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Secunda Pars. Passed the throp of Bowtoun on the Ble, By my chilyndre I gan anon to se Thorgh the sonne that ful cler gan shyne Of the clok that it drogh to nyne And saugh also the silver dropes shene Of the dewe, lich peerlys on the grene, Vapoured up into the eire alofte, Whan Zephyrus with his blowing softe The wedere made lusty, smoth, and feir, And right attempre was the hoolsom eir - The same hour all the hoole route Of the pylgrymes rydyng round aboute, In my tale whan I gan precede, Rehercyng forth as it was in dede, Whan Edippus buryed was and grave, How his sones the kyngdam for to have Among hemsilf be ful mortal hate For the crowne gonne to debate Which of hem justly shal succede And the sceptre of the toune possede, Advertyng nought neither to right ne wronge But eche of hem to make her partie stronge And his querele proudely to sustene: From whoos hertes was devoyded clene Of brotherhode the faithful alliaunce. Fals covetise so made hem at distaunce, Fully worchyng into destruccioun And ruyne of this noble toun. So hoote brente the hatred and envie Of bothe two thorgh pompous surquedye That nowther wold pleynly in a poynt Other forbern; they stod in such disjoynte How as they hadde of berthe be foreyns, Tyl of the toune the noble citezeyns, Knyghtes, barounes with many worthi lord, Shope a way to mak hem of accord, And to set hem in quyete and in pees. But for his part this Ethiocles Allegge gan that he was first yborn, For which he oght of resoun go toforn In the cité to be crowned kyng, Sith be lawe ther was no lettyng. For unto hym longeth the herytage Be discent and be title of age. But Polymyte of ful hegh disdeyn Al opynly gan replie ageyn And for his part seide, in special, Reson was non that he shuld have alle Regaly and domynacioun And the lordship hooly of the toun, And he right nought, out of the cyté But lyve in exile and in poverté, Ful concludyng, withoute feer and dred, Rather than suffre that he wil be ded. And thus, allas, thorgh her envious strif, At the ende everich loste his lif, At gret mischief as ye shal after here. But thylke tyme the lordes al yfere Ful bysily did her dyligence, By gret avis and ful high prudence, To setten hem in quyete and in reste, Conseylyng hem pleynly for the beste, To leve her strif of wisdam and resoun And condescende to some conclusioun Which to both myghte most availe; That fynaly thorgh her governaile, The lordes alle beyng tho present, They han hem broght to be of on assent, Of on hert as brother unto brother, Everich of hem to regnen after other, Yeer be yeer as it cam aboute, So that the ton shal absent hym oute Fully that yeer and hymsilven guye Be his manhode and his chyvalrye, Haunte hymself in dedys marcyal, Whil his brother in his see royal Holdeth his sceptre the cité to governe; And whan the yeer his cours hath ronne yerne And is come out, he shal ha repair To regne in Thebes lik as lord and hair, There to receyve fully his dignyté, Whil the tother voideth the cité, Paciently taking his aventure To he ageyn his honure may recure. Thus entrechaunge every yere they shal: The ton ascendeth; that other hath a fal. They most obeye of hert and take it wel, Lich as the tourn resorteth of the whel. For this was hool the composicioun Atwene the bretheren and convencioun, Ful knet up be gret avisement, Tofor the goddys be oth of sacrament, Never after to groche ne to varye But acomplisshen shortly and not tarye, Lich as th'acord enrolled in the toune, From poynt to poynt made mencioun. But alderfirst be reson of his age, Ethyocles hadde th'avauntage To regne aforn and to were a croune, Polymyte hym hastyng out of toune Duryng that yeer (it may non other be), Whil his brother sat in his royal see Ful richely upon fortunes wheel; And rode hym forth armed bright in stele, This Polymyte, sothly as I rede, Hymsilf allone on a ryal stede, Withoute guyde al the longe day, Beyng aferd to kepe the heghe way, In his herte havyng suspecioun To his brother of malice and tresoun, Lest he pursued thorgh fals unkynd blood To have hym ded for covetise of good, That he allon myght ha possessioun Duryng his lif fully of the toun. For which in hast, havyng no felawe, Polymyte aside gan hym drawe By a forest joynyng to the see, Knowyng right nought the syyt of the contré, Ful of hilles and of hegh mounteyns, Craggy roches and but fewe playns, Wonder dredful and lothsom of passage, And therwithal ful of beestis rage, Holdyng his way of herte no thyng light, Maat and wery to it drowe to nyght. And al the day beholdyng enviroun, He neyther saugh castel, toure, ne toun, The whiche thing greved hym ful sore. And sodeynly the se began to rore, Wynde and tempest hidously t'arise. The reyn doune bete in ful grisly wise, That man and beest therof were adrad And negh for fer gan to wexe mad, As it sempte by the wooful sownes Of tygres, beres, boores and lyounes, Which for refut hemsilf forto save Everich in hast drogh unto his cave. But Polymyte in this tempest huge, Allas the whil, fyndeth no refuge, Nor hym to schrowde saugh nowher no socour Til it was passed almost mydnyght hour A large space that the sterres clere, The clowdes voyde, in hevene did appere, So that this knyght out of the forest large Gan approchen to the londe of Arge, Seyng a palays myghty of beeldyng, Of which Adrastus called was the kyng, A manly man riche and wonder sage And ronne was somdel into age, Born of the ile which called is Chysoun, And whylom sone of the kyng Chaloun. And for his witt, in story as is kouth, He chosen was in his tendre youth Of alle Arge to be crowned kyng, Chief of alle Grece by record of wryting, Not be dissent nor successioun But al only of fre eleccioun To holde of Arge the sceptre in his hond, As most worthy of alle Grekes lond, Loved and drad for wisdam and justice. And as the story pleynly can devise, This worthy kyng hadde doghtres two, Passyng fair and right good also. It were to longe her beauté to discryve. And the eldest called was Argyve, Deyfyle ynamed the seconde. And Adrastus, lich as it is founde, This worthy kyng hadde sone non, To succede after he be gon, For which he was duryng al his lyff Trist in hert and passingly pensif. But hool his trust and his hope stod Be aliaunce of some worthy blood Brought inne by mene of his doghtres tweyn, That he shal be relesed of his peyne Thorgh recomfort of some hie mariage. And sothly yet ful high in his corage He troubled was be occasion Of a sweven and a vision Shewed to hym upon a certeyn nyght. For as hym thoght in his inward sight Whyl he slept, by cleer inspeccioun, A wylde boor and a fers lyoun Possede shal, thise bestes in her rage, His doghtres two be bond of mariage In shorte tyme within a certeyn day, Which broght his herte in ful grete affray. But thing in soth that destiné hath shape Her in this world ful hard is to eskape, Eke merveylous a man t'eschewe his faate. And Polymyte, of whom I spak late, With the tempest bete and al bereyned, Be grace only the cité hath atteyned, Wher Adrastus ful statly of degré Thilke tyme helde his royal see. The troubly nyght, myrk and ful obscure, Hath brought this knyght only be aventure Thorgh the cité, enclosed with a wal, Unto the paleys chief and principal, Wher as the kynge in his chambre alofte Lay in his bed and slepte wonder softe. Eke alle his folk hadde her chambres take, Lik as Fortune peraunter hadde shape, The silfe tyme because it was so late; And casuelly no porter at the gate, As it had be right for the nonys. And in a porche bilt of square stonys, Ful myghtely enarched envyroun, Wher the domys and plees of the toun Weren execut and lawes of the kyng, And ther this knyght, without mor tarying, Wery and maat from his stede alight, Hangynge the rene in al the hast he myght Uppon his arme surer hym to kepe, And leyde hym doune and gan anon to slepe, As hym sempte that tyme for the beste. And whil that he lay thus forto reste, Of aventure ther cam a knyght ryding, The worthiest in this world lyvyng, Curteys, lowly, and right vertuous, As seith myn autour, called Tidyus, Eurous in armes and manly in werkyng, Of his byrthe sone unto the kyng Of Calydonye, a londe of gret renoun. And he, allas, out of that regioun Exiled was for he his brother sclowe, As Stace of Thebes writ the manere howe, Al be that he to hym no malys mente. For on a day, as they on