Thurgh pure treson and envie.Sche, that of alle sorwe can,Tho spak unto hire bondeman,Which cleped was Theophilus,And made him swere in conseil thus,1360That he such time as sche him setteSchal come Thaise forto fette,P. iii. 321And lede hire oute of alle sihte,Wher as noman hire helpe myhte,1603Upon the Stronde nyh the See,And there he schal this maiden sle.This cherles herte is in a traunce,As he which drad him of venganceWhan time comth an other day;Bot yit dorste he noght seie nay,1370Bot swor and seide he schal fulfille1604Hire hestes at hire oghne wille.Qualiter Dionisia Thaysim, vt occideretur,1605Theophilo seruo suo tradidit, qui cum noctanter longius ab vrbe ipsam prope litus maris interficere proposuerat, Pirate ibidem prope1608latitantes Thaisim de manu Carnificis eripuerunt, ipsamque vsque Ciuitatem Mitelenam ducentes, cuidam Leonino scortorum ibidem magistro vendiderunt.1609The treson and the time is schape,So fell it that this cherles knape1606Hath lad this maiden ther he wolde1607Upon the Stronde, and what sche scholdeSche was adrad; and he out breideA rusti swerd and to hir seide,‘Thou schalt be ded.’ ‘Helas!’ quod sche,‘Why schal I so?’ ‘Lo thus,’ quod he,1380‘Mi ladi Dionise hath bede,Thou schalt be moerdred in this stede.’This Maiden tho for feere schryhte,And for the love of god almyhteSche preith that for a litel stoundeSche myhte knele upon the grounde,Toward the hevene forto crave,Hire wofull Soule if sche mai save:1610And with this noise and with this cry,1611Out of a barge faste by,1390Which hidd was ther on Scomerfare,Men sterten out and weren wareP. iii. 322Of this feloun, and he to go,And sche began to crie tho,‘Ha, mercy, help for goddes sake!Into the barge thei hire take,As thieves scholde, and forth thei wente.Upon the See the wynd hem hente,And malgre wher thei wolde or non,1612Tofor the weder forth thei gon,1400Ther halp no Seil, ther halp non Ore,Forstormed and forblowen soreIn gret peril so forth thei dryve,Til ate laste thei aryveAt Mitelene the Cite.In havene sauf and whan thei be,The Maister Schipman made him boun,And goth him out into the toun,And profreth Thaise forto selle.On Leonin it herde telle,1410Which Maister of the bordel was,And bad him gon a redy pasTo fetten hire, and forth he wente,1613And Thaise out of his barge he hente,And to this bordeller hir solde.1614And he, that be hire body wolde1615Take avantage, let do crye,That what man wolde his lecherieAttempte upon hire maidenhede,Lei doun the gold and he schal spede.1420And thus whan he hath crid it outeIn syhte of al the poeple aboute,P. iii. 323He ladde hire to the bordel tho.1616Qualiter Leoninus Thaisim ad lupanar destinauit, vbi dei gracia preuenta ipsius virginitatem nullus violare potuit.No wonder is thogh sche be wo:1617Clos in a chambre be hireselve,Ech after other ten or tuelveOf yonge men to hire in wente;Bot such a grace god hire sente,That for the sorwe which sche madeWas non of hem which pouer hade1430To don hire eny vileinie.This Leonin let evere aspie,And waiteth after gret beyete;Bot al for noght, sche was forlete,That mo men wolde ther noght come.1618Whan he therof hath hiede nome,And knew that sche was yit a maide,Unto his oghne man he saide,That he with strengthe ayein hire leveTho scholde hir maidenhod bereve.1440This man goth in, bot so it ferde,Whan he hire wofull pleintes herdeAnd he therof hath take kepe,Him liste betre forto wepeThan don oght elles to the game.And thus sche kepte hirself fro schame,And kneleth doun to therthe and preide1619Unto this man, and thus sche seide:‘If so be that thi maister woldeThat I his gold encresce scholde,16201450It mai noght falle be this weie:Bot soffre me to go mi weieP. iii. 324Out of this hous wher I am inne,And I schal make him forto winneIn som place elles of the toun,Be so it be religioun,1621Wher that honeste wommen duelle.And thus thou myht thi maister telle,That whanne I have a chambre there,Let him do crie ay wyde where,1460What lord that hath his doghter diere,And is in will that sche schal liereOf such a Scole that is trewe,I schal hire teche of thinges newe,Which as non other womman can1622In al this lond.’ And tho this manHire tale hath herd, he goth ayein,And tolde unto his maister pleinThat sche hath seid; and therupon,Whan than he sih beyete non1470At the bordel be cause of hire,He bad his man to gon and spireA place wher sche myhte abyde,That he mai winne upon som sideBe that sche can: bot ate lesteThus was sche sauf fro this tempeste.1623Qualiter Thaisis a lupanari virgo liberata, inter sacras mulieres hospicium habens, sciencias quibus edocta fuit nobiles regni puellas ibidem edocebat.He hath hire fro the bordel take,Bot that was noght for goddes sake,Bot for the lucre, as sche him tolde.Now comen tho that comen wolde1480Of wommen in her lusty youthe,To hiere and se what thing sche couthe:P. iii. 325Sche can the wisdom of a clerk,Sche can of every lusti werk1624Which to a gentil womman longeth,And some of hem sche underfongethTo the Citole and to the Harpe,And whom it liketh forto carpeProverbes and demandes slyhe,An other such thei nevere syhe,1490Which that science so wel tawhte:Wherof sche grete yiftes cawhte,That sche to Leonin hath wonne;And thus hire name is so begonneOf sondri thinges that she techeth,That al the lond unto hir sechethOf yonge wommen forto liere.Qualiter Theophilus ad Dionisiam mane rediens affirmauit se Thaisim occidisse; super quo Dionisia vna cum Strangulione marito suo dolorem in publico confingentes,1625exequias et sepulturam honorifice quantum ad extra subdola coniectacione fieri constituerunt.Nou lete we this maiden hiere,And speke of Dionise ayeinAnd of Theophile the vilein,16261500Of whiche I spak of nou tofore.Whan Thaise scholde have be forlore,This false cherl to his ladyWhan he cam hom, al privelyHe seith, ‘Ma Dame, slain I have1627This maide Thaise, and is begraveIn prive place, as ye me biede.Forthi, ma dame, taketh hiedeAnd kep conseil, hou so it stonde.’1628This fend, which this hath understonde,1510Was glad, and weneth it be soth:Now herkne, hierafter hou sche doth.1629P. iii. 326Sche wepth, sche sorweth, sche compleigneth,1630And of sieknesse which sche feignethSche seith that Taise sodeinlyBe nyhte is ded, ‘as sche and ITogedre lyhen nyh my lord.’Sche was a womman of record,And al is lieved that sche seith;And forto yive a more feith,1520Hire housebonde and ek sche botheIn blake clothes thei hem clothe,And made a gret enterrement;1631And for the poeple schal be blent,Of Thaise as for the remembrance,After the real olde usanceA tumbe of latoun noble and richeWith an ymage unto hir licheLiggende above theruponThei made and sette it up anon.1530Hire Epitaffe of good assisseWas write aboute, and in this