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Tercia Pars. O cruel Mars ful of malencolye And of thy kynde hoot, combust, and drye (As the sperkes shewen fro so ferre By the stremes of thi rede sterre, In thy spere as it aboute goth), What was cause that thow were so wroth With hem of Thebes, thorgh whoos fervent ire The cité brent and was sette afyre, As bookes olde wel reherce konne, Of cruel hate rooted and begunne And engendred, the story maketh mynde, Oonly of blood corrupt and unkynde, B'ynfeccioun called orygynal, Causyng a strif dredful and mortal, Of which the meschief thorgh al Grece ran? And kyng Adrastus alderfirst began, Which hath hym cast a conquest for to make Upon Thebes for Polymytes sake, In knyghtly wise ther to preve his myght, Of ful entent to recure his right. And first of al he sette a parlement And hath his lettres and massageres sent Thorghoute Grece to many sondry kyngges, Hem to enhast and make no lettyngges. And rounde about, as maad is mencioun, He sent also to many regyoun For prynces, dukes, lordys, and barouns To taken up in citees and in touns, And chesen out the moste liklyest And swich as wern preved for the best As of manhode, and saude hem up echon, And in her honde receyve her pay anon, With Adrastus to Thebes forto ryde. And tho lordes that with hym abyde In houshold stille han her leve take To ryden hom her retenue to make In ther contrees as they wern of degré, To stuffen hem and taken up meyné, And make hem stronge with knyghtes and squyers, With speres, bowes, and with ablasters In al the hast possible that they may, And to retourne in their best aray At terme sette, ful manly to be seyn, Toforn Arge mostren in a pleyn. And as I rede, ful worthy of degré Thider cam first Prothonolopé, The which was, by recorde of wryting, Of Archada sone to the kyng. And ful prudent found in werre and pees Ther kam also the kyng Cylmythenes. And as I fynde, ful famous of renoun Thyder cam ek the kyng Ypemedoun. And passing all of knyghthode and of name And excellyng by worthynesse of fame, The noble kyng callyd Campaneus Kam ek to Arge, the story telleth us, Proved ful wel and hadde ryden ferre. And thider kam the kyng Melleager, Kyng Genor ek that helde his royal sete, Myn autour seith, in the lond of Crete, Kyng Laeris and the kyng Pyrrus, And ek the kyng called Tortolanus. And renomed in many regyoun Ther cam the kyng ynamed Palemoun, Oft assayed and found a manly knyght, That with hym broght in steel yarmed bright Ful many worthy out of his cuntré. And Tideus most knyghtly forto se, That manly man, that noble werreyour, As he that was of worthynesse flour, Maistere and myrour by prouesse of his hond Hath sent also into the myghty lond Of Calcedoyne of which he was hayr, That is a kyngdam bothe riche and fayr, Chargyng his counsale and officers also, In al the hast that it may be do, To seken out the beste werreyours, Of famous knyghtes and preved sawdyours Thorgh al the lond and layde on hem this charge Withoute aboode forto come to Arge. And they obeye ful lowly his biddyng, Enhastyng hem, and mad no lettyng But spedde hem fast uppon her journé. And fro Thebes the myghty strong cité Kam doune knyghtes with many another man, Maugré the kyng, to help what they can, Considred first his falshed and tresoun, Ymeved only of trouth and of resoun, Polymytes as they were sworn of yore To his croune justly to restore. And whan they weren at large out of the toun, Unto Arge they be descendid doun And, lik her oth and her assuraunce, As they wern bounde only of lygeaunce, To hym they cam in ful lowly wise, Redy to don what hym list devise. And whan he hadde her trouthe ful conceyved, He hath to grace goodly hem receyved, Assignyng hem her place mydde the hoste Assembled ther from many diverse coste, That fynaly in this companye Ygadred was the floure of chyvalrye, Ychosen out of al Grekes lond The most knyghtly and manful of her hond, That I trowe, sith the world began, Ther was not seyn so many manly man, So wel horsed with sper and with sheld Togydre assembled sothly, in a feld. Ther men may see many straunge guyses Of armyng newe and uncouth devyses, Every man after his fantasye, That, yif I shuld in ordre specifie Every pes longyng to armure And therupon do my bysy cure, It wer in soth almost a dayes werk, And the termes also ben to derk To reherce hem clerly and to ryme: I passe over only for lak of tyme. And telle I wil forth of her loggyng, How Adrastus the noble worthy kyng Hath every lord lik to his degré Receyved wel withinnen his cyté (And ther they hadde lik to her plesaunce, Of what nedeth fulsom habundaunce, For man and hors plenté of vitaylle), Comaundyng that nothyng ne faylle, That alle thise noble worthy werreoures, Both high and lough and poor soudeoures, Iserved weren of that they hadde nede. For Adrastus prudently took hede Ful lik a kyng, touching her terme day, That thei toforn wer served of her pay. He was so free hym list no thyng restreyn; And no man hadde cause to compleyn For hunger, thrust, nor for indygence. And in a prince it is ful gret offence, As clerkes seyn, and a gret repreef Suffre his puple lyven at mescheef. It is ful hevy and grevous in her thoght, Yif he habound and they han right noght. He may not both possede good and herte, He to be riche and seen his puple smerte. He may the body of power wel constreyne, But her herte hath a ful long reyne, Maugré his myght, to loven at her large. Ther may no kyng on hertes sette a charge Nor hem coherten from her lyberté. Men seyn ful ofte how that thouht is fre. For which eche prince, lord, and governour, And specialy every conquerour, Lat hym be war for al his hegh noblesse That bounté, fredom, plenté, and largesse Be on accord, that they his brydel lede, Lest of his puple whan he hath most nede He be defrauded; whan he is but allone, Than is to late forto make his mone. But in his courte lat hym first devise To exile scarshed and covetise; Than is he likly, with fredam yif he gynne, Love of his puple evermore to wynne, To regne long in honure, and contune Ay to encresse be favour of fortune, And his ennemyes manly to oppresse. For love is mor than gold or gret richesse; Gold faileth ofte; love wol abyde For lyf or deth be a lordys syde; And the tresour, shortly, of a kyng Stondeth in love aboven alle thyng. Farwel lordshipe bothe morowe and eve, Specially whan love taketh his leve! And whoso list a merour forto make Of kyngly fredam, lat hym ensample take Of Adrastus the manly kyng famous, So liberal and so bountevous Unto his puple at al tymes found, Which mad hym strong his foomen to confound; And love only his enmyes to werreye Alle Grece made his bidding to obeye Of oon accord knyghtly be his side, Al attones to Thebes forto ryde For t'avenge, sith they were so strong, The gret injurye and the inportable wrong Don to his sone and his next allye, As ye toforn han herd me specifie. But whil Grekes rest a whil in pes, I will resort to Ethiocles, Which in Thebes warly hath espied Be his frendes, as he was certefied, Of the Grekys hooly the ordinaunce, Her purpoos ek, and her purveaunce, And therof had in herte a manere drede. And first he took his counsayle and his rede Of the lordis and barons of the toun And of the wisest of his regioun, How he myghte maken resistence, Manfully to stonden at diffence, To be so strong that ther wer no doute. And in the contrees adjacent aboute And ek also in foreyn regiouns, He hath withhold all the champiouns; And therupon he sent out his espies And his frendes and his next allies; And alle the worthy dwellyng enviroun - Yong, fressh, and lusty - he gadred into toun, Maskowede his wallys and his heghe tours And stuffed hem with manly sowdeours. Round aboute he sette many gonnys, Grete and smale and some large as tonnys. And in his hasty, passing fervent hete, He spent his tresour and gaf giftes grete Unto knyghtes and worthy men of name; And overmor to encres his fame, He gaf to lordes juellis manyfold, Clothes of velvet, of damask, and of gold, To gete hym hertes sothly, as I rede, To helpe hym now in his grete nede; And prudently purveied hym toforn Of flessh and fissh and of wyn and corn, Sette his capteyns erly and ek late With ful gret stuf strong at every gate, And mad also be werkmen that were trewe Barbykans and bulwerkes newe, Barreris, cheynys, and diches wonder depe, Makyng his vouh the cité forto kepe Whil he lyveth, despit of all his foon. And by his goddys of metal and of ston, Ful ofte he swoor both of herte and thouht That it shal first ful der ben abouht And many a man with pollex, swerd, and knyff Tofor this toune shal first lese his liff And ther shal ek many sydes blede Or his brother pessibly possede The toune in pees, lich as Grekes wene. But at the ende the trouthe shal be sene - Lat hym be war and wel toforn provyde. For Adrastus on that other side, For his party was not necligent, But on a day helde a parlement, All his lordes sittyng enviroun, To dryve shortly a pleyn conclusioun And up t'apoynt the fyn of ther entent. But some thoughte ful expedient, Or they procede, to wirke be th'avice Of on that was ful prudent and right wyce And circumspecte in his werkes alle, A worthy bisshop into age falle And called was, sothly by his name, Amphiorax, of whom the grete fame Thorgh al the londe bothen est and south Amonges Grekes passingly was kouth; A man, in soth, of olde antiquyté And most acceptid of auctorité, First be resoun of his high estat And ek for he was so fortunat In his werkes and was also secré With the goddys, knowyng her pryveté. By graunt of whom, as bookes specifye, He hadde a spirit of trewe prophecye And cowde aforn ful opynly dyvyne Thyngges begonne how they shulde fyne And eke be craft of calculacioun Gif a dome of every questioun; And hadde in magik grete experience And fynde cowde be hevenly influence And by mevyng of the heghe sterrys A fynal doome of contek and of werrys; And wiste wel, as his goddys tolde, That, yif Grekes forth her journé holde, It turn shuld platly - this no fage - To gret meschief and to gret damage Of hem ychon and in especial The moste parte of the blood royal Thorgh al Grece - it may not be withdrawe - In this viage shortly shal be slawe, And yif hymsilf with the Grekes wente, (Who that ever wepte hym or bymente, This was the fyn and may nat be socoured) Of the erth he shulde be devoured, Quyk as he was - he knewe it in certeyn. And for he saugh ther was non other geyn To save his lif nor no bet diffence, Than uttrely withdrawen his presence, Preying his wiff for hym to provide, Yif he wer sought, that she wold hym hide And wommanly for to kepe hym cloos And of trouth concelen his purpoos, For al his trust touchyng his grevaunce, Was fully sette in hir purvyance. I hope to God that he thar not drede Of no deceyt in hir wommanhede. She was so trewe as wommen ben echon And also cloos and mwet as a ston That she ne wold, as the matier stood, Discuren hym for no worldly good. But fynaly the Grekes, of entent, In al his drede han for this bisshop sent, Thogh it was long er they myght hym fynde, For cause his wif was to hym so kynde That ful seurly hath lokked up his cors. But for she hadde a maner of remors In hirsilf, gervyng her conscience, Dreding to falle in ful grete offence, Lest her soule were in peryl lorn Whan she be oth compelled was and sworn, They requeryng yif she coude telle Wher her lord the bisshop shulde dwelle, Which to discure hir herte was ful loth, Til tyme she gan remembren on her oth, And coude a trouth of custom not denye, And hadde also gret conscience to lye, Wonder hevy with a sorowful face, Maugré hir lust taught hem to the place Wher as he was shet up in a toure, Al alone havyng no socour. They falle on hym or that he was war And sette hym up in a ful riche char. A fool he was to jupard his lif, Forto discure his counsel to his wif; And yit she was ful sory for his sake, Specially whan she saugh