Collected Works of Giovanni Boccaccio

by Giovanni Boccaccio

  As though a storm should bursten every bough:

  And downward from an hill under a bent1 1slope

  There stood the temple of Mars Armipotent,

  Wrought all of burnish’d steel, of which th’ entry

  Was long and strait, and ghastly for to see.

  And thereout came 1a rage and such a vise1, 1such a furious voice1

  That it made all the gates for to rise.

  The northern light in at the doore shone,

  For window on the walle was there none

  Through which men mighten any light discern.

  The doors were all of adamant etern,

  Y-clenched 1overthwart and ende-long1 1crossways and lengthways1

  With iron tough, and, for to make it strong,

  Every pillar the temple to sustain

  Was tunne-great1, of iron bright and sheen. 1thick as a tun (barrel)

  There saw I first the dark imagining

  Of felony, and all the compassing;

  The cruel ire, as red as any glede1, 1live coal

  The picke-purse, and eke the pale dread;

  The smiler with the knife under the cloak,

  The shepen1 burning with the blacke smoke 1stable

  The treason of the murd’ring in the bed,

  The open war, with woundes all be-bled;

  Conteke1 with bloody knife, and sharp menace. 1contention, discord

  All full of chirking1 was that sorry place. 1creaking, jarring noise

  The slayer of himself eke saw I there,

  His hearte-blood had bathed all his hair:

  The nail y-driven in the shode1 at night, 1hair of the head

  The colde death, with mouth gaping upright.

  Amiddes of the temple sat Mischance,

  With discomfort and sorry countenance;

  Eke saw I Woodness1 laughing in his rage, 1Madness

  Armed Complaint, Outhees1, and fierce Outrage; 1Outcry

  The carrain1 in the bush, with throat y-corve2, 1corpse 2slashed

  A thousand slain, and not 1of qualm y-storve1; 1dead of sickness1

  The tyrant, with the prey by force y-reft;

  The town destroy’d, that there was nothing left.

  Yet saw I brent1 the shippes hoppesteres, 1burnt

  The hunter strangled with the wilde bears:

  The sow freting1 the child right in the cradle; 1devouring

  The cook scalded, for all his longe ladle.

  Nor was forgot, 1by th’infortune of Mart1 1through the misfortune

  The carter overridden with his cart; of war1

  Under the wheel full low he lay adown.

  There were also of Mars’ division,

  The armourer, the bowyer1, and the smith, 1maker of bows

  That forgeth sharp swordes on his stith1. 1anvil

  And all above depainted in a tower

  Saw I Conquest, sitting in great honour,

  With thilke1 sharpe sword over his head 1that

  Hanging by a subtle y-twined thread.

  Painted the slaughter was of Julius,

  Of cruel Nero, and Antonius:

  Although at that time they were yet unborn,

  Yet was their death depainted there beforn,

  By menacing of Mars, right by figure,

  So was it showed in that portraiture,

  As is depainted in the stars above,

  Who shall be slain, or elles dead for love.

  Sufficeth one ensample in stories old,

  I may not reckon them all, though I wo’ld.

  The statue of Mars upon a carte1 stood 1chariot

  Armed, and looked grim as he were wood1, 1mad

  And over his head there shone two figures

  Of starres, that be cleped in scriptures,

  That one Puella, that other Rubeus.

  This god of armes was arrayed thus:

  A wolf there stood before him at his feet

  With eyen red, and of a man he eat:

  With subtle pencil painted was this story,

  In redouting1 of Mars and of his glory. 1reverance, fear

  Now to the temple of Dian the chaste

  As shortly as I can I will me haste,

  To telle you all the descriptioun.

  Depainted be the walles up and down

  Of hunting and of shamefast chastity.

  There saw I how woful Calistope,

  When that Dian aggrieved was with her,

  Was turned from a woman to a bear,

  And after was she made the lodestar1: 1pole star

  Thus was it painted, I can say no far1; 1farther

  Her son is eke a star as men may see.

