#  7.6 The Monk's Prologue and Tale 

 



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## **The Prologue of the Monk's Tale**

***The murye Wordes of the Hoost to the Monk.***  
The merry words of the Host to the Monk.

1889  **Whan ended was my tale of Melibee,**  
 When ended was my tale of Melibee,  
1890  **And of Prudence and hire benignytee,**  
 And of Prudence and her goodness,  
1891  **Oure Hooste seyde, "As I am feithful man,**  
 Our Host said, "On my faith,  
1892  **And by that precious corpus Madrian,**  
 And by that precious body of Madrian,  
1893  **I hadde levere than a barel ale**  
 (I swear that) I had rather than have a barrel of ale  
1894  **That Goodelief, my wyf, hadde herd this tale!**  
 That Goodelief, my wife, had heard this tale!  
1895  **For she nys no thyng of swich pacience**  
 For she is in no way of such patience  
1896  **As was this Melibeus wyf Prudence.**  
 As was this Melibeus' wife Prudence.  
1897  **By Goddes bones, whan I bete my knaves,**  
 By God's bones, when I beat my knaves,  
1898  **She bryngeth me forth the grete clobbed staves,**  
 She brings me forth the great knobby clubs,  
1899  **And crieth, `Slee the dogges everichoon,**  
 And cries, `Slay the dogs every one  
1900  **And brek hem, bothe bak and every boon!'**  
 And break them, both back and every bone!'

1901  **"And if that any neighebor of myne**  
 "And if any neighbor of mine  
1902  **Wol nat in chirche to my wyf enclyne,**  
 Will not in church bow to my wife,  
1903  **Or be so hardy to hire to trespace,**  
 Or be so bold as to offend her,  
1904  **Whan she comth hoom she rampeth in my face,**  
 When she comes home she shakes her fists in my face,  
1905  **And crieth, `False coward, wrek thy wyf!**  
 And cries, `False coward, avenge thy wife!  
1906  **By corpus bones, I wol have thy knyf,**  
 By God's bones, I will have thy knife,  
1907  **And thou shalt have my distaf and go spynne!'**  
 And thou shalt have my spinning staff and go spin!'  
1908  **Fro day to nyght right thus she wol bigynne.**  
 From daybreak to nightfall right thus she will begin.  
1909  **`Allas,' she seith, `that evere I was shape**  
 `Alas,' she says, `that ever I was created  
1910  **To wedden a milksop, or a coward ape,**  
 To wed a milksop, or a coward ape,  
1911  **That wol been overlad with every wight!**  
 That will be browbeaten by every body!  
1912  **Thou darst nat stonden by thy wyves right!'**  
 Thou darest not defend thy wife's right!'

1913  **"This is my lif, but if that I wol fighte;**  
 "This is my life, unless I will fight;  
1914  **And out at dore anon I moot me dighte,**  
 And out at door immediately I must hasten myself,  
1915  **Or elles I am but lost, but if that I**  
 Or else I am as good as lost, unless I  
1916  **Be lik a wilde leoun, fool-hardy.**  
 Be like a wild lion, fool-hardy.  
1917  **I woot wel she wol do me slee som day**  
 I know well some day she will make me slay   
1918  **Som neighebor, and thanne go my way;**  
 Some neighbor, and then be on the run;   
1919  **For I am perilous with knyf in honde,**  
 For I am perilous with knife in hand,  
1920  **Al be it that I dar nat hire withstonde,**  
 Albeit that I dare not stand up to her,  
1921  **For she is byg in armes, by my feith:**  
 For she is strong in fighting, by my faith:  
1922  **That shal he fynde that hire mysdooth or seith --**  
 That shall he find that does or says something amiss to her --   
1923  **But lat us passe awey fro this mateere.**  
 But let us pass away from this matter.

1924  **"My lord, the Monk," quod he, "be myrie of cheere,**  
 "My lord, the Monk," said he, "cheer up,  
1925  **For ye shul telle a tale trewely.**  
 For you must tell a tale truly.  
1926  **Loo, Rouchestre stant heer faste by!**  
 Lo, Rochester stands here near by!  
1927  **Ryde forth, myn owene lord, brek nat oure game.**  
 Ride forth, my own lord, do not interrupt our game.  
1928  **But, by my trouthe, I knowe nat youre name.**  
 But, by my pledged word, I know not your name.  
1929  **Wher shal I calle yow my lord daun John,**  
 Which shall I call you -- my lord Don John,  
1930  **Or daun Thomas, or elles daun Albon?**  
 Or Don Thomas, or else Don Albon?  
1931  **Of what hous be ye, by youre fader kyn?**  
 Of what monastic order are you, by your father's kin?  
1932  **I vowe to God, thou hast a ful fair skyn;**  
 I vow to God, thou hast a very handsome complexion;  
1933  **It is a gentil pasture ther thow goost.**  
 It is a noble pasture where thou goest to eat.  
1934  **Thou art nat lyk a penant or a goost:**  
 Thou art not like a penitent or a ghost:  
1935  **Upon my feith, thou art som officer,**  
 Upon my faith, thou art some officer,  
1936  **Som worthy sexteyn, or som celerer,**  
 Some worthy sexton, or some provisioner,   
1937  **For by my fader soule, as to my doom,**  
 For by my father's soul, according to my judgment,  
1938  **Thou art a maister whan thou art at hoom;**  
 Thou art a master when thou art at home;  
1939  **No povre cloysterer, ne no novys,**  
 No poor cloistered monk, nor no novice,  
1940  **But a governour, wily and wys,**  
 But a governor, wily and wise,  
1941  **And therwithal of brawnes and of bones**  
 And, in addition to that, of muscles and of bones  
1942  **A wel farynge persone for the nones.**  
 A very handsome person indeed.  
1943  **I pray to God, yeve hym confusioun**  
 I pray to God, give him ruination  
1944  **That first thee broghte unto religioun!**  
 Who first brought thee unto the monastic life!  
1945  **Thou woldest han been a tredefowel aright.**  
 Thou wouldest have been a chicken-copulator indeed,  
1946  **Haddestow as greet a leeve as thou hast myght**  
 If thou haddest as much permission as thou hast power  
1947  **To parfourne al thy lust in engendrure,**  
 To perform all thy desire in procreation,  
1948  **Thou haddest bigeten ful many a creature.**  
 Thou would have begotten very many a creature.  
1949  **Allas, why werestow so wyd a cope?**  
 Alas, why wearest thou so wide a cope?  
1950  **God yeve me sorwe, but, and I were a pope,**  
 God give me sorrow, unless, if I were a pope,  
1951  **Nat oonly thou, but every myghty man,**  
 Not only thou, but every mighty man,  
1952  **Though he were shorn ful hye upon his pan,**  
 Though he had a tonsure very prominently upon his head,  
1953  **Sholde have a wyf; for al the world is lorn!**  
 Should have a wife; for all the world is lost!  
1954  **Religioun hath take up al the corn**  
 Religion has taken up all the best  
1955  **Of tredyng, and we borel men been shrympes.**  
 At copulating, and we laymen are shrimps.  
1956  **Of fieble trees ther comen wrecched ympes.**  
 Of feeble trees there come weak offshoots.  
1957  **This maketh that oure heires been so sklendre**  
 This makes our heirs to be so scrawny  
1958  **And feble that they may nat wel engendre.**  
 And feeble that they can not well beget children.  
1959  **This maketh that oure wyves wole assaye**  
 This makes it that our wives want to try out  
1960  **Religious folk, for ye mowe bettre paye**  
 Folk in holy orders, for you can better pay  
1961  **Of Venus paiementz than mowe we;**  
 Venus' payments than we can;  
1962  **God woot, no lussheburghes payen ye!**  
 God knows, you pay with no inferior coins!  
1963  **But be nat wrooth, my lord, though that I pleye.**  
 But be not angry, my lord, though I am joking.  
1964  **Ful ofte in game a sooth I have herd seye!"**  
 Very often I have heard a truth said in jest!"

1965  **This worthy Monk took al in pacience,**  
 This worthy Monk took all in patience,  
1966  **And seyde, "I wol doon al my diligence,**  
 And said, "I will devote all my efforts,  
1967  **As fer as sowneth into honestee,**  
 So far as it is conducive to propriety,  
1968  **To telle yow a tale, or two, or three.**  
 To tell you a tale, or two, or three.  
1969  **And if yow list to herkne hyderward,**  
 And if you desire to listen to me,  
1970  **I wol yow seyn the lyf of Seint Edward;**  
 I will tell you the life of Saint Edward;  
1971  **Or ellis, first, tragedies wol I telle,**  
 Or else, first, I will tell tragedies,  
1972  **Of whiche I have an hundred in my celle.**  
 Of which I have a hundred in my cell.  
1973  **Tragedie is to seyn a certeyn storie,**  
 Tragedy means a true narrative,  
1974  **As olde bookes maken us memorie,**  
 As old books make us remember,   
1975  **Of hym that stood in greet prosperitee,**  
 Of one who stood in great prosperity,   
1976  **And is yfallen out of heigh degree**  
 And is fallen out of high degree  
1977  **Into myserie, and endeth wrecchedly.**  
 Into misery, and ends wretchedly.  
1978  **And they ben versified communely**  
 And ordinarily they are in verses  
1979  **Of six feet, which men clepen exametron.**  
 Of six feet, which men call hexameters.  
1980  **In prose eek been endited many oon,**  
 Many are also composed in prose,  
1981  **And eek in meetre in many a sondry wyse.**  
 And also in meters of many and various sorts.  
1982  **Lo, this declaryng oghte ynogh suffise.**  
 Lo, this explanation ought to suffice enough.

1983  **"Now herkneth, if yow liketh for to heere.**  
 "Now hearken, if it pleases you to hear.  
1984  **But first I yow biseeke in this mateere,**  
 But first I beseech you in this matter,  
1985  **Though I by ordre telle nat thise thynges,**  
 Though I do not tell these things in chronological order,  
1986  **Be it of popes, emperours, or kynges,**  
 Be it of popes, emperors, or kings,  
1987  **After hir ages, as men writen fynde,**  
 According to their times, as men find written,  
1988  **But tellen hem som bifore and som bihynde,**  
 But tell some of them before and some behind,  
1989  **As it now comth unto my remembraunce,**  
 As it now comes unto my memory,  
1990  **Have me excused of myn ignoraunce."**  
 Hold me excused for my ignorance."

***Explicit***

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## **The Monk's Tale**

***Heere bigynneth the Monkes Tale***  
Here begins the Monk's Tale  
***De Casibus Virorum Illustrium.***  
Concerning the Fates of Famous Men

1991  **I wol biwaille in manere of tragedie**  
 I will bewail in the manner of tragedy  
1992  **The harm of hem that stoode in heigh degree,**  
 The harm of those who stood in high degree,  
1993  **And fillen so that ther nas no remedie**  
 And fell so that there was no remedy  
1994  **To brynge hem out of hir adversitee.**  
 To bring them out of their adversity.  
1995  **For certein, whan that Fortune list to flee,**  
 For certainly, when Fortune desires to flee,  
1996  **Ther may no man the cours of hire withholde.**  
 No man can withstand her onward movement.  
1997  **Lat no man truste on blynd prosperitee;**  
 Let no man trust on blind prosperity;  
1998  **Be war by thise ensamples trewe and olde.**  
 Take warning from these examples true and old.

