CONFESSIO AMANTIS
John Gower
c. 1386-1393
JOHN GOWER (c. 1330-1408) was an English poet who wrote in French, Latin, and Middle English. He was a close friend of Geoffrey Chaucer. His 33,000-line poem Confessio Amantis ("The Lover's Confession") uses the frame of the confessions of an ageing lover to tell a series of incidents of famous loves. Among these is the story of Jason and Medea, told in Book V of the Confessio, quite possibly inspired by the similar treatment of the Jason story in Chaucer's Legend of Good Women. For this online version, I first present the summary of the relevant section of the Confessio by the Classical scholar G. C. Macaulay (1852-1919), who edited Gower's works. Then, I present the relevant section of the original Middle English poem.
SUMMARY IN MODERN ENGLISH
G. C. Macaulay
The English Works of John Gower, vol. 1 (London: Keegan, Paul, Trench, Trubner, & Co., 1900)
Jason and Medea. Jason was the nephew of king Peleus; and desiring to achieve adventures and see strange lands, he took a company of knights, and among them Hercules, and sailed to the isle of Colchos to win the fleece of gold. On the way they touched at Troy, where the king Lamedon treated them discourteously, and then they came to Colchos. Oetes, who was king there, endeavoured to persuade Jason to leave his adventure, but without success; and then the princess Medea entertained him with welcome. Moved by love of him she offered him her help to win the fleece, and he plighted his troth to her and swore that he would never part from her. She taught him what to do, and gave him a magic ring and an ointment, telling him also what charms and prayers to use, so that he might slay the serpent which guarded the fleece, yoke the fire-breathing oxen to the plough, sow the teeth of the serpent and slay the knights who should spring up.
He took his leave of her, and passing over the water in a boat did as Medea bade him. Returning with the fleece he was welcomed back by Medea and the rest, and that night he took Medea and her treasure on board his ship and they sailed away to Greece. It was vain to pursue: they were gone.
When they came to Greece, all received them with joy, and these lovers lived together, till they had two sons. Medea with her charms renewed the youth of Eson, Jason's father, and brought him back to the likeness of a young man of twenty years. No woman could have shown more love to a man than she did to Jason; and yet, when he bare the crown after his uncle Peleus was dead, he broke the oath which he had sworn and took Creusa, daughter of king Creon, to wife. Medea sent her the gift of a mantle, from which fire sprang out and consumed her; then in the presence of Jason she killed his two sons, and was gone to the court of Pallas above before he could draw his sword to slay her. Thus mayest thou see what sorrow it brings to swear an oath in love which is not sooth. (3247-4229.)
I have heard before this how Jason won the fleece, but tell me now who brought that fleece first to Colchos.
Pkrixus and Helle. King Athemas by his first wife had two children, Frixus and Hellen; but his second wife Yno hated them and contrived a device against them. She sowed the land with sodden wheat; and when no harvest came, she caused the priests of Ceres to say that the land must be delivered of these children. The queen bade men throw the children into the sea; but Juno saved them, and provided a sheep with golden fleece, which swam with them over the waves. Hellen for dread fell off his back and so was lost, but her brother was borne over to the isle of Colchos, and there the fleece was set, which was the cause why Jason was so forsworn.
My father, he who breaks his troth thus is worthy neither to love nor to be beloved. (4230-4382.)
G. C. Macaulay
The English Works of John Gower, vol. 1 (London: Keegan, Paul, Trench, Trubner, & Co., 1900)
Jason and Medea. Jason was the nephew of king Peleus; and desiring to achieve adventures and see strange lands, he took a company of knights, and among them Hercules, and sailed to the isle of Colchos to win the fleece of gold. On the way they touched at Troy, where the king Lamedon treated them discourteously, and then they came to Colchos. Oetes, who was king there, endeavoured to persuade Jason to leave his adventure, but without success; and then the princess Medea entertained him with welcome. Moved by love of him she offered him her help to win the fleece, and he plighted his troth to her and swore that he would never part from her. She taught him what to do, and gave him a magic ring and an ointment, telling him also what charms and prayers to use, so that he might slay the serpent which guarded the fleece, yoke the fire-breathing oxen to the plough, sow the teeth of the serpent and slay the knights who should spring up.
He took his leave of her, and passing over the water in a boat did as Medea bade him. Returning with the fleece he was welcomed back by Medea and the rest, and that night he took Medea and her treasure on board his ship and they sailed away to Greece. It was vain to pursue: they were gone.
When they came to Greece, all received them with joy, and these lovers lived together, till they had two sons. Medea with her charms renewed the youth of Eson, Jason's father, and brought him back to the likeness of a young man of twenty years. No woman could have shown more love to a man than she did to Jason; and yet, when he bare the crown after his uncle Peleus was dead, he broke the oath which he had sworn and took Creusa, daughter of king Creon, to wife. Medea sent her the gift of a mantle, from which fire sprang out and consumed her; then in the presence of Jason she killed his two sons, and was gone to the court of Pallas above before he could draw his sword to slay her. Thus mayest thou see what sorrow it brings to swear an oath in love which is not sooth. (3247-4229.)
I have heard before this how Jason won the fleece, but tell me now who brought that fleece first to Colchos.
Pkrixus and Helle. King Athemas by his first wife had two children, Frixus and Hellen; but his second wife Yno hated them and contrived a device against them. She sowed the land with sodden wheat; and when no harvest came, she caused the priests of Ceres to say that the land must be delivered of these children. The queen bade men throw the children into the sea; but Juno saved them, and provided a sheep with golden fleece, which swam with them over the waves. Hellen for dread fell off his back and so was lost, but her brother was borne over to the isle of Colchos, and there the fleece was set, which was the cause why Jason was so forsworn.
My father, he who breaks his troth thus is worthy neither to love nor to be beloved. (4230-4382.)
