowledging  
By certain tokens of all their governance,  
Whereupon they made no tarrying  
To cast a way for their deliverance:  
Mithridate seeing their ordinance  
Of high prudence to escape away beside,  
And at the siege list no longer abide.   

Lucullus then the mighty Consuler  
Pursued after, slew of his main  
Such a multitude that Asopus the river  
Was made with blood like the reed se,  
with wind & tempest fordriven also was he:  
And when he saw no succour in the land,  
To ship he went which strong and mighty hand.   

He found fortune cruel adversary  
On land and see this worthy Mithridate,  
And Neptunus made the see contrary  
against him his puissance to abate:  
What shall men call it, influence or fate:  
So suddenly a prince of high renown  
Fro high noblesse to be plounged down.   

For any mischief he kept aye one visage  
This Mithridate, and loath was for to ply,  
Or for to bow, so strong was his courage:  
But eft again goth with his chivalry  
Toward Adrastus an hill of Armeny,  
Where as Pompey beset him environ,  
Sent fro Rome to his destruction.   

Mithridate making his lodging place  
Under that hill, when it drew to night  
The troubly heaven which thundering 'gan menace,  
The fiery leaven dyrked hath his sight,  
The cloudy move eclipsed of her light  
Astonished him by unware violence,  
That he stood confuse of all providence.   

He was by tempest and unware darkness  
Almost made weary of his woeful life,  
Yet I find of very kindness  
Hipsicrata which that was his wife,  
Nouther for were nor no mortal strife  
Left him never, disguised of visage  
Followed him arrayed as a page.   

Yet in his most mortal heaviness  
When cloudy fortune 'gan him most menace,  
Of his courage the natural quickness  
Appalled not, nor removed from his place,  
So high prowess did his heart embrace:  
Nat despaired for no sudden fall,  
Of condition he was so martial.   

In token whereof he standing at mischief  
Changed nouther cheer nor countenance,  
An evidence and a full great proof  
Of manly force and heartily assurance,  
defying fortune with all her variance,  
When that he found to his destruction  
Of despair greatest occasion.   

With him he had a bailiff as I find  
Called Castor, which of condition  
Was to his lord false and eke unkind,  
And conspired again him false treason:  
In token whereof up to Rome toun  
His lords children young & tender of age  
●yke a thief, he sent them in hostage.   

One of his sons he murdered by treason,  
Which Mithridate took full sore at heart,  
Another son as made is mention  
False to his father, which when he did advert  
The unkindness made him sore smart:  
For of all vices shortly to conclude,  
●orst of all is hateful ingratitude.   

This same child of whom I make mind  
Called Pharnax, which again nature  
To his father traitor and unkind,  
And his purpose again him to recure,  
In all haste did his busy cure  
For to accomplish his purpose in party,  
Drew to him hole his father's chivalry.   

By sleight & meed when he was made strong,  
He besieged his father round about,  
Unto nature me seemeth he did wrong  
To put his father in so great a doubt:  
kindness was far shut without,  
When the son with hate set a fire,  
Again his father falsely did conspire.   

With multitude his father was constrained  
Maugre his might in to a tour to flee,  
His son unkind hath at him disdained,  
And yet for all his strange adversity  
Of his courage the magnanimity  
In his person stood hole, list not vary  
Though fortune was to him contrary.   

Yet mine author Bocas beareth record  
That Mithridate if it would have be,  
Required his son to be at accord,  
And set aside all old contrariouste:  
But he unkind indurate was pard,  
Ever froward, malicious of courage,  
So disposed from his tender age.   

So that the king Mithridate alas,  
Was overcome by unkindness,  
That never afore in no manner case  
Stood dismayed: but of high prowess  
Kept aye one face all passions to repress,  
This virtue force by martial doctrine  
For none adversity suffered him decline.   

End of his wars & his mortal strives  
Of his debates and dissensions,  
His concubines, his daughters, & his wives  
By mean only of certain potions  
Slew them all, by drinking of poisons:  
For he not would, the cause to dyscrive,  
After his death they should bide on live.   

His own death of mortal fell rigour  
Compassed afore thus he 'gan devise,  
Made a french knight that was a soldier  
With a sharp sword in full cruel wise  
To ren him through, whereby the franchise  
Conserved was, his purpose to fulfil  
He would not die but by his own will.   

Lo here the end of king Mithridate,  
Let princes all of his death take heed  
How recklessly he passed in to fate,  
And by assent made his heart bleed:  
And Bochas here who list his book to read  
Plainly rehearsing but in words few,  
To worldly princes doth his conceit show.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

Mighty princes lift up your corrages  
Toward heaven do your hearts dress,  
Of your memory turn up the visages  
Where joy is ever, peace, concord, & gladness,  
True harmony, & celestial sweetness:  
Counterpoise in your remembrance  
Worldly changes, fortunes variance.   

Advertise the mortal fell outrages  
Of bloody wars impossible to repress,  
While false envy with his furious rages  
In sundry realms hath so great entries,  
Slaughter, murder, division, falseness  
Which conscience have brought to uttraunce  
Through sudden change of worldly variance   

reckon up princes that sat high on stages  
What was the fine of their royal noblesse:  
Or of tyrants reckon up the bloody wages:  
Sudden slaughter guerdoned their woodness:  
Mithridate can bear hereof witness,  
By blood unkind brought unto utterance,  
Through sudden change of worldly variance.   

princes remember upon the golden age  
When Saturn ruled the world in rightwiseness,  
Next Jupiter for people's advantage  
The silueren world conserved in cleanness,  
Which Mars hath now turned to felnes,  
Made it steelen with sword dagger & lance,  
Through sudden change of worldly variance.   

Of Mithridate register the voyages,  
Conspired poisons taffray his prowess,  
On land and see tempestuous passages,  
By constraint bode vii year in wilderness,  
Of his wand'ring poise the unsykernes,  
His end mischief, knew no avoidance  
Gain worldly change nor fortunes variance.   

If negligence have brought you in rearages  
Toward God, or he reckon in streyghtnesse  
Let reason meddle for you to lay hostages  
compassion, mercy, parting of alms,  
Toward heaven to support your feebleness,  
When your merits shall poise in balance  
Of worldly changes & fortunes variance.   

Death spareth neither high nor low lineages,  
Have mind heron for any recklessness,  
Transitory be here your pilgrimages  
Set with brigants unwarely you toppresse:  
But of prudence by great adviseness,  
With providence preserve your puissance,  
Gain worldly change & fortune's variance.     

☞ The four chapter.  
❧ How Eucratydes king of Sythie was slain by Demetrius, and after his carrion cast to hounds.  

NExt in order to Bochas did apere  
A woeful prince that put himself in prees,  
Reigning in Sithia, his story doth us lere,  
The name of whom was Eucratides:  
But to disturb his quiet and his peace  
Again him plainly as I find  
Came Demetryus, the mighty king of Ind.   

Of whom the power and the violence  
To Eucratides was very importable,  
Besieged first, and for lack of defence  
Take at mischief, his fone not merciable  
For Demetrius was on him so vengeable,  
When he was slain within his own bounds,  
Made the carrion be cast out to the hounds.   

Not withstanding he was a worthy king  
Borne of high blood such was his adventure,  
Demetrius son above all earthly thing  
Hated him, by record of Scripture,  
Of rancour denied his sepulture:  
And for the matter is hateful and contrary,  
On his story I will no longer tarry.    

The .v. Chapter.  
¶ How Herodes king of Parthoys warred with Romans, which after his son and heir was slain, made his bastard son king that anon after slew his father.  

TO Arthabanus whilom of Parthois king  
I purpose my style to transport,  
A full old prince, had in his living  
Sons twain books so report,  
Which in his age did him most comfort:  
Mithridate was the eldest brother,  
And herod's called was that other.   

Mithridate by reason of his age,  
His father dead did after him succeed,  
Which banished was for tyranny & outrage,  
afterward for mischief and for need  
In to Babylon he took his flight for dread:  
The people anon after his parting  
Of Indignation made his brother king.   

Thus came Herodes to estate royal,  
Pursued his brother in to Babylon,  
Laid a siege round about the wall,  
They to him yielded up the town:  
Thus was his brother brought to confusion  
Afore the castle without longer date,  
Made smite of the head of Mithridate,   

In Parthois after he took possession.  
Thus young Herodes of voiunte and pride  
'Gan a were again them of Rome town,  
Whom to withstand they list not long abide  
The consul Crassus came down to their side,  
Commanded was short process for to make  
Toward Parthois his voyage for to take.   

Crassus list not to enter in that reme  
Left Parthois the story doth devise,  
Took his way toward Jerusalem  
To take there a solemn emprise,  
In the temple, only of covetise,  
Took there again the title of rightwiseness  
Up all their treasure & their great riches.   

By which he gate in divers regions  
Great multitude to hold up his party,  
Led with him eleven legions:  
Toward Parthois fast 'gan him high:  
By his letters proudly 'gan defy  
The said Herodes, & with great apparel.  
Mid his country proffered him battle.   

The next morrow when Crassus took the field,  
To him was brought of black a cote armour  
Which when his knights avisedly beheld  
Dempt it a token of discomfiture,  
For in contrary romans do their cure  
When their captain shall fight or be head,  
His cote armour is other white or red.   

Another token froward to behold,  
The first Eagle beat in his banner  
Also soon as men did it unfold,  
Contrariously he turned look and cheer,  
The back to Crassus' folk saw that stood near:  
A prognostic to romans full certain  
How fortune to them was that day again.   

By the flood passing of Eufrates,  
with unware tempests his standards eachone  
In to the river were cast among the prees,  
To reckon them all upright stood not one:  
Whereof astoyned they would no further gone,  
These pronostykes made them so afraid  
Like men in heart despaired and dismayed.   

Of these tokens Crassus was reckless  
The pronostykes also he did despise,  
Took upon him to pass Eufrates  
To entre Parthoys only for covetise:  
To whom Herodes sendeth in this wise  
That his coming was more for pillage  
Than for knighthood, manhood, or courage.   

All the power of Parthoys though came down  
With many prefect & men of great courage,  
Again Crassus & them of Rome town,  
Which as I told abode on their pillage,  
That turned after to their great damage:  
The son of Crassus slain in that fray,  
His father take, and all upon a day.   

His head smyt of, in whom was no defence,  
But discomfited with many a legion,  
The head of Crassus brought to the presence  
Of Herodes within his royal town,  
Which hath commanded gold to be brought down  
To be molte there as he lay dead,  
And to power thereof full his head.   

This thing was done for a mockery,  
In sign only (the story doth devise)  
That gold nor treasure upon no party  
Staunch might his thrust of covetise:  
Such greediness each man should despise,  
For avarice of custom in each place  
Of high prows doth the prize difface.   

Herodes after did search all the wards  
Through all the field upon Crassus' side,  
Took the pennons, banners, & standards,  
And in his temples large, long, and wide  
Let hang them up of surquedy and pride,  
In sign only and eke for a memory  
He of Romans hath get the victory.   

With which he list not only be content  
weening his fortune should abide stable,  
In to Surry he hath his son sent  
Called Pachorus, made him a constable  
Of that region, with him to be partable  
Of all treasures and movables that he found  
wherever he road throughout all land.   

This Pachorus by his chivalry  
Increase 'gan in his tender age,  
Whereof Herodes his father had envy  
Fearful it should turn to his damage,  
Lest he would by title of heritage  
Maugre him at his again coming,  
Take upon him of Parthoys to be king.   

Than Pachorus was called home again  
Out of Surrye, where in conclusion  
Al that he had wrought was in vain,  
Because one Cassius fro Rome was come  
Slew all the people in the region  
Which appertayved to Pachorus, as I find, down,  
Without captain for they were left behind.   

To withstand this Roman Cassius  
Herodes hath his son sent again,  
Which anon after, the story telleth thus,  
Amid the field unhappily was slain:  
To trust fortune it is a thing but vain,  
Which of custom to day is favourable  
And to morrow geryshly changeable.   

Of Pachorus death when the noise arose  
And the distressing of his chivalry,  
And to Herodes abiding in Parthois  
Tiding was brought, fared as he would die,  
Of heartily sorrow fell in to a frenzy:  
Heir was none left of the royal lines  
Save thirty bastards borne of concubines.   

Thus Herodes was cast in great sickness,  
His sons death was to him importable,  
His worldly joy was gone & his gladness:  
Fortune contrary which never can be stable,  
Age fylon, his life was not durable,  
And of one thing most he did him dread  
Cause he had none heir to succeed.   

Which would not suffer him live in peace,  
Till at the last he caught a fantasy  
Chase a bastard called Pharactes,  
Because he was famous in chivalry,  
Gave him the crown and the regaly,  
Which anon after briefly to conclude  
Slew Herodes of ingratitude.    

The vi Chapter.  
☞ How Fimbria a Consul of Rome slew himself  

AFter to Bochas by process of this book  
Four mighty princes notable of estate  
Toward him they cast cheer & look  
Like unto folk that were infortunate,  
With whom fortune had been at debate:  
For by their manner, as it sempt weal,  
They were at mischief fall fro her wheel.   

First Fymbria a roman consulere  
Scent by the romans to a great cite  
Called nicomede, came as a messangere  
To help Flaccus slain by great adversity,  
As he entered in to that country:  
After whose death his party to advance  
Of Flaccus meinie took the governance   

Of presumption without authority  
This Fymbria by diligent labour  
Full far above his state and his degree  
Took upon 〈◊〉 by fortunes false favour  
To be called captain and Emperor,  
Through all that country books specify:  
Of whose presumption Scylla had envy.   

Pursued him through many a great city,  
To a castle made him take his flight,  
Where Fymbria of great necessity  
Constrained was maugre all his might,  
despaired, for sake of every manner wight,  
To slay himself, the story telleth thus,  
Within the temple of Esculapius.    

The vii chapter.  
¶ Of Albinius that was slain with stones.  

ANother Consul stood in case semblable  
In his time called Albinius,  
Whose hareful pride was abominable  
To all folks loathsome and odious,  
Which like a rebel wode and furious  
Again romans ofter than ones  
When he lest wend, slain was with stones.    

The viii chapter.  
How Adriane borne of low degree falsely usurped to be king of Rome, which with his churls was after brent.  

NExt came Adrian which rose to high estate  
first in Rome, borne of low degree  
Chosen & sent by the whole Senate  
To govern of Africa the country:  
Where of his own pompous authority.  
Took upon him by subtle false working,  
Maugre romans there to be crowned king   

Whom to support, shortly to conclude,  
Was a great numbered of the commonty  
Of churl's gathered, a confuse multitude,  
Title was none nor ground but volunte:  
Gentlemen than being in that country  
All of assent and one opinion,  
Assembled them to his destruction.   

At Vtices a large great city,  
Him and his churls beset round about,  
Of wood and faggot with large quantity  
In compass wise closed him without:  
gathered with him of villains a great rout,  
Laid on fire that with flames read  
eachone consumed in to ashes dead.    

The ix chapter.  
How Sinthonius king of Trace that much coveted, all forwet, & died in poverty.  

NExt Adrian came Sinthonius  
Tofore Bocas with tears spreint his face  
As the story rehearseth unto us  
In his time he was king of Trace,  
Fall suddenly from fortune's grace  
Cast down low from his estate royal,  
Which came to Bochas to complain his fall.   

Whose purpose was, if it would have be,  
Seven realms to have conquered with his hand,  
That were subject to Rome the city,  
And all seven were of greeks land:  
Who all coveteth ye shall understand  
He all forgothe, full well affirm I dare,  
At unset hour whereof each man beware.   

Long or his conquest was brought to a proof  
From her wheel fortune cast him down,  
The praetor Sencius brought him to mischief,  
died in poverty as made is mention:  
And Bochas here maketh a digression  
Compendiously within a little space,  
To descrive the region of Trace.    

The ten Chapter.  
¶ Here Bochas in party maketh a description of the kingdom of Trace, and passeth over lightly unto the accomplishment of his book.  

TRace whilom a country of great fame  
And containeth a full large space,  
And of Tyras it took first the name,  
Son of Japhet, and so was called Trace  
Which many a day dwelled in that place  
Toward Septemtrion, plenteous of good  
Beside Dynoe the large famous flood.   

Southward Trace runneth the flood Egee,  
Macedon standeth in the occident,  
And the kingdom called Propontide  
Stant in Trace toward the Orient,  
Where great plenty of blood was shed & spent  
When Sencius through his high prowess  
King Adrian there manly did oppress.   

Ebrus in Trace is the chief city  
As mine author maketh mention,  
I cast not long to tarry, but in brevite  
To make of Trace a description,  
And to proceed in my translation  
After mine auctor, which writeth a long process  
Of great Pompey & his worthiness.    

The xi Chapter.  
¶ how after many great conquests of Duke Pompey great war began between him and Julyus, in which three hundred thousand were slain, & at the last the head of Pompey smitten of.  

This Pompeius of whom the name is couth,  
Wise and worthy & famous of prowess,  
Took upon him in his tender youth  
After his father by fortunate duresse,  
Called Pompey, the story beareth witness,  
Distressed was by sudden death, coming  
As sayeth the story through thunder & lightning.   

His host destroyed by the violence  
Of unware tempest, like as saith the book,  
Forty thousand slain in that pestilence,  
For fear the remnant the field forsook,  
Till young Pompey of courage on him took  
In his beginning proudly to proceed,  
Full like a knight his father's host to lead.   

Rome that time by their dissensions  
Among themself, nigh brought to ruin,  
By the froward false divisions  
between Marius & Silla briefly to termine,  
Till that a new son 'gan to shine  
Of worthiness, which shed his light  
In manly Pompey the famous knight.   

This said Pompey this knightly man  
At his beginning through his chivalry  
The proud captain slough when he began  
Which of Marius held up the party,  
Called Brutus, which in Lombardy  
Was by Pompey through knightly governance,  
With all his host brought to mischance.   

In his beginning Pompey eke also  
To set Romans in rest & quiet,  
One that was called Gneus Carbo  
He slew him knightly when he did him meet,  
Which in Cicyle proudly held his seat:  
And all the countries about him environ  
Pompey made them subject to Rome town.   

After all this pompeius on the see  
With many a ship stuffed with victual  
Toward Africa made a great army,  
And there in haste after his arrival  
With Domicius had a great battle:  
Brought the country through his high renown  
To be to Rome under subjection.   

He pursued the great mighty king  
Called Jertha, to Marius' honourable,  
And had also his royal abiding  
In Numidy a country full notable:  
Again Pompey his power was not able,  
For at a castle as they met in fight  
He slew king Jertha like a manly knight.   

Thus in brief time holding his passage,  
For common profit, as made is mention,  
By his wisdom and knightly high courage  
Brought all Afrique to subjection,  
Which stood afore in rebellion  
To the romans: but all their sturdines  
The said Pompey did in haste redress.   

The greatest enemy again Rome toun  
Thilk days was one Sertorius,  
And of fortune, which is now up now down  
On Pompey once was victorious:  
But after soon of him it happened thus,  
Among his meinie falling at debate  
He slain was in his most high estate.   

After the death of this Sertorius  
Came Porpenna Pompey to assail,  
And as they met anon Pompeius'  
Full like a knight slew him in battle:  
Which victory greatly did avail  
To the Romans, after by governance  
He brought Spain to their obeisance.   

By authority give by the Senate  
This Noble Pompey for veil of the cite  
Upon the sea would suffer no Pirate,  
Where ever he came fro him they did flee:  
For with his ships he scoured so the see  
And bore him there so manly with his hand,  
That maugre them he brought them to the land.   

All the pirates and these false robbers  
I gathered out were of the region.  
Called Sylla, which like to ravinours  
Made again Rome a conspiration,  
Rob and spoiled sailing up and down  
Roman merchants, & people of each country,  
That none was so hardy to pass by the see.   

After Pompey had made the see to obey  
That Pirate none durst thereon abide,  
He by the Senate was sent out to warray  
Toward th'orient, his knights by his side:  
And where soever that he did abide  
Mine author writeth by influence of heaven,  
His conquest was swift as fire or leaven.   

And to the increase of his eternal glory  
Perpetually to get him a name,  
His laud and renome to put in memory,  
He builded a cite in Asia of great fame,  
Called Nichopoly, Bochas sayeth the same:  
between two floods, that one Araxases  
And that other was called Eufrates.   

He builded this cite only of intent  
That Roman knights that were fall in age,  
And such as were in the wars spent  
Should of custom have their herbergage  
(This was the custom and usage  
In that cite always, and not fail)  
Bedding and clothes spending & victual.   

Pompey after road in to Armeny  
Rebel to Rome, where Tigranes was king,  
Fought with him there, & through his chivalry  
discomfited him, there was none abiding:  
Where Tigranes himself submitting  
Unto Pompey, with every circumstance  
Ever to abide under his obeisance.   

Than in all haste Pompey 'gan him high  
To ride to Asia, where like a manly knight  
He gate the kingdom called Albany,  
Which took his name who so look aright  
Of whiteness, for every manner wight  
That there is borne by record of writing,  
White as snow hath his here shining.   

There been hounds marvelous of nature  
For tassaile bulls and lions,  
No wild beast may again them endure  
So Pompey by many regions  
Road through Armeny with his champions:  
Where grown herbs that may never faint  
What ever colour man list with them paint.   

Conquered realms about in every coost,  
Of Hiberie he gate the region,  
And Arsaces' the king with all his host  
discomfited, as made is mention,  
With his power to Surry he came down:  
Than to Fenice a kingdom of great fame,  
Which of Fenix whilom took his name.   

Brought all these countries to subjection,  
Of Sidonye, the mighty strong city  
Of Iturie, he took possession,  
Chrugh Araby, he came down to Jude,  
Which of Jew's was sometime the country:  
Of Libanus he passed the mountain  
Where Ceders grow as authors sayne.   

Sent tofore him entering in that realm  
One Gabinius a mighty strong constable,  
Reigning that time in Jerusalem  
Aristobolus a prince full notable:  
And for the temple was strong & pregnable.  
Laid a siege about in bred and length  
Space of three months, gate it so by strength   

Three. M. Jew's under the wall were found  
Dead at the assault, which made resistance,  
The wall after beaten down to ground:  
Pompey than by sturdy violence  
Is entered in, without reverence  
Sancta sanctorum men that place call  
Made by Hyrcanus' highest priest of all.   

The great bishop Aristobolus  
Sent to Rome in mighty chains bound,  
Toward Septentrion I find written thus  
Gate vii kingdoms with cities walled round,  
Rebel to Rome, he did them confound  
With mighty sword, gate all the country  
Fro Caucasus down to the reed see.   

In his conquest it sempt verily  
As the gods had done their cure,  
And that fortune was with them eke busy:  
This mighty Pompey prince of Assure  
What ever him list by conquest to recure,  
In Spain he gate when they were rebels  
Three. C. cities and lx strong castles.   

Hard to remember his conquests eachone,  
All the prowesses of this knightly man,  
Toward the party of Septentrion  
A thousand castles I find that he won,  
Six hundred more fro time that be began  
Eight and thirty cities out of doubt  
With mighty walls closed round about.   

poise his deeds his conquests martial,  
Thrice Consul chose for his increases,  
Rede ye shall find how he was equal  
To Alysandre, or to Hercules,  
Where that ever he put himself in prees  
Al came to hand, concluding (ye may see)  
To comen profit of Rome the city.   

His martial deeds to put in remembrance  
One was chose to do his diligence,  
To enact his conquests in substance,  
And his knighthood to singular excellence,  
And Trifanes famous of eloquence  
Assigned was unto that labour,  
Took his guerdon of the common treasure.   

Pompey of Rome was chief governor,  
Cesar absent in Gaul a far country,  
Which time Pompey stood in great favour  
Both of Fortune and Rome the city,  
Somewhat made blind of his prosperity:  
Purposing in his climbing not stable  
He would have none that were to him semblable.   

Unto purpose was said full yore agone,  
How that love, neither high lordship,  
(proof hath been made in many more than one)  
Nouther of them would have no fellowship,  
Each by his own would his party keep  
In these two cases brother unto brother  
Faileth at a point each will put out other.   

To Pompey resorting now again  
He took on him all the governaile  
Of the Romans, as ye have heard me sayne,  
Both of estates, commons, and porail:  
And for his part all that might avail  
In making laws, statutes, or decree  
Al up engrossed by his authority.   

folk this while which that had envy  
Toward Cesar in his long absence,  
Let make a law by conspiracy  
And a statute concluding in sentence  
Without exception favour or reuerenc●  
No man should by will of the Senate,  
In his absence be chose to none estate.   

Nor be admitted by no procuratoure  
To have authority of dignity or office,  
In court of Tribune nor of senator  
To be promoted, this was their advice  
Were he never so manly nor so wise,  
This law ordained by folk envious  
For hyndring only of Cesar Julius.   

When Julius knew their false working,  
Fro Gaul sent up to the cite  
All the Senate requiring by writing,  
To grant him by their authority  
Of triumph the notable dignity,  
To have also the office and estate  
Called in Rome the second Consulate.   

For him alleging many a great victory  
In divers countries done for the cite,  
Many conquests notable of memory  
Wrought by the knighthood of his equity:  
requiring them guerdoned for to be.  
But contrary unto his intent  
They denied him all by one assent.   

Which was chief ground rote & occasion  
That brought in first the controversy,  
Civil discords, and froward division,  
When every man drought to his party  
Of old hatred to kindle new envy,  
Causing princes Julius and Pomey  
To their confusion each other to warray.   

The triumph denied to Cesar  
Fraud of Pompey made him thereof fail,  
Of whose deceit Julius was ware,  
Made him ready with many a strong battle,  
Passed over the Aipes of italy,  
Fully in purpose plainly if he might  
With the Romans and Pompey for to fight.   

Thus 'gan the wars atween these princes twain,  
Pompey chose for party of the town  
To be their duke and captain sovereign  
Again Cesar as made is mention:  
And thus alas the desolation  
Sued of the cite by many a strange sign,  
With uncouth tokens when they 'gan malign.   

At the ginning of these woeful wars  
In the heaven were seen dreadful sights,  
Sparcling brands, comets uncouth stars,  
Flame of fire, which many fearful lights,  
Like lamps burning all the long nights:  
Casting of spears and darts in the air,  
Whereby romans fylin great despair.   

From the party of Septentrion  
Toward Rome came full great lightning.  
At noon seen stars, like blood the son shone,  
The Moon eclipsed terrible in showing,  
The mount Ethna fearfully brenning  
From his caverns cast up flames read  
Toward Itaile, which set them in great dread   

But of Caribdes a danger in the see  
Wawes terrible boiled up like blood,  
From the rocks that in Cicile be  
Was herd hou●●ng of hounds that were wode:  
Vesta the goddess in Rome where she stood  
Mid her temple, was all with tears sprained,  
When the heavenly fires were afore her quaint.   

Afore the goddess at the altar principle  
Was fire perpetual brenning day & night,  
Till wars civil hateful and terrible  
'Gan among romans in the contagious fight:  
Than of vengeance anon was queit the light  
Tofore Vesta, the fire parting on twain  
Of division a token full certain.   

Earth quaves sudden and terrible  
Ouertourned castles up so down,  
With floods rage, hideous and horrible  
Neptunus did great destruction,  
Drowned vyllagest and many a mansion,  
Reversed in temples of gold all their vessels,  
Threw down banners, standerdes, and pencils   

gain these signs was found none arrest,  
The unware mischief coude no man decline,  
Lions & wolves came down fro the forest  
With many other beasts savagyne:  
Wild beasts, and serpents of ravin  
Came to the cite, and some again kind  
Spoke as do men in Bochas as I find.   

divers fowls which of their nature  
Have in custom to fly but a night,  
Afore these wars did 'em self assure  
At midday, when Phoebus is most bright,  
Through their cite for to take their flight:  
Women with child (the story list not fain)  
Brought forth some that had heads twain.   

Tofore these wars that called were civil,  
Senators being in Rome town  
Came to the woman that called was Sibile,  
Unto her made this question.  
To declare by short conclusion  
Among their other questions all,  
Of their cite what fortune should be fall.   

To whom she gave an answer full obscure  
Whereupon she made them sore muse,  
Took them six letters set in plain scripture,  
Which in no wise they might not refuse:  
For false rights that they did use  
Like the three letters twice set in numbered  
Who understandeth they shall the town encumber.   

Three R R R first she set on a row  
And three F F F in order fast by,  
Long time after or they could know  
The exposition thereof openly,  
Till their diviners 'gan search subtly  
To find out like to their intent,  
By the six letters what Sibylement.   

Of this word regnum the first letter is R  
So is the capital of Rome the city,  
Who looketh a right the third is not far,  
This word ruet gineth with R pard,  
Of which words when they joined be  
The sentence concludeth in meaning  
Of their cite the ruinous falling   

Touching three F F F who can advertise,  
Of this word Ferro F goth toforne,  
And the chief letter of Fame to devise  
Is F also, the process well forth borne  
The same of Flamma by which the town was lost:  
Of which reasons make a conjunction,  
Causing of Rome final destruction.   

Fire, sword, & hunger caused by the wars,  
Desire of climbing, froward ambition  
Sheweing of comets, & uncouth stars  
With pronostikes of their discretion,  
Worst of all wilful division,  
Among themself by unware violence,  
Of letters six accomplished the sentence.   

The sword of Cesar wars of Pompey,  
between these twain lasting a great while,  
Made many a Roman and Italien to day  
By the battles that called were civil:  
With prophecies remembered of Sibile  
As the writing full well rehearse can,  
Of the old Poet that called was Lucan.   

In Martes temple on heith where he stood  
And Bellona the god's despitous,  
The priests cried & offered up their blood,  
With lamentation like folk furious,  
Cause of tokens fell and contrarious  
Which that were showed in that sentuary,  
How their gods to Romans were contrary.   

Among dead bones that lay in their graves  
Were voices herd like woodmen in their rages,  
Cry of ghosts in caverns & in caves  
Heard in fields, paths and passages,  
labourers fled home to their villages:  
Serpents and adders scaled silver bright  
Were over Rome seen flying all the night.   

Another token piteous for to here  
Which astonished many a proud Roman,  
Dead bodies did in the fields appear  
Which in battle had afore be slain,  
Fro their tombs rising where they lain:  
Which in the wars woeful and despitous  
Were slain by Sylla & proud Marius.   

It was eke told by their diviners  
How pompeius was like to have a fall,  
And how thestate of Roman Emperors  
With their triumphs that be imperial  
At Julius first now begin shall,  
And after him thestate shall forth proceed  
By election or in Linial kinrede.   

To withstand the power of Cesar  
Which toward Rome took his way right  
Pompey was sent, wise, manly & right ware,  
But when he heard tell of the might  
Of Julius, he took him to flight:  
Eke all the Senators with him did flee,  
Toward Epire, in Grece a strong cite.   

Pompey was hold famous in chivalry,  
Cesar but young and hardy for t'assail,  
Upon the plains of Grece and Thessaly  
Pompey and he had a great battle,  
gain Julius sword no Roman might avail,  
Constrained of force the field to forsake  
Toward Egypt they have the way take.   

Pompey thorough Cipre came to Tholome,  
By a great water at Paphus did arrive,  
On the strand there he did see  
A stately place, and up he went believe,  
The name of which plainly to descrive  
Cacobasyle the country did it call,  
Of which name the fortune is thus fall.   

The name tokeneth of froward arivaile,  
Swooning in great, unhappy adventure,  
By which the trust of Pompey did fail,  
Fill in despair and might it not recure:  
Forsook that isle & did his busy cure,  
To take a ship so by the see sailing  
Toward Egypt, where Tholome was king.   

Of trust he fled to this Tholome  
In hope he should find in him succour,  
Fair cheer showed under duplicity  
Failed at the point, gave him faint favour,  
Albe Pompey by his friendly labour  
Crowned him king in Egypt as I find,  
To whom again he was false & unkind.   

To meet Pompey he let stuff a barge  
By a manner pretence of frendlyhede,  
Gave his meinie that were there in charge  
To murdre Pompey, behight them great meed,  
twain there were the bare to him haterede,  
And in the vessel with sharp swords whet,  
Or he was ware of his head they smet.   

That one of them was called Achylas  
And his fellow named was Fotyne  
Took up the head of that prince alas,  
Famous in knighthood borne of gentle line:  
Among Romans, as authors determine,  
Hold in his time, if men do him right,  
Through all the world one the best knight.   

Thus earthly princes with at their pompus fame  
Which over the world giveth so great a sound,  
Of slauter and murdre they took first their name,  
By false ravin and extortion:  
clomb so up first to domination,  
brenning of countries conquest by violence,  
Set them in chairs of worldly excellence   

In this battle that called was civil,  
Hold atwene Pompey & Cesar Julius,  
Three hundred. M. slain within a while,  
Three thousand take the story telleth thus:  
Without princes not able and glorious  
As kings and pretours reckoned all at once,  
Tribunes, Consuls, and Centuriones.   

Phoebus' on the soil might not his beams spread,  
Nor on the ground show out his clear light,  
Men that were slain lay so thick on breed  
That of the earth no man had a sight,  
Wolves, bears, & ravenous fowls of flight  
Came great plenty to feed there each day  
Beside the river of Nile where they lay.   

Gobbets of flesh which fowls did arace  
Fro dead bodies borne up in the air,  
Fill fro the claws upon Julius' face  
amid the field, where he had repair,  
Made his visage bloody and not fair:  
Albe that he to his increases of glory,  
Had thilk day of romans the victory:   

The head of Pompey brought with his stately rig  
Off●●d up to Julyus' high presence  
He by compassion the murdre advertising  
Of his innate imperial excellence  
Braced out to weep, and in his advertence  
Thought it pity a price of so great might,  
Should so be slain, that was so good a knight.   

The corpse abode without a sepulture  
Till one Codrus of compassion  
After the battle and discomfiture,  
Besought him of great affection  
To hide the trunk low in the sands down,  
Sought timber & there he fond but small,  
To do exequys with fires funeral.   

Now sith this prince came to such mischief  
Murdered & slain by Tholome the king,  
Here of her power fortune hath made a proof  
What trust there is in any worldly thing:  
After his death wanted he not burying?  
This proud Pompey so famus of his hand,  
Of fish devoured as he lay on quicsande.   

What shall men set by power or noblesse?  
Of sliding goods, or any worldly glory?  
Which to restrain may be no syckernes,  
Fortune and the world is so transitory,  
Though Mars to day give a man victory  
Percase to morrow unwarely he shall they,  
I take record of Cesar and Pompey.   

Sith all stant under danger of Fortune  
Ye worldly men do your look up dress  
To thilk place where joy doth aye contune,  
The blind lady hath there none entresse:  
Set pride aside take you to meekness,  
To sue virtue do truly your labour  
Gain all pomp make Pompey your mirror.   

¶ Envoy.  

This tragedy of Duke Pompey  
Declareth in gross the chief occasion  
Why he and Cesar 'gan first warray,  
Each again other, through vain ambition  
To have lordship and domination  
Over the Romans, by favour, fraud, or might  
Possession take, no force of wrong nor right.   

To truths party pride is loath to obey,  
Extort power doth great destruction  
wise policy all out of the way,  
Prudent counsel age with discretion  
Lost their liberty of free election,  
Who was most strong with him held every wight,  
Possession take no force of wrong nor right.   

Such division made many man to day,  
Brought the city to desolation,  
With two princes fortune list to play,  
Till from her wheel she cast them both down:  
subtle deceit, fraud, and collusion  
By ambitious climbinge blended their sight,  
Possession take, no force of wrong nor right.   

Noble princes remember what I say,  
poise this story within your reason,  
Of false surmounting avarice beareth the key,  
Record of Cesar & Pompey of Rome town:  
Whose wilful wars & hateful dissension  
giveth clear warning to you & every wight,  
No claim is worth without title of right.     

The xii chapter.  
¶ How victorious Julius Cesar brent the vessels of Tholome, slough Achilas that would have murdered him: and after great victories was murdered with himself bodkins by Brutus Cassius.  

AFter the woeful complaint lamentable  
Of Pompey's death, piteous for to here,  
Wars remembered with treasons importable,  
Compassed frauds faced with fair cheer,  
Conspired murdre, rehearsed the manner  
How king Tholome fraudulent of courage,  
The death conspired of Pompey fall in age.   

The process told I hold it were but vain  
Thereof to write a new tragedy,  
Thing once said to rehearse again  
It were but idle as for that party,  
But how Cesar went out of Thessaly  
Came to Alisandre to lodge him in that place,  
I will remember with support of your grace.   

He lodged was in the palace royal,  
Where he was busy by diligent labour  
Through that region in temples royal  
To spoil gods, and have all their treasure,  
Where he was mocked and found no favour:  
For Achilas which that slew Pompey,  
Cast him with Cesar proudly to warray.   

His purpose was to fall upon Cesar  
(As of nature was his condition  
Falsely to murder men or they were ware)  
By some sleight to find occasion  
To destroy Julius by treason,  
And to accomplish his purpose in party  
Had twenty thousand in his company.   

This Achilas false, cruel, and deceivable,  
Cast him deceive Cesar if he might▪  
Of the Egipciens leader and constable  
With the romans purposeth for to fight:  
But when Cesar thereof had a fight,  
He is descended▪ and fast by the see  
Brent all the navy of king Tholome.   

All the vessels were driven up with a flood  
To great damage of the said Tholome,  
Julius brent them even there he stood  
And a great part beside of the cite,  
And there was brent, which was great pite,  
The famous library in Egypt of the king  
Full xl thousand volumes there lying.   

In which thing Bochas rehearseth in sentence  
How Tholome was greatly commendable  
That through his busy royal providence  
Made himself a library so notable:  
For to all clerks in study that were able  
Of seven sciences, the story beareth mind,  
Like their desire might books find.   

After this fire in Farus the country  
The Egipciens had a great battle,  
Where Cesar was of great necessity  
That day constrained when the field can fail  
Took a barge from Egypt for to sail:  
But so great prees followed at his back,  
Almost the vessel was like to go to wrack.   

Cesar armed with letters in his hand,  
Put his person that day in a venture,  
Two hundred pace he manly swum to land,  
And cunningly to land he doth recure,  
notwithstanding his heavy great armure:  
But yet tofore or Cesar took the see  
He in the field had take Tholome.   

And Achilas the murderer of Pompey,  
With all his fellows that were of assent,  
Were slain that day there went none away:  
Many Egipcien the same time brent,  
Cesar of mercy for Tholome hath sent  
To Alysandre, sent him home of new  
Charging he should to Romans be true.   

But when he was delivered from prison  
Of Egipciens in Alysandre the cite  
From every coast gathered great foison,  
Again Julius came down with his main:  
But yet for all his hasty cruelty  
Such resistance Cesar 'gan to make  
That twenty M. that day were slain & take.   

Sixty galeys not far fro the land  
Twelve. M. men coming to Tholome  
eachone were yielded, and brought to hand  
Of Julius his prisoners to be:  
Than Tholomeus busied him to flee  
To the water, where maugre all his might  
He drowned was in his hasty flight.   

He known was by his rich haburion  
Of gold and steel it was entremayled,  
By Cesar sent unto the royal town,  
Which for dyffence was strongly enbattailed  
Buccles of gold richly enamayled,  
Which tokens anon as they have say  
despaired to Cesar sent again.   

Of them to Cesar was made faith & homage,  
The reaim of Egypt brought to subjection,  
Till he of grace and merciful courage  
To Cleopatra gave all that region  
Longing to her by succession,  
By title of right that time & none other  
Because only Tholome was her brother.   

King Lagus whilom in his testament  
Father to Cleopatra and to Tholome,  
Tofore his death by great advisement  
clearly evacted his last volunte  
That his kingdom departed should be,  
Half to Tholome as his bequeath was,  
That other half to queen Cleopatras.   

She by her brother was hold in prison  
To keep her wrongly from her heritage,  
Whereof Cesar had compassion  
Purposed him to reform her damage,  
And while that he held there his hostage  
Of equity, of law, and of reason  
Of all Egypt gave her possession.   

Than came Juba of Libye lord & king  
Sower of strives and dissension,  
Proud, high of port, & cruel in working,  
Which in especial had indignation  
Unto the worthy last Scipion,  
Cause he was chose like as books say,  
To succeed next Consul to Pompey.   

This Juba bore to him great hatred,  
Sought a quarrel again him for a thing  
Cause that he was clad in purple weed,  
For him alleging how only y● clothing  
No manner estate should use but a king:  
meant for himself sitting in royal throne  
He would as king that colour wear alone.   

Here mine author maketh a digression  
putting ensample of Almaigne the country,  
Saith that there is none other nation  
Touching array that is so disguise  
In waste of cloth and superfluity,  
rehearsing here in full plain language  
In many wise such waist doth great damage.   

It causeth pride and ambition  
Again the virtue of humility,  
To Lechery it giveth occasion  
Which is contrary unto chastity,  
Wast of array set folk in poverty,  
Causeth also such costage spent in vain,  
Of other poor to have full great disdain.   

Where superfluite is used of array  
riot followeth, proud port and idleness,  
With waist of time drive forth the day:  
Late drinking, watch, surfeit, & drunkenness,  
Engendereth fevers and many great excess:  
Thus every surfeit englued is to other,  
And one misrule bringeth in another.   

God suffereth weal there be a difference  
touching array as men been of degree,  
high estates that stand in excellence  
Must be preferred of reason men may see,  
As clothe of gold stones of pyrre  
Was for princes with other fresh clothings,  
But specially purple was for kings.   

Thus was there set of high discretion  
Array according to princes high nobles,  
And for other estates lower down  
Like their degrees, tween poverty & riches  
An order kept from scarcity and excess:  
A mean provided atween high and low  
Like to himself each man may be know.   

But king Juba insolent and mad  
Of surquedy caught an opinion  
That none but he in purple should be clad,  
Causing debate between him and Scipion:  
Yet were they party both with Rome toun  
Again Cesar, and drew toward Pompey  
For which at mischief both they did dey.   

When Juba felt himself of no power  
Again Cesar to hold champarty,  
For sorrow he lost countenance and cheer  
Of his disdain and melancholy,  
Called one Peitrin a knight of his aly:  
Made then by assent that they were both feign  
Felly to fight till one of them was slain.   

Again nature was this strange fight,  
Each to slay other and knew no cause why,  
But for king Juba was an hardy knight  
He slew his fellow and abode proudly,  
And rather chase to die wilfully  
Of high despite and of proud courage,  
Than under Cesar to live in servage.   

Made call a man whom he loved weal  
Gave unto him gold and great guerdon  
To take a sword forged of fine steel  
And make thereof no lengar delation,  
But he should for short conclusion  
Take upon him, & have no fear nor dread,  
Without tarrying to smite of his head.   

Thus king Juba rather chase to they  
Than longer live in subjection  
Under Cesar, he loved so well Pompey.  
Than next to Bochas as made is mention  
Came Aristobolus with face & look cast down,  
Which was to Rome afore as I have told  
Sent by Pompey to be kept in hold.   

Which after was delivered from prison  
By help of Cesar in full hasty wise,  
Standing in hope of his region  
To be restored unto the franchise,  
Where Hyrcanus as ye have heard the guise  
Preferred was to his great hindering,  
By Pompey of Jews crowned king.   

Which Aristobolus hopeth to recure  
Cast means there to reign again,  
Wrought thereon, did his busy cure,  
Whose hasty labour was but spent in vain,  
Fill in the hands of a proud captain  
Which that whilom was longing to Pompey,  
And he with poison unwarely made him dey.    

The xiii Chapter.  
¶ How the last Scipion Consulere of Rome, for he list nat to live in servage of Julius, roof himself to the heart.  

NExt came the last worthy Scipion  
Which after Pompey was made Consulere,  
With whom Juba was at descension  
For wearing purple as was told well ere:  
And afterward fell in great fear  
when Cesar had within Libye land  
Outrayed them with strong & mighty hand.   

Whereby Scipion 'gan fall in despair,  
Lost his cheer as man disconsolate,  
With three Romans 'gan make his repair  
Dansippus, Plectorie and Torquate,  
Going to ship the time infortunate:  
Toward Spain, the tempest 'gan them drive,  
That they in Africa unwarely did arrive.   

Scipion seeing this woeful case sudden  
How he was brought unwarly to mischief▪  
For Scicius a mighty strong captain  
Being a Pirate and of the sea a thief  
Which is a name of full great reproof,  
The same Pirate longing to Cesare  
Fill on Scipion or that he was ware.   

Being in purpose took him prisonere,  
Within his ship tofore his arivaile,  
For which alas dull 'gan his cheer  
His countenance appall, and eke fail,  
To find comfort no man could him counsel:  
Pulled out a sword when he might nat start,  
And roof himself even to the heart.   

This was th'end at last of Scipion,  
leaver he had at mischief so to they  
Than under Cesar lie fettered in prison,  
Or to his lordship in any wise obey:  
To Bochas next him came Pompey  
Son and heir to great pompeius,  
Contrary also to Cesar Julius.   

Had brethren and susterne more than one  
And many another of their alliance,  
And of assent they cast them everyone  
Their father's death having in remembrance,  
Upon Cellar to take thereof vengeance:  
Eke upon Tholome which by collusion  
Slough their father by full false treason.   

The eldest brother called eke Pompey  
Being in Spain with full great apparel,  
Cast him of new Cesar to warray,  
And his people proudly to assail:  
And as I find there was a great battle,  
In which Pompey the eldest son of three  
By Julius' men constrained was to flee.   

He fond no succour nor receipt him to save  
Of his life he standing in great dread  
Knowing no refute fled in to a cave,  
Tescape away knew no better read,  
Where he was slain to Cesar brought hyshede:  
Sent forth in scorn anon to Hispalee,  
Which in Spain is a full great city.   

Thus by process all holy the kindred  
Of Pompeius for short conclusion,  
By Cesar was and by his men in deed  
Without mercy brought to destruction:  
Thus 'gan en●reas the fame and renown  
Of Julius' conquests, on sea & eke on land,  
Whose mortal sword might no man which stand.   

First in Libie, Spain, and eke Itayle  
Thexperience of his royal puissance,  
In Germany by many strong battle,  
His power proved oft times in France,  
Brought all these kingdoms to the obeisance  
Of the romen, poised all this thing and sein  
Touching his guerdon his labour was in vein.   

Toward Rome making his repair  
By him appeaced civil dissensions,  
Of Throne imperial climbing in the eyre  
For the conquest of. xiii, regions  
Of the triumph required the guerdons:  
Which to recure his force hath applied,  
Albe the Senate his request hath denied.   

And his name more to magnify,  
To show the glory of his high noblesse  
To the capitol fast he 'gan him high,  
As Emperor his domes there to dress:  
That day began with joy and gladness  
The eve nothing according which the morrow,  
Thentring glad th'end care & sorrow.   

Calphurnia which that was his wy●e  
Had a dream the same night before,  
Tokyns showed of the same funeral strife  
How that her lord was like to be lost  
By conspiracy compassed and sworn,  
If he that day without advisement  
In the capitol sat in judgment.   

She dreamed alas as she lay and slept  
That her lord through girt with many a wound  
Lay in her lap, and she the body kept  
Of womanhood like as she was bound:  
But woe alas to true her dream was found,  
The next morrow no longer made delay  
Of his periody was his fatal day.   

A poor man called Tongilius  
Which secretly the treason did espy,  
Let write a letter, took it to Julius,  
The case declaring of their conspiracy,  
Which to read Cesar list nat apply:  
But woe alas ambitious negligence  
Caused his murdre by unware violence.   

Cesar sitting amid the consystorie  
In his estate most imperial,  
After many conquests and victory  
Fortune awaiting to give him a fall,  
With bodkyns persinge as a nall,  
He murdered was with many a mortal wound,  
Lo how false trust in worldly pomp is found.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

Through all this book read each tragedy  
Afore rehearsed and put in remembrance,  
Is none more woeful to my fantasy  
Than is the fall of Cesar in substance:  
Which in his highest imperial puissance  
When he wend have be most glorious,  
Was murdered at Rome, by Brutus Cassius.   

This martial prince ridig through Lombardy  
Each country yielded & brought to obeisance,  
Passing the Alpes road through Germany,  
To subjection brought the realm of France,  
Gate Brutus' Albion by long continuance,  
Two lustres passed, this manly Julius  
And murdered at Rome by Brutus Cassius.   