hym take. Bot I hope that her hevynesse Gan asswage ful sone, by processe, In short tyme whan that he was gon. Ther is no tempest may last evere in on. But this bisshope be verrey force and myght Unto Grekes conveyed was ful right, This hoore gray in his char syttyng. And they ful glad wern of his comyng, Havyng a trust and ful opynyoun That, thorgh cause and occasioun Of his wisdam and his sapience And by vertue of his hegh presence, They shuld eschewe al adversité Possible to falle, as in her journé. And as the story fully hath devised, Ful circumspect and riht wel avised He hath pronounced in the parlement Toforn the lordes and the president His cleer conceyte in verray sikernesse, Nat entryked with no doublenesse, Her dysemol daies and her fatal houres, Her aventurys and her sharpe shoures, The froward soort and unhappy stoundys, The compleyntes of her dedly woundys, The wooful wrath and contrariousté Of felle Mars in his cruelté, And howe by mene of his gery mood Ther shal be shadde al the worthy blood Of the Grekes - it may not ben eschewed, If her purpoos be execute and swed. "Ther is no more; this shal be the fyn: The hegh noblesse shal drawe to declyne Of Grekes blood in meschief, sorowe, and woo; And with al this I mysilf also, As my fate hath aforn disposyd, Depe in the grounde I shal be enclosed And lokked up in the dirke vale Of cruel deth." Lo, this was the tale That the bisshope to Adrastus tolde, Hym counsayllyng his purpos to withholde In eschuyng of mor meschief and sorowe. For alle his goddis he took unto borowe, Yif the Thebans and the Grekes mete, The fyn therof shal be so unswete That alle Grece after shal it rewe, Warnyng hem yif thei the meschief knewe That shal folowe, which no man may lette, Thei wold abstene a siege forto sette Unto Thebes and her purpoos leve. With whos wordes the lordes gan hem greve And therinne had but ful smal delit; And everechon of hertly hegh despit They abrayde and seide he was untrewe, A controover of prophecies newe, And ek also for al his longe berde An olde dotard, a coward, and aferde; And of rancour gonne to diffye Both his kalkyng and his astronomye; And shortly seide thei took therof non hede, Ne wil no thyng governe hem after his rede. This was the clamour and noyse in every cost Of hegh and lough thorghout all the hoost And specialy of the sowdeours, And of lordes regnyng in her flours, And of th'estates effectuely, I mene, Which of age were but tendre and grene, That ha not hadde by Martys influence Of the werre gret experience. Her, yif ye list, ye may considre and se Of conceytes ful grete diversyté, How that youth no peril cast aforn Til he by meschief sodeynly be lorn, Wheras age provydeth everything Or he bygynne to casten the endyng. Youth is governyd be a large reyne To renne forth and can hym not reffreyn But of hede set on al attonys, As he that hurtleth ageynes harde stonys Broseth hymsilf unwarly and parbraketh. But age experte nothyng undertaketh But he toforn be good discrecioun Make a due examynacioun How it wil tourne oyther to badde or good. But youth, as fast as stered is the blood, Taketh emprises of hasty wilfulnesse: Joye at the gynnyng; the ende is wrechednesse. The olde, prudent in al his governaunce, Ful longe aforn maketh purveaunce; But youth, allas, be counsail wil not wyrke, For which ful ofte he stumbleth in the dyrke. Thus selde is seyne, the trouthe to termyne, That age and youth drawe be o lyne.    And wher that foly hath domynacioun, Wisdam is putte into subjeccioun, Lik as this bysshop, with al his hegh prudence, For cause he myghte ha no audience, All his wisdam and his profecye Of the Grekes was halden but folye. For thogh Plato and wise Socrates, Moral Senek and Dyogenes, Albumasar and prudent Tholomee, And Tullius that hadde sovereynté Whylom in Rome as of elloquence - Thogh all thise, shortly in sentence, Were alyve, most konnyng and experte, And no man list her counsel to adverte Nor of her sawes forto taken hede, What myght availle, and it cam to nede? For wher prudence can fynde no socour And providence haveth no favour, Farwel wisdam, farwel discrecioun, For lakke only of supportacioun. For unsupported with his lokkes hore, Amphiorax sighen gan ful sore With hede enclynyd and many evyl thouht, Whan that he sauhe his counsayl stood for nouht. For uttrely the Grekes, as I tolde, Han fully cast her journé for to holde, Made hem redy, and gonnen to hosteye Toward Thebes the cyté to werreye, And in Grece wil no lenger tarye; And forth with hem Amphiorax they carye, Sette in his char with a doolful herte, Whan he wist he myghte not asterte Of his fate the disposicioun. And hosteying into the regioun Of Lygurgus, Grekes gan approche A sondy londe with many craggy roche. But al the way, sothly, that thei gon, For hors nor man water was ther non - So dry weren the vales and the pleynys. For al that yeere they hadden had no reynys But ful gret drouht, as mad is mencioun; And al the londe cerchyng enviroun They nowther fonde welle nor ryver Hem to refressh nor water that was cler, That they, allas, no refut ne konne. So inportable was the shene sonne, So hoot on hem in feldes wher they leye That for meschief man and hors gan deye, Gapyng ful drye upward into south; And some putten her swerdes in her mouth And sperys hedes, in story as is told, T'aswage her thirst with the yren cold; And of his lif ful many on dispeyred In this meschief and hom ageyn repeyred; Tyl on a day worthy Tydeus And with hym ek the kyng Campaneus Of purpoos rood thorghoute the contré Yif they myght eny water see Fro coost to cost bothe fer and ner; Til of fortune they entred an herber With trees shadowed for the sonne shene, Ful of floures and of herbes grene, Wonder hoolsom both of syyt and ayr. Therinne a lady which passingly was fayr, Sittyng as tho under a laurer tre, And in her armes a litil child hadd she, Ful gracious of loke and of visage, And was also wondre tendre of age, Sone of the kyng born forto succede, Called Ligurgus in story as I rede, Whoos hertly joye and worldly ek disport, Al his myrth, plesaunce, and confort Was in this child of excellent fayrnesse. And this lady, myrour of semlynesse, Al sodeynly as she cast up her sight And on his stede sauh an armed knyht, Gretely abasshed gan anon remwe. But Tideus after gan to swe And seyde, "Sustir, beth no thyng dismayed, In youresilf displesed, nor affrayed. For we ar come only to this place Yow to biseche of mercy and of grace Us to socour in oure grete nede, Declaring you how it stont in dede. Her faste by, almost at the hand, The worthiest of al Grekes land, Kyngges, prynces ly logged in the feld And many other with pollex, speer, and sheld, Which in meschief, peryl, and gret dred For want of water ar likly to be ded. For ther was non of hegh nor lowgh degré In all our host, now passed daies thre, That drank, allas, excepting non estat; Our viage is so infortunat: Preying yow of wommanly pyté, Benygnely, and graciously to se How of Grece all the chyvalrye Of her lyves stont in jupartie, That ye wold of wommanhede telle Yif ye knowe ryver, spryng, or welle, Specially now in al oure care, Of gentillesse unto us declare. Lo, her is alle, yif ye list to here, That I wol seyn, myn owne suster dere."    And whan this lady inly vertuous The conpleynt herde of worthy Tydeus, Of verrey pyté chaungeth cher and hewe, And in her herte upon her woo gan rewe, And ful goodly seyng his distresse, Seyde unto hym in al his hevynesse, "Certes," quod she, "yif I were at large Touching this child of which I have charge, I shuld in hast of al that doth yow greve To my power helpen to releve, Only of routh and compassioun, And leve al other occupacioun, Conveye yowe and be youre trewe guyde To a ryver but lityl her besyde. But I dar not so moche me assure This litil child to put in aventure. I am so ferdful from it to departe. But for youre sake yet I shal juparte My lif, my deth of trewe affeccioun, To provyde for your savacioun." Took the child and laide it in her lappe, And richely in clothes gan it wrappe, And couched it among the herbes soote, And leyde aboute many hoolsom roote And floures ek bothe blewe and rede. And supprised with a maner drede, With Tideus forth anon she wente, As she in trouth that no treson mente, And on hir way wolde nevere dwelle Til she hym brouht to a right faire welle And to a ryvere of water ful habounde.    But who was glad and who was tho jocounde But Tydeus seyng the ryver, Which in al hast sente his massager To Adrastus and bad hym nat abide But doune descende to the ryver syde With al his host recur forto have At this ryver her lyves forto save. And thei enhast hem, makyng non abood, All attonys to the ryver rood Forto drynk; thei hadde so gret lust Of appetit forto staunche her thrust. And some dronk and fonde it did hem good; And some wern so fervent and so wood Uppon the water that in sikernesse, Thorgh undiscret and hasty gredynesse, Out of mesur the watere so thei drynke That they fille ded evene upon the brynke; And some naked into the ryvere ronne, Only for hete of the somer sonne, To bathen hem (the water was so cold); And some also, as I ha yow told, (I mene tho that prudent wern and wise) The water drank in mesurable wyse, That of the thrust they ha toforn endured They were refresshed fully and recured. And Grekes than of hegh and lowe degré, For high profit and gret commodité, Compas the ryvere cristalyn of sighte, Of oon accorde they her tentys pyhte To rest hem ther in relees of her peyne Only the space of a day or tweyne. And whylys Grekes upon the ryver lay, This Tydeus upon the same day Ful knyghtly hath don his diligence This yonge lady with gret reverence To Adrastus goodly to presente. At whoos comyng the kyng hymsilve wente Ageynes hir, she fallyng doun on knees, All th'estates present and degrees Of Grekes lond (absent was nat on); And in his armes took hir up anon, Thanking hir of her bysynesse, Of hir labour and her kyndenesse, Behotyng hir, lik as he was holde, If eny thyng pleynly that she wolde That he may don, she shuld it redy fynde. And Grekes all, the story maketh mynde, Of th'estatys beyng tho present, Thanked hir with al her hool entent For refresshyng don to many Grek; And for her part they biheght her ek, With her body and goodes bothe two, What her list comaunde hem forto do To be redy platly and nat faille. And her myn autour maketh rehersaille That this lady so faire upon to se, Of whom the name was Isyphilé, To Adrastus told, as ye may rede, Lynealy the stok of her kynrede, Whilom how she a kyngges doghter was, Rehersyng hym hooly al the cas, First why that she out of her contré wente Shortly for she wolde not assente To execute a conspiracioun Mad by the wymmen of that regioun - A thyng contrayr and ageyn al right - That eche of hem upon a certeyn nyght Be on accord shal warly taken kepe Fader, brother, and husbond in her slepe With knyves sharpe and rasoures kene Kytt her throtes in that mortal tene Unto this fyn, as Bochas telle can - In al that londe be not founde a man But slayn echon to this conclusioun, That wymmen myght han domynacioun In that kyngdam to regne at liberté And on no partie interrupted be. But for this lady passing debonayre, To this mordre was froward and contrayre, Kept her fader that he was not slawe But fro the deth preserved and withdrawe, For which, allas, she fledde the contré, And of a pyrat taken in the see, To kyng Lygurgus brouht in al her drede. And for her trouth and her wommanhede To hir he took his yonge child to kepe, Which in the herber allone she left slepe Whan Tydeus she broghte to the welle.    