wiseIt spak: ‘O yee that this beholde,Lo, hier lith sche, the which was holde1632The faireste and the flour of alle,Whos name Thaïsis men calle.The king of Tyr AppolinusHire fader was: now lith sche thus.Fourtiene yer sche was of Age,Whan deth hir tok to his viage.’1540Qualiter Appolinus in regno suo apud Tyrum existens parliamentum fieri constituit.Thus was this false treson hidd,Which afterward was wyde kidd,P. iii. 327As be the tale a man schal hiere.Bot forto dare mi matiere,1633To Tyr I thenke torne ayein,And telle as the Croniqes sein.Whan that the king was comen hom,And hath left in the salte fomHis wif, which he mai noght foryete,For he som confort wolde gete,1550He let somoune a parlement,To which the lordes were asent;And of the time he hath ben oute,He seth the thinges al aboute,And told hem ek hou he hath fare,1634Whil he was out of londe fare;And preide hem alle to abyde,For he wolde at the same tydeDo schape for his wyves mynde,As he that wol noght ben unkinde.1560Solempne was that ilke office,And riche was the sacrifice,The feste reali was holde:And therto was he wel beholde;For such a wif as he hadde onIn thilke daies was ther non.Qualiter Appolinus post parliamentum Tharsim pro Thaise filia sua querenda adiit, qua ibidem non inventa abinde navigio recessit.Whan this was do, thanne he him thoghteUpon his doghter, and besoghteSuche of his lordes as he wolde,That thei with him to Tharse scholde,1570To fette his doghter Taise there:And thei anon al redy were,P. iii. 328To schip they gon and forth thei wente,Til thei the havene of Tharse hente.They londe and faile of that thei secheBe coverture and sleyhte of speche:This false man Strangulio,And Dionise his wif also,That he the betre trowe myhte,Thei ladden him to have a sihte1580Wher that hir tombe was arraied.The lasse yit he was mispaied,And natheles, so as he dorste,He curseth and seith al the worsteUnto fortune, as to the blinde,Which can no seker weie finde;For sche him neweth evere among,And medleth sorwe with his song.Bot sithe it mai no betre be,Qualiter Nauis Appolini ventis agitata portum vrbis Mitelene in die quo festa Neptuni celebrare1635consueuerunt applicuit; set ipse pre dolore Thaysis filie sue, quam mortuam reputabat, in fundo nauis obscuro iacens lumen videre noluit.He thonketh god and forth goth he16361590Seilende toward Tyr ayein.Bot sodeinly the wynd and reynBegonne upon the See debate,So that he soffre mot algateThe lawe which Neptune ordeigneth;Wherof fulofte time he pleigneth,And hield him wel the more esmaiedOf that he hath tofore assaied.So that for pure sorwe and care,Of that he seth his world so fare,1600The reste he lefte of his Caban,That for the conseil of nomanP. iii. 329Ayein therinne he nolde come,Bot hath benethe his place nome,Wher he wepende al one lay,Ther as he sih no lyht of day.And thus tofor the wynd thei dryve,Til longe and late thei aryveWith gret distresce, as it was sene,Upon this toun of Mitelene,1610Which was a noble cite tho.And hapneth thilke time so,The lordes bothe and the comuneThe hihe festes of NeptuneUpon the stronde at the rivage,As it was custumme and usage,Sollempneliche thei besihe.Qualiter Athenagoras vrbis Mitelene Princeps, nauim Appollini inuestigans, ipsum sic contristatum nichilque respondentem consolari satagebat.Whan thei this strange vessel syheCome in, and hath his Seil avaled,The toun therof hath spoke and taled.1620The lord which of the cite was,1637Whos name is Athenagoras,Was there, and seide he wolde seWhat Schip it is, and who thei beThat ben therinne: and after sone,Whan that he sih it was to done,His barge was for him arraied,And he goth forth and hath assaied.He fond the Schip of gret Array,Bot what thing it amonte may,1630He seth thei maden hevy chiere,Bot wel him thenkth be the manereP. iii. 330That thei be worthi men of blod,1638And axeth of hem hou it stod;And thei him tellen al the cas,Hou that here lord fordrive was,And what a sorwe that he made,1639Of which ther mai noman him glade.He preith that he here lord mai se,Bot thei him tolde it mai noght be,1640For he lith in so derk a place,1640That ther may no wiht sen his face:Bot for al that, thogh hem be loth,He fond the ladre and doun he goth,And to him spak, bot non ansuereAyein of him ne mihte he bere1641For oght that he can don or sein;And thus he goth him up ayein.Tho was ther spoke in many wise1642Amonges hem that weren wise,1650Now this, now that, bot ate lasteQualiter precepto Principis, vt Appolinum consolaretur, Thaisis cum cithara sua ad ipsum in obscuro nauis, vbi jacebat, producta est.The wisdom of the toun this caste,That yonge Taise were asent.For if ther be amendementTo glade with this woful king,Sche can so moche of every thing,That sche schal gladen him anon.A Messager for hire is gon,And sche cam with hire Harpe on honde,And seide hem that sche wolde fonde1660Be alle weies that sche can,1643To glade with this sory man.P. iii. 331Bot what he was sche wiste noght,Bot al the Schip hire hath besoghtThat sche hire wit on him despende,In aunter if he myhte amende,And sein it schal be wel aquit.Whan sche hath understonden it,Sche goth hir doun, ther as he lay,Wher that sche harpeth many a lay1670And lich an Angel sang withal;Bot he nomore than the walTok hiede of eny thing he herde.And whan sche sih that he so ferde,Sche falleth with him into wordes,And telleth him of sondri bordes,And axeth him demandes strange,Wherof sche made his herte change,And to hire speche his Ere he leideAnd hath merveile of that sche seide.1680For in proverbe and in problemeSche spak, and bad he scholde demeIn many soubtil question:1644Bot he for no suggestiounWhich toward him sche couthe stere,He wolde noght o word ansuere,Bot as a madd man ate laste1645His heved wepende awey he caste,And half in wraththe he bad hire go.Bot yit sche wolde noght do so,1690And in the derke forth sche goth,Til sche him toucheth, and he wroth,P. iii. 332And after hire with his hondHe smot: and thus whan sche him fondDesesed, courtaisly sche saide,‘Avoi, mi lord, I am a Maide;And if ye wiste what I am,And out of what lignage I cam,Ye wolde noght be so salvage.’Qualiter, sicut deus destinauit, pater filiam inuentam recognouit.With that he sobreth his corage1700And put awey his bevy chiere.Bot of hem tuo a man mai liereWhat is to be so sibb of blod:Non wiste of other hou it stod,And yit the fader ate lasteHis herte upon this maide caste,That he hire loveth kindely,And yit he wiste nevere why.Bot al was knowe er that thei wente;For god, which wot here hol entente,16461710