Among the Senate was the conspiracy  
All of assent and of one accordance,  
Whose triumph they proudly 'gan deny  
But maugre them was kept thobservance,  
His char of gold with steeds of pleasance  
Conveyed through Rome this prince most pompus  
The murdre folowig by Brutus Cassius   

reckon his conquests reckon his chivalry,  
With a counterpeis of worldly variance,  
Fortune's changes for his purparty  
Way all together cast them in balance  
Set to of Cesar the mischevable chance:  
With his periody sudden and envious,  
Murdered at Rome by Brutus Cassius.   

Books all and Chronicles specify  
By influence of heavenly purveyance,  
Mars and Jupiter their favour did apply  
With gladaspectes his noblesse to enhance,  
Mars gave him man, Jupiter governance,  
Among princes hold one the most famous  
And murdered at Rome by Brutus Cassius.   

Behold of Alysandre the great monarchy  
Which all the world had under obeisance,  
The prowess of Hector meddled with gentry,  
Of Achilles the melancholic vengeance,  
reckon of eachone the quavering assurance:  
Among remembering the fine of Julius,  
Murdered at Rome by Brutus Cassius:   

Princes consider in martial policy  
Is nouther trust, faith, nor affiance,  
All stand in change which twicling of an eye,  
Up toward heaven set your attendance:  
The world unsure & all worldly pleasance,  
Lordship abideth nat record on Julius,  
Murdered at Rome by Brutus Cassius.     

❧ The xiiii Chapter.  
❧ How Octavian succeeded next, and how the murderers of Julius died at mischief.  

AFter the death of this manly man,  
This noble Prince, this famous Emperor,  
His worthy nephew called Octanian  
To reign in Rome was next his successor,  
Which did his devoir by diligent labour  
To punish all though of nature as he ought,  
By rightful doom that the murdre wrought.   

Chief conspirator was Brutus Cassius  
Which of this murdre made all thordinance,  
Another Brute surnamed Decius  
Was one also conspiring the vengeance  
Wrought on Cesar, he after slain in France:  
Here men may see what coasts y● men wend,  
How murdre always requireth an ill end.   

Within the space almost of three year  
Destroyed were all the conspirators  
By sudden death, & some stood in daungere  
To be banished or exiled as traitors:  
And as it is chronicled by authors,  
Space of three year tekened one by one  
died at mischief the murderers eachone.   

To murder a prince it is a piteous thing,  
God of his right will take thereof vengeance,  
Namely an Emperor so famous in each thing  
Which all the world had in governance:  
reckon his conquests dign of remembrance  
All poised in one Bochas beareth witness  
In high estate is little sickerness.    

☞ The xu Chapter.  
¶ How Tullius was two times exiled and at the last slain by Pompilius.  

Mine author here writeth no long process  
Of Julius' death complaining but a while,  
To write of Tully in haste he 'gan him dress  
Compendiously his life for to compile,  
Complaining, first saith his barren style  
Is insufficient to write as men may seen  
Of so notable a rethoriciene.   

Lamp and lantern of Roman orators  
Among them called prince of eloquence,  
On Pernaso he gathered up the flowers  
This rethoricien most of excellence,  
Whose merits truly to recompense  
The muses nine me thought as I took heed,  
A crown oflaurer set upon his head.   

Bochas astonished 'gan in himself conclude  
His book, abashed, dull of his courage,  
Thought his terms & reasons were to rude  
And that he lacked cunning and language  
Whereby he should to his advantage  
Though he laboured writing all his liue,  
Of Tullius the merits to descrive.   

Whereof surprised he caught a fantasy  
Within himself remembering anonright  
Though it so fall sometime a cloudy sky  
Be chased with wind afore the son bright,  
Yet in effect it loseth nat his light:  
So Bochas dempte that his dull writing  
eclipsed not of Tullius the shining,   

With rude language a man may well report  
The laud of triumphs & conquests maruelus,  
Which thing remembering greatly 'gan comfort  
The heart of Bochas, & to himself said thus  
Two colours seen that be contrarious  
As white and black it may be none other,  
Each in his kind showeth more for other.   

In Phoebus' presence stars lose their light,  
Clear at midday appeareth nat Lucine,  
The fame of tuli whilom shone so bright  
Prince of fair speech father of the doctrine,  
Whose bright beams unto this hour shine:  
soothly quoth Bochas of whom when I indite  
My hand I feel quaking while I writ.   

But for to give folk occasion  
Which in rhetoric have more experience  
Than have I, and more inspection  
In the colours and craft of eloquence  
Them texite to do their diligence,  
Unto my writing when they may attend  
Of compassion my rudeness to amend.   

Unto himself having this language  
Bochas to write 'gan his pen dress,  
Under support afforced his courage  
To remembee thexcellent noblesse  
Of this orator, which with the sweetness  
Of his ditties abroad as they have shined,  
Hath this world most clearly enlumined.   

This Tullius this singular famous man  
first to remember of his nativity  
Borne at Arpinas, a cite of Tuscan  
Of blood royal descended who list see:  
greekish books of old antiquity  
Made of rhetoric, & in their vulgar song  
He translated in to the latin tongue.   

In tender youth his country he forsook  
And fro Tuscan his passage he 'gan dress,  
Toward Rome the right way he took  
Entering the city the renowned noblesse  
Hid in his person she wed the brightness  
Of divers virtues, time while he abode,  
That like the son his fame spread abroad.   

For his virtues made a citezaine  
The good report of him shone so clear,  
Like as he had be borne a roman  
In their favour his name was so enter:  
Among them chose for a Consulere,  
Again the cite time of his Consulate  
When Catiline was with them at debate.   

By the prudence of this Tullius  
And his manhood reckoned both in fere,  
Catelina most cruel and irous  
froward of port, & froward of his cheer,  
Busy ever to find out the manner  
How he might by any token or sign  
Again the city covertly malign.   

Six hundred year fourscore told and nine  
reckoned of Rome fro the foundation  
This cruel tyrant this proud Catiline  
Made with other a conjuration,  
Again franchises and fredame of the town,  
First discured as books tell can  
In the parties and bounds of Tuscan   

The purpose holy of this Catiline  
Imagined on false covetise,  
Was to bring Rome unto ruin,  
And thereupon in many sundry wise  
Found out means, and ways 'gan devise  
To his intent by diligent labour,  
In the cite to get him great favour.   

But finally his conjuration  
Discured was by one Quincius,  
Which was afore false unto the town  
Told at the case unto Tullius,  
By whose prudence & working marueilus  
By help of Antony that was his fellow  
The conjuration was broken and withdraw.   

By wit of tuli all the coniuratours  
Espied were and brought unto mischance,  
Their names red tofore the Senators.  
Of their falsehood told all the governance,  
Manly ordained through his purveyance  
With all his people as made is mention,  
Catelina departed from the town   

With Antony the said Catiline  
Beside Pistoy had a great battle,  
Slain in the field he might nat decline  
For he abode when the field 'gan fail:  
Power of one little may avail,  
Namely when falsehood of malice & of pride  
Again troth dare the bront abide.   

There was another called Lentulus  
Of his fellows that named was Fabine,  
The third of them eke called Cetegus  
All assented and sworn to Catiline  
Strangled in prison, at mischief did fine:  
Cause Tullius did execution  
Tulliane was called the prison.   

Thus coude he punish traitors of the town,  
Outray their enemies of manhood & prudence,  
Called of their cite governor & patron  
Sent from above to be their defence,  
Their champion most dign of reverence,  
Chose of their gods their cite for to gye  
By two prerogatives knighthood, & clergy.   

Like the son he did them enlumine  
By high prows of knightly excellence,  
And through the world his beams did shine  
Of his rhetoric and of his eloquence:  
In which he had so great experience  
By circumstances that nothing did lack,  
He transcended Plocius and Gracke.   

Of orators it is put in memory  
This Tullius through his high renown  
Of all eachone the honour and the glory  
Was give to him, as made is mention:  
Surmounted all and in conclusion  
The golden trump of the house of Fame  
Through the world blew abroad his name.   

He knew secrets of philosophy,  
Came to Athens to school for doctrine,  
Where he profited so greatly in clergy  
In all sciences heavenly and divine  
That he was called as authors determine,  
Among romans of very due right,  
Of eloquence the lantern and the light.   

It is remembered among orators  
How Tullius pleaded causes twain  
In the roman court afore the Senators  
The cause defending by language sovereign  
Of two accused again them that did plain  
On their defaults, them saving fro mischief  
The court escaping fro danger & reproof.   

These causes twain he pleaded in latin  
With so excellent flowering fair language,  
With such reasons concluded at the fine  
That he by wisdom caught thadvantage  
In his matters, with all the surplusage  
That might avail unto his party  
What he said there could no man deny.   

Among Greeks at Athens the cite  
So great he was of reputation,  
So famous hold of authority  
To be compared by their opinion  
To the Philosopher that called was Platon,  
To whose cradle bees did abraid  
And honey sote they on his lips laid.   

Apronostike like as books tell  
Plato should by famous excellence  
Of rhetoric be very source and well,  
For his language mirror of eloquence:  
Yet the Greeks recorden in sentence  
How Tullius in party and in all,  
Was unto Plato in rhetoric equal.   

Through his language this said Tullius  
Reconciled by his sweet orisons  
To the lordship and grace of Julius  
Princes and kings of divers regions,  
That suspect stood by accusations:  
Because they did Julius disobey  
Were inclined with romans to Pompey.   

He coude appease by his prudent language  
folks that stood in dissension,  
By craft he had a special advantage  
Favour singular in pronunciation:  
In his demeaning great prudence and reason,  
For the pronouncing of matters in substance  
His thank receiveth by cheer & countenance.   

To a glad matter longeth a glad cheer,  
Men treat of wisdom with words of sadness  
Pleintes require after the matter  
grievous or moral, a cheer of heaviness,  
Like as the cause other the process  
giveth occasion to hinder or to speed,  
The doctrine in Tullius men may read.   

The name of tuli was couth in many place,  
His eloquence in every land was rife,  
His language made him stand in grace  
And be preferred during all his life,  
Married he was & had a right fair wife,  
Children many, servants young and old  
And as I find he held a good household.   

De Officiis he wrote books three,  
De Amicitia I find how he wrote one,  
Of age another notable for to see,  
Of moral virtue they treated everichone:  
And as Vyncent wrote full yore agone  
In his mirror called Hystoriall,  
Nombre of his books be there remembered all.   

He wrote also the dream of Scipion,  
Of rhetoric compiled books twain  
And twain he wrote of divination,  
Of title of land to write he did his pain,  
A large book of glory that is vain,  
Dear Publica and he saith him selue  
Of his orations he wrote books twelve.   

And of his ditties that called be moral  
Is remembered notably in deed  
In the said mirror historical,  
And yet this said Tullius as I read  
Mid his worships stood always in dread  
Of fortune, for in conclusion  
He by envy was banished Rome town.   

Being in exile this famous Tullius  
At Campania in Ative the cite,  
Received he was of one Plaucius  
A man that time of great authority,  
And while that he abode in that country  
Sleeping a night the book maketh mention,  
How that he had a wonders vision.   

He thought thus as he lay sleeping  
In a desert and great wilderness,  
Finding no path but to and fro roaming  
How he met clad in great richesse  
Gaius Marius, a prince of great noblesse,  
asking tuli with a sad countenance  
What was chief and cause of his grievance.   

When Tullius had him the cause told  
Of his disease and his mortal woe,  
Marius with his hand set on him hold  
To a ●ergiaunt assigned him right tho:  
And in all haste bade him he should go  
To convey him do his busy cure  
In all hast possible to his sepulture.   

Where he should have tidings of pleasance  
Of his repair in to Rome town,  
Be alleyed of his old grievance  
This was th'end of his avision  
The next morrow as made is mention  
There was hold to Tullius great avail  
Tofore Jupiter in Rome a great counsel.   

Within the temple builded by Marius,  
The Senators accorded were certain  
To reconcile this prudent Tullius  
Out of his exile to call him home again:  
After received as lord and sovereign  
Of eloquence, by assent of the Senate,  
Fully restored unto his first estate.   

This thing was done when y● Rome town  
Was at greatest strife between Cesar & Pompey,  
And for Tullius drew him to Caton  
With Pompeius, Cesar to warray,  
And of Julius the party disobey,  
Out of Rome Tullius died him high  
Fled with Pompey in to Thessaly.   

Cesar after of his free motion  
When he stood highest in his glory,  
Him reconciled again to Rome town,  
Upon Pompey accomplished the victory:  
But Julius slain in the consistory  
By sixty Senators being of assent  
Tullius again was in to exile sent.   

And in a cite called Fariman  
Tullius his exile did endure,  
For Antonius was to him enemy than  
Because that he percase of adventure  
Compiled had an invectife scripture  
Again Antony rehearsing all the case  
Of his defaults, and of Cleopatra's.   

Thus of envy and of mortal haterede  
His death compassed by Antonius,  
And afterward execute in deed  
By procuring of one Pompilius,  
Gate a commission, the story telleth thus  
Of false malice and forth anon went he  
In to Gayre of company the cite.   

And by the virtue of his commission  
Taking of Antony licence and liberty,  
Chief rhetorician that ever was in the town  
Among Romans to worship the cite,  
Was slain, alas, of hate and enmity  
By Pompilius rote of all falsehood,  
Proffering himself to smite of his head.   

Tullius afore had be his defence  
Fro the gallows and his death eke let  
Which had deserved for his great offence  
To have been banged upon an high gibbet:  
Who saveth a thief when the rope is knet  
About his neck, as old clerks writ  
With some false turn the bribour will high quite.   

Lo here the vice of ingratitude  
By experience brought fully to a proof,  
Who in his heart treason doth include  
Cast for good will to do a man reproof,  
What is the guerdon for to save a thefe●  
When he is escaped look and ye shall find,  
Of his nature ever to be unkind.   

This Pompilius traitor most audible  
To show himself false, cruel & vengeable,  
Toward Tully did a thing horrible,  
When he was dead this br●bour most culpable  
Smit of his right hand, to hear abominable,  
With which hand he learning on him took  
To write of virtues many a famous book.   

The hand, the head, of noble Tullius  
Which every man of right ought complain,  
Were take and brought by Pompilius  
Upon a stake set up both twain,  
There to abide where it did shine or rain  
With wind & weather till they were defied,  
In token all favour was to him denied.    

❧ The xvi Chapter  
* A chapter again janglers and dyffamers of rhetoric.  

BOchas complaining in his study alone  
The death of tuli and the woeful fall,  
Grudging in heart made a piteous moan  
The folk rebuking in especial  
Which of nature be boisterous and rural,  
And hardy been for they no cunning have  
Craft of rhetoric to wonder and deprave.   

clerks old did greatly magnify  
This noble science that were expert & wise  
Called it part of philosophy,  
And said also in their prudent avise  
There be three parts as treasures of great prize  
Compiled in books and of old provided,  
In to which Philosophy is divided.   

The first of them called is Moral  
Which directeth a man to good thews,  
And the second called Natural  
Telleth the kind of goodmen and shrews,  
And the third racionall well shows  
What men shall void and what thing underfong,  
And to that party Rhetoric doth belong.   

By Tullius, as authors determine,  
Of his person rehearsing in substance  
translated was fro Greek into Latin  
Craft of rhetoric, and for the abundance  
Of eloquence stuffed with pleasance,  
All orators remembered him toforne  
Was there none like nor after him yet borne.   

Bochas also saith in his writings  
And proveth weal by reason and sentence,  
To an orator longeth four things,  
First natural wit, practic, with science,  
Virtuous life, chief ground of eloquence:  
Of port a●d manner that he be treatable,  
These means had, mine auctor hold high able.   

In his writing and in his scriptures  
Bochas weal parceiveth it must needs been  
How that of right there long five armours  
To every notable rethoricien,  
Set here in order who list them seen  
Which he calleth rehearsing in sentence,  
The five banners longing to eloquence.   

The first of them called Invention  
By which a man doth in his heart find  
A secret ground founded on reason  
With circcnstaunces that nought be left behind,  
Fro point to point imprinted in his mind,  
Touching y● matter the substance & the great  
Of which he cast notably tentreat.   

Another armure in order the second  
Of right is called Disposition,  
As of a matter when the ground is found  
That every thing by just division  
Be void of all foreign digression:  
So disposed touching time and space  
Fro superfluite keep his due place.   

The third armour named in sentence  
Is Elocution with words many or few,  
Matters conveyed by just convenience  
Diposed in order convenably to show:  
Like a carver that first doth timber hew  
Sqware and compass cast features & visage,  
With carving toll maketh up a fair image.   

Pronunciation is the fourth armure  
Necessary to every orator,  
In such case when craft unto nature  
Joined is by diligent labour,  
With elocution, and that there be favour  
In declaring with every circumstance,  
Following the matter in cheer & countenance   

An heavy matter requireth an heavy cheer,  
To a glad matter longeth well gladness,  
Man in pronouncing must follow the matter  
Old orators can bear hereof witness:  
A furious complaint uttered in distress  
This was the manner as poets do descrive,  
In his tragedies when Senec was alive.   

The fift armour called Remembrance  
With quick memory by providence to see  
So avisely to groce up in substance  
Holy his matters that nought forgotten be,  
Lest forgetfulness dark nat the liberty  
Of clear report, each thing to have in mind,  
That in pronouncing nothing be left behind.   

Afore provided so that forgetfulness  
Be no hinderer to invention,  
And in proceeding no foreign recklessness  
Trouble nat the order of disposition:  
And for taccomplishe all up with reason  
That pronouncing by clear remembrance  
Be well favoured with cheer & countenance.   

These said things be inly necessary  
To every prudent notable orator,  
Nat to hasty nor overlong to tarry  
But to convey his process by measure:  
In cheer according stant all the favour,  
For in pronouncing who lacketh cheer or face  
Of Tullius' school standeth far out of grace.   

All earthly beasts be mute of nature  
Save only man, which hath advantage  
By a prerogative above each creature,  
To utter his conceit only by language:  
The soul by grace represseth all outrage,  
Namely when reason hath the sovereignty  
To bridle passions of sensuality.   

Kind unto man hath given eloquence  
A thing convenable en especial,  
When that it is conveyed by prudence  
To talk of matters that be natural.  
And secrets hid above celestial  
Doth entreat of son, moan & stars,  
Thin●●uent power sent of peace and wars.   

God of all this hath granted knowledging  
Only to man by wisdom and reason,  
And through language give to him showing  
Outward to make declaration  
Of the heavenly course and sundry motion:  
divers changes and plainly to define  
The revolution of the spheres nine.   

Men by language show out their intents,  
The natural moving and mutations,  
Accord and discord of the four elamentes,  
Kindly variance of four complexions,  
The generation and the corruptions  
Of earthly things, contrary each to other,  
Corruption of one engendering of another.   

This is the power and the precellence  
Which is give to man reasonable,  
That by language and by eloquence  
A man is taught in virtue to be stable:  
Of soul eternal of body corrumpable,  
Taught with his tongue while he is aline  
Of his defaults how he shall him shrive.   

Bochas eke telleth touching rhetoric  
There be two manners, one is of nature  
learned in youth which doth one speak like  
As he heareth or learneth by scripture:  
Craft of rhetoric is give to no creature  
Save to man which by great diligence,  
By study cometh to craft of eloquence.   

Craft of language and of prudent speech  
Causeth prechours by spiritual doctrine  
Virtuously the people for to teach  
How they shall live by moral discipline,  
Language teacheth men to plant wine  
informeth folk to worship holy church,  
The artificer truly for to wurche.   

Yet there be some that plainly teach and pr●che  
Have of language this opinion  
God hath nat most regard unto speech  
But to the heart and to the affection  
Best 'gan guerdon the inward intention  
Of every man, nat after the visage  
But like the moving of their inward courage.   

To our language is great diversity  
When men show th'effect of their meaning  
Beit of joy or of adversity  
Cheer for taccorde therewith in uttering,  
Now debonair some while rebuking,  
And in rehearsing like cheer always tapply  
Be it of rudeness be it of courtesy.   

Of discretion set a difference  
In his pronounsinge to pierce or undermine,  
To draw the judge unto his sentence  
Or to his purpose to make him to incline:  
See whether he be melancholic or benign,  
Or his matter be uttered or unclosed  
Consider afore how that he is disposed.   

poised all this thing by a rethoricien  
With other things which appertain of right  
To craft of speech, he must conceive and seen  
Matters of substance & matters that be light,  
Dispose himself tentreate every wight,  
Like to purpose and fine of his matter,  
As for the time rhetoric doth require.   

As by ensample mine auctor doth record  
Men set at war in heart far a sunder  
The rethoricien to make them for taccorde  
Must seche ways & means here & yonder,  
Of old rancour tappeise the boisterous thunder  
By wise examples & proverbs pertinent  
Tenduce the parties to be of one assent.   

A man also that stant in heaviness  
Dispeired and disconsolate,  
The rethoricien must do his business  
The ground considered & felt of his estate,  
The cause searched why he stant dissolate,  
Which to reform by diligent labour  
Is the true office of every orator.   

Of rethoriciens whilom that were old  
The sugared language & virtuous dalliance  
By good ensample & proverbs that they told  
Words peaceable enbelished with pleasance  
appeased of tyrants the great vengeance,  
Set aside their furious sentence  
By virtue only of prudent eloquence.   

And contrary plainly to conclude  
Men see all day by clear experience  
folk unadvised, and hasty fools rude  
And brainless people of wilful negligence,  
Because they were barren of eloquence  
Uttering their speech, as naked men & bare  
For lack of rhetoric their matter to declare.   

By clear example, as purple (who taketh heed)  
Longeth to kings in story ye may find,  
With clothes of gold and rich velvet weed  
Fret with Rubies and other stones Ind,  
sapphires, emeralds, peerless of their kind  
As all these things appropred be of right  
pleasant objects to a man's sight:   

So the language of rethoriciens  
Is a glad object to man's audience,  
With song melodious of musiciens  
Which doth great comfort to every presence:  
As by example Amphion with song & eloquence  
Builded the walls of Thebes the cite,  
He had of rhetoric so great subtility.   

In his language there was so great pleasance  
Finding thereby so inly great profit,  
That all the country came to his obeisance  
To hear him speak they had so great delight:  
The people environ had such an appetite  
In his person in peace and in battle,  
Here me may see what rhetoric doth avail.    

☞ The xvii Chapter.  
¶ How Sextus warreied again Triumuir, and of the death of great Antony and Cleopatras.  

Following thorder of Bochas in his book  
With pen in hand as he cast up his eye,  
Tofore him came pale of cheer & look  
A mighty prince son unto Pompey  
Called Sextus, which as books say  
delighted him with a great navee:  
Like a Pirate to rob on the see.   

To his father contrary in such case,  
For every Pirate of custom he did hate:  
Upon the sea whose usage was  
Against them proudly to debate,  
Pursued them early and eke late,  
Where this Sextus to his great reprie●e  
Was on the sea a robbour and a thief.   

The slander of him 'gan to spread far,  
Reported was in many a far country,  
With Triumuir this Sextus 'gan a war,  
Which is an office and a dignity  
By the Romans committed unto three,  
Notable estates, those for chivalry  
Thempire all hole to govern and to gye.   

The first of them named Lepidus,  
And the second called Octavian  
The third in number was Antonius,  
Again which three Sextus this proud man  
Of surquedy a new war began,  
Afore by Julius for his rebellion  
Banished for ever out of Rome town.   

Triumuir of politic governance  
Well advised afore in their reasons,  
Treating for peace by notable purveyance  
With proud Sextus under conditions,  
Writ and enact in their convencious,  
But anon after list no while tarry,  
He to his promise was froward & contrary.   

For his convict outrageous falseness,  
And on the sea for his robbery  
Bochas of him writeth no long process,  
Having disdain his name to magnify  
For he to virtue list nothing apply:  
The different cause which is in the state  
atween knighthood and life of a pirate.   

With fugitive thieves and robbers  
And men exiled out of Rome town,  
Banished people, false conspirators,  
With other convict of murder and treason,  
He took all such under protection:  
And one Moena a churl of his certain  
Of forty ships he made him captain.   

The said churl unwarely though began  
To follow the nature of his condition,  
Allied himself with Octavian  
Again his lord, of full false treason  
With all his navy & ships he came down,  
Spared nat to meet of very pride  
With Menecratus that was on Sextus side.   

But all so soon as the battle began  
And the parties together should gone,  
All the vessels of Octavian  
With sudden tempest were drowned eachone,  
Beside a castle built of lime and stone  
Called Nauleton, where yet to great reproof  
Sextus fled & was brought to mischief.   

Went in to Grece to make him strong again  
To hold a battle with Antonius  
Take in his coming by strength of a capitcin  
Longing to Antony called Phurnius  
Whilom nephew to Cesar Julius,  
And or duke Sextus might farther wend  
He slain was and made there his end.   

Of Triumuir in th'empire as I told  
There was a captain called Lepidus,  
Which by his office like as he was hold  
Right busy was, the book rehearseth thus,  
To reconcile the proud Antonius  
To the grace of great Octavian,  
Each thing forgive whereof the war began.   

And to conclude shortly who list see  
Fortune a while was to him gracious,  
th'empire all whole governed by these three  
Lordship of Africa had Lepidus,  
By which he wext proud and contrarius,  
To him assigned under commissions  
Fully the number of twenty legions.   

Whereof in herthe caught such a pride  
Causing by process his destruction,  
Surquedy a while was his guide  
Fro his estate till he was fall down,  
Namely when he of false presumption  
Took upon him of malice to warray  
The said Octavian, and 'gan him disobey.   

When Octavian his malice did see  
That he 'gan wax suddenly contrary,  
He threw him down from his dignity  
Cast him in exile, list no lengar tarry:  
Lo how Fortune 'gan suddenly vary  
To make him that had governance  
Of all africa, to come to mischance.   

Another prince Cesar Lucius  
Exiled was from Rome the cite  
By his uncle the said Antonius,  
Of wilfulness and hasty cruelty:  
For in that time, as men may read and see,  
Contrived causes were found up of malice  
Texile princes notable hold and wise.   

Some because they held with Cesar,  
Other for Pompey that held on that party,  
Some for their good afore or they were ware  
Some for suspection, some for envy,  
Some for they could nat flatter nor lie:  
Some for virtues which was great ruth  
Because they were so stable in their truth.   

In this trouble dreadful and odious  
As is rehearsed, in order ye may read,  
The noble knight Paulus Lucius  
Exiled was of malice and hatred  
Following upon the great horrible deed  
The piteous death and the hateful case  
Of great Antony and Cleopatras.   

The tragedy of these ilk twain  
For me as now shallbe set aside,  
Cause Chaucer chief poet of Britain  
Seing their hearts coude not divide  
In his book the legend of Cupid  
Remembering there, as one they did endure,  
So were they buried in one sepulture.   

Thing once said by labour of Chaucer  
Were presumption me to make again,  
Whose making was so notable and enteer  
Right compendious & notable in certain,  
Which to rehearse the labour were in vain▪  
Bochas remembering how Cleopatras  
Caused Antony how he destroyed was.   

Her Avarice was so importable,  
He surprised with her great fairness  
Following her lusts foul & abominable,  
She desiring to have be empress  
And he alas of froward wilfulness  
To please her, unhappily began  
To warray the great Octavian   

froward ambition set his heart on fire  
To climb up to the imperial sea,  
To have possession of the hole empire,  
Took upon him if it would have be  
To reign alone in Rome the cite,  
Cleopatras to foster her in pride  
Title of Octavian for to set aside.   

With multitude of many legions  
As I have told, again Octavian  
To him accroched of divers regions  
Great multitude of many manly man,  
First on the sea to war he began  
Where he was maugre all his might  
To his confusion unwarely put to flight.   

despaired fled home to his country,  
Knowing no help nor mean to recure  
But to thincrease of his adversity,  
When that he saw his woeful adventure  
gain Octavian he might nat endure,  
With a sharp sword his danger to divert  
Himself he roof unwarely to the heart.   

Of whose death the queen Cleopatras  
Took a sorrow very importable,  
Because there was no recure in the case  
Thought of his woe she would be partable,  
Whose fatal end piteous and lamentable  
Slough eke herself love so did her rave,  
After they both were buried in one grave    
❧ Thus endeth the sixth book and here after followeth the seventh.   


¶ Of Antony son and heir to the great Antony: and of Cesarius, Julia, Agrippa, Cassius, and Galbus.  
¶ The first Chapter.  

THis story ended, last of the sixth book,  
Bochas weary thought for the best  
Of great travail oppressed in his look  
Fill in a slumber leaning on his chest,  
Fully in purpose to have take his rest:  
But even as he rest should have take  
Came a great prees, and made him tawake.   

First of that fellowship came the son & heir  
Of Antony, with blood spreint all his weed,  
Called Antony fall in great despair,  
Cause Octavian bore to him haterede,  
Whose sword he fled quaking in his dread  
To an old temple succour for to have,  
Trusting fro death the place should h● save.   

In that temple Cesar was deified,  
Of whom by Romans was set up an image,  
But when he saw he was espied  
He ran to Julius hie upon a stage,  
'Gan him to embrace in his piteous rage,  
He rend away by sudden violence  
unwarely slain there gained no defence.   

Next in order came Cesarius  
Of whom there fill a wondre piteous case,  
Whilom beget of Cesar Julius  
Upon the young fair Cleopatras,  
Slain in his youth, thus writeth Bochas:  
As Octavian did himself assign,  
For he gain Romans should nat malign.   

Following in order Julia began  
Her grievous complaint to Bochas specify,  
Whilom daughter to great Octavian,  
With weeping 'gan to howl and cry,  
Which by her father to punish her lechery  
Exiled was out of her country,  
For lack of succour died in poverty.   

Her son Agrippa young and tender of age  
Borne of high blood, Bochas doth express,  
Came next in order pale of his visage,  
Which spent his time in slumber & idleness,  
Froward to virtue, & for his wretchedness  
Octavian which was great tooth,  
Suffered him die at mischief for his sloth.   

After Agrippa came forth anon right  
Cassius, of Parme a famous great country,  
Which in Itaile was hold a manly knight,  
With Mark Antony weal cherished & secre  
Bode in his court and there withal pard  
Greatly allowed, first for his chivalry,  
And for his notable famous policy.   

And there withal he had in existence  
A right great name, & stood in great favour  
For his knighthood & for his high prudence,  
After accused unto the Emperor  
Octavian for a coniuratour,  
He should have be of froward false intent  
To Julius' death fully of assent.   

For which by bidding of Octavian  
Take he was being but young of age,  
And as mine auctor well remember can  
Brought tofore Julius hie upon a stage,  
There offered up unto his image  
By cruel death▪ the story telleth thus,  
For the false murdre of Cesar Julius.   

After the death of the said Cassius  
Another came of Rome the cite,  
Which as I read called was Galbus  
Of a praetor having the dignity,  
And for suspection slain eke was he,  
His eyen first out of his head were rend  
For Julius death, than in to exile sent.   

Toward his exile by brigantes he was slain,  
And After that within a little while  
Of his labour nouther glad ne feign  
Bochas began to direct his stile  
To great Herodes, briefly to compile  
His grievous fall and holy the manner  
To set in order next as ye shall here.    

The ii Chapter.  
❧ How the tyrant Herodes slough his wife and children, and after died at mischief.  

remembering first in Jurye he was king,  
Antipater his father, who list see,  
In Arabia mightily reigning:  
Over the province called Idume,  
This same Herodes garden of Galilee,  
Ordained was first for his high prudence  
And for his notable knightly excellence.   

Famous in manhood, famous of his line,  
Famous also by procreation,  
I read also he had wives nine,  
And among all as made is mention  
To his pleasance and his opinion,  
Master of stories rehearseth there was one  
Mariannes' fairest of eachone,   

By whom he had worthy sons twain,  
Alysander, and Aristobolus,  
But for his sister did at her disdain  
Called Saloma, the story telleth thus,  
He unto her wext suspicious,  
Because she was accused of envy  
By Saloma touching adultery.   

Again her of rancour suddenly  
He 'gan of heart grievously disdain,  
With rigorous heart he slew her furiously,  
But as the story doth us ascertain  
He for her death after felt great pain,  
Ever when it came to his remembrance  
Her port, her cheer, her womanly pleasance.   

Lo what it is a prince to be hasty  
To every tale of rancour to assent,  
And counsels to proceed wilfully  
To execution of froward false intent,  
For Herodes so sore he did repent  
That he for thought fell in to an noy,  
Of heartily sorrow and melancholy.   

Rest had he none nouther day ne night,  
Troubled with fury that he wext frantyke,  
which dreams vexed & many an uncouth sight,  
Of cheer nor colour to no man he was like:  
And every month once lunatic,  
A great while he had this woeful life  
For sorrow only he had slain his wife.   

And as the story well rehearse can,  
In the Capitoyle mid Rome the cite  
By antony and by Octavian  
He crowned was, and made king of Jude:  
By the Senate made thereon a decree  
And registered, that he and his kindred  
Should in that land lineally proceed.   

In Rome was made the confirmation  
To this Herodes, books specify,  
Being afore the translation  
Was made of Juda and of Jurye,  
Septer and crown with all the regaly  
By him usurped as ye have herd toforne  
Upon the time when Christ was borne.   

This same Herodes by procuration  
Of antony, did also occupy  
By Augustus' plener remission,  
The great estate called Tretrarchy  
In two kingdoms, with all the regaly  
Of Traconitides, Jtury eke also,  
By the Romans made lord of both two.   

Master of stories rehearseth of him thus  
For commendation in especial,  
In Aschalon he builded a stately house  
Of right great cost, a palace full royal,  
Was none so rich for to reckon all:  
After which mine author doth so write  
He called was Herode Aschalonite.   

This same Herodes cruel of nature  
Of cheer and port passing ambitious,  
Ay to be venged did his busy cure  
On all that were to him contrarious,  
His wives brother Aristobolus  
In Jerusalem chief bishop as I read,  
Falsely he slough of malice and hatred.   

Unjustly reigned & borne through his realm  
His heart fret and cankered with envy,  
Another bishop in Jerusalem  
Called Hircanus, mine author list not lie,  
This same Herodes in his melancholy  
Slew him unwarely by rancour vengeable,  
Setting at dinner at his own table.   

There was no man of courage more cxuel  
Nor more desirous to be magnified,  
To make his name also perpetual  
Four stately cities he hath edified,  
Of which the names be here specified,  
Cesaria, Sebastin, cities sovereign,  
Antipadra, Cipre, that other twain.   

He had also a false condition,  
He trusted none that was of his kindred,  
His sons twain he had in suspection,  
Their purpose was to slay him of hatred,  
When he were dead hoping to succeed:  
And causeless as father most unkind  
Made then be slain, in story thus I find.   

In all his working he was found double,  
A great tyrant hold through his realm,  
Never thing so greatly did him trouble  
As when three kings came to Jerusalem  
Jesus to seche, that was borne in Bethelem,  
Boldly affirming cause of their coming  
Was to worship that blessed young king.   

The which thing when he did advertise  
Prophecies remembering and writings,  
Within himself a mean he 'gan devise  
First to destroy these famous holy kings,  
Namely when he knew of their offerings:  
Imagining 'gan suppose blyve,  
The child was borne that should him deprive   

Newly descended fro David down by line  
Cast almost Herodes in a rage,  
Of cursed heart 'gan frowardly malign  
Like a tyrant of venomous outrage  
Slew all the children within two year of age  
About Bethelem a full large space,  
He spared none for favour nor for grace.   

One of his children being at nursery  
As the story putteth in remembrance  
Of adventure, or they coude it espy  
His knights slough, I trow it was vengeance:  
Each tyrant gladly endeth with mischance,  
And so much he that wext again Christ wooed,  
Which for his sake shed innocentes blood.   

The number of childre that were slain in deed  
About Bethelem and in though parties,  
An hundred forty and four. M. as I read,  
Two year of age sought out by espies  
Of Herodes, and for the prophecies  
Of Christ's birth mention did make  
They were eachone slain for his sake.   

Fro that day forth as made is mention,  
He fell in many uncouth malady,  
His flesh 'gan turn to corruption,  
Fret with worms upon each party:  
Which him assailed by great tourmentry,  
His legs swelled corbed black 'gan shine,  
Where vengeance worketh adieu all medicine.   

Of his sickness the stench was so horrible  
To await on him no man might abide,  
Unto himself his carrion wext audible  
So sore he was troubled on each side,  
Leches for him did a bath provide,  
But all for nought, in such mischief he stood  
Of grievous constraint he suddenly wext wode.   

In token he was weary of his life  
So importable was his mortal pain,  
To pair an apple he asked a sharp knife,  
His malady did him so constrain  
Fully in purpose to cut his heart in twain:  
The knife he reached leisure when he found  
One stood beside & bacwarde drew his hand.   

For pain uneath his wind he might draw  
Gave all his friends in commandment  
By a decree and a furious law,  
That all the worthy of parties adjacent  
Which y● were feign or glad in their intent  
Of his death, he void of all pity  
The same day they should slain be.   

This cursed wretch this odious caitiff  
I read of none stood farther out of grace,  
In sorrow & mischief ended hath his life,  
Each man was glad when he should place:  
And for his story doth this book difface,  
With woeful clauses of him when I write  
Therefore I cast no more of him tendite.   

¶ Envoy.  

OF Herodes the unware cursed fall,  
The life ungracious of him and his kindred,  
Ever vengeable in his estate royal,  
His wife, his children, slough of old hatred:  
Innocentes he made in Bethelem bleed,  
Reigning in Juda, borne of foreign line,  
The first tyrant, ye may the Bible read,  
Which again Christ 'gan frowardly malign.   

His sword of rigour cruel and mortal  
Ay ready whet to do vengeance in deed,  
Hasty and fumous with furies infernal,  
Of wilful malice innocentes blood to shed:  
Did execution also on womanhood,  
Slew his allies, which was a cursed sign,  
For the first cause he stood in dread  
Which again Christ 'gan frowardly malign.   

He would that none were to him equal  
That day alive in Israel to succeed,  
The birth of Christ dread in especial  
Cause fro Jesse his line 'gan flower & seed,  
He but a foreign came in by fraud & meed,  
Without title to that estate undigne,  
The first also who list take heed  
Which again Christ 'gan frowardly malign.   

Noble princes that govern over all  
This large world, both in length and breed,  
When you sit highest in your royal stall  
Do not the people oppress nor overlede,  
Upon Herodes remember as I read,  
In what mischief that tyrant did fine,  
To show that none shall in his purpose speed  
Which again Christ doth cursedly malign.     

The iii Chapter.  
¶ Of Antipas exiled by Octavian, and of Archelaus son of Herodes the second.  

compendiously thus ye have heard the fall  
Of Herodes remembered by Bochas,  
Who in his testament set in especial  
To succeed him Herode Antipas,  
In haste exiled (of him this was case)  
By Octavian to Vien as I read,  
And Archelaus ordained to succeed,   

Son of Herodes called the second,  
Which in effect took possession,  
In Jerusalem reigned as I read:  
Of whom mine author for short conclusion  
Maketh in his book but small mention,  
Him and his brother set suddenly aside  
Of them to write no longer list to abide.   

Save that he writeth the foresaid Antipas  
At Vien a mighty great cite,  
In his exile soon after slain was:  
And Archelaus succeeding in Jude  
With Herodias who list the storyse,  
By Agrippa to Tiberye accused  
Of certain crimes, could not be excused.   

A certain time commanded to prison,  
Of th'emperor coude never get grace,  
Banished him far from his region  
In to Spain, for a certain space,  
And his worship briefly to deface  
Fortune caused to his final reproof,  
He died there in poverty and mischief.   

The fatal end rehearsed of these twain  
In what distress that they did fine,  
Mine author after 'gan his pen ordain  
To write the case by many a woeful line,  
Upon the strife at ween Messalyne  
And other twain, standing by her side  
Tofore John Bochas how they did chide   

Tofore Bochas they came all three to plain,  
Messalyne the wife unto Claudius,  
Again whom there were other twain  
Calligula and Tiberius  
In whose time was slain Christ Jesus:  
Touching the debate that was among these three  
Suing the process here following ye shall se.    

The four chapter.  
¶ Of the strife between Calligula Tiberius and Messalyne.  

This empress named Messalyne  
As I have told was wife unto Claudius,  
Successor as books determine  
To Calligula called Gayus:  
And as I find, that Tiberius  
With Calligula both wode for tene,  
Stood afore Bochas & Messalina atween.   

Meeting all three with furious look & cheer,  
Gayus Calligula called by his name  
'Gan first rehearse anon as ye shall here  
Without reverence or any manner shame,  
With an exordye to diffame:  
Bochas present felly 'gan abraid  
To Messalyne and even thus he said.   

Thou slandered woman, noised in lechery  
Through the world, as folk thy name atwite,  
And reported for thine adultery,  
What dost y● here in thy mourning habit▪  
I trow thou comest of purpose to visit  
In this place the unhappy women five,  
touching disclaundre that ever were alive.   

The first of them called Emilia,  
And Lepyda was named the second,  
Livia, & Plaucia and the fifth Elya,  
defamed eachone in deed as it was found:  
In token whereof the lechery to confound  
Of Emilia in adultery take  
Was by the law of her lord forsake.   

By the whilom was know that Drusus  
Strangled was & murdered by poison,  
Like to Claudia daughter of Claudius,  
Which by her lord the book maketh mention  
Was thrown out to her confusion,  
For her defaults found in adultery  
Slandered for ever there was no remedy.   

Thou couldst whilom make thy lord sleep  
With certain drinks to cast him in a rage,  
By which he was made his bed to keep  
To get leisure in thy flowering age  
For to misuse of false lust thine outrage,  
A nightertyme took upon thee a weed  
At the bordello didst amiss for meed.   

Thine appetite was very unstaunchable,  
It is a shame to write it or express  
Thine hateful life was so abominable,  
Tibery and I can bear hereof witness:  
And with the word anon she 'gan her dress  
When she had heard all their fell language,  
Gave them this answer with a sad visage.   

Certes (quoth she) I could never keep  
To save myself a woeful creature,  
I have great cause to complain, cry, & weep  
My sclaundrous life which I may not recure:  
But I suppose I had it of nature  
To be such one, for by days old  
An astronomer so my father told:   

At my birth taking the ascendent,  
Told long afore of my misgovernance.  
The son, the moan, toward the orient  
Were in the sign that beareth the balance,  
And said also more for assurance,  
The same sign had by description  
His foot in virgin, arms in Scorpion.   

Amid the heaven was Venus exaltate,  
with Mars conjoined, the book maketh mention:  
And Jupiter was also infortunate  
To my said disposition,  
Within the fish held though his mansion:  
Thus by the lordship plainly of Venus  
I was disposed for to be lecherous.   

In her excuse the said Messalyne  
'Gan allege her constellation,  
But prudent clerks plainly determine  
Of heavenly course the disposition  
Is obeissant and subject to reason:  
That every man which well governed is  
Is not constrained of force to do amiss.   

Nor bindeth no man of necessity  
Vicious lusts frowardly to sue,  
A virtuous man stante at liberty  
False inclinations by prudence to remove,  
Every man by grace may eschew  
All thing to virtue that found is contrary,  
For there is no sin but it be voluntary.   

Yet for all this the said Messalyne  
In her excuse would not be in peace,  
The heaven (quoth she) as poets determine  
Was borne up whilom by mighty Hercules:  
Yet coude he never of nature have releases  
For all his knighthod and his chivalry,  
To overcome the vice of lechery.   

But thou Calligula and thou Tiberius  
What ever ye say I take thereof none heed,  
For thou Calligula called eke Gaius  
Thyself diffouled with lechery in deed,  
To rebuke other y● shouldest stand in dread:  
But thy rebukes in party for to quite  
Who is defouled none other should atwyte.   

By fame's trump thy slander is out blow  
Through all the world reported shamefully,  
Thy three sisters fleshly thou didst know,  
Wax read for shame, and for thy party  
For the vice of hateful lechery  
During thy life putme no more in blame,  
Which art thyself defouled in the same.   

It sitteth not in no manner wise  
A thief for theft to sit in judgement,  
A lecherous man a lecher to chastise,  
Nor he that hath all his life spent  
In waste & riot forfeited and miswent,  
To be a judge other to redress,  
Nor leprous leeches to cure men of sickness.   

I would have suffered & take in patience  
If of Africa the chaste Scipion  
Had me rebuked for my great offence,  
I would have suffered his word of just reason:  
Or if the famous prudent old Caton  
Had again me in such case made abraid,  
I would have suffered what ever he had said.   

Or if Lucrece for my correction  
Had laid to me, by virtuous doctrine,  
All my forfetes mid of Rome town,  
I would have bowed both back & chine  
To have obeyed unto her discipline:  
Shame for a cripple to stand that hath no might.  
To rebuke other for they go not upright.   

Against the also I may reply  
Many an other false conspiration  
Touching matters of nigromancy  
And many an other contrived false poison,  
Found in two books Bochas maketh mention:  
One called Pugio most superstitious,  
And the second named Gladius,   

Able all this world tenuenyme & encloy.  
Again three states dwelling in Rome toun  
Their names writ of them thou cast destroy.  
Which to remember is a great abuston:  
A chest also fulfilled of poison  
After thy death cast in thee see I read,  
By which an hundred. M. fishes were dead.   

On this matter is tedious for to abide,  
Namely to princes, princesses, borne of high estate,  
It sitteth not gentle blood to chide  
By furious rancour to stand at debate,  
And for these matters ben infortunate  
I will pass over and no more of them write,  
Save of their end compendiously to indite.   

To the Tiberye I have somewhat to sayne  
Known and reported by many a creature  
How in Champain folk had of the disdain  
For thy most hateful lecherous ordure,  
In thilk vice which is again nature:  
Which taccomplish void of all hap and grace.  
Thine abiding was in a suspicious place.   

To such false lusts during all thy life  
List not forbear, in thy latter age  
Thou usidst many rich restoratife  
In such unthrift to increase thy courage,  
Of ribaudy thou fill in such dotage,  
How mayst thou than rebuke me for shame  
Which in such case art blotted with diffame?   

I did amiss but it was in my youth,  
Horrible things which Gaius hath told,  
But thine outrage the report is yet couth  
Thou didst them use both young and old,  
And for tafforce your vices manifold  
Thou & Caligula in all such ribaudy  
Did greatest surfeit in froward gluttony.   

Also Tiberye thou being Emperor  
Cruel, causeless, and most malicious  
Didst murdre in Rome the famous orator  
Called in his time prudent Asinius,  
Which through th'empire Romans told thus  
Was light & lantern found at all assays  
Of rhetoric called in his days.   

Thou were eke cause that werthy Nonomus  
King of Parthois through thy cruelty  
Exiled was, thou were so covetous  
To have possession of his treasure pard,  
Died in mischief and in poverty:  
Be shamefast any wight to accuse  
Which in such case thyself can not excuse.   

To Agrippina thou didst great outrage,  
As Roman stories well rehearse can,  
When she for succour to the great image  
Ran to be saved of Octavian,  
Mid the temple a place called than  
Which halpe her not, that she list thither wend  
Put out by force, for hunger made an end.   

Thine own brother called Germanicus  
Which in his time was so good a knight,  
Thy brother also called eke Drusus,  
Both were poisoned & slain against right,  
By false conspiring of thine imperial might:  
Texcuse the murdre thyself at the least  
Were clad in black at their funeral feast.   

I have no cunning speech nor language  
To rehearse nor make mention  
Specially of the great outrage  
And sacrilege thou didst in Rome town,  
By violence when thou drew down  
The image of Janus, & after in all haste  
In to Tibre thou madest him to be cast.   

And thou Caligula among thy vices all,  
Of surquedy and false presumption  
wouldst that men a god the should call,  
Twen Pollux & Castor to have thy mansion,  
Fro which place thou art now throw down:  
Which held thyself among the gods seven  
Equal to Jupiter for to sit in heaven.   

Answer to me here being in presence  
Which of these four Mars, Janus, Minerva  
Or Mercury god of eloquence  
Hath rend the down as thou didst deserve,  
Fro Jupiter in mischief for to starve,  
That thou hereafter where so that laugh or frown  
Shalt have no favour more with him to rown?   

With these defaults and many other  
Afore rehearsed in hindering of thy name,  
How thou ordaynest first to slay thy brother  
with men of arms which was to thy great shame:  
To Tholome thou diddest also the same,  
Son and heir to king Jubatoun  
And many a senator thou slew in Rome toun   

Shittest up mid Rome the cite  
Their garners which never afore was seine,  
Whereby enfamined was the commonte  
Pite to here, this plat and plain,  
Of necessity constrained in certain  
(Shame to rehearse or put in scripture)  
Eat their membres a thing again nature.   

