sig: [A1] | |
Here begynneth the hystory of Tytus and Gesyppus translated out of latyn in-to englysshe by Wyllyam_Walter / somtyme seruaunte to syr Henry_Marney knyght / chaunceler of the duchy of Lancastre. |
|
WHat tyme in Rome reygned Octauyan | |
There was a senatour called Fuluius | |
Whiche had a sone / a noble gentylman | |
Of wyt excellent / whose name was Tytus | |
5 | His noble vertues were harde to dyscus |
Fuluius sent hym / forthe to his study | |
Unto Athenes / to lerne phylozophy | |
sig: [A1v] | |
This Tytus was put to be soiournynge | |
With one Cremes a noble man of fame | |
10 | Whiche had a sone goynge to lyke lernynge |
Gesyppus was this noble yonge mannes name | |
And for that Tytus sholde go to the same | |
He put his sone with hym in company | |
To arystip to lerne phylosop[h]y phylosophy] phylosopy 1525 | |
15 | These .ii. yonge men led togyder theyr lyfe |
Eche to other was so fauourable | |
That neuer bytwene them was ony stryfe | |
That one wolde the other was agreable | |
In lernynge they were equiperable | |
20 | Thus they contynued by yeres thre |
At theyr lernynge as bretherne they had be | |
At whiche tyme from this worlde dyd passe cremes | |
Whose dethe these yonge men toke ryght heuely | |
Tytus made lyke sorowe and heuynes | |
25 | As if he [were] his Sone naturally were] where 1525 |
Cremes frendes that were in company | |
Knewe not whiche of theym for to comforte best | |
For with lyke sorowe they were bothe opprest | |
But shortly after Cremes obseque | |
30 | Gesyppus kynnesmen came inco[n]tynent |
Sayenge yf that he maryed wolde be | |
They knewe a wyfe for hym expedyent | |
Of beauty and substaunce ryght excellent | |
Of athenes borne and come of noble blood | |
35 | Whiche vnto hym sholde be propice and good |
sig: A2 | |
Sophrone was the name of this damoysell | |
Whiche yf he wolde haue her in maryage | |
He sholde haue her that dothe other excell | |
In beauty / wysdome / and eke personage | |
40 | And yet she is but .xv. yeres of age |
Gesyppus of this report set on fyre | |
With glad semblaunt graunted to theyr desyre | |
And on a daye this damoysell to se | |
He toke the way vnto her mancyon | |
45 | Tytus kepte hym famyliaryte |
And after they had take refeccyon | |
Gesyppus to haue communycacyon | |
Toke her a_parte his mynde for to disclose | |
Wherby he myght knowe her wyll and purpose | |
50 | As Tytus sate by and dyd contemplayre |
Her noble beaute with the curius | |
Her goodly countenaunce and vysage fayre | |
Her membres and wysdome compendius | |
Of her he was so hote and amerous | |
55 | His blood enchaufed so that with grete payne |
From chaungynge colour he coude hym refrayne | |
After Gesyppus had ben there a space | |
They toke theyr leue of the damsell foresayd | |
And went togydre home vnto theyr place | |
60 | Tytus whiche by loue was full sore dysmayd |
Upon his bedde alone hymselfe he layd | |
With musynge he called to his remembraunce | |
Her noble beauty in eche circumstaunce | |
sig: [A2v] | |
The more he dyd thynke the more was his payne | |
65 | After many syghes and besy thought |
Unto hymselfe he gan thus to complayne | |
Alas pore wretche wherto am I now brought | |
Tytus this lyfe that thou hast chosen is nought | |
Where is thy mynde where is thy loue so set | |
70 | Where is thy hope thou sholde no-wyse forget |
Alas Tytus thou sholde wel consyder | |
That she that thou louest with herte so fre | |
Thou sholde her loue as she were thy syster thy] thy thy 1525 | |
Cremes kyndnes deserued so to be | |
75 | Thou arte also bounden by amyte |
With Gesyppus thou arte confyderate | |
Wherfore nowe thou mayst not his honour hate | |
Reason wolde thou sholde thy corage abate | |
Refrayne thy-selfe from loue so fraudulent | |
80 | For thy desyre is full disordynate |
Close thy syght and mynde from this ylle entent | |
Knowledge thy-selfe thy foly eke repent | |
Let reason now thy mynde and herte excyte | |
To exchue thyne vnlaufull apetyte | |
85 | Upon some-thynge els do now thy mynde set |
Withstonde the loue that doth the so assayle | |
Thou hast good cause this loue for to forget | |
The dede were shame thy purpose is but frayle | |
With honour thou mayst not therwith preuayle | |
90 | Loue and kyndnes sholde cause the fle therfro |
If thou consyder what thou ought to do | |
sig: A3 | |
Yf thou sholde breke thy loue and amyte | |
And to Gesyppus commyt so grete shame | |
What sholde happen of thyn ennormyte | |
95 | Euery man of vntrouth wolde the blame |
Therby thou sholde lese honoure and good name | |
And where thou were namyd a frende stedfast | |