And by Jason some bookis telle That this lady hadde sones two, Whan that he and Hercules also Toward Colchos by hir contré cam For t'acomplyssh the conquest of the ram. But who that lyst by and by to se The story hool of Ysyphylee, Hir fadres name of which also I wante, Thouh some seyn he named was Thoante And some bokes Vermes ek hym calle, But to knowe the aventures alle Of this lady Isyphilé the faire, So feithful ay and inly debonayre, Lok on the book that John Bochas made Whilom of wommen with rethorikes glade And directe be ful sovereyn style To fayre Jane, the queen of Cecile. Rede ther the rubrich of Ysiphylé, Of her trouth and her hegh bounté, Ful craftily conpiled for her sake. And whan that she hath her lieve take Of Adrastus, homward in her weye Tydeus gan hyr to conveye, To the gardyne til she is repeyred. But now, allas, my mater disespeyred Of alle joye and of welfulnesse And destitut of myrth and alle gladnesse, For now of woo gynne the sharpe shoures. For this lady fond among the floures Her litil child turned up the face, Slayn of a serpent in the selve place, Hyr taile burlyd with skalis silver shene. The venym was so persyng and so kene, So perilous ek the mortal violence Caused, allas, thorgh her long absence: She was to slouh homward forto hie. But now can she but wepe, wayle, and crye; Now can she nouht but sighen and compleyn And wofully wryng her handys tweyn, Dedly of look, pal of face and chere; And gan to rende her gilt tresses clere, And ofte sith she gan to seyn, "Allas, O wooful wrech unhappy in this cas, What shal I don, or whider may I tourne? For this the fyn, yif I her sojourne, I woot right wel I may it not eskape The pitous fate that is for me shape. Socour is non, nor ther may be no red Lich my desert but that I mot be ded; For thorhe my slouth and my neclygence I have, allas, don so gret offence That my gilt - I may it nat excuse - Shal to the kyng of treson me accuse. Thorgh my defaute and slouth bothe two, His sone is ded and his heir also, Which he loved mor than al his good (For tresour non so nygh his herte stood Nor was so depe grave in his corage), That he is likly to fallen in a rage Whan it is so, myn odyous offence Reported be unto his audience - So inportable shal be his hevynesse. And wel woot I in verrey sothfastnesse That, whan the quene hath this thing espied (To myn excus it may nat be denyed), I doute it not ther geyneth no pyté; Without respit she wil avenged be On me, allas, as I ha deserved That fro the deth I may not be preserved Nowther by bille ne supplicacioun; For the rage of my transgressioun Requereth deth and non other mede."    And thus, allas, she, quaking in her drede, Non other helpe nor remedye kan But dreynt in sorow to the Grekes ran, Of hertly woo face and chere disteynyd And her chekes with wepyng al bereynyd, In hir affray distracte and furious. Toforn alle she cam to Tydeus And fille on knees and gan her compleynt mak, Tolde pleynly that for Grekes sake She mot be ded and shortly in substaunce Rehersing hym the grete of her grevaunce, First how be traynys of a fals serpent The child was slawe whil she was absent, In what disjoynte and peril that she stood. And whan that he her meschief understood, Unto hire ful knyghtly he behiht To help and forther al that evere he myght, Hir pitous woo to stynten and appese. And forto fynde unto hir dissese Hasty confort, he went a ful gret pas To Adrastus and told hym al the cas Of this unhappy wooful aventure, Beseching hym to don his bysy cure, As he was bound of equyté and right, And adverten and to han a sight How she qwit her to Grekes her toforn Whan they wer likly forto ha be lorn, The socour voide of her wommanhede; For which he most of knyghthod taken hede To remedien this unhappy thing.    And Adrastus lik a worthy kyng T'aquyt hymsilf, the story maketh mynd, To thys lady wille nat be found unkynd, Neither for cost nor for no travaylle, But bysy was in al that myght availle To hir socour, considered alle thingges, And by th'avice of alle the worthy kyngges Of Grekes lond thei be accorded thus - Prynces, dukes and worthy Tydeus To hold her way and al at onys ryde To Lygurgus dwelling ther besyde, Of on entent: yif they may purchace In eny wise forto gete grace For this lady called Ysiphilé They wold assay, yif it mighte be. And to his paleys ful ryal bylt of ston The worthy Grekes cam ryding everichon, Every lord ful fresshly on his stede. And Lygurgus, example of manlihede, Anon as he knewe of her comyng, T'aquyt hymsilf lich a gentil kyng, Ageyn hem went to mete hem on the way, Ful wel byseyn and in ful good array, Receyvyng hem with a ful kyngly chere; And to Adrastus seid, as ye shul here, "Cosyn," quod he and gan hym to enbrace, "Ye be welcome to youre owne place, Thankyng hertly to your hegh noblesse That so goodly of your gentillesse Towardes me ye list you to acquite, Youresilf this day your cosyn to visite, In this castel to take youre loggyng, That never yit I was so glad of thyng In al my lif - and therto her my trouth. And overmor ther shal be no slouth That the chambres and the large tours Shal be delyvered to your herberiours, That every lord, as he is of degré, Unto his loggyng shal assigned be. Youre officers lat hymsilf devis Yif the howsyng may largely suffise To yow and youres strecchen and atteyn, That non estaat ha cause to compleyn. And alle your hoost logged her besyde, Which in tentys upon you abide, Lat hem fette be myn auctorité, Vitayle ynoh her in my cité. And alle that may socour hem or save And, at a word, al that evere I have Is ful and hool at your comaundement."    Quod Adrastus, "That is nat our entent Nor on no parte cause of oure comyng. For we be come al for another thyng, A certeyn gift of you to requere, Benygnely yif ye list to here, Which may Grekes passyngly availle, Of our request yif that ye nat ne faille, Which we dar not opynly expresse, Withoute that ye wold of gentillesse Youre graunt aforn conferme and ratefye. Than wer we bold it to specifye." Quod Lygurgus, "Whatever thyng it be, Nouht exceptid but only thingges thre: The first is this - it touch nat my lif, My yonge sone, pleynly, nor my wyf. Take al my good or what ye list provyde Of my tresour and sette thies thre asyde - Al the surplus I count nat at a myte." Than Adrastus astounyd was a lyte Whan Lygurgus in conclusioun Of his sone made excepcioun. And whilis they entreten thus yfere, Ther cam forth on with a wooful chere, Of face and look pal and no thing rede, Alowde crieth, "The kynges sone is dede, Allas the whyl, that whilom was so fayr, After Lygurgus born forto ben hayr, The which, allas, hath yolden up the breth, Of a serpent stonge to the deth And with his wound newe, fressh and grene, In th'erber lith, that pité is to sene, And hath so leyne almost al this day," That whan Lygurgus herde this affray And wist his child was ded and hath no mo, Lytil wonder thogh that he were wo. For sodeynly the inportable smerte Ran anon and rent hym by the herte, That, for constreynt of his dedly peyne, Thorghoute he felte korven every veyne. The rage gan myne in hym so depe That he can not but sighe, sobbe, and wepe. And with the noyse and lamentacioun The qwen distrauht is descendid doun. And whan she knewe the ground of al this sorowe, Hit nedeth her no teeres forto borowe But twenty tyme ny upon a rowe Aswoune she fille unto the grounde lowe; And stoundemele for this hegh meschaunce Stille as ston she lyggeth in a traunce. And whan the child into the courte was brouht Tofore Lygurgus, allas, I wite hym nouht. Upon the cors with a mortal face, He fil atonys and gan it to embrace, Soore grype and ageyn upsterte, That whan Adrastus gan this thyng adverte, Of kyngly routh and compassioun From his eyen the teeres fille doun; Ek kyngges, dukes that aboute stood Only of pité which is in gentyl blood, No power hadde the water to restreyn That on her chekes doune bygan to reyn. But al a day wolde not suffise Alle her sorowes in ordre to devise, First of the kyng and of the quene also; To tellen all, I shulde never ha do, Not in the space almost of an hour. But whan the stormes and the sharpe shour Of her wepyng was somwhat overgon, The lytil cors was graven under ston. And Adrastus in the same tide Lygurgus took a litil out aside And ful wisely with his prudent spech (The qwen present) gan hym forto tech That so to sorowe avaylle may right noght, To mordre hymsilf with his owne thouht, Sith loos of deth no man may recure, Thogh he in woo perpetuelly endure: Al helpeth nat whan the soule is go. "And our lif her, who tak hed therto, Is but an exile and a pilgrymage, Ful of torment and of bitter rage, Lich a see rennyng to and fro, Swyng an ebbe whan the flood is do, Lytil space abidyng at the fulle, Of whos sojour the pope geveth no bulle. Nor kyng is non, duk, nor emperour That may hym shroude ageyn the fatal shour Of cruel deth, whan hym list manace To marke a man with his mortal mace. Than geyneth nat to his savacioun Neyther fraunchyse nor proteccioun, And lit or noght may helpen in this caas Sauffecondit or supersedyas. For in this world, whoso look aright, Is non so gret of power nor of myght, Noon so riche shortly nor so bold But he mot dey oyther yong or old. And who in youth passeth this passage, He is eskaped al the woode rage, Al sorowe and trouble of this present lyff, Repleveshed with contek, werre and stryff, Which seeld or nevere stont in suerté. Wherfor best is, as semeth unto me, No man gruch but of hegh prudence The sonde of goddis tak in pacience. And ye that ben so wis and manly to, Youresilf to drowne in torment and in woo For loos of thyng, yif that ye list to se, Which in no wise may recured be, Is gret foly and undiscreccioun."    And thus Adrastus hath conveyed doun The substaunce hool of that he wolde seye, Til that he fond a tyme forto preye Convenyent for Ysyphilee, Bysechyng hym forto han pité Of that she hath offended his highnesse, Not wilfully but of reklesnesse: First, that he wold his doomes to dyvide, Mercy preferre and set right aside, At request and preier of hem alle, Of this unhappe and meschief that is falle By hasty rigour nat to do vengeaunce But thynk aforn in his purvyaunce, Who to wreches doth mercy in her drede Shal mercy fynde whan he hath most nede; And sith he hath power, myght, and space, Lat hym tak this lady to his grace, For lak of routh that she nat ne dye. But tho the quene gan agayn replye And platly seide as in this matere, Avayleth not requeste nor preyere, Pyté, mercy, nor remyssyoun, But yif it be by this condicioun - That the serpent, cause of al this sorowe, Thorgh her labour lay his hed to borowe. This is fynal and utter recompense To fynde grace for her gret offence, Or ellis shortly sheede blood for blood. And whan Grekys her answer understood, Al of accord in her beste wise Took on hem this aventurous emprise For love only of Ysyphylee And gan to ryde envyron the contré, By hilles, vales, roches, and ek caves, In dychis dirk and in olde gravis, By every cooste cerchyng up and doun, Til at the last ful famous of renoun, The worthy knyght Parthonolopé Was the first that happed for to se This hydous serpent by a ryverside, Gret and horrible, stern and ful of pride, Undere a rocch by a banke lowe. And in al hast he bent a sturdy bowe And therin sette an arowe fyled kene, And thorgh the body spotted blew and grene, Ful myghtily he made it forto glyde, Hent out a swerde hongyng be his syde, Smoot of his hede and anon it hent And therwithal gan the quene present, Wherthorgh her sorowe parcel gan aswage. And thus of prowesse and of hegh corage This manly man Parthonolopé Hath reconciled faire Isyphilee Unto grace fully of the quene, Hir ire avoided and her olde tene. And by Adrastus mediacioun, Kyng Lygurgus graunted a pardoun To this lady, that from al daunger fre She was restored to her liberté, In his paleys al her lif to dwelle, Thogh John Bochas the contrarie telle; For this autour affermeth out of dred That, whan this child was by the serpent ded, She durste not for her gret offence Never after comen in presence Of Lygurgus but of intencioun Fledde anon out of that regioun: Att herte she took the childes deth so sore. What fille of hir I fynd can no more Than ye han herd aforn me specifye.    