De quibusdam alijs admirandis per Indorum insulas.
[Sidenote: Gigantes Anthropophagi.] Vt modò procedam in tractatu. Sciatis
ad paucas inde dietas grandem insulam haberi gigantum, ad straturam
altitudinis viginti quinque pedum nostrorum, de quibus ipse vidi nonnullos,
sed extrà terram eorum, et audiuimus esse intrinsecùs quosdam triginta
pedum, et vltrà: hi operiuntur non vestibus, sed bestiarum pellibus
vtcunque sibi appensis, comedentes animalium carnes crudas, et lac pro potu
sorbentes, atque appetentes super omnem esum carnes humanas.
Istorum non curaui intrare insulam: nam et audiui quòd ad maris littus
solent insidiari nauigantibus, nauesque submergere, nisi interdum
redimantur tribus aut quatuor per sortem hominibus sibi datis.
[Sidenote: Letiferi aspectus mulierum.] Versus Austrum hinc in mari Oceano,
habetur inter alias insulas vna, vbi crudelibus quibusdam mulieribus
nascitur in oculis lapis rarus, et malus, quæ si per iram respexerint
hominem, more Basilisci interficiunt solo visu.
Et vltrà hanc insulam alia maior et populosior, vbi cùm multi sint vsus
nobis insueti, vnum describo.
[Sidenote: Insula vbi virgines vitiantur antequam nubant.] Dum
desponsauerit vir puellam, virginem, mandat hominem incompositum, velut
ribaldum, qui sua idonea claue per expertos super hoc diligentèr
considerata, si reputatur idonea reseret et vestiget sub nocte vnica
virginalem conclauem, pro mercede sibi tradita competenti. Et si postera
nocte accedens sponsus ita non inuenerit, poterit, et consueuit hominem
impetere ad mortis iudicium indeclinabile. Cumque huius moris discere
voluissem causam, accepi responsum, pro certis temporibus apud eos,
virgines habuisse in matricibus paruos serpentes, quibus nocebantur primi
ad illas intrantes.
Ideoque et viri, que pro mercede tantum subeunt periculum, vocant sua
loquela cadibrum, est, stultos desperatos.
Ex hac, apparet Insula in qua inter alios vsus, peruersæ sunt matres contra
naturam et scripturam, cum pepererent contristantur, et dum proles moritur
iocundantur, iactantes in magno igne cum conuiuio et exultatione, dumque
maritus ante vxorem decidit, patebit vxoris plena dilectio, si cum corpore
mariti, quod rogo traditur se iactat cremandum, vt quia in isto seculo
steterunt amoris vinculo colligati, non sint alio separati.
Nec tamen intelligunt illud seculum, nisi quod sibi confingunt terrestrem
Paradisum. Purum aut minorem annis, trahet mater secum si placet, sed
ætatis puer perfectæ, eliget pro proprio placito viuere superstes, aut mori
iuxta parentes.
Hic etiam non succedunt Reges per generationem sed per electionem, vt
assumatur non nobilior, aut fortior, sed morigeratior, et iustior, 50 ad
minus annorum, nullam habens sobolem aut vxorem, seruaturque illic iusticiæ
rigor in plena censura, in omnibus et contra omnes, etiamsi forefecerit
ipse Rex, qui nec eximitur a traditis legibus pro concupiscentia vel
contemptione quarumlibet personarum.
Veruntamen Rex si peccauerit non occiditur ob reuerentiam, sed quòd sub
poena mortis, publicè inhibetur, ne quispiam in Regione ei verbo vel vllo
facto communicet, et quoniam sui loco alter rex constituitur, necesse est
illi breui vita degere vel perpetuò exulare. Constat post ipsam, et alia
Insula, multis bonis locuples, et hominibus populosa, de qua recolo
scribendum, quod nulla occasione comedunt tria genera carnium, gallinarum,
leporam, et aucarum, quas etsi nutriant in copijs, vtuntur duntaxat
pellibus aut plumis.