As false and vntrue thou sholde be outcast | |
But whan her beauty he dyd remember | |
100 | From his counsell he dyd this-wyse replye |
The lawe of loue of myght is more strenger | |
Than ony lawe the trouthe to verifye | |
To goddes and mannes it dothe replye | |
Amyte is ofte lost by vyolence | |
105 | Amonge many to Erre is small offence |
The father hathe by loue condiscended | |
And with his doughter done his fowle pleasure | |
Brother with syster eke haue offended | |
Whiche is grete[r] offence and displeasure greter] grete 1525, greter Wright | |
110 | Than from his frende his wyfe for to procure |
Wherfore none can one of this dede reproue | |
Syth I am compelled by veruent loue | |
My youthe and courage my dede shall excuse | |
Loue to this pourpose dothe me sore compell | |
115 | This vyrgyn doth my herte suche-wyse abuse |
In bewty and wysdome whiche dothe excell | |
That loue and reason togyder rebell | |
So that to loue her I can not refrayne | |
Whome eche man desyreth for to optayne | |
sig: [A3v] | |
120 | But fortune here I haue cause for to ban |
Whiche to my frende Gesyppus hathe her lent | |
Rather than vnto some other straunge man | |
From hym to take her I can not assent | |
From an-other I myght conuenyent | |
125 | Alas this chaunce dothe encomber me so |
That I can not tell what is best to do | |
In this wyse Tytus wofully dyd playne | |
Of his purpose beynge varyable | |
That daye nor nyght he coude hymselfe refrayne | |
130 | From syghes and wepynge lamentable |
Mete nor slepe was to hym agreable | |
He was so lowe brought by this heuynesse | |
That from his bedde he coude not hym redresse | |
Gesyppus whiche sawe hym so impotent | |
135 | The sodayn chaunce he gretely dyd bewayle |
And from his frende Tytus he seldome went | |
But often asked of hym in counsayle | |
What thynge myght best for his sorowe preuayle | |
And where the sykenes dyd his body greue | |
140 | Promysynge hym he wolde his payne releue |
Tytus made vnto hym fayned excuse | |
Not shewynge hym the cause of his greuaunce | |
But Gesyppus his sayenge dyd refuse | |
That nede he must declare his wofull chaunce | |
145 | Wherfore to hym with deedly countenaunce |
With grete syghes and teres distillynge | |
He shewed hym it in maner folowynge | |
sig: [A4] | |
My frende yf it pleased god Immortall | |
Dethe more than lyfe to me were ferre better | |
150 | For fortune hath made me so bonde and thrall |
That I am lyke from vertue dysseuer | |
Wherfore an honest deth I had leuer | |
Than for to lyue and be in worldly shame | |
Wherby I myght empayre and lese my name | |
155 | To tell the chaunce I am ryght shamfast |
But for I ought not dyssemble with the | |
To tell the trouthe I shall not be agast | |
The cause of my grefe and ennormyte | |
Loue beauty shame and also honeste | |
160 | Contend and stryue whiche shall haue maystry |
That I knowe not wherto I may apply | |
Unto hym orderly he dyd declare | |
How of Sophrone the excellent noblesse | |
Was the chefe cause of his sorowe and care | |
165 | And how her loue his herte dyd so oppresse |
That of conforte he was remedylesse | |
And how by her loue he entended to dye | |
For withoute shame he knewe no remedy | |
Gesyppus of this was astonyed | |
170 | As he that loued her with all his herte |
And to hym-selfe this-wyse he replyed | |
Better it were from her for to departe | |
Rather than Tytus by the cruell darte | |
Of loue sholde thus fynysshe his wofull lyfe | |
175 | A frende to fynde is harder than a wyfe |
sig: [A4v] | |
By Tytus teres to pyte meued | |
Was Gesyppus whiche wente for company | |
And in this wyse Tytus he repreued | |
Me-thynketh ye be not to me frendly | |
180 | In kepynge your sorowe so secretly |
Ye sholde to me soner your mynde dysclose | |
What had ben your desyre wyll and purpose | |
Though ye thought the dede to be vnhonest | |
Yet to your frende ye sholde it dyscouer | |
185 | As well the yll as good he wyll degest |
Yf he be a stedfast frende and louer | |
Your helthe and mynde he wyll gladly further | |
And yf you nede gyue you his best counsayle | |
What thynge therin myght to you moost auayle | |
190 | Yf ye loue Sophrone I do not meruell |
For knowynge her beauty and noblenes | |
Her vertue wysdome whiche dothe so excell | |
Wolde moue thy mynde of very gentylnes | |
To loue a mayde of so grete worthynes | |
195 | For the greter a thynge is of valure |
The more a noble herte it dothe procure | |
But where ye do nowe on fortune complayne | |
Whiche hath Sophrone put in my gouernaunce | |
Me-thynke therof ye sholde be gladde and fayne | |
200 | For what man wolde thy desyre more auaunce |