And the kyngdam, but yif bookys lye, Of Lygurgus was ycalled Trace. And, as I rede in another place, He was the same myghty champioun To Athenes that kam with Palamoun Ageyne his brother that called was Arcyte, Lad in his chaar with foure boolys whyte, Upon his hed a wreth of gold ful fyn. And I fynd ek how Bachus, god of wyn, With this kyng was whilom at debat Only for he pompous and elat, Destruccioun dide to his vynys, And for he first sett allay on wynys, Meynte water whan they were to strong. And this Bachus for the grete wrong Brak his lymys and dreynt hym in the see. Of Lygurgus ye gete no more of me. But the trouth, yif ye lyst verryfie, Rede Of Goddes the Genologye, Lynealy her kynrede be degrees, Ibraunched out upon twelve trees, Mad by Bochas de Certaldo called, Among poetys in Ytaille stalled Next Fraunceys Petrak swyng in certeyn. Now unto Grekys I wil retourne ageyn, To telle forth shortly, yif I konne, Of her journé that they ha begonne, How Adrastus hath his lieve take Of Ligurgus with his browes blake And departyng with Seynt John to borowe Mad his wardes on the nexte morowe So wel beseyn, so myghty, and so strong, Wonder erly whan the larke song With a trompet warned every man To be redy in al the hast they kan Forto remwe and no letting make. And so they han the righte way itake Toward Thebes the Grekes everychon, That such a nombre gadred into on Of worthy knyghtes nevere aforn was seyn, Whan they in fere monstred in a pleyn. And they ne stynt by non occasioun Til they be come even afor the toun And pight her tentys proudly, as I rede, Under the wallys in a grene mede. And whan the Thebans were besette aboute, The manly knyghtes wold han yssyd oute And ha scarmosshed in her lusty pride With her foomen on the tother side. But be byddyng of Ethiocles Alle thilk nyght thei kepte hemsilf in pes, Be cause only that it was so late, With gret awayt set at every gate, Men of armys al the nyght wakyng On the wallys be byddyng of the kyng, Lest ther were treynys or tresoun. And on the tours and in the chief dongoun He sette up men to make mortal sowns With brasyn hornys and loude clarions, Of ful entent the wacches forto kepe In his warde that no man ne slepe. And Grekys proudly al the longe nyght Kyndled fyrys and maad ful gret lyght, Sette up loggyng upon every syde, Lik as they shuld ever ther abyde; Compas the toune ther was no voide space But al besette her foomen to manace. And whilys they afor the cité laye, On every cost they sent out to forraye, Brente townes, thorpes, and vilages, With grete ravyn makyng theyr pillages, Spoyle and robbe and broughte hom vitaille And al maner soortes of bestaylle - Shep and neet - and in her cruel rage With houndes slowe al that was savage - Hert and hynde, bothe buk and doo, The blake beer and the wilde roo, The fatte swyn and the tusshy boor - Karying al hom for the Grekes stoor, Whete and wyn for her avauntage, Hay and otys, fodder and forage. With this kalendis, as hem thynke dwe, Grekys gan the Thebans to salwe, Mynistring hem occisiones felle, The sege sette, shortly forto telle, Of ful entent in their hatful pryde, For lif or deth therupon t'abide, Whosoever therwith be agreved, Til they fully her purpoos have acheved; Ther may therof be maked no relees.    And of this ful war Ethiocles Gan in party gretly to mervaille, Whan that he saugh the grete apparaylle Of the Grekes the cité rounde aboute, And in hymsilf hadde a maner doute Now at the poynt what was best to do. For thilke tyme it stood with hym so That to some abidyng in the toun He hadde in herte gret suspecioun List toward hym that they were unstable And to his brother in party favorable; For in the cité ther was variance, Which unto hym was a gret meschaunce, For in his nede shortly he ne wiste Upon whoom that he myghte triste, For they wer not alle of on entent. For which he hath for his counsale sent, Al his lordes and the olde quene, Which as he dempte were pur and clene, Hool of on herte and not variable, Of old expert and alway founde stable, Requeryng hem because they were wys Al openly to tellen ther avis Wher it was bet pleynly in her sight With his brother to treten or to fight. And some gaf a ful blunt sentence, Which hadde of werre non experience, Seyde it was best, and nat ben afferd To trye his right manly with the swerd. And some also that wer moor prudent Spak unto hym by good avisement And list nat spar but their conceyte tolde How hit was best his covenaunt forto holde And to parforn his heeste mad toforn To his brother lich as he was sworn, So that his word, the wors to mak hym spede, Be nat founde variant fro the dede, For non hatred, rancour, neyther pryde. And tho the queen took hym out aside, Tolde hym pleynly it was ful unsittyng Swich doublenesse to fynden in a kyng, And seide hym ek, althoh he were strong, To his brother how he dide wrong, "As al the toune wil record, in dede, And ber witnesse, yif it kam to nede. Wherfor lat us shape another mene In this matere whil that it is grene, Or this quarel, gonne of volunté, Turne in the fyn to mor adversité. For yif it be darreyned be bataylle, Who tresteth most may ful likly faille. And it is foly be short avisement To putte a strif in Martys jugement. For hard it is whan a juge is wood To tret aforn hym without loos of blood. And yif we put our mater hool in Marte, Which with the swerd his lawes doth coarte, Than may hit happe, wher ye be glad or loth, Thow and thy brother shal repente both And many another that is her present, Of youre trespas that ben innocent, And many thousand in cas shal compleyn For the debat only of yow tweyn, And for your strif shal fynde ful unsoote. And for thow art gynnyng, ground, and roote Of this injurie and this gret unright, To the goddys that herof han a sight Thow shalt accountys and a reknyng make For alle tho that persshyn for thi sake. And now the cause dryven is so ferre, Sodeyn pees oyther hasty werre Moot folowe anon; for the fatal chaunce Of lif and deth dependeth in balaunce. And no man may be no craft restreyne That upon on platly of this tweyne The soort mot falle, lik as it doth tourne, Whosoever lawgh or ellys mourne. And thow art dryve so narowe to the stake That thow mayst nat moo delayes make But fight or tret, this quarel forto fyne; By non engyn thow canst it not declyne. And hasty cas, as folk seyn that be wys, Redresse requereth by ful short avys; For trete longe now avaylleth noght. For to the poynt sothly thou art brouht: Ouyther to kepe thy pocessioun Or in al haste devoyde out of this toun, Wher thow therwith be wroth or wel apayd. Now note wel al that I ha sayd, And by my counsayl wisly condescende Wrong, wrouht of olde, newly to amende. The tyme is come - it may be non other. Wherfor in haste trete with thi brother And ageyn hym make no resistence But to thy lordys fully gif credence, By whoos counsayl, sith they be so sage, Late Polymyte rejoyse his heritage. And that shal turne most to thyn avail. Loo, her is hool the fyn of our counsail." And shortly tho for verrey ire wroth, Thouh he therto froward was and loth, Accorded is, heryng al the prees; Yif he algate shal trete for a pes, It moste be by this condicioun - That he wol han the domynacioun First in chief to hymsilf reserved, As hym thouht he hadde wel disserved, And save to hym hool the sovereynté; And under hym in Thebes the cité He to graunte with a right good cher Polymytes to regne for a yer, Than avoyde and not resoort ageyn; For mor to cleyme was nat but in veyn. This wold he don only for her sake, And otherwise he wil non ende make With the Grekys, what fortune evere falle. And fynally among his lordys alle Ther was not on of hih nor lowgh estat That wold gon on this ambassyat Out of the toune, nouther for bet nor wors, Til Jocasta made sadyl her hors And cast hersilf to gon for this treté, To make an ende, yif it wolde be. And this was don the morowe right be tyme, Upon the houre whan it droh to pryme. And with hyr went hyr yonge dohtres tweyne, Antygoné and the feyr Ymeyne, Of hyr meyné ful many on aboute; At the gate she was conveyed oute, And of purpos she made first hir went On horsbak to kyng Adrastus tent, He and his lordys beyng al yffere. And they receyve hyr with a right glad chere, Shewyng hyr lik to hir degré On every half ful gret humanyté; Polymytes rysyng fro his place, And humblely his moder gan enbrace, Kyssede hyr and than Antigoné And ek Ymeyne excellyng of bewté. And for that they passyngly were faire, Gret was the pres, concours, and repaire Of the ladyes forto han a sight. And Jocasta procedeth anon ryght To Adrastus hir mater to purpose, And gan to hym opynly disclose Th'entent and will of Ethiocles And by what mene he desireth pes - To hym reserved, as she gan specifie, The honour hool and the regalye, With sceptre and croune fro hym not devyded But hool to hym as he hath provided And Polymyte, be this condicioun, Under hym to regnen in the toun As a soget, be suffraunce of his brother. But the Grekes thouhten al another, And specyaly worthy Tydeus, Pleynly affermyng it shuld nat be thus: For he wil have no condiciouns But sette asyde all excepciouns, Nothyng reservid as in special, But hool the lordship, regalye, and al, Polymytes it fully to possede, In Thebes crowned verrayly in dede As rightful kyng putte in pocessioun, Lich the covenauntys and convencioun Imad of olde, assuryd, and asselyd, "Which shall not now of nwe be repelyd But stable and hool in his strengthe stonde. And lat hym so platly undyrstonde: And first that he devoyde hym out of toun And delyvere the sceptre and the croun To his brother and mak therof no more. And, shortly, ellys it shal be bouht ful sore Or this mater brought be to an ende. For Grek is non that shal hennys wende Or that our right, which is us denyed, With lif or deth darreyned be and tryed: We wil not arst fro this towne remewe. And yif hym lyst al this thyng eschwe And al meschief styntyn and appese, To either part he may do gret ese; Thus I mene for his avauntage: Delyver up hool the trewe herytage To his brother for a yeer t'endure And Grekys shal fully hym assure, By what bonde that hym list devise, The yeer complet in our beste wise To hym delyver ageyn pocessioun Withoute strif or contradiccioun, And to this fyn justly hald us to. And yif it falle that he wil nat so, Lat hym not wayte but only after werre. The hour is come - we wil it not differre. Lo, her is al, and thus ye may reporte To hym ageyn, whan that ye resorte, Fro which apoynt we cast us not to varye." And yit to hym Amphiorax contrarye Ful pleynly saide, in conclusioun, This fyn shal cause a destruccioun Of hem echon, yif it forth procede To be parfourmed and execute in dede. But thilke tyme for al his elloquence He had in soth but lytyl audience. For whersoevere he ment good or ille, Kyng Adrastus bad hym to be stille. And tho Jocasta, as wisdom did hyr tech, Humble of her port with ful softe spech, Gan seke menys in hyr fantasye, Yif she myght the ire modefye Of the Grekes to make hem to enclyne In eny wise hyr rancour forto fyne. She dyd hyr dever and hir bysy cure. But tho byfel a wonder aventure, Cause and ground of gret confusioun, Grekys perturbyng and also ek the toun, And it to telle may me not asterte. For which a whil my styell I mot dyverte And shortly telle, by descripcioun, Of a tigre dwellyng in the toun, Which fro a kyngdam besyden adjacent Out of Egipte was to Thebes sent. The whiche beest by record of scripture Is most swift as of his nature, And of kynd also most savage, And most cruel whan he is in his rage; And, as clerkys make mencioun, He of body resembleth the lyoun, And lik a greyhound the mosel and the hed, And of eyen as eny fyret red, Ek of his skyn, wryten as I fynde, Lich a panter conversant in Ynde With al maner hwys and colours And is ful oft disceyved with merours By fraude of huntys and fals apparence Shewyd in glas withouten