  There saw I Dane turn’d into a tree,

  I meane not the goddess Diane,

  But Peneus’ daughter, which that hight Dane.

  There saw I Actaeon an hart y-maked1, 1made

  For vengeance that he saw Dian all naked:

  I saw how that his houndes have him caught,

  And freten1 him, for that they knew him not. 1devour

  Yet painted was, a little farthermore

  How Atalanta hunted the wild boar;

  And Meleager, and many other mo’,

  For which Diana wrought them care and woe.

  There saw I many another wondrous story,

  The which me list not drawen to memory.

  This goddess on an hart full high was set1, 1seated

  With smalle houndes all about her feet,

  And underneath her feet she had a moon,

  Waxing it was, and shoulde wane soon.

  In gaudy green her statue clothed was,

  With bow in hand, and arrows in a case1. 1quiver

  Her eyen caste she full low adown,

  Where Pluto hath his darke regioun.

  A woman travailing was her beforn,

  But, for her child so longe was unborn,

  Full piteously Lucina gan she call,

  And saide; “Help, for thou may’st best of all.”

  Well could he painte lifelike that it wrought;

  With many a florin he the hues had bought.

  Now be these listes made, and Theseus,

  That at his greate cost arrayed thus

  The temples, and the theatre every deal1, 1part

  When it was done, him liked wonder well.

  But stint1 I will of Theseus a lite2, 1cease speaking 2little

  And speak of Palamon and of Arcite.

  The day approacheth of their returning,

  That evereach an hundred knights should bring,

  The battle to darraine1 as I you told; 1contest

  And to Athens, their covenant to hold,

  Hath ev’reach of them brought an hundred knights,

  Well-armed for the war at alle rights.

  And sickerly1 there trowed2 many a man, 1surely 2believed

  That never, sithen1 that the world began, 1since

  For to speaken of knighthood of their hand,

  As far as God hath maked sea and land,

  Was, of so few, so noble a company.

  For every wight that loved chivalry,

  And would, 1his thankes, have a passant name1, 1thanks to his own

  Had prayed, that he might be of that game, efforts, have a

  And well was him, that thereto chosen was. surpassing name1

  For if there fell to-morrow such a case,

  Ye knowe well, that every lusty knight,

  That loveth par amour, and hath his might

  Were it in Engleland, or elleswhere,

  They would, their thankes, willen to be there,

  T’ fight for a lady; Benedicite,

  It were a lusty1 sighte for to see. 1pleasing

  And right so fared they with Palamon;

  With him there wente knightes many one.

  Some will be armed in an habergeon,

  And in a breast-plate, and in a gipon1; 1short doublet.

  And some will have 1a pair of plates1 large; 1back and front armour1<
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  And some will have a Prusse1 shield, or targe; 1Prussian

  Some will be armed on their legges weel;

  Some have an axe, and some a mace of steel.

  There is no newe guise1, but it was old. 1fashion

  Armed they weren, as I have you told,

  Evereach after his opinion.

  There may’st thou see coming with Palamon

  Licurgus himself, the great king of Thrace:

  Black was his beard, and manly was his face.

  The circles of his eyen in his head

  They glowed betwixte yellow and red,

  And like a griffin looked he about,

  With kemped1 haires on his browes stout; 1combed

  His limbs were great, his brawns were hard and strong,

  His shoulders broad, his armes round and long.

  And as the guise1 was in his country, 1fashion

  Full high upon a car of gold stood he,

  With foure white bulles in the trace.

  Instead of coat-armour on his harness,

  With yellow nails, and bright as any gold,

  He had a beare’s skin, coal-black for old1. 1age

  His long hair was y-kempt behind his back,

  As any raven’s feather it shone for black.

  A wreath of gold 1arm-great1, of huge weight, 1thick as a man’s arm1

  Upon his head sate, full of stones bright,

  Of fine rubies and clear diamants.

