| 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. |