Caeterarum vero bestiarum et animalium licitè vescuntur carnibus pro victu,
et lacte pro potu. Ibi quisque vir licitè potest coniungi cuique mulieri;
quantumcunque propinquet, exceptis progenitoribus, patre matre. Nam
cohabitatio, et commixtio omnium virorum ad singulas mulieres apparet ibi
communis, vnde mater natum paruulum suum, adicit pro sui placito cuicunque
viro, qui circa generationis tempus secumn dormierit, nec valet vllus
virorum esse certus de proprio generato, quem modum exlegem arbitror et
turpem.
Sicut ergò praefatus sum, multa mira videntur per Regiones Indorum, mira
quidem nobis, sed illis assueta, quibus si nostra recitarentur assueta,
audirent pro miris. Nam et dum quibusdam dixi aucas viuas apud nos nasci in
arboribus, admirati sunt satis. In multis locis seminatur singulis annis
sementum de Cothon, quod nos dicimus lanam arboream, exurgunt ei modica
arbusta, vel potius arbustula de quibus talis lana habetur: est arbor
luniperus, de cuius ligno desiccato, si carbones viuos sub proprijs
cineribus tenueris diligenter opertos, igniti seruabuntur ad annum.
Est et genus Nucum incredibilis magnitudinis ad quantitatem magni capitis:
et bestia vocata, oraflans, vel serfans, corpore in nostrorum aldtudine
caballorum, et collo in 20 longitudine cubitorum ad prospiciendum vltra
domos et muros, quorum posteriora apparent vt hinniculi siue lerni.
Genus est etiam Camelionum ad formam hynnulorum, qui semper patulo tendunt
ore, vel nil manducantes. Viuunt de aere, quæ etiam ad suum libitum
videntur sibi variare colorem, exceptis (vt dicitur) albo vel rubeo.
Maximi quóque serpentes, inuicem qualitate, et genere differentes
atque colore.
Aliqui cristam in capite gerunt, quidam more hominum ad duos pedes erecti
incedunt, et nonnulli qui dicuntur Reguli, venenum per ora distillare non
cessant, nec non quam plures cocodrilli, de quibus aliquid in
praecedentibus retuli; [Sidenote: Apri ingentes. Leones albi. Louheraus.]
et apri in nostrorum magnitudine boum, spinosi ericij, in quantitate
porcorum, leones albi in altitudine dextrariorum. Louheraus, seu Edouches
per Indiam habentur, quod ferarum genus satis est maius nostris communibus
equis, geren in fronte tetri capitis tria longa cornua, ad formam pugionis,
ex vtraque parte scindentia, vt eis nonnunquam interficiant Elephantes.
Aliæ quoque bestiæ crudeles vt vrsi cum capitibus ferè aprorum et habentes
pedes senos, qui finduntur latis vngulis bis acutis, et cum caudis leonum
siue pardorum.
Et quod vix credetur, mures pro quantitate, 10, aut 12. nostrorum et
vespertiliones ad modum coruorum.
Sed et aucæ in triplo maiores nostris, plumis indutæ rubris, nisi quod in
pectore et collo apparet nigredo.
Et breuiter tam ibi quàm alibi, habentur pisces, bestiæ, volucres, aut
vermes diuersorum generum, aut specierum, de quibus hoc loco, vel inutilis,
vel prolixa posset fieri narratio, quod nec illis qui nunquam propria
exierunt, credibilis videretur.
The English Version.
And he hathe in his lordschipes many grete marveyles. For in his contree,
is the see that men clepen the Gravely See, that is alle gravelle and sond,
with outen ony drope of watre: and it ebbethe and flowethe in grete wawes,
as other sees don: and it is never stille ne in pes, in no maner cesoun.
And no man may passe that see be navye, be no maner of craft: and therfore
may no man knowe, what lond is bezond that see. And alle be it that it have
no watre, zit men fynden there in and on the bankes, fulle gode fissche of
other maner of kynde and schappe, thanne men fynden in ony other see; and
thei ben of right goode tast, and delycious to mannes mete.
