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    Not Peer Reviewed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

    1975[Qualiter Appolinus a Tyro per mare versus Tharsim iter arripiens vindictam contra Strangulionem et Dionisiam vxorem suam pro iniuria, quam ipsi Thaisi filie sue intulerunt, iudicialiter assecutus est.]
    How Appolinus, travelling from Tyre across the sea toward Tharsis, prosecuted Strangulio and Dionisia his wife for the injury that they had inflicted on his daughter, Thaisis.
    Thei hale up Ancher with the cable,
    The Seil on hih, the Stiere in honde,
    And seilen, til thei come alonde
    At Tharse nyh to the cite;
    1980And whan thei wisten it was he,
    The toun hath don him reverence.
    He telleth hem the violence,
    Which the tretour Strangulio
    And Dionise him hadde do
    1985Touchende his dowhter, as yee herde;
    And whan thei wiste hou that it ferde,
    As he which pes and love soghte,
    Unto the toun this he besoghte,
    To don him riht in juggement.
    1990Anon thei were bothe asent
    With strengthe of men, and comen sone,
    And as hem thoghte it was to done,
    Atteint thei were be the lawe
    And diemed forto honge and drawe,
    1995And brent and with the wynd toblowe,
    That al the world it myhte knowe:
    And upon this condicion
    The dom in execucion
    Was put anon withoute faile.
    2000And every man hath gret mervaile,
    Which herde tellen of this chance,
    And thonketh goddes pourveance,
    Which doth mercy forth with justice.
    Slain is the moerdrer and moerdrice
    2005Thurgh verray trowthe of rihtwisnesse,
    And thurgh mercy sauf is simplesse
    Of hire whom mercy preserveth;
    Thus hath he wel that wel deserveth.