Chapter 45

The Schip toclef upon a roche,And al goth doun into the depe.Bot he that alle thing mai kepeUnto this lord was merciable,And broghte him sauf upon a table,630Which to the lond him hath upbore;The remenant was al forlore,Wherof he made mochel mone.1525Qualiter Appolinus nudus super litus iactabatur, vbi quidam piscator ipsum suo collobio vestiens ad vrbem Pentapolim direxit.Thus was this yonge lord him one,Al naked in a povere plit:1526His colour, which whilom was whyt,1527Was thanne of water fade and pale,And ek he was so sore acaleThat he wiste of himself no bote,It halp him nothing forto mote640To gete ayein that he hath lore.Bot sche which hath his deth forbore,P. iii. 297Fortune, thogh sche wol noght yelpe,Al sodeinly hath sent him helpe,Whanne him thoghte alle grace aweie;Ther cam a Fisshere in the weie,And sih a man ther naked stonde,And whan that he hath understondeThe cause, he hath of him gret routhe,And onliche of his povere trouthe650Of suche clothes as he haddeWith gret Pite this lord he cladde.And he him thonketh as he scholde,And seith him that it schal be yolde,If evere he gete his stat ayein,And preide that he wolde him seinIf nyh were eny toun for him.He seide, ‘Yee, Pentapolim,Wher bothe king and queene duellen.’Whanne he this tale herde tellen,660He gladeth him and gan besecheThat he the weie him wolde teche:And he him taghte; and forth he wenteAnd preide god with good ententeTo sende him joie after his sorwe.Qualiter Appolino Pentapolim adueniente ludus Gignasii per vrbem publice proclamatus est.It was noght passed yit Midmorwe,Whan thiderward his weie he nam,1528Wher sone upon the Non he cam.He eet such as he myhte gete,And forth anon, whan he hadde ete,670He goth to se the toun aboute,And cam ther as he fond a routeP. iii. 298Of yonge lusti men withalle;And as it scholde tho befalle,That day was set of such assisse,That thei scholde in the londes guise,As he herde of the poeple seie,1529Here comun game thanne pleie;And crid was that thei scholden comeUnto the gamen alle and some1530680Of hem that ben delivere and wyhte,To do such maistrie as thei myhte.Thei made hem naked as thei scholde,For so that ilke game wolde,As it was tho custume and us,1531Amonges hem was no refus:The flour of al the toun was thereAnd of the court also ther were,And that was in a large placeRiht evene afore the kinges face,690Which Artestrathes thanne hihte.The pley was pleid riht in his sihte,And who most worthi was of dedeReceive he scholde a certein medeAnd in the cite bere a pris.Qualiter Appolinus ludum gignasii vincens in aulam1532Regis ad cenam honorifice receptus est.Appolinus, which war and wysOf every game couthe an ende,He thoghte assaie, hou so it wende,And fell among hem into game:And there he wan him such a name,700So as the king himself acomptethThat he alle othre men surmonteth,P. iii. 299And bar the pris above hem alle.The king bad that into his halleAt Souper time he schal be broght;1533And he cam thanne and lefte it noght,Withoute compaignie al one:Was non so semlich of persone,Of visage and of limes bothe,If that he hadde what to clothe.710At Soupertime nathelesThe king amiddes al the presLet clepe him up among hem alle,And bad his Mareschall of halle1534To setten him in such degreThat he upon him myhte se.The king was sone set and served,And he, which hath his pris deserved1535After the kinges oghne word,Was mad beginne a Middel bord,720That bothe king and queene him sihe.He sat and caste aboute his yheAnd sih the lordes in astat,And with himself wax in debatThenkende what he hadde lore,And such a sorwe he tok therfore,That he sat evere stille and thoghte,As he which of no mete roghte.Qualiter Appolinus in cena recumbens nichil comedit, set doloroso vultu, submisso capite, ingemiscebat;1536qui tandem a filia Regis confortatus cytharam plectens cunctis audientibus citharisando vltramodum complacuit.The king behield his hevynesse,And of his grete gentillesse730His doghter, which was fair and goodAnd ate bord before him stod,P. iii. 300As it was thilke time usage,He bad to gon on his messageAnd fonde forto make him glad.And sche dede as hire fader bad,And goth to him the softe pasAnd axeth whenne and what he was,And preith he scholde his thoghtes leve.He seith, ‘Ma Dame, be your leve740Mi name is hote Appolinus,And of mi richesse it is thus,Upon the See I have it lore.The contre wher as I was bore,Wher that my lond is and mi rente,I lefte at Tyr, whan that I wente:The worschipe of this worldes aghte,1537Unto the god ther I betaghte.’1538And thus togedre as thei tuo speeke,The teres runne be his cheeke.750The king, which therof tok good kepe,Hath gret Pite to sen him wepe,And for his doghter sende ayein,And preide hir faire and gan to seinThat sche no lengere wolde drecche,Bot that sche wolde anon forth feccheHire harpe and don al that sche canTo glade with that sory man.And sche to don hir fader heste760Hir harpe fette, and in the festeUpon a Chaier which thei fetteHirself next to this man sche sette:P. iii. 301With harpe bothe and ek with moutheTo him sche dede al that sche coutheTo make him chiere, and evere he siketh,And sche him axeth hou him liketh.‘Ma dame, certes wel,’ he seide,‘Bot if ye the mesure pleideWhich, if you list, I schal you liere,It were a glad thing forto hiere.’770‘Ha, lieve sire,’ tho quod sche,‘Now tak the harpe and let me se1539Of what mesure that ye mene.’Tho preith the king, tho preith the queene,Forth with the lordes alle arewe,That he som merthe wolde schewe;He takth the Harpe and in his wiseHe tempreth, and of such assiseSingende he harpeth forth withal,That as a vois celestial780Hem thoghte it souneth in here Ere,As thogh that he an Angel were.1540Thei gladen of his melodie,Bot most of all the compainieThe kinges doghter, which it herde,And thoghte ek hou that he ansuerde,1541Whan that he was of hire opposed,1542Withinne hir herte hath wel supposedThat he is of gret gentilesse.Hise dedes ben therof witnesse790Forth with the wisdom of his lore;It nedeth noght to seche more,P. iii. 302He myhte noght have such manere,Of gentil blod bot if he were.Whanne he hath harped al his fille,The kinges heste to fulfille,Awey goth dissh, awey goth cuppe,Doun goth the bord, the cloth was uppe,Thei risen and gon out of halle.Qualiter Appolinus cum Rege pro filia sua erudienda retentus est.The king his chamberlein let calle,800And bad that he be alle weieA chambre for this man pourveie,Which nyh his oghne chambre be.