 ***Lucifer***

1999  **At Lucifer, though he an angel were**  
 At Lucifer, though he was an angel  
2000  **And nat a man, at hym wol I bigynne.**  
 And not a man, at him will I begin.  
2001  **For though Fortune may noon angel dere,**  
 For though Fortune may harm no angel,  
2002  **From heigh degree yet fel he for his synne**  
 From high degree yet for his sin he fell   
2003  **Doun into helle, where he yet is inne.**  
 Down into hell, in which he is yet.  
2004  **O Lucifer, brightest of angels alle,**  
 O Lucifer, brightest of all angels,  
2005  **Now artow Sathanas, that mayst nat twynne**  
 Now art thou Sathanas, that mayst not depart  
2006  **Out of miserie, in which that thou art falle.**  
 Out of misery, in which thou art fallen.

 ***Adam***

2007  **Loo Adam, in the feeld of Damyssene**  
 Lo Adam, in the field of Damascus  
2008  **With Goddes owene fynger wroght was he,**  
 With God's own finger was he wrought,  
2009  **And nat bigeten of mannes sperme unclene,**  
 And not begotten of man's unclean sperm,  
2010  **And welte al paradys savynge o tree.**  
 And ruled all paradise save for one tree.  
2011  **Hadde nevere worldly man so heigh degree**  
 Had never worldly man so high degree  
2012  **As Adam, til he for mysgovernaunce**  
 As Adam, until he for misconduct  
2013  **Was dryven out of hys hye prosperitee**  
 Was driven out of his high prosperity  
2014  **To labour, and to helle, and to meschaunce.**  
 To labor, and to hell, and to ruin.

 ***Sampson***

2015  **Loo Sampsoun, which that was annunciat**  
 Lo Sampson, whose birth was announced  
2016  **By th'angel longe er his nativitee,**  
 By the angel long before his nativity,  
2017  **And was to God Almyghty consecrat,**  
 And was to God Almighty consecrated,  
2018  **And stood in noblesse whil he myghte see.**  
 And stood in noble estate while he could see.  
2019  **Was nevere swich another as was hee,**  
 There was never such another as was he,  
2020  **To speke of strengthe, and therwith hardynesse;**  
 To speak of strength, and bravery as well;  
2021  **But to his wyves toolde he his secree,**  
 But to his wives he told his secret,  
2022  **Thurgh which he slow hymself for wrecchednesse.**  
 Through which he slew himself for wretchedness.

2023  **Sampsoun, this noble almyghty champioun,**  
 Sampson, this noble almighty champion,  
2024  **Withouten wepen save his handes tweye,**  
 Without any weapon save his two hands,  
2025  **He slow and al torente the leoun,**  
 He slew and tore all to pieces the lion,  
2026  **Toward his weddyng walkynge by the weye.**  
 (While he was) walking toward his wedding by the way.  
2027  **His false wyf koude hym so plese and preye**  
 His false wife could him so please and earnestly plead  
2028  **Til she his conseil knew; and she, untrewe,**  
 Until she knew his secrets; and she, untrue,  
2029  **Unto his foos his conseil gan biwreye,**  
 Unto his foes his secrets did betray,  
2030  **And hym forsook, and took another newe.**  
 And abandoned him, and took another new lover.

2031  **Thre hundred foxes took Sampson for ire,**  
 Three hundred foxes Sampson took for ire,  
2032  **And alle hir tayles he togydre bond,**  
 And all their tails he tied together,  
2033  **And sette the foxes tayles alle on fire,**  
 And set the foxes' tails all on fire,  
2034  **For he on every tayl had knyt a brond;**  
 For he on every tail had tied a torch;  
2035  **And they brende alle the cornes in that lond,**  
 And they burned all the grain crops in that land,  
2036  **And alle hire olyveres, and vynes eke.**  
 And all their olive trees, and vines also.  
2037  **A thousand men he slow eek with his hond,**  
 A thousand men he slew also with his hand,  
2038  **And hadde no wepen but an asses cheke.**  
 And had no weapon but an ass's jawbone.

2039  **Whan they were slayn, so thursted hym that he**  
 When they were slain, he was so thirsty that he  
2040  **Was wel ny lorn, for which he gan to preye**  
 Was well nigh lost, for which he prayed  
2041  **That God wolde on his peyne han some pitee**  
 That God would on his pain have some pity  
2042  **And sende hym drynke, or elles moste he deye;**  
 And send him drink, or else he must die;  
2043  **And of this asses cheke, that was dreye,**  
 And of this ass's jawbone, that was dry,  
2044  **Out of a wang-tooth sprang anon a welle,**  
 Out of a molar sprang right away a well,  
2045  **Of which he drank ynogh, shortly to seye;**  
 Of which he drank enough, shortly to say;  
2046  **Thus heelp hym God, as** ***Judicum*** **can telle.**  
 Thus God helped him, as *The Book of Judges* can tell.

2047  **By verray force at Gazan on a nyght,**  
 By sheer force at Gaza on one night,  
2048  **Maugree Philistiens of that citee,**  
 Despite the Philistines of that city,  
2049  **The gates of the toun he hath up plyght,**  
 The gates of the town he has plucked up,  
2050  **And on his bak ycaryed hem hath hee**  
 And on his back he has carried them  
2051  **Hye on an hill whereas men myghte hem see.**  
 High on a hill where men could see them.  
2052  **O noble, almyghty Sampsoun, lief and deere,**  
 O noble, almighty Sampson, beloved and dear,  
2053  **Had thou nat toold to wommen thy secree,**  
 Had thou not told to women thy secret,  
2054  **In al this world ne hadde been thy peere!**  
 In all this world there had not been thy peer!

2055  **This Sampson nevere ciser drank ne wyn,**  
 This Sampson never drank alcoholic drinks nor wine,  
2056  **Ne on his heed cam rasour noon ne sheere,**  
 Nor on his head came any razor or scissors,  
2057  **By precept of the messager divyn,**  
 By command of the divine messenger,  
2058  **For alle his strengthes in his heeres weere.**  
 For all his powers were in his hair.  
2059  **And fully twenty wynter, yeer by yeere,**  
 And fully twenty winters, year by year,  
2060  **He hadde of Israel the governaunce.**  
 He had the governance of Israel.  
2061  **But soone shal he wepe many a teere,**  
 But soon shall he weep many a tear,  
2062  **For wommen shal hym bryngen to meschaunce!**  
 For women shall bring him to misfortune!

2063  **Unto his lemman Dalida he tolde**  
 Unto his sweetheart Dalilah he told  
2064  **That in his heeris al his strengthe lay,**  
 That all his strength lay in his hair,  
2065  **And falsly to his foomen she hym solde.**  
 And falsely to his foemen she sold him.  
2066  **And slepynge in hir barm upon a day,**  
 And sleeping on her bosom upon one day,  
2067  **She made to clippe or shere his heres away,**  
 She contrived to clip or shear his hair away,  
2068  **And made his foomen al his craft espyen;**  
 And made his foemen know all his craft;   
2069  **And whan that they hym foond in this array,**  
 And when they found him in this condition,  
2070  **They bounde hym faste and putten out his yen.**  
 They bound him securely and put out his eyes.

2071  **But er his heer were clipped or yshave,**  
 But before his hair was clipped or shaven,  
2072  **Ther was no boond with which men myghte him bynde;**  
 There was no bond with which men could bind him;  
2073  **But now is he in prison in a cave,**  
 But now is he in prison in a cave,  
2074  **Where-as they made hym at the queerne grynde.**  
 Where they made him grind at the mill.  
2075  **O noble Sampsoun, strongest of mankynde,**  
 O noble Sampson, strongest of mankind,  
2076  **O whilom juge, in glorie and in richesse!**  
 O formerly judge, in glory and in riches!  
2077  **Now maystow wepen with thyne eyen blynde,**  
 Now mayst thou weep with thy blind eyes,  
2078  **Sith thou fro wele art falle in wrecchednesse.**  
 Since thou from prosperity art fallen into wretchedness.

2079  **The ende of this caytyf was as I shal seye.**  
 The end of this captive was as I shall say.  
2080  **His foomen made a feeste upon a day,**  
 His foemen made a feast upon one day,  
2081  **And made hym as hire fool biforn hem pleye;**  
 And made him as their fool play before them;  
2082  **And this was in a temple of greet array.**  
 And this was in a temple of great magnificence.  
2083  **But atte laste he made a foul affray,**  
 But at the last he made a terrifying assault,  
2084  **For he two pilers shook and made hem falle,**  
 For he shook two pillars and made them fall,  
2085  **And doun fil temple and al, and ther it lay --**  
 And down fell temple and all, and there it lay --  
2086  **And slow hymself, and eek his foomen alle.**  
 And slew himself, and also all his foemen.

2087  **This is to seyn, the prynces everichoon,**  
 This is to say, every one of the princes,  
2088  **And eek thre thousand bodyes, were ther slayn**  
 And also three thousand bodies, were there slain  
2089  **With fallynge of the grete temple of stoon.**  
 By the falling of the great temple of stone.  
2090  **Of Sampson now wol I namoore sayn.**  
 Of Sampson now I will say no more.  
2091  **Beth war by this ensample oold and playn**  
 Beware by this example old and plain   
2092  **That no men telle hir conseil til hir wyves**  
 That no men tell their secrets to their wives  
2093  **Of swich thyng as they wolde han secree fayn,**  
 Of such things as they would earnestly keep secret,  
2094  **If that it touche hir lymes or hir lyves.**  
 If it concerns their limbs or their lives.

 ***Hercules***

2095  **Of Hercules, the sovereyn conquerour,**  
 Of Hercules, the supreme conqueror,  
2096  **Syngen his werkes laude and heigh renoun;**  
 His works sing his praise and high renown;  
2097  **For in his tyme of strengthe he was the flour.**  
 For in his time he was the flower of strength.  
2098  **He slow and rafte the skyn of the leoun;**  
 He slew and tore off the skin of the lion;  
2099  **He of Centauros leyde the boost adoun;**  
 He laid down the boast of the Centaurs;  
2100  **He Arpies slow, the crueel bryddes felle;**  
 He slew the Harpies, the fierce cruel birds;  
2101  **He golden apples rafte of the dragoun;**  
 He seized the golden apples of the dragon;  
2102  **He drow out Cerberus, the hound of helle;**  
 He dragged Cerberus, the hound, out of Hell;

2103  **He slow the crueel tyrant Busirus**  
 He slew the cruel tyrant Busirus  
2104  **And made his hors to frete hym, flessh and boon;**  
 And made his horses eat him, flesh and bone;  
2105  **He slow the firy serpent venymus;**  
 He slew the fiery venomous serpent;  
2106  **Of Acheloys two hornes he brak oon;**  
 He broke one of Achelous' two horns;  
2107  **And he slow Cacus in a cave of stoon;**  
 And he slew Cacus in a cave of stone;  
2108  **He slow the geant Antheus the stronge;**  
 He slew the giant Antheus the strong;  
2109  **He slow the grisly boor, and that anon;**  
 He slew the grisly boar, and that very quickly;  
2110  **And bar the hevene on his nekke longe.**  
 And long bore the heaven on his neck.