Thurgh pure treson and envie.Sche, that of alle sorwe can,Tho spak unto hire bondeman,Which cleped was Theophilus,And made him swere in conseil thus,1360That he such time as sche him setteSchal come Thaise forto fette,P. iii. 321And lede hire oute of alle sihte,Wher as noman hire helpe myhte,1603Upon the Stronde nyh the See,And there he schal this maiden sle.This cherles herte is in a traunce,As he which drad him of venganceWhan time comth an other day;Bot yit dorste he noght seie nay,1370Bot swor and seide he schal fulfille1604Hire hestes at hire oghne wille.Qualiter Dionisia Thaysim, vt occideretur,1605Theophilo seruo suo tradidit, qui cum noctanter longius ab vrbe ipsam prope litus maris interficere proposuerat, Pirate ibidem prope1608latitantes Thaisim de manu Carnificis eripuerunt, ipsamque vsque Ciuitatem Mitelenam ducentes, cuidam Leonino scortorum ibidem magistro vendiderunt.1609The treson and the time is schape,So fell it that this cherles knape1606Hath lad this maiden ther he wolde1607Upon the Stronde, and what sche scholdeSche was adrad; and he out breideA rusti swerd and to hir seide,‘Thou schalt be ded.’ ‘Helas!’ quod sche,‘Why schal I so?’ ‘Lo thus,’ quod he,1380‘Mi ladi Dionise hath bede,Thou schalt be moerdred in this stede.’This Maiden tho for feere schryhte,And for the love of god almyhteSche preith that for a litel stoundeSche myhte knele upon the grounde,Toward the hevene forto crave,Hire wofull Soule if sche mai save:1610And with this noise and with this cry,1611Out of a barge faste by,1390Which hidd was ther on Scomerfare,Men sterten out and weren wareP. iii. 322Of this feloun, and he to go,And sche began to crie tho,‘Ha, mercy, help for goddes sake!Into the barge thei hire take,As thieves scholde, and forth thei wente.Upon the See the wynd hem hente,And malgre wher thei wolde or non,1612Tofor the weder forth thei gon,1400Ther halp no Seil, ther halp non Ore,Forstormed and forblowen soreIn gret peril so forth thei dryve,Til ate laste thei aryveAt Mitelene the Cite.In havene sauf and whan thei be,The Maister Schipman made him boun,And goth him out into the toun,And profreth Thaise forto selle.On Leonin it herde telle,1410Which Maister of the bordel was,And bad him gon a redy pasTo fetten hire, and forth he wente,1613And Thaise out of his barge he hente,And to this bordeller hir solde.1614And he, that be hire body wolde1615Take avantage, let do crye,That what man wolde his lecherieAttempte upon hire maidenhede,Lei doun the gold and he schal spede.1420And thus whan he hath crid it outeIn syhte of al the poeple aboute,P. iii. 323He ladde hire to the bordel tho.1616Qualiter Leoninus Thaisim ad lupanar destinauit, vbi dei gracia preuenta ipsius virginitatem nullus violare potuit.No wonder is thogh sche be wo:1617Clos in a chambre be hireselve,Ech after other ten or tuelveOf yonge men to hire in wente;Bot such a grace god hire sente,That for the sorwe which sche madeWas non of hem which pouer hade1430To don hire eny vileinie.This Leonin let evere aspie,And waiteth after gret beyete;Bot al for noght, sche was forlete,That mo men wolde ther noght come.1618Whan he therof hath hiede nome,And knew that sche was yit a maide,Unto his oghne man he saide,That he with strengthe ayein hire leveTho scholde hir maidenhod bereve.1440This man goth in, bot so it ferde,Whan he hire wofull pleintes herdeAnd he therof hath take kepe,Him liste betre forto wepeThan don oght elles to the game.And thus sche kepte hirself fro schame,And kneleth doun to therthe and preide1619Unto this man, and thus sche seide:‘If so be that thi maister woldeThat I his gold encresce scholde,16201450It mai noght falle be this weie:Bot soffre me to go mi weieP. iii. 324Out of this hous wher I am inne,And I schal make him forto winneIn som place elles of the toun,Be so it be religioun,1621Wher that honeste wommen duelle.And thus thou myht thi maister telle,That whanne I have a chambre there,Let him do crie ay wyde where,1460What lord that hath his doghter diere,And is in will that sche schal liereOf such a Scole that is trewe,I schal hire teche of thinges newe,Which as non other womman can1622In al this lond.’ And tho this manHire tale hath herd, he goth ayein,And tolde unto his maister pleinThat sche hath seid; and therupon,Whan than he sih beyete non1470At the bordel be cause of hire,He bad his man to gon and spireA place wher sche myhte abyde,That he mai winne upon som sideBe that sche can: bot ate lesteThus was sche sauf fro this tempeste.1623Qualiter Thaisis a lupanari virgo liberata, inter sacras mulieres hospicium habens, sciencias quibus edocta fuit nobiles regni puellas ibidem edocebat.He hath hire fro the bordel take,Bot that was noght for goddes sake,Bot for the lucre, as sche him tolde.Now comen tho that comen wolde1480Of wommen in her lusty youthe,To hiere and se what thing sche couthe:P. iii. 325Sche can the wisdom of a clerk,Sche can of every lusti werk1624Which to a gentil womman longeth,And some of hem sche underfongethTo the Citole and to the Harpe,And whom it liketh forto carpeProverbes and demandes slyhe,An other such thei nevere syhe,1490Which that science so wel tawhte:Wherof sche grete yiftes cawhte,That sche to Leonin hath wonne;And thus hire name is so begonneOf sondri thinges that she techeth,That al the lond unto hir sechethOf yonge wommen forto liere.Qualiter Theophilus ad Dionisiam mane rediens affirmauit se Thaisim occidisse; super quo Dionisia vna cum Strangulione marito suo dolorem in publico confingentes,1625exequias et sepulturam honorifice quantum ad extra subdola coniectacione fieri constituerunt.Nou lete we this maiden hiere,And speke of Dionise ayeinAnd of Theophile the vilein,16261500Of whiche I spak of nou tofore.Whan Thaise scholde have be forlore,This false cherl to his ladyWhan he cam hom, al privelyHe seith, ‘Ma Dame, slain I have1627This maide Thaise, and is begraveIn prive place, as ye me biede.Forthi, ma dame, taketh hiedeAnd kep conseil, hou so it stonde.’1628This fend, which this hath understonde,1510Was glad, and weneth it be soth:Now herkne, hierafter hou sche doth.1629P. iii. 326Sche wepth, sche sorweth, sche compleigneth,1630And of sieknesse which sche feignethSche seith that Taise sodeinlyBe nyhte is ded, ‘as sche and ITogedre lyhen nyh my lord.’Sche was a womman of record,And al is lieved that sche seith;And forto yive a more feith,1520Hire housebonde and ek sche botheIn blake clothes thei hem clothe,And made a gret enterrement;1631And for the poeple schal be blent,Of Thaise as for the remembrance,After the real olde usanceA tumbe of latoun noble and richeWith an ymage unto hir licheLiggende above theruponThei made and sette it up anon.1530Hire Epitaffe of good assisseWas write aboute, and in this wiseIt spak: ‘O yee that this beholde,Lo, hier lith sche, the which was holde1632The faireste and the flour of alle,Whos name Thaïsis men calle.The king of Tyr AppolinusHire fader was: now lith