Than his pleasure and namely in suche chaunce | |
But alwaye I haue coueyted thy helthe | |
More than myne owne or ony singuler welthe | |
sig: [A5] | |
And yf the matter stode in suche a case | |
205 | That I myght not refuse it honestly |
Ye had I rather myn honour dyfface | |
Than by her cruell loue that ye sholde dye | |
But she is yet in suche estate truely | |
That ye may haue her for to be your wyfe | |
210 | Whiche I shall do for sauynge of your lyfe |
Ye had good cause to dyspryse my frendshyp | |
Yf in this case I left you destitute | |
He is no frende that kyndnes wyll let slyp | |
With honoure whan he may it execute | |
215 | How sholde ye me for your frende now repute |
Yf I wolde not in this extremyte | |
As a stedfast frende shewe you amyte | |
Sophrone I haue loued with tender herte | |
Desyrynge the daye of our maryage | |
220 | But my loue is not so veruent and smarte |
But that I shall my-selfe therfro aswage | |
Ye loue her with a more better courage | |
Wherfore be glad of her ye shal not fayle | |
In my chambre shall be your espousayle | |
225 | Wherfore put from your mynd this thought and care |
Leue of your heuynes lamentable | |
Restore your-selfe to your former welfare | |
Ye haue good cause to be confortable | |
Apply your-selfe to be stronge and able | |
230 | That ye may the fruyte of your loue attayne |
Whiche for to haue ye do so moche complayne | |
sig: [A5v] | |
Tytus with this was gretely conforted | |
Yet of his profer he had grete meruayle | |
To se his kyndnes so soone exorted | |
235 | To his desyre voluptuous and frayle |
Gesyppus loue whiche so moche dyd preuayle | |
Made hym haue shame of his grete vsurpinge | |
Wherfore he spake thus with teeres wepynge | |
Gesyppus thy grete liberalyte | |
240 | Is openly to me now manyfest |
Whiche on my parte sholde be shewed to the | |
But I shall not obey to thy request | |
To take thy wyfe the dede were vnhonest | |
Wherfore enioye that fortune hath the lent | |
245 | My hard chaunce to suffre I am content |
Of thy good fortune vse the chaunce and lote | |
And suffre me in sorowe to abyde | |
And in salte teres my body to rote | |
For harde fortune for me doth so prouyde | |
250 | And cruell loue to deth shall be my gyde |
Whiche by desyre me dayly dothe so greue | |
That my wretched lyfe it shall me bereue | |
Tytus yf amyte may nowe purchase | |
That to my desyre ye wyll you assent | |
255 | I shall fynde the meane within a shorte space |
That ye shall haue your purpose and entent | |
For ye knowe well that loue is so veruent | |
That many haue lost theyr lyfe by that payne | |
Of theyr purpose whan they myght not attayne | |
sig: [A6] | |
260 | The grefe ye suffre is importunate |
That ye can not therwith longe contynue | |
And yf ye sholde [dye] by suche mortall fate dye] 1525 omits, dye Wright | |
Than by lyke chaunce I sholde after ensue | |
Yf amyte my mynde coude not subdue | |
265 | Yet do I couet your lyfe for to haue |
Wherby I myght myn owne purchase and saue | |
Therfore Sophrone vnto you shall abyde | |
Whiche is so excellent a creature | |
That ye can not suche an-other prouyde | |
270 | That sholde be so moche vnto your pl[e]asure pleasure] plasure 1525 |
My veruent loue I shall ryght well endure | |
To loue some other I shall me apply | |
Bothe our myndes I may so satysfye | |
Tho suche a wyfe be harde for me to fynde | |
275 | Yet a sure frende is harder to purchase |
Wherfore to leue her reason doth me bynde | |
Than I sholde lese my frende by her trespace | |
A wyfe I may me get in lyke space | |
But harde it is to fynde a frende stedfast | |
280 | A thousande yere yf that my lyfe sholde last |
Yet do I not my wyfe in this case lese | |
Syth that vnto my frende she shall remayne | |
But of .ij. ylles the lest I do chese | |
Wherfore yf my prayer may ought obteyne | |
285 | From so grete sorowe do your-selfe refrayne |
Unto your former state your-selfe restore | |
That ye may haue that ye desyre so sore | |
sig: [A6v] | |
Tytus of this was conforted gretely | |
And to Gesyppus in this wyse he spake | |
290 | I am in doubt where I may apply |
And yf I sholde your profre now forsake | |
Whome ye desyre so specyally to take | |
But for your kyndenes dothe my shame expel | |
I shall applye to your desyre and wyll | |
295 | God graunte that I may be so fortunate |
You to auaunce with honoure and ryches | |
Or to encrease your degre and estate | |
Wherby I myght my faythfulnes expresse | |
And deserue your benyuolent kyndnes | |
300 | That ye may knowe how moche acceptable |
Your mercy is to me agreable | |
Gesyppus sayd I holde this counsayle best | |
