The Monk's Prologue
1889: Whan ended was my tale of melibee, 
1890: And of prudence and hire benignytee, 
1891: Oure hooste seyde, as I am feithful man, 
1892: And by that precious corpus madrian, 
1893: I hadde levere than a barel ale 
1894: That goodelief, my wyf, hadde herd this tale! 
1895: For she nys no thyng of swich pacience 
1896: As was this melibeus wyf prudence. 
1897: By goddes bones! whan I bete my knaves, 
1898: She bryngeth me forth the grete clobbed staves, 
1899: And crieth, -- slee the dogges everichoon, 
1900: And brek hem, bothe bak and every boon! -- 
1901: And if that any neighebor of myne 
1902: Wol nat in chirche to my wyf enclyne, 
1903: Or be so hardy to hire to trespace, 
1904: Whan she comth hoom she rampeth in my face, 
1905: And crieth, -- false coward, wrek thy wyf! 
1906: By corpus bones, I wol have thy knyf, 
1907: And thou shalt have my distaf and go spynne! -- 
1908: Fro day to nyght right thus she wol bigynne. 
1909: -- allas! -- she seith, -- that evere I was shape 
1910: To wedden a milksop, or a coward ape, 
1911: That wol been overlad with every wight! 
1912: Thou darst nat stonden by thy wyves right! -- 
1913: This is my lif, but if that I wol fighte; 
1914: And out at dore anon I moot me dighte, 
1915: Or elles I am but lost, but if that I 
1916: Be lik a wilde leoun, fool-hardy. 
1917: I woot wel she wol do me slee som day 
1918: Som neighebor, and thanne go my way; 
1919: For I am perilous with knyf in honde, 
1920: Al be it that I dar nat hire withstonde, 
1921: For she is byg in armes, by my feith: 
1922: That shal he fynde that hire mysdooth or seith, -- 
1923: But lat us passe awey fro this mateere. 
1924: My lord, the monk, quod he, by myrie of cheere, 
1925: For ye shul telle a tale trewely. 
1926: Loo, rouchestre stant heer faste by! 
1927: Ryde forth, myn owene lord, brek nat oure game. 
1928: But, by my trouthe, I knowe nat youre name. 
1929: Wher shal I calle yow my lord daun john, 
1930: Or daun thomas, or elles daun albon? 
1931: Of what hous be ye, by youre fader kyn? 
1932: I vowe to god, thou hast a ful fair skyn; 
1933: It is a gentil pasture ther thow goost. 
1934: Thou art nat lyk a penant or a goost: 
1935: Upon my feith, thou art som officer, 
1936: Som worthy sexteyn, or som celerer, 
1937: For by my fader soule, as to my doom, 
1938: Thou art a maister whan thou art at hoom; 
1939: No povre cloysterer, ne no novts, 
1940: But a governour, wily and wys, 
1941: And therwithal of brawnes and of bones, 
1942: A wel farynge persone for the nones. 
1943: I pray to god, yeve hym confusioun 
1944: That first thee broghte unto religioun! 
1945: Thou woldest han been a tredefowel aright. 
1946: Haddestow as greet a leeve, as thou hast myght, 
1947: To parfourne al thy lust in engendrure, 
1948: Thou haddest bigeten ful many a creature. 
1949: Allas, why werestow so wyd a cope? 
1950: God yeve me sorwe, but, and I were a pope, 
1951: Nat oonly thou, but every myghty man, 
1952: Though he were shorn ful hye upon his pan, 
1953: Sholde have a wyf; for al the world is lorn! 
1954: Religioun hath take up al the corn 
1955: Of tredyng, and we borel men been shrympes. 
1956: Of fieble trees ther comen wrecched ympes. 
1957: This maketh that oure heires been so sklendre 
1958: And feble that they may nat wel engendre. 
1959: This maketh that oure wyves wole assaye 
1960: Religious folk, for ye mowe bettre paye 
1961: Of venus peiementz than mowe we; 
1962: God woot, no lussheburghes payen ye! 
1963: But be nat wrooth, my lord, though that I pleye. 
1964: Ful ofte in game a sooth I have herd seye! 
1965: This worthy monk took al in pacience, 
1966: And seyde, I wol doon al my diligence, 
1967: As fer as sowneth into honestee, 
1968: To telle yow a tale, or two, or three. 
1969: And if yow list to herkne hyderward, 
1970: I wol yow seyn the lyf of seint edward; 
1971: Or ellis, first, tragedies wol I telle, 
1972: Of whiche I have an hundred in my celle. 
1973: Tragedie is to seyn a certeyn storei, 
1974: As olde bookes maken us memorie, 
1975: Of hym that stood in greet prosperitee, 
1976: And is yfallen out of heigh degree 
1977: Into myserie, and endeth wrecchedly. 
1978: And they ben versified communely 
1979: Of six feet, which men clepen exametrron. 
1980: In prose eek been endited many oon, 
1981: And eek in meetre, in many a sondry wyse. 
1982: Lo, this declaryng oghte ynogh suffise. 
1983: Now herkneth, if yow liketh for to heere. 
1984: But first I yow biseeke in this mateere, 
1985: Though I by ordre telle nat thise thynges, 
1986: Be it of popes, emperours, or kynges, 
1987: After hir ages, as men writen fynde, 
1988: But tellen hem som bifore and som bihynde, 
1989: As it now comth unto my remembraunce, 
1990: Have me excused of myn ignoraunce.


The Monk's Tale
1991: I wol biwaille, in manere of tragedie, 
1992: The harm of hem that stoode in heigh degree, 
1993: And fillen so that ther nas no remedie 
1994: To brynge hem out of hir adversitee. 
1995: For certein, whan that fortune list to flee, 
1996: Ther may no man the cours of hire withholde. 
1997: Lat no man truste on blynd prosperitee; 
1998: Be war by thise ensamples trewe and olde. 

Lucifer

1999: At lucifer, though he an angel were, 
2000: And nat a man, at hym wol I bigynne. 
2001: For though fortune may noon angel dere, 
2002: From heigh degree yet fel he for his synne 
2003: Doun into helle, where he yet is inne. 
2004: O lucifer, brightest of angels alle, 
2005: Now artow sathanas, that mayst nat twynne 
2006: Out of miserie, in which that thou art falle. 