2111  **Was nevere wight, sith that this world bigan,**  
 Was never a person, since this world began,  
2112  **That slow so manye monstres as dide he.**  
 That slew as many monsters as did he.  
2113  **Thurghout this wyde world his name ran,**  
 Throughout this wide world his name ran,  
2114  **What for his strengthe and for his heigh bountee,**  
 What for his strength and for his great goodness,  
2115  **And every reawme wente he for to see.**  
 And he went to see every realm.  
2116  **He was so stroong that no man myghte hym lette.**  
 He was so strong that no man could prevent him.  
2117  **At bothe the worldes endes, seith Trophee,**  
 At both ends of the world, says Trophee,  
2118  **In stide of boundes he a pileer sette.**  
 In stead of boundary markers he set a pillar.

2119  **A lemman hadde this noble champioun,**  
 This noble champion had a sweetheart,  
2120  **That highte Dianira, fressh as May;**  
 Who was called Dianira, fresh as May;  
2121  **And as thise clerkes maken mencioun,**  
 And as these clerks make mention,  
2122  **She hath hym sent a sherte, fressh and gay.**  
 She has sent him a shirt, fresh and gay.  
2123  **Allas, this sherte -- allas and weylaway! --**  
 Alas, this shirt -- alas and woe oh woe! --  
2124  **Envenymed was so subtilly withalle**  
 Was so skillfully envenomed indeed  
2125  **That er that he had wered it half a day**  
 That before he had worn it half a day  
2126  **It made his flessh al from his bones falle.**  
 It made all his flesh fall from his bones.

2127  **But nathelees somme clerkes hire excusen**  
 But nonetheless some clerks excuse her  
2128  **By oon that highte Nessus, that it maked.**  
 By one who was called Nessus, who made it.  
2129  **Be as be may, I wol hire noght accusen;**  
 However it may be, I will not accuse her;  
2130  **But on his bak this sherte he wered al naked**  
 But on his back all naked he wore this shirt  
2131  **Til that his flessh was for the venym blaked.**  
 Until his flesh was blackened because of the venom.  
2132  **And whan he saugh noon oother remedye,**  
 And when he saw no other remedy,  
2133  **In hoote coles he hath hymselven raked,**  
 He has himself covered over in hot coals,  
2134  **For with no venym deigned hym to dye.**  
 For with no venom did he deign to die.

2135  **Thus starf this worthy, myghty Hercules.**  
 Thus died this worthy, mighty Hercules.  
2136  **Lo, who may truste on Fortune any throwe?**  
 Lo, who can trust on Fortune for any time?  
2137  **For hym that folweth al this world of prees**  
 For he who follows (the ways of) all this dangerous world  
2138  **Er he be war is ofte yleyd ful lowe.**  
 Before he is aware is often laid very low.  
2139  **Ful wys is he that kan hymselven knowe!**  
 Very wise is he who can know himself!  
2140  **Beth war, for whan that Fortune list to glose,**  
 Be wary, for when Fortune wants to deceive,  
2141  **Thanne wayteth she her man to overthrowe**  
 Then she waits to overthrow her man   
2142  **By swich a wey as he wolde leest suppose.**  
 By such a means as he would least suppose.

 ***Nabugodonosor***   
 \[Nebuchadnessar\]

2143  **The myghty trone, the precious tresor,**  
 The mighty throne, the precious treasure,  
2144  **The glorious ceptre, and roial magestee**  
 The glorious scepter, and royal majesty  
2145  **That hadde the kyng Nabugodonosor**  
 That had the king Nebuchadnessar  
2146  **With tonge unnethe may discryved bee.**  
 With tongue can hardly be described.  
2147  **He twyes wan Jerusalem the citee;**  
 He twice won the city of Jerusalem;  
2148  **The vessel of the temple he with hym ladde.**  
 The vessels of the temple he took with him.  
2149  **At Babiloigne was his sovereyn see,**  
 At Babylon was his sovereign throne,  
2150  **In which his glorie and his delit he hadde.**  
 In which he had his glory and his delight.

2151  **The faireste children of the blood roial**  
 The fairest children of the blood royal  
2152  **Of Israel he leet do gelde anoon,**  
 Of Israel he had gelded indeed,  
2153  **And maked ech of hem to been his thral.**  
 And made each of them to be his slave.  
2154  **Amonges othere Daniel was oon,**  
 Among others Daniel was one,  
2155  **That was the wiseste child of everychon,**  
 Who was the wisest child of them all,  
2156  **For he the dremes of the kyng expowned,**  
 For he expounded the dreams of the king,  
2157  **Whereas in Chaldeye clerk ne was ther noon**  
 Whereas in Chaldea there was no clerk  
2158  **That wiste to what fyn his dremes sowned.**  
 Who knew what his dreams meant.

2159  **This proude kyng leet maken a statue of gold,**  
 This proud king had made a statue of gold,  
2160  **Sixty cubites long and sevene in brede,**  
 Sixty cubits long and seven in breadth,  
2161  **To which ymage bothe yong and oold**  
 To which image both young and old  
2162  **Comanded he to loute, and have in drede,**  
 Commanded he to bow down, and hold in veneration,  
2163  **Or in a fourneys, ful of flambes rede,**  
 Or in a furnace, full of red flames,  
2164  **He shal be brent that wolde noght obeye.**  
 He who would not obey shall be burned.  
2165  **But nevere wolde assente to that dede**  
 But never would assent to (do) that deed  
2166  **Daniel ne his yonge felawes tweye.**  
 Daniel nor his two young fellows.

2167  **This kyng of kynges proud was and elaat;**  
 This king of kings was proud and arrogant;  
2168  **He wende that God, that sit in magestee,**  
 He supposed that God, who sits in majesty,  
2169  **Ne myghte hym nat bireve of his estaat.**  
 Could not deprive him of his estate.  
2170  **But sodeynly he loste his dignytee,**  
 But suddenly he lost his high office,  
2171  **And lyk a beest hym semed for to bee,**  
 And like a beast he seemed to be,  
2172  **And eet hey as an oxe, and lay theroute**  
 And ate hay like an ox, and lay outside  
2173  **In reyn; with wilde beestes walked hee**  
 In rain; with wild beasts walked he  
2174  **Til certein tyme was ycome aboute.**  
 Until a certain number of years had passed.

2175  **And lik an egles fetheres wax his heres;**  
 And his hair grew to be like an eagle's feathers;  
2176  **His nayles lyk a briddes clawes weere;**  
 His nails were like a bird's claws;  
2177  **Til God relessed hym a certeyn yeres,**  
 Until God released him (after) a certain (number of) years,  
2178  **And yaf hym wit, and thanne with many a teere**  
 And gave him back his wits, and then with many a tear  
2179  **He thanked God, and evere his lyf in feere**  
 He thanked God, and always in his life in fear  
2180  **Was he to doon amys or moore trespace;**  
 Was he to do amiss or again trespass;  
2181  **And til that tyme he leyd was on his beere**  
 And until that time he was laid on his bier  
2182  **He knew that God was ful of myght and grace.**  
 He knew that God was full of might and grace.

 ***Balthasar***  
 **\[Belshazzar\]**

2183  **His sone, which that highte Balthasar,**  
 His son, who was called Belshazzar,  
2184  **That heeld the regne after his fader day,**  
 Who held the reign after his father's day,  
2185  **He by his fader koude noght be war,**  
 He by (the example of) his father could not be warned,  
2186  **For proud he was of herte and of array,**  
 For he was proud of heart and of behavior,  
2187  **And eek an ydolastre was he ay.**  
 And also he was always an idolater.  
2188  **His hye estaat assured hym in pryde;**  
 His high estate made him confident in pride;  
2189  **But Fortune caste hym doun, and ther he lay,**  
 But Fortune cast him down, and there he lay,  
2190  **And sodeynly his regne gan divide.**  
 And suddenly his reign began to break apart.

2191  **A feeste he made unto his lordes alle**  
 A feast he made for all his lords  
2192  **Upon a tyme and bad hem blithe bee;**  
 Upon a time and bade them be happy;  
2193  **And thanne his officeres gan he calle:**  
 And then his officers he did call:  
2194  **"Gooth, bryngeth forth the vesseles," quod he,**  
 "Go, bring forth the vessels," said he,  
2195  **"Whiche that my fader in his prosperitee**  
 "Which my father in his flourishing time  
2196  **Out of the temple of Jerusalem birafte;**  
 Robbed out of the temple of Jerusalem;  
2197  **And to oure hye goddes thanke we**  
 And to our high gods we give thanks   
2198  **Of honour that oure eldres with us lafte."**  
 For the honor that our elders left with us."

2199  **Hys wyf, his lordes, and his concubynes**  
 His wife, his lords, and his concubines  
2200  **Ay dronken, whil hire appetites laste,**  
 Always drank, while their appetites lasted  
2201  **Out of thise noble vessels sondry wynes.**  
 Various wines out of these noble vessels.  
2202  **And on a wal this kyng his eyen caste**  
 And on a wall this king cast his eyes   
2203  **And saugh an hand, armlees, that wroot ful faste,**  
 And saw a hand, armless, that wrote very fast,  
2204  **For feere of which he quook and siked soore.**  
 For fear of which he quaked and sighed deeply.  
2205  **This hand that Balthasar so soore agaste**  
 This hand that so deeply terrified Belshazzar   
2206  **Wroot Mane, techel, phares, and namoore.**  
 Wrote *Mane*, *techel*, *phare*s, and no more.

2207  **In all that land magicien was noon**  
 In all that land was no magician  
2208  **That koude expoune what this lettre mente;**  
 Who could explain what this text meant;  
2209  **But Daniel expowned it anoon,**  
 But Daniel explained it right away,  
2210  **And seyde, "Kyng, God to thy fader lente**  
 And said, "King, God to thy father lent  
2211  **Glorie and honour, regne, tresour, rente;**  
 Glory and honor, reign, treasure, income;  
2212  **And he was proud and nothyng God ne dradde,**  
 And he was proud and not at all dreaded God,  
2213  **And therfore God greet wreche upon hym sente,**  
 And therefore God sent great vengeance upon him,  
2214  **And hym birafte the regne that he hadde.**  
 And took away from him the reign that he had.