huntyng wente In a forest for herte and for hynde, So as he stod under a grene lynde And casuelly lete his arow slippe, He slough his broder called Menalippe; Thorgh mortal sort his honde was begyled, For which he was banished and exiled, As the lawe narowe sette his charge. And for this caas he cam first to Arge, Into the porche wher Polymyte slepe, Of aventure ere he toke eny kepe, The same nyght hidously beseyn With the tempest of thonder wynde and reyn; And filt also anoy and gret damage Thorgh the forest holding his passage, As Polymyte hadde do toforn, In peryl ofte likly to be lorn, With beestes rage set on every side, Til of grace withouten eny guyde He rode thorgh Arge the grete myghty toun, Streght to the paleys and the chief dongoun, Lich as I tolde wher Polymyte lay; And at his comyng made a gret affray, For he was blynde thorgh derknesse of the nyght And hym to gwy he ne fonde no light Whan he cam inne of priket nor of torche, Til he unwarly entered the porche And wold han take ther his herbygage. But Polymyte stert up in a rage, Sodeynly awaked as I rede, With the nyinge of his proude stede. And first of al, whan that he byhelde A knyght yarmed upon his brest a shelde And gan the maner of his aray adverte, Of verrey ire upon his hors he sterte, And cruelly gan tydinges enquere Whennys he cam or what he dede there, And bad in hast his answer to devise. And Tydeus, in ful humble wise, Answerd ageyn of verrey gentillesse And seid in soth that of hegh distresse, Of the tempest and the derke nyght, He dryven was lich an erraunt knyght, Of nede only and necessité And high constreynt of his adversité, To take loggyng wher so that he myght, And in that courte therfor he alight Withoute mor, thenkyng non outrage Nor to no wight moving ne damage. Than Polymyte of malys and hegh pride Tolde hym shortly he shuld not abide Nor logge ther, thogh he had it sworn. "For I," quod he, "toke it up toforn And wil it kepe during al this nyght, I seie thee platly maugré al thy myght." Quod Tydeus, "That is no curtesie Me to devoyde but rather vileynye, Yif ye take hede that seme a gentil knyght. And I suppose ye han no title of right To this loggyng be way of heritage More than have I, for alle youre felle rage. And, pardé, yit it shal be no desese, Til tomorowe thogh ye do me ese, Of gentillesse only with youre leve; To suffre me, it shal litil greve." But ay the more Tydeus spak faire, Polymyte was froward and contrayre And shortly seide it geyneth not to stryve, That of force he shal devoide blyve, Or uttrely atwen hem bothe two This thyng to trie he most have ado. And Tydeus, seyng no bettre mene, Ful lik a knyght in steel yarmed clene, Without abood faste gan hym spede Wonder lyvely forto take his stede; And thus thies knyghtes, pompous and ellat, For litil cause fillen at debat. And as they ranne togider on horsbak, Everich on other first his spere brak. And after that, ful surquedous of pride, With sharpe swerdes they togyder ryde Ful yrously thise myghty champiouns, In her fury lik tygres or lyouns. And as they hurtle that all the paleis shoke, Kyng Adrastus out of his slep awoke, And made in hast his chamberleynes calle And thorgh the courte his worthy knyghtes alle, Comaundyng hem to descende and se And reporte what it myghte be, This wonder noyse in his courte be nyght. And whan they saugh two straunge knyghtes fight In platys bright and in thikke male, Withoute juge, they hadde grete mervale And disamayed of this unkouth thing, As they fond tolde to the kyng. And Adrastus for derknesse of the nyght, From his chambre with many torche light Into the courte is discended doun, All his meyné stondyng envyroun, Of thyes knyghtes having ful gret wonder. And of manhode he put hem first asonder, Hem comaundyng lich a gentil kyng, To leven her strif and sesen of fighting; And entred inne with a knyghtly loke; And first fro hem her swerdes both he took, Affermyng ek, as to his fantasie, It was a rage and a gret folye So wilfully her lyves to juparte, Withoute juge her querel to departe And specialy in the derke nyght Whan neither myght of other han no sight, Charching hem upon peyne of her lif To dissever and styntyn of her strif. And Tydeus in al the hast he myght, Ful humblely from his stede alight, And right mekely with cheer and contenance Put hym hooly in the governance Of Adrastus in al maner thing. And Polymyte mad ek no tarying To light also and wolde not withsey The kyngges biddyng lowly to obey, So as hym ought with diew reverence. And as thei stood both in his presence, He gan enquere first of her estaat, The cause also why they weren at debat, Of her cuntrees sothly and her age; He axed ek touching her lynage, Be discent of what stok thei were born. And Tydeus his answer gaf toforn; Tolde pleynly and made no lesyng, How that he was sone to the kyng Of Caledoyn and rightful heir therto; And of his exile the soth he told also, As ye han herde in the storye rad. And Polymyte, with cheer and face sad, Unto the kyng touching his contré Seyde he was born in Thebes the cité, And Jocasta, the grete famous quene, His moder was withouten eny wene. But of his fader whilom kyng and lord, For verray shame he spak not a word, Only for he (yif I shal not feyne) His fader was and brother bothe tweyne: The which, in soth, he was ful loth to telle. And eke the kyng wold hym not compelle Of gentillesse but bad, withoute blame, Of his birth forto have no shame; For hool the caas and maner every dell Touchyng his kynne he knewe the ground ful wel, Lich as it was, by ful clier report. Enforsyng hym forto do confort With all his myght and his bysy peyne, This manly kyng to the knyghtes tweyne; And to hem seide, aforn hym as they stood, He wiste wel that of ful worthy blood They were dyscended, touchyng ther kynrede; And made in hast his officeres lede The straunge knyghtes beyng at debat Thorgh his paleys to chambres of estat, Eche by hymsilf forto take his ese. And everything, in soth, that myght hem plese, Was offred hem lich to her estates. And whan they weren disarmed of her platis, Cusshewes, greves, and her sabatons, Her harneys voyded and her habergons, Tweyne mantels unto hem wer broght, Frett with peerle and riche stonys, wroght Of cloth of golde and velvyt cremysyn, Ful richely furred with ermyn, To wrap hem inne ageyn the colde morowe, After the rage of her nyghtes sorowe, To take her reste to the sonne arise. And than the kyng in ful prudent wise First of alle was not rekkeles The knyghtes hertes for to sett in pees, That ever after, I dar afferme it wel, Eche was to other trew as eny stele During her lif both in word and dede Under a knotte bounde of brotherede. And Adrastus the worthy kyng famous A feeste made riche and plentevous To thise knyghtes, hymsilf therat present. And after mete ful goodly he hath sent, This noble kyng, for his doghters dere Of gentyllesse forto make chere To the knyghtes come fro so ferre. And lik in soth as Lucyfer the sterre Gladeth the morow at his uprysing, So thoo ladies at her incomyng, With the stremes of her eyen clere, Goodly apport, and wommanly manere, Contenaunce and excellent fayrnesse, To alle the court broghten in gladnesse. For the frecchnesse of her hevenly cheres So agreable was to the straungers At her entré that in special Hem thoght it lik a thyng celestial, Enhastyng hem in ful knyghtly wise Ageynes hem goodly to arise. And as they mette with humble contenaunce, Ful konyngly did her observaunce, Hem conveying to her sitting place. But sothly I ha leyser non nor space To reherce and put in remembraunce Hooly the maner of her daliaunce. It were to longe for you to abide. But wel I woot that the god Cupide, By influence of his myghty hond And the fervence of his firy brond, Her metyng first fortuned hath so wel That his arowes of gold and not of stiel Iperced han the knyghtes hertes tweyn Thorgh the brest with such a lusty peyn That ther abood sharpe as spere or launce, Depe yfiched the poynt of remembraunce, Which may not lightly raced ben away. And thus in joye they dryve forth the day In play and revel for the knyghtes sake. And towardes nyght they her chambres take At dieu tyme, as her fader bad; And on her way the knyghtes han hem lad Reverently up be many staire; Takyng lieve gan anon repaire To her logging in a ful statly toure, Assigned hem be the harberioure. And after spices pleynly and the wyn In coppes