And a 3 iourneys long fro that see, ben gret mountaynes; out of the whiche
gothe out a gret flood, that comethe out of paradys: and it is fulle of
precious stones, with outen ony drope of water: and it rennethe thorghe the
desert, on that o syde; so that it makethe the see gravely: and it berethe
in to that see, and there it endethe. And that flomme rennethe also, 3
dayes in the woke, and bryngethe with him grete stones, and the roches also
therewith, and that gret plentee. And anon as thei ben entred in to the
gravely see, thei ben seyn no more; but lost for evere more. And in tho 3
dayes, that that ryvere rennethe, no man dar entren in to it: but in the
other dayes, men dar entren wel y now. Also bezonde that flomme, more
upward to the desertes, is a gret pleyn alle gravelly betwene the
mountaynes: and in that playn, every day at the sonne risynge, begynnen to
growe smale trees; and thei growen til mydday, berynge frute: but no man
dar taken of that frute; for it is a thing of fayrye. And aftre mydday,
thei discrecen and entren azen in to the Erthe, so that at the goynge doun
of the Sonne, thei apperen no more; and so thei don every day; and that is
a gret marvaille.
In that desert ben many wylde men, that ben hidouse to loken on: for thei
ben horned; and thei speken nought, but thei gronten, as pygges. And there
is also gret plentee of wylde Houndes. And there ben manye popegayes, that
thei clepen psitakes in hire langage: and thei speken of hire propre
nature, and salven men that gon thorghe the desertes, and speken to hem als
appertely, as thoughe it were a man. And thei that speken wel, han a large
tonge, and han 5 toos upon a Fote. And there ben also of other manere, that
han but 3 toos upon a fote; and thei speken not, or but litille: for thei
cone not but cryen.
This Emperour Prestre John, whan he gothe in to battaylle, azenst ony other
Lord, he hathe no baneres born before him: but he hathe 3 crosses of gold,
fyn, grete and hye, fulle of precious stones: and every of the crosses ben
sett in a chariot, fulle richely arrayed. And for to kepen every cros, ben
ordeyned 10000 men at Armes, and mo than 100000 men on Fote, in maner as
men wolde kepe a Stondard in oure Contrees, whan that wee ben in lond of
werre. And this nombre of folk is with outen the pryncipalle Hoost, and
with outen Wenges ordeynd for the bataylle. And he hathe no werre, but
ridethe with a pryvy meynee, thanne he hathe bore before him but o cross of
tree, with outen peynte peynture, and with outen gold or silver or precious
stones; in remembrance, that Jesus suffred dethe upon a cros of tree. And
he hathe born before him also a plater of gold fulle of erthe, in tokene
that his noblesse and his myghte and his flessche schalle turnen to erthe.
And he hathe born before him also a vesselle of silver, fulle of noble
jewelles of gold fulle riche, and of precious stones, in tokene of his
lordschipe and of his noblesse and of his myght. He duellethe comounly in
the cytee of Suse; and there is his principalle palays, that is so riche
and so noble, that no man wil trowe it by estymacioun, but he had seen it.
And aboven the chief tour of the palays, ben 2 rounde pomeles of gold; and
in everyche of hem ben 2 carboncles grete and large, that schynen fulle
brighte upon the nyght. And the principalle zates of his palays ben of
precious ston, that men clepen sardoyne: and the bordure and the barres ben
of ivorye: and the wyndowes of the halles and chambres ben of cristalle:
and the tables where on men eten, somme ben of emeraudes, summe of amatyst
and summe of gold, fulle of precious stones; and the pileres, that beren up
the tables, ben of the same precious stones. And the degrees to gon up to
his throne, where he sittethe at the mete, on is of oniche, another is of
cristalle, and another of jaspre grene, another of amatyst, another of
sardyne, another of corneline, and the sevene that he settethe on his feet,
is of crisolyte. And alle theise degrees ben bordured with fyn gold, with
the tother precious stones, sett with grete perles oryent. And the sydes of
the sege of his throne ben of emeraudes, and bordured with gold fulle
nobely, and dubbed with other precious stones and grete perles. And alle
the pileres in his chambre, ben of fyne gold with precious stones, and with
many carboncles, that zeven gret lyght upon the nyght to alle peple. And
alle be it that the charboncle zeve lyght right y now, natheles at alle
tymes brennethe a vesselle of cristalle fulle of bawme, for to zeven gode
smelle, and odour to the emperour, and to voyden awey alle wykkede eyres
and corrupciouns. And the forme of his bedd is of fyne saphires bended with
gold, for to make him slepen wel, and to refreynen him from lecherye. For
he wille not lyze with his wyfes, but 4 sithes in the zeer, aftre the four
cesouns: and that is only for to engendre children. He hathe also a fulle
fayr palays and a noble, at the cytee of Nyse, where that he dwellethe,
whan him best lykethe; but the ayr is not so attempree, as it is at the
