Thomas Lodge - Broadview Press Publisher's Blog

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their pleasant pastimes; the Duke rejoicing to see
his princess merry, Editha joyful in that she hoped
to be a mother.
How Aubert by the Commandment of
Pepin, King of France, Was upon His Return
Sent to War in the Aid of the Lorraines
against the Vermandois, 1 and How at His
Return from the War, Robert His Son Was
Born, Who for His Villainies Was Surnamed
the Devil. [Chapter 2].
[...] Editha, during the absence of her husband,
was so fortunate and fruitful after their last intercourse
that she increased daily, and at last the
quickening babe in her womb deprived her of all
her wonted suspect. 2 But at such time as the Duke
was returned and the appointed time of her delivery
expected, the heavens intimating some prodigious
sequel were afflicted with continual thunders;
the earth shook as if amazed at nature; the
lightnings flashed with great fury, and midst all
these commotions Editha was brought abed of a
son, who by his father’s ordinance was in great
pomp carried to the Church of St. Owens in
Rouen and christened by the name of Robert.
This infant in his swathing-clouts 3 gave certain
testimony of his future outrages, for being born
beyond the custom of nature with all his teeth,
according to the opinion of the historiographers,
was enchanted; for instead of drawing nutriment
from his nurse, he bit off her nipples, and being
kissed in the cradle by the Lady of Sancerne, he
bit off her nose. In his food he was ravenous; in
his fashions and behaviour rigorous; instead of his
infantly cries, used severe smiles—planting in his
parents more occasion of suspicion than cause of
hope.
1 Lorraines against the Vermandois i.e., the inhabitants of Lorraine, a
region in France, against the inhabitants of Vermandois.
2 the quickening babe In the stage in pregnancy known as “quickening,”
the child would show signs of life (kicking, etc.); wonted suspect
accustomed suspicion [that she could not be pregnant].
3 swathing-clouts swaddling-clouts or swaddling-clothes.
T HOMAS L ODGE
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At seven years of age his mother, diligently
intending his amends, sought out a man of good
life and great learning, who might instruct him in
the fear of God and resolve him in the secrets of
arts. She accompanied him with his equals in birth,
his companions in study, leaving no means
unsought to reclaim him, nor persuasions unapplied
to reform him. But as the oak sooner
breaketh than boweth, and the sallow 4 being
bowed in the twig is crooked in the tree, so Robert
by nature inclined to vice could in no wise 5 be
induced by advice. 6 He was in wit pregnant, but
applied the same to looseness, 7 rejoicing as much
at devilishness as other in their doctrine. In
reading the poets he despised the precepts of
worth and delighted in the poems of wantonness.
He was eloquent but in impiety; diligent but in
mischief, having nothing in more estimate than
murder, flying nothing more earnestly than
modesty. And in regard of this his intemperance,
it was by some supposed that his mother at such
time as he was begotten was enchanted. Each one
seeing his inclination fled him as a serpent; his
equals he banished from him with buffetings, 8 his
elders with revilings, having neither fear of God
nor regard of godliness. If his mother wept to see
his wretchedness, he became more wicked; if
Aubert sought to reconcile him with good counsels,
he laboured the more to defile himself with
larcenies and cruelties. Yea, such and so many
were his mischiefs that it was wondered at that the
earth did not sink under him in respect of his
ungraciousness. No one of his fellows escaped
from him unwounded. Hearing his tutor one day
4 sallow willow.
5 wise way.
6 But as the oak … by advice This sentence is based in a number of
proverbs: “Oaks may fall when reeds stand the storm” (Tilley O3) and
“It will sooner break than bow” (B636). Many proverbs about childrearing
and education advise parents to shape a child in its youth or
it will prove to be warped in its maturity: “Best to bend while it is a
twig” (T632) and “Thraw [twist] the wand while it is green” (W27).
7 looseness licentiousness, lewdness, or general immorality [in
conduct, speech or thought].
8 buffetings beatings.