Part 42 (2/2)

But for to tellen alle the circ.u.mstauncys, Of every thyng shewed in centencs, n.o.ble devyses, diverse ordinauncys, Conveid be scripture with ful gret excellence; Al to declare, y have non eloquence, Therfore y pray to alle tho that it schal rede,[157]

For to correcte where as they se nede.

[Footnote 157: that shall yt rede.]

First, whan they[158] pa.s.syd was the fabour, Entring the brigge of this n.o.ble town,[159]

There was a peler reysyd lik a tour, And theron stod a st.u.r.dy champyone, Of look and chere, stern as a lyone; His swerd uprered, prowdly gan manace, Alle foreyn enemyes from the kyng to enchace;

[Footnote 158: he.]

[Footnote 159: citee.]

And in defens of his estat riall, The geaunt wolde abyde ech aventure, And alle a.s.sautes that were marcyall, For his sake he proudly wolde endure; In tokenynge wher of, he hadde a long[160] scripture, On either syde declaryng his entent, Whiche sayde thus, be good avis.e.m.e.nt.

[Footnote 160: _Omitted._]

[Sidenote: Inimicos ejus induam confusione.]

”Alle tho that ben enemys to the kyng, I schal them clothe with confucione; Make hym myghti be vertuos levyng, His mortall fou to oppressen and bere a downe, And hym to encresene as Cristes champione; Alle myschevys from hym to abrigge, With the grace of G.o.d, at the entryng of this[161] brigge.”

[Footnote 161: the.]

Too antilopis stondyng on either syde, With the armes of Ingelond and of Fraunce, In token that G.o.d schall for hym provide, As he hath t.i.tle be juste eneritaunce, To regne in pees, plente, and alle plesaunce; Cesyng of werre, that men myghte ryden and[162] gone, As trewe liegis, there hertys mad bothe oone.

[Footnote 162: or.]

Forthermore, so as the kyng gan ryde, Middes of the brigge there was a toure on lofte; The lord of lordes beynge ay his gyde, As he hath be and yit wil be ful ofte.

The tour araied with velwetty softe, Clothys of gold, silk, and tapicerie, As apperteynyth to his regalye.

And at his comyng, of excellent beaute, Benygne[163] of port, most womanly of chere, There issued out, empresses thre; There here displaied, as Phebus in his[164] spere, With crownettys of gold and stones clere; At whos out comyng thei gaf swyche a light, That the beholders were stonyed in there sight.

[Footnote 163: beyng.]

[Footnote 164: her.]

[Sidenote: Nature.]

[Sidenote: Grace.]

The first of them was callyd[165] NATURE, As sche that hath undyr here demayne, Man, beest, and foul, and every creature, Withinne the bondys of here goldyn cheyne;[166]

Eke hevene, and erthe, and every creature,[167]

This empresse of custum doth enbrace: And next here com here suster callyd GRACE.

[Footnote 165: called was.]

[Footnote 166: _These lines are transposed._]

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