cytee of Suse. And zee schulle undirstonde, that in alle his contree, ne in
the contrees there alle aboute, men eten noghte but ones in the day, as men
don in the court of the grete Chane. And so thei eten every day in his
court, mo than 30000 persones, with outen goeres and comeres. But the 30000
persones of his contree, ne of the contree of the grete Chane, ne spenden
noghte so moche gode, as don 12000 of oure contree. This Emperour Prestre
John hathe evere more 7 kynges with him, to serve him: and thei departen
hire service be certeyn monethes. And with theise kynges serven alle weys
72 dukes and 360 erles. And alle the dayes of the zeer, there eten in his
houshold and in his court, 12 erchebysshoppes and 20 bisshoppes. And the
patriark of Seynt Thomas is there, as is the Pope here. And the
erchebisshoppes and the bisshoppes and the abboties in that contree, ben
alle kynges. And everyche of theise grete lordes knowen wel y now the
attendance of hire servyse. This on is mayster of his houshold, another is
his chamberleyn, another servethe him of a dissche, another of the cuppe,
another is styward, another is mareschalle, another is prynce of his armes:
and thus is he fulle nobely and ryally served. And his lond durethe in
verry brede 4 moneths iorneyes, and in lengthe out of measure; that is to
seyn, alle the yles undir erthe, that wee supposen to ben undir us.
Besyde the yle of Pentexoire, that is the lond of Prestre John, is a gret
yle long and brode, that men clepen Milsterak; and it is in the lordschipe
of Prestre John. In that yle is gret plentee of godes. There was dwellynge
somtyme a ryche man, and it is not longe sithen, and men clept him
Gatholonabes; and he was fulle of cauteles and of sotylle disceytes; and he
hadde a fulle fair castelle, and a strong, in a mountayne, so strong and so
noble, that no man cowde devise a fairere ne a strangere. And he had let
muren alle the mountayne aboute with a strong walle and a fair. And with
inne tho walles he had the fairest gardyn, that ony man myghte beholde; and
therein were trees berynge alle maner of frutes, that ony man cowde devyse;
and there in were also alle maner vertuous herbes of gode smelle, and alle
other herbes also, that beren faire floures. And he had also in that
gardyn, many faire welles; and beside tho welles, he had lete make faire
halles and faire chambres, depeynted alle with gold and azure. And there
weren in that place many a dyverse thinges and many dyverse stories: and of
bestes and of bryddes, that songen fulle delectabely; and meveden be craft,
that it semede that thei weren quyke. And he had also in his gardyn alle
maner of foules and of bestes that ony man myghte thenke on, for to have
pley or desport to beholde hem. And he had also in that place, the faireste
zonge Damyseles, that myghte ben founde undir the age of 15 zere, and the
faireste zonge striplynges, that men myghte gete of that same age: and alle
thei weren clothed in clothes of gold fully richely: and he seyde, that tho
weren aungeles. And he had also let make 3 welles, faire and noble, and
alle envyround with ston of jaspre, of cristalle, pyapred with gold, and
sett with precious stones and grete orient perles. And he had made a
conduyt undir erthe, so that the 3 weles, at his list, on scholde renne
milk, another wyn, and another hony. And that place he clept paradys. And
whan that ony gode knyghte, that was hardy and noble, cam to see this
rialtee, he wolde lede him into his paradys, and schewen him theise
wondirfulle thinges, to his desport, and the marveyllous and delicious song
of dyverse briddes, and the faire damyseles, and the faire welles of mylk,
wyn and hony, plentevous rennynge. And he wolde let make dyyerse
Instrumentes of Musick to sownen in an highe Tour, so merily that it was
joye for to here; and no man scholde see the craft thereof: and tho, he
seyde, weren aungeles of God, and that place was paradys, that God had
behighte to his frendes, seyenge, _Dabo vobis terram fluentem lacte et
mel_. And thanne wolde he maken hem to drynken of certeyn drynk, where of
anon thei scholden be dronken. And thanne wolde hem thinken gretter delyt,
than thei hadden before. And than wolde he seye to hem, that zif thei wolde
dyen for him and for his love, that aftir hire dethe, thei scholde come to
his paradys; and thei scholde ben of the age of the damyseles, and thei
scholde pleyen with hem, and zit ben maydenes. And aftir thai, zit scholde
he putten hem in a fayrere paradys, where that thei schold see God of
Nature visibely, in His majestee and in His blisse. And than wolde He
schewe hem His entent, and seye hem, that zif thei wolde go sle suche a
Lord, or suche a man, that was his enemye, or contrarious to his list, that
thei scholde not dred to done it, and for to be slayn therefore hemself:
for aftir hire dethe, he wold putten hem into another paradys, that was an
100 fold fairer than ony of the tothere; and there schode thei dwellen with
the most fairest damyselles that myghte be, and play with hem ever more.
