From The Legend of Good Women (Translation)
IV. The Legend of Hypsipyle and Medea
Incipit Legenda Ysiphile et Medee, martirum*.
Duke Jason, you root of false lovers, you sly devourer and ruin of high-born women, tender creatures! You set your lures and your enticements for ladies with your stately appearance and your words stuffed with pleasantness, and your pretended fidelity, and your manner, and your obsequiousness and your humble bearing, and your counterfeited woe and pain. Where others are false to one, you are false to two! Ah, often did you swear you would perish for love, when you felt no illness except foul delight, which you call love! As long as I live, your name shall be spread far in English, so that your deceitfulness shall be known! Take that, Jason! 1383
Now the horn for the hunt is blown for you! But surely it is both a pity and woe that love so works with false lovers; for they shall find better love and better manners than he who has paid for his love dearly, or has had many bloody blows in fight. For the fox shall eat just as tender a capon, though he may be false and have deceived the fowl, as the head of the household shall, who has paid for that. Although he may have claim to the capon in reason and justice, the false fox will get his share in the dark. This example well fits Jason, as he dealt with Hypsipyle and with Medea the queen. 1395
In Thessaly, as Guido* tells us, was a king named Pelias, who had a brother named Aeson; and when he could scarcely walk on account of his age, he gave Pelias the rule of his entire realm, and made him lord and king. Of this Aeson was begotten Jason, in whose time there was not in all that land a knight so renowned for gentility, nobility, strength, and vigor. After his father's death he so bore himself that there was nobody who cared to be his foe, but gave him all his honor and sought after him. 1408
At this Pelias had great envy, imagining that Jason might be so exalted and put in such position by the love of the lords of his realm that he might remove him from his own throne. And in his mind by night he plotted how Jason might best be destroyed, without a scandal concerning his plot. And at last he determined to send him into some far country, where this Jason might perish. This was his devious plan, though he showed Jason all affection and loving appearance, lest his lords should detect the plan. 1422
Now it so happened, since fame spreads widely, that there were great tidings everywhere and many reports that in an island called Colchis, eastward in the sea beyond Troy, men might see a ram that had a fleece of gold so shining that nowhere was there another such sight. But it was always guarded by a dragon and many other marvels all around, and by two bulls made entirely of brass, which spat fire; and many other things were there. But nevertheless this was the tale, that whosoever wished to win that fleece, before he could win it, must fight both the bulls and the dragon. And king Aeëtes was lord of that island. 1438
This Pelias contemplated this plot, to exhort his nephew Jason to sail to that land to entertain himself. And so he said, "Nephew, if such an honor might come to you as to win this famous treasure and bring it into my land, it would be a great pleasure and honor to me. Then would I be bound to requite your labor. And I myself will pay all the expenses. Choose what people you will take with you. Let us see now, do you dare to take this voyage?" 1450
Jason was young and eager at heart, and undertook this enterprise. Soon Argus designed his ships. With Jason went the mighty Hercules, and many others whom he chose as well. But whosoever will ask who went with Jason, let him go read Argonauticon, for that will tell a tale that is long enough. Quickly Philoctetes hoisted the sail, when the wind was favorable, and they hastened themselves out of their country of Thessaly. Long they sailed the salty sea, until they arrived at the isle of Lemnos (albeit this is not related by Guido, yet Ovid in his Epistles says this), and of this isle the lady and queen was the fair young Hypsipyle, the shining-bright, who was daughter to Thoas, once the king. 1468
Hypsipyle was walking to entertain herself and, roaming upon the cliffs by the sea, before long she discovered where under a bank the ship of Jason had arrived. In her goodness she sent down speedily to know if any stranger had been blown there by storm during the night, that she might bring him aid, as it was her custom to assist every creature and do kindnesses from her very kindness and courtesy This messenger hurried down and came upon Jason and Hercules as well, who had arrived on land in a small boat, refreshing themselves and catching their breath. The morning was mild and fine. And on his way the messenger met these two lords and very discreetly greeted them and gave his message, asking them without delay if they were damaged or in any way distressed, or had need of a pilot or food; for they should in no way lack aid, since aid was wholly the queen's will. 1490
Jason answered mildly and gently; he said, "I heartily thank my lady for her goodness; truly, we need nothing now, except that we are weary and have left the sea to entertain ourselves until the wind blows nearer our course." 1496
This lady was roaming with her attendants along the shore by the cliff to entertain herself, and found this Jason and the other standing speaking of their business, as I have said. This Hercules and Jason beheld how this lady was the queen, and greeted her fairly as soon as they had met her. And she noted well, and knew by their fashion, by their array and words and looks, that they were men of noble birth and high degree. And she led these strangers to the castle with her, and did them great honor, and asked them about their labor and travail on the salty sea; so that within one day or two she knew from the people who were in the ships that they were Jason, full of renown, and Hercules, of great praise, that sought the adventures of Colchis. And she did them more honor than before, and the more time passed, the more she had to do with them, for in very truth they were worthy people. And she spoke most with Hercules; to him her heart inclined, for he seemed to be steadfast, wise, true, discreet of speech, and without any other attachment in love, or evil fancies. 1523