‘It schal be do, mi lord,’ quod he.Appolinus of whom I meneTho tok his leve of king and queeneAnd of the worthi Maide also,Which preide unto hir fader tho,That sche myhte of that yonge man1543Of tho sciences whiche he can810His lore have; and in this wiseThe king hir granteth his aprise,So that himself therto assente.Thus was acorded er thei wente,That he with al that evere he mayThis yonge faire freisshe MayOf that he couthe scholde enforme;1544And full assented in this formeThei token leve as for that nyht.Qualiter filia Regis Appolinum ornato apparatu vestiri fecit, et ipse ad puelle doctrinam in quampluribus familiariter intendebat: vnde placata puella in amorem Appolini exardescens infirmabatur.And whanne it was amorwe lyht,820Unto this yonge man of TyrOf clothes and of good atirP. iii. 303With gold and Selver to despendeThis worthi yonge lady sende:And thus sche made him wel at ese,And he with al that he can pleseHire serveth wel and faire ayein.1545He tawhte hir til sche was certeinOf Harpe, of Citole and of Rote,1546With many a tun and many a note1547830Upon Musique, upon mesure,And of hire Harpe the temprureHe tawhte hire ek, as he wel couthe.Bot as men sein that frele is youthe,With leisir and continuanceThis Mayde fell upon a chance,That love hath mad him a quereleAyein hire youthe freissh and frele,That malgre wher sche wole or noght,1548Sche mot with al hire hertes thoght840To love and to his lawe obeie;And that sche schal ful sore abeie.For sche wot nevere what it is,Bot evere among sche fieleth this:1549Thenkende upon this man of Tyr,Hire herte is hot as eny fyr,And otherwhile it is acale;Now is sche red, nou is sche paleRiht after the condicionOf hire ymaginacion;850Bot evere among hire thoghtes alle,Sche thoghte, what so mai befalle,1550P. iii. 304Or that sche lawhe, or that sche wepe,Sche wolde hire goode name kepeFor feere of wommanysshe schame.Bot what in ernest and in game,1551Sche stant for love in such a plit,That sche hath lost al appetitOf mete, of drinke, of nyhtes reste,1552As sche that not what is the beste;1553860Bot forto thenken al hir filleSche hield hire ofte times stilleWithinne hir chambre, and goth noght oute:The king was of hire lif in doute,Which wiste nothing what it mente.Qualiter tres filii Principum filiam Regis singillatim in vxorem suis supplicacionibus postularunt.Bot fell a time, as he out wenteTo walke, of Princes Sones threTher come and felle to his kne;And ech of hem in sondri wiseBesoghte and profreth his servise,870So that he myhte his doghter have.The king, which wolde his honour save,1554Seith sche is siek, and of that specheTho was no time to beseche;Bot ech of hem do make a bille1555He bad, and wryte his oghne wille,His name, his fader and his good;And whan sche wiste hou that it stod,And hadde here billes oversein,Thei scholden have ansuere ayein.880Of this conseil thei weren glad,P. iii. 305And writen as the king hem bad,And every man his oghne bokInto the kinges hond betok,And he it to his dowhter sende,And preide hir forto make an endeAnd wryte ayein hire oghne hond,Riht as sche in hire herte fond.Qualiter filia Regis omnibus aliis relictis Appolinum in maritum preelegit.The billes weren wel received,Bot sche hath alle here loves weyved,890And thoghte tho was time and spaceTo put hire in hir fader grace,1556And wrot ayein and thus sche saide:‘The schame which is in a MaideWith speche dar noght ben unloke,Bot in writinge it mai be spoke;So wryte I to you, fader, thus:Bot if I have Appolinus,Of al this world, what so betyde,I wol non other man abide.900And certes if I of him faile,I wot riht wel withoute faileYe schull for me be dowhterles.’This lettre cam, and ther was pressTofore the king, ther as he stod;And whan that he it understod,He yaf hem ansuer by and by,Bot that was do so prively,That non of othres conseil wiste.Thei toke her leve, and wher hem liste910Thei wente forth upon here weie.Qualiter Rex et Regina in maritagium filie sue cum Appolino consencierunt.The king ne wolde noght bewreieP. iii. 306The conseil for no maner hihe,Bot soffreth til he time sihe:And whan that he to chambre is come,He hath unto his conseil nomeThis man of Tyr, and let him seThe lettre and al the privete,The which his dowhter to him sente:And he his kne to grounde bente920And thonketh him and hire also,And er thei wenten thanne atuo,With good herte and with good corageOf full Love and full mariageThe king and he ben hol acorded.And after, whanne it was recordedUnto the dowhter hou it stod,The yifte of al this worldes good1557Ne scholde have mad hir half so blythe:And forth withal the king als swithe,930For he wol have hire good assent,Hath for the queene hir moder sent.The queene is come, and whan sche herdeOf this matiere hou that it ferde,Sche syh debat, sche syh desese,Bot if sche wolde hir dowhter plese,And is therto assented full.Which is a dede wonderfull,For noman knew the sothe casBot he himself, what man he was;940And natheles, so as hem thoghte,Hise dedes to the sothe wroghteP. iii. 307That he was come of gentil blod:Him lacketh noght bot worldes good,And as therof is no despeir,For sche schal ben hire fader heir,1558And he was able to governe.Thus wol thei noght the love werneOf him and hire in none wise,Bot ther acorded thei divise1559950The day and time of Mariage.Qualiter Appolinus filie Regis nupsit, et prima nocte cum ea concubiens ipsam impregnauit.Wher love is lord of the corage,Him thenketh longe er that he spede;Bot ate laste unto the dedeThe time is come, and in her wiseWith gret offrende and sacrifiseThei wedde and make a riche feste,And every thing which was honeste1560Withinnen house and ek withouteIt was so don, that al aboute960Of gret worschipe, of gret noblesse1561Ther cride many a man largesse1562Unto the lordes hihe and loude;The knyhtes that ben yonge and proude,Thei jouste ferst and after daunce.The day is go, the nyhtes chaunceHath derked al the bryhte Sonne;This lord, which hath his love wonne,Is go to bedde with his wif,Wher as thei ladde a lusti lif,1563970And that was after somdel sene,For as thei pleiden hem betwene,P. iii. 308Thei gete a child betwen hem tuo,To whom fell after mochel wo.Qualiter Ambaciatores a Tyro in quadam naui Pentapolim venientes mortem Regis Antiochi Appolino nunciarunt.Now have I told of the spousailes.1564Bot forto speke of the mervailesWhiche afterward to hem befelle,It is a wonder forto telle.It fell adai thei riden oute,1565The king and queene and al the route,980To pleien hem upon the stronde,Wher as thei sen toward the londeA Schip sailende of gret array.To knowe what it mene may,Til it be come thei abide;Than sen thei stonde on every side,Endlong the schipes bord to schewe,