grete wroght of gold ful fyn, Withoute tarying to bed streght they gon. Touchyng her reste, wher thei slepte or non, Demeth ye lovers that in such maner thing B'experience han fully knowlecchyng, For it is nat declared in my boke. But as I fynde, the kyng al nyght woke, Thoghtful in herte, the story specifies, Musing sore and ful of fantasies, First adverting the grete worthynesse Of this knyghtes and the semlynesse, Her lusty youth, her force and her manhode, And how thei weren ycome of royal blode. Al this he ganne to revolve aboute, Ay in his herte havyng a maner doute, Atwene two hangyng in balaunce Where he shulde maken an aliaunce Atwene his doghtren and the knyghtes tweyn. For on thyng ay his herte gan constreyn, The remembrance of his avisioun, Of which toforn I made mencioun, Touchyng the lyon and the wilde boor (It nedeth nat to reherce it mor), Casting alway in his fantasie, What it myghte cleerly signyfie, This dirke dreme; this was hid and cloos. But on the morowe Adrastus up aroos, And to the temple the righte way he took, And gan preie devoutly on his book To the goddes his dreme to specefie. And they hym bad homward forto hye And to beholde in the knyghtes sheldys The felle beestys peynted in the feeldys, Which shal to hym, be cleer inspeccioun, Ful pleynly make declaracioun Of his dreme which he hadde in the nyght. And Adrastus enhasted hym ful right In her sheldes wisly to beholde, Wher that he saugh, as the goddes tolde, In the sheldes hangyng upon hokys The beestes rage with her mortal lokys. And to purpos, lik as writ Bochas, Polymyte ful streght enbraced was In the hyde of a feerce lyoun; And Tydeus aboven his haberioun A gypon hadde hidous sharpe and hoor, Wroght of the bristels of a wylde boor. The whiche beestis, as the story lerys, Wer wroght and bete upon her banerys, Displaied brood whan they shulde fight. Wherof the kyng whan he hadde a sight Att hys repeir in herte was ful glad, And with a face ful demur and sad With his lordes, that he about hym hadde, To the temple he thys knyghtes ladde. And whan they hadde with all circumstaunces Of rytys olde don her observaunces, Hom to the court they resort ageyn. And in an halle riche and wel beseyn, This worthy kyng of herte lyberal Made a feeste solempne and royal, Which in deyntys surly dyd excelle. But it were veyn every cours to telle, Her straunge sewes and her sotyltees, Ne how they sat lik to her degrees; For lak of tyme I lat it overslyde. And after mete Adrastus toke asyde The knyghtes two and lik a prudent man In sykré wise thus his tale he gan. "Sirs," quod he, "I ne doute it nought That it is fressh and grene ay in your thoght How that first by goddys ordynaunce, And after next thorgh fatys purveaunce, And be workyng of Fortunes hond, How that ye weren brought into this lond Bothe tweyn but now this laste nyght; Of whoos comyng I am ful glad and light First in myself, shortly to expresse, Whan I considre and se the liklynesse Of your personys with the circumstancys And hool the maner of your governancys, Seyng ful wel - wherto shuld I feyne - Ye likly be herafter to atteyn To grete estat and habundaunce of good Thorgh youre birth and your royal blood: Ye may not fayle but ye have wrong, For ye are both manly and right strong. And forto sette youre hertes mor at reste My purpoos is I hope for the beste, So that in you be no variance To make a knotte as be allyaunce, Atwixe yow and my doghtres two, Yif youre hertes accorde wel therto. And for I am fully in dyspeyr To succede for to han an heir, Therfor ye shal han possessioun Duryng my lyf of half this regioun Forwith in hond and hool after my day. Ther is no man that therto shal sey nay. And sothly after whan that I am grave, Eche of yow shal his party have Of this kyngdam, as I have provided; This to seyn, it shal be devyded Atwen yow two, everich to be crowned, Youre pourparties be equyté compowned So egally in every mannys sight That ech of yow rejoyse shal his ryght. And by your wit ye shul the lond amend, And of manhode knyghtly it diffend Ageyn oure enmyes and oure mortal fon. And for the daies passed ben and gon Of my desyres and my lusty youth, I am ful set forto make kouth That ye shal han lik myn opynyoun The governaunce of this regioun. To this entente me semeth for the beste, Ye to governe and I to lyve in reste, Fully to folowe the lust of my desyris, Hunte and hauke in wodes and ryverys Whansoever I ha therto plesaunce, And for to han non other attendance Unto nothing but unto myn ese. For which shortly yif it agré and plese That I have seid to you that be so wis And be according unto youre avis, Delaieth not but in wordes pleyn What yow semeth gif answere ageyn." And whan Adrastus hadde his tale fyned, Tydeus with hed ful lowe enclyned, As he that was a verray gentyl knyght, With al his power and his fulle myght Ful humblely thanked he the kyng Touchyng his profre of so high a thyng And for his parte seide he wolde assente Fully of herte, nevere to repente, To all that ever the kyng hath sayd. And Polymyte was also wel apayd, In the story as it is conprehendid. And so they ben bothe condescendyd The kyngges wille to fulfille in dede From poynt to poynt and therupon procede, Whersoever that they wynne or lese. And Tydeus made his brother chese, Of gentillesse and of curtesye, Which that was most to his fantasye Of the sustren for to han to wive. And he in soth chosen hath Argyve, Which eldest was ful wommanly to se. And Tydeus tok Deyphylee, Of her beauté most sovereyn excellent.    And Adrastus thorghoute his lond hath sent For his lordes and his baronage To be present at the mariage Of the knyttes and make no lettyng. And they echon cam at his bidding In goodly wyse meke and ful benygne Ageyn the day that he dide assigne. And thyder cam ful many lusty knyght Ful wel beseyn and many lady bright From every coost and many frecssh sqwyer, The story seith, and many comunere, To byholde the grete ryalté And the maner of thys solempnyté. But to telle all the circumstances Of justes, revel, and the dyvers daunces, The feestes riche, and the gyftes grete, The pryvé sighes and the fervent hete Of lovys folk brennyng as the glede, And devyses of many sondry wede, The touches stole and th'amerous lookes By sotyl craft leyd doun lyne and hokes The jalous folk to traysshen and begyle In their awayt with many sondry wile - Al this in soth descryven I ne can. But wel wote I the newe fame ran This menewhil with ful swift passage Unto Thebes of this mariage. And by report trewe and not yfeyned, The soune therof the eeres hath atteyned, Myn auctour writ, of Ethyocles, Touchyng th'onour and the gret encres Of Polymyte heghly magnyfied, And how that he newly was allyed With Adrastus in the londe of Arge. The whiche thyng he gretly gan to charge, Dredyng inly that this mariage Shal after turne unto his damage, Sore musyng and castyng up and doun The grete power and the hegh renoun Of Adrastus, the which of Grekes land Hadde al the power soget to his hand, Lest that he for Polymytes sak Wold upon hym a newe werre make, But yif that he, lik the convencioun, At tyme sette delyvered the toun To his broder by bond of oth besworn, Be covauntes assured her toforn, Yif ye remembre late as I you told: Which he was nat in purpos forto hold, But from his heste caste forto varye, And therupon list no lenger tarye Lich his desire to shape remedyes. And first he sente for his next allies In whoom he hadde most his affiaunce, For his lordes that hadde governaunce Of his kyngdom to come to hym anon. And whan they weren present everichon, He seide pleynly, wenyng for his best, That his hert shal never lyve in rest But in sorowe and in a maner drede, Tyl his brother outrely be dede, That he in Thebes in his royal sete Myght allone regnen in quiete: He mente hymsilf shortly, and non other, Unperturbed of Polymyte his brother. And at this counsayl divers of entent, I fynde writ thre folkes were present - Some in soth that feithful were and trewe, And some also that can chaunge of newe, And other ek that betwixe tweyn Covertly kowde under colour feyn.    