This Hercules so praised Jason that he exalted him to the sun, saying that there was not under the high canopy of heaven a man half so true in love; and he was wise, hardy, trusty, and rich. And in three more points there was none like him: in liberality and energy he surpassed all men, living or dead, and he was also truly nobly born and likely to be king of Thessaly. There was no fault, except that he was afraid of love, and shy in speech; he would rather murder himself and die than have men find him out to be a lover. "Would to almighty God I could give my flesh and blood, provided I would not die, if only he might find a wife somewhere, one of his degree; for such a gallant life she should lead with this gallant knight!" 1542
And all this had been planned the day before by Jason and Hercules; by these two there was contrived a wicked fraud to quarter themselves upon an innocent woman; for their agreement was to deceive this queen. And Jason was as coy as a maiden; he looked piteously but said nothing, and freely gave great gifts to her counselors and officers. 1551
Would to God I had leisure to rhyme a full story of all his wooing! But if any false lover should be in this house, just as he now acts, so did Jason, with feigning and every act of trickery. You will get no more from me, unless you will read my author, who tells the entire matter. 1558
The sum of it is this, that Jason was wedded to this queen, and took of her substance whatever he wished for his provisions; and upon her he begat two children. And he hoisted his sail and never saw her again. 1563
In truth she sent him a letter, which would be too long to write and tell, and reproached him for his great infidelity, and prayed to him to have some pity on her. And of his two children she told him this, that in truth they were like him in all things, except they did not know how to beguile others. And she prayed to God that before long she who had removed her from his heart might find him untrue to her also; and that she should be fated to slay both her children, and so might all those who allowed him to have his will with them. And all her days Hypsipyle remained true to Jason, and always remained chaste, as his wife; nor did she ever have joy in heart, but died for his love in bitter sorrows. 1579
This duke Jason, a dragon and devourer of love, had arrived in Colchis. Just as the appetite of matter is always to take form, and may pass from form to form, or like a well that is bottomless, so false Jason could have no peace; for the craving of his appetite to work his will with women of gentle blood, this was all his delight and felicity. 1588
Jason roamed forth to the town which once was called Jaconitos, which was the chief city of all Colchis; and he told the cause for his coming to Aeëtes, king of that land, praying him that he might have his trial to win the golden fleece if he could. To this petition the king agreed, and did him honor, as was fitting; and so much that he caused his daughter and heir Medea, who was so wise and beautiful that never did a man see with his eyes a fairer woman, to keep Jason company at his meal and sit by him in the hall. Now Jason was a proper and lordly man, and had great renown, and regal as a lion in his demeanor, and pleasant and courteous in his speech, and knew without any book the trade and art of love entirley, and every ceremony of it. And as Fortune owed Medea a foul misfortune,* she she enamored of this man. 1610
"Jason," she said, "for anything I see you have put you into great peril in this thing which you are about. For whoever wishes achieve this adventure cannot well escape death, I believe, unless I would be his helper. But nevertheless," she said, "it is my will to assist you, so that you shall not perish but return home safe and sound to your Thessaly." 1619
"My true lady," then said Jason, "that you have any regard for my death or woe and do me this honor, I know well that my might and my travail cannot earn it all the days of my life. May God thank you, for I never can. I am your man, and humbly pray you, without more speech, to be my help; but surely I shall not hold back for fear of death.' 1628
Then this Medea made known to him from point to point the peril of the adventure and of his battle, and in what unequal combat he must stand, in which no creature except she alone could assure him of his life. And, to go shortly to the point, they were agreed between the two of them that Jason should wed her as a true knight. And the time was set for him to come in the evening to her chamber, and there take oaths by the gods that never for joy or woe, night or day, would he falsely fail her; that he would be husband as long as he lived to her who here had saved him from death. And on this they met by night, and he took his oath and went to bed. And in the morning he hastened to arise, for she had taught him how he could not fail to win the fleece and achieve success in the conflict; and thus she saved his life and his honor and got him a great name as a conqueror, even through the wiles of her enchantment. 1650
Now Jason had the fleece, and returned home with Medea and a great store of treasure. But it was unknown to her father that she went to Thessaly with duke Jason her dear, who afterwards brought mischief upon her. For like a traitor he left her, and left with her his two young children, and falsely betrayed her, alas! Forever was he a chief of traitors in love and soon he wedded yet a third wife, the daughter of king Creon. 1661
This is the payment and reward that Medea received from Jason, even for her fidelity and kindness, as she loved him better than herself, I believe, and left her father and her heritage for him. And this is the prowess of Jason, that in his days no lover so false was found walking on earth. And therefore in her letter she began thus, when she upbraided him for his falseness: "Why did it please me more to look on your yellow hair than on the boundaries of my honor? Why did your youth and comeliness please me, and the infinite graciousness of your tongue! Ah, had you died in your adventure, how much faithlessness would have died with you!" Well can Ovid compose her letter in verse, which would be too long for me to include here now. 1679
Explicit Legenda Ysiphile et Medee, Martirum.*
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40 Incipit Legenda Ysiphile et Medee, martirum. Here begins the Legend of Hypsipyle and Medea.
41 Guido. Guido delle Collone's Historia destructionis Troiae.
42 Fortune owed Medea a foul misfortune. Presumably because she had good fortune to that point.
43 Explicit Legenda Ysiphile et Medee, Martirum. Here ends the Legend of Hypsipyle and Medea.
Translated and Edited by Gerard NeCastro
© Copyright, 2007, All Rights Reserved
Citation. Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Legend of Good Women. NeCastro, Gerard, ed. and trans. eChaucer: https://www.echaucer.com. [Site Visit Date.]