The Schip toclef upon a roche,And al goth doun into the depe.Bot he that alle thing mai kepeUnto this lord was merciable,And broghte him sauf upon a table,630Which to the lond him hath upbore;The remenant was al forlore,Wherof he made mochel mone.1525Qualiter Appolinus nudus super litus iactabatur, vbi quidam piscator ipsum suo collobio vestiens ad vrbem Pentapolim direxit.Thus was this yonge lord him one,Al naked in a povere plit:1526His colour, which whilom was whyt,1527Was thanne of water fade and pale,And ek he was so sore acaleThat he wiste of himself no bote,It halp him nothing forto mote640To gete ayein that he hath lore.Bot sche which hath his deth forbore,P. iii. 297Fortune, thogh sche wol noght yelpe,Al sodeinly hath sent him helpe,Whanne him thoghte alle grace aweie;Ther cam a Fisshere in the weie,And sih a man ther naked stonde,And whan that he hath understondeThe cause, he hath of him gret routhe,And onliche of his povere trouthe650Of suche clothes as he haddeWith gret Pite this lord he cladde.And he him thonketh as he scholde,And seith him that it schal be yolde,If evere he gete his stat ayein,And preide that he wolde him seinIf nyh were eny toun for him.He seide, ‘Yee, Pentapolim,Wher bothe king and queene duellen.’Whanne he this tale herde tellen,660He gladeth him and gan besecheThat he the weie him wolde teche:And he him taghte; and forth he wenteAnd preide god with good ententeTo sende him joie after his sorwe.Qualiter Appolino Pentapolim adueniente ludus Gignasii per vrbem publice proclamatus est.It was noght passed yit Midmorwe,Whan thiderward his weie he nam,1528Wher sone upon the Non he cam.He eet such as he myhte gete,And forth anon, whan he hadde ete,670He goth to se the toun aboute,And cam ther as he fond a routeP. iii. 298Of yonge lusti men withalle;And as it scholde tho befalle,That day was set of such assisse,That thei scholde in the londes guise,As he herde of the poeple seie,1529Here comun game thanne pleie;And crid was that thei scholden comeUnto the gamen alle and some1530680Of hem that ben delivere and wyhte,To do such maistrie as thei myhte.Thei made hem naked as thei scholde,For so that ilke game wolde,As it was tho custume and us,1531Amonges hem was no refus:The flour of al the toun was thereAnd of the court also ther were,And that was in a large placeRiht evene afore the kinges face,690Which Artestrathes thanne hihte.The pley was pleid riht in his sihte,And who most worthi was of dedeReceive he scholde a certein medeAnd in the cite bere a pris.Qualiter Appolinus ludum gignasii vincens in aulam1532Regis ad cenam honorifice receptus est.Appolinus, which war and wysOf every game couthe an ende,He thoghte assaie, hou so it wende,And fell among hem into game:And there he wan him such a name,700So as the king himself acomptethThat he alle othre men surmonteth,P. iii. 299And bar the pris above hem alle.The king bad that into his halleAt Souper time he schal be broght;1533And he cam thanne and lefte it noght,Withoute compaignie al one:Was non so semlich of persone,Of visage and of limes bothe,If that he hadde what to clothe.710At Soupertime nathelesThe king amiddes al the presLet clepe him up among hem alle,And bad his Mareschall of halle1534To setten him in such degreThat he upon him myhte se.The king was sone set and served,And he, which hath his pris deserved1535After the kinges oghne word,Was mad beginne a Middel bord,720That bothe king and queene him sihe.He sat and caste aboute his yheAnd sih the lordes in astat,And with himself wax in debatThenkende what he hadde lore,And such a sorwe he tok therfore,That he sat evere stille and thoghte,As he which of no mete roghte.Qualiter Appolinus in cena recumbens nichil comedit, set doloroso vultu, submisso capite, ingemiscebat;1536qui tandem a filia Regis confortatus cytharam plectens cunctis audientibus citharisando vltramodum complacuit.The king behield his hevynesse,And of his grete gentillesse730His doghter, which was fair and goodAnd ate bord before him stod,P. iii. 300As it was thilke time usage,He bad to gon on his messageAnd fonde forto make him glad.And sche dede as hire fader bad,And goth to him the softe pasAnd axeth whenne and what he was,And preith he scholde his thoghtes leve.He seith, ‘Ma Dame, be your leve740Mi name is hote Appolinus,And of mi richesse it is thus,Upon the See I have it lore.The contre wher as I was bore,Wher that my lond is and mi rente,I lefte at Tyr, whan that I wente:The worschipe of this worldes aghte,1537Unto the god ther I betaghte.’1538And thus togedre as thei tuo speeke,The teres runne be his cheeke.750The king, which therof tok good kepe,Hath gret Pite to sen him wepe,And for his doghter sende ayein,And preide hir faire and gan to seinThat sche no lengere wolde drecche,Bot that sche wolde anon forth feccheHire harpe and don al that sche canTo glade with that sory man.And sche to don hir fader heste760Hir harpe fette, and in the festeUpon a Chaier which thei fetteHirself next to this man sche sette:P. iii. 301With harpe bothe and ek with moutheTo him sche dede al that sche coutheTo make him chiere, and evere he siketh,And sche him axeth hou him liketh.‘Ma dame, certes wel,’ he seide,‘Bot if ye the mesure pleideWhich, if you list, I schal you liere,It were a glad thing forto hiere.’770‘Ha, lieve sire,’ tho quod sche,‘Now tak the harpe and let me se1539Of what mesure that ye mene.’Tho preith the king, tho preith the queene,Forth with the lordes alle arewe,That he som merthe wolde schewe;He takth the Harpe and in his wiseHe tempreth, and of such assiseSingende he harpeth forth withal,That as a vois celestial780Hem thoghte it souneth in here Ere,As thogh that he an Angel were.1540Thei gladen of his melodie,Bot most of all the compainieThe kinges doghter, which it herde,And thoghte ek hou that he ansuerde,1541Whan that he was of hire opposed,1542Withinne hir herte hath wel supposedThat he is of gret gentilesse.Hise dedes ben therof witnesse790Forth with the wisdom of his lore;It nedeth noght to seche more,P. iii. 302He myhte noght have such manere,Of gentil blod bot if he were.Whanne he hath harped al his fille,The kinges heste to fulfille,Awey goth dissh, awey goth cuppe,Doun goth the bord, the cloth was uppe,Thei risen and gon out of halle.Qualiter Appolinus cum Rege pro filia sua erudienda retentus est.The king his chamberlein let calle,800And bad that he be alle weieA chambre for this man pourveie,Which nyh his oghne chambre be.