The firste seide, aboven alle thyng, Trouthe shulde longe to a kyng, Of his word not be variable But pleyn and hool as a centre stable. For trouthe first, withouten eny wene, Is chief pyler that may a kyng sustene In joye and honour for to lede his lyff. For trouth whilom hadde a prerogatiff, As of Esdre the book can specyfie; Record I take of prudent Neemye That worthy kyngges for al her grete pride, Wyn, and wymmen ben ek set asyde, With all her power and domynacioun Havyng reward in comparisoun To trouthes myght and trouthes worthynesse. For as Esdre pleynly doth expresse, Who taketh hede, in the same place, Be the influence sothly and the grace Of trouthe allon this olde Neemye Gat hym licence to reedifie The wallys newe of Jerusalem. Which trouth is tresour chief of every rewme, For Salamon writ how that thynges tweyne - Trouth and mercy lynked in a cheyne - Preserve a kyng lik to his degré From al meschief and adversité. Allas, therfor that eny doublenesse, Variaunce, or unsicrenesse, Chaunge of word or mutabilité, Fraude or deceyte or unstabileté Shuld in a kyng han domynacioun To causen after his destruccioun. Of kyngges redeth the story doune be rowe, And seth how many han ben overthrowe Thorgh her falshede fro Fortunes Whel. For unto God pleseth never a del A kyng to ben double of entent, For it may happe that the world is blent Ful ofte sith be sleght of her werkyng. But this the trouthe - God seeth everythyng Right as it is, for ther may be no cloude Toforn his sight trouthe forto shrowde. It may be clipsed and derked be disceyte, By fals engyne liggyng in aweyte, As a serpent forto undermyne; But at the last it wol clerly shyne, Who that seith nay, shew his brighte bemes. For it in soth of kyngdames and of reawmes Is berer up and conservatrice From al meschief, sothfast mediatrice To God above, whoso list to se, To kepe a kyng in prosperité On every side, as I afferme dar. For which, ye kyngges and lordes, beth wel war Your bihestes justly forto holde, And thenk how Thebes with his walles olde Distroied was - platly this no les - For doublenesse of Ethiocles, Which his puple after sore abouht, Only for he nat by counsell wroght Of hem that wern bothe trewe and wis (Hym lyst nat worchen after her devys) But lefte trouthe and sette his fantasye To be governed by fals flaterye, That bad hym thenke how he was a knyght, And to holde of force, more than right, Duryng his lyf lordship of the toun, And not to lese his possessioun For no bond nor heestes mad toforn, But lete his brother blowen in an horn, Wher that hym lyst or pypen in a red. This was the counsail platly and the reed Of swich as liste nat to seyn the soth But falsly flater with her wordes smoth. And whan they hadde hool her tale fyned, Ethyocles fully is enclynyd, Whosoever therat laugh or wepe, Lik her counsayl possessioun to kepe, Who that sey nay or gruche therageyn; Hym to contrarye he thoght was but veyn.    But in this whyl hath the shene sonne The twelve signes round aboute ronne Sith Ethiocle be just rekenyng In Thebes was crowned lord and kyng, Holdyng the sceptre and the dyademe, That be resoun, as it wolde seme, The tyme was ful complet and the space Of covenaunte he shulde voide his place And Polymyte ek his journé make Toward Thebes, pocessioun to take Of dieu title but he hadde wronge, Which thoght in soth the yeer was wonder longe Of his exil er it kam aboute. And for he hadde in hert a manere doute, Lest in his broder ther wer falshed found, T'aquyte hymsilf lik as he was bound, To Adrastus he gan declar his herte, Beseching hym this mater to adverte And therupon to give a counsayl sone Touchyng his right what was best to done, Wher it was bet to gon or to abyde Or liche a knyght manfully to ryde Hymsilf allone and make no massage, For to chalaunge his rightful heritage Withinne Thebes oyther be pees or stryf, And therupon to juparte his lif. Thus was he set for al his ferce brother. But Adrastus sothly thoght another Bet was to sende than hymsilf to gon, Lest he were trapped among his mortal fon, Havyng his brother suspecte in this cas That be fraude or be some fallas He wolde werk to his destruccioun, Yif he wer hardye to entren into toun. For which he bad hym prudently tak hede, Ful concludyng how it was mor spede That some other be to Thebes sent To apparceyve fully the entent Of Ethiocle outward be some signe And wher that he his croune wil resigne For thilke yeer, lik as he made his ooth, And whan he knewe how his purpoos goth Therupon to werken and procede: Thus Adrastus wisely gan hym rede. And whil they trete upon this matere, Tydeus with a manly chere Sade uttrely for his broder sake This massage he wold undertake With hool th'empris of th'enbassyat, Wer it wilful or infortunat: He wil not spare what so that betide. But Adrastus on the tother syde And Polymyte in conclusioun Weren contrarye to that opynyoun And seide sothly, as hem thoghte right, Sith that he was so wel a preved knyght And discended of so worthy blood, That they nolde for non erthly good, For all Thebes with the regalye, Put his body in such jupartie. But all this thyng avayled hem right noght, For he wol forth how dere that it be boght, Takyng lieve first of all th'estatys, And armed hym in mayle and sure platys, And shope hym forth upon his journé. Who made sorowe but Deyphylé, With bitter teeres dewed al her face, Ful ofte sith swownyng in the place, Trist and mournyng in her blake wede Whan she saugh that he took his stede? So inwardly encres gan her mone, Seyng her lord so ride forth allone Upon his way, this worthy Tydeus. And in al hast, the story telleth us, He spedde hym so, makyng no delayes, That in space of a fewe daies The heghe toures of Thebes he gan se, And entred is into the cité, Wisly enqueryng wher the paleys stood; And lik a knyght thidere he streght rood, Markyd ful wel in many mannys sight, Lich Mars hymsilf, in stiel armed bright, Til he atteyned hath the chief dongoun, Wher as the kyng helde his mancyoun. And thorgh the paleys with a knyghtly look Into the hall the righte way he took, From his stede whan he lighte doun, Not afered but hardy as lyoun, Wher as the kyng with lordes a gret route In the halle sittyng rounde aboute, He entred inne most manful of corage, T'execute the fyn of his massage. And as hym thought convenient and due, Ful konnyngly he gan the kyng salue, Requiring hym, of kyngly excellence, In goodly wise to geve hym audience And not disdeyne neither in port ne cheer, Sith he was come as a massagere From Polymyte his owne brodere dere, Gynnyng his tale thus, as ye shal here. "Sir," quod he, "unto your worthynesse My purpoos is breefly to expresse Th'effecte only, as in sentement, Of the massage why that I am sent. It were in veyn longe processe forto make. But of my mater the verrey ground to take, In eschewyng of prolixité And voyde away al superfluyté, Sith youresilf best ought to understond The cause fully that we han on hond And ek conceyve th'entent of my menynge, Of rightwisnesse longgyng to a kynge, First considred, yif that ye tak hede, Whan Edippus the olde kyng was dede, How that yoursilf and youre brother blyve For the croune contagiously gan stryve As mortal foon by ful gret hatrede Which of yow two shulde first succede, Til that ye were be meenys reconcyled - Ye to regne and he to be exiled Out of this towne for a yeeres space And than ageyn resorte to his place To regne as kyng and ye to voyden oute, So as your tourne be processe kam aboute Everich of yow paciently t'endure Th'enterchaungyng of his aventure, Who were put out or stood in his estat, Therupon to make no debat, Lich the covenaunt and convencioun, Enrolled up by lordys of this toun, Which of reson may not be denyed. And sith ye han a yeer yoccupied, Polimytes requereth yow of right T'aqwite you lik a trewe knyght In eschewyng of mortal werre and strif, Sith ye han had a prerogatif As eldest brother forto regne aforn. And thenketh eke how that ye ar sworn Your oth to kepe and make no tarying, Holy adverting lich a prudent kyng That trouth is mor in conparisoun Than all the tresour of your regyoun, Mor acceptable unto god and man Than all richesse that ye rekne kan. Wherefor in hast (and lat ther be no slouthe), Quyteth yoursilf justly of your trouthe Unto youre brother, avoyding this cyté, And lat hym regnen in his ryalté, The croune of Thebes a yeer to occupie. Than wol al Grece preise and magnyfie Youre hegh renoun and may sey non other But ye han quytt you justly to your brother. This hool th'effecte of al that I wil seyn, Answer expectaunt what ye list sende ageyn."    