2215  **"He was out cast of mannes compaignye;**  
 "He was cast out of man's company;  
2216  **With asses was his habitacioun,**  
 With asses was his habitation,  
2217  **And eet hey as a beest in weet and drye**  
 And ate hay as a beast in wet (weather) and dry  
2218  **Til that he knew, by grace and by resoun,**  
 Until he knew, by grace and by reason,  
2219  **That God of hevene hath domynacioun**  
 That God of heaven has domination  
2220  **Over every regne and every creature;**  
 Over every reign and every creature;  
2221  **And thanne hadde God of hym compassioun,**  
 And then had God on him compassion,  
2222  **And hym restored his regne and his figure.**  
 And to him restored his reign and his bodily form.

2223  **"Eek thou, that art his sone, art proud also,**  
 "Also thou, who art his son, art proud also,  
2224  **And knowest alle thise thynges verraily,**  
 And knowest all these things truly,  
2225  **And art rebel to God, and art his foo.**  
 And art rebel to God, and art his foe.  
2226  **Thou drank eek of his vessels boldely;**  
 Thou drank also of his vessels boldly;  
2227  **Thy wyf eek, and thy wenches, synfully**  
 Thy wife also, and thy wenches, sinfully  
2228  **Dronke of the same vessels sondry wynys;**  
 Drank of the same vessels various wines;  
2229  **And heryest false goddes cursedly;**  
 And worship false gods cursedly;  
2230  **Therefore to thee yshapen ful greet pyne ys.**  
 Therefore to thee is ordained very great pain.

2231  **"This hand was sent from God that on the wal**  
 "This hand was sent from God that on the wall  
2232  **Wroot Mane, techel, phares, truste me;**  
 Wrote *Mane*, *techel*, *pares*, trust me;  
2233  **Thy regne is doon; thou weyest noght at al.**  
 Thy reign is done; thou art of no account at all.  
2234  **Dyvyded is thy regne, and it shal be**  
 Broken up is thy kingdom, and it shall be  
2235  **To Medes and to Perses yeven," quod he.**  
 Given to Medes and to Persians," said he.  
2236  **And thilke same nyght this kyng was slawe,**  
 And that same night this king was slain,  
2237  **And Darius occupieth his degree,**  
 And Darius occupies his throne,  
2238  **Thogh he therto hadde neither right ne lawe.**  
 Though for this he had neither right nor law.

2239  **Lordynges, ensample heerby may ye take**  
 Gentlemen, example may you take from this  
2240  **How that in lordshipe is no sikernesse,**  
 How in lordship is no security,  
2241  **For whan Fortune wole a man forsake,**  
 For when Fortune will forsake a man,  
2242  **She bereth awey his regne and his richesse,**  
 She bears away his reign and his riches,  
2243  **And eek his freendes, bothe moore and lesse.**  
 And also his friends, both high ranking and low.  
2244  **For what man that hath freendes thurgh Fortune,**  
 For whatever man who has friends because of Fortune,  
2245  **Mishap wol maken hem enemys, I gesse;**  
 Misfortune will make them enemies, I believe;  
2246  **This proverbe is ful sooth and ful commune.**  
 This proverb is very true and very common.

 ***Cenobia***  
 \[Zenobia\]

2247  **Cenobia, of Palymerie queene,**  
 Zenobia, of Palmyra queen,  
2248  **As writen Persiens of hir noblesse,**  
 As Persians write of her nobility,  
2249  **So worthy was in armes and so keene**  
 So worthy was in arms and so fierce  
2250  **That no wight passed hire in hardynesse,**  
 That no person passed her in boldness,  
2251  **Ne in lynage, ne in oother gentillesse.**  
 Nor in lineage, nor in other noble traits.  
2252  **Of kynges blood of Perce is she descended.**  
 Of the blood of kings of Persia is she descended.  
2253  **I seye nat that she hadde moost fairnesse,**  
 I say not that she had most beauty,  
2254  **But of hir shap she myghte nat been amended.**  
 But of her shape she could not be improved.

2255  **From hire childhede I fynde that she fledde**  
 From her childhood I find that she fled  
2256  **Office of wommen, and to wode she wente,**  
 Duties of women, and to the woods she went,  
2257  **And many a wilde hertes blood she shedde**  
 And many a wild hart's blood she shed  
2258  **With arwes brode that she to hem sente.**  
 With broad-headed arrows that she to them sent.  
2259  **She was so swift that she anon hem hente;**  
 She was so swift that she quickly seized them;  
2260  **And whan that she was elder, she wolde kille**  
 And when she was older, she would kill  
2261  **Leouns, leopardes, and beres al torente,**  
 Lions, leopards, and bears all torn to pieces,  
2262  **And in hir armes weelde hem at hir wille.**  
 And in her arms handled them at her will.

2263  **She dorste wilde beestes dennes seke,**  
 She dared to seek wild beasts' dens,  
2264  **And rennen in the montaignes al the nyght,**  
 And to run in the mountains all the night,  
2265  **And slepen under a bussh, and she koude eke**  
 And to sleep under a bush, and she could also  
2266  **Wrastlen, by verray force and verray myght,**  
 Wrestle, by sheer force and sheer strength,  
2267  **With any yong man, were he never so wight.**  
 With any young man, were he never so strong.  
2268  **Ther myghte no thyng in hir armes stonde.**  
 There might no thing withstand her arms.  
2269  **She kepte hir maydenhod from every wight;**  
 She kept her maidenhead from every person;  
2270  **To no man deigned hire for to be bonde.**  
 She disdained to be bound to no man.

2271  **But atte laste hir freendes han hire maried**  
 But at the last her friends have married her  
2272  **To Odenake, a prynce of that contree,**  
 To Odenake, a prince of that country,  
2273  **Al were it so that she hem longe taried.**  
 Although it was so that she long delayed them.  
2274  **And ye shul understonde how that he**  
 And you must understand that he  
2275  **Hadde swiche fantasies as hadde she.**  
 Had such fantasies as had she.  
2276  **But natheless, whan they were knyt in-feere,**  
 But nonetheless, when they were knit together,  
2277  **They lyved in joye and in felicitee,**  
 They lived in joy and in felicity,  
2278  **For ech of hem hadde oother lief and deere,**  
 For each of them held the other beloved and dear,

2279  **Save o thyng: that she wolde nevere assente,**  
 Save one thing: that she would never assent,  
2280  **By no wey, that he sholde by hire lye**  
 In any way, that he should by her lie  
2281  **But ones, for it was hir pleyn entente**  
 But once, for it was her full intention  
2282  **To have a child, the world to multiplye;**  
 To have a child, the world to multiply;  
2283  **And also soone as that she myghte espye**  
 And as soon as she could see  
2284  **That she was nat with childe with that dede,**  
 That she was not with child by means of that deed,  
2285  **Thanne wolde she suffre hym doon his fantasye**  
 Then would she allow him to do his desires  
2286  **Eft-soone, and nat but oones, out of drede.**  
 Again, and only but once, no doubt.

2287  **And if she were with childe at thilke cast,**  
 And if she were with childe at that time,  
2288  **Namoore sholde he pleyen thilke game**  
 No more should he play that same game  
2289  **Til fully fourty \[wikes\] weren past;**  
 Until fully forty \[weeks\] were past;  
2290  **Thanne wolde she ones suffre hym do the same.**  
 Then would she once allow him to do the same.  
2291  **Al were this Odenake wilde or tame,**  
 Even if this Odenake were wild or tame,  
2292  **He gat namoore of hire, for thus she seyde:**  
 He got no more of her, for thus she said:  
2293  **It was to wyves lecherie and shame,**  
 It was to wives lechery and shame,  
2294  **In oother caas, if that men with hem pleyde.**  
 In any other case, if men had sexual relations with them.

2295  **Two sones by this Odenake hadde she,**  
 Two sons by this Odenake had she,  
2296  **The whiche she kepte in vertu and lettrure.**  
 Whom she kept in virtue and learning.  
2297  **But now unto oure tale turne we.**  
 But now unto our tale we turn.  
2298  **I seye, so worshipful a creature,**  
 I say, so worshipful a creature,  
2299  **And wys therwith, and large with mesure,**  
 And wise also, and generous in moderation,  
2300  **So penyble in the werre, and curteis eke,**  
 So assiduous in the war, and courtly also,  
2301  **Ne moore labour myghte in werre endure,**  
 Nor more labor could in war endure,  
2302  **Was noon, though al this world men sholde seke.**  
 Was none, though through all this world men should seek.

2303  **Hir riche array ne myghte nat be told,**  
 Her rich furnishings could not be told,  
2304  **As wel in vessel as in hire clothyng.**  
 As well in utensils as in her clothing.  
2305  **She was al clad in perree and in gold,**  
 She was all clad in precious stones and in gold,  
2306  **And eek she lafte noght, for noon huntyng,**  
 And also she did not neglect, for any hunting,  
2307  **To have of sondry tonges ful knowyng,**  
 To have of various tongues full knowing,  
2308  **Whan that she leyser hadde; and for to entende**  
 When she had leisure; and to endeavor  
2309  **To lerne bookes was al hire likyng,**  
 To learn books was all her desire,  
2310  **How she in vertu myghte hir lyf dispende.**  
 How she in virtue might spend her life.

2311  **And shortly of this storie for to trete,**  
 And shortly of this history to treat,  
2312  **So doghty was hir housbonde and eek she,**  
 So doughty was her husband and also she,  
2313  **That they conquered manye regnes grete**  
 That they conquered many great realms  
2314  **In the orient, with many a fair citee**  
 In the orient, with many a fair city  
2315  **Apertenaunt unto the magestee**  
 Belonging unto the majesty  
2316  **Of Rome, and with strong hond held hem ful faste,**  
 Of Rome, and with strong hand held them very tightly,  
2317  **Ne nevere myghte hir foomen doon hem flee,**  
 Nor never could their foemen make them flee,  
2318  **Ay whil that Odenakes dayes laste.**  
 Always while Odenake's days lasted.

2319  **Hir batailles, whoso list hem for to rede,**  
 Their battles, whoever may wish to read them,  
2320  **Agayn Sapor the kyng and othere mo,**  
 Against Shapur the king and many others,  
2321  **And how that al this proces fil in dede,**  
 And how all this business happened in actuality,   
2322  **Why she conquered and what title had therto,**  
 Why she conquered and what legal claim she had to it,  
2323  **And after, of hir meschief and hire wo,**  
 And after, of her troubles and her woe,  
2324  **How that she was biseged and ytake --**  
 How she was besieged and taken --  
2325  **Lat hym unto my maister Petrak go,**  
 Let him unto my master Petrarch go,  
2326  **That writ ynough of this, I undertake.**  
 Who wrote at length about this, I guarantee.