‘It schal be do, mi lord,’ quod he.Appolinus of whom I meneTho tok his leve of king and queeneAnd of the worthi Maide also,Which preide unto hir fader tho,That sche myhte of that yonge man1543Of tho sciences whiche he can810His lore have; and in this wiseThe king hir granteth his aprise,So that himself therto assente.Thus was acorded er thei wente,That he with al that evere he mayThis yonge faire freisshe MayOf that he couthe scholde enforme;1544And full assented in this formeThei token leve as for that nyht.Qualiter filia Regis Appolinum ornato apparatu vestiri fecit, et ipse ad puelle doctrinam in quampluribus familiariter intendebat: vnde placata puella in amorem Appolini exardescens infirmabatur.And whanne it was amorwe lyht,820Unto this yonge man of TyrOf clothes and of good atirP. iii. 303With gold and Selver to despendeThis worthi yonge lady sende:And thus sche made him wel at ese,And he with al that he can pleseHire serveth wel and faire ayein.1545He tawhte hir til sche was certeinOf Harpe, of Citole and of Rote,1546With many a tun and many a note1547830Upon Musique, upon mesure,And of hire Harpe the temprureHe tawhte hire ek, as he wel couthe.Bot as men sein that frele is youthe,With leisir and continuanceThis Mayde fell upon a chance,That love hath mad him a quereleAyein hire youthe freissh and frele,That malgre wher sche wole or noght,1548Sche mot with al hire hertes thoght840To love and to his lawe obeie;And that sche schal ful sore abeie.For sche wot nevere what it is,Bot evere among sche fieleth this:1549Thenkende upon this man of Tyr,Hire herte is hot as eny fyr,And otherwhile it is acale;Now is sche red, nou is sche paleRiht after the condicionOf hire ymaginacion;850Bot evere among hire thoghtes alle,Sche thoghte, what so mai befalle,1550P. iii. 304Or that sche lawhe, or that sche wepe,Sche wolde hire goode name kepeFor feere of wommanysshe schame.Bot what in ernest and in game,1551Sche stant for love in such a plit,That sche hath lost al appetitOf mete, of drinke, of nyhtes reste,1552As sche that not what is the beste;1553860Bot forto thenken al hir filleSche hield hire ofte times stilleWithinne hir chambre, and goth noght oute:The king was of hire lif in doute,Which wiste nothing what it mente.Qualiter tres filii Principum filiam Regis singillatim in vxorem suis supplicacionibus postularunt.Bot fell a time, as he out wenteTo walke, of Princes Sones threTher come and felle to his kne;And ech of hem in sondri wiseBesoghte and profreth his servise,870So that he myhte his doghter have.The king, which wolde his honour save,1554Seith sche is siek, and of that specheTho was no time to beseche;Bot ech of hem do make a bille1555He bad, and wryte his oghne wille,His name, his fader and his good;And whan sche wiste hou that it stod,And hadde here billes oversein,Thei scholden have ansuere ayein.880Of this conseil thei weren glad,P. iii. 305And writen as the king hem bad,And every man his oghne bokInto the kinges hond betok,And he it to his dowhter sende,And preide hir forto make an endeAnd wryte ayein hire oghne hond,Riht as sche in hire herte fond.Qualiter filia Regis omnibus aliis relictis Appolinum in maritum preelegit.The billes weren wel received,Bot sche hath alle here loves weyved,890And thoghte tho was time and spaceTo put hire in hir fader grace,1556And wrot ayein and thus sche saide:‘The schame which is in a MaideWith speche dar noght ben unloke,Bot in writinge it mai be spoke;So wryte I to you, fader, thus:Bot if I have Appolinus,Of al this world, what so betyde,I wol non other man abide.900And certes if I of him faile,I wot riht wel withoute faileYe schull for me be dowhterles.’This lettre cam, and ther was pressTofore the king, ther as he stod;And whan that he it understod,He yaf hem ansuer by and by,Bot that was do so prively,That non of othres conseil wiste.Thei toke her leve, and wher hem liste910Thei wente forth upon here weie.Qualiter Rex et Regina in maritagium filie sue cum Appolino consencierunt.The king ne wolde noght bewreieP. iii. 306The conseil for no maner hihe,Bot soffreth til he time sihe:And whan that he to chambre is come,He hath unto his conseil nomeThis man of Tyr, and let him seThe lettre and al the privete,The which his dowhter to him sente:And he his kne to grounde bente920And thonketh him and hire also,And er thei wenten thanne atuo,With good herte and with good corageOf full Love and full mariageThe king and he ben hol acorded.And after, whanne it was recordedUnto the dowhter hou it stod,The yifte of al this worldes good1557Ne scholde have mad hir half so blythe:And forth withal the king als swithe,930For he wol have hire good assent,Hath for the queene hir moder sent.The queene is come, and whan sche herdeOf this matiere hou that it ferde,Sche syh debat, sche syh desese,Bot if sche wolde hir dowhter plese,And is therto assented full.Which is a dede wonderfull,For noman knew the sothe casBot he himself, what man he was;940And natheles, so as hem thoghte,Hise dedes to the sothe wroghteP. iii. 307That he was come of gentil blod:Him lacketh noght bot worldes good,And as therof is no despeir,For sche schal ben hire fader heir,1558And he was able to governe.Thus wol thei noght the love werneOf him and hire in none wise,Bot ther acorded thei divise1559950The day and time of Mariage.Qualiter Appolinus filie Regis nupsit, et prima nocte cum ea concubiens ipsam impregnauit.Wher love is lord of the corage,Him thenketh longe er that he spede;Bot ate laste unto the dedeThe time is come, and in her wiseWith gret offrende and sacrifiseThei wedde and make a riche feste,And every thing which was honeste1560Withinnen house and ek withouteIt was so don, that al aboute960Of gret worschipe, of gret noblesse1561Ther cride many a man largesse1562Unto the lordes hihe and loude;The knyhtes that ben yonge and proude,Thei jouste ferst and after daunce.The day is go, the nyhtes chaunceHath derked al the bryhte Sonne;This lord, which hath his love wonne,Is go to bedde with his wif,Wher as thei ladde a lusti lif,1563970And that was after somdel sene,For as thei pleiden hem betwene,P. iii. 308Thei gete a child betwen hem tuo,To whom fell after mochel wo.Qualiter Ambaciatores a Tyro in quadam naui Pentapolim venientes mortem Regis Antiochi Appolino nunciarunt.Now have I told of the spousailes.1564Bot forto speke of the mervailesWhiche afterward to hem befelle,It is a wonder forto telle.It fell adai thei riden oute,1565The king and queene and al the route,980To pleien hem upon the stronde,Wher as thei sen toward the londeA Schip sailende of gret array.To knowe what it mene may,Til it be come thei abide;Than sen thei stonde on every side,Endlong the schipes bord to schewe,