CONFESSIO AMANTIS
John Gower
Book V., lines 3247-4382
3247 In Grece whilom was a king,
3248 Of whom the fame and knowleching
3249 Beleveth yit, and Peles
3250 He hihte; bot it fell him thus,
3251 That his fortune hir whiel so ladde
3252 That he no child his oghne hadde
3253 To regnen after his decess.
3254 He hadde a brother natheles,
3255 Whos rihte name was Eson,
3256 And he the worthi kniht Jason
3257 Begat, the which in every lond
3258 Alle othre passede of his hond
3259 In Armes, so that he the beste
3260 Was named and the worthieste,
3261 He soghte worschipe overal.
3262 Nou herkne, and I thee telle schal
3263 An aventure that he soghte,
3264 Which afterward ful dere he boghte.
3265 Ther was an yle, which Colchos
3266 Was cleped, and therof aros
3267 Gret speche in every lond aboute,
3268 That such merveile was non oute
3269 In al the wyde world nawhere,
3270 As tho was in that yle there.
3271 Ther was a Schiep, as it was told,
3272 The which his flees bar al of gold,
3273 And so the goddes hadde it set,
3274 That it ne mihte awei be fet
3275 Be pouer of no worldes wiht:
3276 And yit ful many a worthi kniht
3277 It hadde assaied, as thei dorste,
3278 And evere it fell hem to the worste.
3279 Bot he, that wolde it noght forsake,
3280 Bot of his knyhthod undertake
3281 To do what thing therto belongeth,
3282 This worthi Jason, sore alongeth
3283 To se the strange regiouns
3284 And knowe the condiciouns
3285 Of othre Marches, where he wente;
3286 And for that cause his hole entente
3287 He sette Colchos forto seche,
3288 And therupon he made a speche
3289 To Peles his Em the king.
3290 And he wel paid was of that thing;
3291 And schop anon for his passage,
3292 And suche as were of his lignage,
3293 With othre knihtes whiche he ches,
3294 With him he tok, and Hercules,
3295 Which full was of chivalerie,
3296 With Jason wente in compaignie;
3297 And that was in the Monthe of Maii,
3298 Whan colde stormes were away.
3299 The wynd was good, the Schip was yare,
3300 Thei tok here leve, and forth thei fare
3301 Toward Colchos: bot on the weie
3302 What hem befell is long to seie;
3303 Hou Lamedon the king of Troie,
3304 Which oghte wel have mad hem joie.
3305 Whan thei to reste a while him preide,
3306 Out of his lond he hem congeide;
3307 And so fell the dissencion,
3308 Which after was destruccion
3309 Of that Cite, as men mai hiere:
3310 Bot that is noght to mi matiere.
3311 Bot thus this worthi folk Gregeis
3312 Fro that king, which was noght curteis,
3313 And fro his lond with Sail updrawe
3314 Thei wente hem forth, and many a sawe
3315 Thei made and many a gret manace,
3316 Til ate laste into that place
3317 Which as thei soghte thei aryve,
3318 And striken Sail, and forth as blyve
3319 Thei sente unto the king and tolden
3320 Who weren ther and what thei wolden.
3321 Oestes, which was thanne king,
3322 Whan that he herde this tyding
3323 Of Jason, which was comen there,
3324 And of these othre, what thei were,
3325 He thoghte don hem gret worschipe:
3326 For thei anon come out of Schipe,
3327 And strawht unto the king thei wente,
3328 And be the hond Jason he hente,
3329 And that was ate paleis gate,
3330 So fer the king cam on his gate
3331 Toward Jason to don him chiere;
3332 And he, whom lacketh no manere,
3333 Whan he the king sih in presence,
3334 Yaf him ayein such reverence
3335 As to a kinges stat belongeth.
3336 And thus the king him underfongeth,
3337 And Jason in his arm he cawhte,
3338 And forth into the halle he strawhte,
3339 And ther they siete and spieke of thinges,
3340 And Jason tolde him tho tidinges,
3341 Why he was come, and faire him preide
3342 To haste his time, and the kyng seide,
3343 "Jason, thou art a worthi kniht,
3344 Bot it lith in no mannes myht
3345 To don that thou art come fore:
3346 Ther hath be many a kniht forlore
3347 Of that thei wolden it assaie."
3348 Bot Jason wolde him noght esmaie,
3349 And seide, "Of every worldes cure
3350 Fortune stant in aventure,
3351 Per aunter wel, per aunter wo:
3352 Bot hou as evere that it go,
3353 It schal be with myn hond assaied."
3354 The king tho hield him noght wel paied,
3355 For he the Grekes sore dredde,
3356 In aunter, if Jason ne spedde,
3357 He mihte therof bere a blame;
3358 For tho was al the worldes fame
3359 In Grece, as forto speke of Armes.
3360 Forthi he dredde him of his harmes,
3361 And gan to preche him and to preie;
3362 Bot Jason wolde noght obeie,
3363 Bot seide he wolde his porpos holde
3364 For ought that eny man him tolde.
3365 The king, whan he thes wordes herde,
3366 And sih hou that this kniht ansuerde,
3367 Yit for he wolde make him glad,
3368 After Medea gon he bad,
3369 Which was his dowhter, and sche cam.
3370 And Jason, which good hiede nam,
3371 Whan he hire sih, ayein hire goth;
3372 And sche, which was him nothing loth,
3373 Welcomede him into that lond,
3374 And softe tok him be the hond,
3375 And doun thei seten bothe same.
3376 Sche hadde herd spoke of his name
3377 And of his grete worthinesse;
3378 Forthi sche gan hir yhe impresse
3379 Upon his face and his stature,
3380 And thoghte hou nevere creature
3381 Was so wel farende as was he.
3382 And Jason riht in such degre
3383 Ne mihte noght withholde his lok,
3384 Bot so good hiede on hire he tok,
3385 That him ne thoghte under the hevene
3386 Of beaute sawh he nevere hir evene,
3387 With al that fell to wommanhiede.
3388 Thus ech of other token hiede,
3389 Thogh ther no word was of record;
3390 Here hertes bothe of on acord
3391 Ben set to love, bot as tho
3392 Ther mihten be no wordes mo.
3393 The king made him gret joie and feste,