2327  **Whan Odenake was deed, she myghtily**  
 When Odenake was dead, she mightily  
2328  **The regnes heeld, and with hire propre hond**  
 Defended the country, and with her own hand  
2329  **Agayn hir foos she faught so cruelly**  
 Against her foes she fought so cruelly  
2330  **That ther nas kyng ne prynce in al that lond**  
 That there was no king nor prince in all that land  
2331  **That he nas glad, if he that grace fond,**  
 That he was not glad, if he found such grace,  
2332  **That she ne wolde upon his lond werreye.**  
 That she would not make war upon his land.  
2333  **With hire they maden alliance by bond**  
 With her they made alliance by covenant   
2334  **To been in pees, and lete hire ride and pleye.**  
 To be in peace, and let her ride about and enjoy herself.

2335  **The Emperour of Rome, Claudius**  
 The Emperor of Rome, Claudius  
2336  **Ne hym bifore, the Romayn Galien,**  
 Nor, before him, the Roman Galien,  
2337  **Ne dorste nevere been so corageus,**  
 Dared never be so courageous  
2338  **Ne noon Ermyn, ne noon Egipcien,**  
 Nor any Armenian, nor any Egyptian,  
2339  **Ne Surrien, ne noon Arabyen,**  
 Nor Syrian, nor any Arabian,  
2340  **Withinne the feeld that dorste with hire fighte,**  
 Within the field that dared fight with her,  
2341  **Lest that she wolde hem with hir handes slen,**  
 Lest she would slay them with her hands,  
2342  **Or with hir meignee putten hem to flighte.**  
 Or with her troop put them to flight.

2343  **In kynges habit wente hir sones two,**  
 In kings' clothing went her two sons,  
2344  **As heires of hir fadres regnes alle,**  
 As heirs of all their father's reigns,  
2345  **And Hermanno and Thymalao**  
 And Hermanno and Thymalao  
2346  **Hir names were, as Persiens hem calle.**  
 Their names were, as Persians call them.  
2347  **But ay Fortune hath in hire hony galle;**  
 But always Fortune has bitterness in her honey;  
2348  **This myghty queene may no while endure.**  
 This mighty queen can no longer endure.  
2349  **Fortune out of hir regne made hire falle**  
 Fortune out of her reign made her fall  
2350  **To wrecchednesse and to mysaventure.**  
 To wretchedness and to misfortune.

2351  **Aurelian, whan that the governaunce**  
 Aurelian, when the governance  
2352  **Of Rome cam into his handes tweye,**  
 Of Rome came into his two hands,  
2353  **He shoop upon this queene to doon vengeaunce.**  
 He prepared to do vengeance upon this queen.  
2354  **And with his legions he took his weye**  
 And with his legions he took his way  
2355  **Toward Cenobie, and shortly for to seye,**  
 Toward Zenobia, and shortly to say,  
2356  **He made hire flee, and atte laste hire hente,**  
 He made her flee, and at the last seized her,  
2357  **And fettred hire, and eek hire children tweye,**  
 And put her in fetters, and also her two children,  
2358  **And wan the land, and hoom to Rome he wente.**  
 And won the land, and home to Rome he went.

2359  **Amonges othere thynges that he wan,**  
 Amongst other things that he won,  
2360  **Hir chaar, that was with gold wroght and perree,**  
 Her chariot, that was wrought with gold and precious stones,  
2361  **This grete Romayn, this Aurelian,**  
 This great Roman, this Aurelian,  
2362  **Hath with hym lad, for that men sholde it see.**  
 Has with him led, so that men should see it.  
2363  **Biforen his triumphe walketh shee,**  
 Before his triumphal procession she walks,  
2364  **With gilte cheynes on hire nekke hangynge.**  
 With gilded chains hanging on her neck.  
2365  **Coroned was she, as after hir degree,**  
 Crowned was she, in accord with her rank,  
2366  **And ful of perree charged hire clothynge.**  
 And her clothing loaded full of precious stones.

2367  **Allas, Fortune! She that whilom was**  
 Alas, Fortune! She that formerly was  
2368  **Dredeful to kynges and to emperoures,**  
 Fearsome to kings and to emperors,  
2369  **Now gaureth al the peple on hire, allas!**  
 Now all the people stare on her, alas!  
2370  **And she that helmed was in starke stoures**  
 And she who wore helmets in violent battles  
2371  **And wan by force townes stronge and toures,**  
 And won by force strong towns and towers,  
2372  **Shal on hir heed now were a vitremyte;**  
 Shall on her head now wear a woman's headdress;  
2373  **And she that bar the ceptre ful of floures**  
 And she that bore the scepter full of flowers  
2374  **Shal bere a distaf, hire cost for to quyte.**  
 Shall bear a spinning staff, to pay for her living costs.

 ***De Petro Rege Ispannie***  
 \[Concerning Pedro King of Castille\]

2375  **O noble, O worthy Petro, glorie of Spayne,**  
 O noble, O worthy Pedro, glory of Spain,  
2376  **Whom Fortune heeld so hye in magestee,**  
 Whom Fortune held so high in majesty,  
2377  **Wel oghten men thy pitous deeth complayne!**  
 Well ought men complain of thy piteous death!  
2378  **Out of thy land thy brother made thee flee,**  
 Out of thy land thy brother made thee flee,  
2379  **And after, at a seege, by subtiltee,**  
 And after, at a siege, by trickery,  
2380  **Thou were bitraysed and lad unto his tente,**  
 Thou were betrayed and led unto his tent,  
2381  **Where as he with his owene hand slow thee,**  
 Where he with his own hand slew thee,  
2382  **Succedynge in thy regne and in thy rente.**  
 Succeeding to thy reign and to thy income.

2383  **The feeld of snow, with th' egle of blak therinne,**  
 The field of snow, with the eagle of black therein,  
2384  **Caught with the lymrod coloured as the gleede,**  
 Caught by the bird-lime on a rod colored like the burning coal,  
2385  **He brew this cursednesse and al this synne.**  
 He brewed this cursedness and all this sin.  
2386  **The wikked nest was werker of this nede.**  
 The wicked nest was worker of this violent act.  
2387  **Noght Charles Olyver, that took ay heede**  
 Not Charlemagne's Oliver, who always took heed  
2388  **Of trouthe and honour, but of Armorike**  
 Of truth and honor, but of Armorica  
2389  **Genylon-Olyver, corrupt for meede,**  
 Ganelon-Oliver, corrupt for a bribe,  
2390  **Broghte this worthy kyng in swich a brike.**  
 Brought this worthy king into such a plight.

 ***De Petro Rege de Cipro***  
 \[Concerning Pierre de Lusignan, King of Cyprus\]

2391  **O worthy Petro, kyng of Cipre, also,**  
 O worthy Pierre, king of Cyprus, also,  
2392  **That Alisandre wan by heigh maistrie,**  
 Who won Alexandria by great strength,  
2393  **Ful many an hethen wroghtestow ful wo,**  
 To very many a heathen thou wroughtest great woe,  
2394  **Of which thyne owene liges hadde envie,**  
 Of which thine own lieges had envy,  
2395  **And for no thyng but for thy chivalrie**  
 And for no thing but for thy chivalry  
2396  **They in thy bed han slayn thee by the morwe.**  
 They in thy bed have slain thee in the morning.  
2397  **Thus kan Fortune hir wheel governe and gye,**  
 Thus can Fortune govern and guide her wheel,  
2398  **And out of joye brynge men to sorwe.**  
 And out of joy bring men to sorrow.

 ***De Barnabo de Lumbardia***  
 \[Concerning Bernabo Visconti of Lombardy\]

2399  **Off Melan grete Barnabo Viscounte,**  
 Great Bernabo Viscounti of Milan,  
2400  **God of delit and scourge of Lumbardye,**  
 God of delight and scourge of Lombardy,  
2401  **Why sholde I nat thyn infortune acounte,**  
 Why should I not thy misfortune recount,  
2402  **Sith in estaat thow cloumbe were so hye?**  
 Since in rank thou had climbed so high?  
2403  **Thy brother sone, that was thy double allye,**  
 Thy brother's son, who was thy double kinsman,  
2404  **For he thy nevew was and sone-in-lawe,**  
 For he was thy nephew and son-in-law,  
2405  **Withinne his prisoun made thee to dye --**  
 Within his prison made thee to die --  
2406  **But why ne how noot I that thou were slawe.**  
 But why nor how thou were slain I know not.

 ***De Hugelino Comite de Pize***  
 \[Concerning Ugolino, Earl of Pisa\]

2407  **Off the Erl Hugelyn of Pyze the langour**  
 Of the anguish of Earl Ugolino of Pisa   
2408  **Ther may no tonge telle for pitee.**  
 There can no tongue tell for pity.  
2409  **But litel out of Pize stant a tour,**  
 But a little way out of Pisa stands a tower,  
2410  **In which tour in prisoun put was he,**  
 In which tower in prison he was put,  
2411  **And with hym been his litel children thre;**  
 And with him are his three little children;  
2412  **The eldest scarsly fyf yeer was of age.**  
 The eldest was scarcely five years of age.  
2413  **Allas, Fortune, it was greet crueltee**  
 Alas, Fortune, it was great cruelty  
2414  **Swiche briddes for to putte in swich a cage!**  
 To put such birds in such a cage!

2415  **Dampned was he to dyen in that prisoun,**  
 He was damned to die in that prison,  
2416  **For Roger, which that bisshop was of Pize,**  
 For Roger, who was bishop of Pisa,  
2417  **Hadde on hym maad a fals suggestioun,**  
 Had on him made a false accusation,  
2418  **Thurgh which the peple gan upon hym rise**  
 Through which the people did rise against him  
2419  **And putten hym to prisoun in swich wise**  
 And put him into prison in such manner  
2420  **As ye han herd, and mete and drynke he hadde**  
 As you have heard, and meat and drink he had  
2421  **So smal that wel unnethe it may suffise,**  
 So small that it just barely can suffice,  
2422  **And therwithal it was ful povre and badde.**  
 And in addition it was very poor and bad.

2423  **And on a day bifil that in that hour**  
 And on a day befell that in that hour  
2424  **Whan that his mete wont was to be broght,**  
 When his meal was accustomed to be brought,  
2425  **The gayler shette the dores of the tour.**  
 The jailer shut the doors of the tower.  
2426  **He herde it wel, but he spak right noght,**  
 He heard it well, but he spoke absolutely nothing,  
2427  **And in his herte anon ther fil a thoght**  
 And in his heart straightway there fell a thought  
2428  **That they for hunger wolde doon hym dyen.**  
 That they for hunger would make him die.  
2429  **"Allas!" quod he, "Allas, that I was wroght!"**  
 "Alas!" said he, "Alas, that I was wrought!"  
2430  **Therwith the teeris fillen from his yen.**  
 Therewith the tears fell from his eyes.

2431  **His yonge sone, that thre yeer was of age,**  
 His young son, who was three years of age,  
2432  **Unto hym seyde, "Fader, why do ye wepe?**  
 Unto him said, "Father, why do you weep?  
2433  **Whanne wol the gayler bryngen oure potage?**  
 When will the jailer bring our soup?  
2434  **Is ther no morsel breed that ye do kepe?**  
 Is there no morsel of bread that you do keep?  
2435  **I am so hungry that I may nat slepe.**  
 I am so hungry that I can not sleep.  
2436  **Now wolde God that I myghte slepen evere!**  
 Now would God that I might sleep forever!  
2437  **Thanne sholde nat hunger in my wombe crepe;**  
 Then hunger should not creep in my belly;  
2438  **Ther is no thyng, but breed, that me were levere."**  
 There is nothing, but food, that I would rather have."

