Specimens of English literature from the 'Ploughmans crede' to the ...

III. (b) the STORIE of THEBES. ^^The kyng tenforme how they wern atteynt.And Tydeus, of bledyng wonder feynt,Maat and wery, and in gret distresse,And ouerleyd of verray feblenesse, 1210But as he myght hym-silue tho sustene,He took his hors stondyng on the grene,Worthed vp, and forth he gan to rydeAn esy pas, with his woundes wyde,And sothly 3it, in his opynyown, 1215He was alway affered of tresoz^n.How Tydeus, al forwounded, cam into Ligurgus lond.But anguysshous, & ful of bysy peyne,He rode hym forth til he did atteyneInto the bouwdes of lygurgus lond,A worthy kyng, & manly of his hond. 1220And he, ful paal only for lak of blood,Tydeus, saugh wher a castel stood.Strong and myghty, belt vpon a roche,Touard which he fast[e] gan approche.Conveyed thider be clernesse of the ston 1225That, be nyght, ageyn the moone ^On hegh toures, with crestes marcyal;And joyneazmt almost to the walWas a gardyn, lityl out be-syde.sho£)n.Into which Tydeus gan ride, 1230Of aventure, be a gate smal ;And ther he fonde ^, forto rekne al,A lusty herbere vnto his devis,Soote and fressh^, lich*? a paradys,1 The Trin. MSS. have'mone'; Ar. ' moon.'2 Trin. ' fonde,' ' founde'; Ar. ' fond.' So in 11. 1242, 1244, MS. Ar. hasgren,' ' whit.'D