sche thus.Fourtiene yer sche was of Age,Whan deth hir tok to his viage.’1540Qualiter Appolinus in regno suo apud Tyrum existens parliamentum fieri constituit.Thus was this false treson hidd,Which afterward was wyde kidd,P. iii. 327As be the tale a man schal hiere.Bot forto dare mi matiere,1633To Tyr I thenke torne ayein,And telle as the Croniqes sein.Whan that the king was comen hom,And hath left in the salte fomHis wif, which he mai noght foryete,For he som confort wolde gete,1550He let somoune a parlement,To which the lordes were asent;And of the time he hath ben oute,He seth the thinges al aboute,And told hem ek hou he hath fare,1634Whil he was out of londe fare;And preide hem alle to abyde,For he wolde at the same tydeDo schape for his wyves mynde,As he that wol noght ben unkinde.1560Solempne was that ilke office,And riche was the sacrifice,The feste reali was holde:And therto was he wel beholde;For such a wif as he hadde onIn thilke daies was ther non.Qualiter Appolinus post parliamentum Tharsim pro Thaise filia sua querenda adiit, qua ibidem non inventa abinde navigio recessit.Whan this was do, thanne he him thoghteUpon his doghter, and besoghteSuche of his lordes as he wolde,That thei with him to Tharse scholde,1570To fette his doghter Taise there:And thei anon al redy were,P. iii. 328To schip they gon and forth thei wente,Til thei the havene of Tharse hente.They londe and faile of that thei secheBe coverture and sleyhte of speche:This false man Strangulio,And Dionise his wif also,That he the betre trowe myhte,Thei ladden him to have a sihte1580Wher that hir tombe was arraied.The lasse yit he was mispaied,And natheles, so as he dorste,He curseth and seith al the worsteUnto fortune, as to the blinde,Which can no seker weie finde;For sche him neweth evere among,And medleth sorwe with his song.Bot sithe it mai no betre be,Qualiter Nauis Appolini ventis agitata portum vrbis Mitelene in die quo festa Neptuni celebrare1635consueuerunt applicuit; set ipse pre dolore Thaysis filie sue, quam mortuam reputabat, in fundo nauis obscuro iacens lumen videre noluit.He thonketh god and forth goth he16361590Seilende toward Tyr ayein.Bot sodeinly the wynd and reynBegonne upon the See debate,So that he soffre mot algateThe lawe which Neptune ordeigneth;Wherof fulofte time he pleigneth,And hield him wel the more esmaiedOf that he hath tofore assaied.So that for pure sorwe and care,Of that he seth his world so fare,1600The reste he lefte of his Caban,That for the conseil of nomanP. iii. 329Ayein therinne he nolde come,Bot hath benethe his place nome,Wher he wepende al one lay,Ther as he sih no lyht of day.And thus tofor the wynd thei dryve,Til longe and late thei aryveWith gret distresce, as it was sene,Upon this toun of Mitelene,1610Which was a noble cite tho.And hapneth thilke time so,The lordes bothe and the comuneThe hihe festes of NeptuneUpon the stronde at the rivage,As it was custumme and usage,Sollempneliche thei besihe.Qualiter Athenagoras vrbis Mitelene Princeps, nauim Appollini inuestigans, ipsum sic contristatum nichilque respondentem consolari satagebat.Whan thei this strange vessel syheCome in, and hath his Seil avaled,The toun therof hath spoke and taled.1620The lord which of the cite was,1637Whos name is Athenagoras,Was there, and seide he wolde seWhat Schip it is, and who thei beThat ben therinne: and after sone,Whan that he sih it was to done,His barge was for him arraied,And he goth forth and hath assaied.He fond the Schip of gret Array,Bot what thing it amonte may,1630He seth thei maden hevy chiere,Bot wel him thenkth be the manereP. iii. 330That thei be worthi men of blod,1638And axeth of hem hou it stod;And thei him tellen al the cas,Hou that here lord fordrive was,And what a sorwe that he made,1639Of which ther mai noman him glade.He preith that he here lord mai se,Bot thei him tolde it mai noght be,1640For he lith in so derk a place,1640That ther may no wiht sen his face:Bot for al that, thogh hem be loth,He fond the ladre and doun he goth,And to him spak, bot non ansuereAyein of him ne mihte he bere1641For oght that he can don or sein;And thus he goth him up ayein.Tho was ther spoke in many wise1642Amonges hem that weren wise,1650Now this, now that, bot ate lasteQualiter precepto Principis, vt Appolinum consolaretur, Thaisis cum cithara sua ad ipsum in obscuro nauis, vbi jacebat, producta est.The wisdom of the toun this caste,That yonge Taise were asent.For if ther be amendementTo glade with this woful king,Sche can so moche of every thing,That sche schal gladen him anon.A Messager for hire is gon,And sche cam with hire Harpe on honde,And seide hem that sche wolde fonde1660Be alle weies that sche can,1643To glade with this sory man.P. iii. 331Bot what he was sche wiste noght,Bot al the Schip hire hath besoghtThat sche hire wit on him despende,In aunter if he myhte amende,And sein it schal be wel aquit.Whan sche hath understonden it,Sche goth hir doun, ther as he lay,Wher that sche harpeth many a lay1670And lich an Angel sang withal;Bot he nomore than the walTok hiede of eny thing he herde.And whan sche sih that he so ferde,Sche falleth with him into wordes,And telleth him of sondri bordes,And axeth him demandes strange,Wherof sche made his herte change,And to hire speche his Ere he leideAnd hath merveile of that sche seide.1680For in proverbe and in problemeSche spak, and bad he scholde demeIn many soubtil question:1644Bot he for no suggestiounWhich toward him sche couthe stere,He wolde noght o word ansuere,Bot as a madd man ate laste1645His heved wepende awey he caste,And half in wraththe he bad hire go.Bot yit sche wolde noght do so,1690And in the derke forth sche goth,Til sche him toucheth, and he wroth,P. iii. 332And after hire with his hondHe smot: and thus whan sche him fondDesesed, courtaisly sche saide,‘Avoi, mi lord, I am a Maide;And if ye wiste what I am,And out of what lignage I cam,Ye wolde noght be so salvage.’Qualiter, sicut deus destinauit, pater filiam inuentam recognouit.With that he sobreth his corage1700And put awey his bevy chiere.Bot of hem tuo a man mai liereWhat is to be so sibb of blod:Non wiste of other hou it stod,And yit the fader ate lasteHis herte upon this maide caste,That he hire loveth kindely,And yit he wiste nevere why.Bot al was knowe er that thei wente;For god, which wot here hol entente,16461710