2439  **Thus day by day this child bigan to crye,**  
 Thus day by day this child began to cry,  
2440  **Til in his fadres barm adoun it lay,**  
 Until in his father's bosom down it lay,  
2441  **And seyde, "Farewel, fader, I moot dye!"**  
 And said, "Farewell, father, I must die!"  
2442  **And kiste his fader, and dyde the same day.**  
 And kissed his father, and died the same day.  
2443  **And whan the woful fader deed it say,**  
 And when the woeful father saw him dead,  
2444  **For wo his armes two he gan to byte,**  
 For woe his two arms he began to bite,  
2445  **And seyde, "Allas, Fortune, and weylaway!**  
 And said, "Alas, Fortune, and woe oh woe!  
2446  **Thy false wheel my wo al may I wyte."**  
 I can blame thy false wheel for all my woe."

2447  **His children wende that it for hunger was**  
 His children supposed that it was for hunger  
2448  **That he his armes gnow, and nat for wo,**  
 That he gnawed on his arms, and not for woe,  
2449  **And seyde, "Fader, do nat so, allas!**  
 And said, "Father, do not so, alas!  
2450  **But rather ete the flessh upon us two.**  
 But rather eat the flesh upon us two.  
2451  **Oure flessh thou yaf us, take oure flessh us fro,**  
 Our flesh thou gave us, take our flesh from us,  
2452  **And ete ynogh" -- right thus they to hym seyde,**  
 And eat enough" -- right thus they to him said,  
2453  **And after that, withinne a day or two,**  
 And after that, within a day or two,  
2454  **They leyde hem in his lappe adoun and deyde.**  
 They laid themselves down in his lap and died.

2455  **Hymself, despeired, eek for hunger starf;**  
 Himself, despaired, also for hunger died;  
2456  **Thus ended is this myghty Erl of Pize.**  
 Thus ended is this mighty Earl of Pisa.  
2457  **From heigh estaat Fortune awey hym carf.**  
 From high estate Fortune cut him away.   
2458  **Of this tragedie it oghte ynough suffise;**  
 Of this tragedy it ought enough suffice;  
2459  **Whoso wol here it in a lenger wise,**  
 Whoever wants to hear it in a longer version,  
2460  **Redeth the grete poete of Ytaille**  
 Read the great poet of Italy  
2461  **That highte Dant, for he kan al devyse**  
 Who is called Dante, for he can all narrate  
2462  **Fro point to point; nat o word wol he faille.**  
 In great detail; not one word will he lack.

 ***Nero***

2463  **Although that Nero were as vicius**  
 Although Nero was as vicious  
2464  **As any feend that lith ful lowe adoun,**  
 As any fiend that lies very low down (in Hell),  
2465  **Yet he, as telleth us Swetonius,**  
 Yet he, as Suetonius tells us,  
2466  **This wyde world hadde in subjeccioun,**  
 Had this wide world in subjection,  
2467  **Bothe est and west, \[south\], and septemtrioun.**  
 Both east and west, \[south\], and north.  
2468  **Of rubies, saphires, and of peerles white**  
 Of rubies, sapphires, and of white pearls  
2469  **Were alle his clothes brouded up and doun,**  
 Were all his clothes embroidered from head to toe,  
2470  **For he in gemmes greetly gan delite.**  
 For he in gems greatly did delight.

2471  **Moore delicaat, moore pompous of array,**  
 More fond of luxury, more pompous in behavior,  
2472  **Moore proud was nevere emperour than he;**  
 More proud than he was never emperor;  
2473  **That ilke clooth that he hadde wered o day,**  
 That same clothing that he had worn one day,  
2474  **After that tyme he nolde it nevere see.**  
 After that time he wanted never to see it.  
2475  **Nettes of gold threed hadde he greet plentee**  
 Nets of gold thread had he in great plenty  
2476  **To fisshe in Tybre, whan hym liste pleye.**  
 To fish in Tiber, when he wished to amuse himself.  
2477  **His lustes were al lawe in his decree,**  
 His desires were all lawful in his legal code,  
2478  **For Fortune as his freend hym wolde obeye.**  
 For Fortune as his friend would obey him.

2479  **He Rome brende for his delicasie;**  
 He burned Rome for his pleasure;  
2480  **The senatours he slow upon a day**  
 The senators he slew upon one day  
2481  **To heere how that men wolde wepe and crie;**  
 To hear how men would weep and cry;  
2482  **And slow his brother, and by his suster lay.**  
 And slew his brother, and by his sister lay.  
2483  **His mooder made he in pitous array,**  
 His mother he put in piteous situation,  
2484  **For he hire wombe slitte to biholde**  
 For he slit her womb to behold  
2485  **Where he conceyved was -- so weilaway**  
 Where he was conceived -- so woe oh woe   
2486  **That he so litel of his mooder tolde!**  
 That he reckoned so little of his mother!

2487  **No teere out of his eyen for that sighte**  
 No tear out of his eyes for that sight  
2488  **Ne cam, but seyde, "A fair womman was she!"**  
 Came, but he said, "A fair woman was she!"  
2489  **Greet wonder is how that he koude or myghte**  
 Great wonder is how that he could or might  
2490  **Be domesman of hire dede beautee.**  
 Be judge of her dead beauty.  
2491  **The wyn to bryngen hym comanded he,**  
 He commanded that the wine be brought to him ,  
2492  **And drank anon -- noon oother wo he made.**  
 And drank straightway -- no other mourning he made.  
2493  **Whan myght is joyned unto crueltee,**  
 When might is joined unto cruelty,  
2494  **Allas, to depe wol the venym wade!**  
 Alas, too deep will the venom go!

2495  **In yowthe a maister hadde this emperour**  
 In youth this emperor had a master  
2496  **To teche hym letterure and curteisye,**  
 To teach him literature and courtesy,  
2497  **For of moralitee he was the flour,**  
 For of morality he was the flower,  
2498  **As in his tyme, but if bookes lye;**  
 In his time, unless books lie;  
2499  **And whil this maister hadde of hym maistrye,**  
 And while this master had of him mastery,  
2500  **He maked hym so konnyng and so sowple**  
 He made him so cunning and so humble  
2501  **That longe tyme it was er tirannye**  
 That long time it was before tyranny  
2502  **Or any vice dorste on hym uncowple.**  
 Or any vice dared unloose itself upon him.

2503  **This Seneca, of which that I devyse,**  
 This Seneca, of whom I tell,  
2504  **By cause Nero hadde of hym swich drede,**  
 Because Nero had of him such dread,  
2505  **For he fro vices wolde hym ay chastise**  
 For he would always chastise him from vices   
2506  **Discreetly, as by word and nat by dede --**  
 Discreetly, as by word and not by deed --  
2507  **"Sire," wolde he seyn, "an emperour moot nede**  
 "Sire," would he say, "an emperor must of necessity   
2508  **Be vertuous and hate tirannye --"**  
 Be virtuous and hate tyranny --"  
2509  **For which he in a bath made hym to blede**  
 For which he in a bath made him to bleed  
2510  **On bothe his armes, til he moste dye.**  
 On both his arms, until he had to die.

2511  **This Nero hadde eek of acustumaunce**  
 This Nero had also the custom   
2512  **In youthe agayns his maister for to ryse,**  
 In youth to rise in the presence of his master ,  
2513  **Which afterward hym thoughte a greet grevaunce;**  
 Which afterward seemed to him a greet grievance;  
2514  **Therefore he made hym dyen in this wise.**  
 Therefore he made him die in this manner.  
2515  **But natheless this Seneca the wise**  
 But nonetheless this Seneca the wise  
2516  **Chees in a bath to dye in this manere**  
 Chose in a bath to die in this manner  
2517  **Rather than han another tormentise;**  
 Rather than have another form of torment;  
2518  **And thus hath Nero slayn his maister deere.**  
 And thus has Nero slain his dear master.

2519  **Now fil it so that Fortune liste no lenger**  
 Now it happened that Fortune no longer desired  
2520  **The hye pryde of Nero to cherice,**  
 The high pride of Nero to cherish,  
2521  **For though that he were strong, yet was she strenger.**  
 For though he may be strong, yet was she stronger.  
2522  **She thoughte thus: "By God! I am to nyce**  
 She thought thus: "By God! I am too foolish  
2523  **To sette a man that is fulfild of vice**  
 To set a man that is filled full of vice  
2524  **In heigh degree, and emperour hym calle.**  
 In high degree, and call him emperor.  
2525  **By God, out of his sete I wol hym trice;**  
 By God, out of his throne I will snatch him;  
2526  **Whan he leest weneth, sonnest shal he falle."**  
 When he least expects it, the most quickly shall he fall."

2527  **The peple roos upon hym on a nyght**  
 The people rose upon him on one night  
2528  **For his defaute, and whan he it espied,**  
 For his wickedness, and when he espied it,  
2529  **Out of his dores anon he hath hym dight**  
 Out of his doors right away he has hastened himself  
2530  **Allone, and ther he wende han been allied**  
 Alone, and where he supposed to have been allied  
2531  **He knokked faste, and ay the moore he cried**  
 He knocked fast, and always the more he cried  
2532  **The fastere shette they the dores alle.**  
 The tighter they shut all the doors.  
2533  **Tho wiste he wel, he hadde himself mysgyed,**  
 Then he knew well, he had himself deluded,  
2534  **And wente his wey; no lenger dorste he calle.**  
 And went his way; no longer dared he call.

2535  **The peple cried and rombled up and doun,**  
 The people cried and made a tumult up and down,  
2536  **That with his erys herde he how they seyde,**  
 That with his ears he heard how they said,  
2537  **"Where is this false tiraunt, this Neroun?"**  
 "Where is this false tyrant, this Nero?"  
2538  **For fere almoost out of his wit he breyde,**  
 For fear almost out of his wit he went,  
2539  **And to his goddes pitously he preyde**  
 And to his gods pitiably he prayed  
2540  **For socour, but it myghte nat bityde.**  
 For help, but it could not happen.  
2541  **For drede of this hym thoughte that he deyde,**  
 For dread of this it seemed to him that he died,  
2542  **And ran into a gardyn hym to hyde.**  
 And he ran into a garden to hide himself.

2543  **And in this gardyn foond he cherles tweye**  
 And in this garden found he two churls   
2544  **That seten by a fyr, greet and reed.**  
 That sat by a fire, great and red.  
2545  **And to thise cherles two he gan to preye**  
 And to these two churls he did pray  
2546  **To sleen hym and to girden of his heed,**  
 To slay him and to strike off his head,  
2547  **That to his body, whan that he were deed,**  
 So that to his body, when he was deed,  
2548  **Were no despit ydoon for his defame.**  
 No insult was done for his ill fame.  
2549  **Hymself he slow, he koude no bettre reed,**  
 Himself he slew, he knew no better course of action,  
2550  **Of which Fortune lough, and hadde a game.**  
 About which Fortune laughed, and amused herself.