And thus wenten many dyverse lusty bacheleres for to sle grete lords, in
dyverse countrees, that weren his enemyes, and maden hem self to ben slayn,
in hope to have that paradys. And thus often tyme, he was revenged of his
enemyes, be his sotylle disceytes and false cauteles. And whan the worthi
men of the contree hadden perceyved this sotylle falshod of this
Gatholonabes, thei assembled hem with force, and assayleden his castelle,
and slowen him, and destroyden alle the faire places, and alle the
nobletees of that paradys. The place of the welles and of the walles and of
many other thinges, ben zit apertly sene: but the richesse is voyded clene.
And it is not longe gon, sithe that place was destroyed.
Of the Develes Hede in the Valeye perilous; and of the Customs of folk in
dyverse Yles, that ben abouten, in the Lordschipe of Prestre John.
[Sidenote: Chap. XXVIII.] Besyde that Yle of Mistorak, upon the left syde,
nyghe to the ryvere of Phison, is a marveylous thing. There is a vale
betwene the mountaynes, that durethe nyghe a 4 myle: and summen clepen it
the Vale Enchaunted; some clepen it the Vale of Develes, and some clepen it
the Vale Perilous. In that vale, heren men often tyme grete tempestes and
thondres and grete murmures and noyses, alle dayes and nyghtes: and gret
noyse, as it were sown of tabours and of nakeres and trompes, as thoughe it
were of a gret feste; This ale is alle fulle of develes, and hathe ben alle
weyes. And men seyn there, that it is on of the entrees of helle. In that
vale is gret plentee of gold and sylver: wherefore many mysbelevynge men,
and manye Christene men also, gon in often tyme, for to have of the
thresoure, that there is: but fewe comen azen; and namely of the mys
belevynge men, ne of the Cristene men nouther: for thei ben anon strangled
of develes. And in mydde place of that vale, undir a roche, is an hed and
the visage of a devyl bodyliche, fulle horrible and dreadfulle to see, and
it schewethe not but the hed, to the schuldres. But there is no man in the
world so hardy, Cristene man ne other, but that he wolde ben a drad for to
beholde it: and that it wolde semen him to dye for drede; so is it hidous
for to beholde. For he beholdethe even man so scharply, with dreadfulle
eyen, that ben evere more mevynge and sparklynge, as fuyr, and chaungethe
and sterethe so often in dyverse manere, with so horrible countenance, that
no man dar not neighen towardes him. And fro him comethe out smoke and
stynk and fuyr, and so moche abhomynacioun, that unethe no man may there
endure. But the gode Cristene men, that ben stable in the feythe, entren
welle withouten perile. For thei wil first schryven hem, and marken hem
with the tokene of the Holy Cros; so that the fendes ne han no power over
hem. But alle be it that thei ben with outen perile, zit natheles ne ben
thei not with outen drede, whan that thei seen the develes visibely and
bodyly alle aboute hem, that maken fully dyverse assautes and manaces in
eyr and in erthe, and agasten hem with strokes of thondre blastes and of
tempestes. And the most drede is, that God wole taken vengeance thanne, of
that men han mys don azen his wille. And zee schulle undirstonde, that whan
my fellows and I weren in that vale, wee weren in gret thought, whether
that wee dursten putten oure bodyes in aventure, to gon in or non, in the
proteccioun of God. And somme of oure fellowes accordeden to enter, and
somme noght. So there weren with us 2 worthi men, Frere Menoures, that
weren of Lombardye, that seyden, that zif ony man wolde entren, thei wolde