Whan Tydeus hadde told his tale, Ethiocles, trist and wonder pale, His conceyt first in maner hath refreyned, Dyssimulyng under colour feyned, Shewyng a cheer in maner debonayre, To his entent wonderly contrayre, Inward in herte wood and furious; Turnyng his face towarde Tydeus, He gan abraid, and at the last outbrak, And even thus unto hym he spak. "I ha gret mervaile," quod he, "in my thoght Of the massage which that thow hast broght, That my brother, as thow hast expownyd, Desyreth so in Thebes to be crownyd, Havynge reward to the habundance, The grete plenté, and the suffisaunce That he hath nowe with the kyng of Arge; That me semeth he shuld lityl charge To han lordship or domynacioun In the boundis of this lytyl toun, Sith he regneth so fresshly in his flours, Surmountyng all his predecessours Be newe encres thorgh fortunis myght; Wherof in hert I am right glad and light, Fully trustyng, yif I hadde nede To his helpe, that withoute drede Lik a brother than I shuld hym fynde To meward feithful, trewe, and kynde, Supposing pleynly evermor Of this regne he set but lityl stor Nor cast hym not for so short a while As for a yeer, his brother to exile, To lyve in poverté and gret distresse. He wol not suffre it of his high noblesse. It were no token as of brotherede But a signe rather of hatrede To interrupte my possessioun Of this litil pore regioun." Al that he spak, who that couth adverte, Of verrey scorn, rooted in his herte; As it sempte, the story can you teche, By the surplus sothly of his speche, He myghte nat no lenger hym refreyne But platly seide, "as atwene us tweyne, I mene thus Polymytes and me, Ther nys no bonde nor no sureté Nor feith ymade that may hym avaylle, As he cleymeth to ha the governaylle Of this cité, nowther yere nor day. For I shal lette hym, sothly, yif I may, That he shal not be title of no bond Rejoysse in Thebes half a foot of londe. Late hym kepe all that he hath wonne! For I purpoos, as I ha begonne, To regne in Thebes enforth al my lyve, Maugré al hem that therageynes stryve And in despit of his frendes all Or the counsaylle that hym list to calle. Lat hym be sur, and know this right wel, His manacyng I dred never a del. And sikerly, as to my devis, It scheweth wel that thow were not wis But supprised with a manere rage To take on thee this surquedous massage, And presume to do so hegh offence So boldely to speke in my presence. But al yfere avayle shal right noght. For the tyding that thou hast ybroght Shal unto hym be but disencrees. He better were to ha ben in pees Than of foly and presumpcioun Ageynes me to seke occasioun. For whil I lyve - and therto her myn hond - As I seide erst, he wynneth her no lond, Whyl the walles of this toune may stond. For fynaly I do thee understond That they shal first be bete doune ful lowe And alle the toures to the erth ythrowe, Er he in Thebes have eny thynge ado. Lo, her is al. Retourne and sey him so."    Whan Tydeus saugh the fervent ire Of the kyng with angre set afire, Ful of despit and malencolye, Conceyvyng eke the grete felonye In his apport, lik as he wer wood, This worthy knyght a lityl while stood Sad and demur, or oght he wolde seyn. But at the laste thus he spak ageyn. "Certes," quod he, "I conceyve of newe Aboute thee, thy counsel is untrewe - I dar it seyn and vowen at the best - Nor thow art not feithful of thy behest, Stable of thy word that thow hast seid toforn But deceyveable and falsly ek forsworn And ek periur of thyn assured ooth. But whersobe that thow be lief or loth, I seye thee shortly - hold it for no fage - Al shal turn unto thy damage; Trust it wel, and in ful cruel wyse Alle Grekes londe shal upon thee ryse To ben avenged and manly to redresse The gret untrouth and the hegh falsnesse Which that thow hast ageyn thy brother wroght. It shal ful dere after this be bought. And verrely in dede, as thow shalt lere, Kyng Adrastus wil medle of this matere And alle the lordes about hym envyroun That bounde ben to his subjeccioun; Prynces, dukes, and many a noble knyght, In sustenyng of thy brotheres right, Shal on a day with sper and with sheld Ageynes thee be gadered in a feld, Knyghtly to preve al be on assent That thow art fals and double of entent, Of thy promys atteynt and ek outrayed. And leve me wel it shal not be delayed But in al hast execute in dede. Lik thi desert thow shalt ha thy mede. For God above of his rightwisnesse Swich open wrong shal in hast redresse, And of his myght al such collusioun Reforme ageyn and al extorsioun. For this the fyn, falshede shal not vaile Ageynes trouth in feeld to hold batayle. Wrong is croked, bothen halt and lame. And here anon in my brotheres name, As I that am next of his alye In his querel, I shortly thee deffye, Fully avysed with al myn hool entent. And ye lordes that ben her present, I yow requere of your worthynesse To saye trouth and to ber wittnesse, Whan tyme comth, justly to recorde How your kyng falsly can discorde From his heest of fals variaunce. And thenk how ye on feith and lygaunce Ar bounde echon - ye may not go therfro - Forto obeye and serve, bothe two, This nexte yeer now anon folowyng As to your lord and your trewe kyng Polemytes, thogh he be now absent, By just accord maad in parlement, At youre devis which sitten her a rowe, Engrosed up, as it is wel knowe, And enrolled only for witnesse In youre regestres to voyden al falsnesse, That non of you vary may of newe Fro that I say, but he be untrewe. For which I rede yoursilf to acquyte. Lat no tyme lenger you respit But at onys withoute mor tarying, Of manly force fetteth hom your kyng, Maugré his foon, lik as ye ar bounde, And lat in yow slouthe non be founde, To put hym justly in pocessioun - This my consayl in conclusioun." Whan Tydeus hadde his massage saide, Lik to the charge that was on hym laide, As he that list no lenger ther sojourne, Fro the kyng he gan his face tourne, Nat astouned nor in his hert afferde But ful proudly leyde hond on his swerde, And in despit who that was lief or loth, A sterne pas thorgh the halle he goth Thorghout the courte, and manly took his stede, And out of Thebes faste gan hym spede, Enhastyng hym til he was at large, And sped hym forth touard the londe of Arge. Thus leve I hym ride forth a while, Whilys that I retourne ageyn my style Unto the kyng which in the halle stood Among his lordes furious and wood, In his herte wroth and evel apayd Of the wordes that Tydeus hath said, Specialy havyng remembraunce On the proude, dispitous diffiaunce Whilys that he sat in his royal see, Upon which he wil avenged be Ful cruelly, what evere that befalle. And in his ire he gan to hym calle Chief constable of his chyvalrye, Charchyng hym faste for to hye With al the worthy chooce of his housholde, Which as he knewe most manful and most bolde, In al hast Tydeus to swe Toforn or he out of his lond remwe, Up peyn of lyf and lesyng of her hede, Withoute mercy anon that he be dede. And of knyghtes fyfty weren in nombre, Myn autour seith, unwarly hym t'encombre, Armed echon in mayle and thikke stiel And therwithal yhorsed wonder wiel. At a posterne forth they gan to ryde By a geynpath that ley oute aside, Secrely that no man hem espie, Only of tresoun and of felonye. They haste hem forth al the longe day Of cruel malys forto stoppe his way, Thorgh a forest all of on assent, Ful covartly to leyn a busshement Under an hill at a streite passage, To falle on hym at mor avauntage, The same way that Tydeus gan drawe, At thylke mount wher that Spynx was slawe. He nothing war in his opynyoun Of this conpassed conspiracioun But innocent and lich a gentyl knyght Rood ay forth to that it drowe to nyght, Sool by hymsilf, withoute companye, Havyng no man to wisse hym or gye. But at the laste liftyng up his hede, Toward eve he gan taken hede, Mid of his way right as eny lyne, Thoght he saugh ageyn the mone shyne Sheldes fressh and plates borned bright, The which environ casten a gret lyght, Ymagynyng in his fantasye Ther was treson and conspiracye Wrought by the kyng his journé forto lette. And of al that he nothyng ne sette, But wel assured in his manly herte List nat onys asyde to dyverte, But kepte his way, his sheld upon his brest, And cast his spere manly in the rest. And the firste platly that he mette Thorgh the body proudely he hym smette, That he fille ded, chief mayster of hem all; And than at onys they upon hym falle On every part be compas envyroun. But Tydeus thorgh his hegh renoun His blody swerde lete about hym