 ***De Oloferno***  
 Concerning Holofernes

2551  **Was nevere capitayn under a kyng**  
 Was never captain under a king  
2552  **That regnes mo putte in subjeccioun,**  
 That put more reigns in subjection,  
2553  **Ne strenger was in feeld of alle thyng,**  
 Nor was stronger in all things concerning the field of battle,  
2554  **As in his tyme, ne gretter of renoun,**  
 In his time, nor greater of renown,  
2555  **Ne moore pompous in heigh presumpcioun**  
 Nor more arrogant in high presumption  
2556  **Than Oloferne, which Fortune ay kiste**  
 Than Holofernes, whom Fortune always kissed  
2557  **So likerously, and ladde hym up and doun**  
 So wantonly, and led him up and down  
2558  **Til that his heed was of, er that he wiste.**  
 Until his head was off, before he knew it.

2559  **Nat oonly that this world hadde hym in awe**  
 Not only that this world had him in awe  
2560  **For lesynge of richesse or libertee,**  
 For (fear of) loss of riches or liberty,  
2561  **But he made every man reneyen his lawe.**  
 But he made every man renounce his religion.  
2562  **"Nabugodonosor was god," seyde hee;**  
 "Nebuchadnezzar was god," said he;  
2563  **"Noon oother god sholde adoured bee."**  
 "No other god should be adored."  
2564  **Agayns his heeste no wight dorst trespace,**  
 Against his command no person dared trespass,  
2565  **Save in Bethulia, a strong citee,**  
 Save in Bethulia, a strong city,  
2566  **Where Eliachim a preest was of that place.**  
 Where Eliachim (Joachim) was a priest of that place.

2567  **But taak kep of the deth of Oloferne:**  
 But take heed of the death of Holofernes:  
2568  **Amydde his hoost he dronke lay a-nyght,**  
 Amid his host he lay drunk at night,  
2569  **Withinne his tente, large as is a berne,**  
 Within his tent, large as is a barn,  
2570  **And yet, for al his pompe and al his myght,**  
 And yet, for all his pomp and all his might,  
2571  **Judith, a womman, as he lay upright**  
 Judith, a woman, as he lay on his back  
2572  **Slepynge, his heed of smoot, and from his tente**  
 Sleeping, smote off his head, and from his tent  
2573  **Ful pryvely she stal from every wight,**  
 Very secretly she stole (away) from every person,  
2574  **And with his heed unto hir toun she wente.**  
 And with his head unto her town she went.

 ***De Rege Antiocho illustri***  
 \[Concerning the Famous King Antiochus\]

2575  **What nedeth it of kyng Anthiochus**  
 What needs it of king Antiochus  
2576  **To telle his hye roial magestee,**  
 To tell his high royal majesty,  
2577  **His hye pride, his werkes venymus?**  
 His high pride, his venomous deeds?  
2578  **For swich another was ther noon as he.**  
 For such another was there no one like him.  
2579  **Rede which that he was in Machabee,**  
 Read who he was in Maccabees,  
2580  **And rede the proude wordes that he seyde,**  
 And read the proud words that he said,  
2581  **And why he fil fro heigh prosperitee,**  
 And why he fell from high prosperity,  
2582  **And in an hill how wrecchedly he deyde.**  
 And on a hill how wretchedly he died.

2583  **Fortune hym hadde enhaunced so in pride**  
 Fortune had elevated him so in pride  
2584  **That verraily he wende he myghte attayne**  
 That truly he supposed he might attain  
2585  **Unto the sterres upon every syde,**  
 Unto the stars upon every side,  
2586  **And in balance weyen ech montayne,**  
 And in a scales weigh each mountain,  
2587  **And alle the floodes of the see restrayne.**  
 And all the floods of the sea restrain.  
2588  **And Goddes peple hadde he moost in hate;**  
 And God's people had he most in hate;  
2589  **Hem wolde he sleen in torment and in payne,**  
 Them he would slay in torment and in pain,  
2590  **Wenynge that God ne myghte his pride abate.**  
 Supposing that God could not reduce his pride.

2591  **And for that Nichanore and Thymothee**  
 And because Nicanor and Timotheus  
2592  **Of Jewes weren venquysshed myghtily,**  
 By Jews were vanquished completely,  
2593  **Unto the Jewes swich an hate hadde he**  
 Unto the Jews such a hate had he  
2594  **That he bad greithen his chaar ful hastily,**  
 That he ordered his chariot prepared very hastily,  
2595  **And swoor, and seyde ful despitously**  
 And swore, and said very angrily   
2596  **Unto Jerusalem he wolde eftsoone**  
 Unto Jerusalem he would (go) immediately  
2597  **To wreken his ire on it ful cruelly;**  
 To wreak his ire on it very cruelly;  
2598  **But of his purpos he was let ful soone.**  
 But of his purpose he was prevented very soon.

2599  **God for his manace hym so soore smoot**  
 God because of his threatening so sorely smote him  
2600  **With invisible wounde, ay incurable,**  
 With invisible wound, ever incurable,  
2601  **That in his guttes carf it so and boot**  
 That in his guts it carved so and bit  
2602  **That his peynes weren importable.**  
 That his pains were intolerable.  
2603  **And certeinly the wreche was resonable,**  
 And certainly the punishment was reasonable,  
2604  **For many a mannes guttes dide he peyne.**  
 For many a man's gut did he pain.  
2605  **But from his purpos cursed and dampnable,**  
 But from his cursed and damnable purpose,  
2606  **For al his smert, he wolde hym nat restreyne,**  
 For all his pain, he would not restrain himself,

2607  **But bad anon apparaillen his hoost;**  
 But commanded straightway to prepare his host;  
2608  **And sodeynly, er he was of it war,**  
 And suddenly, before he was aware of it,  
2609  **God daunted al his pride and al his boost.**  
 God laid low all his pride and all his boast.  
2610  **For he so soore fil out of his char**  
 For he so sorely fell out of his throne  
2611  **That it his limes and his skyn totar,**  
 That it tore to pieces his limbs and his skin,  
2612  **So that he neyther myghte go ne ryde,**  
 So that he might neither walk nor ride,  
2613  **But in a chayer men aboute hym bar,**  
 But in a sedan chair men carried him about,  
2614  **Al forbrused, bothe bak and syde.**  
 All badly bruised, both back and side.

2615  **The wreche of God hym smoot so cruelly**  
 The vengeance of God smote him so cruelly  
2616  **That thurgh his body wikked wormes crepte,**  
 That through his body wicked worms crept,  
2617  **And therwithal he stank so horribly**  
 And in addition to all that he stank so horribly  
2618  **That noon of al his meynee that hym kepte,**  
 That no one of all his household that served him,  
2619  **Wheither so he wook or ellis slepte,**  
 Whether he stayed awake or else slept,  
2620  **Ne myghte noght the stynk of hym endure.**  
 Could not endure the stink of him.  
2621  **In this meschief he wayled and eek wepte,**  
 In this affliction he wailed and also wept,  
2622  **And knew God lord of every creature.**  
 And acknowledged God lord of every creature.

2623  **To al his hoost and to hymself also**  
 To all his host and to himself also  
2624  **Ful wlatsom was the stynk of his careyne;**  
 Full loathsome was the stink of his decaying body;  
2625  **No man ne myghte hym bere to ne fro.**  
 No man could bear him in any way.  
2626  **And in this stynk and this horrible peyne,**  
 And in this stink and this horrible pain,  
2627  **He starf ful wrecchedly in a monteyne.**  
 He died very wretchedly on a mountain.  
2628  **Thus hath this robbour and this homycide,**  
 Thus has this robber and this homicide,  
2629  **That many a man made to wepe and pleyne,**  
 That many a man made to weep and mourn,  
2630  **Swich gerdoun as bilongeth unto pryde.**  
 Such reward as belongs to pride.

 ***De Alexandro***  
 \[Concerning Alexander\]

2631  **The storie of Alisaundre is so commune**  
 The history of Alexander is so commonly known  
2632  **That every wight that hath discrecioun**  
 That every person who has good judgment  
2633  **Hath herd somwhat or al of his fortune.**  
 Has heard something or all of his fortune.  
2634  **This wyde world, as in conclusioun,**  
 This wide world, in the end,  
2635  **He wan by strengthe, or for his hye renoun**  
 He won by strength, or for his high renown  
2636  **They weren glad for pees unto hym sende.**  
 They were glad to send unto him (to sue) for peace .  
2637  **The pride of man and beest he leyde adoun,**  
 The pride of man and beast he laid low,  
2638  **Wherso he cam, unto the worldes ende.**  
 Wherever he came, unto the world's end.

2639  **Comparisoun myghte nevere yet been maked**  
 Comparison might never yet be made  
2640  **Bitwixe hym and another conquerour;**  
 Between him and another conqueror;  
2641  **For al this world for drede of hym hath quaked.**  
 For all this world for dread of him has trembled.  
2642  **He was of knyghthod and of fredom flour;**  
 He was flower of knighthood and of nobility;  
2643  **Fortune hym made the heir of hire honour.**  
 Fortune made him the heir of her honor.  
2644  **Save wyn and wommen, no thing myghte aswage**  
 Save wine and women, no thing might assuage   
2645  **His hye entente in armes and labour,**  
 His noble ambition in arms and struggles,  
2646  **So was he ful of leonyn corage.**  
 So was he full of leonine courage.

2647  **What pris were it to hym, though I yow tolde**  
 What honor were it to him, though I you told  
2648  **Of Darius, and an hundred thousand mo**  
 Of Darius, and a hundred thousand more  
2649  **Of kynges, princes, dukes, erles bolde**  
 Of kings, princes, dukes, earls bold  
2650  **Whiche he conquered, and broghte hem into wo?**  
 Whom he conquered, and brought them into woe?  
2651  **I seye, as fer as man may ryde or go,**  
 I say, as far as man can ride or walk,  
2652  **The world was his -- what sholde I moore devyse?**  
 The world was his -- what more should I tell?  
2653  **For though I write or tolde yow everemo**  
 For though I should write or told you evermore  
2654  **Of his knyghthod, it myghte nat suffise.**  
 About his knighthood, it could not suffice.

2655  **Twelf yeer he regned, as seith Machabee.**  
 Twelve years he reigned, as says *Maccabees*.  
2656  **Philippes sone of Macidoyne he was,**  
 He was the son of Philip of Macedonia,  
2657  **That first was kyng in Grece the contree.**  
 Who first was king in the country of Greece.  
2658  **O worthy, gentil Alisandre, allas,**  
 O worthy, noble Alexander, alas,  
2659  **That evere sholde fallen swich a cas!**  
 That ever should befall such a case!  
2660  **Empoysoned of thyn owene folk thou weere;**  
 Thou were poisoned by thine own folk;  
2661  **Thy sys Fortune hath turned into aas,**  
 Fortune has turned thy six \[highest throw\] into an ace \[lowest\],  
2662  **And for thee ne weep she never a teere.**  
 And for thee she wept never a tear.