Adam

2007: Loo adam, in the feeld of damyssene, 
2008: With goddes owene fynger wroght was he, 
2009: And nat bigeten of mannes sperme unclene, 
2010: And welte al paradys savynge o tree. 
2011: Hadde nevere worldly man so heigh degree 
2012: As adam, til he for mysgovernaunce 
2013: Was dryven out of hys hye prosperitee 
2014: To labour, and to helle, and to meschaunce. 

Sampson

2015: Loo sampsoun, which that was annunciat 
2016: By th' angel, longe er his nativitee, 
2017: And was to God almyghty consecrat, 
2018: And stood in noblesse whil he myghte see. 
2019: Was nevere swich another as was hee, 
2020: To speke of strengthe, and threwith hardynesse; 
2021: But to his wyves toolde he his secree, 
2022: Thurgh which he slow hymself for wrecchednesse. 
2023: Sampsoun, this noble almyghty champioun, 
2024: Withouten wepen, save his handes tweye, 
2025: He slow and al torente the leoun, 
2026: Toward his weddyng walkynge by the weye. 
2027: His false wyf koude hym so plese and preye 
2028: Til she his conseil knew; and she, untrewe, 
2029: Unto his foos his conseil gan biwreye, 
2030: And hym forsook, and took another newe. 
2031: Thre hundred foxes took sampson for ire, 
2032: And alle hir tayles he togydre bond, 
2033: And sette the foxes tayles alle on fire, 
2034: For he on every tayl had knyt a brond; 
2035: And they brende alle the cornes in that lond, 
2036: And alle hire olyveres, and vynes eke. 
2037: A thousand men he slow eek with his hond, 
2038: And hadde no wepen but an asses cheke. 
2039: Whan they were slayn, so thursted hym that he 
2040: Was wel ny lorn, for which he gan to preye 
2041: That God wolde on his peyne han some pitee, 
2042: And sende hym drynke, or elles moste he deye; 
2043: And of this asses cheke, that was dreye, 
2044: Out of a wang-tooth sprang anon a welle, 
2045: Of which he drank ynogh, shortly to seye; 
2046: Thus heelp hym god, as judicum telle. 
2047: By verray force at gazan, on a nyght, 
2048: Maugree philistiens of that citee, 
2049: The gates of the toun he hath up plyght, 
2050: And on his bak ycaryed hem hath hee 
2051: Hye on an hill whereas men myghte hem see. 
2052: O noble, almyghty sampsoun, lief and deere, 
2053: Had thou nat toold to wommen thy secree, 
2054: In al this world ne hadde been thy peere! 
2055: This sampson nevere ciser drank ne wyn, 
2056: Ne on his heed cam rasour noon ne sheere, 
2057: By precept of the messager divyn, 
2058: For alle his strengthes in his heeres weere. 
2059: And fully twenty wynter, yeer by yeere, 
2060: He hadde of israel the governaunce. 
2061: But soone shal he wepe many a teere, 
2062: For wommen shal hym bryngen to meschaunce! 
2063: Unto his lemman dalida he tolde 
2064: That in his heeris al his strengthe lay, 
2065: And falsly to his foomen she hym solde. 
2066: And slepynge in hir barm, upon a day, 
2067: She made to clippe or shere his heres away, 
2068: And made his foomen al his craft espyen; 
2069: And whan that they hym foond in this array, 
2070: They bounde hym faste and putten out his yen. 
2071: But er his heere were clipped or yshave, 
2072: Ther was no boond with which men myghte him bynde; 
2073: But now is he in prison in a cave, 
2074: Were-as they made hym at the queerne grynde. 
2075: O noble sampsoun, strongest of mankynde, 
2076: O whilom juge, in glorie and in richesse! 
2077: Now maystow wepen with thyne eyen blynde, 
2078: Sith thou fro wele art falle in wrecchednesse. 
2079: The ende of this caytyf was as I shal seye. 
2080: His foomen made a feeste upon a day, 
2081: And made hym as hire fool biforn hem pleye; 
2082: And this was in a temple of greet array. 
2083: But atte laste he made a foul affray; 
2084: For he two pilers shook and made hem falle, 
2085: And doun fil temple and al, and ther it lay, -- 
2086: And slow hymself, and eek his foomen alle. 
2087: This is to seyn, the prynces everichoon, 
2088: And eek thre thousand bodyes, were ther slayn 
2089: With fallynge of the grete temple of stoon. 
2090: Of sampson now wol I namoore sayn. 
2091: Beth war by this ensample oold and playn 
2092: That nomen telle hir conseil til hir wyves 
2093: Of swich thyng as they wolde han secree fayn, 
2094: If that it touche hir lymes or hir lyves. 

Hercules

2095: Of hercules, the sovereyn conquerour, 
2096: Syngen his werkes laude and heigh renoun; 
2097: For in his tyme of strengthe he was the flour. 
2098: He slow, and frate the skyn of the leoun; 
2099: He of centauros leyde the boost adoun; 
2100: He arpies slow, the crueel bryddes felle; 
2101: He golden apples rafte of the dragoun; 
2102: He drow out cerberus, the hound of helle; 
2103: He slow the crueel tyrant busirus, 
2104: And made his hors to frete hem, flessh and boon; 
2105: He slow the firy serpent venymus; 
2106: Of acheloys two hornes he brak oon; 
2107: And he slow cacus in a cave of stoon; 
2108: He slow the geant antheus the stronge; 
2109: He slow the grisly boor, and that anon; 
2110: And bar the hevene on his nekke longe. 
2111: Was nevere wight, sith that this world bigan, 
2112: That slow so manye monstres as dide he. 
2113: Thurghout this wyde world his name ran, 
2114: What for his strengthe and for his heigh bountee, 
2115: And every reawme wente he for to see. 
2116: He was so stoong that no man myghte hym lette. 
2117: At bothe the worldes endes, seith trophee, 
2118: In stide of boundes he a pileer sette. 
2119: A lemman hadde this noble champioun, 
2120: That highte dianira, fressh as may; 
2121: And as thise clerkes maken mencioun, 
2122: She hath hym sent a sherte, fressh and gay. 
2123: Allas! this sherte, allas and weylaway! 
2124: Envenymed was so subtilly withalle, 
2125: That er that he had wered it half a day, 
2126: It made his flessh al from his bones falle. 
2127: But nathelees somme clerkes hire excusen 
2128: By oon that highte nessus, that it maked. 
2129: Be as be may, I wol hire noght accusen; 
2130: But on his bak this sherte he wered naked, 
2131: Til that his flessh was for the venym blaked. 
2132: And whan he saugh noon oother remedye, 
2133: In hoote coles he hath hymselven raked, 
2134: For with no venym deigned hym to dye. 
2135: Thus starf this worthy, myghty hercules. 
2136: Lo, who may truste on fortune and throwe? 
2137: For hym that folweth al this world of prees, 
2138: Er he be war, is ofte yleyd ful lowe. 
2139: Ful wys is he that kan hymselven knowe! 
2140: Beth war, for whan that fortune list to glose, 
2141: Thanne wayteth she her man to overthrowe 
2142: By swich a wey as he wolde leest suppose. 