Jupiter nor Juno the goddess  
Gave no such counsel I suppose unto thee,  
But it was Venus to flatter thy highness  
And furious Mars by froward cruelty,  
To slay senators greatest of that cite,  
Thyself after (whereof the town was feign)  
By thy servants murdered wert & slain.   

And for tabate thine outrage & thy pride  
Which thou hast used all thy life,  
lift up thine head look on thy left side  
Thou finder up of murder and of strife  
Slew▪ thou not Cesonia thy wife?  
Thy daughter after that called was Drusil,  
Of cursed intent thy malice to fulfil?   

I have marvel how any of you twain  
Thou Calligula or thou Tiberius  
Be not ashamed any thing to say  
Again me with visage despitous,  
Me for to atwite that I was lecherous:  
Of a small mote ye can abraid me,  
But in your eye a beam ye can not se.   

Where have your souls take herbergage  
That be contrary with me for to strive?  
I trow that Charon hath made your passage  
Up at the strand in Hell for to aryve,  
There ye abide thus I descryve,  
Where dreadful Styx called infernal flood  
Of custom runneth with furious wawes wode.   

Radamantus one of the judges twain  
With king Minos hath you a judgement  
Perpetually ye shall bide in pain,  
And Aeacus hath ordained your torment  
In Phlegeton the flood most violent:  
Ye shall be drowned and an end make  
Ever for to abide among the streams black.   

I may you call of Emperors the refuse,  
Ye should be shamefast to show your visages,  
Very astonied dreadful and confuse  
To have to me so uncurtoys languages:  
Thus Messalyne daunted their corrages  
With her feminine crabbed eloquence,  
They durst no longer abide in her presence.    

The .v. Chapter.  
¶ Of the most vicious tyrant Nero that slew Peter & Paul & at the last himself.  

This hateful story with many a woeful line  
Of Calligula & Tiberius,  
touching the strife atween them and Messalyne,  
Shameful rebukes, froward and odious,  
By them rehearsed with cheer most furious,  
As ye have herd here ended their chiding  
Nero the tyrant cometh next upon the ring.   

One most cursed in comparison  
That ever was of high or low degree,  
Most disnaturall of condition  
By great outrages of cursed cruelty,  
That ever reigned in Rome the cite,  
His father called (books determine)  
Domicius, his mother Agripine.   

This Agrippina by her subtlety  
And blind fortune being favourable,  
That set up tyrants of froward volunte  
(By their demerits though they be not able)  
To estate imperial and notable,  
What thing more dreadful who can understand  
Than cruel tyrants with bloody sword in hand▪   

When this Nero of age was twelve year,  
He was ordained in especial  
After he had learned his gramere  
And the seven arts called liberal,  
Unto a master in all virtues moral,  
Called moral Senec which did his pain  
From all vices his youth to restrain.   

He kept him ever this Senec, as I read,  
Maugre his fatal disposition  
By a constraint and a manner dread  
From all outrage, & by inclination,  
conceived well his disposition  
To be vicious of his nature,  
Which to restrain he did his busy cure.   

At one and twenty winter of his age  
Croniculers of him written thus,  
How he that time took in marriage  
Octavia daughter to Claudius,  
All this while being virtuous,  
While Senec had him under discipline  
His mother in law called Messalina.   

The said Senec made him to desire  
To pursue cunning by diligent labour,  
At entering in first of his empire  
I mean when he was crowned emperor,  
Of all the Senate had great favour:  
And by report as clerks of him write,  
In prose & metre he could right well indite.   

In John Bochas as it is made mind  
He did excel greatly in poetry,  
Made in though days also as I find  
A book notable of strange poesy,  
Like as mine author of him doth specify:  
The title thereof called Lusce  
Again a praetor Claudius Polle.   

Excelled in music and in armony,  
Crowned with laurer for the best harpour  
That was that time, and he did edify  
In Rome a palace with many a rich tour  
Which in building cost great treasure,  
The circuit being three thousand pace  
And Transitory that palace called was.   

For this cause as put is in memory  
The said palace afterward was brent  
Therefore it was called Transitory,  
But after that Nero in his intent  
Let build a house by great advisement  
To recompense that other that was old,  
And called it the rich house of gold.   

In all this world was none to it lyche  
Where that ever men did ride or gone,  
Tables of ivory fret with perry rich,  
pillars of crystal garnished with many stone  
Sapphires, Rubies, and Topasion,  
Crisolytes, and Emeralds green  
With plate of gold siled that shone full sheen.   

To bodily lust and delectation  
This said Nero set all his desires▪  
Gardayns & condyttes for recreation  
He did ordain to endure many years,  
With nets of gold fyshed in his rivers,  
His garnementes of gold & Ind stones  
And never he would have them on but ones   

In his beginning the story doth devise,  
Lord and Emperor in the city  
To Senators he gave full great franchise,  
Granted commons many a great liberty,  
But in his most imperial dignity  
Of froward will left all good policy,  
And all at once gave him to ribaudry.   

Of Grece & Egypt with divers iogelours  
And among villains himself dysportinge,  
Left the presence of old Senators  
And among ribaudes he would harp & sing,  
Made comodies dishonestly swooning,  
At the bordel did himself advance  
With common women openly to dance.   

Thus by process to all virtue contrary,  
By great excess he fill in gluttony,  
And after that list no longer tarry  
As every vice to other doth apply,  
Surfeit and riot brought in lechery  
And ground of all as chief porteresse  
To exile virtue was froward idleness.   

About the cite called Hostience,  
Beside Tibre and other fresh rivers  
Did ordain by excessife expense  
Tents for riot, cooks, and taverners,  
And all the night revel about the fires:  
Ladies be came that were afore well named  
By such false riot afterward defamed.   

The same Nero by false abusion  
It is reported, his story who list see,  
By violence from their religion  
Such as had avowed chastity  
And were professed to virginity  
In the temple of Vesta the goddess,  
Of froward lust he did them oppress.   

Among which Rubria was one  
Maugre her will she durst it not deny,  
From the temple builded of lime and stone  
Sacred to Vesta mine author list not lie,  
He rend her out to use his lechery,  
Not withstanding she was religious  
Made her to abide at the borde● house.   

By my writing men shall never read  
The matter is so foul and outrageous  
To be rehearsed, and the horrible deed  
Which Nero used whilom on Sporus,  
And on an other called Ompharus,  
Both male children as books tell can  
Them to transform to likeness of a woman.   

Some books of him determine  
Like a ribaude horrible and detestable  
He misused his mother Agripine,  
And like a tyrant cruel and vengeable  
Which to remember is abominable,  
He made her womb be corue upon a day  
To see the place nine months where he lay.   

Of disnatural hateful cruelty  
To God nor virtue having no regard,  
And of the vice of prodigalite  
He was accused, in knighthood a coward,  
And to all virtue contrary and froward:  
Of whose woodness good heed when I took,  
I was ashamed to set him in this book.   

He hated all that were virtuous  
And to them had special envy  
His brethren, his wife, this tyrant dyspitous  
He falsely slew in his melancholy,  
His master Senec (auctors specify)  
Ay when he saw him having a manner dread,  
In an hot bathe to death he made him bleed.   

To Polifagus a wodeman most savage  
Which that fed him most with flesh of man,  
Nero took men old and young of age  
To find him victual in streets where he came,  
Cursed at his end, cursed when he 'gan,  
When he did offer innocentes blood  
To be devoured of him that ran so wode.   

Christ's faith first he 'gan werreye  
Of emperors in his froward intent,  
Peter and Paul in Rome he made die  
Upon a day their legend doth assent:  
Half the cite of Rome I find he brent,  
And Senators well-nigh everichone,  
This Nero slew spared almost never one.   

Made his Mules be shod with silver shone  
Of surquedy when he should ride,  
The cite brent romans after soon  
Pursued him upon every side,  
And from a subarbe where he did abide  
between Salaria and Numentana right,  
There stant a path whereout he took his flight.   

By a deep marsh as Nero took his flight  
When he saw he might not asterte,  
He was so pursued by a Roman knight  
To find succour he might not divert:  
Rove himself anon unto the heart,  
With a sharp dagger a cursed end lo,  
Of the false tyrant that called was Nero.   

In stead of a Lenuoye.  

OF this Nero to write a Lenuoye  
Nor of his deeds to make mention  
To read the process no man should have joy,  
For all concludeth of murder and of treason,  
On adultery excess and poison,  
Riot, gluttony, lechery, vengeance,  
Slaughter of himself ended with mischance   

If that I might I would raze his name  
Out of this book that no man should it read,  
His vicious life chief mirror of diffame,  
Set him aside let no wight take heed  
For to remember so many a cruel deed,  
Save only this to think in substance  
How every tyrant endeth in mischance.   

Of him I cast to wrytenowe no more  
And what I say is said but in reproof  
Of the vices that he wrought of yore,  
During his empire, concluding for a chief  
All tyranny shall end with mischief:  
Record on Nero which for misgovernance.  
As ye have heard ended with mischance.     

The vi Chapter.  
How Eleazarus a Jewe borne for extortion and robbrye was brought in prison and there ended.  

AAter Nero came Eleazarus  
A jew of birth, a price of robbery  
An extortioner, cruel, & despitous,  
For his outrages done in that party  
To redress his hateful tyranny  
A mighty praetor was sent fro Rome down,  
Called Felix, in to that region.   

By force of Felix take he was and bound,  
Maugre his might unto Rome sent  
Strongly fettered, with massy chains round,  
Suffered in prison many great torment,  
At the last this was his judgement,  
There to abide because he was a thief,  
For evermore, ended in mischief.    

The vii Chapter.  
How the head of Galba was smitten of, filled full of gold, and offered at the sepulture of Nero.  

TOfore Bocas next came Galba down,  
Which in Spain did many knightly deed,  
After the death rehearsed of Neroun,  
In hope stood this Galba as I read  
In th'empire justly to succeed,  
Parcel for knightehode he hath him so well borne,  
And for great marriage which he had before.   

I find in Bochas rehearsed in sentence  
He was disclandered of hateful vices three,  
He was cruel contrary to clemence,  
strait in keeping, gain liberality,  
Vengeable of heart gain mercy and pity,  
A thing not sitting unto chivalry,  
Of custom give to sloth and slogardy.   

To occupy th'empire he began,  
Among Romans took possession,  
Claiming a title by one Licy●ian  
That was his son by adoption:  
But anon after for his presumption  
One called Occho a full manly knight,  
Smyt of his head were it wrong or right.   

This said Galba mine author writeth thus  
From his empire unwarely pulled down  
Had an enemy called Patrobolus,  
The head of Galba took in possession,  
Filled it with gold, made an oblation  
At the sepulture of Nero therewithal,  
To all the gods & goddesses infernal.    

The viii Chapter.  
How Occho and Vitellius for gluttony, lechery, ribaudry, and cruelty, ended in mischief.  

ANd after that this offering was full do  
As ye have herd, to Bochas than  
To make his complaint in order came Pyso,  
Afore surnamed justly Lycinian,  
Son adoptyfe to tell as I began  
Of the said Galba, claiming to succeed,  
Slain anon after by Occho as I read.   

Than was th'empire parted in to three,  
Occho took Rome unto his party,  
And Vitellius to reign in the country  
Over the bounds of all germany,  
And Vespasian reigned in Surrey,  
But first this Occho surnamed Silvius  
Came to complain cruel and despitous.   

Of all th'empire this same Silvius  
By slaughter, ravin, and extortion,  
By murdre, death, and deeds outrageous,  
With mighty hand took the possession:  
And there began a great division  
Which was occasion of great sorrow & woe  
Atwene Vitellius and this said Occho.   

It is rehearsed that in germany  
In sundry places they had battles three,  
In the which Occho with his party  
Venquished the field, made his fone to flee,  
But through fortune's mutability  
The fourth time plainly this is the case,  
Maugre his might discomfited there he was.   

Tofore Bedry a mighty strong cite.  
Of Germanye was this discomfiture  
After which of froward cruelty  
This said Occho seeing his adventure,  
With woe surprised might not endure  
Of his constraint the unportable pain,  
Took a sword and rove his heart a twain.   

Vitellius having the victory  
With his power as made is mention,  
Of surquedy and false vain glory  
Came with his host in to Rome town:  
But Bochas here maketh a description  
rehearsing shortly his birth & eke his line,  
And how that he of blood was Saturnyne.   

This to say, Saturnus king of Crete  
Chased by Jupiter out of his region,  
And janus had in italy take his seat  
Upon a mount called janiculum,  
Where now of Rome is bilte the large town,  
janus receiving of liberality  
When Saturn fled in to his cite.   

Tofore the coming of Saturn this no fail  
Rude and boisterous and beastial of reason  
Was all the people abiding in italy,  
Land was none sow nor turned up so down,  
Nor merchandise used in no town  
Till Saturn taught the manner of living  
Of tilth & labour to janus that was king.   

Afore whose coming tofore as I you told  
Craft was none used by no creature,  
Nor no building of houses new nor old,  
But lived as beasts their livelihood to recure,  
Like as they were learned of nature:  
They coude though days make no cloth ne shape  
Of frosty wethers the grievous cold tescape.   

They were not busy by costfull apparel,  
Of sundry meats and confections  
Of divers drinks & manifold victual  
To be curious to their refections,  
Marketts were none in cities nor in towns,  
No man with other bought nor sold  
Till Saturn came & then the manner told.   

And when he had taught them the manner  
And set an order of their governance,  
There simple people as books do us lere  
Like as to god did their attendance,  
with certain rights to do their observance,  
Worshipped him and after did him call  
Saturn most mighty of their god's al.   

After this Saturn was made a petegre  
To set an ordre conveyed from his line,  
Descending down the manner who list see  
To one Latinus, and so forth to Lavine,  
Which was his daughter as poets determie,  
Thus by descent fro Saturn & Faunus  
Borne of their blood came Vitellius.   

The first knight borne of that lineage,  
Because he was manly and right famous  
Had in arms prowess and great courage  
He called was Vitellius Publius,  
And of him came Vitellus Lucius,  
Father to him mine author doth express  
Of whom that I have gone this process.   

divers stories remember & plainly tell  
During his youth and stood at liberty,  
How this for said that called was victual  
Was the most vicious that any where might be,  
give to ribaudy and all dishonest:  
Because of which changed was his name  
Called Spintour a name of great diffame.   

I find that he was an hasardour  
In all his works passing riotous,  
For his surfeits great with the emperor  
That whilom was called Claudius,  
And for his deeds and manners outrageous  
For his great waste and prodigalite  
Of great dispce, he fell in poverty.   

Among his riotes & surfeits more than one  
Which he did in countries here and there,  
I find that he for need sold a stone  
Which his mother bore whilom at her ear:  
For by old time was used who list lere  
Women that were that time of high degree  
Bare at their ears stones and perre.   

And by the selling of that rich stone  
For which that he received great treasure,  
By subtle working & sleights more than one  
He gate him trendes & was made emperor:  
And therewithal he did eke his labour  
To receive another dignity,  
To be chief bishop in Rome the cite.   

And in short time this Vitellius  
Of th'empire took on him all the state,  
The sword received of Cesar Julius,  
Used a garment that was purpurate:  
Dempt of himself he was most fortunate  
Not with standing more boldly that time atleest  
Of Aliensoys holden was the feast.   

Aliensoys was a solemnity  
Among Romans kept by days old,  
In french mine author recordeth thus pard:  
And in that time of custom no man should  
Nor by statute bound was nor hold  
To do no manner occupation  
That touched unto religion.   

During this feast he should have his asking  
By a custom used in that cite,  
And Vitellius as emperor and king  
Asked that time another dignity,  
To be chief bishop and have authority  
Of that estate with power hole & plain,  
No man so hardy to reply theragayne.   

From all virtue Vytel did vary,  
Set at nought all wisdom and science,  
Thought unto him was not necessary  
Cunning, knighthood, manhood, nor providence,  
Gave him only to sloth and negligence,  
To gluttony, following his desires,  
Watch alnyght with drink & ●eresoupers.   

Being a bishop of their panym law  
Like roman rights doing their service,  
Tofore the gods he would himself withdraw  
And cast aside senser and sacrifice,  
And call a boy in full ungodly wise  
A kitchen boy tofore the high altar,  
And him commanded to bring him his dinner.   

Being arrayed in his pontificail  
For the manner void of devotion,  
Like a ribaude or like a wode minstral  
Ever dronkle we and out of all season,  
Gorge upon Gorge this excessive glutton  
Most ydropike drank oft again lust,  
The more he drank the more he was athrust   

This was a bishop sacred for Satan,  
And an emperor crowned with mischance,  
More like in port a beast than a man  
Used all his power in slaughter & vengeance,  
To shed blood was set all his pleasance,  
Taking no heed nouther of wrong ne right  
And thus he wexte hateful to every wight.   

His soldiers forsook him nigh eachone  
In all parties, by him where they were sent,  
Through all the countries of Septemtrion  
And in all Surry toward the orient,  
Of one accord and all of one assent  
eachone forsook him, with him bode not a man  
And became servants to Vespasian.   

Vitellius saw it would be none other,  
And for feeble of dronknenes and outrage,  
And saw the power 'gan fail of his brother  
When he had sent and signed the voyage  
Again Vespasian to hold his passage,  
But all for nought backward went his party  
Stood despaired of every remedy.   

Thus Vitellius unhappy to the wars,  
Like a fordronke unhappy glutton,  
Whose boast afore reached up to the stars,  
Now all his pride in mischief is come down,  
Fain for to accord to this convention:  
For little treasure which men should him assign  
To Vespasian th'empire to resygne.   

This was his promise but he held it nought,  
What he said his word was never stable,  
Certain flatterers changed had his thought  
And certain commons that ever be changeable  
Gave him counsel, said himself was able  
To govern thestate imperial  
And none so able for to reckon al.   

first of Almaigne he sent out soldiers  
And of presumption a new were he 'gan,  
Thought that he was among other werriours  
Able to fight again Vespasian,  
And of adventure it befell so than  
In these wars Vaspasians brother  
yslain was it would be none other   

This froward man called Vitellius  
Ungracious ever found in his intent,  
Smyt of the head of the said Fabius  
Brother of Vespasian and to Rome it sent,  
And after that the Capitoyle he brent,  
But suing on within a little space  
Among romans he lost both hap & grace.   

Of his riot what should I more entreat  
For except riot nothing of him I read,  
His coke, his pastelere, folk were most meet  
To serve his lusts and appetites to feed,  
Forsook him not but went with him in deed  
Toward champagne, right as any line  
Up to a hill called Auentyne.   

Standing in hope but that was but in vain  
Of Vespasian the favour to recure,  
even to Rome returned is again,  
The palace entered, & there himself to assure  
Having with him none other creature  
The gates shut which was to him shame  
Take at the last, forsook his own name.   

Half naked he was and half clad  
All alone like as he was found,  
So in the city afore the people lad  
Both his hands behind his back bound  
With mighty chains and ropes round:  
Like a woodeman of look and of visage,  
The people to him having this language.   

O thou old lecherous foul glutton,  
A very coward, to all virtue contrair,  
Cruel, vengeable of thy condition,  
To every good man cruel adversaire,  
To all cursed benign and debonair,  
Rote of all surfeits, having aye delight  
To sue and follow thy lecherous appetite.   

With such rebukes & casting of ordure  
With dung & clay blotted was his visage,  
In the presence of many a creature  
With cords draw he was by great outrage  
Unto a place called in their language  
Their chief racks, or gallows of the town,  
Where is of custom done execution.   

Some men remember he slain was in haste  
with sharp sword dismembered on the ground,  
His carrion after into Tybre cast  
With a large hook of iron sharp & round,  
No more reverence than a stinking hound:  
Remembering here mine author saith also  
Of this Vitellius Galba and Occho,   

affirming thus as for their party  
They be named among the emperors,  
For a time the state did occupy:  
And first this Galba by record of auctors  
Died at mischief void of all socours,  
Eight months reigned as lord & sire,  
And after that cast out of his empire.   

The third month as made is mention  
Occho died, proud and ambitious,  
And as I find the domination  
Last eight months of Vitellius,  
And for they were proud and lecherous,  
Cruel, vengeable, & borne of cursed live,  
In wretchedness eachone they did fine.    

The ix chapter.  
☞ Here Bochas against gluttony complaineth saying as it followeth.  

HEre Bochas seeing the great offence  
Of this foresaid froward company,  
Took his pen of enter diligence  
And in his study 'gan himself apply  
To damn the vice of hateful gluttony,  
For which sin record of Adame  
All our mischiefs and sorrows came.   

By the outrage of disobeisance  
Our said father being in Paradise  
between him & virtue there rose a great distance,  
clearly conceived he that was so wise  
Above creatures by reason bore the prize,  
Till he of folly wrongly 'gan assent  
To be governed by a false serpent.   

His innate virtues did him anon forsake  
For his assenting, & did in haste return  
Again to heaven when the infernal snake  
In stead of virtue did with man sojourn:  
For which we have great matter to mourn  
Scythe that we be disfourmed in certain  
By vicious living of virtue made barren.   

And thus came in the domination  
Of vices all, and held a great battle,  
The retinue sent from the infernal dungeon  
Us woeful wretches in earth for to assail,  
Stretching their power and proudly 'gan prevail  
Through the world & possession took  
For out demerits when virtue us forsook.   

These said virtues comprised in the number  
Of four, reckoned prudence, attemperance,  
From vicious life, tadawed us fro the slumber,  
rightwiseness to have hold the balance,  
And fortitude of their alliance,  
When they forsook mankind to govern  
Than of all virtue was clipsed the lantern.   

Thus through darkness vices were bold  
The multitude almost innumerable,  
Among all reckoned of new or old  
There be four perilous and reprovable,  
Sloth, lechery, and most abominable  
False aurice, by a greedy desire  
With gluttony, chief kyndler of their fire.   

Nature in sooth with little is content,  
And as mine author abideth here a while  
And to remember was somewhat diligent  
To write when Saturn reigned in the isle  
Called Crete, the prophetess Sibyle  
In her time by great authority  
The world divided prudently in three.    

The ten Chapter.  
A chapter discrivinge the golden world, that is to say when attemperance had holy the governance.  

THe world when Saturn was first king  
reigning in Crete in his Royal estate,  
Noah & Abraham by virtuous living  
Caused earthly folk to be most fortunate,  
The world though days was called aureate,  
For soberness and attemperance  
Had in that world holy the governance.   

There was the time no wrong nor violence  
Envy exiled from every creature,  
Dissolution and drunken insolence  
Rybaudy and all such foul ordure,  
froward surfeits contrary to nature,  
Banished were because attemperance  
Had in that world holy the governance.   

Youth was bridled under discipline,  
Virtuous study flowered in middle age,  
dread held the yard of nurture & doctrine,  
Riot restrained from surquedous outrage,  
Hateful detraction repressed his language,  
Kouth was charity because attemperance  
Had in that world holy the governance.   

Fortitude stood tho in his might,  
Defended widows & cherished chastity,  
Knighthod in prowess gave so clear a light  
girt with his sword of truth and equire,  
Held up the church in spiritual dignity,  
Punished heretics, because attemperance  
Had in that world holy the governance.   

rightwiseness chastised all robbers  
By equal balance of execution,  
Fraud, false meed, put backward fro jurors  
True promise hold made no delation.  
For swearing shamed durst enter in no town,  
Nor lesingmongers, because attemperance  
Had in that world holy the governance,   

That golden world coude love god & dread,  
All the six deeds of mercy for to use,  
The rich was ready to do almsdeed  
Who asked harbour men did him nat refuse,  
No man of malice would other though accuse,  
Diffame no neighbour because attemperaunce  
Had in that world holy the governance.   

The true merchant by measure bought & sold  
deceit was none in the artificer,  
Making no balks y● plough was truly hold,  
Aback stood idleness far fro the labourer,  
Discretion martial at dinner and souper,  
Content with measure, because attemperance  
Had in that world holy the governance.   

Of waste in clothing was that time no excess,  
Men might the lord from his subjects know,  
A difference made between poverty & richesse,  
between a princess and other states low,  
Of horned beasts no boast was though blow:  
Nor countrefte feigning, because attemperance  
Had in that world holy the governance.   

This golden world long while did endure,  
Was none allay in that metal seen,  
Till Saturn ceased by record of scripture  
Jupiter reigned, put out his father clean,  
Changed Obrison in to silver sheen,  
All up so down because attemperance  
Was set aside and lost her governance.   

Of Martes mineral the metal is so strong  
Inflexible and nat malleable,  
By sturdiness to do the people wrong  
With rigorous sword, furious & vengeable,  
The merciful gold of Phoebus, nat plicable  
To have compassion, because attemperance  
Was set aside and lost her governance:   

Lead of Philosophers is called gold leprus,  
Tyn of Jupiter, crasshing & dull of sound,  
False and fugitife is Mercurius,  
The moan is mutable of her condition,  
The golden world is turned up so down,  
In each estate sith attemperance  
Was set aside and lost her governance.   

By Sibyles exposition  
Take of this metal the morality,  
The golden world was governed by reason,  
The world of iron was furious cruelty  
The moan is mutable full of duplicity,  
Like to this world because attemperance,  
Is set aside and hath no governance.   

Venus of lovers empress and Queen  
Of vicious lusts lady and master,  
Her metal copper that will ternyshe green,  
A changeable colour contrary to sadness:  
A notable figure of worldly brotylnesse,  
Like gery Venus because attemperance,  
Was set aside and lost her governance.   

Mine author Bochas 'gan pitously complain  
Of the disordinate Cormetous gluttony,  
Of Vittellius and his fellows twain  
All three diffouled with horrible lechery  
defamed by slander for their ribaldry,  
contrarious enemies eachone to atemperaunce,  
Banished all three might have no governance   

Of gluttony and riotous excess,  
Watch and revel, & drinking all the night,  
Come uncouth fevers & many great access,  
Membres podagre maketh men go nat right,  
Gouts, mormalles, horrible to the sight,  
Many infirmities, because attemperance  
Was nat of counsel toward their governance.   

Out of their court banished was prudence,  
Fortitude had none enteresse  
gain vicious living to make resistance,  
Cried woives, hid was virtuous soberness  
Troth durst nat meddle back stod rightwiseness,  
Put out of household was attempraunce  
And with these emperors had no governance.   

Son of the prophet called zacharye  
The patriarch the holy man saint John  
Victorious champion of greedy gluttony,  
Lived in desert dainties he had none,  
Eat mell Siluestre, lay on the cold stone  
Locustas gathered, his coke was temperance  
And of his household had all the governance.   

Of camel hears was wovyn his clothing,  
Record the gospel that can the troth tell,  
Honysocles his moderate feeding  
'Mong wild beasts when he did dwell,  
To staunch his thirst drank water of the well,  
This blessed Baptist rote of attemperance,  
Set for chief mirror of good governance.   

Of his diet catour was scarcity,  
His costful food was virtuous abstinence,  
roots of desert his delicate plenty,  
His rich pymentes his hippocras of dispense  
Hinge nat in costretes nor botels in the expense,  
Nat excessive because attemperance  
Had of his household holy the governance.   

This Baptist John by his moderate food  
The chief triumph of abstinence hath begun,  
This patriarch reckoned on the good  
Content with little all suffisance hath won,  
As Dyogenes in his little ton  
Held him apaid, because attemperance  
Had of his household all the governance.   

His ton to him was receipt & household,  
And if I should boast of his celere  
There were no cups of silver nor gold,  
His costful vintage came from the river,  
Well timed measure was for his mouth butlere,  
And his tastour was attemperance  
Which of his household had all the governance.   

His conquest was more sovereign of degree  
Than Alysaunders for all his high renown,  
For he conquered his sensuality,  
Made him subject and servant to reason,  
Daunted of prudence each foreign passion,  
His clerk of kitchen called attemperance  
Which of his diet had all the governance.   

Of superfluite, of sloth, and of sleep  
This Diogenes stood ever among in dread,  
Of worldly favour he took no manner keep,  
Straw was his litter, a simple russet weed,  
Turned his ton again the wind in deed:  
between hot and cold, that attemperance  
In summer & winter had hole the governance.   

¶ Envoy.  

NOble princes of prudence take heed  
This little chapter briefly to comprehend,  
The golden world is turned into lead,  
Pray to god his grace down to send  
Of his high mercy that it may soon amend,  
And that this princess called attemperaunce  
May of your household have the governance.   

Chiefly for love and parcel eke for dread  
In your estate when ye be most shynende,  
For your increases & your most gracious speed  
To his precepts do diligently attend,  
Of old emperors read the legend  
While they were ruled by attemperance  
In long prosperity stood their governance.   

Of worthy kingdoms Rome is called heed  
Whose royal bounds farthest out extend,  
In martial acts both in length & breed  
Rem publicam by prowess to defend,  
No foreign enemy hardy to offend  
Their high noblesse while attemperance  
With her three sisters had the governance.     

The xi Chapter.  
❧ How the kindred of jacob was destroyed, Christ borne and died, jerusalem destroyed: and xi hundred. M. slain by sword hunger fire and pestilence.  

THe story ended of Vitellius  
Of his two feres Galba & Ocho,  
How his caraine horrible and hideous  
Drowned in Tybre was possed to and fro:  
After their story accomplished was and do  
Came a great number to Bochas as I read  
eachone descended of jacobes' kindred.   

In token of complaint and heaviness  
Like folk dismayed clad in mourning weed,  
For the constraint of their wretchedness  
Bespreynt with tears quaking in their dread,  
Knowing no recure in so straight a need  
Resembling folk by tokens full mortal,  
That were toward some feast funeral.   

Their ugly cheers piteous to behold  
As they 'gan approach the presence  
Of John Bochas to tell their sorrows old,  
Their wounds bleeding by martial violence:  
Oppressed with hunger thirst & sudden pestilence,  
By foreign sword their lives manasing  
Upon the death as beasts abiding   

That were enclosed narrow in a fold  
Despaired succour to recure,  
To pass the bounds for dread they were nat bold  
Within enfamyned, barren of all pasture,  
This woeful story remembered in scripture  
How that of jacob the generation  
Was vengeably brought to destruction.   

This patriarch called whilom Israel  
Most renomed among all nations,  
And most famous the Bible can well tell  
Their line out reckoned through all regions,  
By god's behest took their possessions,  
Maugre Egypciens and pharao's pride,  
When Moses by god was made their guide.   

With dry feet they passed the Reed see,  
Conveyed by Moses and also by Aaron,  
Their law was written the Bible who list see  
Upon Syna in tables of hard stone,  
And through desert as they did gone  
With angels meat called m●na as I read,  
Forty winter there he did them feed.   

After Moses led by Josue  
In to the land of Promission,  
Twelve lineages of jacob there pard  
He let make a distribution,  
And to each line he gave his portion:  
By promise made afore to Abraham  
To Isaac & jacob, when they thither came.   

By patriarchs and prophets the were sad,  
Maugre their enemies & their mortal fone,  
By mighty dukes and judges they were lad,  
Gate all the regions where they did gone,  
Till at the last of pride they eachone  
Like other nations would have a king,  
Saul was chose god granted their ask.   

Thus by patriarchs and by their alyes,  
From Abraham the genealogy  
Told by prophets & by their prophecies,  
Conveyed to David, which in his regal,  
Held of jews all hole the monarchy:  
Of whose kindred by process thus it stood  
Was Christ jesus borne of that royal blood.   

Sent from his father as prophets determine  
Took flesh and blood for our salvation,  
By the holy ghost borne of a pure virgin,  
Had among jews great tribulation,  
Under Herodes suffered passion,  
And as the gospel truly doth descrive,  
The third day he rose from death to live.   

This blessed lord, this lord of most virtue,  
End of Decembre borne in Betheleem,  
And by the angel named was jesus,  
showed to three kings by a star beem,  
This same jesus in jerusalem  
By conspiration of jews through envy,  
By pilate dempt to die on Calvary.   

Thus unto jesus, jews were unkind  
For which they were destroyed nigh eachone,  
Christ prophesied the gospel maketh mind  
How of their cite there sholud not lie a stone  
Upon another for their mortal fone  
Should then besiege he told them so certain,  
And make jerusalem with the soil all plain.   

With weeping eyen Christ told them so before  
Of their ruin and their destruction,  
Sin was cause that they were lorue  
For they nat knew to their confusion  
Time of their notable visitation  
When Christ came down borne here in erthelowe  
For their salvation they list him nat to know.   

thirty years fully cronyculers write  
And somewhat more, after his passion  
Among the jews plainly to indite,  
Within themself fill a division,  
Murderers to see up within their own town  
So great a number with many an homicide  
That in the cite no man durst well abide.   

Their presidents reigning in Jude  
Seing this horrible foul rebellion,  
And of murderers the mortal cruelty  
That long endured in that region,  
Which for to appease romans sent down  
Vaspacian, with many a manly knight  
Which in to galilee, took his way right.   

And to chastise though murderers & robbers  
Brent their country as he road up and down,  
So continued with his soldiers  
Till unto time the countries environ  
Of jerusalem entered be the town,  
With their oblations, in many sundry wise  
As Pask● required to do their sacrifice.   

Tofore though days was jerusalem  
Had in great worship of all nations,  
Called princess of every other reem,  
Whose fame stretchyd through all regions,  
Their treasure great and their possessions:  
Double walled of building most notable,  
Dreading no enemy for it was impregnable.   

Among romans was many a manly man  
Willing eachone of one affection,  
Through the knighthood of Vespasian  
eachone to labour to the destruction  
Of jerusalem, for great division  
Among themself was gone in the cite,  
By certain captains that were in number three.   

Simon john and Eleazarus  
Horrible tyrants oppressing the porail,  
Of governance froward and outrageous  
Falsely divided each other did assail,  
Among themself had many great battle,  
Were without and were was within  
Thus of vengeance mischief did begin.   

Vespasian nat being rechelees  
For his party like a prudent knight  
By notable means exited them to peace,  
But all for nought blended their own sight,  
To cheese the best they could nat see a right:  
And in this while this noble warrior  
Vespasian was chosen emperor.   

By Alexsaundrie, to Rome he went again,  
Received there th'imperial dignity,  
His son Titus he made his chief captain  
His procurator to govern in Jude,  
Beset environ jerusalem the city,  
With men of arms sieged it so about,  
That none might entre nor none issue out.   

Stopped their condutes & their waters clear,  
Enfamined them for lacking of victual,  
A certain woman thus saith the croniculere  
Roasted her child when victual did fail,  
She had of store none other apparel:  
thereon by leisure herself she did feed  
Which in a woman was to horrible a deed.   

Their mighty walls with gons cast down  
Two strong towers take of their cite,  
Resistance 'gan fail in the town,  
They stood of hunger in such perplexity:  
Tytus of knighthood and magnanimity  
Throughout the tour called Antonian  
Is entered in like a knightly man.   

The people in streets lay for hunger dead  
To buy nor sell no lyfelode in the town,  
There was no succour of drink nor breed  
In pain of death borne nouther up ne down,  
vomit of one was the refection  
Unto another, there was such scarcite  
Who readeth josephus the troth he may se.   

Brent was the temple made by Solomon,  
Which had endured (thus writ the cronyculere)  
That was so royal built of rich stone  
Fully a thousand & two hundred year,  
Romans entered maugre their porter,  
With spear, pole-axe, & sword sharp whet,  
Like wode lions slew whom they met.   

Their rich gates covered with plate of gold  
Were brent and melted without excepciou,  
The siluet images that forged were o● gold,  
The violent fire made them run ●oun:  
Noble Tytus had compassiou,  
His martial dukes spated nothing certain,  
Lest of presumption they would rebel again.   

A leaven hundred thousand were there stain,  
By sword, by hunger, by fire, & pestilence,  
stink of carayns that in the str●●●s lain  
Caused of death most sudden violence,  
And Titus gave among them this sentence:  
I mean of them that did alive dwell,  
For a penny men should thirty sell.   

So as judas sold Christ for thirty pence,  
Titus again thought of equyce  
Of merchandise to make recompense,  
thirty jews found in the city  
For a penny and for no more pard  
They to be sold, for their great outrage  
Ever among saracens to live in servage.   

Of the temple a priest that was full old  
Two stately lantarnes that were bright & sheen  
Tables, basyns, viols of bright gold  
He presented, and thus he did mean,  
That their treasure should weal be seen  
Of the temple, and showed to Titus  
In token it was whilom so glorious.   

To show eke there he did his busy cure  
Silk, sinamone, & frankencens withal,  
For sacrifice, the purpurate vesture,  
With Vrimthumun, the rich pectoral,  
Which ordained were in especial  
For the solemn place of places all  
Sancta sanctorum, and so men did it call   

Of the cite a prince called John  
To Titus came and showed his presence,  
Pale for hunger there came also Simon,  
Brought by a duke that named was Terence,  
Clad in purple brought by violence:  
Received of Titus when this noble town  
Castles towers & walls were smyt down.   

In to a castle called Mazadan  
Eleazarus had take his flight,  
Belieged of Scylla, or he the castle won  
This Eleazar like a furious knight  
Within the castle the self same night  
stirred every man, father, child, & brother  
With sharp sword erche man to slay other.   

Thus was this cite most stately of bilding  
That whilom was of this world chief town  
Where Melch y●●der reigned priest & king,  
By days old as made is mention,  
Restored by David, builded new of Solomon  
Princess of proninces, was no where such another  
Now is it ahiect & refuse of all other.   

Unto the jews Christ jesus ga●e respite  
Full thirty year, or he took veingeaunce,  
In token the lord hath joy & great delight  
When that sinners dispose them to penance,  
By contrition and vertely repentance,  
This blessed lord this king most merciable  
longest abideth or he list be vengeable.   

He was to them so gracious and benign.  
Bade that they should to him convert soon,  
showed unto them many an uncouth sign  
During twelve days eclipsed was the mosis:  
The people at once knew nat what to done,  
But indurate in their froward intent  
Like folk abashed wist nat what it meant.   

Afore the siege or Titus 'gan the were  
Over the cite (whereof they wext afeard)  
There appeared a comet and a star,  
The star was shape like a sharp sword,  
Touching the comet there was never heard  
Of such another so fiery bright and clear,  
Which endured the space of all th● year.   

Their festival day hallowed in Apryl,  
Their priests busy to make oblation,  
So great a light in the temple fill  
That all the people standing environ,  
Thought it so bright in their inspection  
Passing the son as it did seem,  
But what it meant no man could dame.   

As the priests did their busy cure  
To offer a calf anon or they took heed,  
The same calf a thing again nature  
Brought forth a lamb the same time I read:  
An ugly token which put them in great dread,  
A contrary prognostication  
showed unto them of their subversion.   

With other tokens froward and contrary  
The same time were showed ever among,  
The brazen doors of the inward sentwarye  
With iron bars shit that were most strong,  
Broad of entail round and wonder long,  
That might nat move which xxx men's might,  
Opened by themself twice on a night.   

There were seen also chares in the eyre,  
Men of arms with bright sword clear,  
Of plate and mail the armure was so fair  
Bright as Phoebus' where it did appear▪  
And as the story also doth us lere  
With their sheltrons and their apparel,  
A proffer made their city for t'assail.   

To the jews it did signify  
A prognostic of their destruction,  
priests to the temple as they did high  
Upon a night to do oblation  
Amid the temple was herd a dreadful foun,  
Of which noise this was the dreadful end,  
Rise up eachone and let us hence wend.   

And full four year tofore the siege 'gan  
One Ananias young and tender of age  
Of his birth, son of a rude man,  
By disposition dull of his courage,  
Like as he had fall in a rage  
Ran in the cite by a manner frenzy,  
Spared nat with open mouth to cry.   

Unto this noise was made none obstacle  
But obstinate ever to his intent,  
Day of the feast hold in the tabernacle  
A voice (quoth he) out of the orient  
Voice fro the south, fro north, & occident,  
Voice fro the four winds the blow so wide  
Voice again jerusalem crieth on every side.   

Voice again the temple again the people also,  
Voice again husbands, voice again wives,  
Woe to jerusalem, with a triple woe,  
Of hunger, thirst, & losing of their ●iues,  
Of sword and fire & many sudden strives:  
This was the wretched lamentation  
Which Ananie cried through the town.   

Beaten he was for his affray full oft,  
Whipped, scourged, endlong & upright,  
All were it so be felt it full unsoft  
Was by ●eating made faint & feeble of might,  
He stint nat to cry so day and night:  
A pronostike showing to the cite,  
How right soon it should destroyed be.   

By rehearsal also of Carnotence  
With that cite for sin it stood so tho,  
That if Romans by martial violence  
Had nat come and done them all this woe,  
The earth should have opened and undo:  
Devoured the people void of all refuge,  
Or drowned the town by some sudden deluge.   

Briefly to pass this vengeance most terrible  
Done upon jews for their transgression,  
For their demerits the punishing most horrible  
Of jerusalem final subversion,  
Of the temple, the tabernacle, and the town,  
In josephus who list see all the deed,  
De Bello judaico the surplus he may read.    
☞ Thus endeth the seventh book and here after followeth the prologue of the eight.   


¶ The Prologue of the eight Book.  

BOchas maketh here an exclamation  
Again the jews great unkindness,  
Brought by the romen, their cite adown  
Like as the story did here tofore express,  
They disparcled to live in wretchedness,  
By god's hand punished for their outrage,  
For ever to live in tribute and servage.   

Following mine auctor, I cast for to touch  
So as I can rehearsing the manner,  
How john Bochas lying on his couch,  
Spoke to himself, said as ye shall here:  
Why art thou so dull of look and cheer?  
Like a man thy face beareth witness,  
That him disposeth to live in idleness.   

Certes quoth john I take right good keep,  
Of much travail that the outrage  
Hath by long slumber cast me in a sleep:  
My limbs feeble, crooked, and faint for age,  
Cast in a dread for dullness of courage:  
For to presume upon me to take,  
Of the eight book an end for to make.   

Thou weenest peradventure in thine opinion  
By this labour to get the a name,  
For to rehearse the sudden falling down,  
And by some new process for to attame,  
Of princes sitting high in the house of fame,  
In divers books where thou dost them find,  
Perpetually to put thy name in mind.   

Thy days short put the in great dread,  
Of such a labour to take the passage:  
The more feeble the flower is the speed  
Thy sight darked, and thou art fall in age.  
Among remembering think on this language  
When men be buried low in the earth down,  
Save of good living, farewell all guerdon.   

Worldly goods shall pass right soon,  
treasure, cunning, and all shall out of mind:  
Friendship chasigeth, as doth the cloudy moan,  
At a straight need few friends men do find.  
But a good name, when it is left behind,  
Passeth all riches, if it be well deserved,  
And all gold, in coffer locked and conserved.   

Of thy labour the fame shall were dark,  
Beware Bochas, and hereof take good heed:  
Sloth snake to me, and bade me leave work,  
For small reward y● shalt have for thy meed.  
As by ensample, thou mayst of other read,  
This was the language, I had thereof ruth,  
Atwene john Bochas & this lady sloth.   

Bochas astonished 'gan down his heed decline,  
Upon his pillow hanging in a trance,  
Stood in great doubt, could not determine  
Like a man hanging in balawce,  
To what party he should his pen advance:  
To proceed as he undertook,  
Or leave the labour of his eight book.   

Atwene twain abiding thus a while,  
What was to do in doubt he 'gan to fleet:  
Half within and half over the stile,  
Coude not discern to him what was most meet▪  
Till Frances petrarch▪ the laureate poet,  
Crowned with laurer, Grace was his guide,  
Came and set him down by his beds side.   

And as Bochas out of his slumber abraid,  
And 'gan adawen somewhat of his cheer,  
And saw Petrarke, lowly to him he said:  
Welcome master crowned with laurere,  
which have italy, like a son clear,  
with poetry plainly to descrive,  
Most sovereignly enlumined by your liue.   

I have desired as it is well couth,  
Of rightful heart by humble attendance,  
To do you worship fro my tender youth,  
And so shall I ever void of all variance,  
During my life: for truly in substance,  
Ye have been lantern light and direction,  
Ay to support mine occupation.   

As in writing books to compile,  
Chief ensample to my great advantage:  
To reform the rudeness of my stile,  
with aureat colours of your fresh language.  
But now for dulled by impotence of age,  
Of Deccepitus marked with many a sign,  
My labour up of writing I resign.   

I cast me not forth to proceed,  
Stand at a bay fordriven for weariness,  
Quod Fra. petrarch lose not thus thy meed,  
give me no cause to report nor express,  
In thy last age, thou hast found a masters,  
which the bridled in sooth & that is ruth,  
And holdeth thyrein and she is called sloth.   

An evident token of froward slogardye,  
Upon thy bed thy limbs so to dress,  
Rise up for shame, for I can well espy,  
folk that can groan and feel no sickness,  
Their chamberlain is called idleness:  
which layeth thy pillow at ●ue and morrow,  
Void her from the and let her go with forow.   

To all virtue froward and contrary  
Is idleness, here in this present life:  
which hath the draw away fro thy library,  
Will the not suffer to be contemplatyf●.  
For her condition is to hold strife,  
With every virtuous occupation,  
which men should void of wisdom and reason.   

In this matter what should I long tarry?  
Thyslombre leave and up thine eine dress,  
The book I made of life solytarye,  
Remember thereon, the which in sikerness,  
Teacheth the way of virtuous business:  
By and by, who list read every line  
Of contemplation moral and divine.   

As I said erst yet life up thy look,  
Forsake thy bed, rise up anon for shame,  
wouldest y● rest now upon thy seventh book?  
And leave the eight, in sooth thou art to blame:  
proceed forth and get thyself a name.  
And with one thing do thyself comfort,  
As thou deservest, men after shall report,   

Make a comparison between darkness & light,  
between idleness and occupation,  
between fair days and the cloudy night:  
between a coward's prowess and high renown,  
between virtuous speech & false detraction,  
And to conclude all vices to repress,  
Contrary to sloth, is virtuous business.   

Virtuous business (O Bochas take heed,  
Reneweth all things of old antiquity:  
Maketh men to live after they be dead,  
Remember the nobles of many a great city:  
And ne were writers all were gone pard,  
Wherefore Bochas sith y● art near the land,  
Suffer not thy ship to stumble on the sand.   

I mean as thus the ship of thy travail,  
Which hath passed the se of books seven,  
Cast not ankre till thou have good ●●●ayle,  
Let no tempest of thunder nor of ●eum  
Nor no winds of the cloudy heaven  
Nor no false janglers of demers the will believe,  
Deprave thy labour and let thy ship to arrive.   

Haste on thy way let grace cross thy sail,  
Fall on no land of wilful negligence:  
Let good will be chief of thy counsel,  
To gye thy rother set entire diligence.  
If vitayle ●ayle and wine to thy dispense,  
yet at the last think forth the succour  
Some royal prince shall quite the thy labour.   

Think by writing authors did their pain  
To give princes their commendations,  
To Remu● & Romulus called founders twain  
Of Rome town, and of two Scipions,  
The kinghthode, Prudence of two caton's,  
Of julius, Pompey, and Hanybal eke also,  
By ensample of whom, look that thou do so.   

Of Prophets they wrote the prophecies,  
And the noblesse of old Moses:  
Of poets the laure at poesies,  
The force of Samson, the strength of Hercules  
Of two greeks Pyrrus and Achilles,  
By their writing books say the same,  
Unto this day, yet endureth the name.   

And he that can, and ceaseth for to write  
Notable ensamples of our predecessors,  
Of envy men will him atwite,  
That he in gardayns let perish the wholesome flowers.  
In sundry wise that might do great socours,  
Labour for other and spare not thy travail,  
For virtuous labour again sloth doth avail▪   

A thing remembered of antiquity,  
Is when there is set a fair image  
Of a prince, of high or low degree,  
Or of a person a print of his visage,  
Gladdeth his friend quicketh his courage,  
And semblably by example men may find,  
Things forgotten by writing come to mind▪   

And for to make our names perdurable,  
And our merits to put in memory,  
Vices to eschew in virtue to be stable,  
That labour may of sloth have the victory,  
To claim a see in the heavenly consistory,  
despite of idleness and forthering of virtue,  
Fyne of our labour be give to Christ Iesu.   

When petrarch had rehearsed this lesson.  
In rebuking of vicious idleness,  
Bochas surprised and moved of reason,  
Rose from his couch, and 'gan his pen dress:  
well overcame the impotent feebleness  
Of crooked age, that Bochas undertook  
For to accomplish up his eight book.   