Thurgh pure treson and envie.Sche, that of alle sorwe can,Tho spak unto hire bondeman,Which cleped was Theophilus,And made him swere in conseil thus,1360That he such time as sche him setteSchal come Thaise forto fette,P. iii. 321And lede hire oute of alle sihte,Wher as noman hire helpe myhte,1603Upon the Stronde nyh the See,And there he schal this maiden sle.This cherles herte is in a traunce,As he which drad him of venganceWhan time comth an other day;Bot yit dorste he noght seie nay,1370Bot swor and seide he schal fulfille1604Hire hestes at hire oghne wille.Qualiter Dionisia Thaysim, vt occideretur,1605Theophilo seruo suo tradidit, qui cum noctanter longius ab vrbe ipsam prope litus maris interficere proposuerat, Pirate ibidem prope1608latitantes Thaisim de manu Carnificis eripuerunt, ipsamque vsque Ciuitatem Mitelenam ducentes, cuidam Leonino scortorum ibidem magistro vendiderunt.1609The treson and the time is schape,So fell it that this cherles knape1606Hath lad this maiden ther he wolde1607Upon the Stronde, and what sche scholdeSche was adrad; and he out breideA rusti swerd and to hir seide,‘Thou schalt be ded.’ ‘Helas!’ quod sche,‘Why schal I so?’ ‘Lo thus,’ quod he,1380‘Mi ladi Dionise hath bede,Thou schalt be moerdred in this stede.’This Maiden tho for feere schryhte,And for the love of god almyhteSche preith that for a litel stoundeSche myhte knele upon the grounde,Toward the hevene forto crave,Hire wofull Soule if sche mai save:1610And with this noise and with this cry,1611Out of a barge faste by,1390Which hidd was ther on Scomerfare,Men sterten out and weren wareP. iii. 322Of this feloun, and he to go,And sche began to crie tho,‘Ha, mercy, help for goddes sake!Into the barge thei hire take,As thieves scholde, and forth thei wente.Upon the See the wynd hem hente,And malgre wher thei wolde or non,1612Tofor the weder forth thei gon,1400Ther halp no Seil, ther halp non Ore,Forstormed and forblowen soreIn gret peril so forth thei dryve,Til ate laste thei aryveAt Mitelene the Cite.In havene sauf and whan thei be,The Maister Schipman made him boun,And goth him out into the toun,And profreth Thaise forto selle.On Leonin it herde telle,1410Which Maister of the bordel was,And bad him gon a redy pasTo fetten hire, and forth he wente,1613And Thaise out of his barge he hente,And to this bordeller hir solde.1614And he, that be hire body wolde1615Take avantage, let do crye,That what man wolde his lecherieAttempte upon hire maidenhede,Lei doun the gold and he schal spede.1420And thus whan he hath crid it outeIn syhte of al the poeple aboute,P. iii. 323He ladde hire to the bordel tho.1616Qualiter Leoninus Thaisim ad lupanar destinauit, vbi dei gracia preuenta ipsius virginitatem nullus violare potuit.No wonder is thogh sche be wo:1617Clos in a chambre be hireselve,Ech after other ten or tuelveOf yonge men to hire in wente;Bot such a grace god hire sente,That for the sorwe which sche madeWas non of hem which pouer hade1430To don hire eny vileinie.This Leonin let evere aspie,And waiteth after gret beyete;Bot al for noght, sche was forlete,That mo men wolde ther noght come.1618Whan he therof hath hiede nome,And knew that sche was yit a maide,Unto his oghne man he saide,That he with strengthe ayein hire leveTho scholde hir maidenhod bereve.1440This man goth in, bot so it ferde,Whan he hire wofull pleintes herdeAnd he therof hath take kepe,Him liste betre forto wepeThan don oght elles to the game.And thus sche kepte hirself fro schame,And kneleth doun to therthe and preide1619Unto this man, and thus sche seide:‘If so be that thi maister woldeThat I his gold encresce scholde,16201450It mai noght falle be this weie:Bot soffre me to go mi weieP. iii. 324Out of this hous wher I am inne,And I schal make him forto winneIn som place elles of the toun,Be so it be religioun,1621Wher that honeste wommen duelle.And thus thou myht thi maister telle,That whanne I have a chambre there,Let him do crie ay wyde where,1460What lord that hath his doghter diere,And is in will that sche schal liereOf such a Scole that is trewe,I schal hire teche of thinges newe,Which as non other womman can1622In al this lond.’ And tho this manHire tale hath herd, he goth ayein,And tolde unto his maister pleinThat sche hath seid; and therupon,Whan than he sih beyete non1470At the bordel be cause of hire,He bad his man to gon and spireA place wher sche myhte abyde,That he mai winne upon som sideBe that sche can: bot ate lesteThus was sche sauf fro this tempeste.1623Qualiter Thaisis a lupanari virgo liberata, inter sacras mulieres hospicium habens, sciencias quibus edocta fuit nobiles regni puellas ibidem edocebat.He hath hire fro the bordel take,Bot that was noght for goddes sake,Bot for the lucre, as sche him tolde.Now comen tho that comen wolde1480Of wommen in her lusty youthe,To hiere and se what thing sche couthe:P. iii. 325Sche can the wisdom of a clerk,Sche can of every lusti werk1624Which to a gentil womman longeth,And some of hem sche underfongethTo the Citole and to the Harpe,And whom it liketh forto carpeProverbes and demandes slyhe,An other such thei nevere syhe,1490Which that science so wel tawhte:Wherof sche grete yiftes cawhte,That sche to Leonin hath wonne;And thus hire name is so begonneOf sondri thinges that she techeth,That al the lond unto hir sechethOf yonge wommen forto liere.Qualiter Theophilus ad Dionisiam mane rediens affirmauit se Thaisim occidisse; super quo Dionisia vna cum Strangulione marito suo dolorem in publico confingentes,1625exequias et sepulturam honorifice quantum ad extra subdola coniectacione fieri constituerunt.Nou lete we this maiden hiere,And speke of Dionise ayeinAnd of Theophile the vilein,16261500Of whiche I spak of nou tofore.Whan Thaise scholde have be forlore,This false cherl to his ladyWhan he cam hom, al privelyHe seith, ‘Ma Dame, slain I have1627This maide Thaise, and is begraveIn prive place, as ye me biede.Forthi, ma dame, taketh hiedeAnd kep conseil, hou so it stonde.’1628This fend, which this hath understonde,1510Was glad, and weneth it be soth:Now herkne, hierafter hou sche doth.1629P. iii. 326Sche wepth, sche sorweth, sche compleigneth,1630And of sieknesse which sche feignethSche seith that Taise sodeinlyBe nyhte is ded, ‘as sche and ITogedre lyhen nyh my lord.’Sche was a womman of record,And al is lieved that sche seith;And forto yive a more feith,1520Hire housebonde and ek sche botheIn blake clothes thei hem clothe,And made a gret enterrement;1631And for the poeple schal be blent,Of Thaise as for the remembrance,After the real olde usanceA tumbe of latoun noble and richeWith an ymage unto hir licheLiggende above theruponThei made and sette it up anon.1530Hire Epitaffe of good assisseWas write aboute, and in this wiseIt spak: ‘O yee that this beholde,Lo, hier lith sche, the which was holde1632The faireste and the flour of alle,Whos name Thaïsis men calle.The king of Tyr AppolinusHire fader was: now lith sche thus.Fourtiene yer sche was of Age,Whan deth hir tok to his viage.’1540Qualiter Appolinus in regno suo apud Tyrum existens parliamentum fieri constituit.Thus was this false treson hidd,Which