Nebchadnezzar

2143: The myghty trone, the precious tresor, 
2144: The glorious ceptre, and roial magestee 
2145: That hadde the kyng nabugodonosor 
2146: With tonge unnethe may discryved bee. 
2147: He twyes wan jerusalem the citee; 
2148: The vessel of the temple he with hym ladde. 
2149: At babiloigne was his sovereyn see, 
2150: In which his glorie and his delit he hadde. 
2151: The faireste children of the blood roial 
2152: Of israel he leet do gelde anoon, 
2153: And maked ech of hem to been his thral. 
2154: Amonges othere daniel was oon, 
2155: That was the wiseste child of everychon; 
2156: For he the dremes of the kyng expowned, 
2157: Whereas in chaldeye clerk ne was ther noon 
2158: That wiste to what fyn his dremes sowned. 
2159: This proude kyng leet maken a statue of gold, 
2160: Sixty cubites long and sevene in brede; 
2161: To which ymage bothe yong and oold 
2162: Comanded he to loute, and have in drede, 
2163: Or in a fourneys, ful of flambes rede, 
2164: He shal be brent that wolde noght obeye. 
2165: But nevere wolde assente to that dede 
2166: Daniel, ne his yonge felawes tweye. 
2167: This kyng of kynges proud was and elaat; 
2168: He wente that god, that sit in magestee, 
2169: Ne myghte hym nat bireve of his estaat. 
2170: But sodeynly he loste his dignytee, 
2171: And lyk a beest hym semed for to bee, 
2172: And eet hey as an oxe, and lay theroute 
2173: In reyn; with wilde beestes walked hee, 
2174: Til certein tyme was ycome aboute. 
2175: And lik an egles fetheres wax his heres; 
2176: His nayles lyk a briddes clawes weere; 
2177: Til God relessed hym a certeyn yeres, 
2178: And yaf hym wit, and thanne with many a teere 
2179: He thanked god, and evere his lyf in feere 
2180: Was he to doon amys or moore trespace; 
2181: And til that tyme he leyd was on his beere, 
2182: He knew that God was ful of myght and grace. 

Belshazzar

2183: His sone, which that highte balthasar, 
2184: That heeld the regne after his fader day, 
2185: He by his fader koude noght be war, 
2186: For proud he was of herte and of array; 
2187: And eek an ydolastre was he ay. 
2188: His hye estaat assured hym in pryde; 
2189: But fortune caste hym doun, and ther he lay, 
2190: And sodeynly his regne gan divide. 
2191: A feeste he made unto his lordes alle, 
2192: Upon a tyme, and bad hem blithe bee; 
2193: And thanne his officeres gan he calle: 
2194: Gooth, bryngeth forth the vesseles, quod he, 
2195: Whiche that my fader in his prosperitee 
2196: Out of the temple of jerusalem birafte; 
2197: And to oure hye goddes thanke we 
2198: Of honour that oure eldres with us lafte. 
2199: Hys wyf, his lordes, and his concubynes 
2200: Ay dronken, whil hire appetites laste, 
2201: Out of thise noble vessels sondry wynes. 
2202: And on a wal this kyng his eyen caste, 
2203: And saugh an hand, armlees, that wroot ful faste, 
2204: For feere if which he quook and siked soore. 
2205: This hand, that balthasar so soore agaste, 
2206: Wroot mane, techel phares, and namoore. 
2207: In all that land magicien was noon 
2208: That koude expoune what this lettre mente; 
2209: But daniel expowned it anoon, 
2210: And seyde, kyng, God to thy fader lente 
2211: Glorie and honour, regne, tresour, rente; 
2212: And he was proud, and nothyng God ne dradde, 
2213: And therfore God greet wreche upon hym sente, 
2214: And hym birafte the regne that he hadde. 
2215: He was out cast of mannes compaignye; 
2216: With asses was his habitacioun, 
2217: And eet hey as a beest in weet and drye, 
2218: Til that he knew, by grace and by resoun, 
2219: That God of hevene hath domynacioun 
2220: Over every regne and every creature; 
2221: And thanne hadde God of hym compassioun, 
2222: And hym restored his regne and his figure. 
2223: Eek thou, that art his sone, art proud also, 
2224: And knowest alle thise thynges verraily, 
2225: And art rebel to god, and art his foo. 
2226: Thou drank eek of his vessels boldely; 
2227: Thy wyf eek, and thy wenches, synfully 
2228: Dronke of the same vessels sondry wynys; 
2229: And heryest false goddes cursedly; 
2230: Therfore to thee yshapen ful greet pyne ys. 
2231: This hand was sent from God that on the wal 
2232: Wroot mane, techel, phares, truste me; 
2233: Thy regne is doon, thou weyest noght at al. 
2234: Dyvyded is thy regne, and it shal be 
2235: To medes and to perses yeven, quod he. 
2236: And thilke same nyght this kyng was slawe, 
2237: And darius occupieth his degree, 
2238: Thogh he therto hadde neither right ne lawe. 
2239: Lordynges, ensample heerby may ye take 
2240: How that in lordshipe is no sikernesse; 
2241: For whan fortune wole a man forsake, 
2242: She bereth awey his regne and his richesse, 
2243: And eek his freendes, bothe moore and lesse. 
2244: For what man that hath freendes thurgh fortune, 
2245: Mishap wol maken hem enemys, I gesse; 
2246: This proverbe is ful sooth and ful commune. 

