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  • Title: Apollonius of Tyre
  • Editors: Tom Bishop, Andrew Forsberg

  • Copyright Tom Bishop and Andrew Forsberg. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: John Gower
    Editors: Tom Bishop, Andrew Forsberg
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Apollonius of Tyre

    [Qualiter Appolinus ludum gimnasii vincens in aulam Regis ad cenam honorifice receptus est.]
    How Appolinus won the gymnastic sports and was received at dinner in his honor in the King's court.
    Appolinus, which war and wys
    710Of every game couthe an ende,
    He thoghte assaie, hou so it wende,
    And fell among hem into game:
    And there he wan him such a name,
    So as the king himself acompteth
    715That he alle othre men surmonteth,
    And bar the pris above hem alle,
    The king bad that into his halle
    At Souper time he schal be broght;
    And he cam thanne and lefte it noght,
    720Withoute compaignie al one:
    Was non so semlich of persone,
    Of visage and of limes bothe,
    If that he hadde what to clothe.
    At Soupertime natheles
    725The king amiddes al the pres
    Let clepe him up among hem alle,
    And bad his Mareschall of halle
    To setten him in such degre
    That he upon him myhte se.
    730The king was sone set and served,
    And he, which hath his pris deserved
    After the kinges oghne word,
    Was mad beginne a Middel bord,
    That bothe king and queene him sihe.
    735He sat and caste aboute his yhe
    And sih the lordes in astat,
    And with himself wax in debat
    Thenkende what he hadde lore,
    And such a sorwe he tok therfore,
    740That he sat evere stille and thoghte,
    As he which of no mete roghte.