existence, Whan his kyndles arn be sleight ytake And he deceyved may no rescus make. And lik a lombe was this tygre tame, Ageynys kynde, myn autour writ the same. And this beest, mervaillous to se, Was sent to Ymeyne and Antigoné, Which unto hem dide gret confort And cowde playe and make good disport, Lik a whelp that is but yong of age, And to no wight dide no damage, No mor in soth than doth a litil hound; And it was worth many hundred pound Unto the kyng, for ay in his grevaunce Ther was nothing did hym mor plesaunce, That for no tresour it myght not be bought. For whan that he was pensif or in thought, It putt hym out of his hevynesse. And thilke tyme, the story doth expresse, That Jocasta treded for a pes This tame tygre in party rekkeles Out at the gates, in sight of many a man, Into the felde wildely out ran, And casuelly rennyng to and fro, In and oute, as doth a tame roo; Grekys wenyng, that wer yong of age, That this tygre hadde be savage And cruelly besettyng al the place Round aboute gan hym to enchace Til he was ded and slayen in the feld. The slauhter of whom whan that they byheld, The proude Thebans, which on the wallys stood, They ronne doune ful furious and wood, Wenyng he had be slayen of despit, Takyng her hors withoute mor respit, Fully in purpos with Grekys forto fighte, The tigres dethe t'avengen yif they myghte. And out they rood withoute governaylle And ful proudly Grekes gan assaylle, And of hatred and ful heghe desdayne Fyl upon hem that han the tygre slayne, And cruelly qwitten hem her mede, That many Greke in the grene mede By the force and the grete myght Of her foomen lay slayen in this fight. The tigres deth so dere they aboughte, So mortally Thebanys on hem wroughte That al the host in the feld liggyng Was astounyd of this sodeyn thyng. And in this whil, of rancour rekkeles, Out of Thebes rood Ethiocles And with hym ek the worthy kyng Tremour, Of his hond a noble werreour, That made Grekes to forsak her place And to her tentys gan hem to enchace. And myd the feld as thei togyder mette On horsbak with speres sharpe whette Of verray hate and envious pryde, Ful many on was ded on outher syde. The whiche thyng whan Tideus espieth, Wood as lyoun to horsbak he hieth, As he that was never a del afferd, But ran on hem and met hem in the berd; And maugré hem, in his cruelté He made hem fleen hom to her cité, Hem pursuyng of ful dedly hate, That many on lay slayen at the gate, Gapyng uprightys with her woundys wyde, That uttrely they durste not abyde Tofor the swerd of this Tydeus. He was on hem so passing furius, So many Theban he roof unto the herte That, whan Jocasta the slauhtre gan adverte, Polymytes she gan prey ful fayre To make Grekis hom ageyn repayre And that they wolden styntyn to assaylle For thilke day and cessen her bataylle. At whoos requeste pleynly and preyeire And at reverence of his moder dere, Polymytes, her herte to conforte, Grekes made hom ageyn resorte And Tydeus to stynten of his chas. And they of Thebes, hasting a gret pas, Ful trist and hevy ben entred into toun. And for the tygre, in conclusioun, As ye han herd, first began this stryff, That many Theban that day lost his lyff And recurlees hath yolden up the breth In th'avengyng of the tygres deth. And al this while duely as she ought, The quene Jocasta humblely besought Kyng Adrastus only of his grace, Some mene way wisly to purchace To make a pees atwene the bretheren tweyn And the treté so prudently ordeyne On either party that no blood be shad. And this Adrastus, avise and right sad, For Grekis party answer gaf anon That other ende shortly gete she non, Lich as the lordis fully ben avisyd, Than Tydeus hath aforn devisyd. And whan she saugh it may non other be, She lieve tok and hom to the cyté She is repeired, havyng to hyr guyde Polymytes rydyng be her syde. And Tideus ladde Antigoné, And of Archadye Prothonolopé The worthy kyng did his bysy peyne To ben attendaunt upon fair Ymeyne, Whos hert she hath to her servise luryd; And he ageyn hath purtraied and fyguryd Myd of his brest, which lightly may not passe, Hooly the feturis of her fresshly face. Hym thouht she was so faire a creature, And though that he durst hym not discure, Yit in his hert as ferforth as he kan, He hath avowed to ben her trwe man, Unwist to hir pleynly and unknowe How he was marked with Cupides bowe, With his arwe sodeynly werreyed. And to the gate the ladyes conveyed Ben entred in, for it drow to eve, Grekys of hem taking tho her leve; Thogh some of hem wer sory to departe, Yit of wisdam they durste not juparte Under a conduit to entren into toun, Lest it turned to her confusion. Thouh some bookes the contrarye seyn, But myn autour is platly therageyn And affermeth in his opynyoun That Tydeus of hegh discrecioun, Of wilfulnesse nor of no folye, Ne wold as tho put in jupartie Nowther hymsilf nor non of his ferys. And the ladyes with her hevenly cherys, Angelik of look and contenance, Lich as it is put in remembrance, At her entryng from Grekys into toun, Polymytes of gret affeccioun The quen bysouhte thilke nyght not fyne For t'asseye yif she myght enclyne Ethiocles, of conscience and ryght, To kepe covenaunt, as he hath behight Ful yore agon with the surplusage, List the contrayre tourne to damage, First of hymsilf and many an other mo.    And thus fro Thebes Grekys ben ago To her tentys and rest hem al that nyght. And Lucyna the mone shon ful bright Withinne Thebes on the chief dongoun, Whan Jocasta made relacioun Unto the kyng and told hym al the guyse, How that Grekys uttrely despyse His profre made be fals collusioun, Only excepte the convencioun, Of old engrocyd by gret purvyance, Which is enrollyd and put in remembrance, Upon which they fynaly wil reste: Hym counsaillinge, hir thouhte for the beste, To conforme hym to that he was bounde, Lyst in the fyn falsnesse hym confounde. But al hir counsayl he set it at no prys; He dempt hymsilf so prudent and so wys, For he was wilful and he was indurat, And in his hert of malice obstynat, And outtrely avised in his thouht Withinne Thebes his brother get right nouht. And in his errour thus I lete him dwelle. And of Grekis forth I wil you telle, Which al that nyght kepte hemsilve cloos. And on the morow whan Tytan up aroos, They armyd hem and gan hem redy make, And of assent han the felde itake, With the Thebans that day out of doute Forto fighten, yif they yssen oute. And Adrastus in ful thrifty wise In the feld his wardys gan devise, As he that was of all deceytes war. And richely armyd in his char Amphiorax cam with his meyné, Ful renomyd of antiquité, And wel expert because he was old. And whil that Grekys, as I have you told, Wer bysiest her wardys to ordeyne, Myd of the feld bifyl a cas sodeyne, Ful unhappy, lothsom, and odyble, For liche a thing that wer invisible This olde bisshop with char and hors certeyn Disaperyd and no mor was seyne. Only of fate which no man can repelle, The erth opnede and he fille to helle, With all his folk that upon hym abood. And sodeynly the grounde on which he stood Closyd ageyn and togydre shette, That never after Grekis with hym mette. And thus the devel for his old outrages, Lich his decert, paied hym his wages. For he ful lowe is discendid doun Into the dirk and blake regyoun Wher that Pluto is crownyd and ystallyd With his quene Proserpina icallyd. With whom this bisshop hath made his mansioun Perpetuelly as for his guerdoun. Lo, here the mede of ydolatrie, Of rytys old and fals mawmetrye. Lo, what avayllen incantaciouns Of exorsismes and conjurisouns; What stood hym stede his nigromancye, Calculacioun, or astronomye; What vaylled hym the hevenly manciouns, Diverse aspectis, or constellaciouns? The ende is nat bot sorowe and meschaunce Of hem that setten her outre affiaunce In swich werkes supersticious, Or trist on hem: he is ungracious. Record I take, shortly forto telle, Of this bysshop sonken doun to helle, Whos wooful ende about in every cost Swich a rumour hath maked in the host That the noys of this uncouth thyng Is yronne and come to the kyng, How this vengeaunce is unwarly falle. And he anon made a trumpet calle Alle his puple out of the feld ageyn; And everychon assembled on a pleyn Tofore the kyng and also rounde aboute. Every man of his lyf in doute Ful pitously gan to frowne and loure, List that the grounde hem alle wil devoure And swalowen hem in his dirke kave; And they ne can no recur hem to save. For nouther force nor manhode may availle In swiche meschief the valewe of a maylle. For he that was wisest and koude most To serche and seke thorghout al the host, Amphiorax, whan that he lest wende, To helle is sonken and coude hym not diffende (To hym the tyme unknowen and unwist), In whom whilom was al the Grekis trist, Her hool confort, and her affiaunce. But all attonys for this sodeyn chaunce And this meschief they gan hem to dispeire, Hom to Grece that they wil repeyre. This was the purpoos of hem everichon. And on the wallys of Thebes lay her fon, Rejoysing hem of this unhappy eure, Wenyng therby gretly to recure. And on her tours as they loken oute, They on Grekys enviously gan shoute, And of despit and gret enmyté Bad hem foolys gon hom to her contré, Sith they han lost her confort and socour, Her fals prophete and her dyvynour Wherthorgh her partie gretly is apeyryd. And in this wise Grekys disespeyryd, Dempte pleynly be tokens evidente This cas was falle by som enchauntement, By wichecraft or fals sorcerye, Ageynes which may be no remedye, Tristy diffence, helpe, nor socour. And whan Adrastus herde this clamour, He bysy was ageyn this perturbaunce To provyde some maner chevysaunce And to hym calleth such counsayl as he wiste, For lyf or deth that he myghte tryste, Requeryng hem but in wordys fewe In this meschief her mocioun to shewe And declare by good avisement What to Grekys was most expedient To remedyen - and mak no delay - The uncouth noyse and the gret affray That Grekys made with clamour inportune And newe and newe evere in on contune. And they that wern most manly and most wise Shortly saide it wer a cowardyse The hegh emprise that they han undirtake For dred of deth so sodeynly forsake. It wer to hem a perpetuel shame And outre hyndryng unto Grekys name; And better it wer to every werreyour Manly to deye with worship and honour Than lik a coward with the lyf endure. For onys shamyd, hard is to recure His name ageyn, of what estat he be. And sith Grekes of old antiquyté, As of knyghthode, who so list tak hed, Ben so famous and so renomed, Yif now of newe the shyning of her fame Eclipsid were with eny spotte of blame, It were a thyng uncouth forto here, Of whoes renoun the bemes yit ben clere Thorgh al the world, wher as they han passyd, And ben not yit dyrkyd nor diffacyd By no report nouther on se ne londe Thyng to forsake that they tok on honde. "And by example of our progenitours, That whilom wern so manly conquerours, Toforn that we into Grece wende, Of thyng bygon lat us make an ende And parte nat nor severe from this toun Til it be brouht to destruccioun, Wallys, tourres crestyd and batailled And for werre strongly apparaylled Be first doune bete that nothyng be seyn, But al togyder with the erthe pleyn Be low leyde or that we resorte, That afterward men may of us reporte That we bygan we knyghtly han achievyd Upon our foon with worship unreprevyd." This was the counsaylle shortly and th'avis Of the Grekys that manly wern and wys, That nevere aforn wer markyd with no blame, And specialy swich as drede shame And fully caste what fortune ever tyde On her purpoos to the ende abyde, That on no part her honure not apalle. And to this counsaille Grekys on and alle Ben condescendyd and, for mor happy sped, Insted of hym that was so late ded, Amphiorax buryed depe in helle That koude whilom to the Grekys telle Of thyngges hid how it shal falle aforn, Instede of whom now they han hym lorn, They casten hem wisly to purchace Some prudent man to