3394 To alle his men he yaf an heste,
3395 So as thei wolde his thonk deserve,
3396 That thei scholde alle Jason serve,
3397 Whil that he wolde there duelle.
3398 And thus the dai, schortly to telle,
3399 With manye merthes thei despente,
3400 Til nyht was come, and tho thei wente,
3401 Echon of other tok his leve,
3402 Whan thei no lengere myhten leve.
3403 I not hou Jason that nyht slep,
3404 Bot wel I wot that of the Schep,
3405 For which he cam into that yle,
3406 He thoghte bot a litel whyle;
3407 Al was Medea that he thoghte,
3408 So that in many a wise he soghte
3409 His witt wakende er it was day,
3410 Som time yee, som time nay,
3411 Som time thus, som time so,
3412 As he was stered to and fro
3413 Of love, and ek of his conqueste
3414 As he was holde of his beheste.
3415 And thus he ros up be the morwe
3416 And tok himself seint John to borwe,
3417 And seide he wolde ferst beginne
3418 At love, and after forto winne
3419 The flees of gold, for which he com,
3420 And thus to him good herte he nom.
3421 Medea riht the same wise,
3422 Til dai cam that sche moste arise,
3423 Lay and bethoughte hire al the nyht,
3424 Hou sche that noble worthi kniht
3425 Be eny weie mihte wedde:
3426 And wel sche wiste, if he ne spedde
3427 Of thing which he hadde undertake,
3428 Sche mihte hirself no porpos take;
3429 For if he deide of his bataile,
3430 Sche moste thanne algate faile
3431 To geten him, whan he were ded.
3432 Thus sche began to sette red
3433 And torne aboute hir wittes alle,
3434 To loke hou that it mihte falle
3435 That sche with him hadde a leisir
3436 To speke and telle of hir desir.
3437 And so it fell that same day
3438 That Jason with that suete may
3439 Togedre sete and hadden space
3440 To speke, and he besoughte hir grace.
3441 And sche his tale goodli herde,
3442 And afterward sche him ansuerde
3443 And seide, "Jason, as thou wilt,
3444 Thou miht be sauf, thou miht be spilt;
3445 For wite wel that nevere man,
3446 Bot if he couthe that I can,
3447 Ne mihte that fortune achieve
3448 For which thou comst: bot as I lieve,
3449 If thou wolt holde covenant
3450 To love, of al the remenant
3451 I schal thi lif and honour save,
3452 That thou the flees of gold schalt have."
3453 He seide, "Al at youre oghne wille,
3454 Ma dame, I schal treuly fulfille
3455 Youre heste, whil mi lif mai laste."
3456 Thus longe he preide, and ate laste
3457 Sche granteth, and behihte him this,
3458 That whan nyht comth and it time is,
3459 Sche wolde him sende certeinly
3460 Such on that scholde him prively
3461 Al one into hire chambre bringe.
3462 He thonketh hire of that tidinge,
3463 For of that grace him is begonne
3464 Him thenkth alle othre thinges wonne.
3465 The dai made ende and lost his lyht,
3466 And comen was the derke nyht,
3467 Which al the daies yhe blente.
3468 Jason tok leve and forth he wente,
3469 And whan he cam out of the pres,
3470 He tok to conseil Hercules,
3471 And tolde him hou it was betid,
3472 And preide it scholde wel ben hid,
3473 And that he wolde loke aboute,
3474 Therwhiles that he schal ben oute.
3475 Thus as he stod and hiede nam,
3476 A Mayden fro Medea cam
3477 And to hir chambre Jason ledde,
3478 Wher that he fond redi to bedde
3479 The faireste and the wiseste eke;
3480 And sche with simple chiere and meke,
3481 Whan sche him sih, wax al aschamed.
3482 Tho was here tale newe entamed;
3483 For sikernesse of Mariage
3484 Sche fette forth a riche ymage,
3485 Which was figure of Jupiter,
3486 And Jason swor and seide ther,
3487 That also wiss god scholde him helpe,
3488 That if Medea dede him helpe,
3489 That he his pourpos myhte winne,
3490 Thei scholde nevere parte atwinne,
3491 Bot evere whil him lasteth lif,
3492 He wolde hire holde for his wif.
3493 And with that word thei kisten bothe;
3494 And for thei scholden hem unclothe,
3495 Ther cam a Maide, and in hir wise
3496 Sche dede hem bothe full servise,
3497 Til that thei were in bedde naked:
3498 I wot that nyht was wel bewaked,
3499 Thei hadden bothe what thei wolde.
3500 And thanne of leisir sche him tolde,
3501 And gan fro point to point enforme
3502 Of his bataile and al the forme,
3503 Which as he scholde finde there,
3504 Whan he to thyle come were.
3505 Sche seide, at entre of the pas
3506 Hou Mars, which god of Armes was,
3507 Hath set tuo Oxen sterne and stoute,
3508 That caste fyr and flamme aboute
3509 Bothe at the mouth and ate nase,
3510 So that thei setten al on blase
3511 What thing that passeth hem betwene:
3512 And forthermore upon the grene
3513 Ther goth the flees of gold to kepe
3514 A Serpent, which mai nevere slepe.
3515 Thus who that evere scholde it winne,
3516 The fyr to stoppe he mot beginne,
3517 Which that the fierce bestes caste,
3518 And daunte he mot hem ate laste,
3519 So that he mai hem yoke and dryve;
3520 And therupon he mot as blyve
3521 The Serpent with such strengthe assaile,
3522 That he mai slen him be bataile;
3523 Of which he mot the teth outdrawe,
3524 As it belongeth to that lawe,
3525 And thanne he mot tho Oxen yoke,
3526 Til thei have with a plowh tobroke
3527 A furgh of lond, in which arowe
3528 The teth of thaddre he moste sowe,
3529 And therof schule arise knihtes
3530 Wel armed up at alle rihtes.
3531 Of hem is noght to taken hiede,
3532 For ech of hem in hastihiede
3533 Schal other slen with dethes wounde:
3534 And thus whan thei ben leid to grounde,
3535 Than mot he to the goddes preie,
3536 And go so forth and take his preie.
3537 Bot if he faile in eny wise
3538 Of that ye hiere me devise,
3539 Ther mai be set non other weie,
3540 That he ne moste algates deie.
3541 "Nou have I told the peril al:
3542 I woll you tellen forth withal,"
3543 Quod Medea to Jason tho,
3544 "That ye schul knowen er ye go,
3545 Ayein the venym and the fyr
3546 What schal ben the recoverir.
3547 Bot, Sire, for it is nyh day,
3548 Ariseth up, so that I may
3549 Delivere you what thing I have,
3550 That mai youre lif and honour save."
3551 Thei weren bothe loth to rise,
3552 Bot for thei weren bothe wise,
3553 Up thei arisen ate laste:
3554 Jason his clothes on him caste
3555 And made him redi riht anon,
3556 And sche hir scherte dede upon
3557 And caste on hire a mantel clos,
3558 Withoute more and thanne aros.
3559 Tho tok sche forth a riche Tye
3560 Mad al of gold and of Perrie,
3561 Out of the which sche nam a Ring,
3562 The Ston was worth al other thing.
3563 Sche seide, whil he wolde it were,
3564 Ther myhte no peril him dere,
3565 In water mai it noght be dreynt,
3566 Wher as it comth the fyr is queynt,
3567 It daunteth ek the cruel beste,
3568 Ther may no qued that man areste,
3569 Wher so he be on See or lond,
3570 Which hath that ring upon his hond:
3571 And over that sche gan to sein,
3572 That if a man wol ben unsein,
3573 Withinne his hond hold clos the Ston,
3574 And he mai invisible gon.
3575 The Ring to Jason sche betauhte,
3576 And so forth after sche him tauhte
3577 What sacrifise he scholde make;
3578 And gan out of hire cofre take
3579 Him thoughte an hevenely figure,
3580 Which al be charme and be conjure
3581 Was wroght, and ek it was thurgh write
3582 With names, which he scholde wite,
3583 As sche him tauhte tho to rede;
3584 And bad him, as he wolde spede,
3585 Withoute reste of eny while,
3586 Whan he were londed in that yle,
3587 He scholde make his sacrifise
3588 And rede his carecte in the wise
3589 As sche him tauhte, on knes doun bent,
3590 Thre sithes toward orient;
3591 For so scholde he the goddes plese
3592 And winne himselven mochel ese.
3593 And whanne he hadde it thries rad,
3594 To opne a buiste sche him bad,
3595 Which sche ther tok him in present,
3596 And was full of such oignement,
3597 That ther was fyr ne venym non
3598 That scholde fastnen him upon,
3599 Whan that he were enoynt withal.
3600 Forthi sche tauhte him hou he schal
3601 Enoignte his armes al aboute,
3602 And for he scholde nothing doute,
3603 Sche tok him thanne a maner glu,
3604 The which was of so gret vertu,
3605 That where a man it wolde caste,
3606 It scholde binde anon so faste
3607 That noman mihte it don aweie.
3608 And that sche bad be alle weie
3609 He scholde into the mouthes throwen
3610 Of tho tweie Oxen that fyr blowen,
3611 Therof to stoppen the malice;
3612 The glu schal serve of that office.
3613 And over that hir oignement,
3614 Hir Ring and hir enchantement
3615 Ayein the Serpent scholde him were,
3616 Til he him sle with swerd or spere:
3617 And thanne he may saufliche ynowh
3618 His Oxen yoke into the plowh
3619 And the teth sowe in such a wise,
3620 Til he the knyhtes se arise,
3621 And ech of other doun be leid
3622 In such manere as I have seid.
3623 Lo, thus Medea for Jason
3624 Ordeigneth, and preith therupon
3625 That he nothing foryete scholde,
3626 And ek sche preith him that he wolde,
3627 Whan he hath alle his Armes don,
3628 To grounde knele and thonke anon
3629 The goddes, and so forth be ese
3630 The flees of gold he scholde sese.
3631 And whanne he hadde it sesed so,
3632 That thanne he were sone ago
3633 Withouten eny tariynge.
3634 Whan this was seid, into wepinge
3635 Sche fell, as sche that was thurgh nome
3636 With love, and so fer overcome,
3637 That al hir world on him sche sette.
3638 Bot whan sche sih ther was no lette,
3639 That he mot nedes parte hire fro,
3640 Sche tok him in hire armes tuo,
3641 An hundred time and gan him kisse,
3642 And seide, "O, al mi worldes blisse,
3643 Mi trust, mi lust, mi lif, min hele,
3644 To be thin helpe in this querele
3645 I preie unto the goddes alle."
3646 And with that word sche gan doun falle
3647 On swoune, and he hire uppe nam,
3648 And forth with that the Maiden cam,
3649 And thei to bedde anon hir broghte,
3650 And thanne Jason hire besoghte,
3651 And to hire seide in this manere:
3652 "Mi worthi lusti ladi dere,
3653 Conforteth you, for be my trouthe
3654 It schal noght fallen in mi slouthe
3655 That I ne wol thurghout fulfille
3656 Youre hestes at youre oghne wille.
3657 And yit I hope to you bringe
3658 Withinne a while such tidinge,
3659 The which schal make ous bothe game."
3660 Bot for he wolde kepe hir name,
3661 Whan that he wiste it was nyh dai,
3662 He seide, "A dieu, mi swete mai."
3663 And forth with him he nam his gere,
3664 Which as sche hadde take him there,
3665 And strauht unto his chambre he wente,
3666 And goth to bedde and slep him hente,
3667 And lay, that noman him awok,
3668 For Hercules hiede of him tok,
3669 Til it was undren hih and more.
3670 And thanne he gan to sighe sore
3671 And sodeinliche abreide of slep;
3672 And thei that token of him kep,
3673 His chamberleins, be sone there,
3674 And maden redi al his gere,
3675 And he aros and to the king
3676 He wente, and seide hou to that thing
3677 For which he cam he wolde go.
3678 The king therof was wonder wo,
3679 And for he wolde him fain withdrawe,
3680 He tolde him many a dredful sawe,
3681 Bot Jason wolde it noght recorde,
3682 And ate laste thei acorde.
3683 Whan that he wolde noght abide,
3684 A Bot was redy ate tyde,
3685 In which this worthi kniht of Grece
3686 Ful armed up at every piece,
3687 To his bataile which belongeth,
3688 Tok ore on honde and sore him longeth,
3689 Til he the water passed were.
3690 Whan he cam to that yle there,
3691 He set him on his knes doun strauht,
3692 And his carecte, as he was tawht,
3693 He radde, and made his sacrifise,
3694 And siththe enoignte him in that wise,
3695 As Medea him hadde bede;
3696 And thanne aros up fro that stede,
3697 And with the glu the fyr he queynte,
3698 And anon after he atteinte
3699 The grete Serpent and him slowh.
3700 Bot erst he hadde sorwe ynowh,
3701 For that Serpent made him travaile
3702 So harde and sore of his bataile,
3703 That nou he stod and nou he fell:
3704 For longe time it so befell,
3705 That with his swerd ne with his spere
3706 He mihte noght that Serpent dere.
3707 He was so scherded al aboute,
3708 It hield all eggetol withoute,
3709 He was so ruide and hard of skin,
3710 Ther mihte nothing go therin;
3711 Venym and fyr togedre he caste,
3712 That he Jason so sore ablaste,
3713 That if ne were his oignement,
3714 His Ring and his enchantement,
3715 Which Medea tok him tofore,
3716 He hadde with that worm be lore;
3717 Bot of vertu which therof cam
3718 Jason the Dragon overcam.
3719 And he anon the teth outdrouh,
3720 And sette his Oxen in a plouh,
3721 With which he brak a piece of lond
3722 And sieu hem with his oghne hond.
3723 Tho mihte he gret merveile se:
3724 Of every toth in his degre
3725 Sprong up a kniht with spere and schield,
3726 Of whiche anon riht in the field
3727 Echon slow other; and with that
3728 Jason Medea noght foryat,
3729 On bothe his knes he gan doun falle,
3730 And yaf thonk to the goddes alle.
3731 The Flees he tok and goth to Bote,
3732 The Sonne schyneth bryhte and hote,
3733 The Flees of gold schon forth withal,
3734 The water glistreth overal.
3735 Medea wepte and sigheth ofte,
3736 And stod upon a Tour alofte:
3737 Al prively withinne hirselve,
3738 Ther herde it nouther ten ne tuelve,
3739 Sche preide, and seide, "O, god him spede,
3740 The kniht which hath mi maidenhiede!"
3741 And ay sche loketh toward thyle.
3742 Bot whan sche sih withinne a while
3743 The Flees glistrende ayein the Sonne,
3744 Sche saide, "Ha, lord, now al is wonne,
3745 Mi kniht the field hath overcome:
3746 Nou wolde god he were come;
3747 Ha lord, that he ne were alonde!"
3748 Bot I dar take this on honde,
3749 If that sche hadde wynges tuo,
3750 Sche wolde have flowe unto him tho
3751 Strawht ther he was into the Bot.
3752 The dai was clier, the Sonne hot,
3753 The Gregeis weren in gret doute,
3754 The whyle that here lord was oute:
3755 Thei wisten noght what scholde tyde,
3756 Bot waiten evere upon the tyde,
3757 To se what ende scholde falle.
3758 Ther stoden ek the nobles alle
3759 Forth with the comun of the toun;
3760 And as thei loken up and doun,
3761 Thei weren war withinne a throwe,
3762 Wher cam the bot, which thei wel knowe,
3763 And sihe hou Jason broghte his preie.
3764 And tho thei gonnen alle seie,
3765 And criden alle with o stevene,
3766 "Ha, wher was evere under the hevene
3767 So noble a knyht as Jason is?"
3768 And welnyh alle seiden this,
3769 That Jason was a faie kniht,
3770 For it was nevere of mannes miht
3771 The Flees of gold so forto winne;
3772 And thus to talen thei beginne.
3773 With that the king com forth anon,
3774 And sih the Flees, hou that it schon;
3775 And whan Jason cam to the lond,
3776 The king himselve tok his hond
3777 And kist him, and gret joie him made.
3778 The Gregeis weren wonder glade,
3779 And of that thing riht merie hem thoghte,
3780 And forth with hem the Flees thei broghte,
3781 And ech on other gan to leyhe;
3782 Bot wel was him that mihte neyhe,
3783 To se therof the proprete.
3784 And thus thei passen the cite
3785 And gon unto the Paleis straght.
3786 Medea, which foryat him naght,
3787 Was redy there, and seide anon,
3788 "Welcome, O worthi kniht Jason."