I following after for dulled for rudeness,  
More than three score years set my date:  
Lust of youth passed his freshness,  
Colours of rhetoric to help me translate,  
were faded away, I was borne in Lydgate,  
Where Bacchus' liquor doth full scarcely fleet,  
My dry foul for to dew and we●e.   

Though passed age hath fordulled me,  
Trembling joints let my hand to write.  
And fro me take all the subtlety  
Of curious making, in english to indite,  
yet in this labour truelyme to acquit,  
I shall proceed as it is to me due,  
In these two books Bochas for to sue.   
FINIS.   

¶ The first Chapter.  
¶ How the proud tyrant Domician Emperor of Rome, and many other Emperors and Nobles, for their outrages and wretchedness, mischievously ended.  

BBrother to Titus' son of Vaspacian,  
Came next iordre as writeth mine autour  
The proud ambitious called Domician,  
That was in Rome crowned Emperor:  
An extortioner, and a false pillar,  
Proudly commanded (in his estate up stalled)  
Of all the world he should a God be called.   

Through high presumption of him it is eke told,  
Nether of timber koruin, nor of stone,  
Set up images of silver and of gold,  
In token there was no God but he alone:  
In to Pathmos he exiled eke saint john,  
And again christian the second next Neron,  
That began first the persecution.   

This same tyrant, reigning in his estate,  
To all the city was passing odious:  
Best and most worthy he show of the senate,  
And unto all that were virtuous  
Mortal enemy, and most malicious.  
And for slaughter of senators in the town,  
Asked the triumph as made is mention.   

Made among jews, by full great outrage,  
where as he had greatest suspicion  
To slay all though that were of the lineage,  
Of David's kindred, and of king Solomon,  
Lest he were put out of domination:  
Among jews this was his meaning,  
Slew all though that was borne to be king.   

Amid the palace as God would of right  
Punish a tyrant and quite him his meed,  
This Domician was slain upon a night:  
His caraine after unburied as Irede.  
And Comodus doth after him succeed,  
which was all yeve by fleshly appetite,  
To leave all virtue, and follow his delight.   

Theatre plays of custom he did use  
As was the custom there and the usage,  
His life in vices he falsely did abuse,  
In lecherous lusts spent all his young age:  
To the romans did full great damage,  
For of the senate that were most virtuous,  
were falsely slain by this Comodus.   

In his time by stroke of thunder dente,  
And fiery lightning that came down fro heaven,  
The common library was of the city brent,  
With royal books of all the crafts seven,  
Books of poets more than I can nevyn:  
And Comodus briefly to termine,  
was slain and strangled by his concubine.   

Helinus Pertynax came next on the ring,  
Ordained after Emperor of that town,  
Old, and unwieldy, ●lame in his beginning:  
After whom the book maketh mention  
By no title of succession  
But an intrusour one called julyan,  
The state usurping to reign there began.   

But of the noble lineage African,  
Borne in Tripoli a mighty great city,  
One Severus that was a knightly man,  
gathered of romans a wonder great main:  
Both made strong, julian met and he  
At Pont miluin a city of italy,  
And there was julyan slain in battle:   

Severus after entered the empire,  
And took upon him the domination:  
Upon christian of malice set a fire,  
Began again them a persecution,  
Of tyranny and false ambition.  
But one of Egypt called Poscennius  
Again Severus 'gan to work thus.   

gathered meinie Severus for to assail,  
In purpose fully and thereon did his pain,  
First with him to have a great battle,  
Next of th'empire the crown for to attain:  
But ye shall hear what fell on these twain:  
On Poscennius fill the discomfiture,  
And Severus th'empire doth recure.   

In his purpose or he might avail,  
with one Albinus that was a manly knight,  
He had in Gaul a full great battle,  
Full great bloodshed in that mortal fight:  
Albinus slain of very force and might,  
Severus after entered in Bretayne,  
Caught sickness and died of the pain.   

After Severus next came Antonine,  
Of whom the froward disposition  
As all auctors of him determine  
His business and occupation  
Set holy in fleshly delectation  
So false a lust his courage did assail  
Among Parthois slain in battle   

Macrinus after tofore Bochas came down,  
Whilom a prefect in Rome the city  
Of the pretoyr, and by invasion  
Came to the imperial famous dignity,  
Occupied a year sat in his imperial see,  
Till fortune list him so disgrade,  
Among his knights slain at Archelade.   

Next came Aurelius surnamed Antonyne,  
A great ribald passing lecherous.  
Yet was he bishop as authors determine,  
In the temple of Heliogabalus:  
And in his time was one Sabellius  
A false heretic, of whom 'gan the names,  
Of a sect called Sabellianes.   

This said Aurelius again all nature,  
Of false presumption in books it is told,  
Would not purge his womb by nature,  
But in vessels that were made of gold:  
And in despite, when that he was old.  
Slain of his knights and not after long,  
His carrion was thrown in a gonge.   

After this proud foresaid Antonine  
In to th'empire by just election,  
Of senators as books determine,  
Came Aurelius and for his high renown  
Surnamed Alisaunder, as made is mention:  
Fought with Perciens like a manly knight,  
And there king Xerxes was put unto flight.   

This Aurelius this proud knightly man,  
When he sat judge in the consistory.  
There sat one with him called Ulpian,  
A great civilian, notable of memory:  
Of whom it is to his increase of glory,  
Reported thus by great authority,  
He of digests made books three.   

Full piteously this emperor lost his life,  
casually as made is mention,  
Among his knights by a sudden strife,  
Where he was slain in that dissension:  
After whose end for short conclusion  
Tofore Bochas the book well tell can  
Came Maximinus and with him Gordyan   

Maximinus the chronicle both express,  
Chose of his knights and his soldiers,  
For his victorious martial high prowess,  
Done in Almaigne, and among Emperors  
Set up in Rome maugre the senators:  
After strong enemy as mine author saith  
With all his power unto christian faith   

He was enemy his life who list to seen  
To christian clerks of authority,  
And specially to old Origene  
But in his most furious cruelty,  
In Aquyleya a mighty strong country,  
Of a prefect called Pupien he was slain  
Of whose death christian men were full fain.   

Next by the senate chosen was Gordyan,  
First against Parthois he cast high to warray,  
Of janus temple (when the were began)  
He made the gates be opened with the key:  
Which was a token as old e books say,  
though gates opened to folks nigh and far,  
That which their fone the romans would were.   

With Parthois first this said Gordian  
To hold were fast he 'gan him speed,  
And upon them always the field he won:  
After he sped him in to Perce and Mede,  
Alway victorious in battle as I read,  
Upon Eufrates slain as I find,  
By false treason the chronicle maketh mind.   

Next in ordre came Philip by his name,  
His son eke Philip came with him also,  
Mine author Bochas rehearseth the same:  
The father, the son, baptized both two.  
Right sad and wise in that they had to do,  
And were the first christian of eachone,  
Emperors reckoned, for there tofore was none   

By Poncius the martyr as I read,  
In Meya a famous great city,  
They were baptized, & afterward in deed  
Slain in battle for they list not i'll:  
Tofore their death both of assent pard,  
Their treasure hole that were imperial,  
To christes church I find they gave it all   

The Bishop Sixtus took possession,  
Virtuously assigned it to Laurence,  
Thereof to make distribution  
To poor folk in their indigence:  
For which deed by cruel violence,  
The tyrant Decius again them took a strife,  
Caused holy Laurence by burning lose his life   

This same Decius cursed and cruel,  
Caused the slaughter of these Philips twain:  
And for he was subtle, false, and fell,  
By sleight & falsehood he did his busy pain,  
To the empire by force for to attain:  
The seventh tyrant, by persecution  
which again christian folk took first occasion.   

Mine author writeth time of this Decive,  
The holy hermit example of perfectness,  
By days old called Antonyus,  
Lived in desert far out in wilderness:  
As an hermit despising all riches,  
Lived by fruit and roots as men tell,  
And of perfection drank water of the well.   

Upon Decius for his cursedness  
Again christian which gave so hard sentence,  
Through Rome & Itayle mine auctor beareth witness,  
In every city was great pestilence:  
That by the sudden deadly violence  
The hearts of men depending in a trance,  
To save their lives coude no chevisance.   

Of this matter write nomorc I can,  
To this emperor I will resort again,  
Speke of Gallus and Volucian,  
That busy were their labour was in vain,  
Their time short as some books sane,  
For Martin writeth an old cronyculere,  
In th'empire they reigned but two year.   

But both were slain by the procuring,  
And by the purchase of one Emelyan,  
A roman knight which by sly working,  
To occupy th'empire though began:  
By tyranny the Lordship there he won.  
Whose lordship for hap and lack of grace,  
No longer last then two months space.   

This little chapter as tofore is seen,  
rehearsed hath and told in words plain,  
Of emperors almost full fourteen,  
And of all were good none but twain:  
which to rehearse I have do my pain,  
And to proceed further as I began,  
I must write of one valerian.   

HIs son and he called Galiene  
To all christian bore great enmity.  
Slew all though their legend men mai seen,  
That served Christ in troth and equity:  
whose persecution and hateful crueite  
Abated was, as I can well rehearse,  
By one Sapor that was king of Perce.   

By force of arms Sapor this mighty king,  
'Gan in Asia and with his host came down,  
By tiger, Eufrates, & knightly so riding  
Toward the parties of Septemtryo●▪  
To Caucasus not far fro Babylon  
And all Surrye he proudly did assail,  
And Capadoce he won eke by battle.   

Whom for to meet came Vale rian,  
To Mesopotayme with many legions:  
The were was strong, but this knightly man  
This hardy Sapor with his champions  
The field hath won with all the legions  
Afore rehearsed, and through Perce he lad  
Valerian bound with chains round and sad.   

He was by Sapor maugre his visage▪  
This Valerian so straightly brought to wreck,  
Like a prisoner bound to servage,  
By obeisance that found were no lack,  
To kneel on four and proffer his back,  
Unto Sapor when him list to ride,  
Thereby to mount for all his great pride   

This was the office of Valerian  
By servitude during many a year,  
Wherefore he was called of many a man,  
The ascending stock in to the sadyll near:  
Which is in french called a mountuere,  
This was his office to bow down his corpse,  
When the king Sapor should light on horse.   

This is the guerdon & favour of fortune,  
Her old manner to princes and to kings,  
Her double custom used in common,  
By sudden change of all worldly things:  
After triumphs and their uprisinges,  
What followeth after here well tell I can,  
I take record of valerian.   

This Lady fortune the blind fell gods  
To Valerian showed herself unstable,  
Taught him a lesson of the doubleness,  
To king Sapor she was favourable,  
But yet he was to cruel and vengeable.  
With his feet devoid of all favour,  
To foil the back of an emperor.   

Of old it hath be song and cried loud,  
Record on Cyrus, and many other more,  
Kings of Perce of custom have be proud,  
After punished and chastised eke also,  
Princes of mercy should take heed thereto.  
After victory in their estate notable,  
To their prisoners for to be merciable,   

Mine author Bochas in this matter tel can,  
Rebuke tyrants that were by days old,  
Turneth his side speaketh to Valerian,  
Where be thy rubies & sapphires set in gold?  
Theryche peerless and rings manifold?  
That y● were wont to wear upon thy honds?  
Now as a wretch art bound in foreign bonds.   

where thou were wont of furious cruelty,  
Clad in purple within Rome town,  
To Christ contrary in thine imperial se,  
Gave doom on martyrs to suffer passion:  
Now liest thou bound fettered in preson,  
To king Sapor constrained to incline,  
when he list ride both neck and chine.   

Thus art thou fall in thine imperial stage,  
Think on fortune & have her in memory,  
She hath the cast in thraldom and servage:  
And eclipsed all thine old glory.  
where thou sat whilom in the consistory  
As an emperor and a mighty judge,  
Liest bound in chains & knowest no refuge.   

It is fall far out of thy mind  
The knightly deed of worthy ●ublyus,  
Of Rome a captain ordained as I find,  
To fight again Aristomachus,  
King of Asye, of fortune it fell thus:  
when the romans did the field forsake,  
This Publius among his fone was take.   

This noble prince standing in dreadful case,  
His life & worship depending atwen twain,  
In his hand holding a sturdy mace,  
Smyt out one of his eyen twain,  
Of him that led him, that other for the pain  
That he felt and the great smart,  
Took a dagger & rove Publyus to the heart.   

which loved more his worship than his life,  
Chase rather to die than live in servage,  
This conceit he had in his imaginatife,  
And considered sith he was in age,  
To save his honour it was more advantage,  
So to be slain his worship to conserve,  
Than like a beast in prison for to starve.   

Fortune his chapter of him it was not rad,  
As Valerius maketh mention,  
After whose conceit no man in virtue sad  
Should not long languy she in prison:  
But rather chose like his opinion  
Of manly force and knightly excellence,  
The death endure of long abstinence.   

As whilom did the princess Agripine,  
when she in prison lay fettered and bound,  
Of her free choice she felt great pine,  
Of hunger and thirst in story it is found:  
That she lay pale & grofe upon the ground.  
Maugre Tibery and let her ghost so wend,  
Out of her body this was her fatal end.   

Thou stood far of all such fantasy,  
I speak of thee (O thou Valerian)  
Thy cruel heart of false malencolye,  
Made whilom die many a christian man  
And martyr, sith Christ's faith began:  
Which for mankind died upon the Road  
There for tacquyte him list shed his blood.   

Again his law thou were impatient,  
And importune by persecution,  
Thou didst favour & suffer in thine intent▪  
That Egipciens did their oblation,  
Their sacrifices and rite up so down,  
Unto idols of froward wilfulness,  
That was of Egypt called chief goddess.   

Favourable thou were in thy desire,  
To suffer jews their sabote to observe:  
And Caldeis to worship the fire,  
And folk of Crete Saturn to serve,  
And christian men thou madest falsely starve  
Of whose law for thou did not retch,  
Thou died in prison at mischief like a wretch.    

The ii Chapter.  
¶ How Gallyen son of Valerian was slain.  

NExt in order to Bochas though came down,  
Son of Valerian one called Gallien  
But for great horrible effusion  
Of christian blood that men might seen,  
Shed by Valerian, God would it should been  
showed openly to romans by vengeance,  
Of many a country sudden does obeisance.   

They of Almaigne the Alpes did pace,  
Unto raven a cite of Itaile,  
Goths also proud of cheer and face,  
Had again greeks many a great battle:  
And they of Hungry armed in plate & mail,  
with them of Denmark furious and cruel,  
Again romans wexte of assent rebel.   

To whose damage in this mean while,  
Among romans, it is befall thus:  
woeful wars which called been civil,  
'Gan in the city cruel and dispiteous.  
First when they met was slain Gemyus  
which first took on him in books as I read  
Of high courage to we are purple weed.   

One Posthumus a mighty strong roman,  
Kept all Gaul under subjection  
To their avail, after unwarly slain,  
Among his knights for all his high renown,  
By a sudden uncouth dissension:  
Next Victoryne having the governance,  
Of all Gaul was first slain in France.   

But Gallien of whom I spoke toforne,  
Son and heir to Valerian,  
His Domination of purpose he hath lost  
In Republica when he began,  
Like a contrarious and a froward man,  
wext lecherous and obstinate of living,  
At mischief slain▪ this was his ending.    

The iii Chapter.  
¶ How Quintilius was murdered by women.  

NExt Gallien came one Quintilius,  
A man remembered of great attemperance  
Brother of birth to great Glaudius,  
wise and discrete in all his governance.  
who may of fortune eschew the chance?  
To write his end shortly in a clause  
Of women murdered I can not say the cause.    

The four Chapter.  
Of Aurielan in Denmark borne.  

OF Denmark born next came Aurelian,  
A worthy knight his enemies to assail:  
Again Goths a great war he began,  
Gate victory in many strong battle.  
whose noble conquest greatly did avail  
To common profit, for all his work pard,  
was to the increase of Rome the city.   

He recured all the Septemtrion,  
And west ward had many a great victory:  
Among other I find that he was one,  
Asked the triumph to be put in memory.  
But there was a thing eclipsed his glory.  
which did the light of his knightho● withdraw,  
For he was enemy to Christ and to his law,  
Of him Bochas list no more to write,  
But in his book go forth as he began,  
Of one remembering that called was Tacyte  
which was successor to Aurelian,  
And after him succeeded Folorian  
Of which twain no remembrance I find  
That is notable to put in mind.    

The .v. Chapter.  
How Probus discomfited romans and after was slain.  

Probus after reigned full seven year  
And four months, which by his high renown,  
Gain went Saturninus with a knightli cheer,  
Brought him proudly to subjection,  
Not withstanding that he in Rome town  
Took upon him of wilful tyranny,  
Holy th'empire for to rule and gye.   

Beside the city called Agrypyne.  
This said Probus gain many roman,  
A battle had, list not to decline:  
Met Portulus a mighty strong captain  
With one Bonosus & both they were slain,  
And all their meinie of very force and might,  
Slaynm the field the remnant put to slight.   

After this battle and this discomfiture,  
Probus was lodgedi Smyrmie a great city,  
And there unwarely of sudden adventure,  
Slain in a tower that called was Far,  
But a small season last his prosperity.  
Siche is fortune let no man in her trust;  
All worldly things changing as she lust.    

The vi Chapter.  
¶ How Carus and his two sons were mischieved.  

TOfore Bochas Carus next came down,  
with his two sons Numeria & Carine  
And as I find he was borne in Narbon:  
But when that he most clearly did shine,  
By his knighthood, plainly to termine,  
In his empire he gate cities twain,  
Chole & Thessiphontin Parthia with great pain   

Beside Tiger a famous swift river  
He pight his tents, cast him there abide:  
A sudden lightning his face came so near,  
Smyt all to powder for all his great pride,  
And Numerian that stood by his side,  
Had a mark that was sent fro heaven,  
Lost both his eyen, with the fiery leaven.   

His other son Carinus a good knight,  
In Dalmacia had all the governance:  
And for that he governed not a right,  
He was cast down & lost all his puissance,  
Vicious life cometh always to mischance.  
Sepcius chose Dalmacia for to gye,  
Among his knights murdered of envy.    

The seven. Chapter.  
¶ How the hardy Queen zenobia fought with Aurelian, and was take  

MIne auctor here no longer list sojourn,  
Of these emperors the falls for to write,  
But in all haste he doth his stile turn,  
To zenobya her story to indite:  
But for Chaucer did him so well acquit  
In his tragedies her piteous fall to entreat,  
I will pass over rehearsing but the great.   

In his books of Caunterbury tales  
This sovereign poet of Brutus' albion,  
Through pilgrims told by hills and vales,  
where, of zenobya is made mention,  
Of her noblesse and her high renown,  
In a tragedy compendyouslye told all,  
Her martial prowess, and her piteous fall.   

Mine author first affirmeth how that she,  
Descended was to tell of herlynage,  
Borne of the stock of worthy Tholome,  
King of Egypt, full notable in that age:  
And this zenobya expert in all language,  
wise of counsel and of great prudence,  
Passed all other in fame of eloquence.   

Among she was armed in plate & mail,  
Of Palmyrences wedded to the king,  
Called Odenatus prudent in battle  
She was also by record of writing.  
Hardy and strong her lordship defending,  
Maugre all though with her chivalry,  
Against all them that wrongly took party.   

By Odenatus she had sons twain  
Heremanus called was that one,  
And Tymolaus of beauty sovereign,  
After whose birth their father 'gan anon  
To occupy the provinces everichone  
Of Perce & Mede, by process made thē●●ene.  
Of zenobya the hardy wise Queen   

while Odenatus wext glorious  
In his conquest throughout Perce & Mede,  
Slain he was by one Mionius,  
Which to the king was cousin as I read:  
But for because of this horrible deed,  
And for the murder of king Odenate,  
He died at mischief, and passed into fate.   

By process after zenobya the queen,  
Took her two sons & proudly did them lead,  
Tofore her char, the men might them seen,  
How they were borne as princes to succeed:  
Made them like kings clad in purple weed,  
Them to defend this mighty creature,  
Hardy as Lion took on her armure.   

For all her Lords and knights she had sent  
Maugre the romans proudly 'gan herspede  
All the parties of the Oriente  
To occupy, and her host so lead:  
Of th'emperor she stood nothing in dread  
Called Aurelian met him in battle,  
With her meinie proudly did assail.   

On other side that day great blood was shed:  
The stroke of fortune withstant no creature,  
The queen zenobia was taken & forth led,  
Fought first as long as she might endure,  
With rich stones fret was her armure,  
which whom th'emperor so entrig Rome town,  
Of triumph required the guerdon.   

He dempt it was covenable and sitting,  
This Emperor this proud Aurelian,  
To ask the triumph it was so great a thing,  
To take zenobia that such a were began,  
gain romans, this martial woman  
For I suppose of no woman borne,  
Was never queen so hardy seen aforne.   

This hardy princess for all her cruelty,  
whose renome through the world was know,  
With stocks of gold was brought to y● citi,  
From high estate in poverty plunged low.  
A wind contrary fortune hath so blow,  
That she, alas, hath piteously made fall,  
Her in that prowess passed women al.   

The triumph yeven to Aurelian,  
For the conquest he had upon this queen,  
Called zenobya, came Dyoclisian,  
Borne in Dalmacia his story who list seen:  
Out of his country first he did flene,  
Of garlic & lekes as saith the cronycler●▪  
Because that he was but a gardinere.   

Other mention is none of his lineage,  
Of his birth forsook the region,  
Left his craft of delving and cortlage,  
Gave him to arms and by election,  
Chose to be emperor & regne in Rome town,  
First into Gaul he sent a great power,  
And Maximian he made his vicar.   

His vicar there had many a great battle,  
Upon such people that by rebellion,  
'Gan frowardly and contrary to assail,  
To obey his lordship within that region.  
Till Carausius by commission  
And an hardy knight under maximian,  
Them to chastise took on him like a man.   

But by process the story doth devise  
His lordship there did great damage,  
To common profit, so he by covetise  
The country rob by full great outrage:  
And to himself he took all the pillage,  
And of presumption ware the colour  
Of rich purple like an emperor.   

This Carasius of Bretayns twain  
Proudly usurped to be their governor,  
Like a rebel again Rome did his pain,  
And busied him by martial labour,  
with many a strange foreign soudyoure:  
Having no title nor commission,  
Continued long in his rebellion.   

Whereof astonished was Dioclisian,  
Seeing this mischief dreadful and perilous:  
Ordained in haste that Maximian,  
Was surnamed and called Herculius,  
Made him emperor called Agustus,  
Which had a fore no more governance,  
But Gaul which now is called France.   

Also more over this Dioclisian  
Made in this while governors twain,  
Constancius and one Maximian,  
Surnamed Galerius Constancius i certain:  
In this while to wed he did his pain,  
Daughter of Maximian called Herculius,  
Named the odora myn auctor writeth thus.   

By Theodora this Constancius  
Had six children in true marriage,  
Brother to constantine the chronicle telleth thus,  
Which afterward when he came to age,  
For his manhood and martial courage,  
Was chose and made Lord and governor,  
Of all the world, and crowned emperor.   

Carausius which had full seven year  
Like as I told rebelled in Bretayne,  
Against the romans, a great extorcionere:  
A knight alectus that did at him disdain  
Murdered him, and after did his pain,  
By force only and extort tyranny,  
Fully three years his place to occupy.   

Till Asclepio was sent from Rome down,  
Slew alectus maugre all his might▪  
Brought all Bretayne to subjection,  
Of the romans, like as it was right.  
And in this while like a manly knight.  
For italians 'gan romans disobey,  
Constancius 'gan proudly them warray.   

He first with them had a strong battle,  
His meyay slain and put to the flight:  
Trusting on fortune he 'gan them eft assail,  
And sixty thousand were slain in the fight,  
The field was his through fortunes might,  
As she that could dissimule for a while,  
And afterward falsely him beguile.   

I will pass over as briefly as I can,  
Set a side all foreign incidentes:  
Resort again to Dioclisian,  
Which at Alisaundre proudly pitched his tents.  
The captain slew, gave command ements  
To his knights to do their advantage,  
With the cite by robbing and pillage.   

Can again christian great persecution,  
Used this tyranny in the Orient,  
By his bidding Maximian came down,  
Toward the parties of the Occident:  
Both these tyrants wrought by assent,  
Under whose sword many martyr deyes,  
Slain in Octodorun the legion of Thebeies   

At Verolamye a famous old city  
Saint Albou slain, his legend doth so tell:  
And in Rome by furious cruelty,  
The pope slain that called was Marcel,  
By their statutes and by their domes fell  
Churches were brent, in towns and cities,  
Lost their franchise and all their liberties.   

froward enemy he was to Christ's law,  
Made many a martyr to die for his sake:  
Wext feeble and old, and 'gan him withdraw,  
From occupation his rest for to take,  
His attorney maximian he doth make,  
In his last age it is rehearsed thus,  
Stood in great dread of Constantius.   

The dread of him sat so nigh his heart,  
And thereupon took such a fantasy,  
Imagining he might not start,  
By fraud of him but that he should die,  
Almost for fere fill in a frenzy:  
Of which dread the book maketh mention  
He slew himself by drinking of poison.   

As I told erst in the Occident,  
Maximian called Herculius,  
reigned as Emperor, & ever in his intent  
To pursue martyrs he was aye laborus:  
Of whose birth Bochas found no authors.  
This to say he could never read,  
Where he was borne nor of what kindred.   

He findeth no more of this Maximian  
Of his usurping in esspeciall,  
But that he was by Dioclisian  
Set in dignity called imperial:  
Famous in arms prudent and martial,  
Daunted all though that did again him strive,  
Slew Gencyan called in number five   

Road in Africa like a conqueror,  
Brought to subjections the sturdy nations,  
Fortune that time did him such favour:  
Gate Sarmatoise with other regions,  
with other cities and many rich towns,  
By his conquest of new that he hath won,  
Through the world his name shone like the son.   

He was cherished in arms from his youth,  
And did great emprises for Rome the city:  
Yet Dioclisian as it is well couth,  
counseled him resign his dignity,  
But he was loath to forsake his see,  
sith he was Lord and governed all,  
For to renounce his state imperial.   

But by assent of Dioclisian,  
As he himself had left the governance,  
Even so this Maxymyan,  
Discharged himself of his royal puissance.  
But afterward he fill in repentance,  
And busy was as divers books sayne,  
The state of Emperor to recure again.   

Which for to achieve he did his diligence,  
He was distourbed by Galerius:  
For his son that called was Maxence  
Put in possession, mine author writeth thus,  
To which thing he 'gan wax envious,  
And 'gan ordain means in his thought,  
To trouble him but it availed nought.   

When his purpose might take none avail,  
Again Maxence as Bochas doth describe,  
His daughter Fausta that knew his counsel,  
Discured his purpose, for which he fled believe  
Into Gaul, and durst no longer strive:  
And by Constantius in Marcile the cite,  
Slain suddenly, lost all his dignity.    

The viii Chapter.  
How Galerius oppressed martyrs and Christ's faith, and mischievously ended.  

NExt tofore Bochas came Galerius,  
A man disposed to riot and outrage,  
Evil teached, froward, and vicious,  
There is no story that speaketh of his lineage:  
Yet was he set full high upon the stage,  
Of worldly dignity, rose up to high estate,  
Yet in his beginning he was not fortunate,   

He was sent out by Dioclisian,  
And made emperor by his authority:  
Again Narseus the proud knightly man,  
Reigning in Perce and Lord of that country,  
Which held were with Rome the city.  
For which Galerius took on him this emprise  
with mighty hand his pride to chastise.   

Galerius entered into Derce land,  
King Narseus met him of adventure,  
Had a strong battle, fought hand for hand,  
His fortune such he might not endure.  
On Galerius fill the discomfiture,  
Clad in purple as made is mention,  
Of Dioclisian received his guerdon.   

At their meeting anon or they were ware,  
Dioclisian made him to abide,  
To his confusion, sitting in his char  
To walk on foot by the chares side,  
With many a rebuke abated was his pride:  
Galerius for the great shame,  
'Gan seek a mean again to get his name.   

Came for to assemble his old soldiers,  
Made for his ordinance by diligent workig:  
Chase out the best proved warryours,  
With a great host to Perce he came riding:  
and oft there fought with the king,  
That the perciens maugre all their might,  
Were of Galerius that day put to flight.   

The field was his, he gate great riches,  
Robbed their tents, and won there pillage,  
In this resort received in soothness,  
In great nobles because of that voyage:  
Thus can fortune change her visage,  
Of Dioclisian where he stood in disdain,  
with new triumph resorted is again.   

This cloudy queen standeth never in certain,  
whose double wheel quavereth ever in doubt:  
Of whyse favour no man hath be certain,  
Though one have grace another is put out.  
Let every man as it cometh about,  
Take his turn, and never in her assure  
Failing in arms is but adventure.   

Thus Galerius after his battle,  
On Perciens 'gan wax glorious,  
Governed Africa and lordship of italy,  
Throughout the Orient he was victorious,  
Till he for age 'gan wax tedious,  
His last days maligned as men saith,  
Of false hatred again christian faith.   

And him to help in these false matters,  
It is remembered, to his confusion  
In his empire he set two vicats,  
Gave them power in every region,  
The law of Christ to oppress and put down,  
To punish matters, and put them to death.  
And in this while full many one he fleeth.   

By this said trowel Galerius,  
which of th'empire had all the governance,  
Of cursed heart and courage dispiteous,  
By his usurped imperial puissance,  
Gave authority for to do vengeance,  
Unto twain Severus and Maxence.  
On all christian by mortal violence.   

A certain space both of one accord  
To the state of emperor chose was Maxence,  
Till Severus and he fell at discord,  
And after by vengeable pestilence,  
within a city of noble pre-eminence,  
Called Ravenue, Severus there was slain.  
Of which Galerius was nothing feign.   

For which in haste this Galerius  
Him to support, and stand in his defence,  
Chase out of Denmark a knight Lucinius  
To be emperor through knightly excellence.  
For to withstand and fight again Maxence.  
But Maxence of roman knights all,  
was chosen emperor and set up in his stall.   

with which election Galerius wext wode,  
Fill in a manner of froward frenzy:  
His entrail brent corrupt was his blood,  
And of his froward vengeable malady,  
In every member 'gan rot and putrefy,  
Till the eyre about him environ,  
To all that felt it was venom and poison.   

Like a Lazar corbed back and chine,  
In this while on christian most vengeable,  
To him availed no manner medicine  
But there was in Christ's faithful stable,  
That spoke unto him with language full notable  
In words few concludinge in substance,  
The great Jupiter, hath take on the vengeance.   

And evermore for short conclusion,  
with a bold spirit to him 'gan abraid:  
It is nat Jupiter worshipped in this town,  
In the capitoyle set, soothly as I said,  
But Jupiter that was borne of a maid▪  
which list not suffer of that thou dost endure,  
That any medicines should therecure.   

Like atyraunt by vengeance furious,  
At mischief dieth as books tell,  
Perpetually with cruel Cerberus  
Upon the wheel of Ixion to dwell,  
For His demerits with tantalus in hell,  
There to receive his final guerdon,  
which coude on martyrs have no compassion   

It was his joy for to shed their blood,  
Sent out letters to divers regions,  
Like a sly wolf ravenous and wode,  
To slay martyrs by divers passions:  
Like his desert received his guerdons,  
Horrible death did them first confound,  
with furies infernal lieth in hell bound.    

The ix Chapter.  
¶ How Maxence the emperor enemy to Christ's faith mischievously ended.  

After Galerisu cruel violence,  
gain christian blood as Bochas hath told,  
with piteous there the Emperor Maxence,  
Came tofore Bochas of age not full old,  
Famous in arms, sturdy, fresh, and bold.  
Albe he entered notlike an heritoure,  
Coke upon him to reign as governor.   

To Christ's faith he was also enemy.  
After soon he lost his governance.  
Of infortune slain suddenly:  
God on tyrants unwarely taketh vengasice,  
Of whose burying was made no remembrance  
For he was nat received of the ground  
But cast in Tibre like a rotten hounds.    

The ten Chapter.  
How Lucinius enemy to Christ's faith was slain.  

Next tofore Bochas came Lucynius,  
A knight of Denmark borne of good line:  
which had an enemy the book saith thus▪  
An hardy knight called Maximine,  
Chose a captain with the mperour Constantyne.  
To the faith of Christ he bore great enmity.  
Slain anon after in Trace the city.   

Of whose death Lucinius was glad,  
'Gan again christian persecution,  
In his proceeding suddenly wext mad,  
which commanded of false presumption,  
when he began to do execution,  
That nochristen nowhere him beside,  
By no condition should in his house abide.   

This Lucinius which falsely did err  
Again our faith christian men to assasle,  
Gain Constantine of new he 'gan war:  
But of his purpose in sooth he did fail,  
For he was twice discomfited in battle,  
By Constantine once in hungry,  
Next in Grece beside Eualye.   

Thus Constantyne through his high renown,  
Gate nigh Gcece and every great country  
Old Lucinius flood in rebellion  
gain Constantine, both on land and sea:  
But when he saw it would none otherbe,  
He might not escape in no place,  
Put holy himself in Constantyns' grace.   

But Constantine for his high rebellion,  
Gave judgement in haste that he be dead:  
least in the city were made division  
By Lucinius, whereof he stood in dread.  
This same while as Bochas took heed,  
There came before him which cheer full piteous▪  
brethren twain Constantine and Crispus.    

The xi Chapter.  
Of Constantyne and Crispus: and how Damalcus was slain.  

To constantine of whom I spoke toforne,  
They were sons Constantine and Crispus:  
The same twain of one mother borne,  
Came tofore Bochas his book rehearseth thus.  
with them came eke Lucinius  
Son of Lucinius, which in Rome town,  
Afore was slain for his rebellion.   

Constantine his wars to govern,  
Made them vicar's the self same three:  
eachone rightwise and could well discern  
What might avail most to their city,  
To increase the profit of the commonte.  
Their names told Constantine and Crispus.  
Tofore remembered, with them Lucinius.   

while these three vicar's under the emperor.  
Governed Rome as Knights most famous,  
In alexander rose up a great error,  
By a false priest called Arryus;  
To our believe a thing contrarious:  
And for he did again our faith so work.  
By a decree was put out of the church.   

By assent at Bithinye, full notable  
In Nicaea a famous great city,  
This error was proved full damnable,  
Three. C. bishops were present there pard,  
And eighteen the chronicle who list see,  
And all these of one sentence ●like,  
proved Arrius a false heretic.   

This same time books doth specify,  
How Constantine of hasty cruelty,  
The said vicar's nigh of ally,  
Feigned a cause to slay them all three,  
No cause rehearsed nor told of equity:  
Save only this, in which he 'gan proceed.  
To make his cousin Dalmacius to succeed.   

But his favour was not fortunate  
Toward Dalmacius, nor gracious in sentence  
Among whose knights fell a sudden debate,  
Constantine there being in presence,  
Dalmacius without reverence,  
with sharp sword, to speak in words few▪  
Unto the death was wounded and phewe.    

The xii chapter.  
¶ Of the brethren constance & Constancius and how Magnentius and Decius murdered themself.  

THan came constance & Constancius  
young brethren, thus writeth min autour.  
To Constantine in time of Arrius,  
And each of them by full great labour,  
Did his pain to reign as emperor:  
Till at the last briefly for to say,  
everich of the in 'gan other to warray.   

This said constance is entered Perce land  
Nine times he fought again Sapore,  
The same king as ye shall understand  
That with Romans had fought afore  
But finally constance hath him so bore  
To hold the field he might not endure,  
For upon him fill the discomfiture.   

His fortune 'gan change anonryght  
When that he left to be virtuous,  
He was in Spain slain like a knight,  
In a castle strong called Maxencius,  
Than was none left but Constancius,  
The roman knights destitute everyone  
Chase them an emperor one Vetramone.   

This Vetramone was far run in age,  
Barren of wit and could no letture,  
Nor in knighthood had no great courage,  
Nor was not able to study in scripture:  
Nor like anemperour no while to endure,  
For which Constancius of whom I spoke now late  
With this Vetramone cast high to debate   

This Vetramone hath left his estate,  
List not warray again Constancius,  
Forsook the field loved no debate,  
But of Spain, min author writeth thus,  
As I wrote late, how that Magnencius,  
gain Constancius with sword spear and shield  
Presumed proudly for to hold a field.   

To great damage and hindering of the town.  
For many romans thilk day was deed,  
Beside a cite which called was Leon.  
Till at the last of very coward dread,  
Magnencius which captain was and head,  
Again Constantius hath the field forsake,  
Lo how fortune can her changes make.   

Magnencius for very sorrow and shame,  
Bode no longer but gate him a sharp knife,  
Sole b● himself wherein he was to blame,  
Rove through his heart and so lost his life:  
His brother Decius partable of the strife  
About his neck cast a mighty cord,  
And hang himself books so record.   

Constancius thase after him, Gallus  
His uncles brother to govern France,  
Was a false tyrant cruel and outrageous,  
soon after slain for his misgovernance.  
Another vicar for his disobeisance,  
Called Sylvanus by judgement was slain.  
For which in France many a man was fain.    

The xiii chapter.  
How Constantine baptized by Silvester was recured of his leper.  

OF this matter stint I will a while  
And following min own strange opinion,  
Fro Constancius turn away my style,  
And to his father make a digression,  
Cause Bochas maketh short mention,  
Of Constantine which by record of clerks,  
Was so notable found in all his works.   

This mightyprince was borne in Bretayne,  
So as the Brute plainly doth us lere:  
His holy mother was called Helayn,  
He in his days most knightly and enter.  
Of mercial acts he knew all the manner,  
Chosen emperor for his high nobles,  
Fill in to leper chronicles doth express.   

His sore so grievous that no medicine  
Might avail his sickness to recure,  
He was counseled to make a great piscine  
With innocentblud of children that were pure,  
Make him clean of that he did endure:  
Through Itayle children anon were sought,  
And to the palace by their mothers brought.   

It was great ruth to behold and see,  
Of tender mothers to here the sobbing,  
By furious constraint of their adversiti,  
Their clothes to rent be dewed with weeping:  
The strange noise of their hideous crying,  
Ascended up in their piteous clamour,  
Came to the ears of the emperor.   

Of which noise th'emperor was agrysed,  
When he knew ground and occasion  
Of this matter, afore told and devised,  
This noble prince 'gan have compassion:  
And for to stint the lamentation  
Of all the women there being in presence  
Of merciful pity hath granted his sentence.   

This glorious, this gracious emperor,  
Is climbed of mercy so high upon the stair,  
Spared nouther victual nor his treasure,  
Nor his languor that did him so appair,  
with full glad there made them to repair,  
where they came sorry to Rome the city,  
They have returned glad to their country   

Royal compassion did in his heart mine,  
Chase to be sick rather than blood to shed:  
His breast enlumined by grace that is divine,  
Which fro the heaven did upon him spread;  
He would not suffer innocentes to bleed.  
Preserving pity and mercy more than right,  
He was visited upon the next night,   

Peter and Paul to him did appear,  
Sent from the Lord as heavenly messengers,  
Bad Constantine be of good cheer,  
For he that sitteth above the nine spears,  
The Lord of Lords, the lord of longest years  
Will that thou have it well in mind,  
In mount Sarapty y● shalt thy leech find.   

God of his grace list the to visit.  
To shed blood, because that thou dost spare,  
He hath us sent thy labour for to quite,  
Tidings brought of health and thy welfare,  
Pope Silvester to the shall declare,  
As we have told, be ryghtwel assured,  
Of thy sickness how thou shalt be recured.   

To mount Sarapty in all haste that thousend,  
Suffer Siluestre to come to thy presence:  
Sought and found briefly to make an end,  
Received after due reverence,  
Did his devoir of entire diligence,  
Like as the life of Silvester hath devised,  
By grace made hole when he was baptized.   

His flesh, his sinews made suddenly white,  
By thrice washing in that pystyne,  
Of holy baptism, well of most delight,  
where the holy ghost did him enlumine,  
Enfourming after by teaching of doctrine  
Of Siluestre like as mine author saith,  
Of all articles that long unto our faith.   

The font was made of Porphyry stone,  
which was after by cost of Constantine  
with a round buy that did about gone,  
Of gold and perre & stones that were fine,  
Mid of the font right up as alyne,  
Upon a pillar of gold a lamp bright,  
Full of fine balm that brent all the night,   

A lamb of gold he did also provide,  
Set upon this font upon a small pyllere:  
which like a conduit upon everyside,  
Shad out water as any crystal clear:  
On whose right side an image most enter  
was richly forged of our saviour,  
All of pure gold that cost great treasure.   

And on this lamb on the otherside  
An image set long to endure,  
Of Baptist John with letters for to abide,  
Grave curiously and this was the scripture:  
Ecce agnus dei that did for man endure  
On good friday offered up his blood,  
To save mankind died upon the road.   

He let also make a great censer  
All of gold, fret with pearls fine:  
which by night as Phoebus in his spear.  
Through all the church most freshly did shine▪  
There forty stones Jacinctine.  
Apollo's temple, min auctor writeth the same,  
was hallowed new in saint Peter's name.   

The roman temples that werbuilded of old,  
He hath fordone withal their maumetry:  
Their false gods of silver and of gold.  
He hath to broke in each party.  
This goodly prince of ghostly policy,  
Set new statutes of great virtue,  
To be observed in the name of Christ Jesus.   

The first law as I rehearse can  
In ordre set with full great reverence,  
That Christ Jesus was soothfast god and m●  
Lord of Lords, lord of most excellence,  
which hath this day of his benevolence,  
Cured my leper as ye have heard devised,  
By blessed Siluestre when I was baptized,   

This gracious Lord my sovereign lord Jesus,  
From bence forth for short conclusion,  
I will that he as Lord most of virtue,  
Of faithful heart and hold affection,  
Be worshipped in every region:  
No man so hardy my bidding to disdain,  
Lest he suffer death or else grievous pain.   

Following the day called the second,  
This Constantine hath ordained a decree,  
That who that ever in town were found  
Or else where about in the country,  
What ever he were of high or low degree,  
That blasphemed the name of Jesus,  
By doom should have of death a plain issue.   

The third day in every man's sight  
By a decree, confirmed and made strong  
To every christian, who that did unright,  
By oppression to collateral wrong,  
It should notbe tarried over long:  
Who were convict or guilty shall not these,  
By law ordained half his good to lose.   

The fourth day among romans all,  
This privilege pronounced in the town:  
give to the pope sitting in Peter's stall,  
As sovereign head in every region  
To have the rule and jurisdiction,  
Of priests all alone in all thing,  
Of temporal Lords like as hath the king.   

To the church he granted great franchise  
The fifth day, and specially liberty:  
If a fellow in any manner wise,  
To find succour thither did i'll,  
within the bounds of danger to go free,  
To be assured and have thereof full refuge  
From execution of any temporal judge.   

No man presume within no city,  
The sixth day, he gave this sentence.  
No man so hardy of high or low degree  
To build no church but he have licence  
Of the Bishop being in presence:  
This to say that he in his estate,  
By the pope afore be approbate.   

The seventh day this law he did eke make  
Of all possessions which be royal,  
The tenth part yearly shall be take,  
By judges hands in party and in all.  
Which treasure they deliver shall  
As the statute doth plainly specify,  
Hole and enter churches to edify,   

The eight day meekly he did him quite  
with great reverence and humble affection,  
When he did of all his clothes white,  
And came himself on pilgrimage down:  
Tofore saint Peter of great devotion,  
Notwithstanding his royal excellence,  
Made his confession in open audience.   

His crown took and kneeling thus he said,  
With weeping eyen and voice lamentable,  
And for sobbing as he might abraid,  
O blessed Jesus, O Lord most merciable,  
Let my tears to the be acceptable,  
Receive my prayer my request not refuse,  
As man most sinful I may me not excuse.   

I occupied the state of the emperor,  
Of thy martyrs I shed the holy blood,  
Spared no saints in my cruel error,  
Them to pursue most furious and wooed:  
Now blessed Jesus most gracious and good,  
Poised and considered mine immortal offence,  
I am not worthy to come in thy presence.   

Nor for to enter in to this holy place,  
Upon this ground unable for to dwell,  
To open mine eyen or to life up my face,  
But of thy mercy so thou me not repel  
As man most sinful I come unto the well:  
Thy well of grace, of mercy and pite,  
For to be washen of mine iniquity.   

This example openly he hath showed,  
His state imperial of mekeneslaid aside:  
His purple garment with tears all be dewed,  
Sword or sceptre ne horse upon to ride,  
There was none nor banners splayed wide,  
Of martial triumphs was no token found,  
But crying mercy, the inperor layon ground.   

The people's gladness was meddled with wepig,  
And their weeping was meddled with gladness:  
To see an emperor and so noble a king,  
Of his free choice to show so great meekness,  
Thus entremedled was joy and heaviness,  
heaviness far passed old vengeance,  
With new rejoicing of ghostly repentance▪   

This soy was lake a feast funeral,  
In folk of custom that do their busy cure,  
To bring a corpse which of custom shall  
Have all the rights of his sepulture:  
And in this time of sudden adventure  
To life again restored be his bones,  
Causing his friends to laugh & weep at once   

Semblably depending atween twain,  
The people wept, and there with rejoicing,  
To see the emperor so pitously complain,  
For his trespass mercy requiring:  
Of joy and sorrow a gracious meddling,  
That day was seen gladness meynt with moan,  
with weeping, laughter, & all in one person,   

After all this he digged up him selue,  
Stones twelve where he was kneeling:  
And put them in coffins twelve,  
On the xii Apostles devoutly remembering,  
Compassed a ground large for building,  
Beside his palace cast thereon to work,  
In Christ's name to set up there a church.   

The place of old called Lateranence,  
Builded and edified in the apostles name:  
Constantinus bore all the dispense,  
Ordained a law, mine autour saith the same  
If any poor, naked, blind or lame,  
Receive would the faith of Christ Jesus,  
He should by statute be take to this issue   

In his promise if he were found true,  
were not feigned nor no faytoure,  
He should first be spoiled and clad new,  
By the costage of the emperor:  
Twenty shillings receive to his succour,  
Of which receit nothing was withdraw,  
By statute kept, and hold as for a law.   

It were to long to put in memory  
His high prowess and his notable deeds:  
And to rehearse every great victory,  
which that he had with hosts that he ledes.  
And to remember all his gracious spedes,  
The surplusage who list comprehend,  
Let them of Syluestre read the legend.   

Among other touching his vision,  
which he had, in chronicles men may lere.  
when he slept in his royal dungeon,  
How Christ to him graciously did appear,  
showed him a cross, & said as ye shall here:  
Be not afeard upon thy fone to fall,  
For in this sign, thou shalt overcome them al.   

By which vision he was made fullight,  
Through god's grace and heavenly influence:  
First in his banner y● shone so clear & bright,  
The cross was beaten chief token of his defence  
Slew the tyrannt that called was Maxence.  
After whose death through his high renown,  
Of all the mpyre he took possession.   

In which estate he maintained the right,  
Upon all poor having compassion:  
During his time hold the best knight,  
That any where was in any region.  
Of Christ's faith the imperial champion,  
Through his noble knightly magnificence,  
To all christian protector and diffence.   

After his name which never shall appal  
Changed in Grece the name of Bisance▪  
Constantinople he did it after call:  
And on a stead of brass (as men may see)  
menacing the turks of the country,  
He sitteth armed a great sword in his hand,  
Them to chastise that rebel in that land.   

Rejoice ye folks that borne be in Bretayne▪  
Called otherwise Brutus Albion,  
That had a prince so notable a sovereign,  
Brought forth and fostered in your region:  
That whilom had the domination,  
As chief monarch, prince and precedent,  
Over all the world, from Est to occident.   

Time of his death that month of the year,  
Phoebus not seen, withdrew his fervent heat:  
Was eclipsed, and might not appear.  
And long before showed a great Comet,  
Always increasing drew toward the cete,  
Of nicomede, shone early and eke late,  
Where in his palace he passed into fate.    

The xiiii Chapter.  
¶ How julian Apostata enemy to Christ's faith by false illusions was chosen emperor, and after slain.  

AFfter the death of this martial man,  
I mean this worthy noble Constantine,  
cometh the Apostata cursed Julian,  
which by descent to Constantyne was cousin:  
His ginning cursed had a cursed fyne,  
Entered religion as books specify,  
under a colour of false hypocrisy   

It hath been said of antiquity,  
where there is a dissimuled holiness,  
It is called double iniquity,  
Fie on all such feigned perfectness,  
For simulation covered with doubleness,  
And false semblant with a sour face,  
Of all sects, furthest stant out of grace.   