gon in with us. And when thei hadden seyd so, upon the gracyous trust of
God and of hem, wee leet synge masse, and made every man to ben schryven
and houseld: and thanne wee entreden 14 personnes; but at oure goynge out,
wee weren but 9. And so we wisten nevere, whether that oure fellowes weren
lost, or elle turned azen for drede: but wee ne saughe hem never after: and
tho weren 2 men of Grece and 3 of Spayne. And oure other fellows, that
wolden not gon in with us, thei wenten by another coste, to ben before us,
and so thei were. And thus wee passeden that perilous vale, and founden
thereinne gold and sylver and precious stones and riche jewelles gret
plentee, both here and there, as us semed: but whether that it was, as us
semede, I wot nere: for I touched none, because that the develes ben so
subtyle to make a thing to seme otherwise than it is, for to disceyve
mankynde; and therfore I towched none; and also because that I wolde not
ben put out of my devocioun: for I was more devout thanne, than evere I was
before or after, and alle for the drede of fendes, that I saughe in dyverse
figures; and also for the gret multytude of dede bodyes, that I saughe
there liggynge be the weye, be alle the vale, as thoughe there had ben a
bataylle betwene 2 kynges and the myghtyest of the contree, and that the
gretter partye had ben discomfyted and slayn. And I trowe, that unethe
scholde ony contree have so moche peple with in him, as lay slayn in that
vale, as us thoughte; the whiche was an hidouse sight to seen. And I
merveylled moche, that there weren so manye, and the bodyes all hole, with
outen rotynge. But I trowe, that fendes made hem semen to ben so hole, with
outen rotynge. But that myghte not ben to myn avys, that so manye scholde
have entred so newely, ne so manye newely slayn, with outen stynkynge and
rotynge. And manye of hem were in habite of Cristene men: but I trowe wel,
that it weren of suche, that wenten in for covetyse of the thresoure, that
was there, and hadden over moche feblenesse in feithe; so that hire hertes
ne myghte not enduren in the beleve for drede. And therfore weren wee the
more devout a gret del: and zit wee weren cast doun and beten down many
tymes to the hard erthe, be wyndes and thondres and tempestes: but evere
more God of His grace halp us: and so we passed that perilous vale, with
outen perile and with outen encombrance. Thanked be alle myghty Godd.
Aftre this, bezonde the vale, is a gret yle, where the folk ben grete
geauntes of 28 fote longe or of 30 fote longe; and thei han no clothinge,
but of skynnes of bestes, that thei hangen upon hem: and thei eten no
breed, but alle raw flesche: and thei drynken mylk of bestes; for thei han
plentee of alle bestaylle. And thei have none houses, to lyen inne. And
thei eten more gladly mannes flessche, thanne ony other flesche. In to that
yle dar no man gladly entren: and zif thei seen a schipp and men there
inne, anon thei entren in to the see, for to take hem.
And men seyden us, that in an yle bezonde that, weren geantes of grettere
stature: summe of 45 fote, or 50 fote long, and as some men seyn, summe of
50 cubytes long: but I saghe none of tho; for I hadde no lust to go to tho
parties, because that no man comethe nouther in to that yle ne in to the
other, but zif he be devoured anon. And among tho geauntes ben scheep, als
grete as oxen here; and thei beren gret wolle and roughe. Of the scheep I
have seyn many tymes. And men han seyn many tymes tho geauntes taken men in
the see out of hire schippes, and broughte hem to lond, 2 in on hond and 2
in another, etynge hem goynge, alle rawe and alle quyk.