  About his car there wente white alauns1, 1greyhounds

  Twenty and more, as great as any steer,

  To hunt the lion or the wilde bear,

  And follow’d him, with muzzle fast y-bound,

  Collars of gold, and torettes1 filed round. 1rings

  An hundred lordes had he in his rout1 1retinue

  Armed full well, with heartes stern and stout.

  With Arcita, in stories as men find,

  The great Emetrius the king of Ind,

  Upon a 1steede bay1 trapped in steel, 1bay horse1

  Cover’d with cloth of gold diapred1 well, 1decorated

  Came riding like the god of armes, Mars.

  His coat-armour was of 1a cloth of Tars1, 1a kind of silk1

  Couched1 with pearls white and round and great 1trimmed

  His saddle was of burnish’d gold new beat;

  A mantelet on his shoulders hanging,

  Bretful1 of rubies red, as fire sparkling. 1brimful

  His crispe hair like ringes was y-run,

  And that was yellow, glittering as the sun.

  His nose was high, his eyen bright citrine1, 1pale yellow

  His lips were round, his colour was sanguine,

  A fewe fracknes1 in his face y-sprent2, 1freckles 2sprinkled

  Betwixte yellow and black somedeal y-ment1 1mixed

  And as a lion he 1his looking cast1 1cast about his eyes1

  Of five and twenty year his age I cast1 1reckon

  His beard was well begunnen for to spring;

  His voice was as a trumpet thundering.

  Upon his head he wore of laurel green

  A garland fresh and lusty to be seen;

  Upon his hand he bare, for his delight,

  An eagle tame, as any lily white.

  An hundred lordes had he with him there,

  All armed, save their heads, in all their gear,

  Full richely in alle manner things.

  For trust ye well, that earles, dukes, and kings

  Were gather’d in this noble company,

  For love, and for increase of chivalry.

  About this king there ran on every part

  Full many a tame lion and leopart.

  And in this wise these lordes 1all and some1 1all and sundry1

  Be on the Sunday to the city come

  Aboute prime, and in the town alight.

  This Theseus, this Duke, this worthy knight

  When he had brought them into his city,

  And inned1 them, ev’reach at his degree, 1lodged

  He feasteth them, and doth so great labour

  To 1easen them1, and do them all honour, 1make them comfortable1

  That yet men weene1 that no mannes wit 1think

  Of none estate could amenden1 it. 1improve

  The minstrelsy, the service at the feast,

  The greate giftes to the most and least,

  The rich array of Theseus’ palace,

  Nor who sate first or last upon the dais.

  What ladies fairest be, or best dancing

  Or which of them can carol best or sing,

  Or who most feelingly speaketh of love;

  What hawkes sitten on the perch above,

  What houndes liggen1 on the floor adown, 1lie

  Of all this now make I no mentioun

  But of th’effect; that thinketh me the best

  Now comes the point, and hearken if you lest.1 1please

  The Sunday night, ere day began to spring,

  When Palamon the larke hearde sing,

  Although it were not day by houres two,

  Yet sang the lark, and Palamon right tho1 1then

  With holy heart, and with an high courage,

  Arose, to wenden1 on his pilgrimage 1go

  Unto the blissful Cithera benign,

  I meane Venus, honourable and digne1. 1worthy

  And in her hour he walketh forth a pace

  Unto the listes, where her temple was,

  And down he kneeleth, and with humble cheer1 1demeanour

  And hearte sore, he said as ye shall hear.

  “Fairest of fair, O lady mine Venus,

  Daughter to Jove, and spouse of Vulcanus,

  Thou gladder of the mount of Citheron!

  For thilke love thou haddest to Adon

  Have pity on my bitter teares smart,

  And take mine humble prayer to thine heart.

  Alas! I have no language to tell

  Th’effecte, nor the torment of mine hell;

  Mine hearte may mine harmes not betray;

  I am so confused, that I cannot say.