A certain space as made is mention▪  
To all perfection he did himself apply:  
Till he wext weary of his profession,  
Forsook his order by apostasy,  
And first he gave him to nigromancy,  
Double apostata as mine autour saith,  
First to his ordre, and after to our faith.   

By ordinance of Constancius,  
This said julian rote of hypocrisy,  
Of governance froward and vicious,  
was sent to Gaul with great chivalry,  
As vicar chosen the country for to gye:  
Gate him favour, and falsely 'gan conspire,  
To have possession of the hole empire.   

And for he was not likely to attain  
To that estate he did his heart apply  
Another mean plainly to ordain,  
wicked spirits to make of his ally:  
Became aprentis to learn sorcery,  
To have experience by invocations,  
To call spirits with his conjurations.   

By false illusions in the people's sight,  
wicked spirits had so great favour,  
A crown of laurer upon his heed a light:  
Made folk to dame by full false error,  
It came by miracle to choose him emperor.  
which in truth as in existence,  
was but iutrusion and feigned appearance.   

with them he had his conversation,  
Spared not to do them sacrifice,  
with eyremonyes and false oblation,  
And to be emperor he rose in this wise.  
The state received first he 'gan devise  
Again greeks out of his country far,  
To make him strong, which them to have were.   

The fiend a while was to him favourable,  
Gave him entry and possession,  
And made him promise for to abide stable,  
In his Lordship and domination:  
To have this world under subjection,  
Of which behest he stood in perilous case,  
Following the opinion of Pictagoras.   

Pyctagoras had this opinion,  
when men died anon after than,  
There was made a translation  
Of his spirit into another man:  
A manner likeness the Bible tell can,  
The double spirit of grace and prophecy,  
To Helisius granted by Hely.   

Hereon concluding like his opinion,  
As Pyctagoras affirmed in sentence,  
He that had full possession  
Of such a spirit in very existence,  
Should have the same wisdom and science,  
The disposition after him as blyve,  
Which had the spirit that was here alive.   

Of governance, and also of nature,  
Resemble him of manners and living:  
And thus by fraud Pluto did his cure,  
To make julian trust in every thing.  
He had by birth the spirit of the king,  
Called Alysandre, by which he should win  
This world by conquest, when he list begin.   

Thus 'gan he fo●e and fail in fantasy,  
To trust on Pluto and gods infernal,  
They should enhance him by his chivalry,  
For to possede and rejoice all  
Sword, seipter, crown, and state imperial:  
Pass Alysandre in honour and in glory,  
And him excel in triumphal victory.   

He trusted Satan by whom he was deceived  
To Christ's faith became mortal enemy:  
Where that ever he hath perceived  
Cross or crucifix, he broke them vengably.  
By false language he caused traitourly  
Christ Jesus be called Galilee,  
And of despite sometime of Nazaree.   

Again our faith this tyrant wext so wode.  
Again Christ had so great hatred,  
Slew many a martyr & falsely shed their blood,  
An idolater, and regenate in deed:  
Held mortal war with them of Perce & Mede,  
Coming to Perce first he 'gan debate  
gain Sapor, of whom I spoke but late.   

Of Parthois also he entered through the reem  
Where he fond no manner resistance,  
And as he came by Jerusalem,  
The Jews anon he gave licence  
To build the temple with great diligence,  
In despite of purpose to do shame  
To Christ's church bilt a new in his name.   

In this while he caught a great courage  
In a Theatre made broad in the town,  
To wild beasts cruel and savage  
Of saints blood to make oblation,  
They to devour men of religion:  
And all christian of purpose to destroy  
His lust was set, and all his worldly joy.   

By an herald that did his host convey.  
Of very purpose to bring them in a train,  
By strange deserts found out a froward way,  
The heat importable did him so constrain  
Brent through the harness, felt so great pain,  
The dry sands, the air infect with heat,  
Made many a man in haste their life to let.   

This froward tyrant knowing no remedy,  
Of cursed heart 'gan Christ Jesus blaspheme,  
And of malicious hatred and envy,  
Wooed and furious, as it did seem,  
'Gan curse the lord that all the world shall dame,  
Christ Jesus, which of long patience  
List not by vengeance his malice recompense.   

And more cruel was there never none,  
Nor more vengeable not Cerberus in hell,  
Mortal enemy to good men everichone,  
Whose blasphemies and rebukes fell  
Byrehersayle if I should them tell▪  
I am afraid the venomous violence,  
Should infect the air with the pestilence.   

He cast out darts more bitter than is gall,  
Of blasphemy, and infernal language,  
And in this while among his princes all,  
A knight unknown angelic of visage,  
Freshly armed to punish his outrage,  
With a sharp spear through every vain,  
Of this tyrant rove the heart on twain.   

Bathed in his blood this tyrant fill low,  
To God and man froward and odious,  
Though the time the knight was not know,  
Yet some men say it was Marcurius,  
Which by the prayer of Basilius  
This tyrant slew as chronicles doth us lere,  
By a miracle of Christ's mother dear.   

This Mercurius as books determine,  
In Cesaria a mighty strong city  
Within the country called Palestine,  
Buried afore, rose up at this journey  
Out of his grave, a strange thing to see,  
An horse brought to high arrayed in his armure,  
Which hang tofore beside his sepulture.   

The same armure was not seen that night,  
Nor on the morrow at his grave found,  
Till midday that Phoebus shone fulbryghte  
when Mercurius gave him his fatal wound  
His blasphemy for ever to confound: prove,  
which thing accomplished this miracle to  
He and his armure were there again at eve.   

Of his blasphemy this was the sudden wreck  
which the tyrant received for his meed,  
The last word, I find that he spoke,  
Was: thou galilee hast overcome in deed,  
Took the blood that he did bleed  
This devilish man dying in despair,  
despite of Jesus cast it in the air.   

His body slain and his skin was take,  
Tawed▪ after the precept and bidding,  
Supple and tender as they coude it make,  
Saporbadde so that was of Perce king,  
That men thereof might have knowledging:  
Early on the morrow and at eve late,  
He did it nail upon his palace gate.   

And to a city that called was Kayre,  
As chronicles make rehearsal,  
This Apostata would oft a day repair,  
To a woman which had in her entrayle  
Spirits closed, to make his divinal,  
In whose womb barren and out of grace,  
Of wicked spirits was the dwelling place.   

This said woman was a creature  
The which afore by cursed julian,  
By his life his purpose to recure,  
In sacrifice was offered to Satan:  
And so as he with cursedness began,  
Such was his end, as all books tell,  
whose soul with Pluto is buried deep in hell.   

With this tyrant Bochas 'gan wax wroth  
For his most odious fell outrage,  
And to rehearse in party he was loath  
The blasphemies of his fell language:  
For nouther fury, nor infernal rage  
May be compared with poison fret within,  
To the false venom of this horrible sin.   

It is contrary to all good thews  
And tofore God most abominable,  
Hateful to all save to cursed shrews,  
For of all vices very incomparable  
Most contagious, and most delectable,  
The mouth infect of such infernal hounds,  
Which every day slay Christ with new wounds.   

For obstinate of purpose for the nonce,  
Of disposition furious and wode,  
Not afraid to swear gods bones,  
with horrible other, as body, flesh, and blood,  
The Lord dismembering most gracius & good.  
His feet, hands, arms, face and heed,  
Reno him of new as they would have him, deed.   

This blessed Lord which is immortal  
Though they be deadly they would him slay again,  
They be earthly, he is celestial,  
In froward wise they ben overseyne:  
Discretion faileth, their reason is in vain:  
All such blasphemy, for short conclusion,  
proceedeth of pride and false ambition.   

It seemeth to me they have foul failed  
Of kindness, to do him reverence  
which for their love upon the cross was nailed,  
To pay the ransom for man's offence,  
Suffered death with humble patience,  
False rebuking, spitting in his visage,  
To bring mankind unto his heritage.   

False surquedy that doth the hearts raise  
Of such blasphemers, as was this Julian,  
whose great empire might not counterpoise  
Again the Lord which is both God and man:  
The original ground of pride was Satan,  
Prince under him most infortunate,  
was this Apostata, reigning in his estate.   

What was th'end of this tyrant horrible?  
This cruel fellow hateful to every wight?  
By sudden miracle to all his host visible,  
There did appear a very heavenly knight,  
Most freshly armed, angelic of sight,  
With a sharp speere sitting on his stead,  
Made the tyrant his heart blood to bleed.   

His false gods might him not avail,  
His froward off ring done to maumetry,  
Nor all his proud imperial apparel,  
His invocations, nor hateful sorcery:  
For this apostata that did his faith deny,  
Among his knights slain by death sudden,  
His soul in hell with sathan in great pain.    

The xv. chapter  
¶ How th'emperor Valence slew hermits shed christian blood▪ destroyed churches, and after was brent.  

BOchas in haste doth his style dress  
Next, to the mperour the called was Valence,  
rehearsing first the perfit holiness  
Of hermits, that did their diligence  
To live in penance and in abstinence,  
Forsook the world: and for Christ's sake,  
In to desert they have the way take▪   

In this world here they list no lengar tarry,  
divers and double of trust no certain,  
Far in egypt to live solitary,  
Deep in deserts, of folk not to be sayne:  
The soil was dry, of victual full barren,  
The fruitless trees up seared by the rote,  
For Christ's love they thought the life most so●e   

This said Valence of malice frowardly,  
To this eremites that lived in great penance,  
Causeless with full great envy  
Troubled them, and did them great grievance,  
Like a tyrant set all in vengeance:  
Distroyd churches with people that he lad,  
And where he went christian blood he shed.   

This mean while by robbing and ravin,  
In Mauritayne which is a great country,  
There was a prince that called was Faryne,  
And in Cesaria a famous great city,  
For his extortion and his cruelty,  
He took upon him proudly there reigning,  
Maugre romans to be crowned king.   

Theodose the first a manly man  
Was sent out his malice to withstand,  
By the bidding of Valencian,  
Which that time the mpyre had in hand,  
Both at once: but ye shall understand  
Theodose was sent out to assail  
The said Farine, and slew him in battle.   

Of which Faryne by full cruel hate  
In that country presumptuously reigning,  
Smote of his heed, and sat it on the gate  
Of Cesaria this was the ending:  
Which by intrusion afore was crowned king,  
In Mauritayne oppressing them by dread,  
As ye have herd for which he lost his head.   

In this matter Bochas doth not sojourn,  
By no attendance nor long diligence,  
But of purpose doth again return  
To the mperour, that called was Valence:  
Which as I told did so great offence  
The holy church, of froward cursedness,  
Slewal hermits that bode in wilderness.   

God would not suffer he should long endure,  
Granteth no tyrant here longlyfe:  
For by some mischief, or sudden adventure,  
They die by murdre, with dagger, sword, or knife  
The Gotheyes whilom 'gan a strife,  
For his outrage and great oppression,  
They again romans fill in rebellion.   

A prince of his called Maximus  
Distressed them by so great tyranny,  
And was upon them so contrarious  
That they gathered all the chivalry,  
And wext so strong upon their party,  
That by their manhood it fell of adventure,  
They on Valence made a disconsiture.   

Spared not by robbing and pillage,  
Slough and brent many a stately place,  
Cities, towns, and many a small village,  
That were famous within the land of Trace:  
But furiously they met him in the face,  
Where like a coward he turned his visage,  
To save his life, lay hid in Cartage.   

Thus finally this emperor Valence  
As ye have heard failed of his intent,  
The Goths followed by cruel violence,  
As wild beasts all of one assent,  
The house and him to ashes they have brent:  
Lo here the fine, ye princes take heed,  
Of tyrants, that saints blood do shed.    

The xvi Chapter.  
¶ Of king Amacisius and how Gracian and Theodosy destroyed temples of false gods & how Gracian was put to flight  

AFter Valence to God contrarious,  
In all his works most froward of liveng,  
Tofore Bochas came Amacisius,  
Which of Goths was whilom Lord & king.  
Of his great age piteously complaining,  
Inflate and dole list make no delays,  
Slew himself to short his grievous days.   

Then came down the brother of Valence,  
The mighty emperor called Gracian,  
Which afore had had experience  
First with his uncle Valentinyan  
In the Empire, as books tell can:  
And afterward Theodosy and he,  
Had governance of Rome the city.   

Theodosy and Gracien of assent  
Destroyed temples as in that party:  
Of false gods also they have down rent  
The great idols, and all such maumetrye,  
And full devoutly 'gan churches edify.  
And in this while as fortune did ordain,  
One Maximus was vicar in Bretayne.   

An hardy knight, albe that he did vary  
From his promise made by sacrament,  
In Bretayne list no lengar tarry▪  
But into Gaul of heart and hole intent  
gain Gracian he suddenly is went  
And as it fill set by their both advice,  
They had a battle not far fro Parise.   

This Gracien was there put to flight  
By the prows of a proud captain,  
Called Merobandus an hardy knight,  
Which with his power hath so overlay,  
That Gracian was constrained in certain  
When his power might not avail:  
gain Maximus, to fly out of italy.   

This Maximus of pride 'gan desire  
In his heart by false ambition,  
To reign alone, and of the hole Empire  
In his hands to have possession:  
But in what wise fortune threw him down  
With such other as be in number five,  
In this chapter, Bochas doth descrive.   

Against this same tyrant Maximus  
When that he had slain Gracian,  
The noble Emperor Theodosius  
To venge his death, a war in hast he 'gan:  
Because also that Valentinian  
was wrongly banished through the cruelty  
Of Gracian, far from his country.   

with Maximus to hold up his party  
was Andragacian a full notable knight,  
which was made prince of his chivalry,  
That took upon him of very force and might  
To keep the mountains that no manner wight  
with th'eodose armed in plate and mail,  
No man should over the Alpes of Itayle.   

Theodose made a great army,  
By grace of God, and martial courage,  
Laid a siege to Aygle a great city,  
And won the town maugre his visage:  
Took the tyrant, and for his great outrage  
bereft him first his royal garment,  
And slew him after by rightful judgement.   

when Adragracian knew that Maximus  
That was his Lord was slain in such wise,  
Anon for sorrow the story telleth thus,  
He drowned himself, as Bochas doth devise  
Thus can fortune make men arise▪  
And to the estate of Emperors attain,  
with unware stroke give him a fall again.   

This Maximus of whom I spoke tofore,  
Before his death made an ordinance  
That his son which called was Victore,  
Should after him govern Gaul & France:  
whom Arbogastes had in governance,  
A great constable with Valentinian,  
Slew this Victore to reign when he begun.    

The xvii Chapter.  
¶ A goodly process how Theodosye with prayer and small number, gate the victory,  

When Valentinian with great apparel,  
By Arbogastes took possession  
Of Lombardy, and of all italy,  
Brought all that land to subjection,  
Than with his power he came to Gaul down:  
There received with great solemnity,  
At Vienne, a famous old city.   

Arbogastes of whom I spoke but late,  
His chief constable as ye have heard devise,  
Of his Lord by full cruel hate  
The death conspired, of false covetise:  
Thereby supposing that he should arise  
Unto thestate to be chose Emperor,  
when he were deed, like a false traitor.   

Up in a tower he heng him traytourly,  
To more slandering & hindering of his name,  
Reported outward, and said cursedly  
This Arbogastes to hide his own shame  
His sovereign Lord to put in more blame,  
Stiffly affirming a thing that was false,  
How he himself hang up by the halse.   

Thus like a murderer and a false traitor,  
And of conditions hateful and odious,  
Laboured sore to be made Emperor:  
That he alone with Eugenius,  
Might exclude Theodosius.  
First to let him he should in no party  
Pass through italy, nor through Lombardy.   

Set spies to bring him in a train,  
which that time as they understood,  
Like a just prince did his busy pain  
As he that thought nothing but good,  
In the hills of Lombardy abode:  
whom Arbogastes of furious outrage;  
Cast him to trouble and stop his passage.   

He and Eugenius being of assent  
Theodosy mortally to assail,  
which when he knew their meaning fraudulent,  
Albe that he had but scarce victual,  
On every cost he set with a battle:  
And of his knights forsake in manner,  
He left all thing, and took him to prayer.   

with him was left but a small main  
True and faithful in their affection,  
And first of all he fill down on his knee,  
And to Jesus 'gan make his orison:  
O Lord (quoth he) thine ears incline down,  
And of thy merciful gracious goodness,  
Deliver me out of my mortal distress.   

Consider and see how that I am thy knight,  
Which oft sith through my fragility,  
With fleshly lusts blinded in my sight,  
A thousand times have trespassed to thee:  
But gracious Jesus of mercy and pite,  
To my request benignly take heed,  
Me to succour in this great need.   

My trust is holy plainly to conclude,  
Thou shalt further and fortune my voyage,  
With few folk again great multitude:  
To make me have gracious passage,  
After the Proverb of new and old language  
How that thou mayst & canst thy power show.  
gain multitude, victory with a few.   

And as thou saved whilom Israel  
Again pharao's mighty puissance,  
And from the lion delivered Daniel,  
And saved Susanna in her mortal grievance  
Save me this day fro sorrow and mischance:  
In this mischief to grant me this issue,  
To escape from danger by grace of y● Jesus.   

This blessed name by interpretation  
Is to say, most mighty Saviour,  
There is no dread nor dubitation,  
That Jesus is in all worldly labour,  
To all that trust him victorious protector:  
Now blessed Jesus pavise of my defence,  
Make me tescape mine enemies violence.   

Let mine enemies that so great boast doblow,  
Though their power be dreadful and terrible,  
That they may by experience know  
There is nothing to the impossible,  
Thou two and three and be indivisible,  
Though I with me have but a few men,  
Saveme this day Jesus fro death, amen,   

The day 'gan clear the son 'gan shine bright,  
when Theodosy devoutly lay kneeling,  
And by grace ad awne 'gan his sight,  
Fro cloudy wawes of long piteous weeping:  
His chief hope was in the heavenly king  
Jesus his captain, in whose holy name,  
That day he escaped fro mischief and shame   

The holy cross was bet in his armure,  
Borne as chief standard tofore in his battle,  
God made him strong in the field to endure,  
Hardy as lion his enemies to assail:  
Jesus his champion, his plate & eke his mail,  
Jesus alone set in his memory,  
By whom that day he had the victory.   

There was a knight prince of the chivalry  
Of Arbogaste and Eugenius,  
which governed all hole their party  
Arcibio called manly and virtuous,  
which goodly came to Theodosius,  
Did him reverence and with glad cheer  
Saved him that day fro mischief & danger.   

when Theodosius on his enemies 'gan set,  
Like a knight not turning his visage,  
And both battles together when they met,  
Of Theodosy to explete the passage,  
Fill a miracle to his advantage:  
By sudden tempest of wind hail and tain,  
Troubled all though that sieged the mountain.   

Vulcanus which is chief smith of heaven,  
gain Arbogaste 'gan him ready make,  
To bend his guns with thunder and with leaven,  
And Aeolus his winds 'gan awake,  
Out of the caverns hideous brown & black,  
All of assent by sturdy violence,  
With Theodosius to stand at defence,   

Again Eugenius and Arbogast his brother,  
Their people and they departed here & yonder  
With wind and mist y● non of the saw other,  
By unware vengeance of tempest & of thunder:  
Their spears braced, their shields rove asondre.  
Eugenius take after and lost his head,  
And Arbogast slough himself for dread.   

Thus 'gan the Lord of his eternal might,  
Chastise tyrants and their malice repress,  
Saved Theodosy his own chosen knight,  
who trusteth him of perfect stableness  
Gothe fire fro danger, escapeth fro duresse,  
Books record how Theodosius,  
Was in his time called Catholicus.   

The case was this as I rehearse can,  
In Thessalonyca a famous great city  
Being Bishop saint Ambrose in Milan,  
Certain Jews for to do equity  
And sit in doom having authority,  
Notwithstanding their commission,  
Were slain by commons, entering the town.   

Thereof the Emperor was nothing feign,  
But commanded of hasty wilfulness  
when he knew the judges so were slain,  
That his knights should them thither dress:  
Entered the city by cruel sturdiness,  
With sword, pole-axe, & daggers sharp whet  
Indifferently to slay all that they met.   

By whose biding the cite to encumber,  
That day was slain many an innocent,  
five thousand deed remembering in number,  
Murdered in host without judgement,  
By them that were in to the cite sent:  
But when Ambrose herd of this cruel deed,  
Like a just prelate thus he 'gan proceed.   

Ye have herd how this vengeance 'gan  
By Theodosy, to chastise the city,  
The same emperor came after to Milan,  
Would have entered at a sole mpnite  
The cathedral church in his most royalty,  
bishop Ambrose at the porch him met,  
And of purpose manly him with set.   

Quod the bis shop I counsel the withdraw,  
In to this church thou have none entre,  
Thou hast offended God and eke his law,  
Be not so hardy nor bold I charge thee,  
To set thy foot nor enter in no degree,  
Because thou art a cruel homicide,  
That maugre thy might thou shalt abide.   

Unto thy palaes home again return,  
This eight months look thou be not sein,  
Pass not thy bonds, do meekly there soiorn,  
For trust me well, and be rightwell certain,  
All such murderers god hath them in disdain:  
Blood falsely shed, have this in remembrance,  
Calleth day and night to him to do vengasice,   

Against thee, for this great offence  
Innocentes blood shed again right,  
By just auctorie I give this sentence:  
This eight months accounted day & night▪  
To enter the church y● shalt not come in sight:  
Reason shall hold so just the balance,  
Till thou have fully accomplished thy penance.   

what I have said take thereof good heed,  
For this time thou gettest no more of me,  
withdraw thy hand innocentes blood to shed,  
For any rancour or hasty cruelty:  
Than behold the great humility  
Of the Emperor, and consydre weal  
For it would have peersed a heart of steel.   

with heed inclined no word he spoke again,  
Fill in weeping, which subbing unstaunehable,  
His purple weed bedewed as with rain,  
Returning home with cheer most lamentable:  
So continued in his purpose stable,  
with all the tokens of faithful repentance,  
In lowly wise accomplished his penance.   

He gave ensample to princes every eachone  
In case semblable that work of wilfulness  
To execution to proceed anon:  
Mentain their error & froward cursedness,  
Defend their trespass meintein their woodness,  
far out of joint if it shallbe declared,  
To Theodosy for to be compared.   

To the earth he meekly did obey,  
God's knight did lowly his penance:  
Where there be some that wrongly it warrei,  
Hold there again by froward maintenance.  
Touching this matter set here in remembrance,  
As mendeserue let every wight take heed,  
He that seeth all, quiteth them their meed.   

Theodosius list nothing abridge  
To short the yard of his correction,  
Forsook the plat, of rigour took the edge,  
Meekly to suffer his castygation:  
To bow his chine was no rebellion,  
By meek confession knowing his trespass,  
By saint Ambrose restored again to grace.   

Virtuous princes may ensample take  
Of Theodosy how they the lord shall queme,  
He nat froward amends for to make  
His sceptre, his sword, and his diadem  
Subject to Ambrose what him list dame,  
Obeyed all thing, and for his great offence  
To holy church to make recompense.   

He knew that God was his sovereign Lord,  
To holy church how greatly he was bond▪  
grudged never in will, thought nor word  
Holy on Christ his empire for to found.  
where virtue reigneth vertu will ay rebound,  
And for this prince obeyed to all virtue,  
Hath now his meed above with Christ Jesus.    

The xviii Chapter.  
¶ How knights and gentlemen, chase Alerike king: and the commons chase Radagasus which ended in mischief.  

IT is remembered of antiquity  
In the Bible, after noah's flood  
How by descent of his sons three  
Of their linege plainly and their blood,  
All kinreddes dilated been abroad,  
And mine author as it is made mind,  
Of Japhet seven nations he did find.   

The people first of Gaul and Galathe,  
Of Magoth, Goths and folk of italy,  
tire, Cithia, with many a great country,  
Standing in Asia, as by rehearsal:  
But in Europe stant Trace, it is no fail:  
Goths & Cithiens, of purpose did ordain▪  
Among themself governors twain.   

Knights and gentlemen chase Alericus,  
To be their prince and have the sovereignty,  
Where the commons chase Radagasus,  
The Goths first for great surety  
With king Alerike entering the city,  
In to Rome to find there succour,  
That time Honorius being their emperor   

By grant of whom all the hole country  
Gave to Alerike, Gaul spain and France,  
There to abide and thereto hold his see,  
Goths spaynolfes under his obeisance,  
Taking on him all the governance:  
Till Stillicon out of the Occident,  
To meet with him was from Rome sent.   

That time Honorius being Emperor  
Stillicon 'gan Alerike enchase,  
With many a sturdy proud soudioure,  
For to fight they chose have their place:  
But Aleryke stood so in the grace  
Of fortune that by very might  
Stillicon he put unto the flight.   

Radagasus and Alerike of assent  
Have concluded, and full accorded be,  
Through Itaile for to make their went  
Toward Rome, and to enter that city,  
Maugre Romans to have the sovereignty:  
Tofore their entering 'gan the town menace,  
The name of Rome to change and difface.   

The town for evermore to do a shame  
Their purpose was, as ye have heard devise:  
first of all to change the towns name,  
Dempt themself able to that emprise.  
But for tune thought all otherwise,  
Like her manners to do most damage,  
When she to men showeth fresh her visage.   

Her conditions be not always one,  
Stondmele of custom she can vary,  
For she was first froward to Stilicon,  
And to Radagasus eft again contrary  
In one point she list never tarry:  
To Radagasus her favour did fail,  
By Stillicon he vanquished in battle.   

All his pride might not make him speed,  
For fortune list so for him ordain  
That he was fain at so straight a need,  
To fly for succour to an high mountain,  
Of all victual naked and barren:  
Were for hunger he felt so great grief,  
Nigh all his people died at mischief.   

Of all succour destitute and barren,  
Saw no remedy took him to flight:  
By the romans he was so overlaine,  
Take at mischief, and maugre his might  
In chains bound, & dampened anon right  
For to be deed, his people as it is told  
Many one slain, some take and some sold.   

There was none prouder nor more su●q̄dus  
In thilk days plainly to describe,  
Then was this said king Radagasus,  
Which took on him with romans to strive:  
His ●ower short was overturned believe.  
For fortune of malice had a lust,  
To ●●e this tyrant with hunger & with thrust.   

Among other proud princes all  
rejoiced himself by a manner vainglory,  
Because that men in countries did him call  
King of Goths, short is the memory  
Of him rehearsed or written in history,  
To give ensample in deed men may find,  
The name of tyrants is soon out of mind.    

The xix Chapter.  
¶ How ruffian chamberlain with Theodosy usurped to be Emperor, and therefore by Honorious dampened and his head smyt of.  

High climbing up hath oft an unware fall,  
And specially when it is sudden,  
Fro low degree to estate imperial  
When false ambition the ladder doth ordain.  
By usurpation presumptuously to attain,  
Abou● the skies with his head to pierce,  
Fro whence he come were shame to rehearse.   

I mean as thus all such hasty climbing,  
Of them that list not themself to know,  
And have forget the ground of their beginning,  
By froward fame with worldly winds blow▪  
To raise their name above sagitaris bow:  
Record of Ruffian which proudly 'gan desire  
By false intrusion to occupi the spite.   

Which Rufin was whilom chamberlain  
With Theodosy, and hold a manly knight,  
Yet in one thing he was ●oule oversaine,  
By covetise blinded in his sight,  
To spend his labour that had no title of right:  
By the emperor Honorius he was sent  
For to govern all the Orieate.   

By process Ruffin was made vike●e,  
Called after the vikarimperial  
Took upon him holy and enter  
By authority chief and principal,  
Himself alone for to govern all:  
And most able thus he did dame,  
Before all other to wear a diedeme.   

Of himself so much he did make  
In port, and thereto most ambitious  
At Constantinople he was unwarely take,  
First bound in chains, after served thus  
By true judgement of Honorius:  
His head smote of, and his right-hand in deed:  
This was his end, no more of him Irede.    

The .xx Chapter.  
¶ How Stillyon and other of like condicon ended in mischief,  

AFter whose death to Bochas came one  
Such other like of condition,  
Afore remembered called Stillion,  
Purposed him to have possession  
Of the Empire hole, thus he thought,  
And by what mean, the way his father sought.   

Compendiously to tell of these twain,  
Fro divers countries toward Septentrion  
To gather people did their busy pain,  
Of many divers strange nation:  
Again Honorius they came together down,  
And as they met fortune made them fail,  
Both at once slain were in battle.   

Their beginning cursed had a cursed fyne.  
After whose death I read of other twain,  
Of one Constance, his father Constantyne,  
Which Constantine took on him certain  
To reign in Gaul, and after did ordain  
In that country to be governor,  
There to continue, as lord and Emperor.   

His son constance caught a devotion,  
Of conscience, and forthwith anonright  
Was shave a monk, & made his profession:  
His father after of very force and might,  
Let take him out, gave him thorder of a knight,  
Both of assent 'gan make themself strong,  
Toppres the country & do the people wrong.   

This said constance as mine auctor saith,  
Was confederate of hateful cruelty  
With one Henricius, assurance made of faith,  
As brethren sworn for more authority,  
And for to make the number up of three  
Constantyne was sworn with them also,  
To be all one in what they had to do.   

These said three sworn, and joined thus,  
Conquered in Spain many a great city:  
But in this while this said Henricius  
Traitor false, and full of duplicity,  
His fellow slought again his oath pardy:  
Thus was constance through false collusion,  
Of Henricius murdered by treason.   

Henricius lived nat but a while,  
By his own knights he slain was also:  
Fraud for fraud, deceit is quit with guile,  
It followeth ever and gladly cometh thereto.  
Men receive their guerdon as they do,  
Let men always have this in remembrance,  
Murdre of custom will end with mischance.   

Among such other thus ending in mischief  
Came Attalus and one Eraclyan,  
For no prows but to their great reproof,  
Remembered here, their story tell can,  
Again Romans when they rebel 'gan,  
By Honorius afore made officers,  
And of the Empire called chief vykars.   

First Attalus for his tyranny  
When he in Gaul was made governor,  
Went in to Spain with a great company,  
Did his pain and fraudulent labour,  
By false sleight to be made Emperor:  
Take, and bound exiled for falseness,  
His hand smyt of, ended in wretchedness.   

Of Eraclian the end was almost like,  
Yet was he promoted to great prosperity,  
Made governor and lord of Africa,  
Of Consulere rose to the dignity:  
Road through Libi, and many a great country,  
With three thousand ships 'gan to sail,  
And with seven hundred to arrive in italy.   

So many ships never afore were seine,  
Like as it is accounted by writing,  
His navy passed the navy in certain  
Of mighty zerxses that was of Perce king,  
Or Alisandre: but yet in his coming  
Toward Itaile, when he should aryve,  
The sea & fortune 'gan again him strive.   

At his arrival he had a sudden dread,  
Cause Honorius had sent down a captain,  
Constancius called, governor and bede  
Of all the Romans, to meet him on the plain:  
For which Eraclian turned is again,  
As I find 'gan take his passage,  
Toward the cite, that called is Cartage.   

Thus fortune list her power show  
Or he came fully to that noble town,  
With sharp swords he was all to hew,  
Among his knights through false collusion,  
As they fill at a dissension:  
Of intrution first 'gan the quarrel,  
Again Romans, when he 'gan rebel.    

❧ The xxi Chapter.  
¶ A goodly process why Rome was destroyed, and for the same or like cause many other realms.  

OF many mischiefs before rehearsed  
Some draw a long, and some shortly told,  
And how fortune hath her wheel reversed,  
By tragedies remembered manifold,  
Tofore by Bochas of princes young & old,  
In the eight book rehearsed the process,  
eachone almost ended in wretchedness.   

Namely of them that did most desire  
By wrong titel themself to magnify,  
To have lordship and govern th'empire,  
The state imperial proudly to occupy:  
Which estate plainly to specify,  
As far as Phoebus doth in his spear shine,  
Among all lordships is brought to ruin.   

Fro mine author I list nat discord,  
To tell the ground why Rome came to nought,  
By an example I cast me to record  
What was chief cause if it be well out sought  
By a story that came unto my thought  
Of John Bochas, which ye shall here  
That full notably is rehearsed here.   

Which ensample and story rehearsing,  
seriously following mine author  
Odoacer whilom a famous king,  
A king by name and a great governor,  
But of his conditions a ravenous robbour,  
Out of that country were mercy and pite  
Banished for ever with troth & equity.   

In that region where mercy is nat used,  
And truth oppressed is with tyranny,  
And right wiseness by power is refused,  
False extortion subporteth robbrye,  
And sensuality may have the mastery  
All of reason, be tokens at a proof,  
Which many land have brought to mischief.   

There is no realm that may stand in surety  
Farm nor stable in very existence.  
Nor continue in long prosperity,  
But if the throne of knightly excellence,  
Be supported with justice and prudence,  
In him that shall as equal judge stand,  
between rich & poor with sceptre in hand.   

A clear ensample this matter for to ground:  
So as a father that is natural  
Or like a mother which kindly is bound,  
To foster her children in especial:  
Right so a king in his estate royal,  
Should of his office diligently intend,  
His true lieges to cherish and defend.   

By good ensample his subjects tenlumine,  
Temporal realms should (as saith scripture)  
Resemble the kingdom which is divine,  
By law of god and law eke of nature,  
That Res publica long time may endure,  
Void of discord and false duplicity,  
Of one body in long prosperity.   

Nouther their reign nor domination  
Have of themself none other assurance,  
The estate of kings 'gan by permission  
Of god's grace, and of his purveyance,  
By virtuous life and moral governance  
Long to continue both in peace & war,  
Like their deserts to punish when they err.   

They should be the mirror and the light,  
Transcende all other by virtuous excellence,  
As examplers of equity and right,  
So by discretion of natural providence,  
To tempre their rigour with mercy & clemence▪  
What shall fall afore cast all things,  
As appertaineth to princes and to kings.   

Things passed to have in remembrance,  
Conserve wisely things in presence,  
For things to come afore make ordinance,  
Follow the traces of virtuous continence,  
Again all vices to make resistance,  
By the virtue of magnanimity,  
Which is appropered to imperial majesty.   

Brother to force authors say eachone,  
Which conserveth the royal dignity,  
In such a mean stable as any stone,  
Nat overglad for no prosperity,  
Nor over sad for none adversity,  
For life nor death high courage to remue,  
To god and man to yield them that is due.   

gain fleshly lusts arm them in soberness,  
Void all surfeits and froward gluttony,  
Greedy appetites by measure to repress,  
Out of his house avoid all ribaudy,  
Rowners', flatterers, and such as can lie:  
Beware in his domes he be nat partial,  
To poor do alms, to virtuous be liberal.   

In his array show him like a king,  
From other princes by a manner appearance:  
So that men praise his virtuous living,  
More than his clothing, far from his presence.  
And let him think in his advertence,  
Trust thereon verily certain,  
As he governeth men will report & sayne.   

Let him also for his great avail.  
Have such about him to be in presence,  
As notable princes to be of his counsel,  
Such as tofore have had experience  
between good & evil, to know the difference:  
And six things hateful of new and old,  
To banish them out in haste from his household.   

first them that love to live in idleness,  
All such as love nouther god ne dread,  
Covetous people that poor folk oppress,  
And them also that do all for meed,  
And simulation clad in double weed:  
And such as can for their advantages,  
Out of one hood show two visages.   

Let him also void out at his gate  
Riotous people, that love to watch all night:  
And them also that use to drink late,  
And lie a bed till their dinner be dight,  
And such as list nat of god to have a sight,  
And reckless folk that list nat here mass,  
T●uoyde his court & let them lightly pass.   

For which defaults rehearsed here toforne,  
Nat only Rome but many a great country  
Have be destroyed, & many a kingdom lost,  
In old chronicles as ye may read and see:  
False ambition and froward duplicity,  
Hath many a realm & many a land encloied,  
And been cause why they have be destroyed.   

Jerusalem was whilom transmygrate,  
Their true prophets for they had in despite:  
And Balthasar was eke infortunate  
For he in Babilone followed all his delight:  
Dary in Perce had but small respite,  
Suddenly slain and murdered by treason,  
The same of Alysandre when he drank poison.   

Discord in Troy grounded in covetise  
When by false treason sold was Palladion,  
Rome and Cartage in the same wise  
Destroyed were, for short conclusion,  
Among themself for their division:  
reckon other realms that be of later date,  
And of divisions in France that was but late.   

All these defaults rehearsed here briefly  
Out sought the rote, and weighed in balance,  
Chief occasion to tell by and by  
Hath been in princes, that have had governance:  
And specially to put in remembrance,  
For an example telleth as cometh to mind,  
Of Odoacer the story as I find.   

Born in Pruce and hardy of courage,  
At his beginning himself to magnify  
Though no mention be made of his ●mage,  
Having no title, but theft and robbery,  
His conquest 'gan nought of blood & auncetry,  
But gathered people of sundry regions,  
Entered italy with many nations.   

With his soldiers first he 'gan assail,  
With a multitude entering anon right,  
Kingdoms of Hungry, & countries of italy,  
Met in his passage a Roman knight  
Called Horestes, in steel armed bright:  
The field was take and put in jeopardy,  
Horestes fled for succour to Pavy.   

straightly besieged and the town won,  
Found for the time none other chevisance,  
The next morrow at rising of the son,  
Bound in chains, tencrees his grievance,  
Sent to a cite that called was pleasance:  
Again whom Odoacer was so fell,  
Let him be slain by judgement full cruel.   

After whose death by sudden violence,  
Odoacer is passed through Itaile,  
Entered Rome found no resistance,  
Zeno the Emperor durst him nat assail,  
For there was none to give him battle:  
So that by force and ravenous working  
Of all Itaile he was crowned king.   

Had all Rome under subjection,  
Fortune a while list him nat fail:  
Zeno thereof had indignation,  
'Gan work again him in hope it should avail  
And thereupon the lordship of Itaile,  
He gave of purpose, his power committing  
To Theodorike, that was of Goths king.   

So that Theodorike in hope to have victory  
Again Odoacer, 'gan make resistance,  
Of his name to put in memory  
Took upon him by knightly excellence  
For the Romans to stand in diffence:  
Met him proudly with his chivalry,  
Beside a river that called was Soury.   

With their battles together when they met,  
Beside Leglere that standeth in Lombardy,  
With round spears & sharp swords whet,  
Odoacer for all his tyranny  
Was put to flight, discomfited his party:  
And fortune that best can change and vary,  
At unset hour was to him contrary.   

Him & his power the Romans have defied,  
He brent their vines and towers envy run,  
Because th'entry was to him denied,  
And to Ravenne he is descended down:  
But maugre him he was take in the town,  
By Theodorike, let each man take heed,  
Odoacer he commanded to be deed.   

Mine author Bochas of entention,  
For the time as came to remembrance,  
Toward Romans maketh a digression  
To them recording the great variance  
The unware changes, the gery countenance  
Of Fortune's false transmutation,  
These same words rehearsing to the town:   

Remember o Rome & call again to mind  
The days passed of thy felicity,  
Thy martial conquests, thy triumphs left behind,  
Thy great victories most of authority:  
Thy famous laws sung in each country,  
Which through the world by report did shine,  
Now all at once is turned to ruin.   

From Est to west thy lordship did attain,  
Above all powers most excellent & royal,  
But now from Rome into Almain  
The estate translated which is imperial,  
Name of thy Senators, name in especial,  
The golden letters darked and diffaced,  
And from remembrance almost out razed.   

city of cities whilom most glorious,  
That most freshly flowered in chivalry,  
To which the alpies & mountains most famous  
Were subject of all Lombardy  
Till that discord, division, and envy  
Among yourself hath clipsed the brightness  
By a false serpent, brought in by doubleness.   

Kings and princes were to the tributary,  
Of all prosperity so fulsome was the flood:  
Among yourself till ye began to vary,  
The world throughout to you subject stood,  
Till ye 'gan show two faces in one hood:  
What followed after, fortune hath so provided  
Ye came to nought when ye 'gan be divided.   

Vnpurueyed of prudent Senators,  
Thy merchandise turned to poverty,  
Of knighthod naked, barren of soldiers,  
Disconsolate stant all the commonte:  
Towers and walls broke of the cite,  
That whilom was a paradise of delight,  
Now all the world hath the but in despite.   

Cause to conclude of all thy wretchedness  
Is false ambition, pride, and lechery,  
Division, and malicious doubleness:  
Rancour, hatred, covetise, and envy,  
Which set aside all good policy,  
In brief rehearsed for short conclusion  
Have be chief ground of thy destruction.    

The xxii Chapter.  
☞ How the kings Trabstila & Busarus were brought unto subjection and made tributares to Theodorike.  

AFter these mischiefs told of Rone town  
Came Trabstila king of Gepidois,  
With other twain as made is mention  
Busarus, that was king of Bulgarois,  
With Philitheus reigning in Ragois:  
All these three briefly for to sane,  
Came all at once to Bochas to complain.   

Their realms standing toward Septentrion,  
And to remember of the first twain,  
Were brought at once to subjection  
By Theodorike, that did his busy pain  
Them to conquer & proudly did ordain  
That they were never so hardy to rebel,  
Again Romans to take no quarrel.   

To Theodorike they were made tributary,  
Most wretchedly bound in servage:  
Never so hardy after for to vary,  
In pain of death during all their age,  
Of servitude lo here the surplusage,  
Of all wretches most wretched they be found,  
That to thraldom constrained be & bound.   

treasure of treasures if it be well sought  
Is virtuous freedom with large liberty,  
With worldly goods it may nat be bought,  
With royal rubies, gold, stones, nor pyrre,  
For it transcendeth, and hath the sovereignty  
Above all richesses that be in earth found,  
A man at large freely to stand unbound.    

The xxiii Chapter.  
How Philitheus lost his kingdom and of Marcian and Leo.  

NExt these two in ordre ye may see,  
To John Bochas 'gan show his pre sense  
The third king, called Philithe  
Which by fortunes sudden violence,  
Lost his kingdom by cruel sentence  
Of Odoacer, the tyrant merciless,  
Lost his life, and came no more in press.   

The sudden changes to read when I begun,  
And saw the wheel so oft turn up so down,  
Of fortune there came one Marcian,  
Of whom is made none other mention  
Save only by a conjuration  
He murdered was, being innocent,  
Among his knights which slew him of asset.   

Than tofore Bochas to show his presence,  
There came one that called was Leon,  
Which caught a title by no violence,  
But made his claim by just succession:  
After his father and took possession,  
Which of Leon mine auctor saith the same,  
Being Emperor, bore the same name.   

This young Leon again all truth and right,  
By tyranny as made is mention,  
Through cruel zeno that was a good knight,  
Was put out of his possession:  
Constrained to live in religion,  
But to what order that he did wend  
I find nat, but there he made his end.    

The xxiiii Chapter.  
¶ How Simacke and Boes his son in law were banished, and after judged to die.  

AFter these mischiefs Simak 'gan him draw  
Toward Bochas, with a full piteous face  
Boes came with him, that was his son in law,  
Which among Romans greatly stodi grace:  
But in this matere briefly for to pace,  
The said Boes only for his truth,  
Exiled was, alas it was great ruth.   

For common profit, he was unto the town  
In matters that grounded were of right,  
Very protector, and steadfast champion  
Again two tyrants, which of force & might  
Had in the porail oppressed many a wight,  
By exactions and pillage gun of new,  
Upon the commons, full false and eke untrue.   

Theodorike of Goths lord and king,  
Took upon him by false intrusyon  
To reign in Rome, the people oppressing  
By his provosts two, as made is mention,  
Did in the city great oppression,  
Confederate as brother unto brother,  
Coniugast, and Triguill was that other.   

Compendiously this matter to declare,  
To save the commons stood in defence  
For life nor death he list nat for to spare,  
To withstand of tyrants the sentence:  
King Theodorike of cruel violence,  
Banished him by hateful tyranny,  
He and his father to abide in Pavy.   

Afterward Theodorike of cruel haterede,  
Like a false tyrant, of malice and envy  
Gave judgement that both two were deed:  
But touching Boes as books specify,  
Wrote divers books of Philosophy,  
Of the trinity matters that were divine,  
Martyred for Christ, and called Severine.    

The xxv Chapter.  
¶ Of king Arthur & his conquests, and of the commodities of England, & how he was destroyed by his cousin Mordrede.  

WAs never prince might himself assure  
Of fortune the favour to restrain?  
Like his desire his grace to recure  
To abide stable, and stand at certain?  
Among all other reckon Arthur of Bretaynen  
Which in his time was hold of every wight,  
The wisest prince and the best knight.   

To whom Bochas 'gan his style dress  
In this chapter, to remember believe  
His great conquest and his high noblesse,  
With singler deeds that he wrought i his live  
And first he ginneth briefly to describe  
The site of Britain, and of that country,  
Which is enclosed with a large see.   

Set far westward as ye shall understand,  
Having Spain set in the opposite  
Of a small Angle called England:  
France about high discryving thus his sight,  
With many a river pleasant of delight,  
Both baths and wells there be found,  
divers mines of metals full abound.   

About which runneth the Occian  
Right plenteous of all manner of victual,  
The name of which at Brutus first began,  
London hath ships by the sea to sail:  
Bacchus at Wynchester greatly doth avail,  
Worcestre with fruits aboundeth at the full,  
Herford with beasts, Cotswolde with wool.   

Bathe hot baths wholesome for medicine,  
York mighty timber for great advantage,  
Corn wall mines wherein to mine,  
Salisbury beasts full savage:  
Wheat, milk, & honey, plenty for every age,  
Kent and Canterbury hath great commodity  
Of sundry fishes, there taken in the see.   

Bochas rehearseth there is eke in Bretayne  
Found of jet a full precious stone  
Black of colour, and virtuous in certain  
For sicknesses many more than one:  
The poudre of which will difcure anon,  
If it be drunk (though it be secre)  
Of maidenhead broken chastity.   

There been of peerless found in muskil shells,  
And the best that have most whiteness:  
And as the book of Brutus also tells,  
How king Arthure to speak of worthiness,  
Passed all kings in martial prowess:  
Touching his line, his royal kindred  
Who that list se in Brutus he may read.   

His father called Uter Pendragon  
A manly knight and famous of courage,  
Right notable in his acts everyone:  
Arthur but young and tender of age,  
By full assent of all his baronage,  
By succession crowned anonright,  
Called of Europe the most famous knight.   

courteous, large, and manly of dispense,  
Mirror called of liberality,  
Hardy, strong, and of great providence,  
And of his knightly magnanimity  
He drove Saxons out of his country:  
Conquered by prowess of his mighty hand,  
Orcadoys, Denmark, and Holande.   

Irland, Gaul, Norway, Scotland, & france,  
As Martes son to the wars meet:  
Wrought by counsel and by ordinance  
Of prudent Marlyn, called his prophet:  
And as I find, he let make a seat  
Among his Britons, most famous & notable,  
Through all the world called the round table.   

Most worthy knights proved of their hand  
Chosen out by Arthur, this order was begun,  
Their famous nobles through every land  
Shone by report, as doth the midday son,  
To Fame's palace the renome is up run,  
Statutes set, by virtuous ordinance  
Under profession of martial governance.   

The first statute in the register found,  
Fro which they should na● decline of right,  
By full assurance of oath & custom bound  
Ay to be armed in plate forged bright,  
Except a space to rest them on the night,  
Seek adventures, and their time spend,  
Rightful quarrel to sustain and defend.   

The sebler party, if he had right,  
By their power manly to support  
If that they were required of any wight,  
Folk disconsolate to bear up & comfort:  
At all times men may of him report  
No manner wise they do no utolence,  
And again tyrants make knightly resistece.   

That widows & maidens suffer no damage  
By false oppression, and hateful cruelty,  
Restore children to their true heritage,  
Wrongly exiled folk to their country:  
And for holy churches liberty  
Ready ever to make themself strong,  
Rather to die than suffer them have wrong.   

For common profit as chosen champions,  
Pro Republica defending their country,  
Show aye themself hardy as lions  
Honour to increase, chastise dishonest,  
relieve all them that suffer adversity:  
Religious folk have them in reverence,  
pilgrims receive the fail of their dispense.   

Called arms seven deeds of mercy,  
Buried soldiers that fail sepulture,  
Folk in prison deliver them graciously,  
Such as poor be their ransom to recure,  
Wounded people that languyshe & endure  
Which pro republica manly spent their blood,  
By statute bound to do such folks good.   

To put themself never in adventure  
But for matters that were just and true,  
Afore provided that they stood sure  
The ground well know, were it old or new:  
And after that the matter when they knew,  
To proceed knightly and nat fain,  
As right required their quarrel to darrayn.   