For-asmoche as I haue made a promyse | |
I must folowe and colour my behest | |
305 | For y ####superscript-f#### that I sholde Sophrone nowe dyspyse |
Murmur amonge our frendes soone wolde ryse | |
That to an-other they wolde her mary | |
And so we bothe sholde lese her wylfully | |
Wherfore I thynke it best in my demynge | |
310 | That Sophrone as my wyfe that I shall wedde |
And hyther to my house her for to brynge | |
And after that she is brought vnto [m]y bedde my] by 1525 | |
To her instede of me ye shall be ledde | |
Where-as ye may accomplysshe your pleasure | |
315 | As man and wyfe by lawe and eke nature |
sig: B1 | |
And whan this chaunce is playnly manyfest | |
If her frendes therwith wyll be content | |
Than is the mater in good case and rest | |
And yf they wyll not therunto assent | |
320 | Yet at the lest ye shal haue your entent |
The dede so done amended can not be | |
Wherfore nede shall cause them with you agre | |
¶How Gesyppus went out of his chambre to Tytus and how Tytus lay with Sophrone. |
|
This mariage in that tyme was vsed | |
That after the tryumphe of the weddynge | |
325 | The spouse and bryde sholde be brought vnto bedde |
Where eche vnto other sholde gyue a rynge | |
And yf they made therat no refusynge | |
Than durynge lyfe they do eche other take | |
And els they may promyse than forsake | |
sig: [B1v] | |
330 | Tytus alowed the foresayd counsayle |
Gesyppus Sophrone as his wyfe dyd wedde | |
And in his house was made theyr espousayle | |
Whan Tytus had his helth recouered | |
At nyght the wyues broug[h]t the bryde to bedde brought] brougt 1525 | |
335 | And Gesyppus as custome was truely |
Went to the chamber with her to lye | |
Gesyppus chambre where-as the bryde lay | |
Tytus chambre annexed was vnto | |
Whiche had a lytle dore and secret way | |
340 | From the one to the other for to go |
Gesyppus the candell-lyght quenched tho | |
And to Tytus chambre fast he hastyd | |
And with his wyfe to ly he dyd hym bydde | |
Tytus for shame at the fyrst dyd deny | |
345 | But Gesyppus of worde and dede stedfast |
Unto his sayenge dyd suche-wyse reply | |
That to lye with her he graunted at last | |
To Sophrons bed he ascended in hast | |
And asked in familiaryte | |
350 | His wyfe for euer yf that she wolde be |
Sophrone w[h]iche knewe nothynge of this mater whiche] wiche 1525 | |
Thought it was Gesyppus that to her spake | |
Wherfore vnto hym she made this answer | |
For her husbonde she wolde hym not forsake | |
355 | Tytus his wedynge-rynge forthe than dyd take |
And put it on the fynger of his wyfe | |
Grauntynge to be her husbonde terme of lyfe | |
sig: B2 | |
Of venus they vsed the sporte and play | |
As pastyme is of louers amerus | |
360 | This custome they vsed many a daye |
Yet in that tyme she coude neuer discus | |
That her husbonde she lay with was Tytus | |
But this coude not be hydde so pryuely | |
But at length it must be knowen openly | |
365 | In the meane-tyme from Rome were sent lettres |
How his father his mortall lyfe had past | |
Wherfore he must his substaunce to possesse | |
Resorte thyder in all possyble hast | |
Whiche tydynges made Tytus full sore agast | |
370 | He couetynge Sophrone with hym to go |
With Gesyppus [toke] counseyle what to do toke] 1525 omits, toke Wright | |
This thynge they coude not do conuenyent conuenyent] connuenyent 1525 | |
Without Sophrone had therof knowledgynge | |
Wherfore to shewe her bothe they dyd assent | |
375 | And in a secrete chambre they her brynge |
As ye haue herde tolde her of eche thynge | |
Whiche for sorowe wepte in grete aboundaunce sorowe] sorowre 1525 | |
Reprouynge Gesyppus of this false chaunce | |
Without declarynge her mynde and purpose | |
380 | Unto her fathers house she resorted |
And vnto hym the chaunce she dyd disclose | |
How by Gesyppus she was deceyued | |
And that she was not as they supposed | |
The wyfe of Gesyppus but contrary | |
385 | By couert meane Tytus dyd her mary |
sig: [B2v] | |
This thynge her father and frendes dyd greue | |
And to Gesyppus kynne they dyd complayne | |
So that they togyder dyd hym repreue | |
And for the dede they dyd hym yll dysdayne | |
390 | Sayenge he deserued for his false trayne |
In depe pryson to suffre punysshement | |
And that this dede he sholde ryght sore repent | |
Gesyppus to theyr sayenge dyd reply | |
Affyrmynge the dede to be commendable | |
395 | And that he deserued to haue truely |
Of them loue and thanke Inestymable | |
Whiche had her wedded to one more able | |
In ryches honour blood and dygnyte | |
Wherby she and hers auaunced sholde be | |
400 | Tytus hauynge knowlege of this barate |
