0.2Chaucer's Canterbury Tales relate a series of stories told by the pilgrims in turn, to pass the time as they make their way to the shrine of Thomas a'Becket in Canterbury Cathedrao. When it comes to be the Monk's turn, the Host jokes that the Monk is likely to tell a cheerful, bawdy tale, like some that have been heard earlier. The Monk takes exception to this suggestion, and announces that he will narrate a series of tragedies to emphasize the tenuousness of human happiness. He explains that

0.3To the Monk, following a long tradition of medieval thinkers, the principal requirement of tragedy is that someone of high stature is brought low by the abrupt turning of Fortune's wheel. The Monk chooses some conventional tales (he begins with the falls of Lucifer and Adam), some more sensational. He tends to take particular interest in the gorier moments of the deaths of his subjects, and in many cases stresses the betrayal of others rather than the shortcomings of his famous subjects. This approach contrasts with Aristotle's view of tragedy.

0.4This brief selection includes two short tragedies, those of Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar (a character of great interest to Shakespeare). In each the Monk emphasizes the capriciousness of Fortune; the fall of the great men is not of necessity the result of their own errors or excesses. I have modernized spelling and some vocabulary where this does not interfere with the rhythm or rhyme; many words were pronounced differently, and I have indicated some places where this will influence the rhythm of the lines.

0.6Here beginneth the Monk's Tale, De Casibus Virorum Illustrium.

11I will bewail in manner of tragedy

2The harm of them that stood in high degree,

3And fallen so that there was no remedy

4To bring them out of their adversity;

5For certain, when that Fortune list to flee

6There may no man the course of her withhold.

7Let no man trust on blind prosperity;

8Beware by these examples true and old.

Of Alexander

29The story of Alexander is so common,

10That every wight that hath discretiòn

11Hath heard somewhat or all of his fortune.

12This wide world, as in conclusiòn,

13He won by strength, or for his high renown

14They weren glad for peace unto him send.

15The pride of man and beast he laid a-down,

16Whereso he came, unto the worldès end.

317Comparison might never yet be maked

18Betwixt him and another conqueror,

19For all this world for dread of him hath quaked.

20He was of knighthood and of freedom flower;

21Fortune him made the heir of her honor;

22Save wine and women, nothing might assuage

23His high intent in arms and labor,

24So was he full of leonine courage.

425What praise were it to him, though I you told

26Of Darius, and an hundred thousand more,

27Of kings, princes, earls, dukes bold,

28Which he conquered, and brought them into woe?

29I say, as far as man may ride or go

30The world was his, what should I more devise?

31For though I write or told you evermo

32Of his knighthood, it might not suffice.

533Twelve year he reigned, as saith Maccabee;

34Philip's son of Macedone he was,

35That first was king in Greece the country.

36O worthy gentle Alexander, alas,

37That ever should fallen such a case!

38Empoisoned of thine own folk thou were;

39Thy six fortune hath turned into ace;

40And for thee nor weep she never a tear!

641Who shall me yeven tears to complain

42The death of gentillesse and of franchise

43That all the world wielded in his domain,

44And yet him thought it might not suffice?

45So full was his corage of high emprise.

46Alas, who shall me help to indite

47False Fortune, and poison to despise,

48The which two of all this woe I wite?

0.7Of Julius Caesar

749By wisdom, manhood, and by great labor

50From humble bed to royal majesty,

51Up rose he, Julius the conqueror,

52That won all th'occident by land and sea,

53By strength of hand, or else by treaty,

54And unto Rome made them tributary;

55And since of Rome the emperor was he,

56Till that Fortune wax his adversary.

857O mighty Caesar, that in Thessaly

58Against Pompeius, father thine in law,

59That of th'orient had all the chivalry

60As far as that the day beginneth dawe,

61Thou through thy knighthood hast them take and slew,

62Save few folk that with Pompeius fled,

63Through which thou puttest all th'orient in awe.

64Thank Fortune, that so well thee sped!

965But now a little while I will bewail

66This Pompeius, this noble governor

67Of Rome which that flee at this battle;

68I say one of his men, a false traitor,

69His head off smote, to winnen him favor

70Of Julius, and him the head he brought.

71Alas, Pompey, of th'orient conqueror,

72That Fortune unto such a fin thee brought!

1073To Rome again repaireth Julius

74With his triumph, laureate full high,

75But on a time Brutus, Cassius,

76That ever had of his high estate envy,

77Full privily hath made conspiracy

78Against this Julius, in subtle wise,

79And cast the place, in which he should die

80With bodkins, as I shall you devise.

1181This Julius to the Capitolie went

82Upon a day, as he was wont to goon,

83And in the Capitolie anon him hent

84This false Brutus and his other foon,

85And sticked him with bodkins anon

86With many a wound, and thus they let him lie;

87But never groaned he at no stroke but one,

88Or else at two, but if his story lie.

1289So manly was this Julius at heart

90And so well loved estately honesty,

91That, though his deadly wounds sore smart,

92His mantle over his hips casteth he,

93For no man should see his privity.

94And, as he lay on dying in a trance,

95And wist verily that dead was he,

96Of honesty yet had he remembrance.

1397Lucan, to thee this story I recommend,

98And to Sueton, and to Valery also,

99That of this story written word and end,

100How that to these great conquerors two

101Fortune was first friend, and sithen foe.

102No man ne trust upon her favour long,

103But have her in await for evermore.

104Witness on all these conquerors strong.