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    Not Peer Reviewed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 filia Regis omnibus aliis relictis Appolinum in maritum preelegit.]
    How the king's daughter, setting all the others aside, preferred Appolinus for her husband.
    The billes weren wel received,
    Bot sche hath alle here loves weyved,
    And thoghte tho was time and space
    910To put hire in hir fader grace,
    And wrot ayein and thus sche saide:
    "The schame which is in a Maide
    With speche dar noght ben unloke,
    Bot in writinge it mai be spoke;
    915So wryte I to you, fader, thus:
    Bot if I have Appolinus,
    Of al this world, what so betyde,
    I wol non other man abide.
    And certes if I of him faile,
    920I wot riht wel withoute faile
    Ye schull for me be dowhterles."
    This lettre cam, and ther was press
    Tofore the king, ther as he stod;
    And whan that he it understod,
    925He yaf hem ansuer by and by,
    Bot that was do so prively,
    That non of othres conseil wiste.
    Thei toke her leve, and wher hem liste
    Thei wente forth upon here weie.