Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text

  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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 filie Regis nupsit, et prima nocte cum ea concubiens ipsam impregnauit.]
    How Appolinus wed the king's daughter and, sleeping with her on the first night, impregnated her.
    Wher love is lord of the corage,
    Him thenketh longe er that he spede;
    Bot ate laste unto the dede
    975The time is come, and in her wise
    With gret offrende and sacrifise
    Thei wedde and make a riche feste,
    And every thing which was honeste
    Withinnen house and ek withoute
    980It was so don, that al aboute
    Of gret worschipe, of gret noblesse
    Ther cride many a man largesse
    Unto the lordes hihe and loude;
    The knyhtes that ben yonge and proude,
    985Thei jouste ferst and after daunce.
    The day is go, the nyhtes chaunce
    Hath derked al the bryhte Sonne;
    This lord, which hath his love wonne,
    Is go to bedde with his wif,
    990Wher as thei ladde a lusti lif,
    And that was after somdel sene,
    For as thei pleiden hem betwene,
    Thei gete a child betwen hem tuo,
    To whom fell after mochel wo.