In his mynde he was gretly troublyd | |
Knowynge the grekes maner and estate and] and and 1525 | |
With wordes and thretenynges to fyght and chyde | |
Tyll they mete one that dare them well abyde | |
405 | Than are they of theyr wordes pacyent |
Theyr symple maner is so Innocent | |
He knowynge theyr custome varyable | |
To cause theym to leue theyr malyce and hate | |
With a romayns herte he dyd hym able | |
410 | In actuall sapyence decorate |
Bothe theyr frendes he dyd there congregate | |
Gesyppus beynge with hym in presence | |
This-wyse he rebuked theyr necligence | |
sig: B3 | |
The phylozophers haue determyned | |
415 | The actes of euery man mortall |
By the goddes sholde be predestined | |
Afore theyr byrthe to be theyr chaunce fatall | |
Therfore what fortune vnto vs do fall | |
We can not thoughe we wolde therto reply | |
420 | Syth that it is gyuen vs by destyny |
We ought also faythfully to beleue | |
That the goddes haue suche preemynence | |
Our fortune at theyr pleasure for to geue | |
And that is iuged by theyr sentence | |
425 | Can not be broken by our violence |
Wherfore he is a fole that wyll dyspyse | |
The workes done by the goddes aduyse | |
To my purpose I haue knowledge truely | |
That Gesyppus ye haue yll reproued | |
430 | For that Sophrone to me he dyd mary |
But yf reason your myndes had moued | |
The dede so done ye sholde haue approued | |
Sythe that the goddes dyd it so ordayne | |
Not to hym but to me she sholde remayne | |
435 | But for that some this reason do despyce |
That fortune is by deuyne prouydence | |
Whiche thynge to man sholde be grete preiudyce | |
I wyll now treate of an-other sentence | |
Two thynges I am bounde by vyolence | |
440 | Whiche to my noblenes is contrary |
But I am compelled for to vary | |
sig: [B3v] | |
One is my-selfe of honoure to auaunce | |
The other to dysprayse myne enymy | |
Whiche I shall do with good remembraunce | |
445 | As the matter doth now requyre Iustly |
From the trouth of it I wyll not reply | |
But with circumspect delyberacyon | |
Of my purpose I shall make relacyon | |
Your wordes are grounded more of malice | |
450 | Than of ony Iust tytle or reason |
Whiche do Gesyppus shamefully dyspyce | |
For that he hath grete kyndnes to me done | |
Of two thynges hath the best choson | |
My lyfe to saue rather than to fulfyll | |
455 | His owne pleasure or your purpose and wyll |
We are confederate in amyte | |
Wherfore the lawe of loue dothe hym thus bynde | |
To helpe his frende in his extremyte | |
Therfore to proue hymselfe stedfast and kynde | |
460 | He shewed loue contrary to your mynde |
Whiche thynge to hym is more commendable | |
Than to folowe your mynde vnreasonable | |
To one of athenes ye her maryed | |
And he hathe geuen her vnto a Romayne | |
465 | Athenes to rome may not be compared |
Of all the worlde whiche that is souerayne | |
In whiche I was myn honour to sustayne | |
Borne as a cytezyn therin to dwell | |
In manhode and lernynge whiche dothe excell | |
sig: [B4] | |
470 | Ye be bonde and thrall but I am borne fre |
For vnto Rome ye be bonde and subiecte | |
Bycause I am scoler in this cyte | |
As come of vyle blood ye do me suspecte | |
I wyll ye knowe that I am not abiecte | |
475 | My places at rome declare my lynage |
Portured with myn auncestours ymage | |
With tyles of Tryumphe the gate is set | |
Whiche myn auncestours by theyr worthynes | |
Within the capytoll longe-tyme dyd get | |
480 | Whiche at this daye doth more and more encr[e]ase encrease] encrase 1525 |
I am a_shamed to boost my ryches | |
And possessyon whiche are so importune | |
As I were the frendly chylde of fortune | |
What cause haue ye Gesyppus to reproue | |
485 | That hath wedded Sophrone to suche estate |
At Rome I maye do moche to your behoue | |
For the comon-welth publyke and priuate | |
Yf ye be wyse ye be ryght fortunate | |
Gesyppus dothe your blod to honoure rayse | |
490 | Wherfore ye haue cause hym to loue and prayse |
Some may fortune do not so moche dysdayne | |
That Sophrone is gyuen me in espousynge | |
But for that I dyd get her by a trayne | |
Her frendes therunto not consentynge | |
495 | Tho that I dyd couertly do this thynge |
Lyke a lechour I haue not her forlayne | |
Wherby I sholde her and her blood dystayne | |
sig: [B4v] | |
Her fayre beauty enflamed my courage | |
That in her loue my herte was set on fyre | |
500 | I durst not atempte her in maryage |
Nor of your consent therin to requyre | |
For I sholde not optayne of my desyre | |
Syth with me to rome that I sholde her take | |
Whose company ye ar at lothe to forsake | |
