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Apollonius of Tyre
1353[Qualiter Thaysis vna cum Philotenna Strangulionis et Dionisie filia omnis sciencie et honestatis doctrina imbuta est: sed et Thaisis Philotennam precellens in odium mortale per inuidiam a Dionisia recollecta est.]
How Thaisis was instructed in the knowledge of honesty and of every art, together with Philotenna, the daughter of Stranguilio and Dionisia; but Dionisia developed, through envy, a mortal hatred for Thaisis excelling over Philotenna.
1354 And forto speke hou that it stod
1355Of Thaise his doghter, wher sche duelleth
1356In Tharse, as the Cronique telleth,
1357Sche was wel kept, sche was wel loked,
1358Sche was wel tawht, sche was wel boked,
1359So wel sche spedde hir in hire youthe
1360That sche of every wisdom couthe,
1361That forto seche in every lond
1362So wys an other noman fond,
1363Ne so wel tawht at mannes yhe.
1364Bot wo worthe evere fals envie!
1365For it befell that time so,
1366A dowhter hath Strangulio,
1367The which was cleped Philotenne:
1368Bot fame, which wole evere renne,
1369Cam al day to hir moder Ere,
1370And seith, wher evere hir doghter were
1371With Thayse set in eny place,
1372The comun vois, the comun grace
1373Was al upon that other Maide,
1374And of hir doghter noman saide.
1375Who wroth but Dionise thanne?
1376Hire thoghte a thousend yer til whanne
1377Sche myhte ben of Thaise wreke
1378Of that sche herde folk so speke.
1379And fell that ilke same tyde,
1380That ded was trewe Lychoride,
1381Which hadde be servant to Thaise,
1382So that sche was the worse at aise,
1383For sche hath thanne no servise
1384Bot only thurgh this Dionise,
1385Which was hire dedlich Anemie
1386Thurgh pure treson and envie.
1387Sche, that of alle sorwe can,
1388Tho spak unto hire bondeman,
1389Which cleped was Theophilus,
1390And made him swere in conseil thus,
1391That he such time as sche him sette
1392Schal come Thaise forto fette,
1393And lede hire oute of alle sihte,
1394If her as noman hire helpe myhte,
1395Upon the Stronde nyh the See,
1396And there he schal this maiden sle.
1397This cherles herte is in a traunce,
1398As he which drad him of vengance
1399Whan time comth an other day;
1400Bot yit dorste he noght seie nay,
1401Bot swor and seide he schal fulfille
1402Hire hestes at hire oghne wille.