Of the faithful Friendship that lasted between two faithful Friends.
To the Tune of, Flying Fame.
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IN stately Rome sometimes did dwell,
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a man of noble Fame.
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Who had a son of seemlie shape,
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Alphonso was his name:When he was grown and come to age,
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his Father thought it best.
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To send his son to Athens faire,
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where wisedoms School did rest.
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And when he was at Athens come,
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good Lectors for to learn?A place to board him with delight,
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his friends did well discern.
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A noble Knight of Athens Town,
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of him did take the charge,
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Who had a son Gancelo cald,
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just of his pitch and age.
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In stature and in person both,
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in favour, speech, and face:In qualitie and condition eke,
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they greed in everie place.
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So like they were in all respects,
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the one unto the other;
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They were not known but by their face,
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of Father nor of Mother.
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And as in favour they were found
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alike in all respects;
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Even so they did most dearlie love,
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as provd by good respect.
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Gancelo loved a Ladie fair,
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which did in Athens dwell:
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Who was in beautie peerlesse found,
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so far she did excell.
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Upon a time it chanced so,
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as fancie did him move;
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That he would visit for delight,
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his Ladie and his love:
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And to his true and faithful friend,
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he did declare the same:
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Asking of him if he would see,
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that fair and comelie Dame.
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Alphonso did thereto agree,
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and with Gancelo went:To see the Ladie which he lovd,
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which bred his discontent,
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But when he cast his christal eyes,
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upon her angels hue:
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The beautie of that Ladie bright,
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did straight his heart subdue,
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His gentle heart so wounded was,
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with that fair Ladies face,
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That afterward he dailie livd
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in sad and woefull case.
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And of his grief he knew not how
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thereof to make an end:
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For that he knew the Ladies love,
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was yeelded to his friend.
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Thus being sore perplext in mind,
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upon his bed he lay:Like one which death and deep despair
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had almost worn away
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His friend Ganselo that did see,
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his grief and great distresse:At length requested for to know,
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his cause of heavinesse,
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With much ado at length he told
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the truth unto his friend:Who did release his inward woe,
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with comfort to the end.
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Take courage then dear friend, quoth he,
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though she through love be mine:My right I will resign to thee,
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the Lady shall be thine.
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You know our favours are alike,
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our speech alike likewise:This day is mine apparel then
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you shall your self disguise.
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And unto Church then shall you go,
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directlie in my stead;
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So though my friends suppose tis I
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you shall the Lady wed.
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Alphonso was so well apaid: and as they had decreed,
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He went a day, and wedded plain
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the Lady there in deed.
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But when the Nuptial feast was done,
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and Phoebus quite was fled,
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The Lady for Ganselo took
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Alphonso to her bed.
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That night they spent in pleasant sport,
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and when the day was come,
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A Post for fair Alphonso came,
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to fetch him home to Rome.
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Then was the matter plainly provd,
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Alphonso wedded was,
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And not Ganselo to that Dame,
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which brought great woe alas.
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Alphonso being come to Rome,
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with this his Ladie gay;
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Ganseloes friends and kindred all
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in such a rage did stay.
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That they deprivd him of his wealth
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his lands and rich attire,
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And banisht him their Countrey quite
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in rage and wrathfull ire.
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With sad and pensive thoughts alas,
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Ganselo wandred then,
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Who was through Want constraind to beg,
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relief of many men.
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In this distresse oft would he say,
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to Rome I mean to go,
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To seek Alphonso my dear friend,
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who will relieve my wo.
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To Rome when poor Ganselo came,
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and found Alphonsoes place,
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Which was so famous, huge and fair,
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himself in such poor case,
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He was ashamd to shew himself
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in that his poor array,
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Saying, Alphonso knowes me well,
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if he should come this way.
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Wherefore he staid within the street,
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Alphonso then came by,
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But heeded not Ganselo poor,
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his friend that stood so nigh.
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Which grievd Ganselo to the heart,
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quoth he, and is it so:
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Doth proud Alphonso now disdain
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his friends in need to know;
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In desperate sort away he went
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into a Barn hard by,
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And presently he drew his knife
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thinking thereby to die;
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And bitterly in sorrow there
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he did lament and weep.
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And being over weighd with grief
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he there fell fast asleep.
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Where soundly there he sweetly sleept
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came in a murdering thief,
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And with a naked knife, lay by
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this man so full of grief.
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This knife so bright he took up straight,
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and went away amain,
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And thrust it into a murdered man
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which he before had slain,
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And afterward he went with speed
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and put this bloodie knife
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Into his hand that sleeping lay,
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to save himself from strife;
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Which done, in haste away he ran:
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and when that search was made
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Ganselo with his bloodie knife
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was for the murder staid;
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And brought before the Magistrat,
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who did confesse most plain,
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That he indeed with that same knife
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the murdered man had slain.
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Alphonso sitting there as Judge,
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and knowing Ganseloes face,To save his friend, did say himself
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was guiltie in that case.
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None, quoth Alphonso, killd the man,
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my Lord, but only I:
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And therefore set this poor man free,
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and let me justly die.
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Then while for death these loving friends
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in striving did proceed,
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The man before the Senate came,
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which did the fact indeed;
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Who being moved with remorse,
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their friendlie hearts to see,
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Did prove before the judges plain,
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none did the fact but he.
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Thus when the truth was plainly told
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of all sides joy was seen:
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Alphonso did imbrace his friend,
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which had so wofull been.
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In rich array he cloathed him,
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as fitted his degree;
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And helpt him to his lands again,
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and former dignitie.
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The murderer, for telling truth,
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had pardon at that time,
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Who afterward lamented much,
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his foul and grievous crime,
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