afterward was wyde kidd,P. iii. 327As be the tale a man schal hiere.Bot forto dare mi matiere,1633To Tyr I thenke torne ayein,And telle as the Croniqes sein.Whan that the king was comen hom,And hath left in the salte fomHis wif, which he mai noght foryete,For he som confort wolde gete,1550He let somoune a parlement,To which the lordes were asent;And of the time he hath ben oute,He seth the thinges al aboute,And told hem ek hou he hath fare,1634Whil he was out of londe fare;And preide hem alle to abyde,For he wolde at the same tydeDo schape for his wyves mynde,As he that wol noght ben unkinde.1560Solempne was that ilke office,And riche was the sacrifice,The feste reali was holde:And therto was he wel beholde;For such a wif as he hadde onIn thilke daies was ther non.Qualiter Appolinus post parliamentum Tharsim pro Thaise filia sua querenda adiit, qua ibidem non inventa abinde navigio recessit.Whan this was do, thanne he him thoghteUpon his doghter, and besoghteSuche of his lordes as he wolde,That thei with him to Tharse scholde,1570To fette his doghter Taise there:And thei anon al redy were,P. iii. 328To schip they gon and forth thei wente,Til thei the havene of Tharse hente.They londe and faile of that thei secheBe coverture and sleyhte of speche:This false man Strangulio,And Dionise his wif also,That he the betre trowe myhte,Thei ladden him to have a sihte1580Wher that hir tombe was arraied.The lasse yit he was mispaied,And natheles, so as he dorste,He curseth and seith al the worsteUnto fortune, as to the blinde,Which can no seker weie finde;For sche him neweth evere among,And medleth sorwe with his song.Bot sithe it mai no betre be,Qualiter Nauis Appolini ventis agitata portum vrbis Mitelene in die quo festa Neptuni celebrare1635consueuerunt applicuit; set ipse pre dolore Thaysis filie sue, quam mortuam reputabat, in fundo nauis obscuro iacens lumen videre noluit.He thonketh god and forth goth he16361590Seilende toward Tyr ayein.Bot sodeinly the wynd and reynBegonne upon the See debate,So that he soffre mot algateThe lawe which Neptune ordeigneth;Wherof fulofte time he pleigneth,And hield him wel the more esmaiedOf that he hath tofore assaied.So that for pure sorwe and care,Of that he seth his world so fare,1600The reste he lefte of his Caban,That for the conseil of nomanP. iii. 329Ayein therinne he nolde come,Bot hath benethe his place nome,Wher he wepende al one lay,Ther as he sih no lyht of day.And thus tofor the wynd thei dryve,Til longe and late thei aryveWith gret distresce, as it was sene,Upon this toun of Mitelene,1610Which was a noble cite tho.And hapneth thilke time so,The lordes bothe and the comuneThe hihe festes of NeptuneUpon the stronde at the rivage,As it was custumme and usage,Sollempneliche thei besihe.Qualiter Athenagoras vrbis Mitelene Princeps, nauim Appollini inuestigans, ipsum sic contristatum nichilque respondentem consolari satagebat.Whan thei this strange vessel syheCome in, and hath his Seil avaled,The toun therof hath spoke and taled.1620The lord which of the cite was,1637Whos name is Athenagoras,Was there, and seide he wolde seWhat Schip it is, and who thei beThat ben therinne: and after sone,Whan that he sih it was to done,His barge was for him arraied,And he goth forth and hath assaied.He fond the Schip of gret Array,Bot what thing it amonte may,1630He seth thei maden hevy chiere,Bot wel him thenkth be the manereP. iii. 330That thei be worthi men of blod,1638And axeth of hem hou it stod;And thei him tellen al the cas,Hou that here lord fordrive was,And what a sorwe that he made,1639Of which ther mai noman him glade.He preith that he here lord mai se,Bot thei him tolde it mai noght be,1640For he lith in so derk a place,1640That ther may no wiht sen his face:Bot for al that, thogh hem be loth,He fond the ladre and doun he goth,And to him spak, bot non ansuereAyein of him ne mihte he bere1641For oght that he can don or sein;And thus he goth him up ayein.Tho was ther spoke in many wise1642Amonges hem that weren wise,1650Now this, now that, bot ate lasteQualiter precepto Principis, vt Appolinum consolaretur, Thaisis cum cithara sua ad ipsum in obscuro nauis, vbi jacebat, producta est.The wisdom of the toun this caste,That yonge Taise were asent.For if ther be amendementTo glade with this woful king,Sche can so moche of every thing,That sche schal gladen him anon.A Messager for hire is gon,And sche cam with hire Harpe on honde,And seide hem that sche wolde fonde1660Be alle weies that sche can,1643To glade with this sory man.P. iii. 331Bot what he was sche wiste noght,Bot al the Schip hire hath besoghtThat sche hire wit on him despende,In aunter if he myhte amende,And sein it schal be wel aquit.Whan sche hath understonden it,Sche goth hir doun, ther as he lay,Wher that sche harpeth many a lay1670And lich an Angel sang withal;Bot he nomore than the walTok hiede of eny thing he herde.And whan sche sih that he so ferde,Sche falleth with him into wordes,And telleth him of sondri bordes,And axeth him demandes strange,Wherof sche made his herte change,And to hire speche his Ere he leideAnd hath merveile of that sche seide.1680For in proverbe and in problemeSche spak, and bad he scholde demeIn many soubtil question:1644Bot he for no suggestiounWhich toward him sche couthe stere,He wolde noght o word ansuere,Bot as a madd man ate laste1645His heved wepende awey he caste,And half in wraththe he bad hire go.Bot yit sche wolde noght do so,1690And in the derke forth sche goth,Til sche him toucheth, and he wroth,P. iii. 332And after hire with his hondHe smot: and thus whan sche him fondDesesed, courtaisly sche saide,‘Avoi, mi lord, I am a Maide;And if ye wiste what I am,And out of what lignage I cam,Ye wolde noght be so salvage.’Qualiter, sicut deus destinauit, pater filiam inuentam recognouit.With that he sobreth his corage1700And put awey his bevy chiere.Bot of hem tuo a man mai liereWhat is to be so sibb of blod:Non wiste of other hou it stod,And yit the fader ate lasteHis herte upon this maide caste,That he hire loveth kindely,And yit he wiste nevere why.Bot al was knowe er that thei wente;For god, which wot here hol entente,16461710
Thurgh pure treson and envie.
Sche, that of alle sorwe can,
Tho spak unto hire bondeman,
Which cleped was Theophilus,
And made him swere in conseil thus,1360
That he such time as sche him sette
Schal come Thaise forto fette,
P. iii. 321
And lede hire oute of alle sihte,
Wher as noman hire helpe myhte,1603
Upon the Stronde nyh the See,
And there he schal this maiden sle.
This cherles herte is in a traunce,
As he which drad him of vengance
Whan time comth an other day;
Bot yit dorste he noght seie nay,1370
Bot swor and seide he schal fulfille1604
Hire hestes at hire oghne wille.