A clerk there was to chronicle their deeds  
By purcivauntes made to him report,  
Of their exploit and their good spedes,  
Rad & song to folk gave great comfort:  
These famous knights making their resort  
At high feasts, every took his seat,  
Like to their estate, as was to them mete.   

One was void called the see perilous,  
As Sank royal doth plainly determine,  
None to enter but the most virtuous  
Of god provided to be a pure virgin,  
Borne of discente to accomplish & to fine  
He alone, as chief and sovereign  
All adventures of Wales and Bretayne.   

Among all kings renomed most famous,  
As a bright son set amid the stars:  
So stood Arthur notable and glorious,  
Like fresh Phoebus cast his light aferres,  
In peace like Argus most martial in wars  
As Ector hardy, like Vlixes treatable,  
Called among christian, king most honourable.   

His royal court he did so ordain  
Through each country so far spread out the light  
Who that ever came thither to complain  
By wrong oppressed, & required of right,  
In his defence he should find a knight  
To him assigned, finally to intend,  
By martial doom his quarrel to defend.   

If it fell so that any strange knight  
Sought adventures, & thither came fro far,  
To do arms his request made of right,  
His challenge seen were it of peace or were  
Was accept, to the court came near:  
Like as he came with many or alone,  
They were delivered, forsake was never none.   

There was the school of martial doctrine,  
For young knights to learn all the guise,  
In tender age to learn full discipline,  
On horse and foot, by notable exercise:  
Thing take in youth doth help in many wise  
And idleness in green years gone,  
Of all virtues clypseth the clear son.   

Widows & maidens oppressed folk also,  
Of extort wrongs wrought by tyranny,  
In that country what nation came thereto,  
received were, there list no man deny,  
Of their complaints found soon remedy:  
Made no delay but forth anon right,  
Them to defend assigned was a knight.   

Eke by their order they bound were of troth  
By assurance and by oath sworn,  
In their emprises let for no sloth  
Plainly to tell how they have them borne:  
Their adventure of things done before,  
Right as it fill, & spare in no manner  
To tell each thing unto their regystrere.   

Thing openly done or thing that was secre  
Of adventure as between twain,  
Or any quarrel take of volunte  
Truly report, and platly not to feign:  
Them to be sworn the statute did ordain,  
Not concealed of worship nor of shame  
To be registered, report the self same.   

And to conclude the statute hath us leared  
Every quarrel grounded on honest,  
In that court what knight was required  
In the diffence of troth and equity,  
Falsehood excluded and duplicity,  
Shall aye be ready to sustain that party,  
His life and his body to put in jeopardy.   

Thus in Bretayne shone the clear light  
Of chivalry and of high prowess,  
Which through the world shed his beams bright,  
Well of worship, condite of all noblesse,  
Imperial court all wrongs to repress,  
Head spring of honour, of largise chief cistern,  
Mirror of manhood, of noblesse the lantern.   

Yet was there seen never so bright a son  
The summers day in the midday spear,  
So freshly shine, but some skies done  
Might percase curtain his beams clear:  
Oft it falleth when fortune maketh best there,  
And falsely smileth in her double weed,  
folk seen expert than is she most to dread.   

Thus when the name of the worthy king  
Was ferthest spread by report of memory,  
In every realm his noblesse most shining,  
All his emprises concluding on victory:  
This double goddess envied at his glory,  
And cast means by some manner train,  
To eclipse the light of knighthood in Britain.   

Thus while Arthure stood most honourable  
In his estate, flouringe in his age,  
Among his knights of the round table,  
highest of princes on fortune's stage,  
The Romans sent to him for truage,  
'Gan make a claim froward & outrageous,  
Taking their title of Cesar Julius.   

The same time this mighty king Arthur  
Conquered had Gaul, and also France,  
Outrayed Frolle like a conqueror,  
Brought Paris under obeisance:  
Took them to grace & with his ordinance  
Gate all Aniove, Angory, and Gascoine,  
Poitowe, navarre, Berry, & Burgoyne.   

Cesed not but did his busy pain,  
Most like a knight held forth his passage,  
Gate all the land of poitiers & Tourayne,  
Their cite yold to him they did homage:  
To be rebel they found none avanutage,  
Sojourned in France as saith the Chronicler,  
Held possession the space of nine year.   

Held a feast full solemn at Paryse,  
All the countries with he gate in France,  
Like a prince full prudent and rightwise,  
Which had of freedom full royal suffisance:  
Of all his conquest the countries in substance  
For his princes and barons so provided,  
Like their deserts he hath them divided.   

To his Seneschal that called was Kay  
Aniove and Maine he gave all the party,  
To his butler was made no delay  
Called Bedwere he gave Normandye,  
To a baron nigh cousin of ally  
A manly knight which named was Berell,  
Gave the duchy of Burgoyne every del.   

Thus he departed lordships of that land  
There he thought was most expedient,  
Some he reserved in his own hand,  
Again to Britain returned of intent:  
Sent out letters held a great parliament,  
After which he made a feast anon,  
In the country called Gloumorgon.   

At a great cite called Carlion,  
As is remembered by old writings,  
Came many a prince & many a fresh baron  
In number I find, there were ten kings,  
Ready to obey Arthur in all things:  
Present also as was weal seen,  
There was of earls reckoned full thurtene.   

All the knights of the round table  
Feast of Pentecost as feest principal,  
Many estates famous and honourable,  
Of prince's barons borne of the blood royal  
Were present there, and in especial  
All that were by oath and promise bound,  
To the brotherhood of the table round.   

And it fell so while that king Arthur  
As appertained sat in his estate,  
There came xii sent down by great labour  
Of old men, chosen of the Senate,  
Sad of their port, demure and temperate,  
Richly clad, of look and of visage,  
Grey heard, sempt of right great age.   

First connyngly as they thought it due,  
Cause of their coming & plainly their intent  
first of assent the king they did salve,  
Next after that they told who them sent,  
And their letters meekly they present:  
Concluding thus, to speak in brief language,  
How the Romans ask of him truage.   

Customed of old sith gone many a day  
When that Cesar conquered first Britain,  
The king requiring to make them no delay.  
Arthur abode, list nothing to say,  
But all the court 'gan at them disdain,  
The proud Britons of cruel hasty blood,  
Would have slain them even there they stood.   

Nay quod Arthur to all his officers,  
Within our court they shall have no damage,  
They entered been and come as messengers,  
And men also greatly fall in age,  
Let make them cheer with a glad visage:  
Took his counsel with such as were most wise,  
With this answer said in courtesy wise.   

Your letters red and plainly understand,  
The tenure hole remembered in this place,  
Touching y● charge that ye have take on hand  
To give answer, rehearsed in short space,  
By word & writing ye greatly me menace,  
How ye purpose with many strong battle,  
Pass the mountains me felly for to assail.   

It needeth not such conquest to allege  
Again Britons, of none old truage,  
Of your coming down the way I shall abridge,  
With god's grace short your passage:  
Make you no delay but with my baronage  
Pass the see, without long tarrying,  
To meet Romans at their down coming.   

This was the answer you to the messengers,  
At their departing bare with them great riches,  
As he bade also unto his officers:  
Again to Rome anon they 'gan them dress,  
Plainly reporting the plenteous largesse  
Of worthy Arthure, considered all things  
Of christendom he passed all other kings.   

Arthur's court was the sours and well  
Of martial prows, to Lucius they told,  
And how that he all other did excel  
In chivalry, with whom they were withhold:  
The chosen knights both young & old  
In all Europe who can consider aright,  
Of all noblesse the torches be there light.   

He cast him not to pay no truage,  
Said of the Romans he held no land,  
Which to defend he will make his passage  
Of your claims to break a two the bond,  
And knightly prove with his hand  
Ye have no title, ye, nor your cite  
Again Britons, which ever have stand free.   

With that all the kingdoms subject to Rome toun  
Kings Princes above the high mountains,  
With Lucius they be descended down,  
To meet Britons upon the large plains:  
arthur's coming greatly he disdains,  
Because he had plainly to dyscrive,  
In multitude of people such five.   

At Southampton Arthur took the see  
With all his knights of the round table,  
Behind he left to govern the country  
His cousin Mordrede, untrusty & unstable,  
And at a proof false and deceivable:  
To whom Arthur of trust took all his land,  
The crown except, which he kept in hand.   

Fro Southampton Arthur 'gan to sail  
With all his worthy lords of Britain,  
At Harflue fond good arivaile,  
He & his princes their passage did ordain  
Through Normandy, France, & eke Burgoine:  
Up to a city called Augustence,  
Where he first fond of Lucius the presence.   

So large a field nor such a multitude  
Of men of arms, assembled in a plain,  
Upon a day shortly to conclude  
together assemble afore was never seine:  
Lucius had on his party certain  
Eastward the world all the chivaltye,  
Brought by the mountains down to Germany.   

Their wards set in each a great battle,  
With their captain to govern & to gye:  
Arthur with britons the Romans did avail,  
Fond many Saracens upon that party:  
The Briton Gaulfride doth plainly specify,  
As he of Arthur the prows doth descrive,  
He flew that day of Saracens kings five.   

The great slaughter, the effusion of blood  
That was that day on other side,  
Each again other the furious were & wooed,  
Like for the field as fortune list provide,  
That if I should long thereon abide,  
To write the death, the slaughter & manner,  
Touching the field were tedious to here.   

To conclude and leave the surplusage,  
In that battle dead was many a knight,  
The Consul Lucius slain in that rage,  
The proud Romans by force put to flight,  
Of gentleness Arthur anon right  
Let the body of Lucius be carried,  
Again to Rome, it was no longer tarried.   

The worthy princes & lords that were dead,  
And manly knights abiding with Arthur  
Like a king solemnly took heed  
That they were buried by diligent labour:  
And in this while like a false traitor,  
His cousin Mordrede did his busy pain,  
To take from him the kingdom of Britain.   

So as the story plainly maketh mind,  
Mordrede falsely to his advantage  
entreated them that were left behind  
Under colour of fraudulent language,  
Gave them great fredone, & they did him homage:  
That by his false conspiration,  
Brought all Britain in to rebellion.   

By fair behests and many friendly sign  
Drew the people to him in sundry wise,  
showed him outward goodly & benign,  
Gave liberties and many great franchise,  
To make Britons their sovereign lord despise:  
And purveyance he 'gan make blyve  
To keep the ports, he should not arrive.   

When king Arthur had knowledging  
Of this false treason, and all the purveyance:  
That Mordrede made, he like a manly king  
Left Burgoyne and all the land of France,  
Cast on Mordrede for to do vengeance:  
Took the see with great apparel,  
Cast at Sandwiche to make his arivaile.   

Mordred was ready with knights a great number,  
Made a strong field to meet him on the plain,  
In purpose fully Arthur to encumber:  
At which arrival slain was Gawayne,  
Cousin to Arthur, a noble knight certain:  
Eke Aguisel was slain on the strand,  
King of Scots or he came to land.   

Maugre Mordrede Arthur did arrive,  
The ground recured like a manly knight,  
For fear of whom anon after blyve  
The said Mordred took him to the flight,  
And toward London took his way right,  
The gates shut and kept was the cite  
Again Mordred, he might have none enter.   

In all haste to cornwall he fled,  
The sword of Arthur he durst not abide,  
Lest he should lay his life to wed:  
Yet for himself thus he 'gan provide,  
With multitude gathered on his side  
Put life and death that day in adventure,  
There to die, or the field recure.   

In fortune there may be no certain,  
Upon whose wheel all brotilnesse is founded,  
Mordred tharday in the field was slain,  
And noble Arthur to the death was wounded:  
By which the field of britons was confo●ded  
Of so great slaughter & good knights lost,  
Upon a day men have not seen before.   

After the battle Arthur for a while  
To staunch his wounds & hurts to recure,  
Borne in a litter came to an isle  
Called Aualon, & there of adventure  
As the said Gaulfride recordeth by scripture,  
How king Arthur flower of chivalry,  
Was fet with his knights & liveth yet in fairy.   

Thus of Britain translated was that son  
Up to the rich sterry bright dungeon,  
Astronomers well rehearse can.  
Called Arthur's constellation,  
Where he sit crowned in the heavenly mansion,  
Amid the palays of stones crystalline,  
Told among christian of the worthies nine.   

This error abideth yet among Brytons,  
Which founded is upon the prophesy  
Of old Marlyn, like their opinion,  
He as a king is crowned in fairy,  
With sceptre & sword and with his regal,  
Shall resort as lord and sovereign,  
Out of fairy and reign in Britain.   

And repair again the round table,  
By prophesy of Merlin set the date  
Among prince's king incomparable,  
His seat again to Carlion to translate:  
The parchas susterne spon so his fate,  
His epitaph recordeth so certain,  
Here lieth king Arthur that shall reign again.   

Unto Bocas I will again return,  
Afore rehearsed parcel of his prowess,  
thereon to abide me list no more sojourn,  
But to remember the great unkindness,  
The conspiration, the treason, and falseness,  
Done to king Arthur, by his cousin Mordred,  
Make a Envoy that all men may it read.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

THis tragedy of Arthur here following,  
biddeth princes all beware of false treason:  
For in earth is none so perilous thing  
As trust of faith where is deception,  
hid under curtain of false collusion,  
For which men should I hold the council good,  
Beware afore ever of unkind blood.   

The world divers, fortune aye changeable,  
In every country and every region  
In a strait need few friends abide stable,  
Long absence causeth dissension:  
And if princes by false division,  
Nigh of ally show two faces in one hood,  
Let men beware ever of unkind blood.   

Who was more hardy of princes here reignig  
Or more famous of martial renown,  
Than whilom was his enemies outrainge,  
Arthur, chief son of Brutus albion?  
But for all that the disposition  
Of fate and fortune most furious & wode,  
Caused his destruction by unkind blood.   

What more contrarious to nature in shewing  
Than fair pretence double of entention,  
Great alliances frowardly working  
Hid under flowers a serpent cast poison,  
Bright silver scaled domageth the dragon,  
Each worm some party tarageth of his broad,  
And what more perilous than unkind blood?   

Noble princes on Arthur remembering,  
deem the day of Phoebus going down,  
All is not gold that is clear shining,  
Afore provided of your inward reason,  
False undermining and supplantation:  
Remembering aye with Arthur how it stood,  
By conspiration of unkind blood.    

☞ An exclamation of Bochas again kindreds unkind.  

Again kindreds and unkind alliances,  
Bochas maketh here an exclamation,  
Upon Mordrede which with his ordinances  
Caused of Arthur final destruction,  
The fame eclypsinge of Brutus albion:  
Not with standing plainly to descrive,  
He trusted him above all men alive.   

It is a marvel and uncouth to devise  
By what occasion, or by what courage  
That a man should in any manner wise,  
Be found unkind unto his lineage,  
Hateful to god, that in any age  
Blood again blood borne of one kindred,  
Conspire should of malice and hatred.   

In this matter it were but vain to tarry,  
The story know of Arthur and Mordrede  
By blood allied in working most contrary  
Which made many a Briton knight to bleed:  
For by usurping conspiration & falsehood  
Of the said Mordrede most infortunate,  
Caused all Britain to stand desolate.   

first desolate by absence of their king,  
Called in his time of kings most notable,  
The desolation of knights abiding  
Whilom in Britain, famous & honourable,  
brethren eachone of the round table:  
Which by Mordred the false for sworn knight,  
Stood long eclipsed & dyrked of his light.   

The light of noblesse that shone in Britain  
By false Mordred was dirked of his beams,  
The monarchy departed was on twain  
That stood first one with his martial streams:  
But afterward the brightness of his beams  
Drough to decline, by false division  
Which hath destroyed full many a region.   

All the process upon a duplicity  
Plainly concludeth, & that is blood unkind,  
Adieu welfare and all prosperity  
Where peace and concord is left behind,  
Trees may not thrive departed fro the rind,  
A plain example in Arthur & Mordrede  
Who can conceive and list the story read.     

The xxvi Chapter.  
¶ Of Gisivill king of Venandre and of three other kings, and how they were destroyed.  

AFter all these strange uncouth things  
Tofore John Bochas as made is mention,  
There came four mighty kings,  
For to complain their desolation:  
first Gisivill king of the region,  
Called Venandre, in wars full contrair,  
Unto a prince called Belisaire.   

And to this said noble Belisaire  
Full renowned that time in chivalry,  
The king of Goths was also adversayre:  
And both at once of hatred and envy,  
Assented fully to hold champerty  
gain Belisaire, which through his high renown.  
Took them both & cast them in prison.   

There is no more of them in Bochas found,  
But after them in order by writing  
Came Amarales with many bloody wound,  
Which in his time was of Mawres king,  
Without cause or title of any thing  
Upon Jane Sanguine 'gan werray again right,  
Which through Africa was one the best knight.   

The said Jane armed in plate and mail  
Met Amarales in Africa on a sand,  
And held with him a mighty strong battle,  
And like a knight slew him with his hand:  
drove all his people proudly fr● that land,  
And in my book there is none other mind,  
To be remembered o● him that I can find.   

Than Synduall of Bretaine lord & king  
Tofore Bochas put himself in prees,  
'Gan show his mischief piteously weeping,  
When he held were wilful & reckless  
Again a prince, called Narsates:  
A Roman knight feirse, hardy, & strong,  
In his defence when men would do him wrong.   

This Narsates, of case or adventure,  
Though he in deed was a manly knight,  
He failed membres in sooth of engendrure,  
His adversaries echon he put to flight:  
Took their king & forthwith anon right  
As the chronicle plainly doth record,  
high on a gallows he hinge him with a cord.   

Of Narsates after this victory,  
King Totila had full great disdain,  
With a great host most pompous in his glory,  
Came upon him, and met him in a plain,  
With multitude though he were overlay,  
Turning Totila which many man beheld,  
Of Narsates was slain in the field.   

In order next Bochas doth write  
Of Gepidoys, how king Trusmonde  
Required him that he would indite  
The great adversities in which he did habound,  
And of his daughter called Rosamounde,  
The unhappy chance to make & describe:  
To whom fortune was contrary all her live.   

Albuinus king of Lombardy  
Which many a laud held in subjection,  
Conquered Beme, prague and Hungry,  
The land of Gepedois with many a region:  
Fought with their king as made is mention,  
Slew in battle the said Trusmonde,  
Wedded after his daughter Rosamonde.   

Mine author greatly commendeth her beauty,  
And writeth also she was but young of age,  
Whose story first when I did see,  
How ungracious also was her marriage,  
I 'gan were pale and dead in my visage  
Greatly astoined confuse of very shame  
To write the story, in hindering of her name.   

I will forbear and lightly pass here,  
The surplusage lightly overpass  
For by and by to tell all the manner  
Of felonies that did in hearts brace,  
It should blot this book, and eke deface:  
For which I cast truly and not fail  
Touching her story, to make rehersaile.    

The xxvii Chapter  
☞ How Albuinus was murdered by his wife, and how she most vicious was after murdered also.  

King Albuinus as ye shall understand,  
After many a conquest and victory  
Which he had both on see and land,  
To put his triumphs in memory  
Let cry a feast, to his increase of glory,  
At which feast solemn and principal,  
So as he sat in his estate royal,   

Parcel for pride, parcel for gladness,  
The queen present the said Rosamonde,  
Take & surprised he was with drunkenness,  
Of strong wines, which that day did habo●d:  
Sent a Goblet of gold as it is found,  
Unto the queen with liquor full pleasant,  
Bad to her father she should drink a taunt.   

She dempt it was a manner mokery,  
First her name and worship to confound,  
To bid her drink ataunt for her party  
To her father, this said Trusmounde,  
Slain afore with many bloody wound,  
By Albuinus through his unhappy chance,  
Of which rebuke she cast to do vengeance.   

She bore the rancour full long in her intent,  
Which day by day 'gan renew & increase:  
A certain squire she made of her assent  
It to accomplish she would never cease.  
And on another squire she 'gan press,  
Called Perdius, accorded all in one,  
This false murdre to execute anon.   

The day was set, while he lay a sleep  
Fill upon him which sharp sword ground,  
Her lord was slain alas he took no keep:  
Or he died of fortune he hath found  
A spears head to a tronchon bound,  
Himself defending in that mortal strife,  
But slain he was by treason of his wife.   

After this murder to escape fro danger,  
This Rosamonde fled away by night,  
With her went Melchis her squire,  
Took a ship sailed by star light:  
To Ravenne they took the way right,  
Led with them for refute and succour,  
Of Albuinus all the hole treasure,   

After she was wedded to Melchise,  
Man of this world stood most in her grace,  
Her love appalled, set of him no prize,  
For she not coude be content in one place,  
Her joy was ever new thing to purchase:  
To assay many never pleased with one,  
Till by experience she proved had eachone.   

Provost of raven and chief governor  
For the excellence of her great beauty,  
Above all women loved her paramour,  
When she entered first that cite:  
And through her fraud and duplicity  
She cast to murder, in her froward advice,  
Her new husband that called was Melchis.   

The hot summer in lusty fresh May,  
The same Melchis for heat and weariness  
Himself to bathe went a certain day,  
Caught a great thirst of very faintness,  
And Rosamonde of infernal falseness,  
Took a goblet with liquor great fo●son,  
Gave him to drink wine meddled with poison.   

He drank up half and therewithal he 'gan,  
Breast and belly to swell and to arise,  
Intoxicate wext deadly pale and wan:  
And when he did her treason advertise,  
He made her drink in the same wise.  
Maugre her will she might it not restrain,  
Guerdon for murder, they died both twain.   

In this chapter but little fruit I find,  
Save only this, to put in remembrance  
That folk should call again to mind  
Murdre afore god requireth aye vengeance:  
This funeral story weighed in balance,  
Wrought by Melchis compassed and found,  
By false treason of cursed Rosamounde.   

Slew first her lord Albuinus as I said,  
Two of her squires did execution  
Out of his sleep when he did abraid:  
Let counterpoise what was her guerdon,  
Each murdered other by drinking of poison,  
Melchis drank first, & next drank Rosamounde,  
At them it 'gan & to them it did rebound.   

Counterpoised one murder for an other,  
Albuinus slain by Rosamounde his wife,  
By assent of Melchis, & after each to other  
The poison parted, there 'gan a fatal strife:  
Murder for murder, they both lost their life.  
Who useth falseness full well affirm I dare,  
Shall with falseness be quit or he be ware.   

As they departed, such part again they took,  
As men deserve such shall be their meed,  
This froward story end of the eight book,  
Of Rosamonde & Melchis wrought in deed,  
For short conclusion biddeth men take heed:  
They shall again receive such measour,  
As they measure unto their neighbour.    
☞ Thus endeth the eight book and hereafter followeth the ninth.   


¶ How the Emperor Mauricius his wife and his children were slain at Calcidony.  
¶ The first Chapter.  

TO Frances petrarch as Bochas undertook,  
In eschewing of slothful idleness,  
As he began taccomplysh up his book  
Assurance made him do his business:  
Which thing remembered 'gan his pen dress  
The ninth book, so god would give him grace  
It to perform if he had life and space.   

At the beginning soothly of his labour,  
In his study there did to him appear  
Mauricius, the mighty Emperor,  
Which complained rehearsing the manner  
How he by Phocas cruel of look & cheer,  
Destroyed was, wife, children, and kinrede,  
The slaughter couth, who list the story read.   

The said Maurice as write Bochas John,  
Was by Phocas brought to destruction:  
His wife and children were slain eachone,  
At Calcidony, as made is mention.  
After whose death he took possession  
The said Phocas, as put is in memory,  
Gave Pantheon to saint Gregory.   

Which was a temple of old foundation  
Full of idols, up set on high stages,  
There, through the world of every nation  
Were of their gods set up great images:  
To every kingdom direct were their visages,  
As poets and Fuigens by his liue  
In books old plainly doth dyscrive.   

Every image had in his hand a bell,  
As appertaineth to every nation,  
Which by craft some token should tell  
When any kingdom fill in rebellion,  
Or 'gan malign again Rome town:  
Which to redress with strong & mighty hand,  
Sent a prince to chastise all that land.   

The said temple builded of lime and stone,  
Pope Boniface as books specify,  
Where it was first called Pantheon,  
Set up crosses upon each party,  
Hallowed it to martyrs and to Mary:  
Year by year ginning of Novembre  
The feast hold the martiloge doth remember.   

In Asia this Emperor Maurice was slain,  
In the cite that called is Calcidony,  
Al his household and many good Roman  
By Phocas & perciens (as had is in memory)  
And Phocas after for his vainglory  
Slain by Heraclius, he than was Emperor  
Four & twenty winter he was governor.    

The ii Chapter  
¶ Of Machomet the false prophet, and how he being drunk was devoured among swine.  

AFter the death of Phocas as I told,  
When Heraclius to rain first began,  
Came Mahomet, in his time yhold  
A false prophet and a magician,  
As books old well rehearse can  
Borne in Arabia, but of low kindred  
All his life worshipped idols in deed.   

And when that he grew in to great age,  
deceivable in many sundry wises,  
with Camels used first his carriage  
False and double, and subtle in his devices  
He went to Egypt and fet marchandinses,  
To Jews & christian he sundry times sent,  
Learned the old and the new testament.   

As books old record in that party,  
This Mahomet, this cursed false man  
Out of Egipte fast 'gan him high  
Toward a country called Corosan,  
With a lady that hight Cordian:  
Through his subtle false dalliance  
By craft he fill in to her acquaintance.   

He wrought by his enchantments  
And by false means of nigromancy,  
Her inclining toward his intents,  
For both he coude flatter well and lie:  
Said openly that he was Messy,  
Jew's abiding upon his coming,  
As greatest prophet & their sovereign king.   

Thus the people he brought in great error  
By his teaching and his false doctrine,  
He wext among them a great governor:  
The said lady also did to him incline,  
As to a prophet which that was divine,  
Sent from above as she did understand,  
For which she took him to her husband.   

His lineage 'gan at Hismaell,  
Had a sickness, full oft sith fill down,  
In his excuse said that Gabriel  
Was sent to him fro the heavenly mansion,  
By the holy ghost, to his instruction:  
And for the Angel showed himself so sheen,  
To stand upright he might not abstain.   

On his shoulder were oft times say  
When he to folk showed his presence,  
Milk white doves which that piked greine  
Out of his ears, affirming in sentence  
They came by grace of ghostly influence  
Him to visit, to show and specify  
He was the prophet that called was Messy.   

New laws also he did ordain,  
showed signs by false appearance,  
Like Moses himself he did feign  
A prophet of most excellence,  
And thereupon to show an evidence  
Small ports with milk and honey borne  
On a great bull were hanged on each horn.   

He made the people give credulite  
To his doctrine and froward teaching,  
By milk and honey figured was plenty,  
By the merit of his ghostly working:  
And thus he was at his beginning  
Take of Sarasis, as they 'gan to him draw,  
Which by false error bound them to his law.   

A clerk of his called Sergius  
Wrote his laws, and these miracles three:  
First of the doves how they came to him thus  
As here tofore rehearsed was by me:  
How milk & honey were tokens of plenty,  
And of the Bull afore by craft made tame,  
By false deceits to get him a name.   

Of Arabiens and Saracens as I read,  
And of Turks made prince & governor,  
With Hysmae●ytes & folk of Perce & meed  
He gathered people 'gan wax a warrior  
Again Eraclius the mighty emperor:  
And usurped to ride in the contrees▪  
Gate Alisandry with many more cities,   

Of though party's desirous to be king.  
Of that purpose when he was set aside,  
The people falsely dyssimuling  
Told he was sent prophets to provide  
For though countries, for to be their guide:  
And for he was lecherous of courage,  
He made of Venus to set up an image.   

Made Saracens to worship the friday,  
Semblably his story doth express,  
So as the Jews hallowed the saturday:  
All his works concluding in falseness.  
When he drank wine fell in drunkenness,  
Taught the people like a false prophet,  
To drink water and good wine to let.   

As I said the heretic Sergius  
With him of counsel, froward & contrary,  
Fone to our faith he and Nestorius  
From holy church greatly they 'gan vary:  
On whose errors Bochas list not tarry,  
More to write of this Machomete,  
Any gromancian and a false prophet.   

Who list to see his laws everyone  
give to Saracens, his book can bear witness,  
As they be set in his Alkeron,  
eachone in ordre grounded on falseness:  
Like a glutton died in drunkenness,  
By excess of drinking much wine,  
Fill in a podell, & devoured among swine.   

This was the end of false Machomete,  
For all his crafts of necromancy,  
The funeral fine of this said prophet  
Dronklewe of kind, called himself Messie,  
Whom Saracens so greatly magnify,  
John Bochas let be for a queen of France  
More of his error to put in remembrance.    

The iii Chapter.  
☞ How Brounchylde a queen of France slew her kin, brought the land in division, and after was hanged & hewn in pieces small.  

ash came arrayed nothing like a queen,  
Her here untressed, Bochas took good heed,  
In all his book he had afore not seen  
A more woeful creature in deed,  
With weeping eyen, to torn was all her weed,  
Rebuking Bochas cause he had left behind  
Her wretchedness for to put in mind.   

Unto mine author suddenly she abraid  
Like a woman that were with woe chekmate  
First of all thus to him she said:  
Sometime I was a queen of great estate  
Crowned in France, but now all desolate  
I stand forsooth, Brounshilde was my name  
Which to rehearse I have a manner shame.   

Thou were busy to write the woeful case  
Within thy book of Arcinoe,  
didst service to queen Cleopatras,  
Of Rosamonde thou wrote also pard,  
And among all thou hast forgotten me  
Whereby it seemeth thou dost at me disdain  
List no parcel to write of my pain.   

When Bochas herd this of cheer he wext sad,  
Knowing nothing of that she did endure,  
Iwis (quoth he) afore I have not rad  
In no chronicle nor in no scripture  
Of your froward woeful adventure,  
No (quoth she) I pray you take good heed  
So as they fill I will rehearse in deed.   

Bochas with Brounchilde 'gan debate anon  
soothly (quoth he) this is the condition  
Of you women almost everichone  
Ye have this manner without exception,  
Of your natural inclination,  
Of your declaring this observance to keep  
Nothing to say contrary to your worshepe.   

Nature hath taught you all that is wrong to excuse,  
Under a curtain all thing for to hide,  
With little grain your chaff ye can abuse,  
On your defaults ye list not for to abide,  
The gall touched all that ye set aside  
Show roses fresh weeds ye let pass,  
And fairest cheer there ye most trespass.   

And if ye shall tell your own tale  
How ye fill fro fortunes wheel,  
Ye will unclose but a little male,  
Show of your vices but a small percele:  
Brotle glass showeth brighter than steel,  
And though of virtue ye show a fair pretence,  
He is a fool that giveth to you credence.   

Quod Brounchilde I do right well espy  
Thou haste of women a false opinion,  
How they can flatter weal and lie,  
And been divers of disposition,  
Thou mightest have made an exception  
Of high estates and them that gentle been,  
Namely of me that was so great a queen.   

Your high estate by kind hath no power  
To change in nature neither cold nor heat,  
But let us pass and leave this matter  
thereon to abide or any more to plete,  
Of your complaint say to me the great:  
By way of service to you I shall me quite  
As ye declare take my pen and write.   

Take heed (quoth she) and with good avice  
Fro the truth beware that thou ne vary,  
Whilom in France reigned king Clowise  
Had a son that named was Clothary,  
Clothar had an heir that named was Lotarye,  
And this Lotary named the second,  
Had sons four in story it is found:   

To the chronicle who can take heed  
As it is put in remembrance,  
When their father the mighty kig was dead,  
atween these four was parted all France:  
Each by himself to have governance  
By one assent as brother unto brother,  
Wearing their crowns each quit them to other.   

The same time I called Brounchylde  
Me list not vary from the old writing,  
Had a father named Levechylde,  
Of all Spain sovereign lord and king:  
My said father to full great hyndring  
Of both realms, the fame ran so far  
between Spain & France 'gan mortal were.   

The brethren four in France crowned kings  
Again my father made strong defence,  
Of martial pride and fortunate chaungynges  
When they met by mortal violence  
Of sudden slaughter fill such pestilence  
On other party, the field like a great flood  
With the tirrible effusion of blood.   

To both realms the wars were importable  
Causing of death passing great damage,  
Sought means, wext by assent treatable,  
Of blood shedding to appease the woeful rage,  
By one accord I was give in marriage  
To Sigebert reigning tho in France,  
between both realms to make alliance.   

Nay (quoth Bochas) I dame it was not so,  
between you & me there must begin a strife,  
Be advised take good heed thereto  
The first assurance of marriage in your life,  
Of Chilperik ye were the wedded wife,  
Chronicles seen what every express,  
In this matter will bear with me witness.   

Though some books rehearse and so sayne  
Like as ye have made here mention,  
Their rehersaile stand in no certain  
For by the assent of other region  
Spain and France in their convention,  
Ordained so, in my tender age  
To Sigebert I was give in marriage.   

Imeneus was not there present  
When he took our chambre toward night,  
For Thesiphone her susterne of assent  
Infernal goddesses bore the torches light,  
And as the torches showed dark and bright  
Thereby the people present one and all  
Dempt of the marriage what should befall.   

This custom used of antiquity  
From their temples of gods & goddess,  
At marriage of folk of high degree  
Torches were borne, of whom men took witness  
As they were dark or showed their brightness  
The difference seen in each estate,  
If it were toward or infortunate.   

Of this marriage short process to make  
The torches brent, & yet they were not bright  
showed out cumbrous smokes black,  
Of consolation lost was all the light:  
Thus in darkness wasted the first night,  
Their verse song of gods, and goddesses,  
Were all together of sorrow and heavinesses   

These were the tokens the night of marriage,  
Pronostikes of great adversity,  
Yet of nature I had this advantage  
Of womanhood and excellent beauty,  
And like a queen in stones and perre  
I was arrayed, clad in purple weed,  
With a crown of gold upon my head.   

solemnly crowned queen of France,  
Which for to see folk fast 'gan repair,  
Of all welfare I had suffisance,  
Climbed on fortune full high upon the stair,  
A son I had called Clotayre,  
By Sygebert by record of writing  
third of the name in France crowned king.   

So would god that day that he was borne  
He had be put in his Sepulture,  
In salvation of blood shed here toforne,  
Caused the death of many a creature  
As divers books report in scripture:  
Ground & beginning as made is mention,  
Within this land of great division.   

He with his brethren of whom I spoke late,  
At him began the first occasion.  
Nat so (quod Bochas) ye failed of your date  
Who was chief cause of division?  
soothly (quoth she) in mine opinion  
Among themself I dare well specify  
Chief ginning was fateruall envy.   

Keep you more close in this matter ye do fail  
Following the traces of your condition,  
Ye halt foul in your rehersaile:  
For of your own imagination  
Ye sew the seed of this dissension,  
Among these kings if ye take heed,  
By which in France many man was dead.   

Than Brounchilde 'gan to change cheer  
To Bochas said with face full cruel:  
Not long agone thou knewest not the manner  
Of my living but a small parcel,  
Me seemeth now thou knowest every del,  
So that ye may without longer strife  
Sit as a judge that knoweth so well my life.   

When these brethren stood at discord  
Each again other by mortal violence,  
Under a colour to treat of accord  
With many a manner feigned diligence,  
Chilperik there being in presence  
Whilom brother to Sigebert the king,  
Was slain among them by false conspiring.   

On whose death avenged for to be  
As Sygebert did himself advance,  
Among the press he slain was pard:  
Nat so (qd Bochas) but of false governance  
Of your misliving fill this unhappy chance,  
That Sygebert was murdered in soothness  
Only by occasion of your doubleness.   

Following the traces of new fangylnesse  
gain Sygebert ye wrought full falsely,  
When ye loved of froward doubleness  
Landrike the earl of champagne & of Bry,  
For by your outrage and your greyt folly  
The king was slain, and ye did assent  
In a forest an hunting when he went,   

Which called was the forest of Compyne,  
Alas (quoth she) & broke out complaining  
Bochas, Bochas, thou dost sore undermine  
All the surfetes done in my living,  
Thou knowest the death of Sigebert the king,  
Which that was wrought alas by mine assent,  
How knowest thou & were nat there preset?   

Of these debates and of all the were  
With rebukes rehearsed here in vain,  
In rehersaile greatly thou dost ecre,  
For I cast be right weal certain  
In my defence to reply again  
It was nat I she that thou dost mean,  
It was Fregundis ●he lusty young queen.   

This Fregundis thou shalt understand  
Right womanly and fair of her visage,  
Chilperik was whilom her hrsbande,  
For her beauty took her in marriage  
By her trains and her great outrage  
He was after (the story who list read)  
At mischief slain, thou shalt so find in deed.   

Though ye by language make strong defence  
In these matters, which cause me to muse  
I have again you lost my patience,  
That so subtly would yourself excuse  
Coutrariously your trains ye abuse:  
For Clo●ayre I have so red pard  
Was not engendered of Sigebert, nor of the.   

I remember full weal that I have rad  
That Chilperyk though ye thereat disdain,  
Record of auctors that prudent be & sad  
He in troth was gendered of you twain:  
Which in his dying me list nat for to feign  
Left sons two, the story ye may read,  
Theobarte and Theoderyke to succeed.   

Bochas (qd she) though thou turn up so do●  
The said stories rehearsed here in deed,  
Following the malice of thine opinion  
Maugre thy will forth I will proceed  
As I began, take thereto good heed:  
The first Theoderik thou shalt understand  
Cousin germane was to my husband.   

King of Burgoine that time, and another,  
He of hatred and indignation  
Slew Theobart, which was his brother,  
His wife and children, for short conclusion  
Which in the mighty famous region  
Of Antras●e reigned as lord and king,  
What ever thou sayest this is troth & no leasing.   

Nay nay (qd Bochas) it was all otherwise,  
I may nat suffer how ye go there among,  
All this language of new that ye devise  
Brought to a proof concludeth upon wrong:  
What should we longer this matter draw along  
Yourself were cause where ye be loath or feign  
By Theodorik the Theoberte was slain,   

The ground hereof 'gan parcel of envy  
By your froward breuning covetise,  
Which ye had only to occupy  
To rule the land after your own guise:  
And if I shall plainly here devise  
Of these mischiefs rehearsed god do boat  
Ye were yourself ground, chief crop, & rote.   

Quod Brounchylde I conceive well and see  
Ye of your party have lost all reverence,  
Yourself enarmed to show your cruelty  
Against me, touching the violence  
Of two slaughters rehearsed in sentence:  
First how Theodrik his brother slew in deed,  
Called Theobarte a piteous thing to read.   

Himself after strangled with poison,  
His wife, his children, hew in pieces small.  
As ye (quod Bochas) make here mention  
Some part is true but not all your tale:  
For I suppose ye should wax pale  
For shame of thing which ye can nat excuse,  
When Theoderik beginneth you to accuse   

He put on you the crime of false treason,  
Ye slew his wife and children also,  
Himself also ye murdered by poison:  
I would weet what ye could say hereto?  
Alas (qd she) what should I do,  
Was never woman in high nor low estate  
All thing considered more infortunate.   

Fortune of me set now but little price  
By her froward furious violence  
Turning her wheel and visage of malice,  
Causeth to me that no man giveth credence:  
Had in despite, void of reverence,  
And by fortune's mutability  
Sole, abject, and fall in poverty.   

O Bochas John for short conclusion  
Thou mayest again me thy style advance,  
I have deserved to have punition:  
And all the princes & barons now in France  
Cry out on me and ask avengeance,  
Refuge is none nor recure in this thing  
though with Clotarie myself be crowned king.   

For my defaults foul and abominable  
Tofore the judges of all the parliament,  
I was foriudged & found also culpable,  
Of every crime convict by judgement:  
Mine accusers there being present  
Of one and other standing a great rout,  
Marked with fingers of folk that stood about.   

For very shame I did mine eyen close  
For them that gaured & cast on me their sight,  
But as folk may by tokens we'll suppose  
Mine ears were nat stopped half a right,  
Taken by force lad forth by might  
By the hangman draw over hill and vale  
Dismembered after, & hew on pieces small.   

With my blood the pament all bespraynt  
Thanked by fortune, such was mine adventure,  
The soul parted the body was so faint:  
Who red ever of any creature  
That much more torment did endure?  
Prayed Bochas to have all thing in mind,  
Writ her life and leave nothing behind.   

¶ Envoy.  

THis tragedy of Brounchild the queen,  
Look her story who list give attendance  
Froward to red, contagious to seen,  
And contrary to all good governance,  
Borne in Spain, crowned queen of France  
Double of tongue, upfynder of treason,  
Caused all that land stand at division.   

From though trains there could no man flene,  
Source & headspring of sorrow & mischance,  
Shed honey first, strange after as do been,  
Her myrremedled with sugared false pleasance:  
What she said included in variance,  
mistress of murder and of dissension  
Caused all that land stand at division.   

Princes of Gaul might nat sustain  
Great outrages, nor the great grievance,  
Nor the surfetes done in their years green,  
Brought the kingdom almost to utterance:  
All of assent cried on her vengeance,  
The fame arose how all that region  
In her falseness stood at division.   

The knife of murder ground was so keen  
By her malice of long continuance,  
Her courage fret with infernal tene  
Spared neither kin nor alliance,  
poised her forfetes and weighed in balance,  
As Bochas writeth she was the occasion  
Which made all France to stand at division.    

¶ Bochas' marvelling of the malice and cruelty of Brounchylde writeth thus.  

BOchas astonished 'gan inwardly marvel,  
Fill in a manner ambyguyte  
Of Brounchyldes' marvelous rehearsal.  
How any woman of reason should be  
So full of malice and of cruelty  
To slay her kin, and set at distance  
By division all the realm of France.   

Bochas dempt it was nat credible  
That a woman should be so vengeable,  
In her malice so venomous and terrible  
Of slaughter and murder to be culpable,  
The story susperte held it but a fable:  
Only except that she did him exite  
With great instance her story for to write.   

Her cry on Bochas was very importune  
To set in order her felicitees,  
With her unhappy changes of fortune  
Her disclandered great adversities,  
With her diffame reported by countries,  
No very ground found in books old  
But of confession that she herself told.   

That mine author rehearsed with solemn style  
rehearse should her words disclaundrous,  
Her flowering years, also for to compile.  
Meddled with her days that were contrarious:  
Her fatal end froward and furious,  
Whereof encumbered of very weariness  
Toward Eraclius he 'gan his pen dress.     

The four Chapter.  
¶ How Eraclius the Emperor sustained heresy, fill in to dropsy and sickness uncurable, & so died.  

AFter Phocas with great honour and glory  
Crowned emperor of Rome the city,  
In whose time as saith the story  
The Romans stood in great perplexite,  
By them of Perce, that rose with Cosdroye,  
Which took upon him to be lord and sire  
As a tyrant to trouble the empire.   

Gate many a province & many a famous Reiem  
Through all asia, as the chronicle saith,  
'Gan approach toward Jerusalem,  
Afore the town proudly a siege he lay,  
As a tyrant froward to Christ's faith,  
But Eraclius maugre all his might  
Smyt of his head, slew him like a knight.   

And by grace, which that is divine,  
This famous prince this Eraclius  
In his beginning slew many a Sarazyne,  
Hold in though days notable and glorius:  
And in his conquest passing famous,  
divers relics of the cross he sought  
And from though countries many of them he brought   

Was none so famous hold in his days  
As Eraclius the empire for to gye,  
Nor more manly found at all assays  
Of high prowess nor in chivalry:  
But when he 'gan sustain heresy  
God took from him within a little space  
His hap & welfare his fortune & his grace.   

He 'gan sustain and follow certain rites  
Of wilfulness and froward fantasy,  
Of a sect called Monacholites  
Which was a sect of froward heresy,  
And sith that he drew to that party  
The story telleth for all his high estate  
This Eraclius was never fortunate.   

Where he was first dread on the see and land,  
Namely of Saracens, for all his chivalry,  
Grace & fortune from him withdrew her hand:  
For when he fill in to heresy  
He was travailed with such a dropsy  
That therewithal he had a froward lust,  
Ever to drink and ever he was a thirst.   

In though days found was no leech  
Albe that they were sought on each party,  
The said prince that coude wish or teach  
Him to relieve of his dropsy,  
Made faint & feeble with a great palsy:  
Thus in sickness he hath his days spent,  
By vengeance slain with infernal torment.   

Of Eraclyus this was the woeful end  
As is rehearsed, slain with sickness,  
Out of this world when he should wend  
All hole the empire stood in great distress:  
Force of Saracens did them so oppress,  
And day by day drew to decline  
By his son called Constantine.    

The .v. Chapter.  
¶ How Constantine the son of Eraclius supporting errors and heresy was murdered in a stew.  

Which was his successor as made is mention,  
In whose time through his great folly  
Saracens did great oppression  
Spoiling the countries of all Lombary:  
And Constantine of wilful slogardy  
Wasted his days, till he hath brought  
All the Empire almost to nought.   

Gain Christ's faith in especial  
He 'gan of malice his wits to apply,  
And was thereto enemy full mortal  
And chief supportour of false heresy:  
And toward Rome fast he 'gan him high,  
spoiled temples of many rich image,  
And by water after took his passage.   

To Constantinople fast he 'gan him high,  
By Sc●●il the way was all most meet,  
At Syracuse I find that he did arrive,  
And for the season was excessite of heat  
Which in his labour made him for to sweet,  
And secretly he 'gan himself remue  
To be bathed in a privy stew.   

Of euny there he was espied,  
His own knights like as it is found  
By conspiration certain of them allied  
Fill upon him with sharp sword ground  
And merciless with many mortal wound  
They stew him there on him they were so wode,  
Amid the stew naked as he stood.   

After whose death they did themself advance  
To choose a knight borne in Armeny,  
Of the empire took the governance  
And to support falsely their party:  
But Constantine succeeding of alley  
Being next heir the truth for to sue,  
To him that was murdered in the stew.   

Called Constantine as his father was,  
Right notable in acts martial:  
More wisely governed stood in other case,  
Like a prince by judgment royal,  
Of manly heart and courage natural  
The conspirators first of all he slayeth,  
That were assented to his father's death.   

To great increase of his famous renown  
Grace of god did him enlumine  
Constantinople in that royal town  
Old heresy to cease and to fine  
Two hundred bishops & eke also nine  
He made assemble to stand at defence  
Of Christ's faith, of manly providence.   

He was eke busy churches to restore  
All heretics manly to withstand,  
Their opinions examined well before:  
And when the troth was well understand  
Like Christ's knight list for no man wonde  
To punish them justly by rigour  
Without exception of person or favour.   

Of him in Bochas little more I read  
Nor of his empire I find none other date,  
Spared no heretics for gold nor meed,  
At Constantinople he passed in to fate  
When Bulgarence 'gan with him debate,  
A froward people wilful and reckless  
Gave them a tribute for to live in peace.    

The vi Chapter.  
☞ How Gisulphus was slain & his wife ended mischievously in lechery.  

NExt came Gisulphus to Bochas on the ring,  
A famous duke and notable in his life.  
With weeping eyen pitously plaining  
With whom also came Rimulde his wife,  
Which that lived ever in sorrow & strife:  
Yet was she both of birth and of lineage  
Right excellent, and fair of her visage.   

Six children had this famous queen  
By Gisulphus gotten in marriage,  
Wonder seemly and goodly unto seen,  
And fortunate by process of their age,  
Albe their father felt great damage  
By the wars he had in his living  
With Cathamus, that was of Narces king.   

This Cathamus with many strong battle  
Is descended, and take the way right  
Of duke Gisulphus the lands to assail,  
Together met in steel armed bright:  
Gisulphus slain, his people put to flight,  
And Cathamus with strong & mighty hand,  
Took possession & conquered all his land.   

After whose death Rimulde the duchess  
Greatly astonished, pale of her visage  
To the castle of Forgoile 'gan her dress,  
With her knights of strong & fell courage:  
Cathamus made after his passage,  
Laid a siege, cast him to ieoparte,  
His life and body rather than depart.   

About the castle armed as he stood  
Like a prince sat knightly on his stead,  
Upon the walls as Rimuldis abode  
Freshly beseen in her purple weed,  
And of the siege 'gan to take heed:  
Her look unwarely as she cast aside  
She saw the king afore the castle ride,   

So like a prince and a manly knight,  
She 'gan on him look wonder narrow,  
The god of love pierced through her sight  
Unto her heart marked with his arrow:  
That of the siege she took but little sorrow,  
Made the soil so pliant of her thought,  
And of her castle she set almost right nought.   