3789 Sche wolde have kist him wonder fayn,
3790 Bot schame tornede hire agayn;
3791 It was noght the manere as tho,
3792 Forthi sche dorste noght do so.
3793 Sche tok hire leve, and Jason wente
3794 Into his chambre, and sche him sente
3795 Hire Maide to sen hou he ferde;
3796 The which whan that sche sih and herde,
3797 Hou that he hadde faren oute
3798 And that it stod wel al aboute,
3799 Sche tolde hire ladi what sche wiste,
3800 And sche for joie hire Maide kiste.
3801 The bathes weren thanne araied,
3802 With herbes tempred and assaied,
3803 And Jason was unarmed sone
3804 And dede as it befell to done:
3805 Into his bath he wente anon
3806 And wyssh him clene as eny bon;
3807 He tok a sopp, and oute he cam,
3808 And on his beste aray he nam,
3809 And kempde his hed, whan he was clad,
3810 And goth him forth al merie and glad
3811 Riht strawht into the kinges halle.
3812 The king cam with his knihtes alle
3813 And maden him glad welcominge;
3814 And he hem tolde the tidinge
3815 Of this and that, hou it befell,
3816 Whan that he wan the schepes fell.
3817 Medea, whan sche was asent,
3818 Com sone to that parlement,
3819 And whan sche mihte Jason se,
3820 Was non so glad of alle as sche.
3821 Ther was no joie forto seche,
3822 Of him mad every man a speche,
3823 Som man seide on, som man seide other;
3824 Bot thogh he were goddes brother
3825 And mihte make fyr and thonder,
3826 Ther mihte be nomore wonder
3827 Than was of him in that cite.
3828 Echon tauhte other, "This is he,
3829 Which hath in his pouer withinne
3830 That al the world ne mihte winne:
3831 Lo, hier the beste of alle goode."
3832 Thus saiden thei that there stode,
3833 And ek that walkede up and doun,
3834 Bothe of the Court and of the toun.
3835 The time of Souper cam anon,
3836 Thei wisshen and therto thei gon,
3837 Medea was with Jason set:
3838 Tho was ther many a deynte fet
3839 And set tofore hem on the bord,
3840 Bot non so likinge as the word
3841 Which was ther spoke among hem tuo,
3842 So as thei dorste speke tho.
3843 Bot thogh thei hadden litel space,
3844 Yit thei acorden in that place
3845 Hou Jason scholde come at nyht,
3846 Whan every torche and every liht
3847 Were oute, and thanne of other thinges
3848 Thei spieke aloud for supposinges
3849 Of hem that stoden there aboute:
3850 For love is everemore in doute,
3851 If that it be wisly governed
3852 Of hem that ben of love lerned.
3853 Whan al was don, that dissh and cuppe
3854 And cloth and bord and al was uppe,
3855 Thei waken whil hem lest to wake,
3856 And after that thei leve take
3857 And gon to bedde forto reste.
3858 And whan him thoghte for the beste,
3859 That every man was faste aslepe,
3860 Jason, that wolde his time kepe,
3861 Goth forth stalkende al prively
3862 Unto the chambre, and redely
3863 Ther was a Maide, which him kepte.
3864 Medea wok and nothing slepte,
3865 Bot natheles sche was abedde,
3866 And he with alle haste him spedde
3867 And made him naked and al warm.
3868 Anon he tok hire in his arm:
3869 What nede is forto speke of ese?
3870 Hem list ech other forto plese,
3871 So that thei hadden joie ynow:
3872 And tho thei setten whanne and how
3873 That sche with him awey schal stele.
3874 With wordes suche and othre fele
3875 Whan al was treted to an ende,
3876 Jason tok leve and gan forth wende
3877 Unto his oughne chambre in pes;
3878 Ther wiste it non bot Hercules.
3879 He slepte and ros whan it was time,
3880 And whanne it fell towardes prime,
3881 He tok to him suche as he triste
3882 In secre, that non other wiste,
3883 And told hem of his conseil there,
3884 And seide that his wille were
3885 That thei to Schipe hadde alle thinge
3886 So priveliche in thevenynge,
3887 That noman mihte here dede aspie
3888 Bot tho that were of compaignie:
3889 For he woll go withoute leve,
3890 And lengere woll he noght beleve;
3891 Bot he ne wolde at thilke throwe
3892 The king or queene scholde it knowe.
3893 Thei saide, "Al this schal wel be do:"
3894 And Jason truste wel therto.
3895 Medea in the mene while,
3896 Which thoghte hir fader to beguile,
3897 The Tresor which hir fader hadde
3898 With hire al priveli sche ladde,
3899 And with Jason at time set
3900 Awey sche stal and fond no let,
3901 And straght sche goth hire unto schipe
3902 Of Grece with that felaschipe,
3903 And thei anon drowe up the Seil.
3904 And al that nyht this was conseil,
3905 Bot erly, whan the Sonne schon,
3906 Men syhe hou that thei were agon,
3907 And come unto the king and tolde:
3908 And he the sothe knowe wolde,
3909 And axeth where his dowhter was.
3910 Ther was no word bot Out, Allas!
3911 Sche was ago. The moder wepte,
3912 The fader as a wod man lepte,
3913 And gan the time forto warie,
3914 And swor his oth he wol noght tarie,
3915 That with Caliphe and with galeie
3916 The same cours, the same weie,
3917 Which Jason tok, he wolde take,
3918 If that he mihte him overtake.
3919 To this thei seiden alle yee:
3920 Anon thei weren ate See,
3921 And alle, as who seith, at a word
3922 Thei gon withinne schipes bord,
3923 The Sail goth up, and forth thei strauhte.
3924 Bot non espleit therof thei cauhte,
3925 And so thei tornen hom ayein,
3926 For al that labour was in vein.
3927 Jason to Grece with his preie
3928 Goth thurgh the See the rihte weie:
3929 Whan he ther com and men it tolde,
3930 Thei maden joie yonge and olde.
3931 Eson, whan that he wiste of this,
3932 Hou that his Sone comen is,
3933 And hath achieved that he soughte
3934 And hom with him Medea broughte,
3935 In al the wyde world was non
3936 So glad a man as he was on.
3937 Togedre ben these lovers tho,