Qualiter Dionisia Thaysim, vt occideretur,1605Theophilo seruo suo tradidit, qui cum noctanter longius ab vrbe ipsam prope litus maris interficere proposuerat, Pirate ibidem prope1608latitantes Thaisim de manu Carnificis eripuerunt, ipsamque vsque Ciuitatem Mitelenam ducentes, cuidam Leonino scortorum ibidem magistro vendiderunt.1609
The treson and the time is schape,
So fell it that this cherles knape1606
Hath lad this maiden ther he wolde1607
Upon the Stronde, and what sche scholde
Sche was adrad; and he out breide
A rusti swerd and to hir seide,
‘Thou schalt be ded.’ ‘Helas!’ quod sche,
‘Why schal I so?’ ‘Lo thus,’ quod he,1380
‘Mi ladi Dionise hath bede,
Thou schalt be moerdred in this stede.’
This Maiden tho for feere schryhte,
And for the love of god almyhte
Sche preith that for a litel stounde
Sche myhte knele upon the grounde,
Toward the hevene forto crave,
Hire wofull Soule if sche mai save:1610
And with this noise and with this cry,1611
Out of a barge faste by,1390
Which hidd was ther on Scomerfare,
Men sterten out and weren ware
P. iii. 322
Of this feloun, and he to go,
And sche began to crie tho,
‘Ha, mercy, help for goddes sake!
Into the barge thei hire take,
As thieves scholde, and forth thei wente.
Upon the See the wynd hem hente,
And malgre wher thei wolde or non,1612
Tofor the weder forth thei gon,1400
Ther halp no Seil, ther halp non Ore,
Forstormed and forblowen sore
In gret peril so forth thei dryve,
Til ate laste thei aryve
At Mitelene the Cite.
In havene sauf and whan thei be,
The Maister Schipman made him boun,
And goth him out into the toun,
And profreth Thaise forto selle.
On Leonin it herde telle,1410
Which Maister of the bordel was,
And bad him gon a redy pas
To fetten hire, and forth he wente,1613
And Thaise out of his barge he hente,
And to this bordeller hir solde.1614
And he, that be hire body wolde1615
Take avantage, let do crye,
That what man wolde his lecherie
Attempte upon hire maidenhede,
Lei doun the gold and he schal spede.1420
And thus whan he hath crid it oute
In syhte of al the poeple aboute,
P. iii. 323
He ladde hire to the bordel tho.1616
Qualiter Leoninus Thaisim ad lupanar destinauit, vbi dei gracia preuenta ipsius virginitatem nullus violare potuit.
No wonder is thogh sche be wo:1617
Clos in a chambre be hireselve,
Ech after other ten or tuelve
Of yonge men to hire in wente;
Bot such a grace god hire sente,
That for the sorwe which sche made
Was non of hem which pouer hade1430
To don hire eny vileinie.
This Leonin let evere aspie,
And waiteth after gret beyete;
Bot al for noght, sche was forlete,
That mo men wolde ther noght come.1618
Whan he therof hath hiede nome,
And knew that sche was yit a maide,
Unto his oghne man he saide,
That he with strengthe ayein hire leve
Tho scholde hir maidenhod bereve.1440
This man goth in, bot so it ferde,
Whan he hire wofull pleintes herde
And he therof hath take kepe,
Him liste betre forto wepe
Than don oght elles to the game.
And thus sche kepte hirself fro schame,
And kneleth doun to therthe and preide1619
Unto this man, and thus sche seide:
‘If so be that thi maister wolde
That I his gold encresce scholde,16201450
It mai noght falle be this weie:
Bot soffre me to go mi weie
P. iii. 324
Out of this hous wher I am inne,
And I schal make him forto winne
In som place elles of the toun,
Be so it be religioun,1621
Wher that honeste wommen duelle.
And thus thou myht thi maister telle,
That whanne I have a chambre there,
Let him do crie ay wyde where,1460
What lord that hath his doghter diere,
And is in will that sche schal liere
Of such a Scole that is trewe,
I schal hire teche of thinges newe,
Which as non other womman can1622
In al this lond.’ And tho this man
Hire tale hath herd, he goth ayein,
And tolde unto his maister plein
That sche hath seid; and therupon,
Whan than he sih beyete non1470
At the bordel be cause of hire,
He bad his man to gon and spire
A place wher sche myhte abyde,
That he mai winne upon som side
Be that sche can: bot ate leste
Thus was sche sauf fro this tempeste.1623
Qualiter Thaisis a lupanari virgo liberata, inter sacras mulieres hospicium habens, sciencias quibus edocta fuit nobiles regni puellas ibidem edocebat.
He hath hire fro the bordel take,
Bot that was noght for goddes sake,
Bot for the lucre, as sche him tolde.
Now comen tho that comen wolde1480
Of wommen in her lusty youthe,
To hiere and se what thing sche couthe:
P. iii. 325
Sche can the wisdom of a clerk,
Sche can of every lusti werk1624
Which to a gentil womman longeth,
And some of hem sche underfongeth
To the Citole and to the Harpe,
And whom it liketh forto carpe
Proverbes and demandes slyhe,
An other such thei nevere syhe,1490
Which that science so wel tawhte:
Wherof sche grete yiftes cawhte,
That sche to Leonin hath wonne;
And thus hire name is so begonne
Of sondri thinges that she techeth,
That al the lond unto hir secheth
Of yonge wommen forto liere.
Qualiter Theophilus ad Dionisiam mane rediens affirmauit se Thaisim occidisse; super quo Dionisia vna cum Strangulione marito suo dolorem in publico confingentes,1625exequias et sepulturam honorifice quantum ad extra subdola coniectacione fieri constituerunt.
Nou lete we this maiden hiere,
And speke of Dionise ayein
And of Theophile the vilein,16261500
Of whiche I spak of nou tofore.
Whan Thaise scholde have be forlore,
This false cherl to his lady
Whan he cam hom, al prively
He seith, ‘Ma Dame, slain I have1627
This maide Thaise, and is begrave
In prive place, as ye me biede.
Forthi, ma dame, taketh hiede
And kep conseil, hou so it stonde.’1628
This fend, which this hath understonde,1510
Was glad, and weneth it be soth:
Now herkne, hierafter hou sche doth.1629
P. iii. 326
Sche wepth, sche sorweth, sche compleigneth,1630
And of sieknesse which sche feigneth
Sche seith that Taise sodeinly
Be nyhte is ded, ‘as sche and I
Togedre lyhen nyh my lord.’
Sche was a womman of record,
And al is lieved that sche seith;
And forto yive a more feith,1520
Hire housebonde and ek sche bothe
In blake clothes thei hem clothe,
And made a gret enterrement;1631
And for the poeple schal be blent,
Of Thaise as for the remembrance,
After the real olde usance
A tumbe of latoun noble and riche
With an ymage unto hir liche
Liggende above therupon
Thei made and sette it up anon.1530
Hire Epitaffe of good assisse
Was write aboute, and in this wise
It spak: ‘O yee that this beholde,
Lo, hier lith sche, the which was holde1632
The faireste and the flour of alle,
Whos name Thaïsis men calle.