And for to accomplish the hole entention  
Of her false lust in any manner thing,  
She is agreed by composition  
To yield the castle in haste unto the king,  
She for to come without more tarrying  
Like a duchess herself to present  
Where as the king sat armed in his tent.   

The people within prisoners take,  
Her four sons took them to the flight,  
Love caused that she hath forsake  
Her blood, her kin, where it were wrong or right,  
And Rimulde the space of all a night  
With Cathamus had all her delight,  
And ever after he had her in despite.   

And by the king when she was refused,  
Twelve in number that dwelled in his house  
Most frowardly her beauty hath abused,  
Of her nature she was so lecherous,  
And to rehearse it is contagious  
How she wext after so abominable  
To be acquainted with grooms of the stable.   

It were but vain to tarry on this matter  
Or any long process for to make,  
Her story is contagious for to here  
But finally at mischief she was take,  
For a spectacle fetched on a stake:  
Set up aloft mine author telleth so,  
Died in distress for constraint of her wo.    

The vii Chapter.  
¶ Of Justinian the false extortioner exiled by Patrician, after both nose and eyen cut from his head.  

BY example so as fresh armure  
Through long resting loseth his brightness,  
Fret with old rust gathereth great ordure,  
Is diffaced of his fresh clearness:  
Semblably the Romans hie prowess  
'Gan for to appal (alas and that was routh)  
When they gave them to negligence & sloth.   

Who in knighthood list have experience  
Must eschew riotous idleness,  
By prudent and entire diligence  
Large with discretion, manly with gentleness,  
To high emprises his courage dress,  
And be well aware on each party  
Him to preserve from all slogardye.   

The which greatly hath appaired  
As it is remembered of old antiquity,  
Caused Romans to be despaired  
By froward lusts hindering their city,  
And appalled their old prosperity,  
Of which defaults came to plain blyve  
To John Bochas emperors five.   

As many kings of the same number,  
Which by sloth were afore oppressed,  
Whom that sloth whilom did encumber:  
Their names by and by here expressed  
To mine auctor they have their course dressed  
Like their degrees to speak in words few,  
Justinian first 'gan his face show.   

Nat Justinian whilom so virtuous  
And of prudent governance so notable,  
But Justinian Temerarius  
Double of his deeds, false and deceivable,  
Of his promise divers and unstable,  
Whilom exiled by Patrician  
For extortions that he in Rome began.   

His nose & eyes Patrician gave in charge  
To be cut of by furious cruelty,  
And of the empire that was so wide & large  
Leoncius next governed the cite,  
And through fortune's mutability  
The same Leonce by Tibery was cast down,  
His eyen put out, and died in prison.   

Tiberius after served of the same,  
His nose cut of, from his see put down,  
For a rebuke and a perpetual shame  
To a cite that called was Cerson,  
Without mercy favour or ransom  
Exiled he was, prisoned as a thief  
By long torment died at mischief.    

The viii Chapter.  
☞ How Philippe the Emperor died at mischief.  

NExt to Bochas came Philip on the ring  
Whose Empyreno while did endure,  
Like an heretic cursed of living,  
And odious to every creature  
beat down images, and many fresh picture  
Of holy saints, which in their temples stood  
Whereby Romans dempt that he was wood.   

Pursued he was by a manly knight  
Called Anastase, and put out of his place:  
And in Cecile of very force and might  
He did his eyen out of his head arace,  
By judgement his visage to difface,  
Semblably as he by great outrages  
Of Christ's faith diffaced the images.   

Died at mischief dyrked with blindness,  
Than Anastase took possession,  
In whose time books bear witness  
And chronicles also make mention,  
Of the empire was made division,  
That first was one parted in to twain  
Whereof mine auctor in manner doth complain.    

❧ The ix Chapter.  
¶ How Anastase was compelled to leave the empire to be a priest and live in poverty.  

AS he rehearseth in his opinion  
And thereupon doth a ground devise,  
Cause and rote of their division  
Took original of false covetise,  
And seriously he telleth here the gise  
In to the church when riches brought in pride,  
All perfection anon was set aside.   

The poor staff, and potent of doctrine  
When it was changed and list natabyde  
In wilful poverty, but 'gan anon decline  
On stately palfrays and high horses to ride,  
Shortes of here were also laid aside,  
Turned to copes of purple and sanguine,  
Gowns of scarlet furred with hermine,   

Slendre fare of wine and water clear  
With abstinence of bread made of wheat,  
Changed though days to many fat dinere  
With confect drink and hippocras sweet,  
All soberness did his bounds let,  
scarceness of food left his old estate,  
With new excess 'gan wax delicate,   

Ghostly living in the church appalled,  
Caused Greeks withdraw them in sentence  
From the pope, in Peter's place stalled,  
And list to him do none obedience:  
False avarice caused this offence  
That the Greeks did themself divide,  
Fro the Romans for their great pride.   

Thus covetise and false ambition  
Did first great harm in the spiritual,  
Brought in discord and division  
Among princes in their estate royal:  
Who clibeth highest most perilous is his fall.  
Record I take of the foresaid Anastace  
By Theodosie put out of his place.   

This Theodosie did his busy pain  
On Anastase such were for to make  
That maugre him he did him so constrain  
That he was fain the empire to forsake:  
For fear and dread he did upon him take  
The order of priesthood from the imperial se,  
Content with little lived in poverty.    

The ten Chapter.  
❧ How the head of Lupus king of Lombardy was smit of by Grimaldus.  

AFter these changes remembered by writings  
Like as I have told here in party,  
Came to Bochas four mighty kings  
Reigning eachone of old in Lombardie,  
After the manner and guise in barbary:  
They were arrayed in their passage  
With hear frogrowen body and visage.   

Their beards reached to their navel down,  
Their garnementes of colours manifold  
With broad baudrikes embraced environ  
Large buckles & pendants of fine gold,  
Their breach enbroudred after the guise of old  
Fret with pearl leg stocked to the knee,  
plaining to Bochas of their adversity.   

Their shone were razed freshly to the tone  
Richly transuersed with gold wire,  
And thereon set many a strong stone  
gain Phoebus' light shone bright and clear,  
These lombard kings 'gan taproch near:  
The first of all the king Lupus  
Unto Bochas 'gan to complain thus.   

Bochas (quoth he) as for my party  
For to rehearse by short conclusion  
One Grymaldus a prince of Lombardy,  
Hath me enclosed out of my region,  
And cruelly enchained me in prison  
And after that did a sergeant send,  
Smyt of mine head & there I made an end.    

The xi Chapter.  
¶ How the head of Alexius was smit of by Comperton.  

AFter this end rehearsed of Lupus  
For to declare his mortal heaviness,  
Next in order there came Alexius  
A lombard king, famous of richesse,  
Which took on him of surquedous prowess  
For to compass the destruction  
Of a prince called Comperton,   

Which ware also a crown in lombardy:  
Atwyxt both was were and great distance,  
But all the people and lords of Pavia  
With mighty hand & martial governance  
The said Alexius brought unto mischance:  
And Comperton escaped from all dread,  
Of mortal vengeance let smite of his head.    

The xii. Chapter.  
❧ How Ariperton was drowned with his riches.  

AFter whose death pitously plaining  
Tofore Bochas came Ariperton,  
Of Lombardy whilom lord and king  
Which like a fool of high presumption  
All causeless took occasion  
Of volunte, there is no more to say,  
Again the duke of Bagaroys to warray.   

These princes twain taken have the field,  
And of Ariperton the party 'gan apayre,  
His adversary anon as he beheld  
His coward heart 'gan fall in despair,  
Into Pavia for fear he 'gan repair:  
Took his treasure in purpose anonright  
For very dread to take him to the flight.   

Took a vessel and entered is the see  
With sudden tempest assailed & darkness,  
His barge perished by great adversity,  
And was drowned with all his great richesse:  
Lo here the fine of worldly wretchedness,  
Namely of them to get great treasures  
That begin were again their neighbours.    

The xiii. Chapter.  
¶ How Dediere by Pope Adrian and Charles of France was put to flight, & died at mischief.  

next, to Bochas with heavy look and cheer  
King of Lombardy showed his presence,  
Called in his time noble Dediere,  
Notable in arms and of great excellence,  
And where his father had done offence  
To the Pope and full great duresse,  
This king cast the damages to redress.   

Agistolphe was his father's name,  
Which to the Pope did great adversity,  
For which his son to increase his fame  
Of royal freedom and magnanimity  
And of benign liberality,  
Gave to the Pope with humble reverence,  
A stately cite that called is Fagence.   

Therewith he gave treasure and great good  
As he that list of freedom not to spare,  
A mighty castle which on Tybrestod  
Within the bounds & lordship of Ferrare:  
Which is a city plainly to declare  
Of antiquity mine author telleth so,  
And stant upon the river of the Poo.   

This Dediere reigning in Lombardy  
'Gan wax famous at his beginning,  
Had a great name upon each party:  
But in the earth is nothing abiding,  
All stant on change, & fortune in working  
Is found unstable & double of her visage,  
Which of this king changed the courage.   

There he was large on every side  
liberal found in many sundry wife,  
His goodlihead was changed in to pride  
And his largesse in to covetise,  
Of doubleness he 'gan anon devise  
To claim again (as ye shall understand)  
His said gifts out of the Pope's hand.   

Which Dediere had made alliance  
As the chronicle maketh mention,  
With king Pepin reigning tho in France,  
After whose death to have possession  
And full lordship of all that region  
He 'gan of new fall at distance,  
Both with the Pope & with the king of France,   

Of presumption these wars he began  
Again his promise, of double variance,  
Pope in though days was holy Adrian  
Which to stint the trouble & great mischance,  
Required help of the king of France:  
And great Charles in Bochas as I read,  
Came to the Pope to help him in this need.   

Charles that time was chief protector  
To holy church their pavis and defence,  
Which of hole heart and diligent labour  
With Dediere by manly violence  
He met in Tuskie of knightly excellence,  
Had a battle to prove their might  
Charles victor Dediere put to flight.   

As I find he fled in to Pavia,  
Worthy Charles laid a siege aforne  
Constrained them upon each party  
For lack of victual they were almost lost,  
They wanted liquor grain and corn,  
By sudden constraint & great adversity  
To king Charles they yielded up the city.   

King Dediere was sent in to France  
With mighty chains fettered in prison,  
Like a wretch in sorrow & great penance  
Died at mischief there gained no ransom,  
Which had afore so great possession,  
After whose day by old writing  
Among lombards was never crowned king.    

The xiiii Chapter.  
¶ Of Pope Johan a woman with child and put down.  

AFter the Princes rehearsed here toforne,  
Drowned in tears came a creature  
Like a bishop rounded and yshorne,  
And as a priest he had abroad tonsure:  
Her apparel outward and vesture,  
Being a woman whereof Bochas took heed,  
Like a prelate shape was her weed.   

She was the same that of yore agone  
Unworthily sat in Peter's place,  
Was afterward called Pope John  
Aberdlesse prelate no hear seen on her face,  
Of her birth named was the place  
Maxence a cite standing in Itaile,  
Upon the Keen full famous of victual.   

In her youth and in her tender age  
Forsook her kin, and in especial  
Cast she would for her advantage  
give her to cunning, body, heart and all,  
And in the sciences called liberal  
In all seven by famous excellence  
By great study she had experience.   

Her name couth in many a divers land  
To show her cunning first when she began,  
Searching provinces came to England,  
No wight supposing but y● she was a man:  
Came to Rome her story tell can,  
Taught Grammar, Sophistry, and Logic  
Red in schools openly rhetoric.   

In the time of th'emperor Lotarye,  
After the death as made is mention,  
(Fro mine author if I shall nat vary,)  
Of the Pope which called was Leon,  
The said woman by election  
I stalled was, no wight supposing than  
By no token but that she was a man.   

The book of Sorts after that anon  
Of adventure turned up so down,  
She was named and called Pope John:  
Of whose natural disposicon  
Fill by process in to temptation,  
Quick with child the hour came on her than,  
Was delivered at saint John Lateran.   

After put down for her great outrage,  
I will on her spend no more labour  
But pass over all the surplusage,  
Of her living and of her great error:  
Turn my stile unto the emperor  
Called arnold, & write his piteous chance  
Son to Charles the great king of France.   

To this Charles as books determine  
He was son nat borne in marriage,  
But begotten on a concubine,  
Took upon him of surquedous outrage  
Without title, birth, or lineage  
To succeed by fraud and false labour  
Among Romans to reign as emperor.   

He was ungracious sitting in that estate,  
In mischief spent his days everychove,  
With lice and worms made infortunate,  
Through skin and flesh fret unto the bone:  
Craft of medicine nor succour was there none,  
So deep he was fret in his entrayle,  
Died▪ in distress no leech might avail.   

¶ Here Bochas counseleth princes to remember on arnold.  

Mine author Bochas stint here a while,  
Sharped his pen of entencion,  
'Gan for anger to transport his style  
To write of tyrants the transgression,  
More wooed and fell than any Scorpion:  
Them counseling when they be most bold  
For to remember of this proud arnold.   

He ne was nat in his pride assailed  
With wolves, Tigers, nor Lions  
With ravenous Bears nor wild bores travailed  
Nouther with other mighty champions  
Which have conquered many regions,  
But with worms engendered of his kind  
The said arnold was murdered as I find:   

In such disjoint the said arnold stood  
With louse and worms fret again nature,  
That was so nigh borne of Charles blood  
Impotent the pain to endure,  
Which was in sooth an uncouth adventure  
That a prince might nat be succoured  
Of small worms for to be devoured.   

A great ensample who list consider and see  
To princes all, for to abate their pride  
Let them consider their fragylite  
To see an emperor to abide  
Thassaute of worms, and ley▪ their boast aside:  
In this arnold wisely advertise  
How god hath power their pomp to chastise▪   

Death of arnold did my pen encumber  
For the great abomination,  
Than to Bochas came the twelft in number  
Called Pope John as made is mention,  
Entering by fraud and false election  
To god's law froward and contrary,  
Nar like a pastor but like a marcenarye.   

Called aforne he was Octavian,  
Nothing resembling Peter's governance,  
Fro the time in Rome that he began  
To sit as Pope, he gave his attendance,  
To follow his lust and his fleshly pleasance,  
In hawking and hunting stood his felicity  
And among women conversant to be.   

Unto surfeit, riot, and gluttony,  
He gave him wholly and took of it no keep,  
Greatly disclandered he was of lechery,  
Kept in his court without shame or dread  
A number of women, in chronicle as I read:  
Two cardinals of purpose did intend  
His vicious life to correckre and amend.   

And of intent these Cardinals two  
The church esclanndred cast them to redress,  
Made letters, sent them to Orcho  
Duke of Saxon, that he should him dress  
Toward Rome, and of high noblesse  
On holy church to have compassion,  
Make of this mischief just reformation.   

This Pope John when he hath perceived  
Of these Cardinals the manner of writing,  
And how the duke the letters hath received,  
He to do vengeance made not tarrying.  
Bode no longer this judgement giving,  
Cut of the nose felly of that one,  
Hand of that other, and both were called John.   

The emperor did his letters send  
To this Pope of hole affection,  
Of his defaults he should him amend:  
But there was found no correction,  
For which he was deposed and put down  
By cardinal's for his cursidnesse,  
Me list no more to write of his wretchedness.   

For his defaults & his great ontrage  
This John put down as ye have herd devise  
Mine author after caught a great courage  
Seing this mischief in many londry wise  
In holy church which that did arise,  
Among prelate's cast himself blyve  
Their defaults openly to discryne.   

Of their pride and presumption,  
And while he 'gan study in this matter  
He 'gan rembre anon in his reason  
Upon a verse written in that Sautere  
touch not my prophets ne nigh them nat to near,  
Nor again than beware in deed and thought  
In no wise that ye malign nought.   

For this cause as ye shall understand  
Touching this matter (plainly as I read)  
Mine author 'gan withdraw his hand,  
Left his purpose and forth 'gan proceed:  
To whose presence or that he took heed  
Came a prince duke Charles of Lorraine,  
Him besought to write his grievous pain.     

❧ The xu Chapter.  
☞ Of Charles of Lorraine confounded with hunger.  

THis Duke of Lorraine as ye shall conceive  
Haddit were with y● king of France  
Called Hugh Capet, and as I apperceive  
An archbishop to do the king pleasance  
Of hatred made his ordinance  
Again this duke, & a wait upon him set  
That he him took a bed when he slept.   

The said bishop 'gan falsely undermine  
This worthy duke by full false treason,  
Which as I find was called Anceline,  
And he was bishop that time of Leon,  
Which by fraud and false collusion  
Took this prince that was duke of Lorraine,  
And to the king he brought him by a train.   

By whom he was delivered to prison  
To orleans, and with chains bound:  
What was his end was made no mention  
But in a pit horrible and profound  
Mischief with hunger did him so confound,  
That I suppose this duke of Lorraine  
Consumed was for constraint of his pain.    

The xvi. Chapter.  
¶ How king Solomon whilom king of Hungry was put to flight.  

AFter to Bochas there came down  
Princes four, and each for his party  
Their griefs told, and first Solomon  
That whilom reigned in Hungry  
Both fool and coward books specify,  
Void of reason, noised of ignorance  
And at a point coude no purveyance.   

Fortune also did at him disdain  
For he was nouther manly nor courageous,  
Again whom were worthy knights twain  
Herta was one with Laodislaus  
Famous in arms notable and virtuous,  
Both at once on Solomon came down  
And made him fly out of his region.   

Through his unhappy froward cowardice  
There was in him found no defence,  
Flight was his shield, list in no wise  
Gain his enemies make no resistance,  
Failed heart to come to presence  
To save his land, he dread himself so sore,  
Of whom Bochas writ in his book no more.    

The xvii Chapter.  
¶ How Petro king of Hungry was slain.  

AN other king put here in remembrance  
Called Petro reigning in hungry,  
For his defaults again the king of France  
Y called Charles of malice and folly  
By indignation this was his tormentry,  
His eyen put out there was no better succour,  
And after slain by doom of the emperor.    

The xviii Chapter  
❧ How Diogenes the Emperor was taken, and his eyen put out.  

AFter to Bochas there came twain on the ring  
Duke of Sweve formest as I read,  
Again th'emperor first maliciously working,  
Henry the emperor reigning tho in deed:  
But for his malice this was his fatal meed,  
Banished to dwell among beasts savage  
Slain in a forest for his great outrage.   

When Constantine departed from this life  
Which of all Grece was lord & governor,  
By marriage of her that was his wife,  
A knight Diogenes was made emperor:  
Fortune to him did so great favour  
Constantinople holding in his hand,  
As sovereign prince of all greeks land.   

Yet there were some that grudged theragain  
And had of him great indignation,  
The king of Perce Belset Tarquiniaine,  
Fro him by force took many a region,  
Mesopotamie to his possession  
Took by strong hand through his chivalry,  
Maugre Diogenes & almost all Surrye.   

Belset Tarquinian made himself so strong  
By manly force Diogenes to assail,  
And for Diogenes thought he did him wrong  
He 'gan ordain great stuff and apparel,  
A day assigned they met in battle:  
Diogenes of froward adventure  
He & his knights brought to discomfiture.   

Take he was, & brought by great disdain,  
In whom as though there was no resistance,  
To king Belset called Tarqumiaine:  
And when he came to his presence  
Against him was give this sentence,  
To lie down plat and that king Belset  
Should take his foot and on his throat set.   

This was done for an high despite  
Diogenes brought forth on a chain,  
Without reverence, favour, or respite,  
At great feasts assigned was his pain:  
And alder last put out his eyen twain,  
The wheel of fortune turneth as a ball  
Sudden climbing asketh a sudden fall.    

The xix Chapter.  
¶ How Robert duke of Normandy fought with the Turks, was named to the crown of Jerusalem, and died at mischief.  

AWorthye Prince spoken of in many reem  
Noble Robert duke of Normandy,  
Chose to the crown of Jerusaleem,  
But for cause he did it deny  
Fortune unto him had envy:  
The same Robert next in order was  
That came to plain his fall unto Bochas.   

For Christ's faith this mighty champion  
This duke Robert armed in plate and mail  
With manly Godfray, Godfray de Bollion,  
Again turks fought a great battle,  
For Christ's faith that it should avail,  
To abstain the law in their intent  
To all the kings of the Occident.   

Of Turks & Saracens was so great a number  
gain Christ's law gathered in puissance  
The faith of Christ falsely to encumber,  
But there were made hasty ordinance  
By kings of England Normandy & France  
First to succour did their busy pain  
Godfray de Bollion, that was duke of Lorraine.   

Which on Saracens made a discomfiture  
Maugre Turks for all their great might,  
In which battle Christ made him recure  
The field that day to support his right,  
Where Robert was found so good a knight  
That for his noblesse by record of writing  
Of Jerusalem was named to be king.   

He assented nat to the election  
Because of new that he did understand  
His elder brother for short conclusion,  
Y called William was dead in England:  
Would in no wise take the crown on hand  
Of Jerusalem, but like a manly knight  
Came to England for to claim his right   

And yet or he came he had knowledging  
His younger brother called Henry  
Had upon him take to be crowned king,  
Told his lords and princes finally  
He was next heir, entered rightfully  
As inheritor to succeed in that reem  
His brother being king of Jherusalem.   

God wots the cause stood all in other wise  
The said Robert duke of Normandye  
Purposed him by martial emprise  
From his brother to take the regal,  
Took his princes and his chivalry  
Thought he would like a manly knight  
arrive in England, and rejoice his right.   

Both in one field assembled on a day,  
The brethren twain, each with strong party  
To darraine and make no delay  
Each with other to hold champarty:  
But when these lords the mischief did espy,  
They busied them and were nat reckless  
Atwene the brethren to reform peace.   

The said brethren were fully condescended  
Upon this point for short conclusien,  
As in the accord was justly comprehended,  
Henry to hold and have possession  
During his life of all this region,  
And Robert should have for his party  
A sum of gold with all Normandy.   

Three thousand pound put in remembrance  
Each year to Robert sent fro his region,  
Of which payment to make full assurance  
Was laid hostages as made is mention:  
But yet of new fill a dissension  
atween the brethren of hatred and envy  
For a certain castle that stood in Normandy.   

Which castle longed of heritage  
Unto the kings jurisdiction,  
Of which the duke took his advantage  
Maugre the king and held possession,  
Turned after to his confusion:  
And when the king this thing did espy  
With strong hand came to Normandy.   

Where the duke was laid a siege about,  
Made ordinance to recure his right,  
Gate the castle, took his brother out,  
Imprisoned him of very force and might:  
Left him alone out of all men's sight  
fourteen year, the chronicle writeth so,  
There he died in mischief and in wo.   

While Bochas was busy in his labour  
His book tacomplyshe with great diligence,  
To him appeared the great emperor  
Called Henry, showed his presence,  
'Gan complain upon great offence  
Done to him, the mischief and distress  
By his sons great unkindness.   

The which son was called eke Henry  
Greatly accused of ingratituding,  
Cause he wrought so disnaturally,  
Took his father with force and multitude,  
Entreated him boysteously and rude,  
And afterward there gained no ransom  
At great mischief, he died in prison.    

The twenty Chapter.  
How Joceline prince of Rages for pride, sloth, and lechery, died in poverty.  

NExt in order with trist & ded visage▪  
Unto Bochas to show his heaviness  
Came Jocelyne, lord and prince of Rage,  
Which is a cite famous of riches:  
And this prince (mine auctor beareth witness)  
Was greatly give to sloth and slogardy,  
And all his lust he set in lechery.   

Left his lordship out of governance  
For lack of wisdom and discretion,  
In fleshly lust set all his pleasance,  
And of the countries about him environ  
He was nat had in reputation:  
Certain princes mine auctor doth describe  
Of his lordship cast him to deprive.   

Among which the prince of Alapy  
Called Sanguyne the story who list see,  
To Joceline having great envy  
Laid a siege to Rages the cite,  
He being absent far from that country  
And thus for sloth & wilful negligence  
Rages was take by mighty violence.   

And Joceline commanded to prison,  
To him fortune was so coutrarious,  
Lost his lordship and domination:  
Lo here the fine of folks vicious  
Slow, delicate, proud, and lecherous,  
died in poverty in mischief and in need:  
Of vicious princes lo here the final meed.    

The xxi Chapter.  
¶ How the emperor Andronicus slew all that were of the blood royal, cherished vicious people, and after was hanged.  

AS very heir here and true successor  
By election and also by lineage,  
Came Andronicus lord and emperor  
Of Constantinople, crowned king of age,  
Next to Bochas with trist and pale visage:  
Beseeching him to do his busy cure  
To remember his woeful adventure.   

Among greeks by story and scripture  
This Andronicus governed nat aright,  
Again law and eke again nature  
Found with his sister fleshly on a night,  
Both of assent took them to the flight:  
Again him his cousin was so fell  
Lord of that country called Emanuel.   

For a time stood as a man exiled  
For his dissensions & many an uncouth strife,  
By his princes after reconciled  
Standing in hope he should amend his life:  
But in the time that he was fugitife  
He was made lord & stood so for a while,  
Reigning in Pontus, of asia a great I'll.   

In this while Emanuel was dead  
Fall in great age the story telleth thus,  
Having a child, and he who list take heed  
While he dwelled in his tathers' house  
Among greeks called Alexius,  
And the tutor that he was assigned to  
Y called was Alexius also.   

The same that was assigned his tutor  
To see upon him all the governance  
Had full power as lord and Emperor  
And all the empire under his obeisance,  
Princes & lords gave to him attendance:  
Where that he were present or absent  
Each thing was done at his commandment.   

I mean as thus, he had all in hand  
Constantinople, a cite of great substance,  
But for extortions which he did in the land  
On his subjects, and for misgovernance  
Among the lords it fill in remembrance  
Al of assent in heart 'gan desire,  
To Call Andronicus again to his empire.   

By assent restored and crowned Emperor  
Constantinople entering the cite,  
Busied him by fraudulent labour  
All the blood borne of the imperial see  
For to be slain by vengeable cruelty,  
By judgement of this Andronicus  
Except a prince called Jsacius.   

Thus in effect the troth was well seen  
He was vengeable last in his old age  
Right as he was in his years green,  
Felly governed, full of false outrage:  
Last of all malicious of courage  
Took to counsel in Grece he was thus named,  
All such as were disclandered or defamed.   

Homicides he had in his household,  
Tyrants that wrought again rightwiseness,  
Cherished all that hardy were and bold  
Widows, wives, & maidens to oppress:  
Ribaudry was called gentleness,  
Spared nouther he was so lecherous  
Women shorn chaste, nor folk religious.   

Had also no manner conscience  
To his subjects, falsely by ravin  
Took what him list by unjust violence,  
To all vices his youth he did incline:  
And all that were of the royal line  
Were slain eachone except Jsacius,  
As I told erst, by Andronicus.   

And as I find for him in haste he sent  
For this purpose to come to his presence,  
To murder him this was his intent  
By divers tokens and many evidence:  
And fully knew the fine of his sentence  
He like a prince list come no near,  
Smyt of the head of the Messenger.   

And After that of manly providence  
Mid the cite showed him like a knight,  
Prayed lords to give him audience  
Princes, and judges, for to do him right,  
That he might declare in their sight  
Great injuries & damages outragions  
Wrought by th'emperor called Andronicus.   

O citizens that know all the gise  
Of your Emperor called Andronicus,  
Not emperor so as ye list advertise  
But a tyrant cruel and furious,  
A false murderer, vengeable, & despitous,  
Hath of new and froward false courage  
Slain of the Empire holy the lineage.   

There is alive left none of the blood  
Save I alone of the royal line,  
For Andronicus like a tyrant wode  
Hath slain eachone briefly to termine,  
His sword of vengeance they might not decline  
Now purposeth he of mortal tyranny  
To slay me also that am of their ally.   

requiring you in this consistory  
O citizens that here present be,  
To remember and call to memory  
How this famous imperial cite  
Hath aye been ready to do equity,  
Busy also of their noblesse  
Wrong of tyrants manly to oppress.   

Philosophers and poets eke devise  
In their saws prudent and notable,  
Blood of tyrants is noble sacrifice  
To god above when they be vengeable:  
And sith ye be rightful, just, and stable,  
In your works void of variance  
Weigh this matter justly in balance.   

The people eachone all of one assent  
For outrages of this Andronicus  
Put him down by rightful judgement,  
In whose place was set up Jsacius:  
The said tyrant froward and vicious  
'Gan malign and himself dress  
In his defence to make a fortress.   

It holp him not to make resistance,  
So as he stood void of all favour  
Seiged he was, and by violence  
Maugre his myhgt rend out of that tower,  
Spoiled cruelly found no better succour:  
Stood all naked quaking in his pain,  
And first rent out one of his eyen twain.   

And overmore he had this reward  
Without help, succour, or respite,  
Road on an ass his face set backward  
The asses tail holding for despite,  
Whom to behold the people had delight:  
To poor and rich through the cite  
Him to rebuke was granted liberty.   

After all this in a cart set  
And vengeably lad out of the town,  
By doom hanged on an high gibbet  
The people on him to his confusion,  
Made clamour and terrible sound:  
Would never fro the gallows wend  
Till in mischief by death he made an end.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

IN this tragedy against Andronicus,  
Bochas maketh an exclamation  
Again all princes vicious,  
While they have power and domination  
By tyranny using extortion,  
Concluding thus that their false living  
Of right requireth to have an evil ending.   

Indifferently this tyrant lecherous  
Of wives & maidens made none exception,  
Following his lust froward & disclaundrous  
Spared no woman of religion,  
Made wives break their profession  
By violence, poise well all this thing  
Of right requireth to have an evil ending.   

Most in murder he was contagious  
Of innocent blood to make effusion,  
Vengeable also again all virtuous,  
Against his kindred sought occasion  
To slay them, fro which that he came down:  
Which considered all such false working  
Of right requireth to have an evil ending.   

Bochas menaceth princes outrageous  
Which by their proud hateful abusion  
To god and man of will contrarious,  
Having in heart a false opinion  
Al though that been in their subjection  
They may devour their power so stretching,  
Which shall not fail to have an evil ending.   

Noble princes ye that been desirous  
To persever in your demination,  
And in all virtue to be victorious,  
Cherish troth and put falsehood down,  
Be merciable measured by reason:  
Of Andronicus the surfetes eschewing  
That ye by grace may have a good ending.     

The xxii Chapter.  
¶ Of Jsacius made blind and take at mischief.  

AS is rehearsed when Jsacius  
Had all the Empire in his possession,  
To avenge the death of Andronicus  
Constantinople in that royal town  
A brother of his there came down,  
With a basin brenning bright as gleed,  
Made him blind, of him no more I read.   

Except Jsacius was take at mischief  
Of him that wrought his destruction,  
lying await as doth a privy these  
Took the Emperor, put him in prison:  
Vengeably did execution  
As is remembered with a basin bright,  
brenning red hot and so he lost his sight.   

A son he had called Alexius  
Tender of age, cast him to succeed,  
By his tutor false and contrarious  
Murdered he was at mischief as I read:  
The same tutor purposing as in deed  
Of the empire by false collusion  
By fraud and meed to have possession.   

In this chapter of him no more I find  
rehearsed here in order by writing,  
But to mine author the process maketh mind  
There came in haste Sangot of Egypt king,  
And with him came pitously weeping  
Mighty princes Soundans twain,  
Reigning in Damas', their falls to complain   

Of Alopye Salech was that one,  
Reigning in Damas' of his true right,  
Cathabadyn there being eke sultan  
Which in though days was hold a good knight  
And right notable in every man's sight:  
And for the Sultan of Babylon aferre  
Called Saladyn oppressed was with were,   

For succour sent to these princes twain  
To come in haste with all their chivalry,  
Him to support and do their busy pain,  
Enforce their might to abstain his party:  
Whose request they list not deny  
Abode no longer but made themself strong  
To stand with him were it right or wrong.   

Of this matter the substance to conclude  
These princes came Salech & Cathabadyn,  
For their guerdon they found ingratitude  
In this foresaid Sultan Saladin,  
Found him unkind, plainly this is the fine  
From their estates as it was after know  
Disgraded them both, & brought them full low.   

Of him in so the they had none other meed  
For their labour, nor for their kindness,  
What fill after in Bochas I not read  
For he forthwith leaveth this process  
And unto Robert doth his style dress  
Called Farentyne reigning in Taurence,  
Who lost his lordship by sudden violence.   

This to say he reigned but a while,  
This said Robert lost his governance.  
Next to Bochas came Guylliam of Cecile  
King of that country lord of great pu●saunce,  
Lost his kingdom through fortune's variance,  
His eyen twain rend out of his head  
After died in mischief and in dread.   

Which Guilliam reigning in Cecile  
Was by descent borne ●ye of ally▪  
To Robert Guisterde, as books do compile,  
That whilom was duke of Normandye,  
Greatly delighting in chivalry  
With his brother full notable of renown  
Which brought Naples to subjection.   

His brother's name was Rogere,  
Which had a son to be his inheritor  
Called Tancret as saith the croniclere  
Which took upon him to reign as successor:  
Thus in Cecile Tancret was governor,  
Again whom by title sought a far  
Of alliance he 'gan a mortal were.   

For a maid that called was constance  
That daughter was to the king Rogere,  
Which was set of spiritual pleasance  
To be religious of hole heart and enter,  
And by record of the croniclere  
This constance hath the world forsake,  
And to religion hath her body take.   

Of this constance the self same year  
That she was borne as made is mention  
There was a clerk a great astronomer,  
Told of her birth by calculation  
She should cause the desolation  
Of that kingdom, by process of her age  
By the occasion only of marriage.   

Some that were to Tancret great enemy  
By their ungodly exhortation,  
Moved the Emperor that Called was Henry  
To take constance from her religion,  
And by the Pope's dispensation  
She wedded was to th'emperor by his might,  
By title of her put Tancret from his right.   

With a great number of italians  
The Emperor entered in to that region,  
But by favour of Ceciliens  
Tancret long time stood in possession:  
But through fortune's transmutation  
The same time to conclude in sentence  
The said Tancret died on pestilence.   

His son Guillian that was but young in deed  
With Ceciliens cast him not to fail  
To keep his land and his right possede,  
Met the Emperor with stately apparel  
Made him ready with him to have a battle:  
But the Emperor to great advantage  
Cast otherwise of fraud in his courage.   

Fayningly during the discord  
The Emperor cast another while,  
By a false colour to fall at accord  
And young Guilliam ungodly to beguile:  
under treaty taken in Cecile  
Falsely deprived of his region  
Sent to Itaile, and throw in prison.   

By weigh of treaty the story who list see  
All concluded under false treason,  
With Guilliam take were his sisters three  
His eyeu put out for more conclusion,  
He perpetually dampened to prison:  
died in poverty lost his inheritance,  
Lo here the fine of worldly variance.   

Further to write as John Bochas began  
After that Guilliam was put from his reem,  
To him appeared Guyot Lucinian  
Those afore king of Jerusalem,  
Whose knightly fame shone like the son beem  
Which by his noblesse he whison did attain  
Godfrany present that was duke of Lorraine.   

But by the Sultan named Saladine  
He was enchased of that dignity,  
All worldly pomp draweth to decline:  
So for the constraint of his adversity  
The years, passed of his prosperity  
Went in to Cypress as a fugitife,  
What fill after I read not in his life.   

To make his complaint after him came one  
Which had stand in great perplexite,  
earl of Brye●ne and was called John,  
Which afterward was king of the city  
Called Jerusalem, and had also pard  
A fair daughter young and tender of age,  
Joined after to Fredrick in marriage.   

Being that time lord and Emperor  
Was desirous above all other thing  
Of Jerusalem to be governor,  
And of Eecyle to be crowned king:  
Which alderlast for his subtile working  
Constrained was down fro that party  
To be a captain & serve i● lombardy.    

The xxiii Chapter.  
¶ Of Henry the eldest Son of Fredrick the second myscheved by his father.  

NExt to Bochas, crooked, halt, and sick  
One called henry came for to plain  
The eldest son unto Fredrick  
Which by sickness had felt great pain,  
Megre and pale contract in every vain,  
Of whose languor the chief occasion  
Was that he lay so long time in prison.   

Al his disease at great adversity  
Ycaused was for short conclusion  
By his father's froward cruelty,  
As Bochas after maketh mention:  
And this Henry by generation  
Son unto Fredrick like as it is found  
I mean Fredrick called the second.   

This Henry by descent of line  
Of Cecyle first was crowned king,  
And of Jerusalem whose renome did shine  
Through many a land at his beginning:  
And fortune also in her working  
Was to this Henry passing notable,  
In all his works inly favourable.   

Of his person he had this advantage,  
To all the people he was right acceptable,  
Well commended in his flowering age  
Of there face and look right amiable,  
And of his port very demure and stable,  
Called in his ginning such favour he hath won  
Of princes all very light & son.   

But oft it falleth that a glad morning  
When Phoebus showeth his beams bright  
The day sometime thereupon following  
With some dark sky is clipsed of his light:  
And semblably through fortunes might  
This said prince by her false variance  
Fond in her wheel full noious grievance.   

Who may the furies of fortune appease,  
Her troubly waves to make them plain?  
Where men most trust they find most disease,  
Where double courages stand in no certain,  
A shining day is oft meint with rain,  
Thus of Fredrick the great unstableness  
Hath brought his son in mischief & distress.   

This Fredrick set up in great favour  
By the Pope's diligent business  
Unto the state life up of Emperor,  
But through his fatal froward unkindness  
Of covetise fell in such excess,  
Took upon him the Patrimony to gye  
Of Christ's church, that part to occupy.   

Fill in the Pope's indignation,  
Counsel nor treaty might none avail,  
But of malice and presumption  
Cast with the Pope to have a great battle:  
The said Henry his father 'gan counsel  
Again the church to do no violence,  
But him submit with humble obedience.   

The strife enduring atween these estates  
Frederik made his son to be accused,  
To him of crymelese magestatis,  
Would not suffer he should be excused:  
But like a man maliciously refused,  
By his father's cursed false treason  
He was commanded to die in prison.   

Some books say he was taken & brought  
To his father of doom to have sentence,  
But like a man passed sorrow & thought  
Which to his life had none advertence,  
Furiously and with great violence  
As he was lad alas on horseback,  
His horse fell down & so his neck he broke   

Some books rehearse of him and say  
His father took again him occasion:  
And when he had long in chains lain  
At great mischief he died in prison.  
And some say that he fell down  
Of a bridge as Bochas rehearseth her●  
And drowned was in a deep river.   

☞ A commendation of Bochas of such as be kind to their kindred.  

next in ordre mine author did his cure  
To make a special commendation  
Of such as be disposed by nature  
And by their kindly inclination  
As blood requireth and generation,  
To acquit themself in thought will & deed  
Without feigning unto their kindred.   

Specially that none unkindness.  
Be found in them for none adversity,  
To consider of natural gentleness  
To them appropered is mercy and pity  
And to avoid the false duplicity.  
That was in Frederik, which so unkindly  
Let slay his son that called was Henry.   

pity is appropered to kindred,  
Father and mother by disposition  
To cherish their children and eke feed  
Till seven year pass, law maketh mention:  
And as they be bound of natural reason  
That time passed their tenderness ten●lyne,  
Unto fortune by virtuous discipline,   

Than afterward in their adolescence  
Virtuously to tech them and chastise,  
Nourish them in doctrine and Science,  
Fostre in virtue vices to despise:  
To be courtesy prudent sad and eke wise:  
For when they begin with virtue in that age  
Gladly after they do no great outrage.   

As it longeth to every gentle line  
And blood royal by kindly influence,  
To father & mother show themself benign  
Of humble hearts to do them reverence:  
Ay to remember in their advertence  
On six princes that wrought the contrary,  
For which fortune was their adversary.   

Eueriche to other found was unkind,  
In cursed blood may be no kindness,  
Of one tarage savoureth tree and rind,  
The fruit also beareth of the tre witness:  
And semblably the father's cursedness  
With mortal sword in nature reprovable,  
Again the child is oft seen vengeable.   

Among which Brutus is reckoned one,  
Next in order followed Manlius,  
Slew their children by record everichone,  
Philip Manlius and also Cassius,  
And cruel Herode fell and malicious,  
Frederik also most vengeably,  
Slew his son that called was Henry.   

This Frederik aye froward and contrary  
Toward his son not gracious nor benign,  
From holy church ungodly he 'gan vary,  
And theragayne frowardly malign:  
And like a man obstinate and undigne  
Died accursed through misgovernance  
Without confession or repentance.     

The xxiiii chapter.  
☞ How Manfroye king of Poyle was slain.  

next too Bochas of Poyle came the king,  
Began his fall and complaint to specify,  
Called Manfroy, and for his false working  
Put down and slain cause of his tiranuy:  
Lo what availeth septr or regaly,  
To a tyrant which of violence,  
List to god ward have none advertence?    

The xxv Chapter.  
¶ How Ences king of Sardiny died in prison.  

With look down cast, deadly, pale of cheer  
Of Sardinya Ences next came down,  
King of that land to tell the manner  
How he werrayed again the mighty town  
Called Bonon●a to his confusion  
By them vanquished & with chains round  
died in prison so long he lay there bound.   

Following mine author called Bocas John,  
In Sardinia, as he maketh mind,  
Serpent nor wolf in that land was none,  
Having a well which of very kind  
thieves eyen the water maketh blind:  
To true folk as he doth divine  
Water thereof was health and Medicine.   

There groweth also an herb as books say  
Which that is so divers of nature  
Who tasteth thereof laughing he shall they,  
No medicine may help them nor secure:  
The touch thereof stante eke in adventure,  
If it enter his mouth on any side,  
He shall alive for laughter not abide.    

The xxvi chapter.  
❧ How an other Frederyke was slain by judgement of his brother.  

THere was another froward Fredrick  
Son of Alphonce that was king of Castyle,  
Of courage wode and eke fran●yke,  
His own brother falsely to beguile  
Began a were lasting but a while:  
Whose purpose was his brother to dysceive  
And the crown of Castille to receive.   

This Fredrick came with a great battle  
Again his brother for the same intent,  
Of his purpose yet he did fail,  
God nor fortune were not of assent:  
Take in the field, and by judgement  
Of his brother for his great trespass,  
Slain openly he had no better grace.    

The xxvii Chapter.  
☞ How Manimettus and Argones died at mischief.  

MAnymettus of Perce lord and king  
Came next in press distressed in great pain,  
Upon fortune piteously plaining  
His adversity did him so constrain:  
For there was one which at him did disdain  
Called Argones, void of title or line  
gain Manimettus proudly 'gan malinge.   

Which Argones for his presumption  
Take at mischete by sudden violence,  
His doom was given to die in prison,  
Of no power to make resistance:  
But fortune that can no difference  
Of her changes atween friend and foe,  
Caused them die at mischief both two.    

❧ The xxviii Chapter.  
☞ How Charles King of Jerusalem and of Cecile for avarice and adultery died at mischief  

AFter these foresaid rehearsed in sentence  
As Bochas remembreth in his style,  
Came Noble Charles unto presence  
King of Jerusalem and also of Cecile,  
Of whose coming mine author a great while  
astonied was, to see his knightly face  
With such cheer come in to the place.   

For by his port who beheld him weal  
Considered first his look and his visage,  
It sempt he tread upon fortunes wheel,  
And of his noble martial courage  
Had of her power gotten advantage:  
Showing himself on each party  
Her and her might did utterly defy.   

First to commend his royal high lineage  
And of his virtuous famous alliance,  
And by writing and praising of language  
The name of him specially to advance,  
Saith he was borne of the blood of France,  
And to increase most soveraynlye his prize  
Writeth he was brother unto saint Le wise.   

Gave to France this commendation,  
So as Phoebus passeth each other star,  
Right so that kingdom in comparison  
Passeth every land both nigh and far:  
In policy, be it peace or were,  
For it transcendeth in peace by providence,  
And in were by knightly excellence.   

These words be nat take of mine author,  
entitled here for a remembrance  
By one Laurence which was translator  
Of this process, to commend France,  
To praise that land was all his pleasance:  
Saith influence of that royal land  
Made Charles so worthy of his hand.   

Of whose noblesse Pope Vrban had joy,  
Him to increase for virtuous living,  
Which that time was duke of Anjoy  
After chosen of Cecile to be king,  
Of Pope Vrban required by writing,  
Toward Rome that he should him dress,  
Of king Manfroy the tyranny to oppress.   

Again the Pope and holy church right  
This said Manfroy did great extortion,  
Noble Charles as gods own knight  
Came with strong hand up to Rome town,  
Which in his coming gave possession  
To Gyot Manfort for to have the guard,  
In his passage to govern the vanward.   

To Rome with great ordinance  
They passed over the bounds of italy,  
This manly knight Charles borne in france  
Lad with him many a strong battle  
The Pope's enemy manly to assail:  
But all this while to stand at diffence  
This said Charles found no resistance.   

Entering Rome to be their protector  
Full well received at his first entering,  
Chose and preferred for chief senator  
By the pope, most glad of his coming,  
Of Cecile was after crowned king:  
And of Jerusalem as made is mention  
Granted to him full possession   

Which in his beginning bore him so well,  
Entering y● land with knightly apparel  
Of Cassine gate first the strong castle,  
At benevent had a great battle,  
With king Manfroy, whose party did assail  
To rehearse shortly his adventure,  
Charles made on him a discomfiture.   

In which battle king Manfroy was slain,  
And noble Charles took possession,  
Whereof Romans were full glad and fain  
Yet in Cecile there was rebellion,  
But they were brought unto subjection,  
And Conradine record of all writing,  
Son of Conrade claimed to be king   

'Gan make him strong, proudly took his place  
At Alygate a famous old cite,  
Noble Charles with knightly cheer & face  
Fill upon him, made him for to fly:  
And to set rest in the country  
To avoid trouble & make all thing certain,  
Gave judgment Conradyne to be slain.   

Among kings notable and glorious  
Charles was put as made is mention,  
Like a prince strong and victorious  
In full peaceable and hold possession  
Of Cecile and all that region,  
against whom was no disobeisance  
Yielded of hole heart to his governance.   

By title also of his alliance  
Fortune greatly did him magnify,  
For as it is put in remembrance  
The noble princess that called was Mary  
Daughter to Stephano reigning in Hungry  
Joined was and knit in marriage  
To Charles son, to thincrease of his lineage.   

This same Charles by authority  
So as himself list to ordain,  
Was made king of the great city  
Called Jerusalem, of towns most sovereign.  
By which title he bore crowns twain,  
His brother jews old books say  
The same time in Egypt 'gan werray.   

Gate all the countries about environ  
which that saracens did falsely occupy,  
Brought them again to subjection  
Of Jerusalem that iande to magnify:  
Cartage in Africa with all their regal  
And all the countries being afore contrary,  
To king Charles became tributayre.   

This while he sat highest in his glory  
Like Phoebus' shining in his midday spear,  
with many conquest & many great victory:  
when his noblesse shone most bright & clear  
The same time with a frowning cheer  
Fortune 'gan from Charles turn her face,  
And him bereft her favour and her grace.   

This lady fortune doth seld in one contune  
She is so geryshe of condition,  
A sorceress, a traitor in common  
Cast a false mean to his destruction  
One of his sons slain with poison,  
which did eclipse mine auctor doth express,  
A full great party of his old gladness.   

He was disclandered of all the vice  
which appertaineth unto tyranny,  
I mean the vice of froward avarice  
which is contrary unto his chivalry:  
defamed also of false adultery:  
which was sustained through his maintenance  
within the land by a knight of France.   

The same knight abiding in his house  
All Cecile troubled with that deed,  
The great offence was so disclaundrous  
Through all the region it began to spread,  
For thilk woman plainly as I read  
was wife to one which suffered this offence,  
And to be venged did his diligence.   

John Prosith plainly was his name,  
which cast him fully avenged for to be  
That king Charles should bear the blame,  
Slew all the frenchmen that bode in y● country  
Without grace, mercy, or pite,  
And for to do full execution  
Required was the king of Arragon.   

Lost of Cecile hole the region,  
With obeisance of many country,  
And of Jerusalem the possession  
Fill by process in great adversity:  
And last constrained with grievous poverty  
To god most meekly with full heavy cheer,  
Soon to be dead was his prayer.   

surprised he was with sorrow in his courage,  
Lost his force, fell in to malady,  
Languished forth till he 'gan fa●l in age,  
Again fortune found no remedy:  
And by occasion of false adultery  
Fill to mischief and for sorrow & dread,  
This Charles died, no more of him I read.   