Zenobia

2247: Cenobia, of palymerie queene, 
2248: As writen persiens of hir noblesse, 
2249: So worthy was in armes and so keene, 
2250: That no wight passed hire in hardynesse, 
2251: Ne in lynage, ne in oother gentillesse. 
2252: Of kynges blood of perce is she descended. 
2253: I seye nat that she hadde moost fairnesse, 
2254: But of his shap she myghte nat been amended. 
2255: From hire childhede I fynde that she fledde 
2256: Office of wommen, and to wode she wente, 
2257: And many a wolde hertes blood she shedde 
2258: With arwes brode that she to hem sente. 
2259: She was so swift that she anon hem hente; 
2260: And whan that she was elder, she wolde 
2261: Leouns, leopardes, and beres al torente, 
2262: And in hire armes weelde hem at hir wille. 
2263: She dorste wilde beestes dennes seke, 
2264: And rennen in the montaignes al the nyght, 
2265: And slepen under a bussh, and she koude eke 
2266: Wrastlen, by verray force and varray myght, 
2267: With any yong man, were he never so wight. 
2268: Ther myghte no thyng in hir armes stonde. 
2269: She kepte hir maydenhod from every wight; 
2270: To no man deigned hire for to be bonde. 
2271: But atte laste hir freendes han hire maried 
2272: To odenake, a prynce of that contree, 
2273: Al were it so that she hem longe taried. 
2274: And ye shul understonde how that he 
2275: Hadde swiche fantasies as hadde she. 
2276: But natheless, whan they were knyt in-feere, 
2277: They lyved in joye and in felicitee; 
2278: For ech of hem hadde oother lief and deere. 
2279: Save o thyng, that she wolde nevere assente, 
2280: By no wey, that he sholde by hire lye 
2281: But ones, for it was hire pleyn entente 
2282: To have a child, the world to multiplye; 
2283: And also soone as that she myghte espye 
2284: That she was nat with childe with that dede 
2285: Thanne wolde she suffre hym doon his fantasye 
2286: Eft-soone, and nat but oones, out of drede. 
2287: And if she were with childe at thilke cast, 
2288: Namoore sholde he pleyen thilke game 
2289: Til fully fourty wikes weren past; 
2290: Thanne wolde she ones suffre hym do the same. 
2291: Al were this odenake wolde or tame, 
2292: He gat namoore of hire, for thus she seyde, 
2293: It was to wyves lecherie and shame, 
2294: In oother caas, if that men with hem pleyde. 
2295: Two sones by this odenake hadde she, 
2296: The whiche she kepte in verty and lettrure; 
2297: But now unto oure tale turne we. 
2298: I seye, so worshipful a creature, 
2299: And wys therwith, and large with mesure, 
2300: So penyble in the werre, and curteis eke, 
2301: Ne moore laboure myghte in werre endure, 
2302: Was noon, though al this world men sholde seke. 
2303: Hir riche array ne myghte nat be told, 
2304: As wel in vessel as in hire clothyng. 
2305: She was al clad in perree and in gold, 
2306: And eek she lafte noght, for noon huntyng, 
2307: To have of sondry tonges ful knowyng, 
2308: Whan that she leyser hadde; and for to entende 
2309: To lerne bookes was al hire likyng, 
2310: How she in vertu myghte hir lyf dispende. 
2311: And shortly of this storie for to trete, 
2312: So doghty was hir housbonde and eek she, 
2313: That they conquered manye regnes grete 
2314: In the orient, with many a fair citee 
2315: Apertanaunt unto the magestee 
2316: Of rome, and with strong hond held hem ful faste, 
2317: Ne nevere myghte hir foomen doon hem flee, 
2318: Ay whil that odenakes dayes laste. 
2319: Hir batailles, whoso list hem for to rede, 
2320: Agayn spor the kyng and othere mo, 
2321: And how that al this proces fil in dede, 
2322: Why she conquered, and what title had therto, 
2323: And after, of hir meschief and hire wo, 
2324: How that she was biseged and ytake, -- 
2325: Lat hym unto my maister petrak go, 
2326: That writ ynough of this, I undertake. 
2327: Whan odenake was deed, she myghtily 
2328: The regnes heeld, and with hire propre hond 
2329: Agayn hir foos she faught so cruelly 
2330: That ther nas kyng ne prynce in al that lond 
2331: That he nas glad, if he that grace fond, 
2332: That she ne wolde upon his lond werreye. 
2333: With hire they maden alliance by bond 
2334: To been in pees, and lete hire ride and pleye. 
2335: The emperour of rome, claudius 
2336: Ne hym bifore, the romayn galien, 
2337: Ne dorste nevere been so corageus, 
2338: Ne noon ermyn, ne noon egipcien, 
2339: Ne surrien, ne noon arabyen, 
2340: Withinne the feeld that dorste with hire fighte, 
2341: Lest that she wolde hem with hir handes slen, 
2342: Or with hir meignee putten hem to flighte. 
2343: In kynges habit wente hir sones two, 
2344: As heires of hir fadres regnes alle, 
2345: And hermanno and thymalao 
2346: Hir names were, as persiens hem calle. 
2347: But ay fortune hath in hire hony galle; 
2348: This myghty queene may no while endure. 
2349: Fortune out of hir regne made hire falle 
2350: To wrecchednesse and to mysaventure. 
2351: Aurelian, whan that the governaunce 
2352: Of rome cam into his handes tweye, 
2353: He shoop upon this queene to doon vengeaunce. 
2354: And with his legions he took his weye 
2355: Toward cenobie, and shortly for to seye, 
2356: He made hire flee, and atte laste hire hente, 
2357: And fettred hire, and eek hire children tweye, 
2358: And wan the land, and hoom to rome he wente. 
2359: Amonges othere thynges that he wan, 
2360: Hir chaar, that was with gold wroght and perree, 
2361: This grete romayn, this aurelian, 
2362: Hath with hym lad, for that men sholde it see. 
2363: Biforen his triumphe walketh shee, 
2364: With gilte cheynes on hire nekke hangynge. 
2365: Coroned was she, as after hir degree, 
2366: And ful of perree charged hire clothynge. 
2367: Allas, fortune! she that whilom was 
2368: Dredeful to kynges and to emperoures, 
2369: Now gaureth al the peple on hire, allas! 
2370: And she that helmed was in starke stoures, 
2371: And wan by force townes stronge and toures, 
2372: Shal on hir heed now were a vitremyte; 
2373: And she that bar the ceptre ful of floures 
2374: Shal bere a distaf, hire cost for to quyte 