505 | Therfore I haue done this thynge couertly |
To you my mynde I durst not manyfest | |
Gesyppus in my name her to mary | |
To colour my purpose I thought it best | |
Whiche dyd it accordynge to my request | |
510 | As a concubyne I dyd not her vse |
But for my lawfull wyfe I dyd her chuse | |
From Rome there is tydynges vnto me sent | |
That my father hath lefte his mortall lyfe | |
Wherfore as reason wolde I dyd assent | |
515 | Her to lede with me as my lawfull wyfe |
And for I must be from you fugetyue | |
Therfore the matter I do manyfest | |
Requyrynge you it frendely to dysgest | |
If your affynyte I dyd dispyce | |
520 | Sophrone with you yf I wolde I myght leue |
And as deluded I may her remyse | |
Whiche sholde your hertes more angre and greue | |
But god dyffende that ye sholde me repreue | |
Of suche a shame I beynge a Romayne | |
525 | Or that my frendes by it sholde dystayne |
sig: C1 | |
Wherfore as a frende I do you requyre | |
Your malyce that ye remembre no more | |
But as frendes apply to my desyre | |
Sophrone my wyfe vnto me to restore | |
530 | With kyndnes I wyll acquyte you therfore |
For whether the dede done be good or yll | |
It to amende ye can not thoughe ye wyll | |
And yf my request ye do nowe dyspyse | |
Gesyppus with me vnto Rome shall go | |
535 | With armed power I shall ageyn you ryse |
Sophrone with stronge honde for to take you fro | |
By fell batayle I shall entreate you so | |
That ye shall knowe what Indignacyon | |
Romayns wyll take for your transgressyon | |
540 | These wordes sayd he arose frome his place |
And Gesyppus by the honde he dyd take | |
Knyttynge his browes and frownynge with his face | |
His heed for angre at theym he dyd shake | |
Suche countenaunce vnto theym he dyd make | |
545 | As he dyd dyspyse all theym vtterly |
And as he wolde take vengeaunce cruelly | |
They by these wordes parte for loue dyd gre | |
And parte for fere of his grete manasynge | |
With hym to haue loue and affynyte | |
550 | They thought it best for to be assentynge |
Sith that Gesyppus had made refusynge | |
Tytus affynyte not to forsake | |
Wherby they sholde theym both theyr enmys make | |
sig: [C1v] | |
Wherfore all they after Tytus tho went | |
555 | Sayenge th[e]y wolde not his wyfe hym witholde they] thy 1525 |
His frendeshyp to haue they were all content | |
Gesyppus theyr talent forgyue they wolde | |
And in theyr armes they hym claspe and folde | |
With louynge maner as frendes sholde do | |
560 | Eche from other departed home to go |
Sophrone vnto Tytus they sent agayne | |
Whiche lyke a noble lady and prudent | |
From Gesyppus her loue she dyd refrayne | |
And to Tytus her herte she dyd assent | |
565 | And with hym to Rome as his wyfe she went |
Where of Tytus frendes and famyly | |
She was receyued ryght honorably | |
Gesyppus at athenes styll dyd remayne | |
Whiche for he shewed to Tytus amyte | |
570 | Of all the people was in grete dysdayne |
And by cruyle dyscorde and enmyte | |
He was brought in-to suche calamyte | |
They hym exiled desolate and poore | |
Within athenes neuer to come more | |
575 | He ledynge his lyfe in grete pouerte |
Unto Rome he toke his passage and waye | |
To praye Tytus of his benygnyte | |
Hym for to helpe in his nedefull a[r]ray array] afray 1525, array Wright | |
Unto his place he came vpon a day | |
580 | Before the gate Tytus he gan abyde |
As he came in of hym to be espide | |
sig: C2 | |
Tytus from the market came at the last | |
Into his house he went incontynent | |
Gesyppus was so heuy and shamefast | |
585 | That to Tytus he wolde hym not present |
That he sholde fyrst knowe hym was his entent | |
Whiche knewe hym not he was so yll arayd | |
Wherfore he past by and to hym nought sayd | |
Gesyppus whiche wrongfully supposed | |
590 | That Tytus dyd forsake his acquayntaunce |
Bycause that he was so poorely clothed | |
His grete kyndenes callynge to remembraunce | |
To Tytus shewed in his moost nedefull cha[u]nce | |
Parte for sorowe and parte eke for dysdayne | |
595 | He went from thens and wofully gan playne |
Tyll it was nyght aboute he wandered | |
Mete he wolde ete but mony had he none | |
With thought and care he was so combered | |
That for his dethe he made rufully mone | |
600 | And as he was thus walkynge all alone |
Within the cyte he came at the last | |
Unto a place whiche was forgrowen and wast | |
¶How Gesyppus lyenge a_slepe / two theues came and the stronger slewe the weyker in deuydynge of theyr pray. |
|
sig: [C2v] | |
A derke caue by chaunce he there soone had founde | |
In-to the whiche he dyd dyscende and crepe | |
605 | And layd hym prostrate there vpon the grounde |