3938 Til that thei hadden sones tuo,
3939 Wherof thei weren bothe glade,
3940 And olde Eson gret joie made
3941 To sen thencress of his lignage;
3942 For he was of so gret an Age,
3943 That men awaiten every day,
3944 Whan that he scholde gon away.
3945 Jason, which sih his fader old,
3946 Upon Medea made him bold,
3947 Of art magique, which sche couthe,
3948 And preith hire that his fader youthe
3949 Sche wolde make ayeinward newe:
3950 And sche, that was toward him trewe,
3951 Behihte him that sche wolde it do,
3952 Whan that sche time sawh therto.
3953 Bot what sche dede in that matiere
3954 It is a wonder thing to hiere,
3955 Bot yit for the novellerie
3956 I thenke tellen a partie.
3957 Thus it befell upon a nyht,
3958 Whan ther was noght bot sterreliht,
3959 Sche was vanyssht riht as hir liste,
3960 That no wyht bot hirself it wiste,
3961 And that was ate mydnyht tyde.
3962 The world was stille on every side;
3963 With open hed and fot al bare,
3964 Hir her tosprad sche gan to fare,
3965 Upon hir clothes gert sche was,
3966 Al specheles and on the gras
3967 Sche glod forth as an Addre doth:
3968 Non otherwise sche ne goth,
3969 Til sche cam to the freisshe flod,
3970 And there a while sche withstod.
3971 Thries sche torned hire aboute,
3972 And thries ek sche gan doun loute
3973 And in the flod sche wette hir her,
3974 And thries on the water ther
3975 Sche gaspeth with a drecchinge onde,
3976 And tho sche tok hir speche on honde.
3977 Ferst sche began to clepe and calle
3978 Upward unto the sterres alle,
3979 To Wynd, to Air, to See, to lond
3980 Sche preide, and ek hield up hir hond
3981 To Echates, and gan to crie,
3982 Which is goddesse of Sorcerie.
3983 Sche seide, "Helpeth at this nede,
3984 And as ye maden me to spede,
3985 Whan Jason cam the Flees to seche,
3986 So help me nou, I you beseche."
3987 With that sche loketh and was war,
3988 Doun fro the Sky ther cam a char,
3989 The which Dragouns aboute drowe:
3990 And tho sche gan hir hed doun bowe,
3991 And up sche styh, and faire and wel
3992 Sche drof forth bothe char and whel
3993 Above in thair among the Skyes.
3994 The lond of Crete and tho parties
3995 Sche soughte, and faste gan hire hye,
3996 And there upon the hulles hyhe
3997 Of Othrin and Olimpe also,
3998 And ek of othre hulles mo,
3999 Sche fond and gadreth herbes suote,
4000 Sche pulleth up som be the rote,
4001 And manye with a knyf sche scherth,
4002 And alle into hir char sche berth.
4003 Thus whan sche hath the hulles sought,
4004 The flodes ther foryat sche nought,
4005 Eridian and Amphrisos,
4006 Peneie and ek Sperchei5dos,
4007 To hem sche wente and ther sche nom
4008 Bothe of the water and the fom,
4009 The sond and ek the smale stones,
4010 Whiche as sche ches out for the nones,
4011 And of the rede See a part,
4012 That was behovelich to hire art,
4013 Sche tok, and after that aboute
4014 Sche soughte sondri sedes oute
4015 In feldes and in many greves,
4016 And ek a part sche tok of leves:
4017 Bot thing which mihte hire most availe
4018 Sche fond in Crete and in Thessaile.
4019 In daies and in nyhtes Nyne,
4020 With gret travaile and with gret pyne,
4021 Sche was pourveid of every piece,
4022 And torneth homward into Grece.
4023 Before the gates of Eson
4024 Hir char sche let awai to gon,
4025 And tok out ferst that was therinne;
4026 For tho sche thoghte to beginne
4027 Such thing as semeth impossible,
4028 And made hirselven invisible,
4029 As sche that was with Air enclosed
4030 And mihte of noman be desclosed.
4031 Sche tok up turves of the lond
4032 Withoute helpe of mannes hond,
4033 Al heled with the grene gras,
4034 Of which an Alter mad ther was
4035 Unto Echates the goddesse
4036 Of art magique and the maistresse,
4037 And eft an other to Juvente,
4038 As sche which dede hir hole entente.
4039 Tho tok sche fieldwode and verveyne,
4040 Of herbes ben noght betre tueine,
4041 Of which anon withoute let
4042 These alters ben aboute set:
4043 Tuo sondri puttes faste by
4044 Sche made, and with that hastely
4045 A wether which was blak sche slouh,
4046 And out therof the blod sche drouh
4047 And dede into the pettes tuo;
4048 Warm melk sche putte also therto
4049 With hony meynd: and in such wise
4050 Sche gan to make hir sacrifice,
4051 And cride and preide forth withal
4052 To Pluto the god infernal,
4053 And to the queene Proserpine.
4054 And so sche soghte out al the line
4055 Of hem that longen to that craft,
4056 Behinde was no name laft,
4057 And preide hem alle, as sche wel couthe,
4058 To grante Eson his ferste youthe.
4059 This olde Eson broght forth was tho,
4060 Awei sche bad alle othre go
4061 Upon peril that mihte falle;
4062 And with that word thei wenten alle,
4063 And leften there hem tuo al one.
4064 And tho sche gan to gaspe and gone,
4065 And made signes manyon,
4066 And seide hir wordes therupon;
4067 So that with spellinge of hir charmes
4068 Sche tok Eson in bothe hire armes,
4069 And made him forto slepe faste,
4070 And him upon hire herbes caste.
4071 The blake wether tho sche tok,
4072 And hiewh the fleissh, as doth a cok;
4073 On either alter part sche leide,
4074 And with the charmes that sche seide
4075 A fyr doun fro the Sky alyhte
4076 And made it forto brenne lyhte.
4077 Bot whan Medea sawh it brenne,
4078 Anon sche gan to sterte and renne
4079 The fyri aulters al aboute:
4080 Ther was no beste which goth oute
4081 More wylde than sche semeth ther:
4082 Aboute hir schuldres hyng hir her,
4083 As thogh sche were oute of hir mynde
4084 And torned in an other kynde.
4085 Tho lay ther certein wode cleft,
4086 Of which the pieces nou and eft