The king of Tyr Appolinus
Hire fader was: now lith sche thus.
Fourtiene yer sche was of Age,
Whan deth hir tok to his viage.’1540
Qualiter Appolinus in regno suo apud Tyrum existens parliamentum fieri constituit.
Thus was this false treson hidd,
Which afterward was wyde kidd,
P. iii. 327
As be the tale a man schal hiere.
Bot forto dare mi matiere,1633
To Tyr I thenke torne ayein,
And telle as the Croniqes sein.
Whan that the king was comen hom,
And hath left in the salte fom
His wif, which he mai noght foryete,
For he som confort wolde gete,1550
He let somoune a parlement,
To which the lordes were asent;
And of the time he hath ben oute,
He seth the thinges al aboute,
And told hem ek hou he hath fare,1634
Whil he was out of londe fare;
And preide hem alle to abyde,
For he wolde at the same tyde
Do schape for his wyves mynde,
As he that wol noght ben unkinde.1560
Solempne was that ilke office,
And riche was the sacrifice,
The feste reali was holde:
And therto was he wel beholde;
For such a wif as he hadde on
In thilke daies was ther non.
Qualiter Appolinus post parliamentum Tharsim pro Thaise filia sua querenda adiit, qua ibidem non inventa abinde navigio recessit.
Whan this was do, thanne he him thoghte
Upon his doghter, and besoghte
Suche of his lordes as he wolde,
That thei with him to Tharse scholde,1570
To fette his doghter Taise there:
And thei anon al redy were,
P. iii. 328
To schip they gon and forth thei wente,
Til thei the havene of Tharse hente.
They londe and faile of that thei seche
Be coverture and sleyhte of speche:
This false man Strangulio,
And Dionise his wif also,
That he the betre trowe myhte,
Thei ladden him to have a sihte1580
Wher that hir tombe was arraied.
The lasse yit he was mispaied,
And natheles, so as he dorste,
He curseth and seith al the worste
Unto fortune, as to the blinde,
Which can no seker weie finde;
For sche him neweth evere among,
And medleth sorwe with his song.
Bot sithe it mai no betre be,
Qualiter Nauis Appolini ventis agitata portum vrbis Mitelene in die quo festa Neptuni celebrare1635consueuerunt applicuit; set ipse pre dolore Thaysis filie sue, quam mortuam reputabat, in fundo nauis obscuro iacens lumen videre noluit.
He thonketh god and forth goth he16361590
Seilende toward Tyr ayein.
Bot sodeinly the wynd and reyn
Begonne upon the See debate,
So that he soffre mot algate
The lawe which Neptune ordeigneth;
Wherof fulofte time he pleigneth,
And hield him wel the more esmaied
Of that he hath tofore assaied.
So that for pure sorwe and care,
Of that he seth his world so fare,1600
The reste he lefte of his Caban,
That for the conseil of noman
P. iii. 329
Ayein therinne he nolde come,
Bot hath benethe his place nome,
Wher he wepende al one lay,
Ther as he sih no lyht of day.
And thus tofor the wynd thei dryve,
Til longe and late thei aryve
With gret distresce, as it was sene,
Upon this toun of Mitelene,1610
Which was a noble cite tho.
And hapneth thilke time so,
The lordes bothe and the comune
The hihe festes of Neptune
Upon the stronde at the rivage,
As it was custumme and usage,
Sollempneliche thei besihe.
Qualiter Athenagoras vrbis Mitelene Princeps, nauim Appollini inuestigans, ipsum sic contristatum nichilque respondentem consolari satagebat.
Whan thei this strange vessel syhe
Come in, and hath his Seil avaled,
The toun therof hath spoke and taled.1620
The lord which of the cite was,1637
Whos name is Athenagoras,
Was there, and seide he wolde se
What Schip it is, and who thei be
That ben therinne: and after sone,
Whan that he sih it was to done,
His barge was for him arraied,
And he goth forth and hath assaied.
He fond the Schip of gret Array,
Bot what thing it amonte may,1630
He seth thei maden hevy chiere,
Bot wel him thenkth be the manere
P. iii. 330
That thei be worthi men of blod,1638
And axeth of hem hou it stod;
And thei him tellen al the cas,
Hou that here lord fordrive was,
And what a sorwe that he made,1639
Of which ther mai noman him glade.
He preith that he here lord mai se,
Bot thei him tolde it mai noght be,1640
For he lith in so derk a place,1640
That ther may no wiht sen his face:
Bot for al that, thogh hem be loth,
He fond the ladre and doun he goth,
And to him spak, bot non ansuere
Ayein of him ne mihte he bere1641
For oght that he can don or sein;
And thus he goth him up ayein.
Tho was ther spoke in many wise1642
Amonges hem that weren wise,1650
Now this, now that, bot ate laste
Qualiter precepto Principis, vt Appolinum consolaretur, Thaisis cum cithara sua ad ipsum in obscuro nauis, vbi jacebat, producta est.
The wisdom of the toun this caste,
That yonge Taise were asent.
For if ther be amendement
To glade with this woful king,
Sche can so moche of every thing,
That sche schal gladen him anon.
A Messager for hire is gon,
And sche cam with hire Harpe on honde,
And seide hem that sche wolde fonde1660
Be alle weies that sche can,1643
To glade with this sory man.
P. iii. 331
Bot what he was sche wiste noght,
Bot al the Schip hire hath besoght
That sche hire wit on him despende,
In aunter if he myhte amende,
And sein it schal be wel aquit.
Whan sche hath understonden it,
Sche goth hir doun, ther as he lay,
Wher that sche harpeth many a lay1670
And lich an Angel sang withal;
Bot he nomore than the wal
Tok hiede of eny thing he herde.
And whan sche sih that he so ferde,
Sche falleth with him into wordes,
And telleth him of sondri bordes,
And axeth him demandes strange,
Wherof sche made his herte change,
And to hire speche his Ere he leide
And hath merveile of that sche seide.1680
For in proverbe and in probleme
Sche spak, and bad he scholde deme
In many soubtil question:1644
Bot he for no suggestioun
Which toward him sche couthe stere,
He wolde noght o word ansuere,
Bot as a madd man ate laste1645
His heved wepende awey he caste,
And half in wraththe he bad hire go.
Bot yit sche wolde noght do so,1690
And in the derke forth sche goth,
Til sche him toucheth, and he wroth,
P. iii. 332
And after hire with his hond
He smot: and thus whan sche him fond
Desesed, courtaisly sche saide,
‘Avoi, mi lord, I am a Maide;
And if ye wiste what I am,
And out of what lignage I cam,
Ye wolde noght be so salvage.’
Qualiter, sicut deus destinauit, pater filiam inuentam recognouit.
With that he sobreth his corage1700
And put awey his bevy chiere.
Bot of hem tuo a man mai liere
What is to be so sibb of blod:
Non wiste of other hou it stod,
And yit the fader ate laste
His herte upon this maide caste,
That he hire loveth kindely,
And yit he wiste nevere why.
Bot al was knowe er that thei wente;
For god, which wot here hol entente,16461710