# The Legend of Good Women/The Legend of Ariadne
### The Legend of Ariadne

| | Iuge Infernal, Minos, of Crete king, |
| | Now cometh thy lot, now comestow on the ring; |
| | Nat for thy sake only wryte I this storie, |
| | But for to clepe agein unto memorie |
| 1890 | Of Theseus the grete untrouthe of love; |
| | For which the goddes of the heven above |
| | Ben wrothe, and wreche han take for thy sinne. |
| | Be reed for shame! now I thy lyf beginne. |
| | Minos, that was the mighty king of Crete, |
| | That hadde an hundred citees stronge and grete, |
| | To scole hath sent his sone Androgeus, |
| | To Athenes; of the whiche hit happed thus, |
| | That he was slayn, lerning philosphye, |
| | Right in that citee, nat but for envye. |
| 1900 | The grete Minos, of the whiche I speke, |
| | His sones deeth is comen for to wreke; |
| | Alcathoe he bisegeth harde and longe, |
| | But natheles the walles be so stronge, |
| | And Nisus, that was king of that citee, |
| | So chivalrous, that litel dredeth he; |
| | Of Minos or his ost took he no cure, |
| | Til on a day befel an aventure, |
| | That Nisus doghter stood upon the wal, |
| | And of the sege saw the maner al, |
| 1910 | So happed hit, that, at a scarmishing, |
| | She caste her herte upon Minos the king, |
| | For his beautee and for his chivalrye, |
| | So sore, that she wende for to dye. |
| | And, shortly of this proces for to pace, |
| | She made Minos winnen thilke place, |
| | So that the citee was al at his wille, |
| | To saven whom him list, or elles spille; |
| | But wikkedly he quitte her kindenesse, |
| | And let her drenche in sorowe and distresse, |
| 1920 | Nere that the goddes hadde of her pite; |
| | But that tale were to long as now for me. |
| | Athenes wan this king Minos also, |
| | And Alcathoe and other tounes mo; |
| | And this theffect, that Minos hath so driven |
| | Hem of Athenes, that they mote him yiven |
| | Fro yere to yere her owne children dere |
| | For to be slayn, as ye shul after here. |
| | This Minos hath a monstre, a wikked beste, |
| | That was so cruel that, without areste, |
| 1930 | Whan that a man was broght in his presence, |
| | He wolde him ete, ther helpeth no defence. |
| | And every thridde yeer, with-outen doute, |
| | They casten lot, and, as hit com aboute |
| | On riche, on pore, he moste his sone take, |
| | And of his child he moste present make |
| | Unto Minos, to save him or to spille, |
| | Or lete his beste devoure him at his wille. |
| | And this hath Minos don, right in despyt; |
| | To wreke his sone was set al his delyt, |
| 1940 | And maken hem of Athenes his thral |
| | Fro yere to yere, whyl that he liven shal; |
| | And hoom he saileth whan this toun is wonne. |
| | This wikked custom is so longe y-ronne |
| | Til that of Athenes king Egeus |
| | Mot sende his owne sone, Theseus, |
| | Sith that the lot is fallen him upon, |
| | To be devoured, for grace is ther non. |
| | And forth is lad this woful yonge knight |
| | Unto the court of king Minos ful right, |
| 1950 | And in a prison, fetered, cast is he |
| | Til thilke tyme he sholde y-freten be. |
| | Wel maystow wepe, O woful Theseus, |
| | That art a kinges sone, and dampned thus. |
| | Me thinketh this, that thou were depe y-holde |
| | To whom that saved thee fro cares colde! |
| | And now, if any woman helpe thee, |
| | Wel oughtestow her servant for to be, |
| | And been her trewe lover yeer by yere! |
| | But now to come ageyn to my matere. |
| 1960 | The tour, ther as this Theseus is throwe |
| | Doun in the botom derke and wonder lowe, |
| | Was ioyning in the walle to a foreyne; |
| | And hit was longing to the doghtren tweyne |
| | Of king Minos, that in hir chambres grete |
| | Dwelten above, toward the maister-strete, |
| | In mochel mirthe, in Ioye and in solas. |
| | Not I nat how, hit happed ther, per cas, |
| | As Theseus compleyned him by nighte, |
| | The kinges doghter, Adrian that highte, |
| 1970 | And eek her suster Phedra, herden al |
