Page:The Canterbury Tales and Faerie Queene.djvu/174

This page needs to be proofread.
160
THE CANTERBURY TALES.
I say, so worshipful a creature, And wise therewith, and large with measfire,[1] So penible[2] in the war, and courteous eke, Nor more labour might in war endure, Was none, though all this worlds men should seek. Her rich array it mighte not be told, As well in vessel[3] as in her clothing; She was all clad in pierrie[4] and in gold. And eke she leftë not,[5] for no hunting, To have of sundry tongues full knowing, When that she leisure had, and for t' intend[6]To learnë bookes was all her liking. How she in virtue might her life dispend.
And, shortly of this story for to treat, So doughty was her husband and eke she, That they conquered many regnes great In th' Orient, with many a fair city Appertinent unto the majesty Of Rome, and with strong hande held them fast. Nor ever might their foemen do[7] them flee. Aye while that Odenatus' dayes last'.
Her battles, whoso list them for to read. Against Sapor the king,[8] and other mo', And how that all this process fell in deed. Why she conqufér'd, and what title thereto, And after of her mischief[9] and her woe, How that she was besieged and y-take, Let him unto my master Petrarch go. That writes enough of this, I undertake.
When Odenate was dead, she mightily The regne held, and with her proper hand Against her foes she fought so cruelly. That there n'as[10] king nor prince in all that land. That was not glad, if he that grace fand That she would not upon his land warray;[11]With her they maden álliánce by bond, To be in peace, and let her ride and play.
The emperor of Borne, Claudius, Nor, him before, the Roman Gallien, Durstë never be so courageoús, Nor no Armenian, nor Egyptien, Nor Syrian, nor no Arabien, Within the fieldë durstë with her fight. Lest that she would them with her handës aliën,[12] Or with her meinie[13] puttë them to flight.
In kingës' habit went her sones two. As heirës of their father's regnes all; And Herëmanno and Timolaó Their namës were, as Persians them call. But aye Fortúne hath in her honey gall; This mighty queenë may no while endure; Fortune out of her regnë made her fall To wretchedness and to misádveutúre.
Aurelian, when that the governance Of Romë came into his handës tway,[14] He shope[15] upon this queen to do vengeánce; And with his legións he took his way Toward Zenobie, and, shortly for to say. He made her flee, and at tlife last her hent,[16] And fetter'd her, and eke her children tway. And won the land, and home to Rome he went.
Amongës other thingës that he wan. Her oar, that was with gold wrought and pierrie. This greatë Soman, this Aurelian Hath with him led, for that men should it see. Before in his triumphë walked she With giltë chains upon her neck hanging; Crowned she was, as after[17] her degree. And full of pierrie charged[18] her clothing.
Alas, Fortúnë! she that whom was Dreadful to kingës and to emperoúrs. Now galeth[19] all the people on her, alas! And she that helmed was in starkë stowres,[20]And won by forcë townës strong and tow'rs, Shall on her head now wear a vitremite;[21] And she that bare the sceptre full of flow'rs Shall bear a distaff, her cost for to quite.[22]
Although that Nero were as vicious As any fiend that lies full low adown, Yet he, as telleth us Suetonius,[23] This widë world had in subjectioún, Both East and West, South and Septentrioún. Of rubies, sapphires, and of pearlës white Were all his clothes embroider'd up and down, For he in gemmes greatly gan delight.
More delicate, more pompous of array. More proud, was never emperor than he; That ilkë cloth[24] that he had worn one day. After that time he would it never see; Nettës of gold thread had he great plenty. To fish in Tiber, when him list to play ; His lustës were as law, in his degree, For Fortune as his friend would him obey.
He Romë burnt for his délicacy;[25]The senators he slew upon a day. To hearë how that men would weep and cry; And slew his brother, and by his sister lay. His mother made he in piteous array ; For he her wombë alittë, to behold Where he conceived was; so well-away! That he so little of his mother told.[26]
No tear out of his eyen for that sight Came; but he said, a fair-woman was she. Great wonder is, how that he could or might Be doomesman[27] of her deadë beauty: The wine to bringë him commanded he. And drank anon; none other woe he made.
  1. ↑ Bountiful with due moderation.
  2. ↑ Laborious.
  3. ↑ Plate; French, "vaisselle."
  4. ↑ Precious stones.
  5. ↑ Did not neglect.
  6. ↑ Apply.
  7. ↑ Make.
  8. ↑ Of Persia, who made the Emperor Valerian prisoner, conquered Syria, and was pressing triumphantly westward, when he was met and defeated by Odenatus and Zenobia.
  9. ↑ Misfortune.
  10. ↑ Was not.
  11. ↑ Make war.
  12. ↑ Slay.
  13. ↑ Troops.
  14. ↑ In A.D. 270.
  15. ↑ Resolved, prepared.
  16. ↑ look.
  17. ↑ According to.
  18. ↑ loaded.
  19. ↑ Yelleth, shouteth.
  20. ↑ Wore helmet in obstinate battles.
  21. ↑ The signification of this word, which is spelled in several ways, is not known. Skinner's explanation, "another attire," founded on the spelling "autremite." is obviously insufficient.
  22. ↑ To spin for her maintenance.
  23. ↑ Great part of this "tragedy" of Sero is really borrowed, however, from the "Eomanoe of the Rose '•
  24. ↑ Same robe.
  25. ↑ Pleasure
  26. ↑ So little valued.
  27. ↑ Judge, critic,
This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.