occupye his place, That in swich thyng myght hem most availle Thorgh mystery of his dyvynaylle By craft of sorte or of profecye, Yif eny swich they couden out espye. And among al, her purpoos to atteyne, As I fynde, they han chosyn tweyne, Most renomed of hem everychon. And Menolippus callyd was the ton, And Terdymus ek the tother highte. And for he hadde most favour in her sighte, This Terdymus was chosen and preferryd. And in her choys Grekys han not erryd, For whilom he lernyd his emprise Of his maister Amphiorax the wyse And was disciple undyr his doctrine. And of entent that he shal termyne Unto Grekys thynges that shal falle And as a bisshop mytred in his stalle, They don for him in many uncouth wyse In the temple to goddys sacrifise, And thus conformed and stallyd in his se, A fewe dayes stood in his degré, After his mayster with ful gret honour, Of Grekys chose to be successour. And al this tyme, in story as is told, Ful gret meschief of hungre, thrust, and cold And of Thebans as they issen oute Lay many on slayen in the route On outher part, of fortune as they mette - Her mortal swerdys wer so sharpe whette. And Tydeus among hem of the toun Fro day to day pleyeth the lyoun So cruelly, wher so that he rood, That Theban non aforn his face abood. He made of hem, thorgh his high renown, So gret slaughter and occisioun That as the deth fro his swerd they fledde, And who cam nexte leid his lyf to wedde. He qwitte hymsylf so lik a manly knyght That wher he went he putte hem to the flight, And maugré hem, in his cruelté, He droff hem hom into her cité, Hem purswyng proudly to the gate, That unto hym they bar so dedly hate That they hem caste by sleyht or some engyn, To bryngyn hym unwarly to hys fyn And leyde awayt for hym day and nyght. But, o allas, this noble manly knyght, Upon a day as he gan hem enchace And mortally made hem lese her place And sued hem almost to the toun - That cause was of his destruccioun. For on, allas, that on the wallys stood, Which al that day upon hym abood, With a quarel sharpe heded for his sake Markede hym with a bowe of brake So cruelly, makynge non arest Tyl it was passyd bothe bak and brest. Wherthorgh, allas, ther was non other red Nor lechecraft but that he mot be ded - Ther may therof be maked non delayes. And yit was he holdyn in his dayes The beste knyght and most manly man, As myn autour wel reherce kan. But for al that was ther no dyffence Ageyn the strok of dethys violence. And Bochas writ, er he was fully ded, He was by Grekys presentyd with the hed Of hym that gaf his laste fatal wounde; And he was callyd, lik as it is founde, Menolippus, I can non other telle.    But thilke day Thebans wex so felle Upon Grekys that under her cyté The manly kyng Parthanolopé Islayen was evene afor the gatys; And ther also, armyd bright in platys, The famous kyng callyd Ypomedoun The same day, as mad is mencioun, On horsbak manly as he faught At the brigge evene upon the draught, Besette with pres casuelly was drownyd. And thus fortune hath on Grekys frownyd On every syde thilk unhappy day. But al the maner tellen I ne may Of her fightyng nor her slaughter in soth, Mor to declare than myn autour doth.    But thilke day I fynde as ye may sen, Whan Phebus passyd was merydyen And fro the south westward gan hym drawe, His gylte tressys to bathen in the wawe, The Theban kyng felle Ethyocles, Rote of unreste and causer of unpes, The slauhter of Grekys whan that he beheld, Armyd in steel he kam out into feld, Ful desirous in that sodeyn hete Polymytes at good leyser to mete, Syngulerly with hym to han ado. For in this world he hatede no man so (He sat so nygh emprented in his herte). Whoos comyng out his brother gan adverte Upon his stede in the opposit And hadde ageynward also gret delyt To meten hym, yif fortune assente - Th'envious fyr so her hertys brente With haate cankered of unkynde blood. And lik two tygres in her rage wood, With speerys sharpe grounde for the nonys, So as they ranne and mette both attonys, Polymytes thorgh platys, mayle, and sheeld Roof hym thorghout and smette hym into feld. But whan he sauh the stremys of his blood Raylle about in maner of a flood, Al sodeynly of compassioun From his coursere he alighte doun, And brotherly, with a pitous face, To save his lyf gan hym to embrace, And from his wounde of newe affeccioun, Ful bysy was to pulle out the trunchoun, Of love only handlyng hym ryght softe. But, o allas, whil he lay alofte, Ful yrously Ethiocles the felle, Of al this sorowe verraye sours and welle, With a dagger in al his peynys smerte His brother smoot unwarly to the herte, Which al her lyf hadde be so wrothe. And thus the Thebans were yslawe bothe At the entré evene aforn the toun. But Grekys tho ben availled doun Out of the feld, the worthy knyghtys alle. And in Thebes loud as eny shalle The cry aroos whan her kyng was ded. And to the gatys armyd foot and hed, Out of the toun cam many proud Theban. And some of hem upon the wallys ran And gan to shoute, that pité was to here. And they without, of her lyf in were, Withoute confort or consolacioun Disespeyred ronne hom to the toun, And Grekys folowen after at the bak, That many on that day goth to wrak. And as her foomen proudely hem assaylle, Ful many Grekys thorgh platys and thorgh maylle Was shette thorghout, pressyng at the wallys, And betyn of with grete rounde ballys, That her lay on and another yonder. And the noyse, hydousher than thonder, Of gonneshot and arblastys ek So loude outronge that many worthy Grek Ther lost his lyf - they wern on hem so felle. And at the gatys, shortly forto telle, As Grekys prees to entren the cyté, They of Thebes in her cruelté With hem mette ful furious and wood; And mortally as they ageyn hem stood, Men myghte sen sperys shyvere asonder, That to byhold it was a verray wonder How they foyne with daggers and with swerdys Thorgh the vyser amyng at the berdys, Percyng also thorgh the rownde maylles, Rent out peces of ther aventaylles, That nouht availleth the myghty geseran, Thorgh brest and nekke that the sperys ran. Her wepnys wern so sharpe grounde and whet In ther armure that ther was no let. For ther laye on troden under foote And yonde on percyd to the herte roote; Her lith on ded and ther another lame. This was the play and the mortal game Atwene Thebans and the Grekys proude, That the swowys and the cryes loude Of hem that lay and yolden up the goost Was herd ful fer aboute in many cost. And at the gatys and sayllyng of the wal Islayen was al the blood royal, Both of the toun and of Grekys lond And all the worthy knyghtys of her hond. And of lordys, yif I shal not feyne, On Grekys syde alyve wer but tweyne, Kyng Adrastus and Campaneus. That day to hem was so ungracius. And for Titan westryd was so lowe That no man myght unnethys other knowe, Tho of the toun shet her gatys faste With barrys rounde maked forto laste, In which no wight kerve may nor hewe. And Adrastus with a Grekys fewe Repeyred is hom unto his tent, And al that nyght he wastyd hath and spent For his unhappe in sorowe compleynyng. And they in Thebes the nexte day swyng Her devoyre did and her bysy cure, To ordeyne and make a sepulture For her kyng yslayen in the feeld, And offred up his baner and his sheld, His helme, his swerd, and also his penoun, Therinne of gold ibetyn a dragoun, High in the temple that men myghte sen. And Jocasta, that infortunyd quene, Her sones deth soore gan compleyne; And also ek her yonge doghtres tweyne, Both Ymeyne and Antigonee, Cryden and wepte that pyté was to se. But to her sorowes that was no refut. And thus the cité bar and destitut, Havyng no wight to govern hem nor guye, For ded and slayn was al the chyvalrye And no wight left almost in the toun To regne on hem by successioun. But for they saugh and tokyn also hed, Withoute this that they hadde an hed In the cyté thei may not dure longe, For though so be comownerys be stronge With multitude and have no governaylle Of an hed, ful lytyl may avaylle. Therfor they han unto her socour Ychosyn hem a newe governour, An olde tyraunt that callyd was Creon, Ful acceptable to hem everichon, And crownyd hym withoute mor lettyng To regne in Thebes and to ben her kyng, Althogh he hadde no title by discent But by fre choys made in parlement. And ther to hym, lik as it is founde, By her lygeaunce of newe they wer bounde For to be trewe, whyl the cité stood, To hym only with body and with good. Thus they wer sworn and suryd everichon; And he ageynward to save hem from her foon, And hem dyffende with al his ful myght, And meynten hem in al manere ryght. This was th'acord as in sentement.    And in this whil hath Adrastus sent From the siege of Thebes the cyté A woundyd knyght hom to his contré Thorgh al Grece pleynly to declare Al the slaughter and the evyl fare Of worthy Grekys, ryght as it is falle, And how that he hath lost his lordys alle Att mor meschief than eny man can mouth. And whan this thyng was in Grece couth, Fyrst to Argyve and Deyphylee And to the ladies ek in the contré And of provynces aboute hem adjacent, They come doun, al be on assent, Worthy queenys and with hem ek duchessys And other ek that callyd were contessys; And alle the ladyes and wymmen of degré Ben assembled in Arge the cyté, Lik as I rede, and alle in clothes blake, That to byhold the sorowe that they make, It were a deth to eny man alyve. And yif I shuld by and by descryve Ther tendre wepyng and ther wooful sownys, Her complayntys and lamentacions, Her ofte swounyng with facys ded and pale, Therof I myghte make a newe tale, Almost a day yow to occupye. And as myn autour doth clerly certifie, Thorghoute Grece from all the rigiouns Out of cities and of royal touns Cam alle the ladies and wymmen of estat, Ful hevy cheryd and disconsolat, To this assemblé, aforn as I you tolde, In purpoos fully her journé forto holde Toward Thebes, thys sorwful creaturys, Ther to bywaylle her wooful aventurys, T'aquyte hemsilf of trouth in wommanhede To her lordys, which in the feld lay dede. And as the story liketh to declare, Al this journé they went on foote bare, Lik as they hadde gon on pylgrymage, In tokyn of mournyng barbyd the visage, Wympled echon and in burnet weedys, 1 Nat in charys drawen forth with steedys, Nor on palfreys blake nowther white: The sely wymmen koude hem not delite To hold her way but barfote forth they wente; So feithfully everichon they ment, Thorgh hevynesse diffacyd of her hwe; And as I fynde, they weryn alle trwe. Now was not that a wonder forto se So many trewe out of a cuntré, Attonys gadryd in a companye, And feithful alle, bookys can not lye, Both in her port and inward in menyng? Unto my doom it was an uncouth thyng, Among a thowsand wymen outher tweyne To fynden noon that kowde in herte feyne. It was a mervaylle nat ofte seyn aforn. For seelde in feldys groweth eny corn, But yif some wede spryng up ther among. Men laye wynys whan they be to strong, But her trouth was meynte with non allayes; They were so trewe founde at alle assayes. And they ne stynt upon her journé Tyl that they cam ther they wolde be, Wher Adrastus, wrytyn as I fynde, Lay in his tent al of colour ynde, Gretly mervaylyd whan that he biheld The nombre of hem sprad thorgh al the feld Clad all in blak and barfoot everychon. Out of his tent he dressyd hym anon, Upon his hand the kyng Campaneus; Ful trist in herte and face right pitous, Ageyn the wommen forth they went yfere. And to byhold the wooful hevy chere, The wooful cryes also, whan they mette, The sorful sighys in her brestys shette, The teerys newe distillyng on her facys, And the swownyng in many sondry placys Whan they her lordys alyve not ne founde, But in the feeld thorgh girt with many wounde, Lay stark upright, pleynly to endite, With dedly eyen tournyd up the white, Who made sorowe or felt her herte ryve For hir lorde but the faire Argyve? Who can now wepe but Deyphylee, Tydeus for she ne myghte se? Whoos constretys were so fel and kene That Adrastus myghte not sustene To byholde the ladyes so compleyne, Wisshing his herte parted wer on tweyne. And yit, allas, bothen eve and morowe O thyng ther was that doubled al her sorowe - That old Creon, fader of fellonye, Ne wold suffre thorgh his tyrannye The dede bodies be buryed nowther brente But with beestis and houndys to be rente. He made hem all upon an hepe be leyde. Wherof the wymmen, trist and evyl apeyde For verray dool, as it was no wonder, Her hertys felt almost ryve asonder. And as my mayster Chaucer list endite, Al clad in blak with her wymples whyte, With gret honour and dieu reverence, In the temple of the goddesse Clemence They abood the space of fourtenyght, Tyl Theseus the noble worthy knyght, Duk of Athenys, with his chyvalry Repeyred hom out of Femynye And with hym ladde ful feir upon to sene, Thorgh his manhod, Ypolita the quene And her suster callyd Emelye. And whan thies wommen gonne first espye This worthy duk as he cam rydynge, Kyng Adrastus, hem alle conveyinge, The wommen brouht unto his presence, Which hym bysought to give hem audience, And all attonys swownyng in the place, Ful humblely preiden hym of grace To rewe on hem her harmys to redresse.    