| | His compleyning, as they stode on the wal |
| | And lokeden upon the brighte mone; |
| | Hem leste nat to go to bedde sone. |
| | And of his wo they had compassioun; |
| | A kinges sone to ben in swich prisoun |
| | And be devoured, thoughte hem gret pitee. |
| | Than Adrian spak to her suster free, |
| | And seyde, "Phedra, leve suster dere, |
| | This woful lordes sone may ye nat here, |
| 1980 | How pitously compleyneth he his kin, |
| | And eek his pore estat that he is in, |
| | And gilteless? now certes, hit is routhe! |
| | And if ye wol assenten, by my trouthe, |
| | He shal be holpen, how so that we do!" |
| | Phedra answerde, "y-wis, me is as wo |
| | For him as ever I was for any man; |
| | And, to his help, the beste reed I can |
| | Is that we doon the gayler prively |
| | To come, and speke with us hastily, |
| 1990 | And doon this woful man with him to come. |
| | For if he may this monstre overcome, |
| | Than were he quit; ther is noon other bote. |
| | Lat us wel taste him at his herte-rote, |
| | That, if so be that he a wepen have, |
| | Wher that he dar, his lyf to kepe and save, |
| | Fighten with this fend, and him defende. |
| | For, in the prison, ther he shal descende, |
| | Ye wite wel, that the beste is in a place |
| | That nis nat derk, and hath roum eek and space |
| 2000 | To welde an ax or swerd or staf or knyf, |
| | So that, me thinketh, he sholde save his lyf; |
| | If that he be a man, he shal do so. |
| | And we shul make him balles eek also |
| | Of wexe and towe, that, whan he gapeth faste, |
| | Into the bestes throte he shal hem caste |
| | To slake his hunger and encombre his teeth; |
| | And right anon, whan that Theseus seeth |
| | The beste achoked, he shal on him lepe |
| | To sleen him, or they comen more to-hepe. |
| 2010 | This wepen shal the gayler, or that tyde, |
| | Ful privily within the prison hyde; |
| | And, for the hous is crinkled to and fro, |
| | And hath so queinte weyes for to go -- |
| | For hit is shapen as the mase is wroght -- |
| | Therto have I a remedie in my thoght, |
| | That, by a clewe of twyne, as he hath goon, |
| | The same wey he may returne anoon, |
| | Folwing alwey the threed, as he hath come. |
| | And, what that he this beste hath overcome, |
| 2020 | Then may he fleen awey out of this drede, |
| | And eek the gayler may he with him lede, |
| | And him avaunce at hoom in his contree, |
| | Sin that so greet a lordes sone is he. |
| | This is my reed, if that he dar hit take." |
| | What sholde I lenger sermoun of hit make? |
| | The gayler cometh, and with him Theseus. |
| | And whan thise thinges been acorded thus, |
| | Adoun sit Theseus upon his knee: -- |
| | "The righte lady of my lyf," quod he, |
| 2030 | "I, sorweful man, y-dampned to the deeth, |
| | Fro yow, whyl that me lasteth lyf or breeth, |
| | I wol nat twinne, after this aventure, |
| | But in your servise thus I wol endure, |
| | That, as a wrecche unknowe, I wol yow serve |
| | For ever-mo, til that myn herte sterve. |
| | Forsake I wol at hoom myn heritage, |
| | And, as I seide, ben of your court a page, |
| | If that ye vouche-sauf that, in this place, |
| | Ye graunte me to han so gret a grace |
| 2040 | That I may han nat but my mete and drinke; |
| | And for my sustenance yit wol I swinke, |
| | Right as yow list, that Minos ne no wight -- |
| | Sin that he saw me never with eyen sight -- |
| | Ne no man elles, shal me conne espye; |
| | So slyly and so wel I shal me gye, |
| | And me so wel disfigure and so lowe, |
| | That in this world ther shal no man me knowe, |
| | To han my lyf, and for to han presence |
| | Of yow, that doon to me this excellence. |
| 2050 | And to my fader shal I senden here |
| | This worthy man, that is now your gaylere, |
| | And, him to guerdon, that he shal wel be |
| | Oon of the grettest men of my contree. |
| | And yif I dorste seyn, my lady bright, |
| | I am a kinges sone, and eek a knight; |
| | As wolde god, yif that hit mighte be |