glyde, Sleth, and kylleth upon every side In his ire and his mortal tene, That mervaile was he myghte so sustene Ageyn hem all in every half besette. But his swerde was so sharpe whette That his foomen fonde ful unsoote. But he, allas, was mad light afoote Be force grounded in ful gret distresse; But of knyghthod and of gret prouesse Up he roos, maugré all his foon; And as they cam, he slogh hem oon be on, Lik a lyoun rampaunt in his rage. And on this hille he fond a narow passage, Which that he took of ful high prudence; And liche a boor stondyng at diffence, As his foomen proudly hym assaylle, Upon the pleyn he made her blode to raylle Al enviroun, that the soyl wex rede Now her, now ther as they fille dede, That her lay on and ther lay two or thre. So mercyles in his cruelté Th'ilke day he was upon hem founde. And attonys his enemyes to confounde, Wher as he stood this myghty champioun Be side he saugh with water turned doun An huge ston large, rounde, and squar; And sodeynly, er that thei wer war, As it hadde leyn ther for the nonys, Upon his foon he rolled it at onys, That ten of hem wenten unto wrak And the remnaunt, amased, drogh abak; For on by on they wente to meschaunce. And fynaly he broghte to outraunce Hem everychon Tydeus, as blyve, That non but on was left of hem alyve Hymsilf yhurt and ywounded kene, Thurgh his harneys bledyng on the grene. The Theban knyghtes in compas rounde aboute In the vale lay slayen all the route, Which pitously ageyn the mone gape; For non of hem, shortly, myght eskape But dede echon as thei han deserved, Save on excepte the which was reserved By Tydeus of intencioun To the kyng to make relacioun How his knyghtes han on her journé sped, Everich of hem his lyf left for a wed, And at the metyng how they han hem born - To tellen al he sured was and sworn To Tydeus ful lowly on his kne. By which ensample ye opynly may se Ageynes trouth falshed hath no myght. Fy on querilis nat grounded upon right, Withoute which may be no victoyré. Therfor ech man ha this in memoyré: That gret power, shortly to conclude, Plenté of good, nor moch multitude, Scleight or engyne, fors or felonye Arn to feble to holden chanpartye Ageynes trouth, who that list take hede. For at the ende falshede may not spede T'endure longe - ye shul fynde it thus. Record I take of worthy Tydeus, Which with his hand thorgh trouthes excellence Fyfty knyghtes slogh in his dyffence But on except, as I late tolde, Sworn and assured with his honde upholde The kyng t'enforme how they wern atteynt. And Tydeus, of bledyng wonder feynt, Maat and wery and in gret distresse, And overleyd of verray feblenesse, But as he myght hymsilve tho sustene, He took his hors stondyng on the grene, Worthed up, and forth he gan to ryde An esy pas with his woundes wyde. And sothly yit in his opynyoun He was alway affered of tresoun. But anguysshous and ful of bysy peyne He rode hym forth til he did atteyne Into the boundes of Lygurgus lond, A worthy kyng and manly of his hond. And he ful paal only for lak of blood Tydeus saugh wher a castel stood, Strong and myghty belt upon a roche, Toward which he faste gan approche, Conveyed thider be clernesse of the ston That be nyght ageyn the moone shon, On heghe toures with crestes marcyal. And joyneaunt almost to the wal Was a gardyn lityl out be syde, Into which Tydeus gan ride Of aventure be a gate smal. And ther he fond, forto rekne al, A lusty herbere unto his devis, Soote and fressh lich a paradys, Verray hevenly of inspeccioun. And first of al he alyghte doun, The goodly place whan that he byheld, And fro his nek he voyded hath his sheld, Drogh the brydyl from his horses hede, Let hym goon, and took no maner hede Thorgh the gardyn that enclosed was, Hym to pasture on the grene gras. And Tydeus, mor hevie than is led, Upon the herbes grene, whit, and red, As hym thoughte that tyme for the best, He leid hym doune forto tak his rest, Of werynesse desirous to slepe; And non awayt his body forto kepe; And with dremes grocched ever among. Ther he lay to the larke song With notes newe hegh up in the ayr, The glade morowe rody and right fayr, Phebus also, casting up his bemes, The heghe hylles gilte with his stremes, The sylver dewe upon the herbes rounde; Ther Tydeus lay upon the ground At the uprist of the shene sunne, And stoundemele his grene woundes runne Round about, that the soyl depeynt Of the grene with the rede meynt. And every morowe for hoolsomnesse of eyre Lygurgus doghter maked her repeyr, Of custom ay among the floures newe In this gardyn of many dyverse hwe Swich joye hadde, forto taken hede, On her stalkes forto sen hem sprede, In the allures walking to and fro. And whan she hadde a litil while goo Herself allon casting up her sight, She byheld wher an armed knyght Lay to rest hym on the herbes colde; And hym besyde she gan ek byholde His myghty stede walkyng her and ther. And she anon fille in a maner fer, Speceally whan she saugh the blood Sprad al the grene aboute ther she stood. But at the laste she kaught hardynesse And wommanly gan her forto dresse Toward this knyght, havyng a manere drede And gret doute lest that he were dede. And of her wille sothly this was chief - That she thoughte forto mak a prief How that it stood of this man, ful ofte.    And forth she gooth and touched hym ful softe, Ther as he lay with her hondes smale. And with a face dedly bleyk and pale, Lich as a man adawed in a swogh, Up he stert, and his swerd he drogh Nat fully out, but put it up ageyn, Anon as he hath the lady seyn, Beseching hir only of her grace To han pité upon his trespace And rewe on hym of her wommanhede. For of affray he was falle in drede, Lest he hadde assayled ben of newe Of the Thebans preved ful untrewe; For dred of which he was so rekkeles, Ful humblely hym yelding to the pes, Tryst in hymsilf he passed hadde his boundes. And whan that she saugh his mortal woundes, She hadde routh of verrey gentyllesse Of his desese and of his distresse, And bad he shulde no thing be dismayd, Nor in herte sorowful nor affrayd, Disconfort hym in no maner thing. "For I," quod she, "am doghter to the kyng Callyd Lygurge, which gretly me delyte Every morowe this gardyn to visyte; It is to me so passingly disport. Wherfor," quod she, "beth of good comfort, For no wight her touchyng your viage Shal hynder you nor do yow no damage. And yif ye list of al your aventure The pleyne trouth unto me discure, I wil in soth do my bysynesse To reforme youre grevous hevynesse With al my myght and hool my dylygence, That I hope of youre gret offence Ye shal han helpe in your adversité. And, as ferforth as it lith in me, Trusteth right wel, ye shul no faute fynde." And whan he saugh that she was so kynde, So wommanly, so goodly and benygne In al her poort be many dyvers signe, He unto hir be ordre wold not spare His aventuris fully to declare, In Thebes first touching his massage, And at the hil of the woode rage; Of his woundes and his hurtes sore (It were but veyn to reherce it mor) By and by he told her every del, The which in soth she liked nevere a del But hadde routh and compassioun Of his meschief wroght be fals tresoun, Byddyng in hast that he shuld hir swe; And wommanly, as her thoghte dwe, To a chambre she ladde hym up alofte, Ful wel beseyn, therin a bed right softe Richely abouten apparayled With cloth of gold, al the floor yrayled Of the same, both in length and brede. And first this lady of her wommanhede Hir wymmen badde, as goodly as they kan, To be attendaunt on this wounded man. And whan he was unarmed to his sherte, She made first wassh his woundes smerte, And serche hem wel with dyvers instrumentes, And made fette sondry oynementes And leches ek, the beste she koude fynde, Ful craftely to staunche hem and to bynde. And everything that may do hym ease T'aswage his peyn or his woo t'apese Was in the courte and the castel sought And by her byddyng to his chambre brought. And for his sake she hath after sent For swich deyntees as wern convenyent, Moost nutrityf be phisikes lore, Hem that wern syk or wounded to restore, Makyng her wymmen ek to taken kep, And wayt on hym anyghtes whan he slep, And be wel war that nothing asterte That was or myght be lusty to his herte. And with al this she preied hym abyde Til he were strong and myghty forto ride, In the castel to pley hym and disporte, And at leysere hom ageyn resorte, Whan he myght bywelde hym at his large. But al for nought; he wil hom to Arge, Toke his lyeve on the nexte day, Without abood to hast hym on his way, Lowly thonkyng unto her goodnesse Of her fredam and bountevous largesse, So wommanly that hir list tak hede Hym to refressh in his grete nede, Beheestyng hir with al his ful myght He wolde be hir servaunt and hir knyght Whyl he leveth, of what she wold hym charge.    