But yif ye list to se the gentyllesse Of Theseus and how he hath hym born, Yif ye remembre ye han herde it to forn Wel rehersyd at Depforth in the vale, In the bygynnyng of the Knyghtys Tale: First how that he, whan he herd hem speke, For verray routh felt his herte breke; And her sorowys whan he gan adverte, From his courser doun anon he sterte, Hem confortyng in ful good entente, And in his armys he hem all up hente. The Knyghtys Tale reherseth every del Fro poynt to poynt, yif ye looke wel, And how this duk withoute more abood The same day toward Thebes rood, Ful lik in soth a worthy conquerour And in his hoost of chyvalrye the flour; And fynally, to spekyn of thys thing, With old Creon that was of Thebes kyng How that he faught and slough hym lik a knyght And all his host putte unto the flyght. Yit, as some auctours make mencioun, Or Theseus entred into toun, The women first with pikkeys and with mallys, With gret labour bete doun the wallys. And in her writyng also as they sayn, Campaneus was on the wallys slayn; With cast of ston he was so overlade, For whom Adrastus such a sorowe made That no man myght reles hym of his peyne. And Jocasta with her doghtres tweyne, Ful woofully oppressyd of her cherys, To Athenes wer sent as prysonerys. What fil of hem more can I not seyn. But Theseus, myn autour writ certeyn, Out of the feld or he fro Thebes wente, He bete it downe and the howsys brente, The puple slough for al her crying loude, Maad her wallys and her towrys proude Rounde aboute, evene upon a rowe, With the soyle to be lade ful lowe, That nought was left but the soyle al bare. And to the wommen in reles of her care, The bonys of her lordys that were slayn This worthy duk restoryd hath agayn.    But what shuld I any lenger dwelle The olde ryytys by and by to telle; Nor th'obsequies in ordre to devise; Nor to declare the manere and the guyse How the bodyes wer to asshes brent; Nor of the gommes in the flaumbe spent To make the ayre swetter of relees, As frauncencence, mirre and aloes; Nor how the wommen round aboute stood, Some with mylk and some also with blood And some of hem with urnes made of gold, Whan the asshes fully weren made cold, T'enclosyn hem of gret affeccioun And bern hem hom into her regioun; And how that other ful dedly of her loke For love only of the bonys tooke, Hem to kepe for a remenbraunce: That to reherce every observaunce That was don in the fyres bright, The wakeplayes duryng al the nyght; Nor of the wrastlyng to telle poynt be poynt Of hem that wern nakyd and ennoyt; How everiche other lugge gan and shake; Nor how the wommen han her leve take Of Theseus with ful gret humblesse, Thankyng hym of his worthynesse That hym lyst upon her woo to rewe; And how that he, his fredam to renewe, With the wommen, of his hegh largesse, Ypartyd hath ek of his richesse; And how this duk Thebes ek forsoke And to Athenys the righte waye tooke With laurer crownyd in signe of victorye And the palme of conquest and of glorye, Did his honur duely to Marte; And how the wymmen wepte whan they departe With kyng Adrastus hom ageyn to Arge - To tellyn al wer to gret a charge, And ek also, as ye shal understonde, At the gynnyng I took no mor on honde Be my promys, in conclusioun, But to reherce the destruccioun Of myghty Thebes shortly and no more. And thus Adrastus, with his lokkys hore, Stille abood in Arge his cyté Unto his ende: ye gete no more of me, Sauf, as myn auctour liketh to compyle, After that he lyved but a while; For he was old er the siege gan, And thought and sorowe so upon hym ran, The which in soth shortyd hath his dayes. And, tyme sette, deth maketh no delayes, And al his joye passid was and gon; For of his lordys alyve was not on But slayn at Thebes, ye knowen al the cas. And whan this kyng in Arge buryed was Ful ryaly with gret solempnyté, It was acountyd, in bookys ye may se, Four hundred yeer, as mad is mencioun, Tofoor the beelding and fundacioun Of gret Rome so ryal and so large, Whan the ladies departyden from Arge To her contrés ful trest and desolat. Lo, her the fyn of contek and debat. Lo, her the myght of Mars the froward sterre. Lo, what it is for to gynne a werre. How it concludeth ensample ye may se First of Grekys and next of the cyté, For owther parte hath matere to conpleyne. And in her strif ye may se thyngges tweyne: The worthy blood of al Grece spilt; And Thebes ek, of Amphion first bylt, Withoute recur brouht unto ruyne And with the soyle made pleyn as a lyne, To wyldernesse turnyd and desert, And Grekys ek falle into povert, Both of her men and also of her good; For fynally al the gentyl blood Was shad out ther, her woundys wer so wyde, To los fynal unto outher syde. For in the werre is non excepcioun Of hegh estat nor lowh condicioun But as fortune and fate, both yffere, List to dispose with her double chere And Bellona the goddes in hir char Aforn provydeth: wherfor ech man be war Unavysed a werre to bygynne, For no man woot who shal lese or wynne. And hard it is whan eyther party leseth. And douteles nowther of hem cheseth That they most in al swich mortal rage, Maugré her lust, felyn gret damage. It may nat be by mannys myght restreyned. And werre in soth was never first ordeyned But for synne folkis to chastyse.    And as the Byble trewly kan devyse, Hegh in hevene of pryde and surquedye, Lucyfer, fader of envie, The olde serpent, he levyathan, Was the first that ever werre gan, Whan Michael, the hevenly champioun, With his feerys venqwisshyd the dragoun And to helle cast hym downe ful lowe. The whiche serpent hath the cokkyl sowe Thorgh al erth of envye and debat, That unnethys is ther non estat Withoute stryf can lyve in charité. For every man of hegh and lough degré Envyeth now that other shulde thryve. And ground and cause why that men so stryve Is coveytise and fals ambicioun, That everich wold han domynacioun Over other and trede hym undyr foote, Which of al sorowe gynnyng is and roote. And Crist recordyth - red Luk and ye may se - For lak of love what meschief ther shal be. For o puple, as he doth devyse, Agayn another of hate shal aryse, And after tellith what dyvisions Ther shal be atwixe regyouns, Everiche bysy other to oppresse. And al swich strif, as he berth wytnesse, Kalendys ben, I take his word to borowe, And a gynnyng of meschief and of sorowe: Men have it founde be experience.    But the venym and the violence Of strif, of werre, of contek, and debat That maketh londys bare and desolat Shal be proscript and voyded out of place, And Martys swerd shal no more manace, Nor his sper grevous to sustene Shal now no mor whettyd be so kene, Nor he no mor shal his hauberk shake. But love and pees in hertys shal awake, And charité both in length and brede Of newe shal her bryghte beemys sprede Thorgh grace only in dyvers naciouns, Forto reforme atwixe regyouns Pees and quyet, concord and unyté. And He that is both on and two and thre, Ek thre in on and sovereyn lord of pes, Which in this exil for our sake ches, For love only our troubles to termyne, For to be born of a pur virgyne: And lat us prey to Hym that is most good, Which for mankynde shadde His herte blood, Thorgh byseching of that hevenly quene, Wyff and moder and a mayde clene, To sende us pes her in this lyf present, And of oure synnys parfit amendement, And joye eternal whan we hennes wende. Of my tale thus I make an ende. Explicit. Here endeth the destruccioun of Thebes.

anger; (see note) nature hot, combustible sparks; far angry burned can relate recalls trouble first of all planned demonstrate recover (t-note) hasten; delays levy suitable such enlisted them each [as a soldier]; (t-note) their; immediately those; (see note) according to their rank garrison; retinue longbows; crossbows date set Before; muster; plain Parthenopaeus Who Arcadia of Mycenae (see note) Hippomedon Capaneus Meleager Agenor (see note); (t-note) armed; (t-note) renowned heroes Calcedonia; heir council soldiers delay humbly; (t-note) Hastening; delay Despite falsehood Moved free (t-note) loyalty whatever he said understood in the middle of regions Gathered Chosen in valor believe, since Together fashions; (see note) exotic heraldic symbols wish if; describe piece apply myself diligently would be in truth too obscure lodging be lacking low; soldiers Furnished (see note) payday beforehand; given generous; wished poverty To allow; distress flourishes; nothing possess suffer command Despite; power; as they wish order force see in agreement; bridle deprived of the support; by himself complaint arrange stinginess begin continue; (see note) subdue (t-note) treasure, in brief (t-note) mirror generosity generous enemies to destroy to make war on at once since unbearable Done; son[-in-law]; closest kinsmen before; describe return carefully; discovered; (t-note) informed preparation provision advice (see note) retained renowned heroes; all around Provided openings in the parapet garrisoned; soldiers cannon; (see note) barrels gave reputation jewels before meat; wheat military force by Double towers over gates; ramparts pledge enemies dearly be bought pole ax Before; lose Before; possess thought take steps beforehand neglectful all around effect decide; goal fit Before wise grown old (see note) known old age familiar their hidden lore mention before; clearly interpret begun Give; judgment judgment; strife knew if plainly; lie havoc in battle (see note) military expedition; slain if lament destiny; prevented Alive because; expedient; (see note) defense; (t-note) prepare if hidden intent distress governance (see note) discreet; mute Reveal (t-note) shut (hidden away); body (person) remorse troubling; (see note) lost (t-note) asking Whom to reveal; hesitant refuse Despite her wishes directed them; (t-note) before he took heed chariot risk reveal seized forever grey-haired man; chariot were avoid explained judicious opinion; certainty enveloped in duplicity unpropitious conflicts future fate; times hostility fierce means; changeable (t-note) done; pursued outcome decay misfortune appointed Deep; buried valley relinquish avoidance pledge If unpleasant regret if avoid (t-note) intent abandon were distressed everyone cried out; false inventor; recently made (i.e., contrived) fool challenge calculations not at all; advice on every side soldiers their prime in fact young have wish opinions foresees lost; (t-note) foresees ponder; (see note) restrain determined all at once against Bruises; shatters experienced Unless; beforehand either stirred endeavors (see note) old man provision tell share the same views have (see note) By Once knowledgeable; experienced wished; observe prophecies if trust sighed full sorely hung down saw; noght decided make an expedition in force war