| | Ye weren in my contree, alle three, |
| | And I with yow, to bere yow companyee, |
| | Than shulde ye seen yif that I ther-of lye! |
| 2060 | And, if I profre yow in low manere |
| | To ben your page and serven yow right here, |
| | But I yow serve as lowly in that place, |
| | I prey to Mara to yive me swiche a grace |
| | That shames deeth on me ther mote falle, |
| | And deeth and povert to my frendes alle; |
| | And that my spirit by nighte mote go |
| | After my deeth, and walke to and fro; |
| | That I mote of a traitour have a name, |
| | For which my spirit go, to do me shame! |
| 2070 | And yif I ever claime other degree, |
| | But-if ye vouche-sauf to yive hit me, |
| | As I have seid, of shames deeth I deye! |
| | And mercy, lady! I can nat elles seye!" |
| | A seemly knight was Theseus to see, |
| | And yong, but of a twenty yeer and three; |
| | But who-so hadde y-seyn his countenaunce, |
| | He wolde have wept, for routhe of his penaunce; |
| | For which this Adriane in this manere |
| | Answerde to his profre and to his chere. |
| 2080 | "A kinges sone, and eek a knight," quod she, |
| | "To been my servant in so low degree, |
| | God shilde hit, for the shame of women alle! |
| | And leve me never swich a cas befalle! |
| | But sende yow grace and sleighte of herte also, |
| | Yow to defende and knightly sleen your fo, |
| | And leve herafter that I may yow finde |
| | To me and to my suster here so kinde, |
| | That I repente nat to give yow lyf! |
| | Yit were hit better that I were your wyf, |
| 2090 | Sin that ye been as gentil born as I, |
| | And have a reaume, nat but faste by, |
| | Then that I suffred giltles yow to sterve, |
| | Or that I let yow as a page serve; |
| | Hit is not profit, as unto your kinrede; |
| | But what is that that man nil do for drede? |
| | And to my suster, sin that hit is so |
| | That she mot goon with me, if that I go, |
| | Or elles suffre deeth as wel as I, |
| | That ye unto your sone as trewely |
| 2100 | Doon her be wedded at your hoom-coming. |
| | This is the fynal ende of al this thing; |
| | Ye swere hit heer, on al that may be sworn." |
| | "Ye, lady myn," quod he, "or elles torn |
| | Mote I be with the Minotaur to-morwe! |
| | And haveth her-of my herte-blood to borwe, |
| | Yif that ye wile; if I had knyf or spere, |
| | I wolde hit leten out, and ther-on swere, |
| | For than at erst I wot ye wil me leve. |
| | By Mars, that is the cheef of my bileve, |
| 2110 | So that I mighte liven and nat faile |
| | To-morwe for tacheve my bataile, |
| | I nolde never fro this place flee, |
| | Til that ye shuld the verray preve see. |
| | For now, if that the sooth I shal yow say, |
| | I have y-loved yow ful many a day, |
| | Thogh ye ne wiste hit nat, in my contree. |
| | And aldermost desyred yow to see |
| | Of any erthly living creature; |
| | Upon my trouthe I swere, and yow assure, |
| 2120 | Thise seven yeer I have your servant be; |
| | Now have I yow, and also have ye me, |
| | My dere herte, of Athenes duchesse!" |
| | This lady smyleth at his stedfastnesse, |
| | And at his hertly wordes, and his chere, |
| | And to her suster seide in this manere, |
| | Al softely, "now, suster myn," quod she, |
| | "Now be we duchesses, bothe I and ye, |
| | And sikered to the regals of Athenes, |
| | And bothe her-after lykly to be quenes, |
| 2130 | And saved fro his deeth a kinges sone, |
| | As ever of gentil women is the wone |
| | To save a gentil man, emforth hir might, |
| | In honest cause, and namely in his right. |
| | Me thinketh no wight oghte her-of us blame, |
| | Ne beren us ther-for an evel name." |
| | And shortly of this matere for to make, |
| | This Theseus of her hath leve y-take, |
| | And every point performed was in dede |
| | As ye have in this covenant herd me rede. |
| 2140 | His wepen, his clew, his thing that I have said, |
| | Was by the gayler in the hous y-laid |
| | Ther as this Minotaur hath his dwelling, |
| | Right faste by the dore, at his entring. |