2663  **Who shal me yeven teeris to compleyne**  
 Who shall give me tears to complain  
2664  **The deeth of gentillesse and of franchise,**  
 The death of nobility and of magnanimity,  
2665  **That al the world weelded in his demeyne,**  
 Who all the world wielded in his control,  
2666  **And yet hym thoughte it myghte nat suffise?**  
 And yet it seemed to him it might not suffice?  
2667  **So ful was his corage of heigh emprise.**  
 So full was his disposition of high knightly prowess.   
2668  **Allas, who shal me helpe to endite**  
 Alas, who shall me help to indict  
2669  **False Fortune, and poyson to despise,**  
 False Fortune, and to despise poison,  
2670  **The whiche two of al this wo I wyte?**  
 The which two for all this woe I blame?

 ***De Julio Cesare***  
 \[Concerning Julius Caesar\]

2671  **By wisedom, manhede, and by greet labour,**  
 By wisdom, manhood, and by great labor,  
2672  **From humble bed to roial magestee**  
 From humble bed to royal majesty  
2673  **Up roos he Julius, the conquerour,**  
 Up rose this Julius, the conqueror,  
2674  **That wan al th' occident by land and see,**  
 That won all the west by land and sea,  
2675  **By strengthe of hand, or elles by tretee,**  
 By strength of hand, or else by treaty,  
2676  **And unto Rome made hem tributarie;**  
 And unto Rome made them tributary;  
2677  **And sitthe of Rome the emperour was he**  
 And afterwards of Rome the emperor was he  
2678  **Til that Fortune weex his adversarie.**  
 Until Fortune became his adversary.

2679  **O myghty Cesar, that in Thessalie**  
 O mighty Caesar, that in Thessaly  
2680  **Agayn Pompeus, fader thyn in lawe,**  
 Against Pompey, thy father in law,  
2681  **That of the orient hadde al the chivalrie**  
 Who of the east had all the dominion by conquest  
2682  **As fer as that the day bigynneth dawe,**  
 As far as where the day begins to dawn,   
2683  **Thou thurgh thy knyghthod hast hem take and slawe,**  
 Thou through thy knighthood hast them taken and slain,  
2684  **Save fewe folk that with Pompeus fledde,**  
 Save for a few folk that fled with Pompey,  
2685  **Thurgh which thou puttest al th' orient in awe.**  
 Through which thou puttest all the east in awe.  
2686  **Thanke Fortune, that so wel thee spedde!**  
 Thank Fortune, that so well helped thee to succeed!

2687  **But now a litel while I wol biwaille**  
 But now for a little while I will bewail  
2688  **This Pompeus, this noble governour**  
 This Pompey, this noble governor  
2689  **Of Rome, which that fleigh at this bataille.**  
 Of Rome, who fled at this battle.  
2690  **I seye, oon of his men, a fals traitour,**  
 I say, one of his men, a false traitor,  
2691  **His heed of smoot, to wynnen hym favour**  
 His head off smote, to win himself favor  
2692  **Of Julius, and hym the heed he broghte.**  
 Of Julius, and he brought him the head.  
2693  **Allas, Pompeye, of th' orient conquerour,**  
 Alas, Pompey, of the east conqueror,  
2694  **That Fortune unto swich a fyn thee broghte!**  
 That Fortune unto such an end thee brought!

2695  **To Rome agayn repaireth Julius**  
 To Rome again repairs Julius  
2696  **With his triumphe, lauriat ful hye;**  
 With his triumphal procession, very nobly crowned with laurel;   
2697  **But on a tyme Brutus Cassius,**  
 But on a time Brutus Cassius,  
2698  **That evere hadde of his hye estaat envye,**  
 Who ever had envy of his high estate,  
2699  **Ful prively hath maad conspiracye**  
 Full secretly has made conspiracy  
2700  **Agayns this Julius in subtil wise,**  
 Against this Julius in a cunning manner,  
2701  **And caste the place in which he sholde dye**  
 And planned the place in which he should die  
2702  **With boydekyns, as I shal yow devyse.**  
 With daggers, as I shall tell you.

2703  **This Julius to the Capitolie wente**  
 This Julius to the Capitol went  
2704  **Upon a day, as he was wont to goon,**  
 Upon one day, as he was accustomed to go,  
2705  **And in the Capitolie anon hym hente**  
 And in the Capitol straightway seized him  
2706  **This false Brutus and his othere foon,**  
 This false Brutus and his other foes,  
2707  **And stiked hym with boydekyns anoon**  
 And stuck him with daggers straightway  
2708  **With many a wounde, and thus they lete hym lye;**  
 With many a wound, and thus they let him lie;  
2709  **But nevere gronte he at no strook but oon,**  
 But never groaned he at no stroke but one,  
2710  **Or elles at two, but if his storie lye.**  
 Or else at two, unless his history lies.

2711  **So manly was this Julius of herte,**  
 So manly was this Julius of heart,  
2712  **And so wel lovede estaatly honestee,**  
 And so well loved dignified decency,  
2713  **That though his deedly woundes soore smerte,**  
 That though his deadly wounds sorely pained,  
2714  **His mantel over his hypes caste he,**  
 His mantle over his hips cast he,  
2715  **For no man sholde seen his privetee;**  
 So that no man should see his private parts;  
2716  **And as he lay of diyng in a traunce,**  
 And as he lay a-dying in a trance,  
2717  **And wiste verraily that deed was hee,**  
 And knew truly that he was dead,  
2718  **Of honestee yet hadde he remembraunce.**  
 Of decency yet had he remembrance.

2719  **Lucan, to thee this storie I recomende,**  
 Lucan, to thee this history I commend,  
2720  **And to Swetoun, and to Valerius also,**  
 And to Suetonius, and to Valerius also,  
2721  **That of this storie writen word and ende,**  
 That of this history wrote beginning and end,  
2722  **How that to thise grete conqueroures two**  
 How to these two great conquerors  
2723  **Fortune was first freend, and sitthe foo.**  
 Fortune was first friend, and afterwards foe.  
2724  **No man ne truste upon hire favour longe,**  
 Let no man trust upon her favor long,  
2725  **But have hire in awayt for everemoo;**  
 But keep an eye on her for evermore;  
2726  **Witnesse on alle thise conqueroures stronge.**  
 Take note of all these conquerors strong.

 ***Cresus***  
 \[Croesus\]

2727  **This riche Cresus, whilom kyng of Lyde,**  
 This rich Croesus, once king of Lydia,  
2728  **Of which Cresus Cirus soore hym dradde,**  
 Of which Croesus Cyrus was sorely afraid,   
2729  **Yet was he caught amyddes al his pryde,**  
 Yet was he caught amidst all his pride,  
2730  **And to be brent men to the fyr hym ladde.**  
 And to be burned men led him to the fire.  
2731  **But swich a reyn doun fro the welkne shadde**  
 But such a rain down from the sky poured  
2732  **That slow the fyr, and made hym to escape;**  
 That killed the fire, and allowed him to escape;  
2733  **But to be war no grace yet he hadde,**  
 But to be wary (of Fortune) no grace yet he had,  
2734  **Til Fortune on the galwes made hym gape.**  
 Until Fortune on the gallows made him gape.

2735  **Whanne he escaped was, he kan nat stente**  
 When he had escaped, he can not stop  
2736  **For to bigynne a newe werre agayn.**  
 Beginning a new war again.  
2737  **He wende wel, for that Fortune hym sente**  
 He well believed, because Fortune sent him  
2738  **Swich hap that he escaped thurgh the rayn,**  
 Such luck that he escaped by means of the rain,  
2739  **That of his foos he myghte nat be slayn;**  
 That of his foes he could not be slain;  
2740  **And eek a sweven upon a nyght he mette,**  
 And also a dream upon one night he dreamed,  
2741  **Of which he was so proud and eek so fayn**  
 Of which he was so proud and also so pleased  
2742  **That in vengeance he al his herte sette.**  
 That in vengeance he set all his heart.

2743  **Upon a tree he was, as that hym thoughte,**  
 Upon a tree he was, as it seemed to him,  
2744  **Ther Juppiter hym wessh, bothe bak and syde,**  
 Where Jupiter washed him, both back and side,  
2745  **And Phebus eek a fair towaille hym broughte**  
 And Phoebus also brought him a fair towel   
2746  **To dryen hym with; and therfore wax his pryde,**  
 To dry himself with; and therefore his pride grew,  
2747  **And to his doghter, that stood hym bisyde,**  
 And to his daughter, who stood him beside,  
2748  **Which that he knew in heigh sentence habounde,**  
 Whom he knew to abound in good judgment,  
2749  **He bad hire telle hym what it signyfyde,**  
 He bad her tell him what it signified,  
2750  **And she his dreem bigan right thus expounde:**  
 And she began right thus to expound his dream:

2751  **"The tree," quod she, "the galwes is to meene,**  
 "The tree," said she, "is to signify the gallows,  
2752  **And Juppiter bitokneth snow and reyn,**  
 And Jupiter betokens snow and rain,  
2753  **And Phebus, with his towaille so clene,**  
 And Phoebus, with his towel so clean,  
2754  **Tho been the sonne stremes for to seyn.**  
 Those are to say the sun beams.  
2755  **Thou shalt anhanged be, fader, certeyn;**  
 Thou shalt be hanged, father, certainly;  
2756  **Reyn shal thee wasshe, and sonne shal thee drye."**  
 Rain shall thee wash, and sun shall thee dry."  
2757  **Thus warned hym ful plat and ek ful pleyn**  
 Thus warned him very bluntly and also very plainly  
2758  **His doghter, which that called was Phanye.**  
 His daughter, who was called Phanye.

2759  **Anhanged was Cresus, the proude kyng;**  
 Hanged was Cresus, the proud king;  
2760  **His roial trone myghte hym nat availle.**  
 His royal throne could not help him.  
2761  **Tragedies noon oother maner thyng**  
 Tragedies no other sort of thing  
2762  **Ne kan in syngyng crie ne biwaille**  
 Can in singing cry nor bewail (anything)  
2763  **But that Fortune alwey wole assaille**  
 But that Fortune always will assail  
2764  **With unwar strook the regnes that been proude;**  
 With unexpected stroke the reigns that are proud;  
2765  **For whan men trusteth hire, thanne wol she faille,**  
 For when men trust her, then will she fail,  
2766  **And covere hire brighte face with a clowde.**  
 And cover her bright face with a cloud.

***Explicit Tragedia***  
\[Here ends the Tragedy\]

***Heere stynteth the Knyght the Monk of his tale.***  
\[Here the Knight interrupts the Monk's Tale.\]