1081[Qualiter Appolinus vxoris sue mortem planxit.]

1082 Appolinus whan he this knew,

1083For sorwe a swoune he overthrew,

1084That noman wiste in him no lif.

1085And whanne he wok, he seide, "Ha, wif,

1086Mi lust, mi joie, my desir,

1087Mi welthe and my recoverir,

1088Why schal I live, and thou schalt dye?

1089Ha, thou fortune, I thee deffie,

1090Nou hast thou do to me thi werste.

1091Ha, herte, why ne wolt thou berste,

1092That forth with hire I myhte passe?

1093Mi peines weren wel the lasse."

1094In such wepinge and in such cry

1095His dede wif, which lay him by,

1096A thousend sithes he hire kiste;

1097Was nevere man that sih ne wiste

1098A sorwe unto his sorwe lich;

1099For evere among upon the lich

1100He fell swounende, as he that soghte

1101His oghne deth, which he besoghte

1102Unto the goddes alle above

1103With many a pitous word of love;

1104Bot suche wordes as tho were

1105Yit herde nevere mannes Ere,

1106Bot only thilke whiche he seide.

1107The Maister Schipman cam and preide

1108With othre suche as be therinne,

1109And sein that he mai nothing winne

1110Ayein the deth, bot thei him rede,

1111He be wel war and tak hiede,

1112The See be weie of his nature

1113Receive mai no creature

1114Withinne himself as forto holde,

1115The which is ded: forthi thei wolde,

1116As thei conseilen al aboute,

1117The dede body casten oute.

1118For betre it is, thei seiden alle,

1119That it of hire so befalle,

1120Than if thei scholden alle spille.