Prouokynge hymselfe for to fall aslepe | |
His hard fortune he dyd complayne and wepe | |
With heuynesse he was so sore opprest | |
That at the last he fell vnto his rest | |
610 | The same tyme to the caue there came by chaunce |
Two theues whiche had stolne a pray that nyght | |
Bytwene them two there fell grete varyaunce | |
For theyr boty was not departed ryght | |
Fyrst they do chyde and after that they fyght | |
615 | The strenger thefe the weyker in the stryfe |
Ouercame and bereued hym his lyfe | |
sig: C3 | |
Gesyppus seynge this was glad and fayne | |
Knowyne this waye his dethe for to purchace | |
Sholde be better than he hymselfe certayne | |
620 | His dispared lyfe by wepen difface |
All nyght he taryed in the same place | |
Tyll the pretors men in the mornynge-tyde | |
Toke hym as gylty of the homycyde | |
Bounden of theym lyke a thefe brought he was | |
625 | Before the pretor Varro by his name |
Whiche asked hym yf he the sayd trespace | |
Had commytted by his importune blame | |
Gesyppus as gylty graunted the same | |
Wherfore the pretor as the lawe had set | |
630 | Bad he sholde be hange on the gybet |
By fortune at the tyme of this iugement | |
Tytus came in-to the sayd pretory | |
Of Gesyppus face takynge aduysement | |
Merueyled gretely of his penury | |
635 | To saue his lyfe knowynge no remedy |
Before the pretor sorowfull dismayd | |
In his maner vnto hym thus he sayd | |
Varro commaund this man Infortunate | |
To be cald agayne whome the foriuged | |
640 | He is gyltles for I by cruell fate |
This homycyde my-selfe haue commytted | |
Whom thy men founde this mornynge strangled | |
By whiche offence the goddes Immortall | |
I haue offend[ed] and the lawe with-all offended] offendended 1525 | |
sig: [C3v] | |
645 | Wherfore of ryght my herte can not assent |
Unto the goddes [to] do suche Iniury to] 1525 omits, to Wright | |
To suffre this man be[yng]e innocent beynge] benygne 1525, beynge Wright | |
For my trespace thus wrongefully to dy | |
Varro of this was merueylous sory | |
650 | That Tytus in audience this-wyse spake |
Whiche confessyon he myght not forsake | |
Wherfore to saue his honour and nobles | |
Accordynge as the lawe hym commaunded | |
Gesyppus was reuoked than doubtles | |
655 | And in this wyse varro hym repreued |
What folysshe madnes hath thy mynde meued | |
To graunte the dede without ony turment | |
Wherof thou arte gyltles and Innocent | |
Syth that the cause deserued deth certayne | |
660 | Why dyd thou the sayd homycyde confesse |
Thou beynge not compelled by no payne | |
Beholde Tytus whiche playnly dothe expresse | |
That of this homycyde thou arte gyltles | |
And that he hymselfe the dede dyd commyt | |
665 | Wherfore the lawe therof hathe the now quyt |
Gesyppus behelde Tytus wofully | |
Knowynge he dyd it his lyfe to purchace | |
Unto the Iuge this-wyse he dyd reply | |
For pyte teres rennynge downe his face | |
670 | Varro he sayd my-selfe dyd the trespace selfe] selefe 1525 |
Tytus hath now shewed his pyte to late | |
To me that am a man Infortunate | |
sig: [C4] | |
Tytus contrary sayd pretor take hede | |
This man Iuged is a straunger doubtles | |
675 | Thou mayst perceyue that he dyd not the dede |
By the deed man he was take wepenles | |
He wolde fayne dye he is in suche dystresse | |
Wherfore as vngylty let hym now go | |
And me the trespassoure to dethe for to do | |
680 | The pretor meruayled of theyr constaunce |
His mynde perceyued they were not gylty | |
Wherfore of them to make delyueraunce | |
To saue them bothe his mynde he dyd apply | |
And as he was castynge for remedy | |
685 | There came a yonge man named publius |
Of lyfe and dede whiche was susspecius | |
This publius whiche the murdre had done | |
Knowynge them bothe for to be Innocent | |
He was moued with suche contricyon | |
690 | To dye for his trespace he dyd assent |
Before the pretor he dyd hym present | |
And wylfully without ony askynge | |
He told the dede in maner folowynge | |
Pretor my grete trespace dothe me compell | |
695 | Playnly to discusse this altercacyon |
What god doth moue my mynde I can not tell | |
Of myne offence to make the relacyon | |
My herte is taken with compunccyon | |
To se theym offre theym-selfe for to dye | |
700 | Of this trespace they beynge not gyltye |
sig: [C4v] | |
Truely my-selfe before the mornynge-tyde | |
Slewe this man whiche was my companyon | |
This infortunate slepynge there-besyde | |
Of our boty makynge particyon | |
705 | We fell togyder at discencyon |
As moost strengest in that debate and stryfe | |
From my felowe I toke the mortall lyfe | |