Pedro of Castille

2375: O noble, o worthy petro, glorie of spayne, 
2376: Whom fortune heeld so hye in magestee, 
2377: Wel oghten men thy pitous deeth complayne! 
2378: Out of thy land thy brother made thee flee, 
2379: And after, at a seege, by subtiltee, 
2380: Thou were bitraysed and lad unto his tente, 
2381: Where as he with his owene hand slow thee, 
2382: Succedynge in thy regne and in thy rente. 
2383: The feeld of snow, with th' egle of blak therinne, 
2384: Caught with the lymrod coloured as the gleede, 
2385: He brew this cursednesse and al this synne. 
2386: The wikked nest was werker of this nede. 
2387: Noght charles olyver, that took ay heede 
2388: Of trouthe and honoure, but of armorike 
2389: Genylon-olyver, corrupt for meede, 
2390: Broghte this worthy kyng in swich a brike. 

De Petro Rege de Cipro

2391: O worthy petro, kyng of cipre, also, 
2392: That alisandre wan by heigh maistrie, 
2393: Ful many an hethen wroghtestow ful wo, 
2394: Of which thyne owene liges hadde envie, 
2395: And for no thyng but for thy chivalrie 
2396: They in thy bed han slayn thee by the morwe. 
2397: Thus kan fortune hir wheel governe and gye, 
2398: And out of joye brynge men to sorwe. 

De Barnabo de Lumbardia

2399: Off melan grete barnabo viscounte, 
2400: God of delit, and scourge of lumbardye, 
2401: Why sholde I nat thyn infortune acounte, 
2402: Sith in estaat thow cloumbe were so hye? 
2403: Thy brother sone, that was thy double allye, 
2404: For he thy nevew was, and sone-in-lawe, 
2405: Withinne his prisoun made thee to dye, -- 
2406: But why, ne how, noot I that thou were slawe. 

De Hugelino Comite de Pize

2407: Off the erl hugelyn of pyze the langour 
2408: Ther may no tonge telle for pitee. 
2409: But litel out of pize stant a tour, 
2410: In which tour in prisoun put was he, 
2411: And with hym been his litel children thre; 
2412: The eldest scarsly fyf yeer was of age. 
2413: Allas, fortune! it was greet crueltee 
2414: Swiche briddes for to putte in swich a cage! 
2415: Dampned was he to dyen in that prisoun, 
2416: For roger, which that bisshop was of pize, 
2417: Hadde on hym maad a fals suggestioun, 
2418: Thurgh which the peple gan upon hym rise, 
2419: And putten hym to prisoun, in swich wise 
2420: As ye han herd, and mete and drynke he hadde 
2421: So smal, that wel unnethe it may suffise, 
2422: And therwithal it was ful povre and badde. 
2423: And on a day bifil that in that hour 
2424: Whan that his mete wont was to be broght, 
2425: The gayler shette the dores of the tour. 
2426: He herde it wel, but he spak right noght, 
2427: And in his herte anon ther fil a thoght 
2428: That they for hunger wolde doon hym dyen. 
2429: Allas! quod he, allas, that I was wroght! 
2430: Therwith the teeris fillen from his yen. 
2431: His yonge sone, that thre yeer was of age, 
2432: Unto hym seyde, fader, why do ye wepe? 
2433: Whanne wol the gayler bryngen oure potage? 
2434: Is ther no morsel breed that ye do kepe? 
2435: I am so hungry that I may nat slepe. 
2436: Now wolde God that I myghte slepen evere! 
2437: Thanne sholde nat hunger in my wombe crepe; 
2438: Ther is no thyng, save breed, that me were levere. 
2439: Thus day by day this child bigan to crye, 
2440: Til in his fadres barm adoun it lay, 
2441: And seyde, farewel, fader, I moot dye! 
2442: And kiste his fader, and dyde the same day. 
2443: And whan the woful fader deed it say, 
2444: For wo his armes two he gan to byte, 
2445: And seyde, allas, fortune, and weylaway! 
2446: Thy false wheel my wo al may I wyte. 
2447: His children wende that it for hunger was 
2448: That he his armes gnow, and nat for wo, 
2449: And seyde, fader, do nat so, allas! 
2450: But rather ete the flessh upon us two. 
2451: Oure flessh thou yaf us, take oure flessh us fro, 
2452: And ete ynogh, -- right thus they to hym seyde, 
2453: And after that, withinne a day or two, 
2454: They leyde hem in his lappe adoun and deyde. 
2455: Hymself, despeired, eek for hunger starf; 
2456: Thus ended is this myghty erl of pize. 
2457: From heigh estaat fortune awey hym carf. 
2458: Of this tragedie it oghte ynough suffise; 
2459: Whoso wol here it in a lenger wise, 
2460: Redeth the grete poete of ytaille 
2461: That highte dant, for he kan al devyse 
2462: Fro point to point, nat o word wol he faille. 