  But mercy, lady bright, that knowest well

  My thought, and seest what harm that I feel.

  Consider all this, and 1rue upon1 my sore, 1take pity on1

  As wisly1 as I shall for evermore 1truly

  Enforce my might, thy true servant to be,

  And holde war alway with chastity:

  That make I mine avow1, so ye me help. 1vow, promise

  I keepe not of armes for to yelp,1 1boast

  Nor ask I not to-morrow to have victory,

  Nor renown in this case, nor vaine glory

  Of 1prize of armes1, blowing up and down, 1praise for valour1

  But I would have fully possessioun

  Of Emily, and die in her service;

  Find thou the manner how, and in what wise.

  I 1recke not but1 it may better be 1do not know whether1

  To have vict’ry of them, or they of me,

  So that I have my lady in mine arms.

  For though so be that Mars is god of arms,

  Your virtue is so great in heaven above,

  That, if you list, I shall well have my love.

  Thy temple will I worship evermo’,

  And on thine altar, where I ride or go,

  I will do sacrifice, and fires bete1. 1make, kindle

  And if ye will not so, my lady sweet,

  Then pray I you, to-morrow with a spear

  That Arcita me through the hearte bear

  Then reck I not, when I have lost my life,

  Though that Arcita win her to his wife.

  This is th’ effect and end of my prayere, —

  Give me my love, thou blissful lady dear.”

  When th’ orison was done of Palamon,

  His sacrifice he did, and that anon,

  Full piteously, with alle circumstances,

  1All tell I not as now1 his observances. 1although I tell not now1

  But at the
last the statue of Venus shook,

  And made a signe, whereby that he took

  That his prayer accepted was that day.

  For though the signe shewed a delay,

  Yet wist he well that granted was his boon;

  And with glad heart he went him home full soon.

  The third hour unequal that Palamon

  Began to Venus’ temple for to gon,

  Up rose the sun, and up rose Emily,

  And to the temple of Dian gan hie.

  Her maidens, that she thither with her lad1, 1led

  Th’ incense, the clothes, and the remnant all

  That to the sacrifice belonge shall,

  The hornes full of mead, as was the guise;

  There lacked nought to do her sacrifice.

  Smoking1 the temple full of clothes fair, 1draping

  This Emily with hearte debonnair1 1gentle

  Her body wash’d with water of a well.

  But how she did her rite I dare not tell;

  But1 it be any thing in general; 1unless

  And yet it were a game1 to hearen all 1pleasure

  To him that meaneth well it were no charge:

  But it is good a man to 1be at large1. 1do as he will1

  Her bright hair combed was, untressed all.

  A coronet of green oak cerriall

  Upon her head was set full fair and meet.

  Two fires on the altar gan she bete,

  And did her thinges, as men may behold

  In Stace of Thebes , and these bookes old.

  When kindled was the fire, with piteous cheer

  Unto Dian she spake as ye may hear.

  “O chaste goddess of the woodes green,

  To whom both heav’n and earth and sea is seen,

  Queen of the realm of Pluto dark and low,

  Goddess of maidens, that mine heart hast know

  Full many a year, and wost1 what I desire, 1knowest

  To keep me from the vengeance of thine ire,

  That Actaeon aboughte1 cruelly: 1earned; suffered from

  Chaste goddess, well wottest thou that I

  Desire to be a maiden all my life,

  Nor never will I be no love nor wife.

  I am, thou wost1, yet of thy company, 1knowest

  A maid, and love hunting and venery1, 1field sports

  And for to walken in the woodes wild,

  And not to be a wife, and be with child.

  Nought will I know the company of man.

  Now help me, lady, since ye may and can,

  For those three formes that thou hast in thee.

  And Palamon, that hath such love to me,

  And eke Arcite, that loveth me so sore,

  This grace I pray thee withoute more,

  As sende love and peace betwixt them two:

  And from me turn away their heartes so,

  That all their hote love, and their desire,

  And all their busy torment, and their fire,