Original
Modern English
Here have you seen a mighty king His child, I wis, to incest bring; A better prince and benign lord, That will prove awful both in deed and word. Be quiet then as men should be, Till he hath pass’d necessity. I’ll show you those in troubles reign, Losing a mite, a mountain gain. The good in conversation, To whom I give my benison, Is still at Tarsus, where each man Thinks all is writ he speken can; And, to remember what he does, Build his statue to make him glorious: But tidings to the contrary Are brought your eyes; what need speak I? DUMB SHOW.
Here you have seen a powerful king His child, I believe, brought to incest; A better prince and kind lord, Who will show his authority both in action and words. Be quiet then, as men should be, Until he has passed the worst of it. I’ll show you those who rule in troubles, Losing a small amount, yet gaining a huge one. The good in speech, To whom I give my blessing, Is still in Tarsus, where everyone Thinks everything he says is written down; And to remember what he does, Builds his statue to make himself famous: But news to the contrary Are brought to your attention; what need I say? DUMB SHOW.
Good Helicane, that stay’d at home, Not to eat honey like a drone From others’ labours; for though he strive To killen bad, keep good alive; And to fulfil his prince’ desire, Sends word of all that haps in Tyre: How Thaliard came full bent with sin And had intent to murder him; And that in Tarsus was not best Longer for him to make his rest. He, doing so, put forth to seas, Where when men been, there’s seldom ease; For now the wind begins to blow; Thunder above and deeps below Make such unquiet, that the ship Should house him safe is wreck’d and split; And he, good prince, having all lost, By waves from coast to coast is tost: All perishen of man, of pelf, Ne aught escapen but himself; Till fortune, tired with doing bad, Threw him ashore, to give him glad: And here he comes. What shall be next, Pardon old Gower,--this longs the text.
Good Helicane, who stayed at home, Not to eat honey like a lazy bee From others’ hard work; for though he tries To destroy the bad, keep the good alive; And to fulfill his prince’s wish, Sends word of everything happening in Tyre: How Thaliard came fully prepared with evil And intended to kill him; And that it was not safe in Tarsus For him to stay any longer. He, doing so, set out to sea, Where when men are, there’s rarely calm; For now the wind starts to blow; Thunder above and waves below Make such a mess that the ship That should have kept him safe is wrecked and broken; And he, good prince, losing everything, Is tossed from coast to coast by the waves: All perish—men and wealth, Nothing escapes but him; Until fortune, tired of doing bad, Threw him ashore, to bring him joy: And here he comes. What happens next, Pardon old Gower,—this long-winded story.