Another yle is there toward the northe, in the see occean, where that ben
fulle cruele and ful evele wommen of nature; and thei han precious stones
in hire eyen: and thei ben of that kynde, that zif thei beholden ony man
with wratthe, thei slen him anon with the beholdynge, as dothe the
basilisk.
Another yle is there, fulle fair and gode and gret, and fulle of peple,
where the custom is suche, that the firste nyght that thei ben maryed, thei
maken another man to lye be hire wifes, for to have hire maydenhode: and
therfore thei taken gret huyre and gret thank. And ther ben certeyn men in
every town, that serven of non other thing; and thei clepen hem Cadeberiz,
that is to seyne, the foles of Wanhope. For thei of the contree holden it
so gret a thing and so perilous, for to haven the maydenhode of a woman,
that hem semethe that thei that haven first the maydenhode, puttethe him in
aventure of his lif. And zif the husbonde fynde his wif mayden, that other
next nyghte, aftre that she scholde have ben leyn by of the man, that is
assigned therefore, perauntes for dronkenesse or for some other cause, the
husbonde schalle pleyne upon him, that he hathe not don his deveer, in
suche cruelle wise, as thoughe he wolde have him slayn therfore. But after
the firste nyght, that they ben leyn by, thei kepen hem so streytely, that
thei ben not so hardy to speke with no man. And I asked hem the cause, whi
that thei helden suche custom: and thei seyden me, that of old tyme, men
hadden ben dede for deflourynge of maydenes, that hadden serpentes in hire
bodyes, that stongen men upon hire zerdes, that thei dyeden anon: and
therfore thei helden that custom, to make other men, ordeyn'd therefore, to
lye be hire wyfes, for drede of dethe, and to assaye the passage be
another, rather than for to putte hem in that aventure.
Aftre that, is another yle, where that wommen maken gret sorwe, whan hire
children ben y born: and whan thei dyen, thei maken gret feste and gret
joye and revelle, and thanne thei casten hem into a gret fuyr brennynge.
And tho that loven wel hire husbondes, zif hire husbondes ben dede, thei
casten hem also in the fuyr, with hire children, and brennen hem. And thei
seyn, that the fuyr schalle clensen hem of alle filthes and of alle vices,
and thei schulle gon pured and clene in to another world, to hire
husbondes, and thei schulle leden hire children with hem. And the cause whi
that they wepen, when hire children ben born, is this, for whan thei comen
in to this world, thei comen to labour, sorwe and hevynesse: and whi thei
maken ioye and gladnesse at hire dyenge, is be cause that, as thei seyn,
thanne thei gon to Paradys, where the ryveres rennen mylk and hony, where
that men seen hem in ioye and in habundance of godes, with outen sorwe and
labour. In that yle men maken hire kyng evere more be eleccioun: and thei
ne chese him nought for no noblesse ne for no ricchesse, but suche an on as
is of gode maneres and of gode condiciouns, and therewith alle rightfulle;
and also that he be of gret age, and that he have no children. In that yle
men ben fulle rightfulle, and thei don rightfulle iuggementes in every
cause, bothe of riche and pore, smale and grete, aftre the quantytee of the
trespas, that is mys don. And the kyng may nought deme no man to dethe,
with outen assent of his barouns and other wyse men of conseille, and that
alle the court accorde therto. And zif the kyng him self do ony homycydie
or ony cryme, as to sle a man, or ony suche cas, he schalle dye therefore;
but he schalle not be slayn, as another man, but men schulle defende in
peyne of dethe, that no man be so hardy to make him companye, ne to speke
with hym, ne that no man zeve him ne selle him ne serve him nouther of mete
ne drynk: and so schalle he dye in myschef. Thei spare no man that hath
trespaced, nouther for love ne for favour ne for ricchesse ne for noblesse,
but that he schalle have aftre that he hathe don.
Bezonde that yle, is another yle, where is gret multytude of folk; and thei
wole not for nothing eten flesche of hares, ne of hennes, ne of gees: and
zit thei bryngen forthe y now, for to seen hem and to beholden hem only.