And forth he rood til he cam to Arge In ful gret hast and wolde nowher dwelle. But what shuld I rehercen owther telle Of his repeir the coostes or the pleyns, The craggy roches or the hegh mounteyns, Or al the maner of his hoomcomynge, Of the metyng nor the welcomynge, Nor the joye that Adrastus made, Nor how his sustre and his wif were glade, Nor how that they (wherfor shuld I write?) Enbraced hym in her armes white, Nor the gadryng about hym and the pres, Nor of the sorowe that Polymytes Mad in hymsilf to sen hym so soor wounded, His grevous hurtes, his soorys ek unsounded, His dedly look and his face pale (Of alle this to gynne a newe tale It were in soth a maner ydylnesse), Nor how hymsilf in ordre did expresse First how that he in Thebes hath hym born, Nor how the kyng falsly was forsworn, Nor of the awayt nor tresoun that he sette, Whan fyfty knyghtes on the way hym mette, As ye han herd al the manere howe, Withoute which my tale is long ynowe. But Adrastus made men to seche In every coost for many diverse leche To come in hast and make no tarying, Upon a peyne be biddyng of the kyng, To don her craft that he wer recured And of his force in every part assured. And they echon so her konnyng shewe That, in space of a daies fewe, He was al hool maad of his siknesse. Tho was ther joye and tho was ther gladnesse Thorghout the courte and thorghout al the toun. For every man hath swich opynyoun In Tydeus for his gentyllesse, For his manhood and his lowlynesse That he was holde the moste famous knyght And best byloved in every mannys sight Thorghoute Grece in every regioun. But now most I make a digressioun, To telle shortly as in sentement, Of thilke knyght that Tydeus hath sent Into Thebes only to declare The grete meschief and the evel fare Unto the kyng how it is befalle, The opyn trouth of his knyghtes alle, How Tideus hath slayn hem everychon, That, sauf hymsilf, ther eskaped non, Which was reserved from sheding of his blood The kyng to telle pleynly how it stood. And whan he hadde rehersed every poynt, Ethiocles stood in such disjoynt Of hatful ire that he wex nye wood. And in his tene and his felle mood, Of cruel malys to the knyght he spak And felly seid that it was for lak Only of manhood thorgh her cowardys That thei wern slayn in so mortal wyse. "And hanged be he highe by the nekke That of your deth or of your slaughter rekke, Or you compleyn oyther on or all Of the meschief that is yowe befall. I do no force that non of you asterte. But fye upon your fals couard herte, That on knyght hath, thorgh his hegh renoun, Brought yow all in confusioun, Ful graceles and ful unhappy to." "Nay," quod this knyght, "it is no thing so. It is thyn unhappe pleynly and not oures That so many worthy werreoures, Which al her lif never hadde shame, Except this quarel taken in thy name That grounded was and rooted on falssenesse: This was cause in verray sikernesse Of our unhappe I woot wel and non other, And the untrouth don unto thy brother, And that thow were so opynly forsworn; A parcel cause why that we wer lorn Was fals brekyng of thyn assured oth." And tho the kyng almost mad for wroth In purpoos was forto slee this knyght, Oonly for he seide to hym right. The which, allas, both at eve and morowe, Supprised was with a dedly sorowe, Renewed ay in his remembraunce With the pitous and unhappy chaunce Of the meschief and mysaventure, Touching the deth and disconfiture Of his feeres and of hymsilf also; That the shamfast inportable wo So frat on hym with such a mortal stryf That he was wery of his owne lif, Hent a swerd, and aside sterte, And rove hymsilf even to the herte, The kyng hymsilf beyng tho present; That the rumour and the noys is went Thorghoute Thebes and the woode rage Be swich as wern joyned by lynage To the knyghtes slayen at the hille; That all atonys of oon herte and wille They wold han ryse thorghout the cité Upon the kyng avenged forto be, Which of her deth was chief occasioun. But the barouns and lordes of the toun Ful bysy wern this rumour to dysesse, Of high prudence to stynten and appese, In quyete everythyng to sette. And after that the bodyes hom they fette Of the knyghtes, lik as ye han herde, Aforn yslawe with the blody swerde Of Tydeus ful sharpe whet and grounde. And in the felde, so as they hem founde, Only of love and affeccioun Solemneply they broght hem into toun. And lik the maner of her rytis olde, They weren first brent into asshes colde, Everich buryed lich to his degré. Lo, her kalendys of adversité, Sorowe upon sorowe, and destruccioun, First of the kyng and all the regyoun, For lak oonly, lik as I yow tolde, That biheestes trewly wern not holde - The firste grounde and roote of this ruyne, As the story shal clerly determyne And my tale herafter shal yow lere, Yif that yow list the remenaunt for to here. Explicit Secunda pars John Lydgate Incipit pars Tercia

village; Boughton under Blean; (see note) portable sundial; immediately approached; (see note) bright; (t-note) pearls; (t-note) air; (t-note) (see note) pleasant very mild; healthful air; (t-note) whole group Recounting interred themselves by murderous hatred contend possess Neither taking heed of them; their side claim fully lacking; (t-note) arrogant pride neither tolerate; conflict; (t-note) As though; from birth been strangers Devised; them Claimed first Since; obstacle; (see note) belonged; inheritance By; right answered Royal power; dominion completely nothing at all (t-note) contentious each one sorrow; hear same; together; (see note) With much thought them set aside; out of resolution benefit (t-note) then in agreement Each one; (t-note) the one; withdraw guide occupy; martial exploits; (see note) seat its; quickly return heir honor the other leaves Until; recover exchange (change places) (t-note) turning returns whole; agreement Between concluded; deliberation Before afterwards to complain written in a roll first of all before; wear hastening Fortune's truly royal stallion take; main road acted; unnatural companion; (see note) approach region unpleasant savage Continuing on; not at all cheerful Tired; until sea; roar beat; ghastly manner terrified grow insane seemed; sounds refuge Every one; drew shelter having left Argos; (see note) construction powerful; wise advanced (see note) long ago; Talaus; (see note) skill; history; known by descent (t-note) held in awe tell daughters Exceedingly too; describe Argia Deiphile; (see note) (see note) no son Sad; melancholic; (t-note) whole Join; means remedy; noble; (t-note) truly; heart; (see note); (t-note) dream imagination Possess alarm in truth Also; avoid recently beaten; drenched with rain At that time; seat dim; dark by chance Also; their by chance same by chance for the occasion arched over all around judgments; pleas delay; (t-note) exhausted Tying; rein; haste immediately it seemed to him humble; powerful author; Tydeus; (see note) Prosperous; deeds By Calydon (see note) because; slew; (t-note) Statius Although; hatred bucks; hinds lime tree accidentally slew; Menalippus deadly chance; deceived (t-note) strictly; punishment event By chance before; notice in a dreadful state [he] felt; discomfort did before lost savage Until by chance disturbance guide candle unawares; (t-note) lodging started awakened; imagine neighing armed with dress notice true; mounted fiercely; news ask; (t-note) Whence deliver great trouble wandering By trespass provoking Then; hatred remain even if before plainly despite cast out If; notice who have; claim inheritance bitter By God; inconvenience if you assist me [Out] of; permission accommodate hostile debate withdraw quickly them settle (by arms); undertake seeing armed; (t-note) delay proud; (see note) fell in strife (t-note) Each one; (see note) arrogant angrily collide; shook; (t-note) (t-note) armor plate; chain mail wonder were astonished; strange tried to tell retinue; around courage; them apart; (see note) (t-note) end their; cease bearing opinion risk settle (t-note) Charging them separate; cease (t-note) dismount; oppose; (t-note) humbly due ask about; social rank in conflict homelands lineage; (t-note) gave first lie truth read serious; (see note) doubt once true if; dissemble truth; reluctant Out of nobility; ordered; reproof part Concerning; family Striving before noble high rank armor leg armor (see note), shin armor; armored shoes set of armor taken off; coat of mail Adorned; pearls velvet crimson ermine; (t-note) until; (t-note) then negligent (t-note) sworn bond; brotherhood plentiful dinner Lucifer (the sun; see note) those; arrival eyes bright bearing (t-note) brightness; appearance; (t-note) Hastening politely have tell too know torch favored (see note); (t-note) Pierced remained fixed; (see note) pulled out retire proper lodging; splendid knight who arranges lodging for guests spices (or spice cakes; see note); (see note) whether; (see note) who recorded speculation considering one; distress before repeat obscure dream; hidden; enclosed clarify hasten shields fierce; heraldic fields (see note) explanation saw hooks ferocious looks; (t-note) regarding this matter; Boccaccio; (see note) covered mail jacket short doublet; grey bristles teaches embossed; banners Unfurled return serious these splendid; furnished generous delicacies surely useless; (see note) exotic sauces; ornamental desserts according to their rank pass by; (t-note) meal private new always foresight only handsomeness why; dissemble (t-note) unless disagreement (t-note) If despair In advance; entirely; death buried portion shares; settled inheritance foes prepared; known by my decree (see note) hawk have obligation leisure if; be agreeable What; who judgment give; back speech ended bowed (see note) (t-note) offer agree content agreed Whether; gain; lose choose fancy (t-note) knights; delay well appointed region; squire [a] commoner (see note) jousts secret; heat burning; coal heraldic symbols; clothes stolen; (see note) hooks amorous; betray snare truth describe know; rumor spread widely made up sound; ears contemplate pondering subject sake Unless; following the agreement (t-note) here before If; lately did not intend promise planned; deviate wish; linger close allies every one thinking Until devious in meaning kinds of people between the two (see note); (t-note) (see note) doubt pillar (see note) once; precedence; (see note) Esdras Witness; Nehemiah held at low value; (see note) by (see note) power; (t-note) permission to rebuild treasure principal; realm (see note) duplicity instability; (see note) (t-note) (t-note) power to the end see their; (t-note) not at all duplicitious in occur; blind many times by deceit Before; veil obscured; dimmed by deceit cunning; ambush (see note); (t-note) beams realms misfortune, truthful mediator wishes be promises (t-note) plainly; lies duplicity afterwards; paid the penalty for because; acted advise (t-note) (see note) (see note); (t-note) plainly; advice those who did not wish; truth deceitful entirely their tale finished grumble oppose bright; (see note) (t-note) Since; (t-note) By agreement due; was mistaken Who (see note) treachery; (t-note) To discharge his duties reveal his intentions ponder Whether; better either risk resolved; arrogant truly; someone else better enemies by; deceit If; bold enough advantage judge whether what he intends act discussed (see note) Said decidedly; brother's enterprise; embassy prosperous forbear opposed acknowledged would not kingdom (t-note) no matter what the cost chain mail and armor plates got ready to start (see note) Oftentimes; fainting Sad; clothes grief Seeing high towers Noticed Like reached; tower dwelling afraid crowd; (see note) [was] sitting purpose; (t-note) appropriate courteously; address Requesting (t-note) be angry; bearing nor countenance messenger Beginning (see note); (t-note) gist; meaning substance excess (t-note) understand if at once perniciously; contend enemies intermediaries return leave fortune conflict According to Written on a roll since; held the throne; (see note) asks To perform your duties avoiding; war first Wholly considering (t-note) enumerate Acquit; promise departing from exalt reputation; say have acquitted yourself meaning I await your answer sad thought; restrained; (t-note) face; affable angry upbraid; shout out; (see note) have (t-note) explained It seems to me; care Since Surpassing By if doubt then; (t-note) Toward me (see note) intended (t-note) brotherhood observe seemed remainder contain between us two is not any promise governance hinder (t-note) have uninterruptedly; life Despite; them; contend; (t-note) council; might wish not at all surely; opinion overtaken; madness arrogant together news; (t-note) loss hand [in promise] before; gains here (t-note) would have you beaten thrown Before wrath Realizing; fury bearing; insane Serious; before anything realize; once more declare; completely; (t-note) promise before; (see note) pledged whether you like it or not lie against paid for truly; learn intervene in surrounding with one intent duplicitous convicted; broken away from believe According to your merits; reward (t-note) usurpation avail (t-note) both kinship; (t-note) challenge you aware (t-note) ask testify did deviate promise through allegiance avoid it agreement arrangement; in a row; (t-note) Written out in legal form what; unless advise; discharge your duty delay bring Despite; enemies (t-note) wished dismayed (see note) pleased in the open country writing instrument mad angry; discontented (t-note) throne For anger knighthood Charging; hasten best men follow Before; go away; (t-note) their heads immediately; slain without warning; overpower chain mail backgate; (see note) short cut treachery hatred one lay an ambush narrow (see note) slain aware planned until Alone direct; guide straight against burnished around opinion obstruct; (see note) did not care Wished; once set smote commander of them then at once on every side; encircling Slays murderous rage on every side ground enemies; disagreeable to dismount By despite; enemies slew threatening (see note) flow around; grew (see note) ferocity That same; discovered [to be] at once; destroy thick aware As if; for the occasion enemies; at once were killed astounded, drew one by one; destruction put to death Them; quickly (t-note) sharply armor all around company; (t-note) Who; moon one; kept fared pledge pledged falsehood (see note); (t-note) have deceit; treachery Are; hold the field; (see note) whoever succeed Witness slew Except for one, [just] as; (t-note) to inform; overpowered Exhausted overcome then Mounted pace constant pain arrive saw built; rock; (see note) by martial (see note) By chance pleasant arbor; fancy Truly; in appearance removed Drew lead guard moaned until; sang (t-note) rosy bright from time to time; fresh colored mixed; (see note) morning; (t-note) return colors garden walks alone was frightened around where regained her courage move truly examination wan awakened from his swoon drew As soon as have pity fright again heedless Certain pity discomfort not at all said who excellent pleasure; (see note) be person; concerning if; wish disclose try (make an effort) remedy injury insofar as fault (t-note) bearing by in sequence relate wild; (t-note) part; (see note) not at all pity injury follow appropriate appointed adorned breadth disarmed painful probe had brought (fetched) various physicians stop the flow of blood relieve delicacies; appropriate according to medical learning by night be lacking pleasing amuse return move about freely delay Humbly generosity revive Promising lives, whatever (see note) relate or return; regions (t-note) crowd wounds; unhealed begin a form of behaved ambush search region; physicians healed knowledge Then prowess; humility the same tell misfortune every one preserved; (t-note) mental conflict nearly went mad anger; savage hatred cruelly their cowardice (see note) let him be hanged care lament either; (t-note) misfortune do not care; escaped (t-note) defeat not at all; (t-note) misfortune in truth know A portion of; lost promised then; insane for anger Just because Who Overtaken companions unbearable gnawed Seized; moved suddenly stabbed then savage anger at once risen their; cause dispel stop; relieve home; carried honed them their ancient rituals burned Everyone; according to hear beginnings promises beginning; source declare teach If; wish