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  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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 Theophilus ad Dionisiam mane rediens affirmauit se Thaisim occidisse; super quo Dionisia vna cum Strangulione marito suo dolorem in publico confingentes, exequias et sepulturam honorifice quantum ad extra subdola coniectacione fieri constituerunt.]
    How Theophilus, returning to Dionisia next morning, asserted he had killed Thaisis; whereupon Dionisia, together with Stranguilio her husband, pretending grief in public, caused funeral ceremonies to be held and, in cunning calculation, a tomb to be built, all in honor as far as the world could tell.
    Nou lete we this maiden hiere,
    And speke of Dionise ayein
    And of Theophile the vilein,
    1535Of whiche I spak of nou tofore.
    Whan Thaise scholde have be forlore,
    This false cherl to his lady
    Whan he cam hom, al prively
    He seith, "Ma Dame, slain I have
    1540This maide Thaise, and is begrave
    In prive place, as ye me biede.
    Forthi, ma dame, taketh hiede
    And kep conseil, hou so it stonde."
    This fend, which this hath understonde,
    1545Was glad, and weneth it be soth:
    Now herkne, hierafter hou sche doth.
    Sche wepth, sche sorweth, sche compleigneth,
    And of sieknesse which sche feigneth
    Sche seith that Taise sodeinly
    1550Be nyhte is ded, "as sche and I
    Togedre lyhen nyh my lord."
    Sche was a womman of record,
    And al is lieved that sche seith;
    And forto yive a more feith,
    1555Hire housebonde and ek sche bothe
    In blake clothes thei hem clothe,
    And made a gret enterrement;
    And for the poeple schal be blent,
    Of Thaise as for the remembrance,
    1560After the real olde usance
    A tumbe of latoun noble and riche
    With an ymage unto hir liche
    Liggende above therupon
    Thei made and sette it up anon.
    1565Hire Epitaffe of good assisse
    Was write aboute, and in this wise
    It spak: "O yee that this beholde,
    Lo, hier lith sche, the which was holde,
    The faireste and the flour of alle,
    1570Whos name Thaisis men calle.
    The king of Tyr Appolinus
    Hir fader was: now lith sche thus.
    Fourtiene yer sche was of Age,
    Whan deth hir tok to his viage."
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