For to excuse Tytus it shall not nede | |
For his noble fame and grete worthynes | |
710 | Do shewe that he wolde not do suche a dede |
Wherfore pretor of this my wretchydnes | |
Do quyte theym bothe as men that be gyltles | |
And to me whiche slewe this man my felawe | |
Do Iustyce accordynge vnto the lawe | |
715 | Octauyan had knowlege of this chaunce |
The parties before hym examyned | |
Knowynge the mater in eche circumstaunce | |
The two vngylty he there pardoned | |
And also the thefe whiche was foriuged | |
720 | For the loue of Tytus he dyd forgyue |
His trespace and in liberte to lyue | |
After Tytus had rebuked frendely | |
Gesyppus of mystrust and ferefulnes | |
He clasped hym in armes louyngly | |
725 | Unto his house with hym he went doubtles |
Sophrone Tytus wyfe wepte for heuynes | |
To se Gesyppus in suche pouerte | |
Complaynynge fortunes mutabylyte | |
sig: [C5] | |
She receyued hym as her owne brother | |
730 | Reteynynge hym well and honorably |
Tytus lykewyse as a frendly louer | |
Apparelyd hym in clothynge rychely | |
With that he was fedde ryght delycatly | |
That in short tyme he was brought in suche plyght | |
735 | That he recouered bothe his helth and myght |
Tytus his substaunce euenly deuyded | |
And to Gesyppus in matrymony | |
With his syster fuluia so named | |
A noble vyrgyn he gaue it frely | |
740 | This kyndnes for kyndnes he dyd truely |
And Gesyppus secrete Tytus gan take | |
And vnto hym in this wyse he tho spake | |
Frend and brother of two thynges nowe chuse | |
For they shall be at your arbytrement | |
745 | Whiche for to take and whiche for to refuse |
The one is whyther ye can be content | |
Here to abyde or that ye wyll assent | |
Unto athenes to go with this substaunce | |
Whiche I haue gyuen to you in gouernaunce | |
750 | Gesyppus in his mynde consyderynge |
His vnkynde exile and grete Indygence | |
With_drewe his mynde from athenes retournynge | |
And perceyuynge Tytus benyuolence | |
Sayd vnto hym his mynde was and sentence | |
755 | Yf his wyll were there to abyde certayne |
Desyrynge to be made a free Romayne | |
sig: [C5v] | |
In one house they ledde togyder theyr lyfe | |
Tytus and Sophrone in prosperyte | |
Gesyppus and fuluia eke his wyfe | |
760 | Abydynge with theym in tranquylite |
Dayly with them encreasynge amyte | |
Tyll cruell deth with his furyous darte | |
Theyr mortall lyfe from this worlde dyd departe | |
Lenuoy du translateur. |
|
AMyte is for to be commended | |
As the true mother to magnyfycence | |
Of whome all honeste is dyscended | |
Germayne to charyte and benificence | |
5 | Enymy to auaryce and violence |
Flaterynge and praysynge it doth also fle | |
Suche is the kynde of parfyte amyte | |
Redy to helpe in eche extremyte | |
Hir neyghboure by kyndnes fauourable | |
10 | As yf she were in suche necessyte |
They sholde to her be lyke agreable | |
To stedfastnes alwaye conformable | |
With eche man hauynge loue and vnyte | |
Suche is the kynde of parfyte amyte | |
15 | What ryches frendshyp or affynyte |
Myght do so moche as Tytus heuynes | |
To moue Gesyppus herte to suche pyte | |
To gyue his wyfe of so grete worthynes | |
Whome he loued more than ony ryches | |
20 | Unto Tytus in his aduersyte |
Hym to releue but onely amyte | |
sig: [C6] | |
What thynge Gesyppus corage dyd thus moue | |
Sophrons / and his frendes grete manasynge | |
The peoples rumor whiche dyd hym reproue | |
25 | Theyr scorning and theyr vnkynde exilynge |
To set at nought for to be maynteynynge | |
Tytus quarell in eche maner degre | |
But onely loue and parfyte amyte | |
What thynge dyd thus moue Tytus consequent | |
30 | To offre hym-selfe redy for to dye |
Affyrmynge Gesyppus as Innocent | |
Of the murdre and hymselfe as gylty | |
His acquayntaunce dissemblynge there frendly | |
As he knewe not what man that he sholde be | |
35 | But onely loue and parfyte amyte |
What thynge dyd moue Tytus herte and corage | |
To gyue Gesyppus in his moost nedefull chaunce | |
His syster fuluia in mariage | |
With halfe his patrymony and substaunce | |
40 | Hym in honour and ryches to auaunce |
Whome fortune brought in extreme pouerte | |
But onely loue and parfyte amyte | |
But now-a_dayes amyte dothe decay | |
Eche man couetyth his synguler profet | |
45 | Upon perylles they do forecast alwaye |
That by a frende they do but lytell set | |
All theyr delyte is ryches for to get | |
Ingratitude wo worthe vnto the | |
Whiche doost exclude bothe loue and amyte | |
Finis. |
|
sig: [C6v] | |
Thus endeth the frendly hystory of Tytus and Gesyppus. Enprynted at London in Fletestrete at the sygne of the Sonne / by me Wynkyn_de_Worde. |