The Schip toclef upon a roche,And al goth doun into the depe.Bot he that alle thing mai kepeUnto this lord was merciable,And broghte him sauf upon a table,630Which to the lond him hath upbore;The remenant was al forlore,Wherof he made mochel mone.1525Qualiter Appolinus nudus super litus iactabatur, vbi quidam piscator ipsum suo collobio vestiens ad vrbem Pentapolim direxit.Thus was this yonge lord him one,Al naked in a povere plit:1526His colour, which whilom was whyt,1527Was thanne of water fade and pale,And ek he was so sore acaleThat he wiste of himself no bote,It halp him nothing forto mote640To gete ayein that he hath lore.Bot sche which hath his deth forbore,P. iii. 297Fortune, thogh sche wol noght yelpe,Al sodeinly hath sent him helpe,Whanne him thoghte alle grace aweie;Ther cam a Fisshere in the weie,And sih a man ther naked stonde,And whan that he hath understondeThe cause, he hath of him gret routhe,And onliche of his povere trouthe650Of suche clothes as he haddeWith gret Pite this lord he cladde.And he him thonketh as he scholde,And seith him that it schal be yolde,If evere he gete his stat ayein,And preide that he wolde him seinIf nyh were eny toun for him.He seide, ‘Yee, Pentapolim,Wher bothe king and queene duellen.’Whanne he this tale herde tellen,660He gladeth him and gan besecheThat he the weie him wolde teche:And he him taghte; and forth he wenteAnd preide god with good ententeTo sende him joie after his sorwe.Qualiter Appolino Pentapolim adueniente ludus Gignasii per vrbem publice proclamatus est.It was noght passed yit Midmorwe,Whan thiderward his weie he nam,1528Wher sone upon the Non he cam.He eet such as he myhte gete,And forth anon, whan he hadde ete,670He goth to se the toun aboute,And cam ther as he fond a routeP. iii. 298Of yonge lusti men withalle;And as it scholde tho befalle,That day was set of such assisse,That thei scholde in the londes guise,As he herde of the poeple seie,1529Here comun game thanne pleie;And crid was that thei scholden comeUnto the gamen alle and some1530680Of hem that ben delivere and wyhte,To do such maistrie as thei myhte.Thei made hem naked as thei scholde,For so that ilke game wolde,As it was tho custume and us,1531Amonges hem was no refus:The flour of al the toun was thereAnd of the court also ther were,And that was in a large placeRiht evene afore the kinges face,690Which Artestrathes thanne hihte.The pley was pleid riht in his sihte,And who most worthi was of dedeReceive he scholde a certein medeAnd in the cite bere a pris.Qualiter Appolinus ludum gignasii vincens in aulam1532Regis ad cenam honorifice receptus est.Appolinus, which war and wysOf every game couthe an ende,He thoghte assaie, hou so it wende,And fell among hem into game:And there he wan him such a name,700So as the king himself acomptethThat he alle othre men surmonteth,P. iii. 299And bar the pris above hem alle.The king bad that into his halleAt Souper time he schal be broght;1533And he cam thanne and lefte it noght,Withoute compaignie al one:Was non so semlich of persone,Of visage and of limes bothe,If that he hadde what to clothe.710At Soupertime nathelesThe king amiddes al the presLet clepe him up among hem alle,And bad his Mareschall of halle1534To setten him in such degreThat he upon him myhte se.The king was sone set and served,And he, which hath his pris deserved1535After the kinges oghne word,Was mad beginne a Middel bord,720That bothe king and queene him sihe.He sat and caste aboute his yheAnd sih the lordes in astat,And with himself wax in debatThenkende what he hadde lore,And such a sorwe he tok therfore,That he sat evere stille and thoghte,As he which of no mete roghte.Qualiter Appolinus in cena recumbens nichil comedit, set doloroso vultu, submisso capite, ingemiscebat;1536qui tandem a filia Regis confortatus cytharam plectens cunctis audientibus citharisando vltramodum complacuit.The king behield his hevynesse,And of his grete gentillesse730His doghter, which was fair and goodAnd ate bord before him stod,P. iii. 300As it was thilke time usage,He bad to gon on his messageAnd fonde forto make him glad.And sche dede as hire fader bad,And goth to him the softe pasAnd axeth whenne and what he was,And preith he scholde his thoghtes leve.He seith, ‘Ma Dame, be your leve740Mi name is hote Appolinus,And of mi richesse it is thus,Upon the See I have it lore.The contre wher as I was bore,Wher that my lond is and mi rente,I lefte at Tyr, whan that I wente:The worschipe of this worldes aghte,1537Unto the god ther I betaghte.’1538And thus togedre as thei tuo speeke,The teres runne be his cheeke.750The king, which therof tok good kepe,Hath gret Pite to sen him wepe,And for his doghter sende ayein,And preide hir faire and gan to seinThat sche no lengere wolde drecche,Bot that sche wolde anon forth feccheHire harpe and don al that sche canTo glade with that sory man.And sche to don hir fader heste760Hir harpe fette, and in the festeUpon a Chaier which thei fetteHirself next to this man sche sette:P. iii. 301With harpe bothe and ek with moutheTo him sche dede al that sche coutheTo make him chiere, and evere he siketh,And sche him axeth hou him liketh.‘Ma dame, certes wel,’ he seide,‘Bot if ye the mesure pleideWhich, if you list, I schal you liere,It were a glad thing forto hiere.’770‘Ha, lieve sire,’ tho quod sche,‘Now tak the harpe and let me se1539Of what mesure that ye mene.’Tho preith the king, tho preith the queene,Forth with the lordes alle arewe,That he som merthe wolde schewe;He takth the Harpe and in his wiseHe tempreth, and of such assiseSingende he harpeth forth withal,That as a vois celestial780Hem thoghte it souneth in here Ere,As thogh that he an Angel were.1540Thei gladen of his melodie,Bot most of all the compainieThe kinges doghter, which it herde,And thoghte ek hou that he ansuerde,1541Whan that he was of hire opposed,1542Withinne hir herte hath wel supposedThat he is of gret gentilesse.Hise dedes ben therof witnesse790Forth with the wisdom of his lore;It nedeth noght to seche more,P. iii. 302He myhte noght have such manere,Of gentil blod bot if he were.Whanne he hath harped al his fille,The kinges heste to fulfille,Awey goth dissh, awey goth cuppe,Doun goth the bord, the cloth was uppe,Thei risen and gon out of halle.Qualiter Appolinus cum Rege pro filia sua erudienda retentus est.The king his chamberlein let calle,800And bad that he be alle weieA chambre for this man pourveie,Which nyh his oghne chambre be.