| | And Theseus is lad unto his deeth, |
| | And forth un-to this Minotaur he geeth, |
| | And by the teching of this Adriane |
| | He overcom this beste, and was his bane; |
| | And out he cometh by the clewe again |
| | Ful prevely, whan he this beste hath slain; |
| 2150 | And by the gayler geten hath a barge, |
| | And of his wyves tresor gan hit charge, |
| | And took his wyf, and eek her suster free, |
| | And eek the gayler, and with hem alle three |
| | Is stole awey out of the lond by nighte, |
| | And to the contre of Ennopye him dighte |
| | Ther as he had a frend of his knowinge. |
| | Ther fasten they, ther dauneen they and singe; |
| | And in his armes hath this Adriane, |
| | That of the beste hath kept him from his bane; |
| 2160 | And gat him ther a newe barge anoon, |
| | And of his contree-folk a ful gret woon, |
| | And taketh his leve, and hoomward saileth he. |
| | And in an yle, amid the wilde see, |
| | Ther as ther dwelte creature noon |
| | Save wilde bestes, and that ful many oon, |
| | He made his ship a-londe for to sette; |
| | And in that yle half a day he lette, |
| | And seide, that on the lond he moste him reste. |
| | His mariners han doon right as him leste; |
| 2170 | And, for to tellen shortly in this cas, |
| | Whan Adriane his wyf a-slepe was, |
| | For that her suster fairer was than she, |
| | He taketh her in his hond, and forth goth he |
| | To shippe, and as a traitour stal his way |
| | Whyl that this Adriane a-slepe lay, |
| | And to his contree-ward he saileth blyve -- |
| | A twenty devil way the wind him dryve! -- |
| | And fond his fader drenched in the see. |
| | Me list no more to speke of him, parde; |
| 2180 | Thise false lovers, poison be hir bane! |
| | But I wol turne again to Adriane |
| | That is with slepe for werinesse atake. |
| | Ful sorwefully her herte may awake. |
| | Allas! for thee my herte hath now pite! |
| | Right in the dawning awaketh she, |
| | And gropeth in the bedde, and fond right noght. |
| | "Allas!" quode she, "that ever I was wroght! |
| | I am betrayed!" and her heer to-rente, |
| | And to the stronde bar-fot faste she wente, |
| 2190 | And cryed, "Theseus! myn herte swete! |
| | Wher be ye, that I may nat with yow mete, |
| | And mighte thus with bestes been y-slain?" |
| | The holwe rokkes answerde her again; |
| | No man she saw, and yit shyned the mone, |
| | And hye upon a rokke she wente sone, |
| | And saw his barge sailing in the see. |
| | Cold wex her herte, and right thus seide she. |
| | "Meker than ye finde I the bestes wilde!" |
| | Hadde he nat sinne, that her thus begylde? |
| 2200 | She cryed, "O turne again, for routhe and sinne! |
| | Thy barge hath nat al his meiny inne!" |
| | Her kerchef on a pole up stikked she, |
| | Ascaunce that he sholde hit wel y-see, |
| | And him remembre that she was behinde, |
| | And turne again, and on the stronde her finde; |
| | But al for noght; his wey he is y-goon. |
| | And doun she fil a-swown upon a stoon; |
| | And up she rist, and kiste, in al her care, |
| | The steppes of his feet, ther he hath fare, |
| 2210 | And to her bedde right thus she speketh tho: -- |
| | "Thou bed," quod she, "that hast receyved two, |
| | Thou shalt answere of two, and nat of oon! |
| | Wher is thy gretter part away y-goon? |
| | Allas! wher shal I, wrecched wight, become! |
| | For, thogh so be that ship or boot heer come, |
| | Hoom to my contree dar I nat for drede; |
| | I can my-selven in this cas nat rede!" |
| | What shal I telle more her compleining? |
| | Hit is so long, hit were an hevy thing. |
| 2220 | In her epistle Naso telleth al; |
| | But shortly to the ende I telle shal. |
| | The goddes have her holpen, for pitee; |
| | And, in the signe of Taurus, men may see |
| | The stones of her coroun shyne clere. -- |
| | I wol no more speke of this matere; |
| | But thus this false lover can begyle |
| | His trewe love. The devil quyte him his wyle! |
| | Explicit Legenda Adriane de Athenes. |