Nero

2463: Although that nero were as vicius 
2464: As any feend that lith ful lowe adoun, 
2465: Yet he, as telleth us swetonius, 
2466: This wyde world hadde in subjeccioun, 
2467: Bothe est and west, (south), and septemtrioun. 
2468: Of rubies, saphires, and of peerles white 
2469: Were alle his clothes brouded up and doun; 
2470: For he in gemmes greetly gan delite. 
2471: Moore delicaat, moore pompous of array, 
2472: Moore proud was nevere emperour than he; 
2473: That like clooth that he hadde wered o day, 
2474: After that tyme he nolde it nevere see. 
2475: Nettes of gold threed hadde he greet plentee 
2476: To fisshe in tybre, whan hym liste pleye. 
2477: His lustes were al lawe in his decree, 
2478: For fortune as his freend hym wolde obeye. 
2479: He rome brende for his delicasie; 
2480: The senatours he slow upon a day 
2481: To heere how that men wolde wepe and crie; 
2482: And slow his brother, and by his suster lay. 
2483: His mooder made he in pitous array, 
2484: For he hire wombe slitte to biholde 
2485: Where he conceyved was; so weilaway! 
2486: That he so litel of his mooder tolde. 
2487: No teere out of his eyen for that sighte 
2488: Ne cam, but seyde, a fair womman was she! 
2489: Greet wonder is how that he koude or myghte 
2490: Be domesman of hire dede beautee. 
2491: The wyn to bryngen hym comanded he, 
2492: And drank anon, -- noon oother wo he made. 
2493: Whan myght is joyned unto crueltee, 
2494: Allas, to depe wol the venym wade! 
2495: In yowthe a maister hadde this emperour 
2496: To teche hym letterure and curteisye, 
2497: For of moralitee he was the flour, 
2498: As in his tyme, but if bookes lye; 
2499: And whil this maister hadde of hym maistrye, 
2500: He maked hym so konnyng and so sowple 
2501: That longe tyme it was er tirannye 
2502: Or any vice dorste on hym uncowple. 
2503: This seneca, of which that I devyse, 
2504: By cause nero hadde of hym swich drede, 
2505: For he fro vices wolde hym ay chastise 
2506: Discreetly, as by word and nat by dede, -- 
2507: Sire, wolde he seyn, an emperour moot nede 
2508: Be vertuous and hate tirannye -- 
2509: For which he in a bath made hym to blede 
2510: On bothe his armes, til he moste dye. 
2511: This nero hadde eek of acustumaunce 
2512: In youthe agayns his maister for to ryse, 
2513: Which afterward hym thoughte a greet grevaunce; 
2514: Therefore he made hym dyen in this wise. 
2515: But natheless this seneca the wise 
2516: Chees in a bath to dye in this manere 
2517: Rather than han another tormentise; 
2518: And thus hath nero slayn his maister deere. 
2519: Now fil it so that fortune liste no lenger 
2520: The ye pryde of nero to cherice, 
2521: For though that he were strong, yet was she strenger. 
2522: She thoughte thus, by god! I am to nyce 
2523: To sette a man that is fulfild of vice 
2524: In heigh degree, and emperour hym calle. 
2525: By god! out of his sete I wol hym trice; 
2526: Whan he leest weneth, sonnest shal he falle. 
2527: The peple roos upon hym on a nyght 
2528: For his defaute, and whan he it espied, 
2529: Out of his dores anon he hath hym dight 
2530: Allone, and ther he wende han been allied, 
2531: He knokked faste, and ay the moore he cried, 
2532: The fastere shette they the dores alle. 
2533: Tho wiste he wel, he hadde himself mysgyed, 
2534: And wente his wey; no lenger dorste he calle. 
2535: The peple cried and rombled up and doun, 
2536: That with his erys herde he how they seyde, 
2537: Shere is this false tiraunt, this neroun? 
2538: For fere almoost out of his wit he breyde, 
2539: And to his goddes pitously he preyde 
2540: For socour, but it myghte nat bityde. 
2541: For drede of this, hym thoughte that he deyde, 
2542: And ran into a gardyn hym to hyde. 
2543: And in this gardyn foond he cherles tweye 
2544: That seten by a fyr full greet and reed. 
2545: And to thise cherles two he gan to preye 
2546: To sleen hym, and to girden of his heed, 
2547: That to his body, whan that he were deed, 
2548: Were no despit ydoon for his defame. 
2549: Hymself he slow, he koude no bettre reed, 
2550: Of which fortune lough, and hadde a game. 

De Oloferno

2551: Was nevere capitayn under a kyng 
2552: That regnes mo putte in subjeccioun, 
2553: Ne strenger was in feeld of alle thyng, 
2554: As in his tyme, ne gretter of renoun, 
2555: Ne moore pompous in heigh presumpcioun 
2556: Than oloferne, which fortune ay kiste 
2557: So likerously, and ladde hym up and doun, 
2558: Til that his heed was of, er that he wiste. 
2559: Nat oonly that this world hadde hym in awe 
2560: For lesynge of richesse or libertee, 
2561: But he made every man reneyen his lawe. 
2562: Nabugodonosor was god, seyde hee; 
2563: Noon oother God sholde adoured bee. 
2564: Agayns his heeste no wight dar trespace, 
2565: Save in bethulia, a strong citee, 
2566: Where eliachim a preest was of that place. 
2567: But taak kep of the deth of oloferne: 
2568: Amydde his hoost he dronke lay a-nyght, 
2569: Withinne his tente, large as is a berne, 
2570: And yet, for al his pompe and al his myght, 
2571: Judith, a womman, as he lay upright 
2572: Slepynge, his heed of smoot, and from his tente 
2573: Ful pryvely she stal from every wight, 
2574: And with his heed unto hir toun she wente. 

