Thomas Lodge - Broadview Press Publisher's Blog

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his courtesies, enterprising his attempts with
Metellus’s constancy, and finishing the same with
Alexander’s 1 fortune; who being in years youthful,
in person comely, in discourse pleasant, in riches
mighty was sought unto by divers princes, who
intended by inserting him into their lineage the
better to assure themselves in their livelihoods. 2
Among the rest, the worthy Duke of Burgundy
wrought so earnestly and persuaded so effectually
that Aubert at last accepted his fair sister Ynda or
Editha for his wife, a princess in whom nature
planted as much excellence as amiableness, tempering
the gifts of fortune and the mind with
such equability that her goods seemed great in
respect of her goodness, and her goodness more
great in that she had goods. For as the mighty
inundations of Nilus make the river more
famous, so ability united with bounty, and a liberal
hand with a merciful heart, do greatly assist in
causes of honour. These two princely couples
[were] ordained by destiny to high disasters;
though their affluence of riches promised them
felicity, yet the influence of the heavens intimated
their adversity: for having great signories 3 to
bequeath, they had no heirs to enjoy, accompting
this for their only cross, 4 that they were without
children. Many were their vows, but to no avail;
many their prayers, but to little purpose. If
physic 5 might have made fruitful, Editha had
been a mother; if great sums could have purchased
young sons, Aubert had been a father.
Seven years and more lived they in this sort, the
1 Metellus perhaps, Quintus Caecilius Metellus (d. c. 63 BCE), surnamed
“Pius” because of his famed devotion to his father, who had
been exiled, and his continued opposition to his father’s foes; Alexander
Alexander III, surnamed the “Great,” of Macedon (356-323
BCE), famed general who conquered much of the ancient world,
including Greece and Egypt; just before his death, he had conquered
India and invaded Scythia, from which he returned to Babylon with
fabulous riches.
2 livelihoods estates, landed or inherited property; thus, more generally,
patrimony.
3 signories domains, territories.
4 accompting … cross i.e., accounting or reckoning this their only trial,
affliction, trouble.
5 physic medicine, medical knowledge, and practice.
T HOMAS L ODGE
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one careless of love’s delight, 6 the other comfortless
in that she was barren, till on a prefixed Saturday—when
nature had poured all her treasures
on the earth, Flora powdered all the meadows
with flowers, when the lovesick Zephyrus 7 softly
breathed and the tender leaves sweetly bowed,
when the sun played with the wave and the wave
dallied with the sun, both enjoying an equal sympathy
of solace—Duke Aubert (who from his
youth upward was marvellously delighted in the
chase) accompanied with his fair Duchess
departed out of his capital city of Rouen 8 to take
his pastance 9 in the forest. Editha (by divine ordinance)
was that day attired as if she intended to
woo Lucina 10 to grant a son and win the Norman
duke to get 11 a son. Her hair, instead of gold to
grace it, was golden exceeding gold, more finer
than the thread wherewith Arachne 12 wrought her
loom, more softer than the bed of roses wherein
the Morning played with Cephalus. 13 Bound it was
after a careless manner as if disdaining that so rare
beauties should be imprisoned, but plaited in such
sort as if nature should make a labyrinth for love.
Love could not wish a sweeter labyrinth. Midst
6 careless of love’s delight The meaning here is somewhat unclear. The
narrator suggests either that Aubert is free from anxiety (he is “careless”)
concerning sex (“love’s delight”), or that he is negligent in
engaging in sex.
7 Flora … Zephyrus Flora was the Roman goddess of flowers and
gardens. Some ancient writers say that she married Zephyrus, one of
the winds, son of Atreus and Aurora, goddess of the dawn;
Zephyrus’ very breath had the power to generate fruits and flowers.
8 Rouen a city in France on the Seine (85 miles NW of Paris); capital
of the dukes of Normandy (Topographical Dict., p. 441).
9 pastance recreation, pastime.
10 Lucina goddess of childbirth.
11 get i.e., beget.
12 Arachne In classical mythology, a mortal woman famed as a
weaver. Having challenged the goddess Pallas Athena (Minerva) to a
contest to see which of them was the better artist, she was struck by
the goddess, who was enraged at the perfection of Arachne’s tapestry
which showed the vices of the gods. Arachne hung herself in
response and Pallas in pity transformed her into a spider (Ovid, Metamorphoses,
pp. 134-38).
13 Morning … Cephalus Aurora (goddess of the dawn or the morning)
fell in love with and kidnapped Cephalus, king of Thessaly, whose
only desire was to return to his beloved wife, Procris. For the story of
Cephalus and Aurora, see Ovid, Metamorphoses, pp. 174-75.