‘It schal be do, mi lord,’ quod he.Appolinus of whom I meneTho tok his leve of king and queeneAnd of the worthi Maide also,Which preide unto hir fader tho,That sche myhte of that yonge man1543Of tho sciences whiche he can810His lore have; and in this wiseThe king hir granteth his aprise,So that himself therto assente.Thus was acorded er thei wente,That he with al that evere he mayThis yonge faire freisshe MayOf that he couthe scholde enforme;1544And full assented in this formeThei token leve as for that nyht.Qualiter filia Regis Appolinum ornato apparatu vestiri fecit, et ipse ad puelle doctrinam in quampluribus familiariter intendebat: vnde placata puella in amorem Appolini exardescens infirmabatur.And whanne it was amorwe lyht,820Unto this yonge man of TyrOf clothes and of good atirP. iii. 303With gold and Selver to despendeThis worthi yonge lady sende:And thus sche made him wel at ese,And he with al that he can pleseHire serveth wel and faire ayein.1545He tawhte hir til sche was certeinOf Harpe, of Citole and of Rote,1546With many a tun and many a note1547830Upon Musique, upon mesure,And of hire Harpe the temprureHe tawhte hire ek, as he wel couthe.Bot as men sein that frele is youthe,With leisir and continuanceThis Mayde fell upon a chance,That love hath mad him a quereleAyein hire youthe freissh and frele,That malgre wher sche wole or noght,1548Sche mot with al hire hertes thoght840To love and to his lawe obeie;And that sche schal ful sore abeie.For sche wot nevere what it is,Bot evere among sche fieleth this:1549Thenkende upon this man of Tyr,Hire herte is hot as eny fyr,And otherwhile it is acale;Now is sche red, nou is sche paleRiht after the condicionOf hire ymaginacion;850Bot evere among hire thoghtes alle,Sche thoghte, what so mai befalle,1550P. iii. 304Or that sche lawhe, or that sche wepe,Sche wolde hire goode name kepeFor feere of wommanysshe schame.Bot what in ernest and in game,1551Sche stant for love in such a plit,That sche hath lost al appetitOf mete, of drinke, of nyhtes reste,1552As sche that not what is the beste;1553860Bot forto thenken al hir filleSche hield hire ofte times stilleWithinne hir chambre, and goth noght oute:The king was of hire lif in doute,Which wiste nothing what it mente.Qualiter tres filii Principum filiam Regis singillatim in vxorem suis supplicacionibus postularunt.Bot fell a time, as he out wenteTo walke, of Princes Sones threTher come and felle to his kne;And ech of hem in sondri wiseBesoghte and profreth his servise,870So that he myhte his doghter have.The king, which wolde his honour save,1554Seith sche is siek, and of that specheTho was no time to beseche;Bot ech of hem do make a bille1555He bad, and wryte his oghne wille,His name, his fader and his good;And whan sche wiste hou that it stod,And hadde here billes oversein,Thei scholden have ansuere ayein.880Of this conseil thei weren glad,P. iii. 305And writen as the king hem bad,And every man his oghne bokInto the kinges hond betok,And he it to his dowhter sende,And preide hir forto make an endeAnd wryte ayein hire oghne hond,Riht as sche in hire herte fond.Qualiter filia Regis omnibus aliis relictis Appolinum in maritum preelegit.The billes weren wel received,Bot sche hath alle here loves weyved,890And thoghte tho was time and spaceTo put hire in hir fader grace,1556And wrot ayein and thus sche saide:‘The schame which is in a MaideWith speche dar noght ben unloke,Bot in writinge it mai be spoke;So wryte I to you, fader, thus:Bot if I have Appolinus,Of al this world, what so betyde,I wol non other man abide.900And certes if I of him faile,I wot riht wel withoute faileYe schull for me be dowhterles.’This lettre cam, and ther was pressTofore the king, ther as he stod;And whan that he it understod,He yaf hem ansuer by and by,Bot that was do so prively,That non of othres conseil wiste.Thei toke her leve, and wher hem liste910Thei wente forth upon here weie.Qualiter Rex et Regina in maritagium filie sue cum Appolino consencierunt.The king ne wolde noght bewreieP. iii. 306The conseil for no maner hihe,Bot soffreth til he time sihe:And whan that he to chambre is come,He hath unto his conseil nomeThis man of Tyr, and let him seThe lettre and al the privete,The which his dowhter to him sente:And he his kne to grounde bente920And thonketh him and hire also,And er thei wenten thanne atuo,With good herte and with good corageOf full Love and full mariageThe king and he ben hol acorded.And after, whanne it was recordedUnto the dowhter hou it stod,The yifte of al this worldes good1557Ne scholde have mad hir half so blythe:And forth withal the king als swithe,930For he wol have hire good assent,Hath for the queene hir moder sent.The queene is come, and whan sche herdeOf this matiere hou that it ferde,Sche syh debat, sche syh desese,Bot if sche wolde hir dowhter plese,And is therto assented full.Which is a dede wonderfull,For noman knew the sothe casBot he himself, what man he was;940And natheles, so as hem thoghte,Hise dedes to the sothe wroghteP. iii. 307That he was come of gentil blod:Him lacketh noght bot worldes good,And as therof is no despeir,For sche schal ben hire fader heir,1558And he was able to governe.Thus wol thei noght the love werneOf him and hire in none wise,Bot ther acorded thei divise1559950The day and time of Mariage.Qualiter Appolinus filie Regis nupsit, et prima nocte cum ea concubiens ipsam impregnauit.Wher love is lord of the corage,Him thenketh longe er that he spede;Bot ate laste unto the dedeThe time is come, and in her wiseWith gret offrende and sacrifiseThei wedde and make a riche feste,And every thing which was honeste1560Withinnen house and ek withouteIt was so don, that al aboute960Of gret worschipe, of gret noblesse1561Ther cride many a man largesse1562Unto the lordes hihe and loude;The knyhtes that ben yonge and proude,Thei jouste ferst and after daunce.The day is go, the nyhtes chaunceHath derked al the bryhte Sonne;This lord, which hath his love wonne,Is go to bedde with his wif,Wher as thei ladde a lusti lif,1563970And that was after somdel sene,For as thei pleiden hem betwene,P. iii. 308Thei gete a child betwen hem tuo,To whom fell after mochel wo.Qualiter Ambaciatores a Tyro in quadam naui Pentapolim venientes mortem Regis Antiochi Appolino nunciarunt.Now have I told of the spousailes.1564Bot forto speke of the mervailesWhiche afterward to hem befelle,It is a wonder forto telle.It fell adai thei riden oute,1565The king and queene and al the route,980To pleien hem upon the stronde,Wher as thei sen toward the londeA Schip sailende of gret array.To knowe what it mene may,Til it be come thei abide;Than sen thei stonde on every side,Endlong the schipes bord to schewe,