But thei eten Flesche of alle other bestes, and drynken mylk. In that
contre, thei taken hire doughtres and hire sustres to here wyfes, and hire
other kynneswomen. And zif there ben 10 or 12 men or mo dwellynge in an
hows, the wif of eyeryche of hem schalle ben comoun to hem alle, that
duellen in that hows; so that every man may liggen with whom he wole of
hem, on o nyght. And zif sche have ony child, sche may zeve it to what man
sche list, that hathe companyed with hire; so that no man knoweth there,
whether the child be his or anotheres. And zif ony man seye to hem, that
thei norrischen other mennes children, thei answeren, that so don other men
hires. In that contre and be all Ynde, ben gret plentee of cokodrilles,
that is the maner of a longe serpent, as I haye seyd before. And in the
nyght, thei dwellen in the watir, and on the day, upon the lond, in roches
and caves. And thei ete no mete in all the wynter: but thei lyzn as in a
drem, as don the serpentes. Theise serpentes slen men, and thei eten hem
wepynge: and whan thei eten, thei meven the over Jowe, and noughte the
nether Jowe; and thei have no Tonge. In that contree, and in many other
bezonde that, and also in manye on this half, men putten in werke the sede
of cotoun: and thei sowen it every zeer, and than growthe it in smale
trees, that beren cotoun. And so don men every zeer; so that there is
plentee of cotoun, at alle tymes. Item, in this yle and in many other,
there is a manner of wode, hard and strong: who so coverethe the coles of
that wode undir the assches there offe, the coles wil duellen and abyden
alle quyk, a zere or more. And that tre hathe many leves, as the gynypre
hathe. And there ben also many trees, that of nature thei wole never brenne
ne rote in no manere. And there ben note trees, that beren notes, als grete
as a mannes hed. There also ben many bestes, that ben clept orafles.
[Footnote: Giraffes.] In Arabye, thei ben clept gerfauntz; that is a best
pomelee or apotted; that is but a litylle more highe, than is a stede; but
he hathe the necke a 20 cubytes long: and his croup and his tayl is as of
an hert: and he may loken over a gret highe Hous. And there ben also in
that contree manye camles, that is a lytille best as a goot, that is wylde
and he lyvethe be the eyr, and etethe nought ne drynkethe nought at no
tyme. And he chaungethe his colour often tyme: for men seen him often
scithes, now in o colour and now in another colour: and he may chaunge him
in to alle maner of coloures that him list, saf only in to red and white.
There ben also in that contree passynge grete serpentes, sume of 120 Fote
long, and thei ben of dyverse coloures, as rayed, rede, grene and zalowe,
blewe and blake, and alle spekelede. And there ben othere, that han crestes
upon hire hedes: and thei gon upon hire feet upright: and thei ben wel a 4
fadme gret or more: and thei duellen alle weye in roches or in mountaynes:
and thei han alle wey the throte open, of whens thei droppen venym alle
weys. And there ben also wylde swyn of many coloures, als gret as ben oxen
in oure contree, and thei ben alle spotted, as ben zonge fownes. And there
ben also urchounes, als gret as wylde swyn here. Wee clepen hem poriz de
spyne. And ther ben lyouns alle whyte gret and myghty. And ther ben also of
other bestes, als grete and more gretter than is a destrere: and men clepen
hem loerancz: and sum men clepen hem odenthos: and thei han a blak hed and
3 longe hornes trenchant in the front, scharpe as a sword; and the body is
sclender. And he is a fulle felonous best: and he chacethe and sleethe the
olifaunt. There ben also manye other bestes, fullye wykked and cruelle,
that ben not mocheles more than a bere; and thei han the hed lyche a bore;
and thei han 6 feet: and on every foote 2 large clawes trenchant: and the
body is lyche a bere, and the tayl as a lyoun. And there ben also myse, als
gret as houndes; and zalowe myse, als grete as ravenes. And ther ben gees
alle rede, thre sithes more gret than oure here: and thei han the hed, the
necke and the brest alle black. And many other dyverse bestes ben in tho
contrees, and elle where there abouten: and manye dyverse briddes also; of
the whiche, it were to longe for to telle zou: and therefore I passe over
at this tyme.