4087 Sche made hem in the pettes wete,
4088 And put hem in the fyri hete,
4089 And tok the brond with al the blase,
4090 And thries sche began to rase
4091 Aboute Eson, ther as he slepte;
4092 And eft with water, which sche kepte,
4093 Sche made a cercle aboute him thries,
4094 And eft with fyr of sulphre twyes:
4095 Ful many an other thing sche dede,
4096 Which is noght writen in this stede.
4097 Bot tho sche ran so up and doun,
4098 Sche made many a wonder soun,
4099 Somtime lich unto the cock,
4100 Somtime unto the Laverock,
4101 Somtime kacleth as a Hen,
4102 Somtime spekth as don the men:
4103 And riht so as hir jargoun strangeth,
4104 In sondri wise hir forme changeth,
4105 Sche semeth faie and no womman;
4106 For with the craftes that sche can
4107 Sche was, as who seith, a goddesse,
4108 And what hir liste, more or lesse,
4109 Sche dede, in bokes as we finde,
4110 That passeth over manneskinde.
4111 Bot who that wole of wondres hiere,
4112 What thing sche wroghte in this matiere,
4113 To make an ende of that sche gan,
4114 Such merveile herde nevere man.
4115 Apointed in the newe Mone,
4116 Whan it was time forto done,
4117 Sche sette a caldron on the fyr,
4118 In which was al the hole atir,
4119 Wheron the medicine stod,
4120 Of jus, of water and of blod,
4121 And let it buile in such a plit,
4122 Til that sche sawh the spume whyt;
4123 And tho sche caste in rynde and rote,
4124 And sed and flour that was for bote,
4125 With many an herbe and many a ston,
4126 Wherof sche hath ther many on:
4127 And ek Cimpheius the Serpent
4128 To hire hath alle his scales lent,
4129 Chelidre hire yaf his addres skin,
4130 And sche to builen caste hem in;
4131 A part ek of the horned Oule,
4132 The which men hiere on nyhtes houle;
4133 And of a Raven, which was told
4134 Of nyne hundred wynter old,
4135 Sche tok the hed with al the bile;
4136 And as the medicine it wile,
4137 Sche tok therafter the bouele
4138 Of the Seewolf, and for the hele
4139 Of Eson, with a thousand mo
4140 Of thinges that sche hadde tho,
4141 In that Caldroun togedre as blyve
4142 Sche putte, and tok thanne of Olyve
4143 A drie branche hem with to stere,
4144 The which anon gan floure and bere
4145 And waxe al freissh and grene ayein.
4146 Whan sche this vertu hadde sein,
4147 Sche let the leste drope of alle
4148 Upon the bare flor doun falle;
4149 Anon ther sprong up flour and gras,
4150 Where as the drope falle was,
4151 And wox anon al medwe grene,
4152 So that it mihte wel be sene.
4153 Medea thanne knew and wiste
4154 Hir medicine is forto triste,
4155 And goth to Eson ther he lay,
4156 And tok a swerd was of assay,
4157 With which a wounde upon his side
4158 Sche made, that therout mai slyde
4159 The blod withinne, which was old
4160 And sek and trouble and fieble and cold.
4161 And tho sche tok unto his us
4162 Of herbes al the beste jus,
4163 And poured it into his wounde;
4164 That made his veynes fulle and sounde:
4165 And tho sche made his wounde clos,
4166 And tok his hond, and up he ros;
4167 And tho sche yaf him drinke a drauhte,
4168 Of which his youthe ayein he cauhte,
4169 His hed, his herte and his visage
4170 Lich unto twenty wynter Age;
4171 Hise hore heres were away,
4172 And lich unto the freisshe Maii,
4173 Whan passed ben the colde shoures,
4174 Riht so recovereth he his floures.
4175 Lo, what mihte eny man devise,
4176 A womman schewe in eny wise
4177 Mor hertly love in every stede,
4178 Than Medea to Jason dede?
4179 Ferst sche made him the flees to winne,
4180 And after that fro kiththe and kinne
4181 With gret tresor with him sche stal,
4182 And to his fader forth withal
4183 His Elde hath torned into youthe,
4184 Which thing non other womman couthe:
4185 Bot hou it was to hire aquit,
4186 The remembrance duelleth yit.
4187 King Peles his Em was ded,
4188 Jason bar corone on his hed,
4189 Medea hath fulfild his wille:
4190 Bot whanne he scholde of riht fulfille
4191 The trouthe, which to hire afore
4192 He hadde in thyle of Colchos swore,
4193 Tho was Medea most deceived.
4194 For he an other hath received,
4195 Which dowhter was to king Creon,
4196 Creusa sche hihte, and thus Jason,
4197 As he that was to love untrewe,
4198 Medea lefte and tok a newe.
4199 Bot that was after sone aboght:
4200 Medea with hire art hath wroght
4201 Of cloth of gold a mantel riche,
4202 Which semeth worth a kingesriche,
4203 And that was unto Creusa sent
4204 In name of yifte and of present,
4205 For Sosterhode hem was betuene;
4206 And whan that yonge freisshe queene
4207 That mantel lappeth hire aboute,
4208 Anon therof the fyr sprong oute
4209 And brente hir bothe fleissh and bon.
4210 Tho cam Medea to Jason
4211 With bothe his Sones on hire hond,
4212 And seide, "O thou of every lond
4213 The moste untrewe creature,
4214 Lo, this schal be thi forfeture."
4215 With that sche bothe his Sones slouh
4216 Before his yhe, and he outdrouh
4217 His swerd and wold have slayn hir tho,
4218 Bot farewel, sche was ago
4219 Unto Pallas the Court above,
4220 Wher as sche pleigneth upon love,
4221 As sche that was with that goddesse,
4222 And he was left in gret destresse.
4223 Thus miht thou se what sorwe it doth
4224 To swere an oth which is noght soth,
4225 In loves cause namely.
4226 Mi Sone, be wel war forthi,
4227 And kep that thou be noght forswore:
4228 For this, which I have told tofore,
4229 Ovide telleth everydel.
4230 Mi fader, I may lieve it wel,
4231 For I have herde it ofte seie
4232 Hou Jason tok the flees aweie
4233 Fro Colchos, bot yit herde I noght
4234 Be whom it was ferst thider broght.
4235 And for it were good to hiere,