De Rege Antiocho illustri

2575: What nedeth it of kyng anthiochus 
2576: To telle his hye roial magestee, 
2577: His hye pride, his werkes venymus? 
2578: For swich another was ther noon as he. 
2579: Rede which that he was in machabee, 
2580: And rede the proude wordes that he seyde, 
2581: And why he fil fro heigh prosperitee, 
2582: And in an hill how wrecchedly he deyde. 
2583: Fortune hym hadde enhaunced so in pride 
2584: That verraily he wende he myghte attayne 
2585: Unto the sterres upon every syde, 
2586: And in balance weyen ech montayne, 
2587: And alle the floodes of the see restrayne. 
2588: And goddes peple hadde he moost in hate; 
2589: Hem wolde he sleen in torment and in payne, 
2590: Wenynge that God ne myghte his pride abate. 
2591: And for that nichanore and thymothee 
2592: Of jewes weren venquysshed myghtily, 
2593: Unto the jewes swich an hate hadde he 
2594: That he bad greithen his chaar ful hastily, 
2595: And swoor, and seyde ful despitously 
2596: Unto jerusalem he wolde eftsoone, 
2597: To wreken his ire on it ful cruelly; 
2598: But of his purpos he was let ful soone. 
2599: God for his manace hym so soore smoot 
2600: With invisible wounde, ay incurable, 
2601: That in his guttes carf it so and boot 
2602: That his peynes weren importable. 
2603: And certeinly the wreche was resonable, 
2604: For many a mannes guttes dide he peyne. 
2605: But from his purpos cursed and dampnable, 
2606: For al his smert, he wolde hym nat restreyne, 
2607: But bad anon apparaillen his hoost; 
2608: And sodeynly, er he was of it war, 
2609: God daunted al his pride and al his boost. 
2610: For he so soore fil out of his char 
2611: That it his limes and his skyn totar, 
2612: So that he neyther myghte go ne ryde, 
2613: But in a chayer men aboute hym bar, 
2614: Al forbrused, bothe bak and syde. 
2615: The wreche of God hym smoot so cruelly 
2616: That thurgh his body wikked wormes crepte, 
2617: And therwithal he stank so horribly 
2618: That noon of al his meynee that hym kepte, 
2619: Theither so he wook, or ellis slepte, 
2620: Ne myghte noght the stynk of hym endure. 
2621: In this meschief he wayled and eek wepte, 
2622: And knew God lord of every creature. 
2623: To al his hoost and to hymself also 
2624: Ful wlatsom was the stynk of his careyne; 
2625: No man ne myghte hym bere to ne fro. 
2626: And in this stynk and this horrible peyne, 
2627: He starf ful wrecchedly in a monteyne. 
2628: Thus hath this robbour and this homycide, 
2629: That many a man made to wepe and pleyne, 
2630: Swich gerdoun as bilongeth unto pryde. 

De Alexandro

2631: The storie of alisaundre is so commune 
2632: That every wight that hath discrecioun 
2633: Hath herd somwhat or al of his fortune. 
2634: This wyde world, as in conclusioun, 
2635: He wan by strengthe, or for his hye renoun 
2636: They weren glad for pees unto hym sende. 
2637: The pride of man and beest he leyde adoun, 
2638: Wherso he cam, unto the worldes ende. 
2639: Comparisoun myghte nevere yet maked 
2640: Bitwixe hym and another conquerour; 
2641: For al this world for drede of hym hath quaked. 
2642: He was of knyghthod and of fredom flour; 
2643: Fortune hym made the heir of hire honour. 
2644: Save wyn and wommen, no thing myghte aswage 
2645: His hye entente in armes and labour, 
2646: So was he ful of leonyn corage. 
2647: What pris were it to hym, though I yow tolde 
2648: Of darius, and an hundred thousand mo 
2649: Of kynges, prices, dukes, erles bolde 
2650: Whiche he conquered, and broghte hem into wo? 
2651: I seye, as fer as man may ryde or go, 
2652: The world was his, -- what sholde I moore devyse? 
2653: For though I write or tolde yow everemo 
2654: Of his knyghthod, it myghte nat suffise. 
2655: Twelf yeer he regned, as seith machabee. 
2656: Philippes sone of macidoyne he was, 
2657: That first was kyng in grece the contree. 
2658: O worthy, gentil alisandre, allas, 
2659: That evere sholde fallen swich a cas! 
2660: Empoysoned of thyn owene folk thou weere; 
2661: Thy sys fortune hath turned into aas, 
2662: And yet for thee ne weep she never a teere. 
2663: Who shal me yeven teeris to compleyne 
2664: The deeth of gentillesse and of franchise, 
2665: That al the world weelded in his demeyne, 
2666: And yet hym thoughte it myghte nat suffise? 
2667: So ful was his corage of heigh emprise. 
2668: Allas! who shal me helpe to endite 
2669: False fortune, and poyson to despise, 
2670: The whiche two of al this wo I wyte? 

De Julio Cesare

2671: By wisedom, manhede, and by greet labour, 
2672: From humble bed to roial magestee 
2673: Up roos he julius, the conquerour, 
2674: That wan al th' occident by land and see, 
2675: By strengthe of hand, or elles by tretee, 
2676: And unto rome made hem tributarie; 
2677: And sitthe of rome the emperour was he, 
2678: Til that fortune weex his adversarie. 
2679: O myghty cesar, that in thessalie 
2680: Agayn pompeus, fader thyn in lawe, 
2681: That of the orient hadde al the chivalrie 
2682: As fer as that the day bigynneth dawe, 
2683: Thou thurgh thy knyghthod hast hem take and slawe, 
2684: Save fewe folk that with pompeus fledde, 
2685: Thurgh which thou puttest al th' orient in awe. 
2686: Thanke fortune, that so wel thee spedde! 
2687: But now a litel while I wol biwaille 
2688: This pompeus, this noble governour 
2689: Of rome, which that fleigh at this bataille. 
2690: I seye, oon of his men, a fals traitour, 
2691: His heed of smoot, to wynnen hym favour 
2692: Of julius, and hym the heed he broghte. 
2693: Allas, pompeye, of th' orient conquerour, 
2694: That fortune unto swich a fyn thee broghte! 
2695: To rome agayn repaireth julius 
2696: With his triumphe, lauriat ful hey; 
2697: But on a tyme brutus cassius, 
2698: That evere hadde of his hye estaat envye, 
2699: Ful prively hath maad conspiracye 
2700: Agayns this julius in subtil wise, 
2701: And caste the place in which he sholde dye 
2702: With boydekyns, as I shal yow devyse. 
2703: This julius to the capitolie wente 
2704: Upon a day, as he was wont to goon, 
2705: And in the capitolie anon hym hente 
2706: This false brutus and his othere foon, 
2707: And stiked hym with boydekyns anoon 
2708: With many a wounde, and thus they lete hym lye; 
2709: But nevere gronte he at no strook but oon, 
2710: Or elles at two, but if his storie lye. 
2711: So manly was this julius of herte, 
2712: And so wel lovede estaatly honestee, 
2713: That though his deedly woundes soore smerte, 
2714: His mantel over his hypes caste he, 
2715: For no man sholde seen his privetee; 
2716: And he lay of diyng in a traunce, 
2717: And wiste verraily that deed was hee, 
2718: Of honestee yet hadde he remembraunce. 
2719: Lucan, to thee this storie I recomende, 
2720: And to swetoun, and to valerie also, 
2721: That of this storie writen word and ende, 
2722: How that to thise grete conqueroures two 
2723: Fortune was first freend, and sitthe foo. 
2724: No man ne truste upon hire favour longe, 
2725: But have hire in awayt for everemoo; 
2726: Witnesse on alle thise conqueroures stronge. 