against painful knew; escape invading sandy valleys; plains drought searching all around (see note); (t-note) potable refuge; know unbearable; bright duress despaired grievous situation; returned If arbor bright (t-note) (t-note) then; laurel face (see note) beauty saw; (see note) confused; at once withdraw follow not at all frightened encamped; (t-note) pole ax misadventure rank military expedition If; (t-note) inwardly; (see note) their; regret if; free only a little way from here venture at risk risk; (t-note) out of lay to sleep seized immediately treachery plentiful; (t-note) merry Who remedy delay All at once; rode; (t-note) wish satisfy; thirst found wild surely dead; bank have those moderate thirst restored then comfort Around; crystalline pitched To effort Promising; bound immediately reminds us then their; promised her their she might wish plainly here; recital; (see note) Hypsipyle By descent; family Once conspiracy carefully; care (t-note) Cut; anger For this purpose; Boccaccio in no way disturbed gentle opposed slain gave Who (see note) ram [with the golden fleece]; (see note) wishes; (see note) lack; (see note); (t-note) (t-note) Giovanni Boccaccio eloquent discourses dedicated Sicily; (see note) chapter heading her (the queen's); (see note) taken returned; (t-note) [is] hopeless found (see note) same striped; scales; bright; (t-note) piercing; sharp too slow; hasten Deathly; pale golden hair (t-note) if; remain; (t-note) know prepared plan merit except; must sloth negligence; sloth Whom penetrated; heart unbearable; grief know; truthfulness learned; (t-note) delay Neither; petition grief caused by remedy knows plunged heartfelt; stained streaming with tears fear distraught First of all substance; trouble treachery slain difficulty trouble promised stop; alleviate distress with great speed circumstances think; take into consideration behaved; earlier lost If the help were not given must repay [her kindness] ungrateful; (t-note) agreed immediately; (t-note) nearby if; succeed try, if everyone horse As soon as behave Toward well appointed (see note) (t-note) act lodging (t-note) delay made ready; harbingers (see note) decide If be sufficient; suffice wait obtain by Food enough here help ask hear if; (t-note) directly say Unless agreement before confirm Then Nothing stipulate rest; mite amazed negotiate; together a person not at all Aloud; (t-note) once heir Who; yielded lies cry knew; lived no longer unbearable suffering tore; (t-note) cut grief; burrow; (see note) distraught cause; (t-note) (see note); (t-note) (t-note) at intervals Before; knew at once Hold tight; spring up observe (see note) recite finish abated buried time benefit may not at all Since loss by; restore gone; (see note) (see note) sorrow sea Ebb tide following; full tide Briefly duration; proclamation (certainty) shelter himself club Then it avails freedom from arrest; (see note) Safe conduct; legal injunctions; (see note) But that; die either; (t-note) sorrow Filled; strife seldom; remains complain ordinance; the gods if; (t-note) restored communicated decisions to distinguish misfortune; grief foresight Whoever compassion then; (see note) Unless pay with its head otherwise; shed; (t-note) round about region searching (see note) happened; (t-note) fierce sharpened Pulled; hanging; (t-note) off its; immediately took it Through which; somewhat; lessen bitterness; (t-note) (see note) again happened; (t-note) before; relate unless; lie (see note) (see note) (see note) conflict arrogant; proud vines dilution with water Mixed Broke; drowned if; confirm; (see note) [Boccaccio's] Genealogia deorum gentilium By descent; family Branched Boccaccio; (see note) placed Behind; Petrarch following as security Set in order; divisions advised move; delay taken together mustered pitched encircled; (t-note) sallied forth; (t-note) skirmished enemies watches trickery or treachery great tower (keep) (t-note) brass part of the city As if; remain All around; empty encircled their enemy region; forage hamlets; (see note) greediness foodstuffs kinds; beasts cattle wild hart; hind; (t-note) roe tusked; (t-note) Carrying; provision beginning greet Giving; slaughter bitter; (t-note) cessation part; (t-note) preparation that same Lest; unreliable (see note) disaster know trust thought; (t-note) Wholly of one experienced Asking Whether; better negotiate gave deliberation did not hold back; opinion agreement promises; before to his disadvantage (see note) inappropriate notice if need be (see note) fresh Before; begun willingly end if; settled in brief; (see note) Mars' mad; (see note) argue if; (t-note) enforce Then; whether; sad crime bitter beginning, cause injustice those; perish advanced; far or untimely Must hangs in the balance by one plainly; two; (t-note) chance constrained by circumstances; (see note) negotiate; resolve cunning; avert pressing quick judgment For to debate withdraw Whether; pleased agree deal since Let then; true anger opposed; unwilling crowd If; after all; negotiate; (t-note) retain willingly Then leave; return embassy ordered to be saddled planned if her Ismene retinue way together Displaying courtesy crowd, gathering; assembly directly explain kingship subject otherwise (see note) possess Made; sworn; sealed repealed force leave in brief, otherwise Before hence go settled by combat first; (t-note) if; wishes; avoid side last end; hold happen expect delay decision; intend everyone of them truth whether then search; mind If end duty; concern then occurred; (see note) avoid writing instrument; must nearby to written record; (t-note) by nature muzzle eyes; ferret dwelling in India hues mirrors trick young; taken; (t-note) rescue Unnaturally (t-note) (t-note) person sorrow at the same time negotiated heedless roe thinking must be surrounding chase Believing; spite delay governance assault gave them their reward meadow enemies paid for lodging animosity pursue in the middle of honed saw; (t-note) hastened; (see note) not at all afraid face to face despite Before cut observe return cease that same return hastening sorrowful beyond remedy; yielded means; procure agreement; construct thoughtful; serious gave immediately outcome; (t-note) said returned (t-note) enticed drawn; imagined In his heart; vanish features dared not reveal himself Unbeknownst struck (t-note) then safe conduct destruction opposed then companions faces cease try promised Long ago; remaining part (t-note) more castle keep manner disdain offer agreement written out in legal form; foresight written in a roll obey Lest; end; destroy value stubborn hatred; (t-note) determined nothing at all (see note); (t-note) confined the sun taken sally forth divisions chariot retinue renowned experienced set out in formation In the middle; unexpected event shocking; hateful; (see note) resist attended shut offenses According to his merit (see note) enthroned; (t-note) dwelling; (t-note) reward reward; (see note) idolatry availed him his necromancy astrological houses positions of the stars total belief trust; lacking in God's grace Evidence part rumor; strange run unexpectedly happened at once people Before look gloomy; be mournful Lest know no remedy misfortune; value; halfpenny knew least expected protect unseen once; confidence faith at once; turn of events return intention enemies fate Thinking; win back lost ground malice fools Since; (t-note) Through which; weakened despaired Judged remedy Asking misfortune their suggestion deliberation strange rumor; fear persistent again and again; continue enterprise great discredit shamed; recover reputation; whatever status If; suddenly; reputation Obscured curious to hear darkened; marred undertook go begun towers crenalated beaten levelled to the earth before; return say That what enemies; blameless such intend; happen fade Agreed; success recently could once hidden; beforehand [him] whom; lost thought; obtain; (see note) profit divination drawing lots could discover two the one the other was called their (t-note) long ago; task state occur wearing a mitre; bishop's seat in a choir exotic manners; (t-note) confirmed; installed; seat chosen trouble company either side deadly; keenly honed wherever before; remained killing; (t-note) (see note) as a pledge behaved ferocity drove (see note) planned; sleight; deceit without warning; end in ambush pursue lose; (see note) followed waited bolt from a crossbow sharpened Wounded; arbalest stop Through which; remedy healing; (t-note) Boccaccio; (see note) head gave no more; (see note) grew; deadly; (see note) Slain; before armor plate drawbridge Surrounded; combatants accidentally; (t-note) frowned truth zenith; (t-note) waves cruel Source (Root); discord without haste Singly; battle near impressed His; noticed in return burned envenomed by unnatural furious keenly sharpened for the occasion at once armor plates, chain mail; (see note) Pierced; smote; to the ground Flow (see note) warhorse to remove his armor out of fragment of a spear; (t-note) stood above savage origin sharp without warning Who; angry slain; (t-note) then; defeated shawm (musical instrument); (t-note) on the outside; doubt In despair; (t-note) perished enemies armor plate; chain mail shot off more hideous cross bows; (see note) cruel angry against; (t-note) see thrust visers aiming; face; (t-note) metal rings Cut; throat pieces light coat of armor keenly sharpened mail; obstacle stabbed to the heart sighs yielded region assault; (see note) Slain side if; deceive; (see note) unfortunate Titan (the sun) passed to the west scarcely Those bars; made cut Returned misfortune following duties slain (t-note) embossed ill-fortuned lament remedy barren; (see note) (t-note) knighthood; (t-note) because Unless; leader; (t-note) commoners governance Chosen; (see note) everyone; (see note) delay right; (t-note) choice; (t-note) allegiance pledged every one in return; enemies maintain substance tell fortune happened trouble known nearby (see note) if declare gloomy before undertake these barefoot covered their faces chariots riding horses; or wretched intended sadness marred; complexion; (t-note) (see note) faithful women At once gathered behavior In my judgment; marvelous or two deceive seldom if dilute wines mixed; alloys (impurities) proofs cease where indigo blue (t-note) proceeded; immediately At his side; (t-note) Toward; together enclosed trickling down pierced break Their agonies; bitter bear (see note) (t-note) (t-note) treachery nor burned sorrowful and ill-content sorrow torn (see note) Clemency knights Returned led Hippolyta these; did; see Who fainting (t-note) if; wish acted If Deptford; (see note) (see note) pity understood dismounted seized describes wholly delay who slew (see note) Before picks; hammers their overwhelmed relieve; (t-note) mournful; appearance happened to them before razed; burned one after another laid relief; sorrow bones; who; (see note) (see note) rituals gums burned as incense for relief; (t-note) frankincense, myrrh; aloes bear pale in appearance describe funeral games oiled pull wished; to take pity generosity to show again Divided left laurel (t-note) (see note) beginning I agreed to tell grey hair (see note) Except; write old shortened once the time is determined reckoned (see note) Before; building (t-note) sad strife; conflict; (see note) unfavorable star either; cause (see note) remedy level (t-note) detriment; either together Wish to arrange; double face Bellona (goddess of war); chariot; (see note) Beforehand Without deliberation knows loses neither; perceives must Despite their wishes, experience punish tell (see note) began companions cockle sown; (see note) scarcely Is envious source; contend beginning (t-note) trouble one; say Everyone bears The beginning; as witness beginning learned by conflict prohibited sharpened; (t-note) coat of mail; (see note) Again (see note) (see note) chose end here correction; (t-note) hence