¶ Lenuoye.  

Like as Phoebus in some fresh morning  
After Aurora the day doth clarify,  
Falleth oft that his bright shining  
Is darked with some cloudy sky,  
Alykenes showed in this tragedy:  
Expert in Charles the story doth well prove  
Youth and age reckoned truly  
The fair day men do praise at eve.   

The noble fame of his fresh gynning  
To saint allows he was nigh of ally,  
Right wise, manly, & virtuous of living,  
Called of knighthod flower of chivalry,  
Till maintenance of adultery  
Came in to his court to hurt his name and grieve,  
His life, his death, put in jeopardy  
The fair day men do praise at eve.   

Like deserts men have their guerdoning,  
Virtuous life doth princes magnify,  
The contrary to them is great hyndring  
Folk expert the troth may not deny,  
search out the reward of cursed lechery  
Where it is used the household may not prove,  
In this matter to Charles have an eye  
The fair day to praise toward eve.   

Noble princes all vices eschewing  
Your high courage let reason gye,  
Withdraw your hand fro riotous watching,  
Fly fleshly lusts and vicious company:  
Oppress no man, do no tyranny  
succour the needy, poor folk do relieve,  
Let men report the prudent policy  
Of your last age when it draweth to eve.     

❧ The xxix Chapter.  
¶ Of Hugoline Earl of Pisa slain in prison.  

AFter Charles story red the woeful fine  
As ye have heard the manner and the guise,  
To John Bochas appeared Hugolyne  
Called whilom the earl of Pyse,  
Till they 'gan again him arise  
Most vengeable, cruel and unkind,  
Slew him in prison no more of him I find.   

Save his children of haterede and envy  
Were murdered eke in a deep prison  
Next with his complaint the king of Armeny  
Came tofore Bochas that called was Athon,  
A christian prince full famous of renown,  
For our faith from which he list nat err  
gain Tarta●ines longtime he held were.   

This manly king in knighthod full famous  
It was showed, his story who list read,  
Had a brother fell and despitous  
Called Sabath desirous to succeed,  
Sted of his brother the kingdom to possede  
By false treason, reaved of his right,  
Kept him in hold and put him out of sight.   

This Sabath lost both hap and grace,  
His other brother as made is mention  
By strong hand put him from his place,  
Chased him out of that region:  
Take by force, and fettered in prison  
Died there, no man list him visit  
Lo how god can treason & murdre quite.    

The xxx chapter.  
¶ How Pope Boniface the eight was take by the lineage de Columpnes, eat his hands, and died in prison.  

AMong these woeful princes three  
Which showed them so ugly of their cheer,  
Pope Boniface by great adversity  
The eight of that name 'gan to approach near,  
A thousand. C C C. accounted was the year  
Fro Christ's birth, by computation:  
When that he made his lamentation   

This same Pope caught occasion  
Which under Peter kept governance  
To interdict all the region  
Time of king Philip reigning tho in France,  
Direct bulls down to constance  
To Nycholas, made by Boviface  
Archdeacon of the same place.   

Of holy church the prelate's nigh ethone  
bishops of France felly have declared,  
Preving by points many more than one,  
In a great sin plainly and nat spared  
By him the church was hurt & not repaired,  
Put on him crimes of great misgovernance  
Denouncing enemy to all the land of France.   

Put on him many a great outrage  
Wrongly how he had done offence  
To a cardinal borne of the lineage  
De Columpnes, a kindred of reverence:  
For which cause he kept him in absence,  
Out of the court drew where he was borne  
By which occasion y● Pope his life hath lorn.   

De Columpnes the lineage hath so wrought  
Took Boniface for his old cruelty,  
with great force & power they have him brought  
Unto a castle which stood in the cite  
Called Sa●●ri Angeli, gave authority  
To a cardinal and by commission  
Power to do full execution.   

Of these matters hanging in balance  
At ween parties were it right or wrong,  
Both of romans & prelate's eke of France  
The pope aye kept within the castle strong,  
Of adventure abiding there nat long  
Fill in a flux and afterward for need,  
For hunger eat his hands as I read.   

Hour of his dying it is made mention  
About the castle was marvelous lightning,  
Where the pope lay fettered in prison:  
None such afore was seen in their living.  
And while Bochas was busi in writing  
To write the fall of this Bonyface,  
The order of templars came tofore his face.    

The xxxi Chapter.  
☞ How the order of Templars was founded and jaques with other of the order brent.  

Chroniclers the troth can record  
Calling to mind the first foundation  
And old auctors therewith accord  
Of these Templars how y● religion  
'Gan that time when Godfray de Bullion  
Had won, that noble knightly man,  
Jerusalem, that order first began.   

By certain knights which did their pain:  
When the cite was first ywonne,  
By noble Godfray duke whilom of Lorraine  
There crowned king this order they begun,  
Old books well rehearse can  
Taking a ground of poverty & meekness  
To found this order did their business.   

Their beginning 'gan of devotion,  
The ground tale of wilful poverty,  
And made first their habitation  
By the temple not far from the cite:  
In token of cleanness sworn to chastity,  
Of the temple like to their desires  
Took their name, & called were Templars.   

Pope Honorie gave them authority  
Of holy church being that time heed,  
A white habit they bore that time for chastity,  
Eugenius after gave them a cross of read:  
And to defend pilgrims out of dread  
gain saracens through their high renown,  
This was chief point of their profession.   

While they lived in wilful poverty  
These crossed knights in mantle clad of white,  
They are spread in many a far country,  
For in perfection was set all their delight:  
folk of devotion caught an appetite  
Them to increase gave great alms,  
By which they 'gan wax to great richesses.   

By process within few years  
The number great of their religion,  
And the fame of the said Templars  
'Gan spread wide in many region:  
With the sudden rising of their profession,  
With tours, castles, they gave the to delices,  
Appalled in virtue that brought in many vices.   

It were to long to reckon them all,  
But among other I find there was one  
A manly knight, folk jaques did him call,  
Great of authority among them everichone,  
As chronicles remember of yore agone  
The which jaques in the realm of France  
Was borne of blood to great inheritance.   

The same jaques hold a manly knight  
In his ginning fresh, lusty of courage,  
Had a brother by elder title of right  
Occupied all hole the heritage:  
Because jaques younger was of age  
Which might not by no condition  
Nothing claim of that possession.   

His elder brother occupied all  
While this Jaques but low was of degree,  
Wonder desirous to be with him equal,  
Always put back by froward poverty:  
And to surmount if it would be  
Found out a mean like to his desires,  
Was chosen master of the templars.   

And was promoted by free election  
By them that should choose him of right,  
Whereby he had great domination  
riches, treasure, great power and might,  
Of his person was eke a manly knight,  
The same time put in remembrance  
Philip le Bele crowned king of France.   

Which had of jaques great indignation,  
To all the templars and all the chivalry  
Cast ways to their destruction,  
Gate authority his lust to fortify  
Down fro the pope books specify  
Clement their concluding if he may,  
All the templars to destroy on a day.   

For certain crimes horrible to here  
All at ones were set in prison,  
By their friends touching this matter  
counseled to ask mercy and pardon:  
That they should by plain confession  
Requiring him kneeling on a row,  
And as it was their trespass been aknowe.   

jaques was take & with him other three  
Kept in hold and to prison sent,  
And the remnant for their iniquity  
Ordained were by open judgement  
To mighty stakes to be tied and brent:  
The king in manner like to do them grace  
So they would confess their trespass.   

But all for nought they were so indurate  
All of accord and of one courage  
To ask mercy were obstinate,  
The fire ready all with one language  
When the flame approached their visage  
Full plainly spoke cried piteously,  
Of their acts which they were not guilty.   

From their purpose they list not to decline  
But with one voice eachone and one sound  
Fully affirmed till they did fine,  
How their order and their religion  
I grounded was upon perfection:  
And their death verily in deed  
Compassed was of malice and hatred.   

The said Jaques of whom I spoke to forne  
Brought to a place which called was Leon  
Tofore two legates or that his life was lost  
All openly made his confession,  
He was worthy for short conclusion  
For to be dead by rightful judgement,  
This was his end to ashes he was brent.    

The xxxii Chapter.  
❧ Bochas here commendeth Theodorus with other two Philosophers for their patience notably.  

YEuing a prize to Philosophers three,  
Bochas commendeth with great diligence  
How each of them was in his co●tre  
sovereignly by virtuous excellence  
Of old commended for their patience:  
Which may be set and crowned in her stall  
As Empress among virtues al.   

Among Ceciliens first Theodorus  
For patience had in great reverence,  
Among Greeks the story telleth thus  
Anaxerses for his magnificence,  
By force of virtue grounded on patience  
Because he was virtuous and wise  
For sufferance gate him a sovereign prize.   

Among Romans put in remembrance  
Scevola, both philosopher and knight,  
For his martial strong constance  
When that he held amid the flame light  
Hand & fingers among the coals bright,  
Till the joints falling here and yonder  
From the wrist departed were a sunder.   

first Theodorus borne in the famous isle  
By patience great pains enduring,  
Chief philosopher called of Cecile  
With chains bound upon the ground lying,  
On his body laid gads read brenning:  
Suffering his pain list it not refuse  
By king Jerome the tyrant of Siracuse.   

For common profit suffered all his pain  
Long time afore lying in prison,  
Which by assent of more than one or twain  
Was the most chief by conspiration  
To bring the tyrant to his destruction:  
For no pain that he might endure  
The conjuration he would not discure.   

Rather he chase in mischief for to they  
Than by name openly declare  
Of him that slew the tyrant soothly to say,  
Thought of right no man should spa●e  
For common profit health and welfare:  
To slay a tyrant deeming for the best  
All a region for to set at rest.   

For which title he list suffer death,  
All his torment took most patiently,  
Theodorus till he yielded up the breath  
grudged not with noise nor loud cry:  
Amid whose heart rooted was faithfully  
Common profit, Bochas writeth the same,  
Among Ceciliens to get him a name   

Greeks also commend above the stars  
Anaxerses and greatly magnify,  
Cause that he to stint mortal wars  
List not spare to acquit his party,  
In rebuking manly the tyranny  
Of Nico●reon, a tyrant full mortal  
reigning in Cipre in his estate royal.   

Spared neither for death ne dread  
Him to rebuke by virtuous language,  
The tyrant bad cut out of his head  
His tongue in haste, but he with strong courage  
Said he should have none advantage  
Of that member, which with all his might  
Haddit told him truth in the people's sight.   

Of his menace set but little tale  
bit of his tongue of strong courage,  
Chewed it all on pieces small  
Of manly heart thought it no damage  
Spit it out in the visage  
Of the tyrant, gate so the victory  
To put his name evermore in memory.   

And Scevola equal to these twain  
For common profit by just comparison,  
Put him in press, did his busy pain  
To slay Porcenna enemy to Rome town,  
For to accomplish his intention  
Took a strong dart passingly trenchaunte,  
With all his might cast it at the tyrant.   

Of his mark cause he did fail  
To slay his enemy after his intent,  
Which in Tuscan by many strong battle  
Gayns Romans with his knights went,  
This Scevola his own hand brent:  
Cause that he failed of his art  
To slay Proceuna with casting of his dart.   

To declare the force of his manhood  
Put himself avenged for to be,  
As I have told in coals read  
His hand he brent for love of his cite:  
Only to acquit his magnanimity  
Of fervent love his cite to avail  
To slay the tyrant cause that he did fail.   

Thus for to put the martial sufferance  
Of these noble philosophers three  
In perpetual mind and remembrance  
How they them quit each like his degree,  
For their pure party unto the commonte,  
Cause all their joy and inward delight.  
Was for avail to the common profit.   

first Theodorus put himself in prees  
For Ceciliens to die in prison,  
And for Greeks noble Anaxerses  
His tongue torn felt great passion,  
And Scevola for romans and their town  
Suffered his hand by short advisement,  
Of very troth in coals to be brent.   

A martyrdom it was in their manner  
Of their courage to have so great constance,  
Were so stable of heart body and cheese  
For common profit, of face and countenance  
Unto the death without variance:  
Gate the triumph by sovereign excellence  
With laurer crowned for their patience.   

Like as Phoebus passeth the little star  
Hyest upraised in his midday spear,  
So this virtue in trouble peace & were  
Called patience, most freshly doth appear,  
Among virtues to show his beams clear:  
For patience knit with humility  
Where they abide may none error be.   

Tyrants' hearts this virtue doth appease,  
Modifyeth their cruel fell woodenness,  
Rage of Lions who list live in ease  
Of folk prostrate his malice doth repress,  
All our joy 'gan first with meekness,  
For of Juda the hardy strong lion  
A maiden's meekness fro heaven brought down.   

In battle and mighty strong sheltrons'  
Advice with sufferance winneth the victory,  
Patience venquisheth champion's  
Lowness in virtue by many old history,  
And meekness perpetual of memory  
Al to conclude grounded on reason  
A maiden's meekness wrought our redemption.   

¶ Bochas here commendeth humility.  

Virtue of virtues O noble patience,  
With Laurer crowned O virtuous constance,  
Laud honour praise and reverence  
Be give to thee prices of most pleasance,  
Most renowned by old remembrance:  
Of whom the mighty martial armure  
gain all vices longest may endure.   

Ground and ginning to stand at defence  
Again Satan's infernal puissance,  
Laureate queen where thou art in presence  
From outrages have no governance,  
Condite, head spring of plenteous abundance,  
Crystal well celestial of figure  
gain all vices which longest may endure.   

Chief founderes by sovereign excellence  
Of ghostly building & spiritual substance,  
Empress of most magnificence  
With heavenly spirits next of alliance,  
With life everlasting thy triumphs tavaunce:  
And joy eternal thy noblesse lo assure  
In the aureat throne perpetually to endure.   

Three Jerarchies there living in preinence,  
With whom humility hath sovereign acquaintance  
Where hosanna with devout diligence  
Is song of angels by long continuance,  
Tofore the throne keeping their observance  
sing Sanctus sanctus record of scripture,  
With voice memorial perpetually tendure.   

The burning love of Cherubin, by fervence  
Perfect in charity diligent obeisance,  
And Seraphin with humble obedience  
And orders nine by heavenly concordance  
Domination with virtuous attendance,  
Afore the trinity sing freshly by measure,  
With voice memorial perpetually tendure.   

sufferance of paynim hath but appearance  
Done for vainglory, hanging in balance,  
But Christ's martyrs in very existence  
List again tyrants make no repugnance:  
Rather die than show god displeasance,  
showed in no mirror likeness nor picture  
Take full possession with Christ ever tendure.   

sufferance for virtue hath the pre-eminence  
Of them that set in god their affiance,  
Record of Stephyn Vincent & Laurence  
Blessed Edmonde by long perseverance,  
Suffered for our faith victorious grievance:  
King made & martyr a palm to recure  
In the heavenly court perpetually to endure.   

And for to set a manner difference  
In Bochas book told every circumstance,  
How for our faith by full great violence  
divers saints have suffered great penance,  
Stable of their cheer visage & countenance:  
Never to vary for none adventure  
Like Christ's champions perpetually tendure.   

Whose foundation by notable providence  
Grounded on Christ their souls to advance,  
Grave in their hearts and in their conscience  
Voiding all trouble of worldly perturbaunce,  
Changes of fortune with her double chance:  
Loved god and dread above each creature  
In hope with him perpetually to endure.     

The xxxiii Chapter.  
¶ How Philip le Bele king of France was slain with a wild Boar, and of his three sons and their wedding.  

When Bochas had written of patience  
And commended the virtue of sufferance,  
Philip le Bele came to his presence  
Fift of the name crowned king of France:  
'Gan complain his unhappy chance,  
And on fortune of custom that can vary  
Which was to him cruel adversary.   

Wounded he was with a grievous sore,  
'Gan his complaint to Bochas determine,  
How he was slain with a wild bore,  
In a forest which called was Compyne,  
Told how he was slandered & all his line  
Ones in Flaunders with many a worthy knight  
vanquished of flemminges, & felly put to flight.   

proceeding ferther 'gan touch of his lineage  
How in his time he had sons three,  
jews Philip & Charles young of age,  
The fourth Robert: also a daughter had he  
Called Isabella, right excellent of beauty:  
The said Robert the story is well couth  
Which that died in his tender youth.   

To this story who li●t have good regard  
The circumstance wisely to discern,  
His daughter Isabella was wedded to Edward  
Carneruan, the book so doth us learn:  
This young Philip wedded in navarre  
The kings daughter, a stately marriage,  
Called Jane, while she was tender of age.   

The same Philip after crowned king  
Of navarre, his father of assent  
five sons he had than living,  
Of which five as in sentyment  
Three in number be right pertinent  
The matter who so list to look,  
And the process of the same book.   

The eldest son called was Lewise  
To whom his father gave possession  
Of navarre, because that he was wise  
For to govern that noble region:  
Philip his brother for his high renown  
Was afterward by just inheritance  
And rightful title crowned king of France.   

The third brother was by title of right  
Made earl of march & named was Charles,  
Each of them in the people's sight  
Were famous hold & passing of great prize,  
And for they were right manly & right wise  
Philip and Charles took in tender age,  
The earls daughters of Burgoin in marriage   

But as the story rehearseth in certain  
To their noblesse fortune had envy,  
And by a manner of malice and disdain  
Brought in a process upon the party  
Of their two wives froward adultery,  
Causing the death of these wives three  
When they most flowered in their felicity.   

After these three princes glorious,  
Tofore Bochas had show their intent  
A mighty duke notable and famous  
Came to complain Charles of Tarent,  
Which in his time to Florence went  
To make peace in his royal estate  
between Guerite & Gemellius standing at debate   

The said Charles borne of the blood of france  
A manly knight the story doth devise,  
By whose unhappy fatal froward chance  
In the wars between Florence and Pyse  
On horseback sitting in knightly wise,  
Hurt which an arowful low down to ground,  
Whereby he caught his last fatal wound.   

A man of arms being a soldier  
With the pisanes were it wrong or right  
Of false disdain did his busy labour  
To tread on Charles in the people's sight,  
When he lay gruffe wherefore he was made knight  
By their captain, for a manner pride  
Which governed the Sybelines side.   

And in his study with full heavy cheer  
While John Bochas bode still on his seat,  
To him appeared and 'gan approach near  
Daunt of Florence the laureate Poet,  
With his ditties and rethoriques' sweet,  
Demure of look fulfilled with patience,  
With a visage notable of reverence.   

When Bochas saw him upon his feet he stod,  
And to meet him he took his pace full right,  
with great reverence availed cap and hod,  
To him said with humble cheer and sight,  
O clearest son, O very soothfast light  
Of our cite, which called is Florence,  
Laude be to the honour and reverence.   

Thou hast enlumined Itaile & Lombardy  
With Laureate ditties in thy flowering days,  
Ground and beginning of prudent policy  
'Mong Florentines suffered great affrays:  
As gold pure proved at all assays  
In troth madest meekly thyself strong,  
For common profit to suffer pain & wrong.   

O noble Poet touching this matter  
How Florentines to the were unkind,  
I will remember & write with good cheer  
Thy piteous exile and put here in mind:  
Fray (quoth Daunt) hear stante one behind  
Duke of Athens turn to him thy style,  
His uncouth story briefly to compile.   

And if thou list do me this pleasance  
To describe his knightly excellence,  
I will thou put his life in remembrance  
How he oppressed by mighty violence  
This famous cite called Florence.  
By which story plainly thou shalt see  
Which were friends and foes to the cite.   

And which were able to be excused  
If the troth be clearly apperceived,  
And which were worthy to be refused  
By whom the cite full falsely was deceived:  
The circumstance notably conceived  
To reckon in order by every side  
Which should be chased and which should abide    

The xxxiiii Chapter.  
¶ How duke Gaulter of Florence for his tyranny lechery and covetise ended in mischief.  

ANd when Bochas knew all thintention  
Of the said Daunt, he cast him anon right  
To obey his master as it was reason,  
Took his pen and as he cast his sight  
Alight aside he saw no manner wight  
Save duke Gaulter of all the long day,  
For Daunt unwarely vanished was away.   

This said Gaulter bruely to perocede  
Like as it is put in remembrance,  
Touching his line and his royal kindred  
He was descended of the blood of France,  
By long process and knightly purveyance  
His father first by diligent labour  
Of Athenes was lord and governor.   

Stood but a while in clear possession,  
Greeks to him had full great envy,  
Cast of assent to put him down  
And deprive him of his famous duchy,  
To their intent a leisure they did espy:  
Took him at mischief, quaking in his dread  
Of high despite in haste smit of his head.   

Upon whose death avenged for to be  
This said Gaulter with mighty apparel  
Cast he would asiege that cite,  
But of his purpose long he did fail:  
And in this while with many strong battle  
Two mighty prices were come down of Pisa,  
Laid a siege to Luke in full knightly wise.   

Florentines to Luke were favourable,  
And to deliver the siege from the town  
With multitude almost innumerable  
Made ordinance, and knightly came down,  
Which turned after to their destruction:  
For it fell so of mortal adventure  
On Florentines fell the discomfiture.   

The noise and fame of this great battle  
'Gan spread far by report of language  
In Lombardy and in italy,  
'Mong soldiers lusty of courage,  
And among other feigning a pilgrimage  
The said Gaulter by unware violence,  
Came fro Naples down in to Florence.   

The Florentines held first a parliament  
For the salvation and guard of their city,  
By great prudence and great advisement  
Of such as were highest of degree,  
By one assent they gave the sovereignty  
Them to govern hoping to their increase,  
With statutes made both for were & peace.   

The greatest states rulers of the town  
Called Magnates though days in soothness  
To Gaulter gave this domination,  
Of intent the commons to oppress:  
And merchants to spoil, their of riches,  
strain men of craft by froward violence  
Again their liberties used in Florence.   

The people always in await lying  
To be restored unto their liberty,  
'Gan grudge sore among themself plaining  
For great extortion done to their city:  
The greatest also of most authority  
Had liefer to suffer Gaulter reign,  
Than their actions to modify or restrain.   

The said Gaulter in full subtle wise  
By a false manner of simulation  
Enemy in heart unto their franchise,  
All that he wrought for short conclusion  
Was done only to their destruction,  
With a pretence feigned of frendlyhede  
To his promise contrary aye was the deed.   

clomb up by process to full high estate  
By feigned speech and subtle flattery,  
In his heart wext pompous and elate  
His working outward no man coude espy:  
Light and little drough to his party,  
That to conclude shortly for to say  
All Florence his lusts did obey.   

'Gan subtly please the commonte  
For to accomplish falsely his desires,  
Made promise to increase their liberty:  
To such as were froward of manners  
Made an oath to destroy their officers  
But they would of their free volunte  
Grant unto him larger liberty,   

Gretter power and domination.  
To increase his might on every side  
'Gan menace the greatest of the town,  
And day by day increase in his pride:  
Felly he 'gan felly he did abide  
Thereupon, kept close in their entrayle  
The Florentines greatly 'gan marvel.   

In this while there was one Reymere  
Of great authority and of great reverence,  
A mighty sergeant and a great officere,  
To whose bidding obeyed all Florence,  
Which with Gaulter accorded in sentence  
With soldiers had stuffed each hostry,  
For to sustain of Gaulter the party.   

And traytourly for to fortify  
The intent of Gaulter fell and ambitious,  
To have the state only by tyranny  
As their chief lord froward & surquedous.  
To reign in Florence the case perilous:  
When two tyrants both of one assent  
With multitude to accomplish their intent.   

Which thing considered by their governors  
And Magnates called in the city,  
When they found among them no socours  
To remedy their great adversity,  
Fill to accord of necessity:  
Gave their assent without variance  
That Gaulter should have all the governance.   

And condescended they were to this issue  
That Gaulter should in all his best wise  
Upon the body be sworn of Christ Jhesu  
Them to restore unto their franchise  
Used of old, and for no covetise  
From their promise for life ne death decline,  
As the convention list to termine.   

hereupon was blow a trumpet  
For to assemble the states of the town,  
A parliament was holden Gaulter first set  
Holy to pronounce the convention,  
With every parcel entitled by reason  
Like their accord declaring anonright  
Stood up a vocate in the people's sight.   

With men of Arms in steel armed bright  
Unto their palace chief and principal  
The said Gaulter conveyed anonright,  
Set in a seat most stately and royal:  
And the people with voice memorial  
'Gan cry loud concluding in sentence  
Gaulter for ever chief lord of Florence.   

Who to persever during all his life  
Took in the palace full possession,  
There durst none again it make strife  
Granted to him the domina●●●  
Of all the castles about environ:  
Tuscan, Areth, and castle Florentine,  
With all lordships to mount Appenyne.   

As ye have herd Gaulter thus began  
By his own furious divinal,  
Said he was borne to be lord of Tuscan  
And a great party also of italy,  
Told he was lad & conveyed by a quail:  
Said evermore were it right or wrong  
That was the sentence of the birds song.   

The same bird brought him first to Florence  
All the way afore him took his flight,  
With sote singing did him reverence  
high in the air of courage glad and light,  
would never part out of his sight:  
Gave him tokens to set his heart afyre,  
That of Florence he should be lord & sire.   

The same bird he bore in his divyses  
Full richly enbrauded with pyrre,  
Took upon him many great emprises  
As chief lord of Florence the cite:  
Sat in judgment governed the country,  
Drew to him flatterers & folk that coude lie  
Bawds & ribaudes where he might them spy.   

Of that city took marvelous truages,  
Croched to him richesse of the town,  
Of lechery used great outrages,  
Of maidens & wives made none exception:  
Void of mercy grace and remission  
Found quarrel for to be vengeable,  
That to rehearse it is abominable.   

Where he hated merciless he slay thee,  
Broke franchises and old liberties,  
The people plained, desired sore his death,  
Cried vengeance about their cities,  
For tyranny done in their countries:  
Which was cause of great dissension  
And of their city almost subversion.   

Thus they were among themself divided  
For their grievous sudden oppression,  
Lack of foresight that they were nat provided  
To see mischiefs that should fall in the town:  
This is very sooth where is division  
By witness and record of Scripture,  
May no kingdom nor cite long endure.   

For which they 'gan complain one and all  
Both of the great and comonte,  
And of accord among themself they fall  
To reform the hurt of their city,  
And finally they condescended be  
By a manner fell conjuration  
To proceed to his destruction.   

Upon a day they armed in steel bright  
Magnates first with commons of the town  
All to assent rose up anon right,  
'Gan to make an hideous sown,  
Let slay this tyrant, let us pull him down:  
Laid a siege by mighty violence,  
Aforne his palace, where he lay in Florence.   

Such as were inclined to Gaulter  
Amid the palais the story doth us learn,  
To eschew the siege with full heavy cheer  
Ordained themself to fly away full yern:  
Out of the town by a small postern,  
When Florentines did their labour  
To undermine round about the tower.   

Of which thing when Gaulter took heed  
This message sent unto the town,  
not of troth but fayningly for dread  
Made promise by false collusion  
For to make full restitution  
Of their fredoms, as they list devise  
Sent them out Guyllamine Dassyse.   

Which to the cite was proved utter foe  
Had aforne done them great damage,  
With Guyllamyne, he sent to them also  
His son and he ire to stint all their rage,  
Worse than his father of will and of courage  
Both at once were hanged anon right  
Tofore the palace in Gaulters sight.   

Another also that called was Henry  
Which had afore year instruction  
Unto Gaulter, and was eke enemy  
To stir him again that noble town,  
Gynner and ground of their division  
Which tofore Gaulter his judgement to show,  
With sharp sword he was all to hew.   

The execution done upon these thr●  
In Tuscan borne, the rancour did appease  
Of Florentines, to staunch the cruelty  
Again Gaulter, & to his life great ease:  
He glad to escape out of his disease  
Fled away in full secret wise,  
The town restored again to their franchise.   

Thus he lost by his insolence  
All his power and domination  
Both of Tuscan and also of Florence,  
And as mine author maketh mention  
Fro Lombardy he is descended down:  
Drew to king john reigning tho in France,  
And of birth full nigh of alliance.   

As I find he was on that party  
With king John this Gaulter like a knight,  
When that the king with all his chivalry  
Was take himself his lords put to flight,  
Into England lad after anon right:  
The said Gaulter having no regard  
To his worship fled like a coward.   

Met in his flight with diverse soldiers  
Of Lombardy abiding with king john,  
Which that time as brygantes & pillars  
Took this Gaulter led him forth anon,  
His force his courage his heart was agone,  
Of adventure a certain Florentine  
Smit of his head this was his fatal fine.    

The xxxv Chapter.  
¶ Of Philipot Cathenoise borne of low birth, which came unto great estate, and after she, her son & her daughter were brent.  

BEspraynt with tears and woeful noise  
Tofore Bochas quaking in sorrow and dread,  
Next in order came Philipot Cathenoyse,  
Poor of degree borne of low kindred,  
Which rose after to great estate in deed:  
And 'gan with sorrow & complaint full mortal  
Seriously to tell her woeful fall.   

Touching her birth dark was her lineage,  
Of poor bed borne on other side,  
Bochas was loath to spend great language  
On her history long thereon to abide,  
Purposed him nothing for to hide  
Of the substance, but tell all the great  
And superfluite of the remnant to let:   

Which was rehearsed by him in his youth  
When he was toward Robert of Cecyle  
King of jerusalem the story is nat couth,  
Yet in his book he list it compile,  
And it rehearse by full sovereign stile  
Like in that court as it was to him told  
By one Bulgare called in slavaine old.   

The said Bulgare was a marynere  
With him also was a Calabrien  
Called Constantine, which full many a year  
Travailed had and sundry things seen  
In divers countries there he had been,  
'Mong other things seen in days old  
This was a story which Bulgare told.   

Duke of Calabre Robert by his name  
By his father Charles the mighty king  
Had in commandment, the story saith the same  
gain Fredrick to make a strong riding:  
Which by force proudly usurping  
Took upon him to be lord of that isle  
Which called was the kingdom of Cicyle.   

Depranne in sooth called was the town  
Where duke Robert his pavilions pight,  
Road armed through his high renown  
gain Fredrick for the land to fight,  
And to withstand him plainly if he might,  
And so be fill the morrow before prime,  
The duke's wife of childing bode her tyme.   

Violaunt men did that lady call  
In her time a famous great duchess,  
Destitute of other women all  
When her child was borne in that distress,  
To give it souke the story doth express:  
Save for mischief Philipot was fet near  
Of Cathenoyse the duke's chief laundere.   

By a fisher which was her husband  
A child she had living by their travail,  
Which fro the sea unto the court by land  
Day by day carried victual,  
And in this case be cause it might avail  
Philipot was brought in this great straightness  
To be norice unto the duchess.   

Where she was cherished after her desires,  
Each thing ready when that ever she sent,  
With the duchess among other chambrers  
In to Naples I find that she went,  
Till Atropose froward of intent  
Made of this child there is no more to say,  
The lives thread for to break in twain.   

With king Charles of whom I spoke toforne  
As mine author remembreth in his book,  
Was one Raymond of champagne borne,  
Which with the king was called master coke  
And on a day his journey he took  
Toward the sea, a pirate as I find,  
Sold him a child which was bornein Ind.   

Like Ethiopiens was his colour,  
For whom this coke Raymonde hath devised  
For in his notable diligent labour  
Made him christian and so he was baptized,  
Gave him the name and also practised  
Him to promote, that he upon him took  
By his doctrine to be master coke.   

For he soon after took the order of a knight,  
The Ethiopien wext a good officere  
Gate such grace in the kings sight  
To be about him more near  
By process he was made wardyopere,  
And though he was black of his visage  
To Cathenoyse he was joined in marriage.   

Wexte malyperte and of presumption  
To be made knight the king he 'gan reqire,  
Which of freedom and great affection  
Is condescended to grant his prayer,  
But to declare plainly the manner  
In this time Violaunt the duchess,  
Afore remembered died of sickness.   

After whose death books doth certify  
How duke Robert of Naples the cite  
Wedded a Lady that called was Sausye,  
To whom Philipot as fill to her degree  
With diligence and great humility  
To please her did so her devoir,  
That of counsel there was none so near.   

Ever ready at her commandment  
Wrought atyres' pleasant of delight,  
With wholesome waters that were redolent  
To make her skin by washing soot & white:  
Made confections to serve her appetite:  
By her husband, the story who list see,  
The same Philipot had children three.   

She was cunning & of her port prudent,  
Chosen by favour for to be mistress  
To fair jane young and innocent  
Which daughter was to the great duchess  
Of Calabre, and furthermore to express  
Her husband the Ethyopyen withal  
Of Charles household was made seneschal.   

O lord (quod Bochas) spoke of high disdain  
What meaneth this fortune for to make cheer  
With her favour to raise up a foreign  
Upon her wheel with bright feathers clear,  
But of custom it is aye her manner  
Fairest to appear with cheer & countenance  
When she will bring a man unto mischance.   

For he that was a boy the last day,  
An Ethiopien borne, & horrible of sight  
And afore time in the kitchen lay  
Among the pots, with bawdy cote anight,  
Now of new hath take the order of knight  
With king Charles is now seneschal,  
Such sudden climbing asketh a sudden fall.   

He and Philipot his wife fro poverty  
be enhanced and risen to great richesses,  
Two of their sons stately married be,  
And he for favour more than worthiness  
To order of knight, & in his most highness  
Their father died whose feast funeral  
Was solemnized and hold full royal.   

Thus can fortune change as the moan,  
Her bright face darked with a sky:  
His eldest son died after soon  
The second left up his clergy.  
To be made knightlgan himself apply,  
Stood of his father plainly as I read  
In his office, by favour to succeed.   

Thus by process fro Philipot anonright  
Death of her husband & her sons twain  
Fortune in party eclipsed hath the light,  
Of her welfare, and 'gan at her disdain:  
Yet even like as when it doth rain  
Phoebus after showeth more clearness,  
So she fro trouble, rose to more nobles.   

I mean as thus, rehearsing no virtue  
In her person that men coude espy,  
But only this by title of this issue  
When Charles daughter on that party  
Was to the king wedded of hungry  
Called Andree, a man of great courage  
He said his wife but right tender of age.   

The same jane not without vice  
As is rehearsed somewhat by mine author,  
To whom Phylipot whilom was norice  
As ye have herd and by full great labour  
Of the said jane Robert made governor  
Son of Phylipot for a great reward,  
Made of Cecyle and of that land steward.   

This favour done to Philipot Cathenoyse  
Caused in that land great indignation,  
Whose daughters wedding caused great noise  
Married to charles the great earl of Marchon  
which gave to folk great occasion  
To dame amiss about in each country  
That all the land was governed by the three   

By queen jane and Phylipot Cathenoyes  
And the said Robert steward of Cecyle  
Son to Philipot, this was the common vois,  
The Queen and Robert by their subtle wile  
Had of assent used a long while  
The hateful sin of adultery,  
Rose in Cecyle and went up to Hungry.   

For Queen jane began no manner thing  
But Cathenoyse assented were thereto,  
The execution and fully the working  
Brought to conclusion by Robert all was do:  
And in this time rose a great strife also  
Disclaunderous and a froward discord,  
atween the queen & him that was her lord.   

Hard to proceed upon suspection,  
Slander is swift lightly taketh his flight,  
For which men should eschew the occasion  
Of fame and noise of every manner wight,  
By providence, remembered in his sight  
When the report is through a land run  
Hard it is to stint it when it is begun.   

Withstand principles occasions to decline,  
Lest unwarely there follow great damage,  
To late cometh the salve of medicine  
To festered sores when they be uncurable▪  
And in case very resemblable  
To eschew slander who list nat for to spare,  
May nat fail to fall into the snare.   

Thus for a time the slander was kept close  
Albeit so it did for a while abide,  
Another mischief full pitously arose  
Which afterward spread abroad full wide,  
adultery to murder is a very guide:  
Set at a priefe mine author doth record  
The king Andre was strangled with a cord.   

Out of his chambre raised a great height  
By a coniected false conspiration,  
He was entreated, brought down by sleight  
After strangled as made is mention,  
Whose death to punish by commission  
Hugh earl of Anelyne by a patent large  
To be judge took upon him the charge.   

Of this murder rose up a great noise  
By evidence full abominable,  
Philipot called Cathenoyse  
Her son & daughter that they were culpable:  
Dome was give by judges full notable,  
And to conclude shortly their judgement,  
With chains bound at stakes they were brent.   

¶ Envoy▪  

This Tragedy afore rehearsed here  
Telleth the damage of presumption,  
By experience rehearsing the manner  
When beggars rise to domination  
Is none so dreadful execution  
Of cruelty, if it be well out sought,  
Than of such one as came up of nought.   

Record on Philipot that with humble cheer  
By sudden favour and supportation,  
Which was to fore a simple small landere  
Of no value nor reputation,  
By fortune's gery transmutation  
Shed out her malice testate when she was brought,  
List not consider how she came up of nought.   

Where is more disdain or more daungere  
Or more froward communication,  
More vengeable venom doth appear,  
Nor more sleighty false supplantation  
Nor more conspired unware collusion,  
Nor undermining done covertly & wrought,  
Than of such folk as come up of nought.   

Fortune's changes & mevinges circulere  
With her most stormy transmutation,  
Now one set up full high in the sphere,  
Enhanceth vices and virtues put down:  
Record on Philipot whose venomous treason  
Compassed aforne in her secret thought  
The deed showeth that she came up of nought.   

Noble princes with your bright eyen clear  
Advertise in your discretion  
That no flatterer come in your court so near,  
By no fraud of false disception,  
Always remembering afore in your reason  
On this tragedy & on this treason wrought,  
By a false flatter that came up of nought.     

The xxxvi Chapter.  
How king Sauses was slain by his cousin which was brother unto the king of Arragon.  

THe that time came of this travail  
Bochas dempt holding for the best  
This noble Poet of Florente and italy  
To make his pen a while for to rest,  
Closed his book and shut it in his chest,  
But or he might spar it with the key  
Came three princes & meekly 'gan him prey   

amongs other remembered in his book  
Their grievances briefly to declare,  
Wherewith Bochas 'gan cast up his look  
And of compassion beheld their piteous fare:  
Thought he would for no sloth spare  
To their requests goodly condescend  
And of his book so for to make an end.   

Here 'gan first rehearse by writing  
In his complaint full pitously he made  
Touching the fall of the great king  
Called Sauses, which his soiour had  
The place named was Astrociade  
And as he writ, a little there beside  
Was a little I'll called Emaside.   

Both these Isles together knit in one  
Where Sauses had his domination,  
Living in peace enemy had he none  
In long quiet had possession:  
Whose kingdom hole, as made is mention  
In the vulgar mine author write the same  
Of Malliogres plainly bore the name.   

There is also another smaller isle  
Called Maylorge, and of both twain  
The said king was lord a great while,  
Keeping his estate notable and sovereign:  
Having a cousin 'gan at him disdain,  
Which was brother as made is mention  
Unto the king that time of Arragon.   

In the isles remembered by wryghtinge  
When the people went in to battle,  
Was the usage found up first of stings  
With cast of stones their enemies to assail:  
They had of shot none other apparel  
In that time, arblast nouther bow,  
peradventure was tho but little knowe.   

All these countries were called but one land  
Where sauces held possession,  
Till his cousin with strong and mighty hand  
With great power suddenly came down,  
Brought people out of Arragon,  
Fill on king sauces feeble of diffence  
Gate that kingdom by knightly violence,   

The balance was nat of even peys  
atween these cousins, who list take heed,  
For in his conquest the Arragoneys  
Of cruelty hath smitten of the heed  
Of king sauces quaking in his dread,  
Though it stood so they were nigh of ally  
There was that day showed no courtesy.    

The xxxvii chapter.  
☞ How Jews king of Jerusalem and Cecile was put down.  

AFter this Story told in words few  
And king sauces slain by tyranny,  
There came a prince and 'gan his face show  
Called jews lord of Trynacry,  
The same isle in that party  
Called Cythane the story telleth thus,  
After the name of king Siculus.   

Trinacry a country marvelous  
Took first his name of famous hills three,  
The chief of them is called Pe●orus  
The next Pathmus the third Lyllybe,  
Not far from Ethua the said hills be  
Beside a sea full perilous and ill,  
With two dangers Charybdis and Scille.   

The said Jews king of Jerusalem  
And of Cecile the book maketh mention,  
Which was chased and put out of his realm  
By another jews and put down,  
Ended in poverty for short conclusion:  
This last jews of pite did him grace  
Till he died to have a dwelling place.    

The xxxviii Chapter.  
How king John of France at poitiers was taken prisoner by prince Edward, and brought into England.  

NExt of all and last of everichone,  
Cursing Fortune with all her variance,  
Making his complaint; to Bochas came king John,  
Told his tale how he was take in France  
By prince Edward for all his great puissance,  
And after with strong and mighty hand,  
He was fro poitiers brought into England.   

Afore destroyed his castles and his towns  
And overthrown manly in battle,  
His princes slain, their banners & penouns  
Nor broad standers might them not avail:  
The trace out sought spoiled of plate & mail  
Maugre his might king John was prisoner,  
In England after abode full many a year.   

Set afterward to full great ransom  
The worthy slain on the French party,  
The same time in Brutus' albion  
There flowered in such noblesse & chivalry,  
With high prudence and prudent policy:  
Mars and Mercury above each nation  
Governed that time Brutus Albion.   

Mars for knighthood their patron i batraile  
And Mynerua gave them influence  
Meynt with brightness of plate & mail,  
To stour in clergy and in high prudence  
That prince Edward by martial violence  
That day on live one the best knight  
Brought home king John maugre all his might.   

Though Bochas gave him favour by language  
His heart inclined to that party,  
Which unto him was but small advantage  
word is but wind brought in by envy,  
For to hinder the famous chivalry  
Of English men, full narrow he 'gan him think  
Left spear & shield fought with pen & ink.   

Though the said Bochas flowered in Poetry  
His partial writing gave no mortal wound,  
Caught a quarrel in his melancholy  
Which to his shame afterward did rebound:  
In conclusion like as it was found  
Again king John a quarrel 'gan to take  
Cause that he would of English men be take.   

Held them but small of reputation  
In his report, men may his writing see,  
His fantasy nor his opinion  
Stood in that case of none authority:  
Their king was take, their knights did flee,  
Where was Bochas to help them at such need?  
Save with his pen he made no man to bleed.   

Of right wisnesse every croniculer  
Should in his writing make no exception,  
Indifferently convey his matter  
Not be partial of none affection,  
But give the thank of mortal guerdon  
His style in order so equally observed,  
To every party as they have deserved.   

Laud of king John was that he abode,  
In that he quit him like a manly knight,  
His lords slain some away they road,  
Most of his meinie took them to the flight:  
This journey take for king Edward's right,  
The field y wonne have this in memory  
truths hold hath gladly the victory.   

Of king John what should I write more  
Brought to this land with other prisoners?  
Upon which the realm complained sore  
By rehearsayle of old Chroniclers,  
Died in England within a few years,  
Led home again after their writings  
Lieth at S. Denys with other kings.   

❧ Lenuoye.  

OF Bochas book the last tragedy  
compendiously put in remembrance  
How prince Edward with his chivalry  
Fought at Poiteer with king John of France,  
And through his mighty Martial puissance  
Grounded his quarrel upon his father's right,  
Took him prisoner full like a manly knight.   

By collusion king John did occupy  
Set out of order the royal alliance,  
Sceptre and crown with all the regal  
Was down descended to Edward in substance,  
conveyed the branches by lineal concordance:  
For which title grounded upon right  
Prince Edward fought like a manly knight.   

His claim and quarrel more to fortify,  
In token that god his quarrel would advance  
Discomfiture was made on that party,  
Upon king John by violent utraunce  
An heavenly sign by influent purveyance  
Sent from above to show Edward's right  
For which the prince fought like a manly knight.   

Noble princes your hearts do apply  
Justly to way this matter in balance,  
All thing poised ye m● it not deny  
If ye consider every circumstance  
In right Judges may be no variance:  
The field d●rreyued dame who hath right  
For which the prince fought like a manly knight.   

Thing of assent put in jeopardy,  
And committed to God's ordinance,  
There may be after no contraversy  
atween party, quarrel, nor distance,  
Who shall rejoice, & in this case stood France  
Sith at poitiers declaring who hath right  
Prince Edward fought like a manly knight.    

¶ Here Bochas maketh a rehearsayl how Fortune hath made high estates unwarely to descend.  

LEt folk of wisdom consider in their wit  
Gather up a sum & count in their reason  
To all estates how Fortune hath her quit,  
To pope's prelate's begin first in Rome town,  
To cardinals most sovereign of renown,  
When they sat highest coude them not defend  
Again Fortune by no proiusion,  
But with a turn she made them to diseend.   

After in order call to remembrance,  
The state imperial of famous emperors,  
Which as Apollo through their puissance  
Their fame up blow to Jupiter's tours,  
And forget not these old conquerors  
Above Mercury cast them to ascend,  
Till that fortune with her froward showers  
Most suddenly made them to descend.   

Kings and princes of divers regions,  
In Asye, Europe, Africa, and Cartage,  
Of Ethiope the martial champions,  
Monsters of Ind hideous of visage,  
Athlas, Hercules, in their most furious rage,  
Against whose might no man coude hindefende  
What followed from their highest stage?  
Fortune unwarely made them to descend.   

Priests, prelate's, & well fed fat persons,  
And patriarchs that had great sovereignty  
reckon up religions which all their broad crowns  
Bishops, abbots, confirmed in their see,  
Behold of fortune the mutabylite  
Seculere canons with many great prebend,  
when they sat highest in their felicity  
How suddenly she made them to descend.   

All that is written is written to our doctrine,  
One courbeth low another goeth upright,  
Some be vicious some in virtue shine,  
Phoebus now clipsed sometime shineth bright,  
Sometime cloudy sometime sterlight,  
Some folk appair some doth amend,  
Show of Fortune the power & the might  
One goth upward another doth descend.   

Some man holy increaseth in virtue,  
Another reckless of froward wilfulness,  
One is perfect and stable in Christ Jesus,  
Another braydeth upon frowardness,  
One increaseth with treasure & richesse,  
Who list thrive to labour must attend  
Maugre the world Fortune's doubleness  
Doth one arise, another doth descend.   

One is busy and setteth all his labour  
Early to arise his good to multiply,  
Another spendeth, and is a great wastou●  
Some tre is barayn some tre doth fructify,  
One can say sooth another can well lie,  
One can gather another can dispend,  
Unto fortune this matter doth apply  
She maketh one to arise, another to descend   

All these matters combined into one  
Of which this book maketh mention,  
Void the weed, of virtue take the corn  
As reason teacheth in your discretion:  
And for to make a short conclusion  
In a brief sum this b 〈…〉 o comprehend,  
Fortunes wheel by revolution  
Doth one climb up, another to descend.    

☞ The words of the translator.  

W 〈…〉 letters & leaves this little book trembling  
Pray to the prince, to have on the pity,  
V●●●e of all picture and enlumyning  
W●●●h hast of Cicero no curious dyte,  
〈◊〉 of his garden no flowers of beauty,  
〈…〉 grant grace thy rudeness nat offend  
〈…〉 high noblesse and magnanymyte  
〈…〉 s presence, when thou shalt ascend.   

And for my part of one heart abiding  
〈…〉 de of change and mutabylite,  
〈◊〉 present this book with hand shaking  
Of hole affection kneeling on my knee,  
Praying the lord one, two, and three,  
Whose magnificence no clerk may comprehend  
Send you might grace and prosperity  
Ever in virtue to increase and ascend.  
To kiss the steps of them that were furthering  
Laureate poets which had sovereignty  
Of eloquence, to support thy making:  
And pray all though that shall this process see  
In thine excuse that they list to be,  
And where it is amiss for to amend  
Set thy ground upon humility  
Unto their grace that thou mayst ascend.   

In a short clause thy content rehearsing  
As one up climbeth to great prosperity,  
So another by expert knowledging  
From great richesse is brought to poverty:  
Alas (O book) what shall I say of thee?  
Thy tragedies through all the world to send.  
Go forth I pray excuse thyself and me,  
Who loveth most virtue highest shall ascend.   

Black be thy weed of complaint & mourning,  
Called fall of princes from their felicity,  
Like Chaunteplure now singing now weeping,  
Woe after mirth, next joy adversity,  
So entremedled there is no surety:  
Like as this book doth praise & comprehend,  
Now on the wheel now set in low degree,  
Who will increase by virtue must ascend.     
The end of Bochas Volumes.