The Schip toclef upon a roche,

And al goth doun into the depe.

Bot he that alle thing mai kepe

Unto this lord was merciable,

And broghte him sauf upon a table,630

Which to the lond him hath upbore;

The remenant was al forlore,

Wherof he made mochel mone.1525

Qualiter Appolinus nudus super litus iactabatur, vbi quidam piscator ipsum suo collobio vestiens ad vrbem Pentapolim direxit.

Thus was this yonge lord him one,

Al naked in a povere plit:1526

His colour, which whilom was whyt,1527

Was thanne of water fade and pale,

And ek he was so sore acale

That he wiste of himself no bote,

It halp him nothing forto mote640

To gete ayein that he hath lore.

Bot sche which hath his deth forbore,

P. iii. 297

Fortune, thogh sche wol noght yelpe,

Al sodeinly hath sent him helpe,

Whanne him thoghte alle grace aweie;

Ther cam a Fisshere in the weie,

And sih a man ther naked stonde,

And whan that he hath understonde

The cause, he hath of him gret routhe,

And onliche of his povere trouthe650

Of suche clothes as he hadde

With gret Pite this lord he cladde.

And he him thonketh as he scholde,

And seith him that it schal be yolde,

If evere he gete his stat ayein,

And preide that he wolde him sein

If nyh were eny toun for him.

He seide, ‘Yee, Pentapolim,

Wher bothe king and queene duellen.’

Whanne he this tale herde tellen,660

He gladeth him and gan beseche

That he the weie him wolde teche:

And he him taghte; and forth he wente

And preide god with good entente

To sende him joie after his sorwe.

Qualiter Appolino Pentapolim adueniente ludus Gignasii per vrbem publice proclamatus est.

It was noght passed yit Midmorwe,

Whan thiderward his weie he nam,1528

Wher sone upon the Non he cam.

He eet such as he myhte gete,

And forth anon, whan he hadde ete,670

He goth to se the toun aboute,

And cam ther as he fond a route

P. iii. 298

Of yonge lusti men withalle;

And as it scholde tho befalle,

That day was set of such assisse,

That thei scholde in the londes guise,

As he herde of the poeple seie,1529

Here comun game thanne pleie;

And crid was that thei scholden come

Unto the gamen alle and some1530680

Of hem that ben delivere and wyhte,

To do such maistrie as thei myhte.

Thei made hem naked as thei scholde,

For so that ilke game wolde,

As it was tho custume and us,1531

Amonges hem was no refus:

The flour of al the toun was there

And of the court also ther were,

And that was in a large place

Riht evene afore the kinges face,690

Which Artestrathes thanne hihte.

The pley was pleid riht in his sihte,

And who most worthi was of dede

Receive he scholde a certein mede

And in the cite bere a pris.

Qualiter Appolinus ludum gignasii vincens in aulam1532Regis ad cenam honorifice receptus est.

Appolinus, which war and wys

Of every game couthe an ende,

He thoghte assaie, hou so it wende,

And fell among hem into game:

And there he wan him such a name,700

So as the king himself acompteth

That he alle othre men surmonteth,

P. iii. 299

And bar the pris above hem alle.

The king bad that into his halle

At Souper time he schal be broght;1533

And he cam thanne and lefte it noght,

Withoute compaignie al one:

Was non so semlich of persone,

Of visage and of limes bothe,

If that he hadde what to clothe.710

At Soupertime natheles

The king amiddes al the pres

Let clepe him up among hem alle,

And bad his Mareschall of halle1534

To setten him in such degre

That he upon him myhte se.

The king was sone set and served,

And he, which hath his pris deserved1535

After the kinges oghne word,

Was mad beginne a Middel bord,720

That bothe king and queene him sihe.

He sat and caste aboute his yhe

And sih the lordes in astat,

And with himself wax in debat

Thenkende what he hadde lore,

And such a sorwe he tok therfore,

That he sat evere stille and thoghte,

As he which of no mete roghte.

Qualiter Appolinus in cena recumbens nichil comedit, set doloroso vultu, submisso capite, ingemiscebat;1536qui tandem a filia Regis confortatus cytharam plectens cunctis audientibus citharisando vltramodum complacuit.

The king behield his hevynesse,

And of his grete gentillesse730

His doghter, which was fair and good

And ate bord before him stod,

P. iii. 300

As it was thilke time usage,

He bad to gon on his message

And fonde forto make him glad.

And sche dede as hire fader bad,

And goth to him the softe pas

And axeth whenne and what he was,

And preith he scholde his thoghtes leve.

He seith, ‘Ma Dame, be your leve740

Mi name is hote Appolinus,

And of mi richesse it is thus,

Upon the See I have it lore.

The contre wher as I was bore,

Wher that my lond is and mi rente,

I lefte at Tyr, whan that I wente:

The worschipe of this worldes aghte,1537

Unto the god ther I betaghte.’1538

And thus togedre as thei tuo speeke,

The teres runne be his cheeke.750

The king, which therof tok good kepe,

Hath gret Pite to sen him wepe,

And for his doghter sende ayein,

And preide hir faire and gan to sein

That sche no lengere wolde drecche,

Bot that sche wolde anon forth fecche

Hire harpe and don al that sche can

To glade with that sory man.

And sche to don hir fader heste760

Hir harpe fette, and in the feste

Upon a Chaier which thei fette

Hirself next to this man sche sette:

P. iii. 301

With harpe bothe and ek with mouthe

To him sche dede al that sche couthe

To make him chiere, and evere he siketh,

And sche him axeth hou him liketh.

‘Ma dame, certes wel,’ he seide,

‘Bot if ye the mesure pleide

Which, if you list, I schal you liere,

It were a glad thing forto hiere.’770

‘Ha, lieve sire,’ tho quod sche,

‘Now tak the harpe and let me se1539

Of what mesure that ye mene.’

Tho preith the king, tho preith the queene,

Forth with the lordes alle arewe,

That he som merthe wolde schewe;

He takth the Harpe and in his wise

He tempreth, and of such assise

Singende he harpeth forth withal,

That as a vois celestial780

Hem thoghte it souneth in here Ere,

As thogh that he an Angel were.1540

Thei gladen of his melodie,

Bot most of all the compainie

The kinges doghter, which it herde,

And thoghte ek hou that he ansuerde,1541

Whan that he was of hire opposed,1542

Withinne hir herte hath wel supposed

That he is of gret gentilesse.

Hise dedes ben therof witnesse790

Forth with the wisdom of his lore;

It nedeth noght to seche more,

P. iii. 302

He myhte noght have such manere,

Of gentil blod bot if he were.

Whanne he hath harped al his fille,

The kinges heste to fulfille,

Awey goth dissh, awey goth cuppe,

Doun goth the bord, the cloth was uppe,

Thei risen and gon out of halle.

Qualiter Appolinus cum Rege pro filia sua erudienda retentus est.

The king his chamberlein let calle,800

And bad that he be alle weie

A chambre for this man pourveie,

Which nyh his oghne chambre be.

‘It schal be do, mi lord,’ quod he.

Appolinus of whom I mene

Tho tok his leve of king and queene

And of the worthi Maide also,

Which preide unto hir fader tho,

That sche myhte of that yonge man1543

Of tho sciences whiche he can810

His lore have; and in this wise

The king hir granteth his aprise,

So that himself therto assente.