4236 If that you liste at mi preiere
4237 To telle, I wolde you beseche.
4238 Mi Sone, who that wole it seche,
4239 In bokes he mai finde it write;
4240 And natheles, if thou wolt wite,
4241 In the manere as thou hast preid
4242 I schal the telle hou it is seid.
4243 The fame of thilke schepes fell,
4244 Which in Colchos, as it befell,
4245 Was al of gold, schal nevere deie;
4246 Wherof I thenke for to seie
4247 Hou it cam ferst into that yle.
4248 Ther was a king in thilke whyle
4249 Towardes Grece, and Athemas
4250 The Cronique of his name was;
4251 And hadde a wif, which Philen hihte,
4252 Be whom, so as fortune it dihte,
4253 He hadde of children yonge tuo.
4254 Frixus the ferste was of tho,
4255 A knave child, riht fair withalle;
4256 A dowhter ek, the which men calle
4257 Hellen, he hadde be this wif.
4258 Bot for ther mai no mannes lif
4259 Endure upon this Erthe hiere,
4260 This worthi queene, as thou miht hiere,
4261 Er that the children were of age,
4262 Tok of hire ende the passage,
4263 With gret worschipe and was begrave.
4264 What thing it liketh god to have
4265 It is gret reson to ben his;
4266 Forthi this king, so as it is,
4267 With gret suffrance it underfongeth:
4268 And afterward, as him belongeth,
4269 Whan it was time forto wedde,
4270 A newe wif he tok to bedde,
4271 Which Yno hihte and was a Mayde,
4272 And ek the dowhter, as men saide,
4273 Of Cadme, which a king also
4274 Was holde in thilke daies tho.
4275 Whan Yno was the kinges make,
4276 Sche caste hou that sche mihte make
4277 These children to here fader lothe,
4278 And schope a wyle ayein hem bothe,
4279 Which to the king was al unknowe.
4280 A yeer or tuo sche let do sowe
4281 The lond with sode whete aboute,
4282 Wherof no corn mai springen oute;
4283 And thus be sleyhte and be covine
4284 Aros the derthe and the famine
4285 Thurghout the lond in such a wise,
4286 So that the king a sacrifise
4287 Upon the point of this destresse
4288 To Ceres, which is the goddesse
4289 Of corn, hath schape him forto yive,
4290 To loke if it mai be foryive,
4291 The meschief which was in his lond.
4292 Bot sche, which knew tofor the hond
4293 The circumstance of al this thing,
4294 Ayein the cominge of the king
4295 Into the temple, hath schape so,
4296 Of hire acord that alle tho
4297 Whiche of the temple prestes were
4298 Have seid and full declared there
4299 Unto the king, bot if so be
4300 That he delivere the contre
4301 Of Frixus and of Hellen bothe,
4302 With whom the goddes ben so wrothe,
4303 That whil tho children ben therinne,
4304 Such tilthe schal noman beginne,
4305 Wherof to gete him eny corn.
4306 Thus was it seid, thus was it sworn
4307 Of all the Prestes that ther are;
4308 And sche which causeth al this fare
4309 Seid ek therto what that sche wolde,
4310 And every man thanne after tolde
4311 So as the queene hem hadde preid.
4312 The king, which hath his Ere leid,
4313 And lieveth al that evere he herde,
4314 Unto here tale thus ansuerde,
4315 And seith that levere him is to chese
4316 Hise children bothe forto lese,
4317 Than him and al the remenant
4318 Of hem whiche are aportenant
4319 Unto the lond which he schal kepe:
4320 And bad his wif to take kepe
4321 In what manere is best to done,
4322 That thei delivered weren sone
4323 Out of this world. And sche anon
4324 Tuo men ordeigneth forto gon;
4325 Bot ferst sche made hem forto swere
4326 That thei the children scholden bere
4327 Unto the See, that non it knowe,
4328 And hem therinne bothe throwe.
4329 The children to the See ben lad,
4330 Wher in the wise as Yno bad
4331 These men be redy forto do.
4332 Bot the goddesse which Juno
4333 Is hote, appiereth in the stede,
4334 And hath unto the men forbede
4335 That thei the children noght ne sle;
4336 Bot bad hem loke into the See
4337 And taken hiede of that thei sihen.
4338 Ther swam a Schep tofore here yhen,
4339 Whos flees of burned gold was al;
4340 And this goddesse forth withal
4341 Comandeth that withoute lette
4342 Thei scholde anon these children sette
4343 Above upon this Schepes bak;
4344 And al was do, riht as sche spak,
4345 Wherof the men gon hom ayein.
4346 And fell so, as the bokes sein,
4347 Hellen the yonge Mayden tho,
4348 Which of the See was wo bego,
4349 For pure drede hire herte hath lore,
4350 That fro the Schep, which hath hire bore,
4351 As sche that was swounende feint,
4352 Sche fell, and hath hirselve dreint;
4353 With Frixus and this Schep forth swam,
4354 Til he to thyle of Colchos cam,
4355 Where Juno the goddesse he fond,
4356 Which tok the Schep unto the lond,
4357 And sette it there in such a wise
4358 As thou tofore hast herd devise,
4359 Wherof cam after al the wo,
4360 Why Jason was forswore so
4361 Unto Medee, as it is spoke.
4362 Mi fader, who that hath tobroke
4363 His trouthe, as ye have told above,
4364 He is noght worthi forto love
4365 Ne be beloved, as me semeth:
4366 Bot every newe love quemeth
4367 To him which newefongel is.
4368 And natheles nou after this,
4369 If that you list to taken hiede
4370 Upon mi Schrifte to procede,
4371 In loves cause ayein the vice
4372 Of covoitise and Avarice
4373 What ther is more I wolde wite.
4374 Mi Sone, this I finde write,
4375 Ther is yit on of thilke brood,
4376 Which only for the worldes good,
4377 To make a Tresor of Moneie,
4378 Put alle conscience aweie:
4379 Wherof in thi confession
4380 The name and the condicion
4381 I schal hierafterward declare,
4382 Which makth on riche, an other bare.
Source: John Gower, The English Works of John Gower, vol. 2, ed. G. C. Macaulay (London: Keegan, Paul, Trench, Trubner, & Co., 1900).