The Canterbury Tales, and Other Poems

is depainted in the stars above, Who shall be slain, or elles dead for love. Sufficeth one ensample in stories old, I may not reckon them all, though I wo’ld.

The statue of Mars upon a carte* stood chariot Armed, and looked grim as he were wood, mad And over his head there shone two figures Of starres, that be cleped in scriptures, That one Puella, that other Rubeus. <51> This god of armes was arrayed thus: A wolf there stood before him at his feet With eyen red, and of a man he eat: With subtle pencil painted was this story, In redouting of Mars and of his glory. *reverance, fear

Now to the temple of Dian the chaste As shortly as I can I will me haste, To telle you all the descriptioun. Depainted be the walles up and down Of hunting and of shamefast chastity. There saw I how woful Calistope,<52> When that Dian aggrieved was with her, Was turned from a woman to a bear, And after was she made the lodestar*: pole star Thus was it painted, I can say no far; farther Her son is eke a star as men may see. There saw I Dane <53> turn’d into a tree, I meane not the goddess Diane, But Peneus’ daughter, which that hight Dane. There saw I Actaeon an hart y-maked, made For vengeance that he saw Dian all naked: I saw how that his houndes have him caught, And freten him, for that they knew him not. devour Yet painted was, a little farthermore How Atalanta hunted the wild boar; And Meleager, and many other mo’, For which Diana wrought them care and woe. There saw I many another wondrous story, The which me list not drawen to memory. This goddess on an hart full high was set, seated With smalle houndes all about her feet, And underneath her feet she had a moon, Waxing it was, and shoulde wane soon. In gaudy green her statue clothed was, With bow in hand, and arrows in a case. quiver Her eyen caste she full low adown, Where Pluto hath his darke regioun. A woman travailing was her beforn, But, for her child so longe was unborn, Full piteously Lucina <54> gan she call, And saide; “Help, for thou may’st best of all.” Well could he painte lifelike that it wrought; With many a florin he the hues had bought. Now be these listes made, and Theseus, That at his greate cost arrayed thus The temples, and the theatre every deal, *part <55> When it was done, him liked wonder well.