Thus was acorded er thei wente,

That he with al that evere he may

This yonge faire freisshe May

Of that he couthe scholde enforme;1544

And full assented in this forme

Thei token leve as for that nyht.

Qualiter filia Regis Appolinum ornato apparatu vestiri fecit, et ipse ad puelle doctrinam in quampluribus familiariter intendebat: vnde placata puella in amorem Appolini exardescens infirmabatur.

And whanne it was amorwe lyht,820

Unto this yonge man of Tyr

Of clothes and of good atir

P. iii. 303

With gold and Selver to despende

This worthi yonge lady sende:

And thus sche made him wel at ese,

And he with al that he can plese

Hire serveth wel and faire ayein.1545

He tawhte hir til sche was certein

Of Harpe, of Citole and of Rote,1546

With many a tun and many a note1547830

Upon Musique, upon mesure,

And of hire Harpe the temprure

He tawhte hire ek, as he wel couthe.

Bot as men sein that frele is youthe,

With leisir and continuance

This Mayde fell upon a chance,

That love hath mad him a querele

Ayein hire youthe freissh and frele,

That malgre wher sche wole or noght,1548

Sche mot with al hire hertes thoght840

To love and to his lawe obeie;

And that sche schal ful sore abeie.

For sche wot nevere what it is,

Bot evere among sche fieleth this:1549

Thenkende upon this man of Tyr,

Hire herte is hot as eny fyr,

And otherwhile it is acale;

Now is sche red, nou is sche pale

Riht after the condicion

Of hire ymaginacion;850

Bot evere among hire thoghtes alle,

Sche thoghte, what so mai befalle,1550

P. iii. 304

Or that sche lawhe, or that sche wepe,

Sche wolde hire goode name kepe

For feere of wommanysshe schame.

Bot what in ernest and in game,1551

Sche stant for love in such a plit,

That sche hath lost al appetit

Of mete, of drinke, of nyhtes reste,1552

As sche that not what is the beste;1553860

Bot forto thenken al hir fille

Sche hield hire ofte times stille

Withinne hir chambre, and goth noght oute:

The king was of hire lif in doute,

Which wiste nothing what it mente.

Qualiter tres filii Principum filiam Regis singillatim in vxorem suis supplicacionibus postularunt.

Bot fell a time, as he out wente

To walke, of Princes Sones thre

Ther come and felle to his kne;

And ech of hem in sondri wise

Besoghte and profreth his servise,870

So that he myhte his doghter have.

The king, which wolde his honour save,1554

Seith sche is siek, and of that speche

Tho was no time to beseche;

Bot ech of hem do make a bille1555

He bad, and wryte his oghne wille,

His name, his fader and his good;

And whan sche wiste hou that it stod,

And hadde here billes oversein,

Thei scholden have ansuere ayein.880

Of this conseil thei weren glad,

P. iii. 305

And writen as the king hem bad,

And every man his oghne bok

Into the kinges hond betok,

And he it to his dowhter sende,

And preide hir forto make an ende

And wryte ayein hire oghne hond,

Riht as sche in hire herte fond.

Qualiter filia Regis omnibus aliis relictis Appolinum in maritum preelegit.

The billes weren wel received,

Bot sche hath alle here loves weyved,890

And thoghte tho was time and space

To put hire in hir fader grace,1556

And wrot ayein and thus sche saide:

‘The schame which is in a Maide

With speche dar noght ben unloke,

Bot in writinge it mai be spoke;

So wryte I to you, fader, thus:

Bot if I have Appolinus,

Of al this world, what so betyde,

I wol non other man abide.900

And certes if I of him faile,

I wot riht wel withoute faile

Ye schull for me be dowhterles.’

This lettre cam, and ther was press

Tofore the king, ther as he stod;

And whan that he it understod,

He yaf hem ansuer by and by,

Bot that was do so prively,

That non of othres conseil wiste.

Thei toke her leve, and wher hem liste910

Thei wente forth upon here weie.

Qualiter Rex et Regina in maritagium filie sue cum Appolino consencierunt.

The king ne wolde noght bewreie

P. iii. 306

The conseil for no maner hihe,

Bot soffreth til he time sihe:

And whan that he to chambre is come,

He hath unto his conseil nome

This man of Tyr, and let him se

The lettre and al the privete,

The which his dowhter to him sente:

And he his kne to grounde bente920

And thonketh him and hire also,

And er thei wenten thanne atuo,

With good herte and with good corage

Of full Love and full mariage

The king and he ben hol acorded.

And after, whanne it was recorded

Unto the dowhter hou it stod,

The yifte of al this worldes good1557

Ne scholde have mad hir half so blythe:

And forth withal the king als swithe,930

For he wol have hire good assent,

Hath for the queene hir moder sent.

The queene is come, and whan sche herde

Of this matiere hou that it ferde,

Sche syh debat, sche syh desese,

Bot if sche wolde hir dowhter plese,

And is therto assented full.

Which is a dede wonderfull,

For noman knew the sothe cas

Bot he himself, what man he was;940

And natheles, so as hem thoghte,

Hise dedes to the sothe wroghte

P. iii. 307

That he was come of gentil blod:

Him lacketh noght bot worldes good,

And as therof is no despeir,

For sche schal ben hire fader heir,1558

And he was able to governe.

Thus wol thei noght the love werne

Of him and hire in none wise,

Bot ther acorded thei divise1559950

The day and time of Mariage.

Qualiter Appolinus filie Regis nupsit, et prima nocte cum ea concubiens ipsam impregnauit.

Wher love is lord of the corage,

Him thenketh longe er that he spede;

Bot ate laste unto the dede

The time is come, and in her wise

With gret offrende and sacrifise

Thei wedde and make a riche feste,

And every thing which was honeste1560

Withinnen house and ek withoute

It was so don, that al aboute960

Of gret worschipe, of gret noblesse1561

Ther cride many a man largesse1562

Unto the lordes hihe and loude;

The knyhtes that ben yonge and proude,

Thei jouste ferst and after daunce.

The day is go, the nyhtes chaunce

Hath derked al the bryhte Sonne;

This lord, which hath his love wonne,

Is go to bedde with his wif,

Wher as thei ladde a lusti lif,1563970

And that was after somdel sene,

For as thei pleiden hem betwene,

P. iii. 308

Thei gete a child betwen hem tuo,

To whom fell after mochel wo.

Qualiter Ambaciatores a Tyro in quadam naui Pentapolim venientes mortem Regis Antiochi Appolino nunciarunt.

Now have I told of the spousailes.1564

Bot forto speke of the mervailes

Whiche afterward to hem befelle,

It is a wonder forto telle.

It fell adai thei riden oute,1565

The king and queene and al the route,980

To pleien hem upon the stronde,

Wher as thei sen toward the londe

A Schip sailende of gret array.

To knowe what it mene may,

Til it be come thei abide;

Than sen thei stonde on every side,

Endlong the schipes bord to schewe,


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