Croesus

2727: This riche cresus, whilom kyng of lyde, 
2728: Of which cresus cirus soore hym dradde, 
2729: Yet was he caught amyddes al his pryde, 
2730: And to be brent men to the fyr hym ladde. 
2731: But swich a reyn doun fro the welkne shadde 
2732: That slow the fyr, and made hym to escape; 
2733: But to be war no grace yet he hadde, 
2734: Til fortune on the galwes made hym gape. 
2735: Whanne he escaped was, he kan nat stente 
2736: For to bigynne a newe werre agayn. 
2737: He wende wel, for that fortune hym sente 
2738: Swich hap that he escaped thurgh the rayn, 
2739: That of his foos he myghte nat be slayn; 
2740: And eek a sweven upon a nyght he mette, 
2741: Of which he was so proud and eek so fayn 
2742: That in vengeance he al his herte sette. 
2743: Upon a tree he was, as that hym thoughte, 
2744: Ther juppiter hym wessh, bothe bak and syde, 
2745: And phebus eek a fair towaille hym broughte 
2746: To dryen hym with; and therfore was his pryde, 
2747: And to his doghter, that stood hym bisyde, 
2748: Which that he knew in heigh sentence habounde, 
2749: He bad hire telle hym what it signyfyde, 
2750: And she his dreem bigan right thus expounde: 
2751: The tree, quod she, the galwes is to meene, 
2752: And juppiter bitokneth snow and reyn, 
2753: And phebus, with his towaille so clene, 
2754: Tho been the sonne stremes for to seyn. 
2755: Thou shalt anhanged be, fader, certeyn; 
2756: Reyn shal thee wasshe, and sonne shal thee drye. 
2757: Thus warned hym ful plat and eek ful pleyn 
2758: His doghter, which that called was phanye. 
2759: Anhanged was cresus, the proude kyng; 
2760: His roial trone myghte hym nat availle. 
2761: Tragedies noon oother maner thyng 
2762: Ne kan in syngyng crie ne biwaille 
2763: But that fortune alwey wole assaille 
2764: With unwar strook the regnes that been proude; 
2765: For whan men trusteth hire, thanne wol she faille, 
2766: And covere hire brighte face with a clowde. 

The Knight's Interruption of the Monk's Tale
2767: Hoo! quod the knyght, good sire, namoore of this! 
2768: That ye han seyd is right ynough, ywis, 
2769: And muchel moore; for litel hevynesse 
2770: Is right ynough to muche folk, I gesse. 
2771: I seye for me, it is a greet disese, 
2772: Whereas men han been in greet welthe and ese, 
2773: To heeren of hire sodeyn fal, allas! 
2774: And the contrarie is joye and greet solas, 
2775: As whan a man hath been in povre estaat, 
2776: And clymbeth up and wexeth fortunat, 
2777: And there abideth in prosperitee. 
2778: Swich thyng is gladsom, as it thynketh me, 
2779: And of swich thyng were goodly for to telle. 
2780: Ye, quod oure hooste, by seint poules belle! 
2781: Ye seye right sooth; this monk he clappeth lowde. 
2782: He spak how fortune covered with a clowde 
2783: I noot nevere what; and als of a tragedie 
2784: Right now ye herde, and, pardee, no remedie 
2785: It is for to biwaille ne compleyne 
2786: That that is doon, and als it is a peyne, 
2787: As ye han seyd, to heere of hevynesse. 
2788: Sire monk, namoore of this, so God yow blesse! 
2789: Youre tale anoyeth al this compaignye. 
2790: Swich talkyng is nat worth a boterflye, 
2791: For therinne is ther no desport ne game. 
2792: Wherfore, sire monk, or daun piers by youre name, 
2793: I pray yow hertely telle us somwhat elles; 
2794: For sikerly, nere clunkyng of youre belles, 
2795: That on youre bridel hange on every syde, 
2796: By hevene kyng, that for us alle dyde, 
2797: I sholde er this han fallen doun for sleep, 
2798: Althogh the slough had never been so deep; 
2799: Thanne hadde your tale al be toold in veyn. 
2800: For certeinly, as that thise clerkes seyn, 
2801: Whereas a man may have noon audience, 
2802: Noght helpeth it to tellen his sentence. 
2803: And wel I woot the substance is in me, 
2804: If any thyng shal wel reported be. 
2805: Sir, sey somwhat of huntyng, I yow preye. 
2806: Nay, quod this monk, I have no lust to pleye. 
2807: Now lat another telle, as I have toold. 
2808: Thanne spak oure hoost with rude speche and boold, 
2809: And seyde unto the nonnes preest anon, 
2810: Com neer, thou preest, com hyder, thou sir john! 
2811: Telle us swich thyng as may oure hertes glade. 
2812: Be blithe, though thou ryde upon a jade. 
2813: What thogh thyn hors be bothe foul and lene? 
2814: If he wol serve thee, rekke nat a bene. 
2815: Looke that thyn herte be murie everemo. 
2816: Yis, sir, quod he, yis, hoost, so moot I go, 
2817: But I be myrie, ywis I wol be blamed. 
2818: And right anon his tale he hath attamed, 
2819: And thus he seyde unto us everichon, 
2820: This sweete preest, this goodly man sir john.

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